Tim had climbed down and was stalking over to me, but I put my hand up.
"Just a minute shit head. What's more important right now?"
He stopped and then finally noticed Kalita beside me. Abruptly, Tim went down on one knee and bowed his head. Good boy, at least he will listen to her, and I could turn him back to stone if he annoys me too much.
'Not anymore, the stone is what held him in place.' -Gripton.
'Oh... Well, does that mean I haven't given him any power boosts yet?'
'Look at him.' -Gripton.
I did, and Grip was right; this guy was way past his prime, like times had been good for a while, it seemed. Tim's belly stuck over his belt, and his shirt wasn't even tucked in. Now, I'm not one to stomp on other people's life choices, but shit, this guy was a mess; even his hair looked patchy.
"Stand up, Sir Tim! I have missed you!"
Kalita ran over and hugged the big man after he stood up. After she let him go, she stood back from Tim and took a deep breath; this was going to be good. I was betting Tim understood knights from some book or tv show depending on what era he came from would show through his reaction.
Kalita began to fill out and become the beautiful women I wanted to do dirty things to! I watched Tim's eye get big, then enormous, and then turned around in a flash, far faster than a man his size should. Well, maybe I have underestimated this old guy; let's see if he will take a boost from me, hehe!
"What do you think of Kalita's improved magic, Earthling?"
"I think it is splendid, but ah, where are the rest of her clothes, and what did you call me?"
"Don't play stupid with me, enough, haha, and fun stuff. Kali, I want to talk to Tim for a bit. Do you mind waiting by the log? You guys will have lots of time to talk later, okay?"
"Yeah, I can wait. Come see me after; we still have that other thing."
She left the statement open, but unintentional, but I still loved her for it. Tim's face had gone red as she kissed me and walked away. After she was out of ear range, I nodded to him and waved for him to get it all out. I wanted this done and over. If there was another hero in my service, he had to be in service, not some vagabond with a chip on his shoulder.
"What Have you done with the Princess?"
"Of what? You could hear the entire time, right? Then cut the bullshit, I saved her and the village here, and I am doing all over this shit hole of a world. Are you with me or not? There arent two ways here, either join me and sever me with everything you have or fuck off, but Kalita will come with me of her own choice."
"Why would she choose you over me?"
"I don't want to explain everything, but I will tell you this. Markeye serves me and is a trusted friend that stands at the head of my massive wagon train."
"Markeye serve's you? Why didn't you say this, nevermind, water under the bridge, if you don't mind."
"I don't mind; let's move on to the critical part. I have a magic that increases other people's magic and physical strength, similar to yours, but permanent, and it grows. The only detail is that you will serve me for the rest of your life."
"How do I sign up?"
"Now that's the fucking spirit! Give me your right hand; you remember what a handshake is, right?"
Tim got a strange look on his face; it was a smile. Tim put his hand out but tilted up, and it took me a second to recognize what it was.
"HAHA, Are you serious?!" I laughed as I grabbed his hand in a clasping manner and closed my eyes.
The damn light was bright for the first time, but I was stunned stupid when I opened my eyes. Our hands automatically slipped into the thumb wars grip and slid apart, dragging the finger across the others. We both closed our fists and pounded them. This handshake was dope and all, but what the fuck was I looking at? There is no way this guy is Tim.
The person in front of me was African American, and he looked rather funny wearing that baggy shirt as a dress. Tim's pants had fallen, but he didn't give two fucks; we were both transfixed to his very dark-skinned hands.
'Well, that is interesting, the first hero's never got any of my helpers, but they were able to pick their avatars.' -Gripton.
'I get it coming from my world; I can see why he might want to try something different. Is racism in this world a big thing?'
'Not among humans, only to the other races, but he couldn't have known that. The human have some other human slaves, but they don't favor a specific race.' -Gripton.
"So, Tim... That doesn't sound right anymore; what should we call you?"
"Cade, that was what the boys used to call me."
"You let them call you that? For one, that won't work that what I call one of my wives, and two, fuck that. Cable, you can be my righteous sidekick!"
"Cable was not a sidekick!"
"Oh? Do we have a sidekick fangirl?"
"Listen here, Great Master Hyde... What the fuck was that shit?"
"Haha, I am half tempted to leave it be; you make it sound so good, HAHA!"
I started to laugh harder and then caught my breath while Cable stood with his arms crossed for effect. I finally got a chance to look and him, and he had tightened and gotten thinner and younger. There was still my stuff to take care of after, but I had another hero in my group, and I was excited to see what he could do now.
"Okay, Cable, I order you to call me whatever you want, okay? Now, let's go see my wife."
"Kalita is your wife as well?"
"Get moving before I poke your eye out for effect; she is waiting for us.