“{{THAT’S IT!! I know where I recognize your name from!}}” Kai shouted, sitting up suddenly in her revelation, then instantly regretting the quick movement. She hissed and recoiled a bit, closing her eyes in pain, as her muscles and wounds protested at being stretched.
Deygo, having been dozing, jolted awake at Kai’s outburst, and lost his balance, falling quite ungracefully to the floor. He immediately regained his feet, automatically drawing his knife for defense, and stood breathing heavily, his heart racing with adrenaline as Kai slowly opened one eye to look at him. “{{Sorry,}}” she apologized. “{{Didn’t mean to scare you.}}”
Deygo, still blinking groggily and looking more than a little miffed, fumbled putting his blade away, while saying, “{{You didn’t scare me. That was just being prepared.}}”
Kai cocked her head at him. “{{Ah-ha. I didn’t realize ‘being prepared’ entailed falling off the rock one was napping on upon waking. I’ll have to remember that.}}”
Deygo narrowed his eyes, glaring at her. Kai smiled in return, revealing a set of remarkably white and pointy teeth. After a moment, Deygo grunted and turned away to sit down again. “{{Feeling better, I take it?}}” he asked sarcastically.
“{{Mm-hm. Much so. Thank you.}}”
“{{Good,}}” he replied. He then realized just what it was Kai had shouted when she awoke. “{{So, you recognize my name?}}”
“{{Uh-huh. There was this man that came through the village a couple days ago looking for an ‘Eris and Deygo and two foreigners.’ You also match the description he gave. He claimed to be working for Veymos. No one knew of whom he spoke, and had no idea of the people he was seeking. He didn’t believe this and threatened to kill one person every day until he was told the truth, then he disappeared. No one gave much thought to it after that, figuring he was simply some crazy traveler. I suppose he would have gained their attention by now, if they didn’t suspect me of his crimes.}}”
“{{It was he that murdered the child?}}” Deygo asked.
“{{Yes,}}” Kai answered coldly, her eyes burning with anger. “{{That awful man killed him.}}”
Deygo was silent, contemplating the implications of these actions. What was Veymos trying to do, sending obviously inept bounty hunters to fetch him, Eris, and the two women? It was almost insulting, but at the same time worrisome. Veymos wasn’t one to act without good cause or reason. Was he just toying with them? It was a distinct possibility. Deygo also wasn’t sure exactly how he should proceed from here. It would be extremely dangerous to return to Uraketh, Veymos’ house. Then again, it would be foolish to believe that he and the others would be safe anywhere else, so long as Veymos was bent on collecting them.
Deygo shifted uneasily, and looked up to see Kai staring at him with the unflinching gaze of a feline. “{{What?}}” he asked her.
“{{You don’t seem mean. What does this evil man have to do with you?}}”
Deygo sighed, not wanting to answer. He could feel Kai’s eyes watching him, and it was rather unsettling. “{{Fine,}}” he said at last, trying to ignore her stare. “{{I’ll tell you, but you will probably not like what I have to say.}}”
(A while later.)
“{{And that’s pretty much it,}}” Deygo finished up, after recounting all that had transpired over the last few days, and the history of Eris and his relationship with Veymos. “{{We were headed to Uraketh when you (literally) ran into us.}}”
“{{And you’re headed back there to rid Etuua of Veymos, right?}}” Kai fairly demanded of Deygo.
“{{Well…}}” he hesitated, unsure of his actual motivation for returning to Uraketh. He had no intention of giving Veymos Mars, RK, or Eris. So what other reason did he have for going back? It’s not like he was going to be able to give his two-weeks notice and ask for a severance package. Veymos would definitely take the “sever” part of that request much too literally.
“{{Right, Deygo??}}” Kai insisted, interrupting his thoughts.
Deygo looked very conflicted. Kai watched him, waiting expectantly for a reply. “{{I… I don’t know,}}” Deygo at last answered. “{{But I do know I need to go there. There are matters which need resolution, and there is no other way than to confront Veymos.}}”
“{{I can’t believe you’re not going to kill him. I’ll go there and do it if you don’t.}}”
“{{Listen,}}” Deygo said, growing slightly exasperated. “{{I never said I wasn’t going to kill him, I just meant that I…}}”
“{{Oh! So you are going to kill him! Great! I thought you seemed like that type of guy. Now, I’m feeling much better and I’m sure your friends are waiting for you down below, so let’s go.}}”
“{{But… I… Goshdangit!}}” Deygo cursed, mostly to himself as Kai had already gone out of the cave and started on the way down the path. He glared after her, annoyed with the fact that he seemed to have no control of this situation whatsoever, and that irked him quite a bit. He shut his eyes and took a couple of calming breaths, then followed the woman down the trail towards where Eris and the other two women waited.
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