Kao leaned back against the tree while her knight scrubbed off the offensive smell of those creatures. The sound of splashing water told her Orn was rushing to get clean and out of the cold water. She smiled a bit at the thought of his well deserved suffering. Threaten to touch me when smelling like that, will you? I just wish the water was colder. Here I was worried about you...

After the goblin mother died, it had taken Kao several tries to get through to Orn that he could stop hacking at it. It was hard to tell if her words finally reached him or if he just collapsed from exhaustion. She sighed thinking about the state he was in when he woke up. He was barely there. I had to order him around to get his body moving, and hope his mind would catch up.

Even now the idea of telling Orn what to do grated on her. Even framing them as suggestions, the state he was in meant he could not have argued even if he wanted to. It felt too close to taking away his ability to make choices, and it ate at her. Even if she was not using her authority as a goddess, she was all but controlling him.

She reached down to pull her legs closer and adjust how she was sitting. “Oww,” she mumbled pulling her hand away. What was that?

She lifted the hem of her skirt to get a look at the tender spot. In the center of her shin was a large blue spot. A bruise? How did I do that?

She felt the itching was strange enough, but she was willing to treat that as a matter of nerves. A bruise was a different matter entirely. You have to hit something to get a bruise. I know I can interact with Orn, but I have not kicked him. The thought of a sheep smelling Orn stretching out his arms to hug her filled her mind. Even if he needs to be kicked on occasion.

Kao’s mind slowly replayed everything she had done over the last couple days trying to place what had caused the injury.

…

They arrived in Mutton as the light began to fade. Even with Kao’s shortcut, the trip had taken hours. Orn considered the time it would have taken if he retraced his steps and was happy to have Kao’s shortcut.

He stepped around the muddy patch were the wagon ruts met the cobblestones, and looked at the town. The street was deserted, but he could faintly make out the sound of people in the buildings they passed.

“Few people are up late in a town like this, especially on a holiday,” Kao said softly, before pointing at a large house a to their left. A few moments later a soft glow appeared in the window. “Those that do stay up, wait until the last moment to light candles, or lanterns.”

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Ahead Orn saw soft glows begin in the windows of other large homes. The candles created small pools of light on the street. These small pools of light made the areas outside of them seem even darker. He shook his head as the effect gave him an eerie feeling that walking in the darkness never had.

The inn was also much quieter than it had been when Orn first arrived, but light poured from its open windows. The inviting glow lit a large portion of the square, promising food and a comfortable place to sleep. Orn’s eyes were slowly adjusting to the light, as he walked through the open door.

“Welcome to…,” the innkeeper began only to trail off.

Orn blinked as his vision adjusted, and saw the mostly empty room was staring at him. The few that were not, slowly turned to see the source of the disruption, and joined those staring. Not wanting to face a staring crowd Orn focused on the large innkeeper, and walked toward the bar. The man seemed both confused and slightly uncomfortable.

I wonder what that is about? Orn wondered as he approached the bar. “Do you have a free room tonight?”

The question seemed to break the man out of his confusion. “We do. It is two medium coppers,” the man paused before quickly adding, “sir.”

Orn stared at the man in confusion. Sir? What is that about?

“It is far to quiet out there,” came a voice from the kitchen. A moment later Jenny emerged from the back carrying a tray of steaming pies. “What happen…” she paused as her eyes fell on Orn giving him a quick smile. It turned to a look of confusion as her eyes looked him over. “Welcome back, sir knight?”

My uniform, it finally occurred to Orn. It was the only choice since the other clothes wee ruined. I did not think it would cause a problem.

“Oi! Barkeep!” barked a rough voice breaking the silence. “Bring us some beer.”

Jenny’s expression darkened at the sound and Orn saw her deliberately take slow breaths before responding. “Burrach get out of our inn.” Jenny snapped.

Orn turned to see the source of the commotion and his attention instantly fell on three large men smiling predatorily. They had taken seats at one of the tables closest to the door. The group of farmers who had been playing cards there a few moments ago, had backed away and were glaring daggers into the floor.

“That is a rather harsh thing to say,” the middle man continued. “To think I am not welcome on my own property.”

“It is not yours,” the barkeep interjected through grit teeth. “As long as the payments are made on time, it is ours by the king’s law. Now get out.”

The large man made an exaggerated display of injury, and looked between the men on either side of him. “It is unjust to be treated so but I must obey the king’s law,” he said shifting in his seat before turning back to Jenny. “I will just collect the money due then and be on my way.”

“You were paid for the rent yesterday,” the barkeep said, slamming his hands on the bar. “Now, out!”

“Who said anything about rent?” The man leaned back in his chair laughing. “I am taking up another collection and your sheep loving friends still have not paid. You promised to cover their share if they could not pay. They do not have much but there are so many of them. It think it would come out to say… 4 large gold. If you have it, I will just take it and be on my way.”

“We do not keep that kind of money laying around,” the barkeep growled.

“Well then I could give it to you on credit, but I seem to have none here….” the man gestured at the empty table in front of him. Beside him his friends mimed drinking from invisible mugs and laughing.