Chapter 19

We spent several days in Rioso's tower, regaining our strength and packing. Mostly packing. I remembered thinking about the hundreds of books I had seen in the library -- now we were packing them for real. But there was no possible way for us to carry them back to the valley, so Rioso was forced to decide which ones he could keep. I told him he could take a fourth of them. I didn't think it was possible for him to turn whiter, but he managed. He spent two entire days trying to decide which ones to take.
Zarra and Kala fashioned carts and harnesses for the cats; five carts with two cats per cart. When we reached the mountains, they would have to lower the carts down by ropes. It was not going to be an easy journey, but Rioso insisted he needed his books and herbs and potions and that none of the items could be found in the valley, which was probably true since I recognized none of the herbs and couldn't read a word of the books. I asked Rath if he could read them and he shook his head.

All during our stay in the tower, Rath had been very quiet, to the point of being withdrawn. He refused to talk about what was troubling him; he even refused to admit that anything was bothering him. But he kept getting lost in thought, his eyes distant and faraway. I was truly worried about Rath and did my best to cheer him up.

For once, sex was not a part of our lives. We were all too exhausted from the journey to the tower and now had the return journey to contemplate. After that first night with Rioso, I stayed celibate for the rest of our stay. I promised that I would make it up to them when we got home, and Zarra laughed wholeheartedly. Kala sighed and Rioso looked at them questioningly, but they offered no explanation. Rath said nothing.

Finally, after over a week, we began the journey. The carts were packed to overflowing and I pitied the cats having to haul them over such terrible terrain, but they didn't seem to mind the burden. Our journey was much easier this time; Rioso raised a protection shield around us. I could see a faint blue shimmering about two feet around the group, but I couldn't touch it since it traveled with me, always two feet beyond my reach.
The trip down the mountains was exhausting. Zarra unhitched the cats and tied one cart to four of the cats. Then slowly he and Kala lowered the first cart to a wide ledge below. Fortunately, Zarra knew every nook and cranny in the mountains that had been his home for decades and took the path with ledges that could hold the five carts. One by one the carts were lowered from ledge to ledge. It was back-breaking work and all the muscles in their arms and back stood in sharp relief. I licked my lips and Zarra caught it.
"You are incorrigible!!!" he exclaimed. "At least let us reach the foot of the mountains!"

"What did you think I was going to do? Jump on top of you?" I protested, and then laughed because that's precisely what I had wanted to do.

Once we reached the bottom, the cats were hitched up to the carts again and we continued our journey, glad that the hardest part was over.

When we reached home, a surprise was waiting for us. The wolf demons had added a small tower to my house for Rioso. It was only three stories tall, but he was surprised and touched by their kindness. I got the feeling that he was not used to kindness for his fellow demons and I vowed to do what I could to make his life a happy one.

The villagers welcomed the mage with open arms, much to his amazement. He and Rath poured over the maps, deciding where to put the protection areas. Little huts were built to house water, food and blankets. A loud bell was placed in each one. If demons attacked, you ran to the hut and rang the bell. Either the wolves or the cats would come to your aid. Each hut was surrounded by a protection shield very much like the one that had protected us during our trip.

"I don't understand how they work?" I admitted, peering into one of the huts. "If it is a shield, how can people go though them?"

"It is an energy shield, not a physical shield. You can walk right through."

"So only humans can go through?"

"No, since the wolf demons and cat demons are also part of our community, I had to make them so both demons and humans could go through." Rioso explained patiently.

"Then what's to prevent the demon that chasing you for just following you into the hut?"

"The spell stops harm. You cannot harm anyone inside of the shield. Here, I'll show you." He walked into the hut. "Now, Kala, walk inside." Kala walked in without a problem. "Now attack me." Without hesitation, Kala bared his fangs and jumped on the mage. I shrieked in alarm, but it was for naught. Kala never made it to the mage; he found himself transported outside of the shield and as long as he was attacking, he could not get through the shield. When he stopped growling, and became his usual calm self, he walked right through.

"Incredible!" I said, "You are amazing!"

Rioso smiled at me, blushing slightly at the compliment.

With the addition of Rioso and the establishment of the huts and their surrounding shields, the valley was finally safe. A few cattle and sheep were lost, but no more people. The death and sadness that I had known as a child was at an end and I hoped that no child would ever know it again.

Our life was content and happy; and my demons found that being with me every fourth night was just perfect. But, still, every once in a while, Rath would look at Rioso and a heartbreakingly sad look would appear in his eyes. One day he would tell me the story of his past and I would learn about the memories that still gave him so much pain, but until then I vowed that I do my best to make his new life as happy as I could.

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