Kaboom & Company Part Two (complete)

Susilo has sent us all out for the day. He usually does whenever he makes soap, because he doesn’t like have anyone around. Or so it seems - but lately he’s getting chummy with a Kobold apothecary. Surprising, since Susilo has kept most people at arm’s length since he joined us.

“He’s not making anything.” Loker scoffs as we return to the cabin. “He doesn’t have the cauldron out or anything, the liar.”

It’s true. The spot where he’s built the fires hasn’t been touched today, and the cauldron is still clean. “Maybe he and Zahbi are in the shed cutting the soaps up. This is usually when he starts to let the bars cure, anyway.”

“She’s pretty cute. I can see why he’d be smitten,” Loker sighs as he opens the door. “Oh look, he was cutting soaps.” He approaches the table, but Abasi holds Emory and I back at the door. His long ears twitch and flick in the air.

“I think we should go back into town and eat at the pub.” Abasi’s tone has a hint of urgency to it.

Loker is sniffing the soap. “This smells really nice! I wonder what he used.” Then, in the brief moment of silence, we hear moaning and the creaking of a bed.

“Is that...” Loker drops the soap.

Abasi grabs Loker by the collar and yanks him towards the door. “Let’s go!”

“That was Susilo, right?” Loker asks as we walk away.

“Good for him,” Emory nods. “Zahbi is really sweet.”

“Susilo! Are we sure that was him?” Loker presses. “I didn’t think he had it in him. Zahbi seemed eager, but him?”

I pat Loker on the back. “It doesn’t matter who started it. Let’s just give Susilo some privacy.”

We all go back into town, planning on stopping at the pub. We’ll sit around for a while, have a few drinks, and hopefully when we’re done Susilo and Kahbi will be as well.

“I know it’s been a while since any of us delved into those lovely waters, but do you think this will make Susilo want to stay in Obresh?” Loker looks at us as we settle in at the table. “I know all of you were teasing before, but this is different. Susilo doesn’t do things by half. This could end up being serious, like wife-and-child serious.”

“That’s his call,” Abasi shrugs. “If he chooses to stay, he’ll stay. That won’t change our plans to go to Rakshasa Country. But it sure will give us incentive to come back to Obresh, don’t you think?”

A strange frown appears on Loker’s face. “Yeah, but it’s always been us together. Traveling, having fun, Susilo yelling at us when we have too much fun. Who's going to stop us now?”

“You’re talking like he’s already made up his mind,” I say with a chuckle. “Why are you so worried about it? Weren’t you just saying you’d marry into the royal family and never see us again?”

He scowls at me. “I never said that! I said I’d marry into the royal family, but not that last part.” He picks up his wine and sips at it. “I fully intended to keep you all around as staff.”

“You’re such a good friend.” Abasi takes a drink. “But it does raise the question - what will happen to us when we’re all ready to go our separate ways?”

A morose silence descends on our gathering. Emory’s eyes brighten, and he looks around the table. “We’ll still be friends, right? Maybe we won’t be traveling all over the empire together, but we’ll know where we are. We may even stay close. If we decide to make a base here in Obresh, wouldn’t that be better anyway? We’d always know where to go.”

Loker leans his elbows on the table. “None of us are that old. Why are we even considering this? We still have so much youth ahead of us. Why plan like marriage is breathing down our necks?”

“Because Susilo has a girl in his bed. We all knew that would be the first sign of the end times,” Abasi says with a chuckle. “If he can find someone, any of us can.”

I nod my head. “I agree with Emory, though. Perhaps it’s time we find a place to make our base. That way, if anything happens to us, we don’t need to worry about each other.”

Loker frowns. “You’re all ridiculous! We’ve never needed that before.”

Abasi shoots Loker a look. “What about Mika?”

Loker sits at attention and looks around the pub. “Where?” Then he realizes he’s been caught and slumps back down in his seat. “I plan to keep traveling. I don’t care with who.”

“Oh, yes you do,” Emory teases. “You love us.”

I rub my chin and chuckle. “So are you jealous of Susilo? Or is it Zahbi you’re jealous of?”

“He’s being sentimental, isn’t he?” Abasi starts to laugh.

“You know what?” Loker stands up. “I don’t need to be treated this way. I’ll go find some other people to join with me. I’ll start a new party! And we’ll have more fun than I ever did with the likes of you.”

I yank Loker’s coat and pull him back into his seat. “Sit down. You’re being dramatic. You don’t mean that.”

He grumbles something under his breath, then chugs the rest of his wine. “What would you even do without me?”

“Rest easier at night,” Abasi throws out.

Loker laughs mockingly at him. “I mean it. I’m the pretty one, I’m the classy one, and I make sure the rest of you sound good!” He slams his empty cup down on the table. “Without me, you’re all just a bunch of mismatched former criminals.”

“I was never a criminal,” Emory murmurs.

“Why are you pouting like this?” I ask. “It’s rather disarming from you.”

“I had plans, OK?” Loker huffs. “And this stupid town full of orcs is messing everything up!”

“Oh,” I chuckle. “So there is something about Mika, isn’t there.”

“No!” Loker scoffs. “She’s just a beautiful distraction, that’s all.”

“I heard and she and her sister are traveling midwives.” Abasi says, scratching behind his ear. “Apparently, her sister is especially sought after. I heard she was called in to help with one of the royal Rakshasa children.”

Loker’s eyes widen. “They have royal connections?” he breathes. “They’ve been given royal money?”

“Pix works for them.” Abasi glances Loker’s way. “Hemi was telling me about it when we were discussing the rent for the cabin. They travel often, but they only came back home recently. I think Hemi said they’ve been asked to go back to Rakshasa Country, since Queen Mythri is pregnant again.”

Loker slams his palm down on the table as a grin spreads on his face. “Then I’ll become a midwife and make them my crew.”

Emory snorts and nearly chokes on his drink. “Who in their right mind would let you around a baby, let alone a woman giving birth?”

“Plenty of women have wanted me around that area, OK?” Loker scoffs.

“Just not Mika,” Emory cackles.

Abasi snickers and gives a nod. “Good one.”

Loker scowls. “If I leave and become a wonderful and highly-sought midwife, you will have no one to make fun of.”

“Sure, whatever you say,” Emory wheezes.

When we return to the cabin, Susilo is in the kitchen chopping his soaps. He looks up at us as we come inside. “You’re late,” he sighs. “What kept you?”

I take a knife and help him cut bars. “We figured you wanted some privacy, so we stayed and ate in town.”

Susilo goes still for a moment, then resumes his work. “Thank you for your consideration.”

I smile to myself. “How is Zahbi?”

Susilo shakes his head. “I knew I heard that door. I knew I heard it.”

“We left, don’t worry,” I chuckle. I take the sliced bars of soap and stack them neatly into a crate. “But it did strike up a rather heated conversation at the bar.”

Susilo continues chopping, knocking scraps into a bowl. “What? Is Loker pouting about his delusions of grandeur?”

“Of course,” I say with a nod. “But he has his own plans now. What about you? Do you plan on staying with Zahbi?”

Susilo sets his knife aside and sighs heavily. “This was never expected. I didn’t even think it would be possible.” He twists his mouth and laughs. “I would like to stay with her. It would be ideal, at least for me. I know this is new and different, and I’m still moony over what we did today. But who am I to question this blessing? I’ve not received many.”

“Well, Abasi, Emory and I are pretty unanimous on making Obresh our home base now on,” I sigh. “We figured we would take whatever money we make during the Rakshasa Festivals, and put that towards building our own factory, where we can work and live if need be. But we want to find places of our own nearby.”

“You sound hopeful about finding other homes,” Susilo chuckles. 

I chip chunks of soap from my knuckles, then smile at him. “I’d like to be able to leave my work behind some days. How about you?”

Susilo places the last of the soap in the crate. “It’d be nice to keep inventory too. But we’d have to get a guard for this place.”

“Hemi has already said he’d help with that.” I stack the crates in Susilo’s arms. “We should start working on designs. That way, we’ll know what we have to aim for in Rakshasa Country.”

“Agreed. We should all talk about it tonight as a group.” Susilo heads outside to store the soaps for curing in the shed. 

It’s a full moon that evening, and I find it hard to fall asleep. I decide to walk around, and not wanting to bother anyone else in the house, I go outside and walk along the path. The moon is bright enough that I can see the shadowed countryside all around me. I can smell fall in the air, and the dry, crisp smell of dying leaves. I can remember being young in Slystall, and how my parents would make piles of leaves for me. Loker and I used to play in them for hours, and on sunny days we would bring out blankets and sleep in the leaves. I used to love waking up with the scent of the leaves all around me. I felt warm, safe, and happy, and I didn’t need to worry about anything. 

Fall feels different now, and even that familiar scent has changed. It isn’t the season, it’s me. I’ve spent so long traveling, I haven’t had a chance to settle and feel the sort of security I did in Slystall with my family. I want so badly to settle somewhere, to have a home again. I never would have guessed it would be in Obresh.

As I walk along the moonlit path, I hear something in the trees - a quiet rustle, almost undetectable. A moment later, a cat walks out onto the path, stopping just ahead of me to scratch behind its ear. 

“Well, hello there.” I knelt down, stretching out my hand. The cat meows loudly and dashed towards me, rubbing up against my hand as if it was starved for a friendly touch. Its fur is soft, and almost whiter than me. The cat begins purring, then swats at me when I attempt to take my hand away. 

“Are you a beam of moonlight?” I coo to it. “Come alive to play in nature? You chose a good night.”

In the distance I can hear someone, calling out as if searching. I look up and see a woman ahead on the path, carrying a dim lantern and was shaking a bell in the air. “Frosty!” she calls out. She clicks his tongue, then makes kissing noises. “Frosty! Here, boy!” She huffs, stomping her foot before stepping into the brush to look through the trees.

The cat purring at my feet has a smug expression, and I feel as though his name might be Frosty. “Excuse me,” I call out. 

The girl starts up and turns, then screams and drops her lantern. She stands frozen with her hands cupped around her mouth.

“Are you looking for a cat?” I wave to her. I point down to where the cat is weaving between my feet. “I have one right here.”

Her hands slip slowly away from her mouth, and she stands quite still. “Are you a ghost?” Her voice trembles.

“What?” I laugh. “No! Although...” I look at my hands. “It’s a long story.” I dip down and scoop up the cat, and approach her while she tries to pick up the broken lantern.

“Frosty!” the woman gasps, taking the cat into her arms. “You asshole!” She hugs him tight while his smug expression remains. “This is my little sister’s cat. I accidentally let him out.”

“Pretty sure he got out on purpose.” I kneel to collect the pieces of her broken lantern. “Glad I could help you stop him.”

“I was so worried. My sister adores him.” She looks at me. “You still look like a ghost,” she says in awe. 

I can’t help but laugh a little. “Perhaps I am just this cat’s guardian angel.”

She hisses through her teeth. “I’m so sorry.” She puts on a smile. “I’m Kisska, by the way. I’ve been away from home for a while, so if you’re new here, welcome.”

“Kisska,” I murmurs. “I’ve heard your name recently. You’re Mika’s sister.”

Kisska hikes up Frosty in her arms so he lounges over her shoulder. “How do you know Mika?”

I walk alongside her as we head up the path. “I hate to say this, but my friend has been quite infatuated with her.”

“Oh! The tiefling!” Kisska busts out laughing. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh.”

“He hasn’t been causing you any trouble, has he?” I grumble. “I know he can be a handful, so if he’s been disturbing you or your family, I’ll take care of him.”

“No, he’s fine. It’s been quite entertaining to see him bend backwards to get Mika’s attention. Besides, if Mika was annoyed she would take care of him herself.”

We come up to the streetlights in town, and now I can see Kisska clearly. Her long auburn hair is tied back into a braid, but there are loose curls around her face. She has plump cheeks and full lips, and the most beautiful nose I have ever seen. Her bright blue eyes glance up at me, and then I see her expression change. “I don’t mean to stare. I’ve just never seen eyes like that,” she whispers. 

I’ve never seen any like hers before either, but I keep that to myself. “I’m part unicorn, so albinism is a blood trait.”

“Part unicorn, part angel?” Her smile is soft and sweet. “I’m sorry I called you a ghost. You deserve to be called much better things.”

My heart is fluttering inside my chest. “Thank you, but you don’t need to apologize for that. I’m half orc otherwise.”

“So you are part angel!” Her smile is radiant now. 

I chuckle shyly, rubbing the back of my neck. “Not really, but that makes me happy you think so.”

Kisska steps closer towards me. “Thank you for walking me home.” She hesitates. “I’m sorry, I never got your name.”

“It’s Kaboom.”

She steps even closer. “Kaboom? Like an explosion?” 

“It’s a nickname,” I say with a nod. “My mother is a bomb maker, so it came from that.” I look back down at the soft curves of her body outlined by the nightgown. She has strong, thick legs and a plump rear, and I force myself to look away.

“Do you make bombs too, then?” Kisska asks. 

“I figured you would know, having come into contact with Loker. But no, I make fireworks. We travel around to all the festivals to make the most bang for our buck, so to speak.”

“If you’re in Obresh, you’ve come to the right place. Orcs love a good explosion, even when there’s no reason to celebrate.” She glances up at me. “But if I were to guess, I would say you’re heading to Rakshasa Country.”

“That’s correct. Very smart.”

“I try to be,” she chuckles. “But I know that the months after festival season are my busiest. Festivals tend to make the libido act up.”

I nod my head. “Good food, abundant drink, lots of excitement. It makes sense. I’m surprised I never figured that out.”

We come to a house and Kisska opens the door, pushing Frosty through the crack. She turns and looks back up at me, her wide eyes catching the moonlight. They remind me of perfect gemstones. 

“Thanks again for helping me get Frosty. And thanks for keeping me company.” She holds out her hands, and I place the broken lantern carefully into her palms. She keeps looking at me, and I am unsure if it’s because she wants to or if she’s just studying my appearance. She hesitates to turn back inside, seeming to have some sort of internal argument with herself. “Actually,” she says, “my dad’s birthday is coming up! Could I possibly buy some fireworks from you for that?”

My heart hammers. Is she trying to keep the conversation going? “What kind would you want?”

“Maybe something small? For the kids. But also, something really big for the grown-ups.” She swallows, then laughs nervously. “I’m not sure, but whatever you’ve got I’d love to have for the party.”

I smile at her, feeling a glow in my chest. “I’m staying in Pix’s cabin. If you want to come by tomorrow, I can give you a tour of my wares. Possibly even make something special for you.”

Kisska’s face lights up, and I swear I have never seen anything more beautiful. “That would be great! What time would work best?”

“Anytime, really.” I take a step towards her. “I’ll be home all day getting things ready for when we go to Rakshasa Country, but I can make time for you.”

“I’ll try to come before noon. Thanks again.” She turns to the door, then looks back at me with a smile. “Take care going home. Bye!” She waves to me.

I wave back. “Sleep well, Kisska.”

As she closes the door, I ache to see her smile one last time. I feel weightless and happy as I walk back to the cabin. I wonder if Obresh is magic, and it somehow, no matter who or what you are, it can bring you to someone who will make your heart race. It’s happened to Susilo, and most likely to Loker. I feel even more excited that we are going to stay in Obresh. 

As I lay down in bed, all I can see are Kisska’s gemstone eyes and her bright smile. I should probably be careful of these feelings, whatever they turn out to be. 

In the morning, I head out to the shed with Susilo to continue preparing our inventory. Every time I hear a noise, I look over my shoulder expecting to see Kisska. After a while, I make myself stop. Then there is a gentle knock at the door. “Hello? Are you in there?”

Susilo moves quickly, throwing open the door. There stands Zahbi, with Kisska at her side.

“Oh, you brought company.” Susilo steps from the shed to greet Zahbi.

“I met her on the way. Apparently she was headed here too.” Zahbi pulls Susilo down and kisses his cheek. “This is my friend, Kisska.”

Kisska smiles as I step out of the shed. Her soft hair is tied up in a bun at the top of her head, with loose hair falling down her neck. She waves at me and steps around Susilo and Zahbi. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Not at all, actually. This is perfect timing.” I lead her into the shed. “I have my best products out.” As she steps inside, she trips on a board. I catch her, and as I hold her in my arms it feels as though I’ve been struck by lightning.

“I’m sorry.” She places her hands on my arms as she stands back up. “Thanks for catching me.” Her hand lingers, almost squeezing my arm. There is a blush to her cheeks.

I take a breath and smile at her as my heart threatens to beat its way from my chest. “Not a problem. I’ll catch you anytime you want.”

Kisska’s hand remains on my arm. “Oh, thank you. I could use that sort of offer! So, what have you got?”

“Oh, right!” I turn to the fireworks. As I talk to her, she remains close to me. I can feel her warmth and smell the soap on her skin. It’s a dangerous concoction, one that might make me explode before any of my fireworks do.