As Maura entered through the much nicer entry cover she studied her surroundings while moving to the side and placing her back against the large pile of wood. This tent was much nicer than the healing tent. The floor was covered in more deliberately placed and matching rugs and furs, the central fire had a nice ring of stone with a more elaborate frame above it, and the walls were covered in nicer things.

There were still tools and food and such along the walls, but it was neater somehow and the workmanship was of a higher quality. There weren’t just cots but a curtained off area in the back with a raised comfortable looking bed and other furniture that probably held clothes and such. The area closer to the front had some couches and chairs, and there was a table along one wall near a little kitchen area.

Sitting at a little desk with some papers in front of him smoking a long stemmed pipe was the caravan master that Maura had seen at a distance a few times. He was a tall and strong looking human with a well groomed dark brown beard and medium length hair. His clothing was just as nice quality as Amelia’s but he also had a few rings on his left hand.

Amelia moved to take a kettle and place it to heat over the merry fire in the center of the room as Ser Stephen turned with a grunt. He glanced at Maura then continued on to Amelia and looked like he was about to say something before his whole body jumped a little and his eyes flew back to lock onto Maura with his eyebrows climbing up towards his hair.

Maura had already been frozen, but now her body tensed under the scrutiny. Ser Stephen was about to start yelling, probably, when Amelia turned back around and interjected with, “Maura, this is Ser Stephen, my husband. Stephen this strange little thing is Maura, a sneaky healer who has been out here alone for some time. I found her working on the people in the healing tent, and she did a masterful job if I’m any judge.

“Maura, dear. Come sit at the table, you can take the corner seat there. Hang your coat up on any of the hooks along the wall there. Captain Logan will probably burst in here like a soldier in a few minutes, so we might as well have some snacks and tea ready.”

Ser Stephen, whose surprise had been successfully derailed, frowned and turned to Amelia after one last scan of Maura. He said in a strong voice (that was way too loud), “What do you mean about him bursting in here, Amelia? Has something happened?”

She replied, “Manners dear. You too Maura, you are supposed to give a greeting after you have been introduced.”

Maura, who had quickly moved once Ser Stephen wasn’t paying attention and perched herself with her feet on the seat of the chair at the table, twitched and then bashfully turned her head and mumbled something while looking at the floor.

Ser Stephen, who was obviously more used to Amelia’s ways, said, “A pleasure to meet you, young Maura. Now, Amelia, has something happened? I haven’t heard any alerts except for a few roaming monsters all night.”

Maura was watching everything under lowered lashes and so noticed Amelia send a disappointed glance at her. Maura kinda felt bad about that, but she was quickly becoming more overwhelmed and wished she could put her headdress back on.

Amelia sighed at her and while she was readying a large teapot said, “Sergeant Eileen, the army’s forward scout and tracker had been sure there was some invader for hours last night. Turns out she was attempting to pin down Maura here, who I can tell you moves like the wind and is quite silent. Maura was… well I’m actually not sure. She’s been alone for a while and I think she was scared, so she was sneaking around the camp last night. I found her in the healing tent where she was working on the last of the wounded. I’ll explain more when Captain Logan inevitably appears.”

Ser Stephen sent a glower Maura’s way, but after studying her clothing and obvious lack of stolen items seemed to relax a little. He stood up from his desk after stowing the papers he was working on, and started to walk over with a sigh.

Amelia, who was pouring hot water into the teapot said, “Sit across from her if you don’t mind, dear. She’s rather skittish, so I’ll sit next to her. Be nice.”

Instead of sitting, Ser Stephen moved to inspect her cloak. Maura tensed further and almost got up to do… something. She had no idea what. Before anything happened he stopped a few feet away and began to study it.

After a few positive noises he half-turned to Maura and asked, “Tell me Maura, where did you ever find this cloak? Was it a gift from your parents or something? If I am not mistaken, these feathers are from a cloud aspect terror hawk, or perhaps a stream eagle? Wait… have these feathers been trimmed?! Oh, that’s just a travesty, that is.”

Maura, who had just made that cloak for her fifth birthday and was extraordinarily proud of it, actually found her spine straightening and a thunderous expression on her face. Her little fists were bunched up and she felt angry, which didn’t happen very often.

She sharply said, “I don’t know but it was fast and strong. And I made that myself for my birthday!”

It didn’t have much effect on Ser Stephen, because it came out in her usual barely whisper. He was still studying it like some creepy thief when Amelia noticed the situation. Amelia heard Maura well as she had been listening for it, but it seemed her husband was too engrossed to actually have paid attention. She cleared her throat in a manner that let Ser Stephen know he was in trouble. He whipped around to face her, and she just nodded towards Maura.

Once he saw Maura’s expression, Amelia repeated what she had said. “Dear, Maura made that cloak herself for her birthday, and if I am not mistaken killed the monster herself. Which now that I have said that out loud, sounds ridiculous. Not that I don’t believe you, sweety.”

Ser Stephen had a look of extreme skepticism on his face, but before he could respond there were some grumbles and loud voices from outside before some heavy footfalls stomped towards the tent flap followed by a sharp knock of knuckles against the post outside that was set there for that exact reason.

Ser Stephen shook his head, straightened his back, and donned a cloak of authority that he had been lacking after being ambushed by his wife in the middle of early morning paperwork.

He called out, “Please, come in Captain Logan.”

There was a grunt from outside before the tent flap was pulled back and a giant of a man came through behind a war maul larger than Maura in almost every dimension. He stood almost two Mauras tall and was built like a demigod, especially in his well fitted armor. He was a large human male with curly black hair and a severe mustache. He had piercing grey eyes and moved his giant hammer around as if it were much lighter than it probably was.

After entering the tent he stood up to his full height and nodded at Ser Stephen and Amelia before locking eyes on Maura as if he could see right into her soul.

Maura had completely forgotten about her anger and curled up to make herself small. She pulled her headdress on without consciously making the decision to do so and began shaking. Her instincts were telling her to not move as if she was near a large monster that hadn’t quite noticed her yet.

He’s huge!

“So.” He began in a bassy grumble, “This is the little troublemaker that has my Sergeant all worked up. I hear you’re a slippery one, and that you did something to my men. Out with it!”

Maura’s mind shut down in terror.

I messed up!

What if he kicks me out and won’t let me stay now? Is he going to attack?

But I was trying to help!

She was breathing hard while simultaneously trying not to move a muscle. She felt like she was back out in the wilderness. A quick scan of the sky and her surroundings let her know that she was, in fact, still in a tent.

Before her chest exploded from the building pressure, Amelia broke their eye contact by standing between them with her back to the Captain as she casually placed the tea set in the middle of the table.

She stood up and said, “Captain Logan, good morning. Won’t you join us for some tea?”

She’s amazing.

The Captain, not used to his normal intimidation technique being shut down so eloquently, sighed and placed his weapon against the stacked wood. He nodded and said, “Ser Stephen, Mrs. Carter, good morning. I’d love to join you, but I do have some questions.”

Ser Stephen cleared his throat and responded, “But of course, Captain. I too am a bit in the dark about the events of last night. Breakfast should be ready in a few minutes as well, perhaps we can all talk over a meal. We still have an hour or so before it is light enough to travel.”

Amelia took her seat and began to pour tea while the men clasped hands manly-like and then also took seats. Maura was still frozen, but wasn’t shaking any longer.

Amelia placed a cup in front of her and gently said, “Hats off at the table, Maura.”

Maura twitched a little, but managed to take off her headdress and lower her knees so she sat cross-legged on the chair. She kept a suspicious eye on Captain Logan, but was curious about the tea. She pulled the (relatively) large cup towards herself and gave it a sniff. It smelled sweet and she could recognise the herbs though she hadn’t ever used them for anything; just passed them by in the wilderness.

The Captain’s hand was so large that the cup basically disappeared despite his lack of gloves. He took a quick sip then both Ser Stephen and Amelia did as well. Maura was still just letting the cup sit there and sniffing it occasionally while keeping her eyes on both men.

Ser Stephen broke the silence by saying, “Well. It seems there was a bit of excitement. I don’t have many details, but from what my wife has said this young one here, Maura, came in from the wilderness? She slunk around the camp for a while and ended up in the healing tent and I guess healed the wounded. Is that right?” He finished with a question at Amelia.

Maura was confused. There were strange things happening. Why had no one talked until they sipped the tea? Was she supposed to sip? She hadn’t been watching Amelia for clues, so she probably messed up. And why didn’t Amelia talk first? Ser Stephen just called her his wife, like she wasn’t there or didn’t have a name?

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Amelia took it in stride and responded, “Yes, I was on my way to check on the wounded this morning before breakfast when Sergeant Eileen walked up to me with a confused expression. She had been trying to track down a potential threat or something and had thought I had been in the healing tent, as she had sensed someone in there.

“I decided to explore the situation with her, and we both peeked through the flap to the tent to see Maura here aglow with healing energy obviously working on one of the soldiers.” She glanced at Maura with raised eyebrows, but whatever message she was trying to send wasn’t received.

Captain Logan took this pause as a chance to intervene, and he grumbled, “So, what were ya doin to the wounded, kid? How’d you even end up out here? Those are mighty expensive clothes, you some noble brat out for a jaunt or something?”

It seemed like Amelia thought about intervening, but she remained silent.

Maura was super intimidated. She felt trapped with the tent wall and chair back on two sides and the people on the others. Everyone was being far too loud and her instincts were screaming that the noise had already attracted something and she needed to relocate immediately. She was tired and uncomfortable, but she knew she had to try to make a case.

Fear is the Enemy.

She squeaked a strange noise the first time she attempted to talk, but the second time her whispers came out like normal.

“I… um, no? I came into the camp to maybe… Well I was following you yesterday, and I saw some people get hurt. So when you stopped I wanted to try to see if I could help? And then when the wounded were left alone I slipped in to check. I didn’t know anyone had been looking for me! Uh, but yes, the wounded. They had those wounds and some venom, but I purged it and cleaned up the wounds and then healed them!”

Her voice had turned into a desperate squeak at the end trying to get everything out. She knew she had messed up and her words came out a little jumbled and now she was embarrassed and blushing a little. Her throat was beginning to hurt from all of the talking. She decided to take a sip of the tea to see if it would help. She held it with both gloved hands like a bowl and took a sip while her eyes flicked between everyone else.

The tea tasted strong, and a little sweet. It was a nice taste and something new. She wished she had tried to make tea before. She had certainly known of tea, but it was part of those flat memories and she had never thought to actually try to make any before.

As she was sipping Ser Stephen loudly said, “I can barely hear you, child! You need to speak up! Your accent is certainly strange - sounds like maybe some foreign noble to me.” He turned to Captain Logan with a shrug.

Maura hid behind her cup and whispered, “Sound is the Enemy. You are all far too loud out in the wilderness. You’re going to attract one of the big dumb ones soon.” It might have been too muffled for anyone to hear, though.

Captain Logan relaxed a bit, possibly realizing his intimidation technique was a bit overkill, let out a loud sigh and said, “I barely understood that, but from what I gather you cleared out the wisp poison? That’s some advanced healing, if true, which brings up even more questions. We’ll know soon enough if you hurt my troops. They should be awake any minute now.”

As he was saying that, the tent flap opened and a young Manza girl with light pink skin came in with a big pot of stew in her arms and a basket of bread hanging from her elbow. She began to move towards the table as Amelia stood to gather bowls and utensils.

Maura Tried to whisper a little louder while coming out from behind her cup. “It’s a venom. Poison is from something you eat, venom is from something that tries to eat you. They are different in how they enter the body or are treated, but yes I purged it from their systems.” She was attempting to keep her cool with all of the movement and her best ally walked away.

Ser Stephen grunted a surprised acknowledgement as he moved the tea further down the table to make room. The girl placed the pot and basket on the table, dipped a tiny curtsey then swished back out of the tent without saying a word.

Maura was confused again, thinking there were other rules she was missing. She had no knowledge of the intricacies of nobility or their customs. The Drend Republic didn’t have a noble class, and all people were given similar respect. There were class distinctions, but they were more of a social convention or based on affluency more than some archaic formal rule set that took an entire adolescence to learn all the ins and outs of.

Amelia came back and placed plates between everyone then began to dish the stew out into bowls and distribute them. There was a small enchanted cold box at the end of the table that Ser Stephen pulled some jams and butter from. Maura wasn’t sure if she should speak up that she didn’t really need much food, but it’s not like she couldn’t eat that much, just that she didn’t need to. Though she was a little hungry and it all smelled amazing to her.

Mostly, she was just exhausted. She had been awake for over a day at this point.

Ser Stephen took a large roll from the basket, followed by Captain Logan, followed by Amelia. Maura just looked at the bowl of stew in front of her and tried to smell the ingredients. Amelia realized that whatever arcane rules she was unconsciously following were unknown to Maura, so she placed a roll on Maura’s plate.

She leaned over to her and said quietly, “First, we break bread. Generally people will pull off a corner of their roll and put some butter or jam on it, then the host eats, followed by everyone else via rank. Then you can eat however you like.”

Maura watched what Amelia did as she spread some jam on her roll with a dullish knife. She repeated the actions with her own roll, but when she picked up the knife her face scrunched up and she blurted, “Whoever made this cheated you. It’s balance is terrible!”

Captain Logan who had been studying Maura constantly the entire time let out a quick rumbling laugh and said, “Butter knives aren’t meant for combat, just to be comfortable and easy to use.”

Maura, who had been struggling trying to put jam on her roll like Amelia had done so effortlessly, looked to the Captain in confusion and said, “What’s the point of not making it well? Seems like it could be used for both if you wanted.”

Ser Stephen, who noticed that Maura was finally ready shrugged and popped the bread into his mouth. He chewed a few times as the other adults followed suit then said, “It’s just always been that way. Maybe there was a reason long ago. If your butter knives were somewhat dull and poorly balanced, it means that you aren’t giving all of your guests an effective weapon when you dine together? Who knows.”

Maura sniffed the bread, which smelled heavenly, before taking a little bite out of it. Her mouth exploded in amazing flavors as she closed her eyes and sighed while focusing on the experience. She chewed slowly before swallowing and opening her eyes wide and turning to Amelia.

“This is amazing! It’s like a bunch of ripe fruits all at once! And the bread!” She whispered.

She didn’t really pay attention to the response as she ate the rest of the little bread bit. She tried some bread with butter next, and that was just as good in a different way. Then she studied how Amelia was using her spoon and tried to copy her. It wasn’t a difficult concept, Maura had just never used one before.

The stew was rich and flavorful as well. She had no idea what the ingredients were, but there was some meat and vegetables and herbs somehow all put together to make each better. She saw Captain Logan, who was basically done when Maura had only had three bites, soak some stew up with some of his bread, so Maura tried that, and it was also amazing.

Before she could help herself, Maura found herself crying. It was just so amazing. She was having her first real meal! With other people! And everything was just so good!

She kept her eyes closed and just savored the feeling. Even if she wasn’t allowed to stay, this memory would be with her forever. She didn’t want the moment to end. While there were dark edges trying to crowd back in, she desperately clung to this wonderful moment of light in her life. There had been very, very few good moments, thus far. Each was to be savored as long as they lasted.

The moment seemed to end too soon, as she realized the table was absolutely silent. Tears were still streaming down her face as she opened her eyes and looked around.

Everyone was just staring at her looking startled. Maura thought she had done something wrong again, and looked to Amelia in confusion and concern.

She said softly, “Maura dear, you’re crying golden tears. What’s the matter?”

Feeling ashamed for forgetting that her glowing tears were unusual and that she had inadvertently ruined her golden moment, words began to pour out of her mouth before she could help herself. The tears kept falling.

“I’m sorry! It was just so nice! I’ve never talked to anyone before or sat with people or had such amazing food! It’s just so nice that I don’t ever want it to end, but you might make me go away, so I wanted to hold onto the moment for as long as I could, but I ruined it! I’m sorry! I just didn’t think I’d ever actually find anyone and it’s been so long and now I’ve ruined it… sorry.”

She looked down at her lap and began to pull up her headdress again, but Amelia gently placed her hand on her arm and said, “No, Maura. We were just startled, is all. What do you mean you’ve never talked to anyone? How is that possible?”

Maura put her hand back in her lap without getting the headdress on. She had been asked this question a few times in different ways by both Amelia and Captain Logan but hadn’t wanted to remember it.

She decided she couldn’t put it off any longer, especially not with everyone looking at her and waiting, so she explained, “I woke up five years ago on the coast to the west. I’ve been making my way east ever since. I had hoped… I had hoped that not everyone was gone. But every town and city I found was an empty ruin, until I found you yesterday.”

Maybe I haven’t messed up yet? They were just startled! Maybe they think I’m weird now and don't want me to stay?

Captain Logan made a strange choking noise and loudly said, “You’ve been in the deep dark for five years? HOW!? That is impossible to survive. That is too much to believe.”

Maura whispered, “It’s not… you just have to follow the rules. And I’m a little strange, and it took a long time… it was really tough before I figured the rules out.”

Captain Logan again exclaimed, “No. Not possible. There is no way a little slip of a thing like you could survive that. No one could.”

Ser Stephen cleared his throat and spoke with a strange tone, “I’m not so sure Captain Logan. You’ve been studying her as well as I, and there are certainly some miscongruencies. I could see an abandoned child lying or something and having somehow survived the nearby area, but I have never met someone that didn’t know how to use a spoon, or had that kind of reaction to buttered bread. Add in her strange capability with healing magic and strange clothing and there is some mystery here.”

The two men had strange expressions on their faces and seemed to be communicating somehow. Maura took a few more bites of the delicious stew while they had been talking.

Amelia cleared her throat a little and asked, “What are the rules, Maura?”

Maura leaned back in her chair after a glance at Amelia. She looked at her hands in her lap and considered what to do. She was afraid of talking. She was afraid of being called a liar. She could still smell the wonderful food and wanted to finish it and maybe have more later. She was afraid this was all a dream. But she was most afraid of losing this chance.

She had to make sure that they knew she wasn't a liar or something. She had to explain somehow, to make them understand. She needed to find a safe place, and this could be her only chance. She wanted to find the light in this world more than anything.

There was only one thing she could think of to try to convince them. There were things she had learned in the ‘deep dark’ - she liked that term.

So, she would explain her mantra.

She took a deep breath and responded, “It was hard. It took a long time, but eventually I figured it out. You just have to follow the rules:

“Haste is the Enemy. Always move slowly, and keep your senses open. Move deliberately and never rush. Examine your surroundings and learn from them. Slow is fast.

“Sound is the Enemy. Either your own sounds or the sounds around you can draw attention. Using magic echoes in the manasphere, so keep any use small. Never speak, and listen to the world: It will tell you what you need to know.

“Fear is the Enemy. Do not let fear stop you from making a decision because it might be hard or uncomfortable. Indecision or freezing at the wrong time will allow openings that the monsters will exploit. Never hesitate, for there lies death. Even if you make the wrong choice, make a choice and never stop moving forward.”

Maura hated explaining this out loud. It brought her back to the memories that had founded her mantra and the pain and loneliness of those times. Her hands were fidgeting and her eyes were staring forward into the middle distance while she was stuck in her mind. She continued with a gentle voice.

“I am the Enemy. You must always fight against yourself, and you can never lose. But you will. There will be dark days. Days you want to stop forever. Days where you might want to be a bit more reckless because you’re just so… tired. Keep a clear objective, even if they are small things, and never stop. Only when you are certain you are safe can you take a moment, but safety is an illusion.

“To conquer the Enemy, Conquer Myself.”

Maura paused for a moment, before her eyes focused and she looked at the people around the table.

“It’s harder than it sounds.”