"Yeah, it is. I'm actually surprised that he chose to marry her." Teiris looked up briefly at Wein's remark, and suddenly jabbed him in the ribs. The little shamaness giggled as Wein heard her laughter. The two rode side by side as the Highland ruler now looked the Palemoon ruler in the eye. "And what was that for?"

"Oh, nothing," Teiris said, smiling, "just a little something from a friend."
"Keep it up, and we'll get married ourselves one of these days."

Teiris smiled and kissed Wein on the cheek quickly. She was in love with the Highland ruler, and he returned her kiss with one of his own. It was a soft delicate kiss. Teiris smiled and now Wein rode off ahead of her. "You coming or not, slow poke?" he called, and stopped a good ten paces ahead of her. Their futures ensured, the ruler of Highland and the ruler of Palemoon continued to ride southwest to Izumo.

"You need to learn patience, Junon," Gongos said, guzzling an ale in one quick gulp. "Ahhhhhh." The Bozack ruler wiped off his lips without using a napkin and continued talking to her, while his mouth was full of food. "Patience is very essential. I would've thought ya woulda learned that during the war."

This guy is pretty disgusting, Junon thought to herself, and then smiled, then again, if we didn't join forces during the war, we wouldn't be here today. Maybe I should just tell him about his habits? Nah! "I guess I haven't been very patient since the war," she said at last, "but if it's to be a lesson to be learned, I'll learn it, even if it's going to take forever."

"Atta girl!" Gongos said excitedly.
"So where the hell's Leon?"

Gongos rolled his eyes and threw his hands up in disgust. But Junon was smiling at him, and she gently smacked his cheek with her gloved hand. "I'm joking, Gongos," she said, smiling. "I mean it's not like he's the one getting married."

"No, but I've got a good reason as to why I'm late," someone said above them. Junon and Gongos looked up and saw Leon, in dress attire. His long brownish hair was now cut shorter than before. Nicely trimmed but still himself, Leon now leaned on the table where the two heroes sat. "Are you two ready?"

Gongos nodded and then Junon followed suit. The three friends headed out of the tavern and back to the outskirts of town. They now headed for the stables and headed off to Izumo. "So what took you so long?" Junon asked, winking at Gongos.

"It's a bit hard to explain," Leon replied.
"Mm-hmmm," Junon and Gongos said in unison.

As Junon, Gongos, and Leon headed out of the tavern for Izumo, a face revealed itself from out of the shadows. The three heroes did not even see him hiding. The stranger now headed for the door, and the barkeep stopped him. "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" he said, in an icy tone, "you didn't pay for your ale!"

"You must've been drunk, my friend, because I paid you," the stranger replied, but the bartender shook his head, flipping out his tab. The stranger just stood there, patiently, for the bartender to finish. Are you going to get to the point anytime soon? he thought to himself, smiling.

"Not according to the tabs I have," the bartender replied, "let's see.... Kenshi, Slade, Higgins, Junon, Leon, Gongos, Sliver, Silver.... but you're not on here." The bartender grew serious. "Now where's your money?"

"I don't have any," the stranger replied, and started out again. This time, a tall man, about seven foot two inches, barred his path. The man growled angrily at the stranger. "I don't have time for this." The stranger looked away from the muscular man blocking his path and then back at the bartender. When he faced the man, he clenched squared his feet and literally executed what could only be seen as a flip kick.