“Well, you got what you wanted,” Jackson said while getting comfortable in the crow’s nest. They were about to start for Border Town. The girls had been loaded up, Edwards and the Princess had packed their things, though Luna had to ditch a couple of bags that were simply too big. Gypsy was leading the wagon while Barbara rested below. Angela sat across from Jackson with her arms crossed while he got out his books and began to study.

“What do you mean?” Angela snapped.

“We got an archer and a mage. We fixed our party balance.”

“Edward is hardly a mage,” Angela said. “It takes him five minutes just to attack. We’ll be dead long before he manages to attack once.”

“He’ll get better.”

“And I’ve yet to see Luna fight once. What do you mean she’s and archer?”

“She uses a bow and arrow. She a good shot, from what I remember. Plus, we got Catherine, who is good mid-range.”

“We have too much mid-range!” Angela yelled. “Besides, she more of a close-range fighter.” Angela seemed to pout at that. They had fought a few dozen times now and Catherine had won every pout. She even defeated Barbara, much to Jackson’s amazement. The girls didn’t like how Catherine would run over to Jackson each time she bested one of them looking for phrase.

“I’ve seen her fight while using magic, trust me, she’s mid-range.”

“Right, she fights just like you. Except with both arms and a magical holy sword that she steals from Joseph.”

“I steal from Joseph; I’m apparently going to gift it to her in a few years.”

“Why?”

“Sorry?”

“Who are her birth parents? You’re only her adopted father. Who’s her real mother and father.”

“Isn’t that obvious,” Jackson said raising his eyebrow. He could not believe anyone couldn’t figure out something so obvious. It was almost painful how simple it was to put together.

“Well, I’ve not-”

“You know Ms. Jinx is sending Joseph back with us,” Jackson cut her off. He wanted to change the subject, and this had been on his mind for some time. His teacher had convinced Joseph not to come back to the capital just yet and to focus on hunting the Berserker. Border Town was central and a good place to start a new hunt.

“Alice and Carley keep me informed,” Angela said with a bored tone. “They expect me to follow them when Joseph leaves on his quest.”

“Are you?” Jackson asked flatly.

“Of course not, someone needs to stop you from adopting and seducing every woman on this planet. At the rate you are going you’ll found a new kingdom of nothing but maidens. Someone needs to keep you in line.”

“You got a point,” Jackson joked.

“Did you know your right eye is starting to turn gold?” Angela asked suddenly. Jackson was taken back by the change in subject. The mood change struck him like a truck.

“I’ve noticed,” Jackson replied. He had seen it last night; his green eye now had a sliver of gold matching his left eye. It was like a crescent moon. A small sliver and a bad sign.

“I told Gypsy you would notice. All those magic enhancements and all. She wanted to hide it, to pretend we didn’t see a thing. You are changing Jackson, in more ways than just that eye. Your wounds heal faster, it feels like metal plates under your skin when we touch you, not to mention you are cold to the touch. Whatever’s going on with you it’s not good.”

“I know,” Jackson said in almost a whisper.

“Huh?” Angela snapped. Jackson didn’t speak again. He focused on his madman’s book. He didn’t want to think about the seed growing inside him. He had decided that once he got back to the Madame’s, he was going to learn as much about the old legends as he could. He needed to know where this thing was born, and maybe there he could find a way to kill it. Or to master it.

Gypsy joined them as they left the gates, giving her ancestral home one last look. Jackson joined her, feeling rather sad at the state of the once beautiful capital. They were still repairing, still undoing Luna’s handy work. Many were still injured and in makeshift hospital tents. The total mortality rate was still unknown as the guard slowly worked there way through the rubble.

“I can’t believe we’re going to be sleeping under the same roof as her,” Gypsy said in a sad voice.

“Don’t have a choice, unless you want to waste money on an inn or something.”

“But look at what her selfishness caused. I’ve never seen this level of destruction.”

“I know,” Jackson said. His heart was racing slightly as he remembered the past few days. He had hoped his highlight would be saving some slaves. Then he hoped that his worst memory would be the start of that game. He would never forget the Berserker fight, nor learning who that Berserker was. His final worst memory happened yesterday when Princess Lili demanded to see him in private.

Their conversation had been short, heated and Jackson could feel the battle lines being drawn. The Princess was angry that he didn’t name one of the Kingdom’s heroes to be the groom. By selecting Edward, he had forged an alliance between the Beast men and the Republic. She told him that it was his duty to think of the Kingdom first, to defend it and to help it ready for the coming war.

Jackson was not happy with this. He reminded her in no uncertain terms that he was no longer a kingdom’s hero, as they sent him to his death a few months ago. He also had no allegiance to her, nor any of the people that helped kidnap him and his friends. He left out the part of being forced on to the Beast men’s side, the queen made it quite clear she would be on his side in the coming war.

“Have you no honor? No sense of duty?” the princess had yelled. “I’ve heard the stories of your world. I know that there you would have been a nothing. That back in your world you led a miserable life. But here, here you lead those girls around by the nose. You have everything a man could desire, only because my goddess brought you here. I wish she didn’t, but we’re stuck with you now.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Jackson had agreed in a spiteful tone. “But your world cursed me in the worse possible way. In my world I’d still have both arms, both legs, my eye wouldn’t be damaged, and my back wouldn’t look like swish cheese! But like you said, you’re stuck with me now.”

That had ended it, with both parties storming off. Jackson kept that meeting, like most of the others a secret from the girls. He didn’t need to worry them. If it put them in danger, he’d inform them then.

“Are you alright?” Gypsy asked, rocking Jackson by the shoulder.

“Just a lot of bad memories from this place. I’ll be happy in our bed back home.”

“So,” Gypsy said slightly. “Have you decided who’s going to be Catherine’s mother?”

“Huh?” Jackson said. He jumped from her side when he realized what she asked. “I haven’t given it much thought,” He lied.

“Am I not your wife?” Gypsy asked while raising her eyebrow.

“Your what?” Angela yelled. The seed in Jackson could feel her rage and anger flaring.

“You need to stop that joke,” Jackson hissed. “It’s a joke me and her have.”

“Yes, joke. Try explaining that to Barbara,” Gypsy giggled.

“You’re the one who won’t let it die,” Jackson hissed again.

“Only because it reminds me of the time when you were so innocent.”

“Right?” Jackson said in an uncertain voice.

“Can someone explain to me this joke,” Angela said with a red face. She looked rather dangerous.

“Well, you see Jackson aunt- oh hi Barbara,” Gypsy stopped explaining the moment a broadsword was thrust under her chin. Jackson saw the living natural disaster hanging from the crow’s nest, one hand pulling her up while the other threatened Gypsy. She had sensed Gypsy was about to marry Jackson off once again and decided to prevent it. She had decided that for now they would be the only brides.

…

Far away, in the capital of the Kingdom of man, the king sat in anger. His face was completely red after listening to the report of his spy. His plan had failed. Worse, it looked like it had never even happened. Had his assassins done their job, he would have been marching on the Beast men an hour ago.

His nightmare only continued as he learned that one of his best generals had been murdered by the Berserker yesterday evening, the third one in only a few days. Everything was coming undone and now that monster was in his lands targeting his people. Something had to be done, and soon.