"I-I've been fine." Miceter nervously answered.

"Have you had fun?" Zed asked, the Villain smile still on his face.

"Y-Yeah, I've had tons of fun. I got to finish my collection of stories and I got to go on a piggy back ride and... and I've learned to swim!"

"Really?"

"Really! I was about to tell Mister all about it!"

Miceter gulped once he saw the cold glint in Zed's eyes.

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"Well too bad, Mister won't be able to hear all about it."

"What, why?"

"Because, we're leaving."

"Right now?"

"Right now."

"Are we coming back?"

"No."

"But that isn't fair to Mister!"

"I don't care."

"He's helped me out a lot!" And, as if he just remembered, Miceter blurted out: "Besides, I'm on a really, really important mission--top secret!"

"What did I tell you about leaving my side?" Zed demanded, completely ignoring Miceter's exaggerated confession.

Miceter twiddled with his crimson ribbon, failing to meet Zed's gaze.

"You said to never..." Miceter's quiet mumbling got even quieter with each word.

"What? I can't hear you."

Miceter took a deep breath before bravely meeting Zed's angry eyes.

"You said to never ever leave without your permission or else you're going to ground me. Zed, I don't want to die!" Miceter pitifully wailed.

I raised my brows in surprise while Zed furrowed his.

"What?"

"Although I went away, I was plannin' on comin' back. There's no need to murder me because of it!"

I coughed, clearing my throat. "Miceter, do you know what being grounded means?" I asked.

"Doesn't that mean he's gonna bury me?"

"No!" Zed shouted, horrified.

I sighed. "It means you're put on a time out. Like being forced to sit in the corner for a couple of minutes or forced to do chores, etc. Do you get it?"

"Oooh..." Miceter nodded his head in thought. "So that doesn't mean I die?"

"Who got that idea in your head?" Zed snapped, flicking Miceter on the forehead.

"Ouch, that hurt!" Miceter held his forehead, looking at Zed with tears in his eyes.

"We're leaving now, and that's final."

"I can't leave Mister, he'll be all alone!"

Zed turned to glare at me. I returned an awkward smile. (Although, to be fair, I don't think he could tell that I was smiling considering I'm a cat right now and all.)

"Who are you?"

"He's a Special Mentor!" Miceter answered for me. "Isn't that cool?!"

"He still has a name."

"Really? I thought men of position didn't have names due to religious reasons."

"Don't tell me you followed a stranger around without knowing his name?"

Miceter laughed awkwardly, scratching his cheek.

Zed's glare intensified as he examined me. "Now I really need to know who you are."

Oh crap, I have to come up with something!

Miceter, dang it, why didn't you give me a nickname?!

I should have known this question would repeatedly come up!

Should I be Alex? Dylan? Bob? Caesar?

Nah, Caesar's too grand.

Ughhhh...

Uhh...

Rusoe! After that one poet--I forgot his full name, but that doesn't matter.

"My name is Rusoe."

"Rusoe..." Zed repeated my name, obviously trying to remember something.

"Huh, I think I've heard that name before." Miceter also puzzled over the name.

What, is there some fancy noble out there with the name "Rusoe" in this world?

Crap, what if there is?!

What do I do then, play it off as me having the same name?!

Actually, now that I think about it, I could do just that...

"Your parents named you after a brand of beer?" Zed asked.

"My mother was an alcoholic." I lied.

Sorry Mom, I love you and I hate to disgrace your name, but it has to happen. Otherwise, I can't guarantee my survival in this world.

"That's really sad." Miceter started to tear up once more over the made up origins of my made up name.

"Miceter." Zed suddenly growled, ruining the somber mood.

"What?"

"Don't try to wrestle your way out of this by pretending to be dumb."

Miceter sighed. "You realized it, huh? Bummer. I was so close, wasn't I?"

I watched their interaction in confusion.

"We're leaving, NOW."

And then, true to his word, Zed immediately mounted his horse and left, taking a shouting Miceter with him.

"Wait, no, but seriously, I need to tell Mister something. Mister, wait for me, I'll come back for you!"

I couldn't help but feel like a young maiden at that moment.

...

It was the moment they had turned the corner and left my line of sight that I realized something really important.

So important, in fact, my life depnds on it.

WHAT ABOUT THOMAS HARK?!

Miceter, come back!!!

What do I do now?!

Wait?

I don't have that long!

I turned to face the tavern doors.

I guess I'll have to do this myself.

I gazed at the rusted silver knob.

Now how do I get inside?

Huh...