Eric saved Taranato from the authorities in the first chapter.
“Why didn’t you turn me in?” He sipped from his water.
“You heard what I told them—we’re not on crown territory. You’re a free man.”
“Oh,” He scratched his head. “Well, thanks for covering for me. I really appreciate it, sir.”
“You can stop calling me, sir. You’re in the swamps. Out here, we’re equals.”
“Right…” He set his glass down. “But—aren’t you that wizard-mage, from, from—”
“As opposed to just a regular mage?” I smiled. “What are you talking about?”
“No. No, you’re someone. You’re someone! You look familiar, too! I—”
“I’m nobody. Do you want to get some rest, or—”
“Savior—” Taranato interjected. “You’re the Savior of Azamar—like—you know what I mean, you were a household name in some cities.”
I waved his response off. “Nah—they don’t call me that.”
He stuck his neck out at me. “Oh my…”
“What?”
“What the hell happened?”
I raised my chin. “I just helped you, and now you’re pestering me?”
“I—” his voice choked up, “Oh, I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
Tara had run out on Eric right before a major battle because Eric seemed unfit for the impending fight. When Eric saw that Tara had left, he convinced himself to go in the battle, and as he made his way there, Eric found Tara on the side of the road chained up. He freed him, and their friendship grew.
“But I’m done worrying about the past like that, man.” I shook my head. “I fucked up. And I got to make things right.”
“I don’t know how you fucked up,” Taranato chuckled. “But it can’t be half of what I did.”
“Why don’t we make things right then.” I let out my hand. “I’m going north to that village. Are you coming with me?”
“Sure as hell I am,” he said as I lifted him up. When he rose, he patted me on the back, which turned into a light hug. “I’m sorry for yelling at you last night, doubting you and all.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.” I gazed down the gravel road. “I would’ve doubted myself, too.” He laughed, and I asked. “Are we good, Taranato?”
“Sure are.” He tilted his head northward. “And you can just call me Tara.” We both shared a smile before he said, “C’mon. Let’s get a move on.”
Eric, the protagonist, is attempting to free Skylord Taranato from house arrest.
“And what if I want to water my plants, huh?” Tara’s voice yelled from the surface. We tunneled to his living room but stopped making noise once an unknown person had entered the room and began talking.
“Orders are orders. Stay put.”
“Oh, c’mon. The orchids are gonna die!” Tara bemoaned. “House arrest should include my fucking frontyard, don’t you think?”
“You’re not allowed to go outside, alright?”
“You know how bullshit your job is?”
“Let’s not—”
“You’ve stood there for five hours, no lunch break, no good pay, you look miserable—where are you from? Azamar? Is the wife in Azamar, too?”
“Damn,” I whispered, watching the two go back and forth until the guard walked outside.
“Where are you going? Why are you going outside?”
The door shut.
“Fucking wuss.” Taranato banged the door. “Face me! Face me like the man you think you are!”
I surfaced and shredded the floor under his cabinet. Then, I knocked on the floor, which startled Tara but after a quick search, he saw me. His jaw dropped, stunned.