At the end of the month, Millicent, Patience, Zevrack, and I were equipped and ready for our new job. I’d picked up a smattering of new skill points from all the training and was feeling much more comfortable with my new spells. We headed for the island that held visiting governments and then to the subdivision for Heraclen diplomats. Tib and Nica met us at where the island connected to the other. Nica gave us a slow nod of acknowledgement and Tib a curt and stiff one.

“We’ll be meeting my cousin at his quarters. Anyone have experience driving a wagon?” Millicent and I looked around and Patience sighed.

“I do.” she said, looking anything but thrilled at the prospect. She’d left Crofton for a reason, and I suspected she didn’t enjoy any of the tasks associated with her old life there.

Tib nodded at her. “Then you’ll have to drive it. My cousin has a large amount he needs to move back to the capital. Luckily I was able to convince him to cut things down to a single wagon.” He sighed. “Let’s go.”

We fell in line behind Tib and started walking deeper into the island. I wasn’t very familiar with this portion of the city. It looked as though the Itlans had simply allotted the land to the different dignitaries and let them build it up themselves. There was an eclectic mix of Crofton, Heraclen, and Itlan architecture. Not much from Kingsland, but from what I had gathered so far Millicent’s home country was the furthest one from Itlan. Though they did all exist on the same continent along the banks of a relatively lush river valley. Guess that on Tu’reyne just like on Earth human civilizations and lush river valleys went hand in hand.

There were other races with their own countries as well, but those all bordered the human ones on the outside. The dwarves' homeland gradually circled the human settlements borders, Elfland was further to the northwest, the beastlands to the East and beyond that was anyone's guess. The world was still very much in flux, with new races or groups of those races occasionally appearing in the midst of others. The easiest method of travel across all of them was the snake river, which, as I understood it, was literally a snake.

Tib led us on a nice direct path through the square that offered me tantalizing glimpses of interesting things, and ignored them in favor of expediency to our destination. We reached a building that looked to be made up of several apartments with a wagon parked out front. The wagon was filled to the brim with crates and boxes all of which were tied down by thick rope. A mule was at the other end of the cart, eyeing the load with a kind of grim acceptance.

Patience moved over to it and began an inspection of the animal. Checking its hooves, its mouth, and its coat. She then went to a small public well and filled a bucket with water that she placed in front of it. It would’ve been a routine sight if not for the constant low muttering and cursing patience let out as she performed each of these actions.

Millicent looked unhappily at the overloaded cart. “When I’d heard there was going to be a cart I had hoped perhaps we may have been able to ride on it for part of the journey.”

Tib was a little red in the cheeks as we all inspected the scene. “My cousin is…of a distinct personality. I would ask that you all steel yourselves in regards to him, and remember the pay which is being offered. I will go retrieve him.” With that, Tib made his way into the apartment.

I looked to Nica for any explanation, but she shrugged. “I have not met his cousin.”

With that I leaned against the cart and waited. It was still early in the morning, and there was a pleasant breeze in the air. Zevrack was wearing a light patchwork coat I’d had made out of all the excess fabric leftover from my own clothes. While the rest of us wouldn’t be riding in the cart, he found a large enough gap in which to squeeze himself and his oversized backpack, and was snoring peacefully before Tib and his cousin arrived.

Tib was his usual stone-faced self, and what I assumed was his cousin walked close behind. He was wearing the same type of toga that was common among the Heraclen, but his was dyed a light peach color and, in spite of the chill in the air, appeared to be sheer. His skin was tan and he had blonde hair and light eyes, along with the looks of a boyband member. The only thing I could see in common between he and Tib, was a strong jawline they both shared, along with a wavy texture to their hair.

Tib gestured to him, “This is my cousin Tristus. Tristus, these are my…coworkers. Nica, Millicent, Patience, and Cor.”

Tristus stepped around him. “No need to be so formal coz. It’s nice to meet all of you at last. Tibby speaks of each of you often.” He raised an eyebrow and looked over into the cart where Zevrack was sleeping. “And him? He with us or a hitchhiker?”

I nodded. “With me, that’s my companion Zevrack.”

His pale eyes moved to me. “Oh, an elf and a kobold. How exciting!”

“Sure…” was all I could manage as Tristus blatantly ran his eyes up and down me.

Tib coughed. “Well. Let’s get a move on. Don’t want to miss the next shift in the islands.”

“There’s no reason to rush,” countered Tristus.

Tib gave him a hard look. “You know that’s not true.”

Tristus’ expression shifted from amused to worried for a heartbeat, but then quickly corrected itself. “Fine.” He went and sat next to Patience in the cart, leaving the rest of us to walk.

The trip out of the city was an easy one as we followed what I could tell was a path that Tib had clearly charted out to be as efficient as possible. Once we were on the road out of Itlan I found myself growing excited. It had only been a short while since I’d been traveling, but I found myself eager to be on the road again. There was still a lot of this new world to see and I wanted to do so as quickly as possible. Heracleum would be a great place to start. I’d always loved Roman architecture and history when I was younger, and while I knew this was a few steps away from that, I was still very excited to see how that translated here.

Once we were out of the city, Tristus began talking with everyone in a manner that felt both familiar, and out of place at the same time. He started by commenting on Patience’s wardrobe and its plainness, emphasizing that he believed a woman like her would look better in something that showed more skin. He managed to do this in a way that she didn’t find offensive. She responded by emphasizing the practicality of dark clothes in her line of work, but that just led to him offering to take her shopping for something black, but revealing when we arrived in Heraclum.

I found that prospect tantalizing, both the shopping and the idea of Patience in such an outfit, but I did my best to avoid being drawn into the conversation. My companions on the other hand, were drawn into a vortex of talk by him. First Millicent asked what type of shops were in Heracleum, and he regaled her with descriptions of his many trips through the market. Soon Zevrack, and even Nica were drawn into his many vivid descriptions and tales.

I’d met a few people like Tristus back on Earth, but hadn’t since I’d arrived in Tu’reyne. He was a whirlwind of charisma that swept up everything in his path. Which was fine, but speaking to people like that always made me feel as if I was somehow ‘losing’ a conversation rather than having one. As such I took up the rear guard of the wagon with Tib.

He was quiet for a long time. Occasionally wincing when he was mentioned in an anecdote, or his cousin told a particularly saucy detail that one would typically keep out of polite conversation. Eventually he turned his attention to me.

“I apologize. It seems my cousin's manner bothers you as much as me.”

I shrugged. “It’s fine. I’m being paid for it after all.”

He nodded. “A sensible attitude.” He made a quick scan of the woods around us. When he was sure they were clear he titled his head back toward me. “Honestly, I would’ve expected you two to get along.”

I raised my eyebrow. “Really?”

“I mean no offense mind you. You both simply have a similar manner. You’re more reserved overall, but there’s an easy-going nature to both of you.”

I frowned. This was the longest conversation I’d had with Tib. His cousin must’ve put him more off balance than I’d realized. “I suppose there’s some truth to that. Must be why we haven’t really got along.”

He looked confused for a moment. “We don’t get along?”

I was surprised, but rallied quickly. “Oh, uh, I just mean we haven’t talked much outside of working. I’ve had drinks and conversations with Millicent, Patience, and even Nica outside of that context, but not you.”

“Ah. Well, I suppose I prefer to keep things professional.”

I put up my hands. “Totally cool. Respectful coworkers works for me.” With that, we continued walking in awkward silence. Listening in as everyone else spoke.