Chapter 6: North Cornwall

We finally crossed the border! Now we're in the realm of Cornwall.

Nice!

That water looks refreshing. Why don't we rest here a bit?

Um... Ethan, could you go over there for a moment?

What? Why?

Q-Quickly!

Okay...

Teehee, the water is so clean!

Kyaa! M-Morgana... Say something before you start massaging me...!

Heehee... How nice to be so young, ahaha!

Gah! Let's see how you like it then!

W-Wait! I'm afraid of being in the water! Mmmph!

What is going on?!

Hehe, how nice it is to bathe after so long. What a wonderful idea, Your Highness!

Well, I would not like to arrive at Cornwall covered head to toe in sweat, teehee

Woooo...

Wow! Morgana is floating around like our old ship!

Hoo! Hoo! Hoo... I have more confidence in floating on water than swimming in it. I have nothing weighing me down like you two.

What weighs us down...?

Why, these of course!

Uaaagh! Stop it, Morgana!

Hohoho! Stay still. I'll finish soon.

Ahaha... Morgana, you have a desirous rogue inside you!

Morganaaaaaaa!!!

Whoops!

.......

Ethaaaaan!

Kyaaa!!!

I-I was just wondering why you chased me away is all... Haha...

Hear me, O ancient spirits! Answer the Fairy Queen's call. O magic of creation, awaken and slay our enemy.

Morgana! Stop the spell now!

I cannot forgive you for this, Ethan!

You got me all wrong, Elizabeth! I did look, but I didn't see anything!

What in heaven's name does that mean? I did not ask for an excuse! Prepare yourself for what's to come!

Hic, hic... I did not know Ethan was that kind of man!

A piggy and a pervert, and now he will get his comeuppance, heehee...

Haa! Haa! A just victory!

Urgh... Ethan... You are so mean...

Not only do you steal glances, but you resist as well... So this is the kind of man you are...

I did glance, but I don't think that merits you charging at me so hard I could die...

I did my best... Forgive me, Your Highness. I am no match for him...

I was going a little easy on you, but a loss is a loss...

Oh well. I suppose you get to take all the glimpses you like today, Ethan.

I'm not looking!

The Kingdom of Cornwall...

I shall go request an audience with King Mark. Will you accompany me, Bedi?

Wait, Elizabeth. You can't just waltz right in there.

They claim to be resisting, but we don't know what King Mark's really thinking. We should take a look around the surrounding towns.

I suppose... that is sound...

Are you still angry?

O-Of course I am! I didn't know you were a rascal!

I'm really sorry, but I promise I didn't see anything. Aside from someone floating on the water.

Is that so? I don't think I can let that comment pass me by, Ethan.

You there! What business have you in Cornwall?

A guardsman. He must have found our loud voices suspicious.

Ahem! Mm! Pardon me, Sir, I am Princess...

Seize her! She could be a scout!

You just attack without letting her answer?!

Phew, managed to fight 'em off. Why don't people just listen?

Will we be all right? I know we aren't to blame, but our first action upon arriving was fighting with guardsmen...

You there! Come this way! It is safe here!

Huh? Someone's calling for us.

She's a Catfolk!

She is trying to rescue us, is she not? We should go, lest we continue as we are and get taken as enemies.

True. Let's go.

I saw the whole thing... Super strong, ya are!

Who are you?

Oh! I'm Merry, a Catfolk merchant. Ya seemed all commanding and whatnot, so I figured ya might need some wares!

You're not from around here, are you?

That is right. We've only just arrived, yet have run into a misunderstanding...

Don't worry 'bout that. I can fix that for ya. Perhaps ya can be my guards in return.

Be your guard? Are you in trouble, Merry?

Aye! I've been threatened, ya see.

I dunno, we have a long way to go...

I beg yas! I saw ya take those Cornwall guardsmen down and thought I could trust ya! That's why I wanted to help.

Fine. I don't think we have another option.

Yahoo! Many thanks! What a marvelous man ya are!

M-Marvelous?

Ah! That's right! I'm a pretty good guy, heh.

One that steals glances at women bathing...

Piggy pervert...

Shut up!

Oi, little one, where you goin'?

Eeek!

Now's a good time to be my guard! Please!

Huh? Now?

Over there! Get 'em!

Haa, haa... Whew... We are all right now. They did not follow.

So, Merry, care to tell us what you did to be chased?

I didn't do nothin' bad! Just... I was good at doin' business is all!

Right, you said you were a merchant.

Aye! I pick up things cheap and sell 'em pricey, I buy up all the popular items so everyone's gotta purchase 'em from me!

Hmm, I don't know if I should call you skilled or criminal...

Ahem! It's just business! Anyone would do the same!

Well, if your business is going so well that you're being chased, I'd say you did something criminal...

No! Those men... They must've been the henchmen of Narham, the Slaver.

Slaver?

A large number of Catfolk slaves were brought into Cornwall recently...

And... me sister Ciri is among 'em...

So you got caught trying to save your sister, and now they're chasing you...

Aye, Narham especially deals in illegal slave tradin'... So many Catfolk have died from bein' abused in his possession.

Even if I try to buy Ciri back, they don't meet me for the deal, and I don't have the strength to take her back...

That's why I need protection. I must meet Narham and make him negotiate!

I think I have an even better idea.

A better idea? What'll that be?

You said it's illegal, right? Well, we can't just let that go on, can we?

Th-Then...

Plus, we need some more money, so this works out perfectly. Let's take 'em out!

Ho, he speaks some sense for once!

What the...? Is this really where the slaver is?

No doubt. I left no stone unturned lookin' for me sister.

Where people can see, they take care of the slaves they're sellin', but outside that, they're locked up here.

Well, good luck, Ethan. Bye now.

Huh? Where are you going, Morgana?

To the inn where I can lie in a warm bed.

What...?

Have you ever seen a fairy in a dark, rancid sewer before? No, you haven't.

Yeah, but I have heard about one fairy found dead in a sewer.

Oh? Really? Which fairy was that?

You!

Eeek!

Intruders!

It will be hard to go back now anyway. But hey, I won't stop you if you wanna go alone.

Haa... How bloody considerate of you.

Bah, what are you doing here?!

Give Ciri back!

You're that damn Catfolk merchant! You dare interfere with my work when you were only spared due to your skill?

Is this guy... a human, or...?

Ciri! Ciri!

Aaaa...

I've waited so long for this... To see ya again... I finally found ya, Ciri!

M-Merryyyyy!!!

Never get away from me again, Ciri. Ya better stay real close!

What a tearful reunion.

Hic! You can say that again, Your Highness... Hic!

Yeesh, there's a ton of slaves farther in. Disgusting.

Never heard of this thing called human rights? Kings these days...

King Mark...

I can answer that question for you.

S-Someone's coming!

Beware, Ethan, it could be an enemy we missed!

How rude. What have I done to be treated like some rapscallion?

Who are you? This place is awfully deep for you to just casually stroll in.

I was following a friend.

What friend?

I congratulate you, Merry, for finding your sister. Would you please explain to these people now?

Hic, hic... Huh...?

Oh! Princess Isolde!