Within half an hour, James realized something very disappointing. He had been in helicopters, cars, armored vehicles and more in his time on Earth but he had always thought a carriage would be really fun to ride in.
He watched quite a few cowboy movies and black and white films. He always wanted to experience this way of travel that had been present for so many years in human history.
Now, he was sick of it. Every bump, dip and bend in the road was jostling and aggravating. Most of all, it was insanely boring.
James had never got up close to a horse back on earth, but he felt that the beasts pulling them along were unnaturally big.
Like really big. The scenery out the window had rushed by in a blur before the horses had even started to canter. It's natural gait was an impressive lunge forward each step.
The air in the carriage was quite stifled as well, not for lack of room though. The 5 people inside had spread out in the rather large interior.
The silence was a bit more uncomfortable as each minute passed.
Emily and Veronica were still under orders to not talk in his presence. His mother kept opening her mouth, but had bit back the words right before letting them out. James was unsure how long he should keep up his revenge.
Justine seemed to be the only one at peace, she had a dumb smile on her face as she stared at James blankly.
'How long am I going to have to put up with this..'
Then he shattered the silence with a question.
"Where are we going exactly?"
His mother responded as if something happened to his head.
"Home?"
"Yes yes, I know that's the destination. But how are we getting there, are we taking the carriage the whole way? How long will it take? Where even is it?"
"Ohhh.. Well we are taking this carriage all the way back. I'm sorry dear but I didn't bring enough gold to spend for 5 people to use the teleportation array in the city. Your mother is so incompetent…"
She said this with a side eye to see if he would object to her self deprecation. She continued when it was obvious James wasn't going to pity her.
"… it will take about almost a full week of travel if we push the animals hard. For your last question and the reason why it will take so long is because the Duchy I rule isn't Roranspoc. We actually have to cross the border to reach our territory, the Duchy of Cromwell."
"Okay does that mean we live in the city of Cromwell? I know the main city here is just called Roranspoc city."
His mother laughed a little haughtily.
*FuFuFu* "No dear.. Roranspoc is the smallest of the 12 duchies witch make up the kingdom of Minthra. Our lands are far more vast and hold several cities, it would be quite the conundrum if each were called Cromwell."
"Okay that still doesn't answer my question, Lady Mallory."
His mother froze and then slumped once more.
"My sweet child still hates me… No we don't live in any of the 4 cities in our land. That's for the Countess's I've assigned to watch over and report to me. Our main family estate is located in the center of the Duchy."
'Is this new mother of mine really that much of a big shot? Am I actually some highborn lordling..'
James still couldn't quite wrap is head around the fact that he was no longer an orphaned loner.
'Those memories.. I seem to recall a few other faces regularly appearing..'
After a while James blurted out another question.
"Do I have any siblings? I seem to recall a few girls who were a little older than me.. I think one had pink hair though, not brown like ours."
Heartbreak seemed to consume his mother once more but a twisted sense of relief then passed by soon after.
"So my baby didn't just forget about me then.."
She seemed happy that his misfortune of losing his memories didn't apply to only her.
"Yes dear.. you have 3 older sisters who adore you. By order of age there's Madeline the oldest who's 21, then Gwendolyn who's 19, and finally Clara who's 17. Madeline is the one with pink hair. I think it must be a recessive trait of the man who had placed me on his quota."
James was a little startled by the revelation.
'I guess that means I don't have a father figure? Can't really blame them though, the way this world works makes it hard to have a complete family.'
Everyone sat in another long silence, it wasn't as oppressive as earlier however. They stayed that way until it was to dark to keep going.
His mother left the carriage first intending to make camp for the night. James followed and watched in amazement as his mom worked her magic, literally.
Green sweeping energy flowed out of her and connected with environment. Roots and bushes started to twist and move, bending to the will of his mother. Branches of trees started layering upon themselves, intertwining to create a solid shield above.
As the small patch of forest came alive, a dome like structure took shape.
'Holy crap! This is so cool, I can't wait to learn magic.'
The finishing touches arrived and an archway leading inside was formed. Thick green vines fell over the entrance like a curtain.
As she finished the display, James's new mom turned and showed a very conceited smile.
"Sooo, what do you think of mommy's magic? Am I not just the most talented and helpful mommy ever!"
She radiated joy at the feeling of showing off her dependable side to her son.
'Who the he'll calls themselves mommy to their 15 year old and praises their self like that?'
His mothers words had brought the wow factor of the magic down immediately.
"It'll do, I guess."
Saying that, he pushed aside the vine curtain to reveal a spacious interior. Vines hung from the ceiling like walls for privacy, sectioning off 4 spaces.
James face went dark as he realized what she intended.
'I would stop being cold to her if she would stop trying to get her freak on!'
He heard a rustle behind him as his mom entered like a zombie. She was once again depressed by her sons uncaring attitude.
The rest of the crew looked way may impressed than James, but his mother didn't care about their approval.
Before he was locked into the situation his mother had obviously planned he started talking.
"This will do quite nicely. I'll get a room and Lady Mallory has her own. Emily, Veronica and Justine can share. The forth will be a good kitchen. Good job Lady Mallory."
His mother's zombie like state shook at his words and how he had figured out her intentions to cuddle him all night long.
She disappeared behind one section of vines and soon everyone heard a crash as she fell. James was a little concerned at first until he heard her throwing a tantrum.
"We've been apart for so long and he doesn't want to sleep with me anymore… *Waaah-waah* I'm a good mommy! I just want to fondle, sniff and stare at my baby boy-"
James then blocked his ears from the creepy cries of his mother.
James shooed the others into another room and he was finally alone.
'This trip is going to be my most difficult challenge yet in this world..'
James didn't dream as he slept and soon they were back on the road.
Time passed and again it was agonizing. Justine was proving to be an excellent conversationalist however and he was asking all sorts of random questions that had plagued his mind recently.
Like how the washbasin enchantment magic worked back at the manor. Apparently there was an inscription on it that warmed up the water to a set temperature. Then it would recharge after the magic energy known as mana was spent.
Enchantments like that were fairly common on a wide variety of items now. Common yet complex. Layers on layers of runes were stacked upon one another in a dizzying pattern to achieve various effects.
When their conversation died down about a bit, James turned to his mother and asked her a question. One that had been playing at the forefront of his mind ever since he met her.
"Why did I wake up in a forest alone? My memories are sparse, but I can't remember anything from about 12 years old and onward."
His mother perked up at his voice being directed at her, then she drooped slightly as she explained.
"James dear.. I don't know what happened to be honest. I know that I'm a failure as a mother but I've tried anything and everything to find you. One day you were happily playing in the garden and next…."
She took in a deep shuddering breath.
"… it was 3 years later and I get a letter from a random minor noblewoman from a backwoods territory."
'Was the original abducted or something? 3 years though.. she's probably had a pretty awful time then.. Dammit now I feel sorry for her.'
She panicked when James didn't respond.
"I promise I never gave up hope! Please believe mommy… I'm-"
Her words halted as James stood up and made his way over to her.
'I'm probably going to regret this..'
"I believe you. So don't beat yourself up about it anymore, you've already suffered a lot because of me." *Ahem* "mommy.."
He said the last words quietly as he fought off embarrassment. He then gave her a small hug and retreated quickly after.
His mother's brain took a moment to process what just happened before she leaped off her seat at James.
He sidestepped as she sailed past him.
"My memories are still a little messy so don't be too enthusiastic."
His mother would not be denied however. She sprung at him again and caught her prize.
She hugged him into her soft body hard. Then she let go slightly as she bent down and placed wet fleshy kisses all over his face.
Placing his hands on her face, he started pushing her away with all his strength.
"Too much! Way too much! Stop kissing or you'll be Lady Mallory again!"
'I knew it.. why'd I have to open my big mouth after hearing her sob story..'
His mother froze slightly, then smiled warmly down at him.
"Can mommy hold you for a bit.. pretty pleeaaassse-"
"Fine! Just don't go overboard."
She then picked him up and walked over to her seat. Sitting down she placed him on her lap. Backwards.
He now sat on her lap facing his mother. Because of the awkward arrangement, his legs were hooked behind her back.
"This is-"
His mother placed a finger to his lips.
"Just let me look at my son's handsome face for awhile.. I won't do anything I promise.."
*sigh* "Okay."
They say that way for an incredible amount of time. It gave James time to study her face thoroughly.
'Why is god so cruel! This is literally the definition of a milf! And those lips..'
James was mesmerized any those juicy lips, her kisses were so wonderful.
'What am I doing? She's not really my mom.. and I even told myself I'd start doing whatever I felt like! And I really feel like..'
James voice sounded out quietly.
"Hey can you bring your head down a little?"
His mother tilted closer and James struck forward.
He pulled her face into his own and kissed her deeply. This was not a kiss from a family member, this one was full of hunger.
He pulled himself back before he started to lose control. A little breathless he whispered in her ear as he pulled her head down further.
"Does mommy want to be on my quota?"
Her reply came in the from of poke to his stomach. He gripped her throbbing shaft and continued.
"I'll take that as a yes."