Valsko held the reins of two Qilins trotting along. He sat back enjoying the blue sky and warm weather, eating a strip of jerky. He took a deep breath, exhaling with joy and bliss. "What a great day. Wouldn't you agree?" He asked spinning back to Urkse. Ragged and gagged. He wore a grain sack, cheap shorts, and a mythril pillory. Urkse responded with angry growls, lunging at him, yanking on his chain. Unable to stand, with both of his legs amputated. "Geez, a simple no would have sufficed." Valsko shook his head, turning around to ignore him.
The sun hit its peak and he stopped the wagon. Valsko leapt off to stretch and begun preparing a meal for himself, creating a small fire. He dragged Urkse out of the wagon, tossing him near the fire. Landing with a thud, Urkse tried to worm away. "Really? Are you still trying that?" Urkse continued to worm away. He rolled his eyes, floating Urkse into the air. Moving him over the fire, he hovered Urkse over the flames. Valsko stoked the flames with gentle breeze. Urkse writhed feeling the plumes kiss his skin. "I only need to bring you there alive. They didn't say, what condition you needed to be in." Urkse screamed in his gag, thrashing in the air. The mythril hands coiling around him. Valsko dropped him beside the fire, placing his boot onto Urkse's back. He kept him close to the flames. "Now, you can be a good little boy, and listen to me. Or you can a be a pussy the whole trip, and just bleed over my fun?"
Urkse whimpered, trying to edge away from the fire. "Good boy." Valsko released his foot, walking back to the wagon. "Now, be a good boy and wait there." Valsko cut down a tree, and turned it into a make shift seat. He helped Urkse onto the log, and begun to prepare the stew. As it boiled away, Valsko approached Urkse. "I'm going to take out your gag. Remember if you scream, shout, or spit at me. I'm going to cut off your balls, and feed them to you. Am I clear?" Urkse nodded. Valsko unclasped the gag, and Urkse stretched his lower jaw, furrowing his brow. He watched Valsko pour him a bowl of clear broth, and chunks of potato, as he devoured a chicken to himself. Cheap food to keep him alive for the journey. Valsko watched as Urkse stared at his bowl. "If you don't want to eat it. I can always shit and piss in your mouth. You might taste some of my food." Urkse growled, slugging back the meal, greedily devouring the bland meal.
"Why didn't you kill me?" Valsko eyed Urkse. "I was going to. Would have done wonders for my reputation, bringing your head to the Silver City. Tongue out, eyes rolled up. The ladies would have gone crazy over me. After I paid them of course. But still crazy nonetheless." "What stopped you?" "A mutual friend of ours. Said you were more important alive than dead. So. Here we are." Urkse placed the bowl down, lying down on his side. The two of them sat in silence around the fire, as Valsko finished off his meal. "How long, were you in the pit for?" Urkse asked. "Long enough to win my freedom." "How long have you been a traitorous asshole?" "Long enough to lose my freedom." Valsko snickered, wiping his mouth. He sat forward. "Why'd you do it? From what I've heard. You and Encara were inseparable. The Dynamic duo, who took over the Citadel."
"I never wanted to rule. I never wanted the Citadel." "So why did you do it?" "Encara did it. He killed the king, and seized control. I was just along for the ride. Just like now." "Why not just leave? You are a grown adult?" "I did leave." "But you...came back?" "I couldn't just watch another kingdom, fall to ruin by him. Not again...Hundreds and thousands of lives ruined, because of one man's temper tantrum." "You think, he would have recreated the immortals?" "If it meant keeping his son alive...yes." Valsko shuddered. "Everyone holds him in such high regard." Urkse scoffed and snorted. "He's a cruel monster. Far worse than any Draken or lunatic. He doesn't just win in fights, he likes to humiliate and torment his opponents." "So, who the fuck was crazy enough to have kids with him?"
"A whore. A fucking Islander whore. She actually whipped him into falling in love." Valsko reeled back impressed. "She must have been an amazing whore." Urske chuckled. "Oh she was. Everyone had their fair share with her. Busty, sun kissed skin, long flowing hair, and an arse that could take anything." Valsko let out a glum whistle. "Sounds like I missed out." "If I may ask. If you hated Encara this whole time, and that whore. Why did you try so hard to take care of his kid?" "He's a good child. Talented beyond imagination. He just fucked up and tried to follow in his father's footsteps for attention. Now he's an annoying smartass, with no muscles to wipe the shit coming from his mouth." Valsko snickered. "Well, since you've been so kind to share that with me. I'll let you know that, he's safe at the Silver City. Hear he's trying to fuck that Elf girl with them."
Urkse let out a sigh of relief. "Come on, we need to keep moving." Urkse opened his mouth, ready for the gag. "Be a good boy, and you get good rewards Urkse. No gag for you this time." He levitated Urkse into the air, floating him towards the wagon. He winced as the stench emanating from Urkse's pits. "And when we, cross a Fork, or lake. You're taking a bath." The two of them took off in the wagon, gently rocking against the stones on the beaten path. "Where are you taking me?" "I can't say. But our mutual friend, says you should probably, make peace with your decisions. You won't be getting any second chances." Urkse slumped in the back of the wagon. "Cheer up, Urkse. Our trip won't take long."
Urkse felt the tears building in his eyes. The pain in Encara's eyes. What the others would be doing without his aid. How Jacara would think of him. Did he know the truth yet? How was he reacting? Would he still care for him? His mind raced with these questions. Valsko whistled a cheery tune, as the Qilins carried them onwards. He spun around to Urkse, sobbing quietly in the corner. "Do you know any fun stories or jokes to pass the time?"