Sara and Kurt had talked with Jerry. He was very happy about the arrangement, all he had to say was, they just never showed up, and the third person came and dropped them off as planned, even tell them the last time he saw the carriage was were they were originally planning to stop at, while actually being at Jerry suggested stop, which would have been cheaper but all things considered. This would explain away the carriage, and supported the lie they were just hiding on the other side. And Jerry gave assurances that these types of requests aren't common, and some of that retainer and tip would make things move along smoothly.
There was actually no reason not to retain Jerry as a driver, it basically meant they had priority service, so if they needed to move fast they got Jerry on the front of the line.They were going to need a driver, and frankly he had made a good sales pitch, they didn't need to worry about raising horses at all. They had even explained they were only planning three days here, and everything worked out.
The place they had parked their carriage there was a few of them in spaces, it looked like this was a common thing for many people. There were various noises of people in and outside of their carriage. It would be a suitable place to stay for their needs in the next few days. They needed to plan out a route somewhere. They seemed to have all the time in the world until yesterday. And some of that attitude was showing. Kurt was feeling a lot more relieved after Sara's explanation, why wouldn't they hide in their guarded tower?
There was however, one looming question in there. There was no way not to think of it now. Kurt was watching Layla make a gate inside the carriage, they had all the windows closed up, this wasn't uncommon looking around. When she made a gate it was a very strange thing, sometimes it looked like she was not doing anything at all, other time weaving some invisible thing, you couldn't really make much sense that she was doing anything at all until the end, as it would pop into existence.
But the question was at the heart of what he was watching. How was Layla even here? And how and where had she learned to even make a Gate? At one point he assumed just how all the gates were made, since the actual origins of gate weren't public knowledge. But Mary had seemed absolutely clueless as anything else from that world.
"So where did you learn to make gates?" said Kurt.
"I'm a little curious about that myself," said Sara.
"Ohh, I guess you could say I always knew how to make gates, I never had the power to do it until after I evolved, but I knew," said Layla
"What?" Both Kurt and Sara replied.
"I guess that would sound strange to a human."
"So why doesn't Mary know?"
"I guess the easiest answer is she's old. Well that's not fair, is it. So, remember when I said, faye don't, umm, have the parts?"
"Yes, vividly, it was the first thing I ever heard you say," said Sara.
"Not the best first impression I would guess,," Sara was smiling while shaking her head at Layla's words, "so faye aren't birthed, or hatch from an egg, we are sort of the natural result of the mixing of energy around, wherever we end up popping out, we manifest into the world. So in some sense I don't have parents, and in other senses everything that was around me were my parents."
"Okay," said Sara.
"So, hmm, what happened to me was you, humans."
"Us?" said Kurt.
"Well, I was 'born' near a gate with one of your human settlements, Arthur's clan settlement if you must know, and thus I am part human, and the gate itself is somewhat my parent as well. I know it's not alive but, it's not life energy per se, I don't have a good word for it, essence maybe. The metaphor sort of falls apart there."
"What, so you know how to make gates because you are part, gate?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes. And since Mary was born before humans ever came to this world, she is not. They would have to also be born close to a gate as well, and Faye are not common really, more being long lived is the main reason you see a few of us."
"So making a gate is natural to you."
"Somewhat, the process takes a lot of power, and as you can see time, and really Kurt you being my champion helps a lot since you are from this world. It really stabilizes it, if not for that I would basically have to be like this to keep it open, which is not ideal, or I'd have to come up with another solution which I haven't."
"So because I help you manage the well, putting together a gate is easier because I'm from here."
"Yes, I'm afraid it's actually a lot more complicated but from the looks on your faces you must think I'm not doing much over here, so I doubt you'd understand or I'd be able to really explain it without you being able to see it. It's like describing a color to a blind person. But if you were wondering about why I can, that's basically the reason, or at least I think so."
"That actually makes sense, sort of," said Sara. "So you are special."
"A bit, but you could say that about a lot of Faye in some respects, I heard a long time ago that Faye was actually born near a dragon coup, and was basically their own champion. That sounds very useful to me, imagine if I was as strong as Kurt in a fight?" Layla tried to make her bicep bulge, it was not very impressive.
"Layla, Warrior Princess," said Sara.
"Ohh the Goblins would love that," said Layla
"Guess you stuck with Shaman Princess for now," said Kurt.
"Doesn't really have the same ring to it, does it?" said Layla. "especially in the goblin tongue."
"Ohh I almost forgot! So should I be a baroness or countess?" said Sara.
"It doesn't work like that," said Kurt.
"It does when there is a princess in front of you."
"That's not—wait, that is how it works, isn't it?"
"Yeah dummy. So Baroness or Countess?"
"What about, Dutchess?"
"Kurt," Sara said massaging her temple, "why would you make the decision even harder? Duchess Sara…that's good too, damn it."
"What's wrong with just Sara, again?"
"You don't get it Kurt."