Isa stood up from the bar. “That wizard is the last person I want to see.”

Lund said, “He might have other ideas about that.”

“He has to find me first, and unless he’s got a gate spell in his pocket that’s not going to happen.”

“You’re not home yet, Isa.” Lund leaned his elbows on the bar.

“This is my home away from home.” She smiled. “Speaking of that, I thought it would be kinda sweet to spend my last night here. Is that OK? Is the little room I had my first night available?”

“I’ll check. We have room for you. That same room or another. You have a place.”

“Thanks, Lund.” She knocked on the bar. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Once out on the road Isa took a deep breath. She would be home soon, and one mystery would be solved - she’d know just how much time had passed since she’d arrived here. She hoped it had been hours and not days. The idea of everyone worried about her was distressing.

Gimble’s shop was an easy stroll from Lund’s, and the road was empty. Bywater is a small place, and after Deney, Isa had gotten used to the bustle of the local people and their activities.

She pushed open the door of the shop. As before, a bumble of items greeted her eyes. A stack of boxes, a pile of boots and metal helmets, 3 unstrung lutes, and a potted lemon tree stood near the entrance as though someone had dropped those things and fled the store without getting payment.

“I sold the shoes,” said Gimble. He was standing near the wall of swords with a long white dress draped across his arms.

“I’m not here to buy; I’m here to sell.” Isa took 2 steps into the shop. “I hope you got a good price.”

Gimble ignored her last comment. He gently placed the dress on the counter and came toward her. “What have you got, girl? I’m pretty full at the moment, but you’re here so….” He seemed to be taking inventory of Isa and her possessions. “The staff. That might….”

“It’s not for sale.” Isa planned on giving Lund the masterwork quarterstaff to thank him for his loan of the first quarterstaff.

The shopkeeper’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve been busy then.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Isa pulled her big bag over her shoulder. “I have a few things to sell. Loot, you know.”

“You focused on the rapier the other day; it threw me off, but I see it now.” He took a step toward the counter. “And I’m sure you do quite well. It would be an honor to assess your-- the spoils of your victory. Victories. I’m sure.” He gave a little bow.

The gnome had been odd the first time she’d met him, but this was an altogether different sort of odd. He couldn’t be scared of her; that wouldn’t make any sense. Maybe she’d interrupted him in the middle of something. He’d had the dress and-- maybe he had a lady friend in the back. But he should have locked the door if he was--

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Gimble’s voice interrupted Isa’s spiral of thought. “I said, I’m glad to see you’ve adapted so well to our plane.”

“Thank you,” Isa said absently. “Listen, if you’re busy I can--”

“No! No-no. Of course not. I have time for you. All the time. Take all the time you need. Just maybe you could put down your staff? We’re friends after all. There’d be no reason - no reason under the sun and moon for you to cast any spells…. Right?”

“Spells?” Isa shook her head. “I’m just a fi-- How funny. It didn’t take long for me to be really comfortable with calling myself a fighter.” She put a hand to her chest. “I’m Isa Chamberlin. I was here really just a few days ago. You sold me this rapier.” She pulled the scabbard from her belt. “This is one of the things I want to sell.”

Gimble took the weapon gently. “You didn’t bond with it, too? Huh. Staff’s an odd choice.” He looked at Isa quickly. “Not odd. Unusual. Daring. Innovative, maybe.”

“Maybe you are confusing me with someone else. I just want to sell a few things and be on my way.” She paused. “But I can go now. Perhaps you should lie down or something. You really don’t look well.”

Gimble’s face had a sheen of sweat. “Look, I have the shoes. I didn’t sell them.” He laughed. “You can have them back!”

“My Brooks?” Isa shook her head in confusion. “Do you have a twin brother? The last time I was in, the guy was… he was different than you.”

“Please, no magic. Your friend Windbane, he’s a temperate wizard. He’s no eldritch knight, of course but a model of temperance all the same.”

“Look,” Isa laid her hands flat on the counter. “I think you’re confused in your mind or something. I’m a fighter. I don’t know any magic.”

“But the staff, and you seem….” He hung his head. “Why don’t you want to sell the staff if you haven’t bonded with it? You’re gonna sell your other weapon.”

“I’m downsizing, I guess you’d say. I’m going home, so I don’t need these things, but the quarterstaff, that’s going to be a present to a friend.”

As she spoke, Gimble’s head went side to side as if he couldn’t believe his ears. “I’m getting old. I thought you’d become a knight. Silly, really. Not reading the signs right, old man.” He chuckled and clapped his hands. “Alright then! What do you have? Spill it, spill it out. Come on.”

“First, what’s a whatchamacallit knight?”

“Eldritch. It’s a magical fighter class. A wizard with a sword. Usually.”

“That sounds pretty awesome.”

“They are frightening. Fast, decisive, deadly.”

“Huh. And I could be one of those? If I was going to stay around here, I mean.”

“You seem capable enough.” Gimble shrugged. “No offense.”

“None taken.” Isa put the loose gems, the navigator’s kit, 2 old books, and an ornate belt she’d taken from Hama, the bandit captain on the counter next to the rapier. After a moment she pulled off her boots and placed them on the counter, too.

Gimble paused in sorting the gems and looked at the boots.

“Since you offered to return my running shoes….” Isa let her voice trail off.

“I said that in a moment of weakness, girl!”

She shrugged. “All the same, you made the offer, and I accept.” She nudged the boots toward him. “Thank you.”

With a growl Gimble moved to the back room. He returned a few minutes later cradling the Brooks. “I feel quite put upon.”

Isa reached over and took the shoes. “You have my word that if I come back here, I’ll bring you a new pair.”

“They’ll be ghost shoes?”

Isa laughed. “Yes, if I come back, I’ll bring you some Ghosts. Probably not 8s. But yes.”

That perked Gimble up, and he quickly ran through Isa’s loot. She walked out with over 100 gold. As she closed the door behind her, she felt the weight of her coin pouch. “Loot. What a concept. You win a fight with someone, and you get to sell their stuff.”