Chapter Three Hundred and Ninety Two – Vim – Return to the Smithy

Approaching Nebl's home, I accepted the bundle of flowers that Renn hurriedly pushed at me as she hurried forward.

Watching Renn run straight at Lilly, who stood up straighter and readied herself for impact, I couldn't help but smile as Renn ran into her arms.

The two hugged in greeting, and while I enjoyed the sight… I tried to remember the last time I'd seen Lilly hug someone like she was now with Renn.

I remembered seeing her do so with her children… but not in a long time. It was a sight I could only really remember when they were young. And although she lowered her guard around Windle, it wasn't often she displayed such affection openly. At least around me.

Glancing around as I approached the two women that were giggling their greetings, I wondered why none of the furnaces had smoke coming from them.

The smithy seemed quiet. I didn't see or hear anyone else, but at least nothing looked amiss. Plus with Lilly here, seemingly fine and calm, I knew that all was well.

"Gosh!" Lilly groaned at something Renn had said as I stepped up to them. Renn giggled as the two swayed a moment, hugging each other tightly.

I was a little jealous. Renn and I did hug sometimes, but it was rare and… usually not as intimate as that. Why was that?

"Hey Vim," Lilly smirked at me as she glanced at me from over Renn's shoulder.

"Lilly," I greeted her back as Renn's ears fluttered against Lilly's face. The owl flinched, but smirked as they smacked her.

"Okay… Renn, I love you but please let me go. I was heading to the restroom," Lilly said gently as she patted Renn's back.

Renn immediately released Lilly, nodding quickly as she stepped back. "Sorry!" she apologized.

Lilly didn't seem bothered as she sighed and nodded. "I'll be right back. Everyone's in the house, preparing lunch or something," Lilly said as she stepped away, heading for the door to the house.

Renn hurried to join her, and right as Lilly reached the door it opened. Lellip hurried out, so quickly that Lilly had to side-step as to avoid being bumped into, and then the monkey ran into Renn's arms.

I sighed as I watched another emotional greeting, with noisy giggles and greetings with deep hugs.

Ignoring the two, I went to follow Lilly into the home. As I walked in, I began to smell the food being cooked. By the strong smell it was clear it wasn't ready just yet.

Lilly disappeared around a corner with a hurry, as I walked past that hallway and to another I turned down it until I found the living room. I found Nebl sitting at his chair near the fireplace, seemingly asleep, and heard clattering in the kitchen nearby. Pram and her husband Drandle were likely in there.

He was still a little thin… but he had regained some of his stoutness from before he had gotten trapped in the mine. His face no longer looked thin, his shoulders and arms were thicker, enough to make his shirt tight upon him, and he was cleaned up so well it was almost as if seeing a different person. My friend looked good, healthy, and much better than I had expected him to be.

Yet as wonderful as it was to see my friend healthy… I found myself far more concerned with something else.

Putting the bundle of flowers down in a corner, I slowly undid the heavier bags I carried as I stared at something very important near Nebl's chair. Within arm's reach of him.

A crib.

Once free of my bags, I smiled softly as I walked quietly over to the crib… and stared down at the sleeping child.

She looked like Lellip and Pram.

And looked healthy. Wonderfully healthy. She even had that tiny little tuft of hair that ran down their neck a little farther than typical. The only real vestige of their bloodline left.

How lovely. Renn was going to cry. More than she likely already was, at least.

"Is that them?" Pram's voice entered the room, and a moment later she did too. She paused at the doorway between the kitchen and living room, and sighed at the sight of me.

"Gosh Vim, don't scare me like that. Welcome," Pram greeted me comfortably as she shook her head at me, likely having startled at the sight of me near her crib.

"Sorry," I apologized quietly, as to not wake Nebl. He still slumbered, somehow, even with all the noise. Lellip and Renn weren't exactly being quiet.

Placing my hand on the crib, not to rock it or wake the child, I was about to turn to say something to Pram… but before I could, my arm was grabbed.

Bones creaked for a moment as I released the crib, and turned to frown at my friend who had sat up with great speed and purpose. His eyes, still half asleep, were cold. Frozen.

"Vim…?" Nebl blinked, waking up, as I smiled at my friend.

"Nebl."

He released my arm as he took a deep breath. He glanced around as Pram giggled at us, and I smirked at him.

My friend had woken, not recognized me in his half asleep state near his grandchild… and had acted appropriately.

Good thing it had been me to have done the deed. He would have broken Renn's arm had she been the one he had grabbed.

"Feh… brought her back did you?" Nebl asked as we heard Renn and Lellip enter the house, shutting the door behind them. They were chatting noisily.

While the two walked down the hallway, I turned to Pram.

"Congratulations Pram, well done," I told her.

She gave me a happy, lovely, smile as Renn and Lellip entered the room.

"Come see her!" Lellip dragged Renn into the room, and I had to step back and aside as the two hurried over to the crib.

Renn ignored everyone else in the room, not just me, and her eyes went wide while her ears went stiff… while she stepped up to the crib and stared down at the one sleeping in it.

While she fell in love with the baby, I went ahead and grabbed some of the stuff she carried for her. She absentmindedly allowed me to take her bags and heavy cloak, alongside her hat she had tied to her waist right before we arrived, and I went to add them to the pile of my own stuff nearby.

"Her name's Copper," Lellip told Renn.

Copper…?

I made no comment as Nebl chuckled. "Her eyes are dazzling; you'll see when she wakes."

I turned to find Nebl had stood as to join the two in basking in the child's presence.

He had always turned into a doting parent when they were born, hadn't he?

"Vim."

Turning, I found Lilly. She was standing in the hallway, staring at me.

Right.

I nodded, glanced again to Renn… deciding she would be fine. Plus even though I knew she too had stuff she wanted to say, and hear, from Lilly… I knew also she'd place that baby above all of that. She cherished such moments deeply.

"Guess I'll need to make a bit more, then," Pram mumbled as she turned and went back into the kitchen.

Stepping out of the room I followed Lilly to the front door. We left the house, and I shut the door behind me.

"How long have you been waiting?" I asked her.

"A little over a month," Lilly answered as we headed around the house. I had figured she'd want to talk alone, in private, but I hadn't expected her to take me to the smithy itself.

We entered the furnace room, and I found they were all cold except the main one. But it wasn't too hot, just burning enough to stay lit.

"She looks well," Lilly said as she went to sit on a chair. One that was strangely alone, away from any of the nearby tables or workstations.

Maybe she's been sitting in here when she wanted to be alone? The weather had been bad lately, what with us still being in winter, but the last couple days there'd been no rain.

"Renn, you mean?" I asked.

"Who else?"

I nodded at that. "She's fine."

"I'm to assume you're headed for Lumen. To chase down Light and the rest?" Lilly asked.

I nodded again. "We are."

"I followed them to the bridge. I stopped following them there since I think I was noticed. I came here after, since I knew you'd likely pass through here on your way after them too," Lilly said.

"Figured. Did you not confront them then?" I asked.

"No. They don't only have Less, but Martin is with them too," Lilly said.

I paused at that. "Who?" I asked.

"Martin, Vim. Celine's knight," Lilly said. Her voice a little stiff.

"No he isn't," I said.

Lilly didn't even flinch. "Yes he is, Vim."

My eyes narrowed as I heard and saw the truth upon Lilly. She wasn't kidding at all.

"I watched him die," I said.

"Then he has a twin. Or a son, maybe. He looks like, smells, and is named Martin. I don't know what else to say?" Lilly said with a shrug.

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Damn.

I sighed as I went to grab a chair. I dragged it over near Lilly and sat down across from her.

"It's possible, I guess. I didn't bury him, and I entrusted his body with them. With Celine. He could have been alive, or saved somehow with their powers and I just was never told," I said as I thought about it.

"Yeah… well… they have a couple others with them too, that I think are like Less and Martin. And Light isn't the only saint with them, by the way. There's at least two more," she said.

I nodded. "I figured that. We confronted the Chronicler, at least to a point, in Telmik. She spoke in a way that told me such a thing. They're operating under the knowledge of many prophecies. Maybe dozens. Too many for a single saint to have given them," I said.

"Mhm… I wasn't able to learn much while in Telmik, since I couldn't really talk to anyone. I spoke to Oplar, Randle and Hands. That was it."

"Hands too?" I asked. That was surprising, he hadn't mentioned Lilly. And I noted Lilly didn't include any of the humans she had undoubtedly spoken to.

"He wanted to ask me some questions about Light and her people. He supposedly fell for one of them, I guess," Lilly said with a shrug.

Ah… I smiled and nodded at that. "He did. A rat, supposedly. Funny, isn't it?"

"Not to me, Vim. That means he will be an enemy. I had not thought him to be one," Lilly said softly.

I waved that away. "For now they're not our enemies. Not yet, Lilly."

She huffed at me.

"We found your girl. Sap. She should be long home," I said.

Lilly shifted a little, as if bothered by my change in topic. She then glanced at the nearby door, the large ones, as if to confirm they were still closed. Once she was sure, she glanced back at me. "How uh… how'd the two act? How'd it go?" Lilly then asked.

"Hm…? What do you mean?"

"Sap and Renn."

"Ah. They hit it off instantly. Your daughter even gave Renn one of her feathers," I said with a smile.

Lilly's eyes opened wider a moment… showing off how big they actually were, then they returned to their more normal state… and she smiled.

"That's wonderful," she whispered softly.

I nodded. "Yes. They'll be good friends."

Lilly sighed as she sat back a little… nodding gently. "I'm… glad to hear that."

"How were your other children?" I asked.

She slowly shook her head. "Alive, at least."

It was my turn to nod gently, since I understood.

Her other children were even farther estranged than Sap was, and even she was an extreme.

"Before I left only Sap and Branch were missing. They should both be home by now," Lilly said.

"Hm. And so you plan to return home?" I asked. She had mentioned earlier she was about to leave.

"Well yes, since I had no idea what you were doing or where you were, Vim. Now you're here though, so I'll do whatever you need me to do," she said simply.

So… "Was there more then? Did anything else happen while you followed Light and the rest, or while you were in Telmik?" I asked. Why the need for privacy then?

Lilly shook her head. "Not really. I had some… interesting conversations with Randle and Oplar. Nebl too, surprisingly. He told me about what happened in the mine, why didn't you say anything Vim?" Lilly asked.

"What for? He was fine," I said.

She sighed at me. "He's become softer because of it. I asked him to make me a sword earlier, to see what he'd say and the stupid blacksmith went and agreed. He's been working on it over there," Lilly said with a nod to our right.

I followed her gaze and found one of the workbenches nearby, with a glimmer of steel upon it. It looked nearly finished already, with a pommel and everything.

"You're kidding," I said, unable to believe it.

Nebl.

Making a sword.

"Right? He and Lellip made it for me. I uh… feel bad now, to be honest. It's one of the reasons I haven't left yet, because now I feel responsible for it. I don't even know what came over me to ask for it, he just seemed so… obliging and accommodating all of a sudden, so…" Lilly shrugged as she smiled while staring at the nearby sword.

I sighed at that. "Hopefully it's not because he thinks we're about to wage war with the Society," I said.

"I don't know. We've talked about the vote, and Light and stuff… but to be honest Vim he doesn't seem to care. All he cares about is his family, and if they'll be safe or not. Like most members nowadays," Lilly said.

Right… "Did Light and the others not come here?" I asked. Supposedly they've been going around, like to Rapti and Kaley, so it'd be surprising if they didn't.

"One of them did. Someone named Perator. No idea who that is. They came to introduce themselves as they passed by on their way to Lumen, with a letter to Nebl from Light. He hasn't told me of its actual contents, he just says it was an introductory letter informing him that she's back," Lilly said.

Perator…? Another name I didn't recognize. Though I wasn't sure if that was better or worse than hearing a name I did, like Martin's.

Leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees, I frowned at Lilly. "From what I can gather Lilly, from all I know at the moment… Light and the rest are scheming around prophecies. Or at least one major one. I don't know if what they're doing is truly enough to justify me doing anything about it, but it is upsetting me beyond reason," I told her honestly.

"Prophecies always upset you, Vim. Why's this instance bothering you more than normal?" she asked, like usual being astute.

I sighed. "Some of them are about Renn. I don't think they're very important, nor what they're acting around, but they know of them. And not just one or two, either," I said.

Lilly chuckled. "What? Are you going to make me go to war just because you're being a protective husband, Vim? I'll admit I won't mind the excuse, but that's going to make it hard to rally allies to us," she teased.

"Don't even start," I groaned as I reached up to rub my face.

"Hmph… so you didn't learn anything important enough to justify action while in Telmik? What about Crane? Did you find her?" Lilly asked.

"No. We visited Rapti, and met Meriah… oh," I realized I'd not told her yet. I sat up a little, making Lilly tilt her head at me. "Meriah found proof that the Chronicler, and Mapple, had been involved in the fox village being burnt. We don't have proof yet that they were the cause of it though. It may just be that they had a prophecy of it, or heard of it through their church connections, and they sent Mapple to find the people responsible. Meriah said most of the ones involved were dead before she found them," I told her.

Lilly's thin eyebrows narrowed. "That's… not uncommon, Vim. I mean they do run the church, not to mention their prophecies. Maybe they just had Mapple confirm what they knew, or something?" she said.

"Yes. But Meriah is utterly convinced it was nefarious in nature. To the point I had almost believed it myself when she was talking about it. I destroyed a house in Nevi on accident, and sunk a boat, because of it," I told her.

Lilly scoffed. "Meriah is a fanatic, Vim. She may not be the same type as the Celine and the rest, but she's cut of the same cloth. That shouldn't shock you," she said.

"All the same. It's proof. It's another piece on the scale of guilt, forcing me to consider the possibility they need culling," I said.

She was quiet for a long moment, and then I heard her clothes shift a little. She had just moved her little nubs a bit. "What do you want me to do Vim?" she asked.

How was I supposed to know what I wanted her to do, when I didn't know what I wanted to do myself?

"My plan is to confront Light. I'll make a decision once I do. Either way though… I plan to step down. As protector. Along the way here we met several members… and I heard from and about many others, who all firmly believe I'm not doing my job properly. Either they don't want my help at all, ever again, or they want to change how I provide my assistance and the rules concerning it. I've decided that if it's that bad, then it's time I do what's needed," I said.

Lilly was quiet for a moment, studying me with her knowing eyes… then after a moment reached up to scratch at the side of her neck. I knew she had tiny little feathers mixed into parts of her hair, ones barely visible. They likely itched sometimes.

"I don't think I'll fully leave the Society. But I think it's time I just… let it be. I'll help those who still want it and I'll always be here to help no matter who needs it… but I plan to stop traveling around like I do. Randle's been banished, as I think you know. My current plan is after the vote, and after I formally step down, I'll help him build his new orphanage and church. I sent him with resources to that new mining town near your home. He'll be taking a few members with him. I threw my hat into it because Renn really cares for Angie, the young bison who's become very involved in the orphanages. Plus it's near your home, so," I said with a shrug.

"You plan to stay as centralized as possible, without being at Telmik. To let anyone who needs you get you as soon as possible," Lilly said, understanding swiftly.

I nodded. "It's the best I can think of, for now. But that might all change once I confront Light, of course."

Lilly sighed gently, but nodded. "I suppose that's for the best… what then of the members who don't want you to step down? What of those who need your frequent visits? Like Lumen? They always need your help," Lilly asked.

"Then they'll have to actually request for it. I don't want to abandon anyone, Lilly. Not after all these years… but I must face reality. The world has changed. The Society has changed. I knew it would happen eventually… look at all the times I threatened to quit back in the beginning, for crying out loud. It's a miracle I lasted this long," I said.

Lilly smirked at that. "Please Vim. You can lie to everyone else, even yourself, but I know that those threats had been empty."

I shrugged.

"Still… Randle huh? I was actually proud of him, for standing up to Light like he had. I'll be okay with him making a nest nearby. My Crown actually works at a school where she lives. Maybe I can get her to go there with him, and be involved. It'd make me feel better knowing she was closer to me, and also amongst fellow non-humans," Lilly said.

Oh? "She does?" I asked.

She nodded. "The boy she had fallen for, the one who had died, had been one of the teachers… and…" Lilly went quiet for a moment, and then crossed her arms and pursed her lips. She suddenly looked very troubled. "I worry for her, Vim. You should have seen the state of her house! It was a mess, and gross! I don't think she'd even bathed in who knows how long when I found her… It's like she's given up!" Lilly's voice began to rise as it cracked, and she noticed it. She calmed down, forcefully, as she took a deep breath and sniffed.

Sitting still, I waited a moment to allow Lilly to regain control of her emotions. She had nearly just broke.

"The loss of a loved one is a deep wound, Lilly," I said gently.

I'd completely forgotten her daughter had recently endured such heartbreak. I had heard of it not long after meeting Renn. I had just missed the young owl on that visit, when I had been traveling with Lomi. She had visited her parents, a rarity for her, because the young man… the human man, she had fallen in love with had died. Though I couldn't remember how he had passed away.

"I know, Vim. I've seen it so many times… it's one of the reasons I wanted to hurry home. I fear for the girl. She's always been weak, Vim… most of them are. But I'd never seen any of my kids so frail. So… broken," she said as she uncrossed her arms as to gesture at me, as if I was one of the broken eggs she spoke of.

I nodded gently. "Yes. A mother's love can sometimes fix that," I said.

She sniffed again. "Should I hurry home then…? But what if I'm not good enough? I know I'm not the best mother, Vim, especially for those like her… but…"

My toes curled in my shoes, and I felt hurt. As if her words had cut me somehow.

"You're a better mother than you think, Lilly. But not even the greatest of a mother's love can stop such heartbreak. It is a pain one cannot comprehend, even by those who've experienced it before," I said.

She nodded softly. "I know. And I know that, too. It's a pain I don't know. And even if I did… there's no way it'd be hurting me as bad as her. Because she's not like me…" Lilly then smirked. "She's more like Renn, in that way. Maybe I should have Renn come home with me," she realized.

I smiled at that. "Somehow I agree. Renn's oddly understanding, in such ways at least."

She nodded again. "But that's neither there or here. Enough about my family drama. What do you want me to do, Vim?" she asked, changing the subject forcefully.

I didn't call her out on it, because I knew she had done it so blatantly for good reason.

She had been about to cry.

"You just asked me that," I said.

"And I'll ask again until I get an answer," she said with a tiny sniff.

"Right… well for right now, I want you to do me the favor of helping me train Renn for a few days," I said.

"Train her? In what?" Lilly asked with a frown.

"Combat. If it all goes horribly wrong during my confrontation with Light… I want to make sure she's fully prepared to Stand Tall," I said.

Lilly scoffed at that. "You don't need to train her for that, Vim. I may have just made fun of her for being emotionally similar to my wingless children, but she's not as frail as them. Not as weak minded."

"She'd love that praise… I think. And I agree with you. But I still want to err on the side of caution. I recently gave her that spear, and she's never wielded a spear in combat. I'd like to give her a little experience at least before it comes time to having to use it for real," I said.

Lilly nodded. "We can do that. It'll at least give me something to do. I've hunted a few times while here, as thanks for letting me stay here, but I'll be honest I'm very bored."

"I bet. Sorry you've not found the bloodshed you left home to find yet," I said as I stood.

Lilly laughed at me. "It's all good! I bet we'll find some eventually!" she said as I turned to greet the one hurrying towards the building.

Opening the door right as Renn reached it, she grinned happily at me. "Come on, you two! Food's ready!"

I sighed at her as Lilly chuckled and stood from her chair. "Reminds me of when my kids still talked to me," she teased.

Renn paused, frowning at that. "Your kids don't talk to you anymore Lilly? Really?" she asked worriedly.

"Oh they do, just not with such a huge smile. Speaking of that, I got a favor to ask Renn," Lilly said as she grabbed Renn by the arm, as to lead her back to the house.

Following the two, I closed the door to the smithy and shook my head as Lilly asked Renn to come home with her, when she could, as to try and stop her daughter from wasting away from heartbreak.

And of course, without hesitation, Renn dutifully agreed.

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