Logging out Caleb checks his schedule seeing he works in the morning.  'Good I'll be able to meet with the Chief tonight.'  Setting his alarm Caleb goes to sleep.  After work the next day Caleb logs in. 

  Noticing its night time in the game Zander runs to meet with the chief at his house.  At his approach the chief jumps up from his chair, red in the face, and starts screaming," I thought I told you to meet with me every night!  Where were you last night?!?" 

'Aww crap.  I forgot about the time differential when I accepted seeing him every night.  Looks like I lost the good will I had with him.  What can I do to not fail the quest.' Zander thinks. 

"Honorable Elder Chief," Zander says while bowing respectfully.  "I thought you knew that I was different from the villagers.  I am able to stay up many days in a row sometimes, but at other times I fall into a comma like state for many days as well.  I wanted to visit with you, but my body shut down and I was unable to move.  Please forgive me." 

"hurumph.  I have heard of free men like you.  I had forgotten.  But I still won't forgive you with just that.  Fine, come see me whenever you receive your strength.  I have things for you to do. " The Chief ends with an evil grin. 

'oh crap.  What did I just get myself into.' Zander thinks as he suppresses a shudder of fear. 

"Yes Chief." 

"hehehe, since you say you can stay up several days go to Cora's house.  She has a new baby who's sick.  Stay with baby so the parent's can get some sleep.  In the morning go to the healer to get herbs to help the baby.  Now get out of here, I can't even stand to look at you at the moment." 

"Yes Chief." 

Zander back away quickly before running off.  After getting a few blocks away Zander realizes he has a problem.  "AHHH!! I forgot to ask how to get to Cora's house! *sigh* what to do now.... well no use, I'll just have to search the village for a light on, or a crying baby." 

The first house Zander finds with a light on isn't Cora's house, but thanks to that he gets directions.  Arriving at the house he knocks lightly.  As the door opens he gets the blast of a  full throated cry into his face from the baby held in the young mother's arms. 

"Who are you and what do you want at this ungodly hour?" The exhausted mother asks grumpily. 

"I'm Zander, the Chief sent me over to stay up with your baby so you could get some sleep."  Taking a harder look at Cora he notices the deep dark circles under her eyes and the exhausted zombie like state she's in.  "When was the last time you got some sleep?" 

"hmmm.  You don't look to trustworthy.  But since the Honored elder sent you and I need the sleep, here." Cora responds as she places the baby in his arms. "Finally I get to sleep.  First time in 3 days." Zander hears her say to herself as she walks away.  

Spending the night walking, rocking, and trying to soothe the unhappy sick baby, Zander spends the night in a miserable state.  In the morning when Cora takes back over, looking much more rested, Zander promises to get some medicine.  Running to the herbalist Zander bursts through the door. 

"Hey! what are you trying to do? Rip the door off its hinges?!?" A voice calls from the interior of the shop.   

Trying to peer through the many herbs hanging from the ceiling to see the source of the voice Zander replies, "No ma'am.  Just in a hurry.  There's a sick baby I need to get herbs for." 

"Ahh, must be for Cora's little boy." Cackling with glee and rubbing her hands together and old women pushes through the herbs into Zander's sight.  Hunched over, with hair flying wild about her the only word that comes to Zander's mind to describe her would be crone.  Adjusting her shawl the proprietor asks, "And what are the symptoms?" 

Only because of spending the night taking care of the baby is Caleb able to answer all her questions.   While listening to the symptoms the crone throws different herbs into some boiling water.  After a period of time she takes the brew off and pours it into a leather skin.  Handing it to Zander she says, "Make sure Cora knows to give him a couple of spoon fulls every couple of hours.  Now that will be 3 silver."  The crone holds her hands out at the end. 

Searching his pockets Zander finds that he still only has the 10 copper that beginners start with.  "All I have are these 10 copper." 

"I'm not a charity case boy!  If you can't pay get out!" The crone snaps as she swipes the skin from his hands. 

"But the baby is really sick." 

"I know.  Its why I can charge so much." The crone says smiling. 

"Maybe I can work for you to earn the money." 

looking Zander up and down the crone reluctantly agrees.  Zander holds out his hand for the skin.  "What? You think your going to get payment before you work?  I think not." 

"But the boy is really sick.  He needs the medicine now." 

"Not my problem." 

"What if I give you my word I'll be back to work it off?" 

"Not good enough." 

"Is there nothing I can do?" 

After thinking for a big the crone cackles with glee.  "Drink this and I will give you the medicine now.  You can come back and work for me later." 

Eyeing the bottle suspiciously Zander asks, "What is it?" 

"Insurance." The Crone smiles broadly. "If you want the medicine now drink it.  Without it the baby won't last long."  

Sighing Zander takes the bottle and drinks it.  After accepting the skin of medicine he asks, "So what was in the bottle?" 

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"Poison.  If you don't come see me to work off your payment within the next week you will die."  The crone tells him with glee. 

Looking at the crone in horror Zander says, "You poisoned me?" 

Cackling with glee she replies, "No you poisoned yourself. Don't blame me for your troubles." 

Zander robotically receives the skin because of the shock.  Slowly he turns around and slowly walks back to Cora's house.  "What an evil woman.  She's even worse then the Chief!" 

At Cora's house she gratefully accepts the medicine listening carefully on how to use it.  Afterwards Zander goes to see Cruben.  "Finally to get my reward."  After spending the rest of the day studying with Cruben Zander sees, 

Leather working (Lv. 1 0%): allows the the production of leather goods.  Decreases the rate at which you fail to produce products.

"My shop and tools are yours to use.  Just make sure you use your own materials.  Here are some skins to get you started though." Cruben says as he gives 5 skins to Zander. 

"Your much to kind. Thank you."  After receiving the skins Zander tries to make shoes, armor, and a hat.  After wasting several of the materials he end up with just shoes.  "Oh, this is harder then I thought," Zander mutters to himself.  As it approaches evening Zander returns to the Chief.  "I am here Chief." 

"Took you long enough.  I was expecting you back from getting herbs hours ago!" 

"But I'm here at night just like you said." 

"That was before you went and said you couldn't honor that agreement.  Now  I have LOTS of errands for you to do." 

"Oh," Zander says quietly as his shoulders slump. 

"Now what to have you do first." 

"I should probably let you know I promised to go help the herbalist sometime this week as payment for the herbs for Cora's baby."

"What? That old trout wants to steal my slave-- er I mean my worker away from me." 

"What can I say, she even poisoned me to make sure I'd come work this week." 

"That old crone would do something like that.  Never approved of me, even after I became chief.  Always thought I wasn't good enough for her daughter." Sighing the chief relents.  "Ok, for now go move rocks out of Farmer John's field.  Then come see me when you have a chance.  I understand your situation only too well." 

"Thank you honorable chief."  Bowing Zander hurries of in relief.  After getting several blocks away he realizes, "Crap I forgot to get directions again!  Well they're not going to expect me to move rocks at night, might as well meet the herbalist." Entering the shop Zander calls out, "Hello? I'm here to work." 

Coming out of the back the old woman says, "Took you long enough."  Beckoning Zander she leads him to another room full of books.  "These are all water damaged," She says pointing to a stack of books.  "I need you to transcribe them so they are not lost.  Your welcome to use the candles, but they will be added to what you owe."  With stating that she leave the room. 

Rummaging around Zander finds pens, ink, and paper.  Taking the first book from the stack he opens it up.  Many of the pages are smeared and are hard to make out.  Trying his best he starts to copy onto the new pages.  After 5 pages of scribbles, and 3 pages of pictures that look nothing like in the book Zander receives the message, 

Skill: You have learned Scribe.

Scribe (Lv. 1 0%): Helps with the copying and writing of books, parchments, scrolls, and notes.  Increasing the speed, and accuracy when copying.

"Phew I guess its time to sleep."   

About this time the crone walks in and picks up his papers.  "What is this chicken scratch?  You can't even read it, and you can't tell what the plants are from the pictures!"  Tearing them in half she wheezes, "Do it again, this time properly." As she turns to leave the room she adds, "oh, and the materials for that junk will be added to your debt." 

"Great.  Not only am I not making my debt go any lower, its increasing!  Well, can't help it for today. I'll have to try again tomorrow." 

After work the next day Caleb logs in.  "First to find farmer John's place."  After asking around he finds that its just outside the town, but still within the "safe" zone that he can't leave.  Meeting with the farmer he find out which field has the rocks and get to work moving them.  Grabbing ahold of the first stoned Zander looks around.  "Umm. He never did say where to put these. Hmm guess I could just start to make a rock wall with them around the field."  Struggling for the day moving rocks, he takes the time and effort so the rocks fit together snugly.  Making sure the wall won't fall apart at the slightest bump, he continues this all day.  At the end of the day farmer John comes to visit. 

"You not done yet?" 

"No sir. Since you didn't say where you wanted the rocks I've been putting them over there.  Its taken me longer on the wall then I thought." 

Going over to examine the wall John says, "Hmm... I see.  pretty good work.  I was hoping you would be finished already, but since your making the wall I'll give you more time." 

"Thank you." 

Since its evening and most things are closing down Zander heads to the herbalist shop.  Entering the shop he hears from the back, "Come into the back, I can't get away yet."  Going into the back he finds a room with a cauldron over a fire with something awful smelling liquid bubbling away.  "Oh its just you.  Here stir this, and every half hour mix these ingredients in.  I've set them in order that they need to go in.  After they're all gone continue to stir for an hour, then remove it from the fire.  Let it cool for 2 hours, and then bottle them up."  Handing him the paddle she was using to stir she says, "I've got errands to run."  With that she leave the room. 

"Great I've always had trouble telling time.  The only way to be accurate is to count, but that's mind numbing.  Oh yeah I learned about an alarm, I wonder if there's a countdown timer."  Starting to stir Zander checks the options but doesn't find the timer.  Counting the amount of ingredients he sets alarms for the correct time periods for each step.  During this time he receives, 

Skill: You have learned Alchemy.

Alchemy (Lv. 1 0%): Used to produce potions, poisons, and other one use magical items.

"Sweet!"  After completing the instructions and waiting for it to cool he starts searching the shop for bottles.  Finally finding them in a back room he brings them back and get a ladle from the kitchen.  Carefully filling the bottles he put stoppers in them.  About this time the crone arrives back.  Examining his work the crone says, "At least you didn't make a total bungle of it.  But them in the back room." 

"Umm, about the antidote." 

"hurmph.  Fine, drink this." 

Taking the bottle she produces Zander downs it.  He immediately feels a burning sensation in his stomach.  "What did you do to me?" 

Laughing the crone says, "You didn't think I'd let my insurance go until you had paid back your debt to me did you?  Sure it cured the poison you had, but also gave a different poison.  You'll be good for 2 weeks now.  Besides the sensation should go away in a bit." 

"Stupid hag." 

"What did you say?" 

"Nothing." 

For the rest of his 1st month, Zander's days continued like this.  He finished the job for farmer Joe, and ran other errands for the town folk as the chief asked during the days.  At night he worked for the herbalist.  Most of the town folk took pity on him when he came to do jobs and gave him stuff, food mostly.

**********

Note: Sorry about taking so long to post another chapter.  You know how thigns are, life gets in the way.  You get distracted with reading other people's fanfics, manga, and playing video games.  I will try to post more regularly, hopefully every week or two, but we'll see.  I would also like to thank Phalkor for pointing out the time differential.  I had forgotten about that, but making the little change seem to go well with what I had planned.