The late summer sun blazed overhead, the heat in the air bringing about it the scent of warmth itself. Out here in the middle of the grassy flats anyone who didn't bring water with them would be in serious trouble. The dirt road was dry and dusty, the plants that tried to grow on it wilting away quickly. Sure there were the odd inn along long roads such as this, but such a place was too far away for someone on foot. Especially a small child.

Well I wasn't exactly a small child but I was walking at the speed of one. The city that I had been heading too on that carriage was only a few hours ride away now and though I could just teleport or fly there I was trying to be a normal human at the moment. Its not like I needed water to survive so I really had all the time in the world. This was a good experience for me anyway, teaching me first hand how the humans did things.

Being dumped from that carriage was really annoying. After I went through the trouble of saving those people from the bandits they rode off without me like I was some kind of monster. They didn't even know I was a goddess! They just assumed I was a little mage girl and that was enough to terrify them. The magic users of this world really have a bad reputation, though I suppose in any world where there are people born with power its the same. I mean even witches and magicians were feared where I came from, not to mention the prophets of my father. Its the unknown people really fear.

Miya had asked me if I was mad at those people and I had told her no. They were just doing what they thought was best to keep themselves and their children safe. Besides they had just gone through a traumatizing experience and weren't thinking straight. I'm sure there were those among them that regretted leaving me on the side of the road.

My thoughts were interrupted as the sound of wheels could be heard coming from behind me. Without turning around I used my goddess map and saw a man in his forties riding a large covered wagon drawn by a pair of horses. His garb identified him as some poor person and likely someone coming to sell whatever was in his wagon at the city. Farmer was his most likely occupation.

I just kept walking on the side of the road, keeping my hood up over my head so he couldn't see my face. Hopefully he'd just drive by and leave me alone. Considering my age he probably wouldn't though. Even in times like these people of the earth were pretty outreaching and neighborly.

As expected the wagon began slowing down as he approached me. The rumbling of the wooden wheels in the dirt quieting somewhat as the scent of clay filled the air alongside the dust kicked up by the wagon's travel. The horses snorted now and then as they took deep breaths. Their coats were shining with sweat.

Normally I would consider using animals for long distance transport of goods as animal abuse. Though of course at this tech level it was normal. These horses looked healthy enough anyway so they were being taken care of. They stood at least six feet tall and it was actually kinda spooky being such a tiny child next to such huge animals. Not that I was afraid, its just they were big.

Once the wagon was directly adjacent to me it came to a rickety stop. The horses let out a short whinny and clopped their hooves in the dirt. The man sitting in the drivers seat leaned forward on his knees and gave me a look of concern. He looked like he'd been working hard his whole life, his short honey hair unkempt. His eyes were turquoise and had a kindness to them.

"Hey there. What's a young thing like you doing walking out here all alone? Do you want a ride?"

Without turning to face him I stopped walking. It seems I'd have to come up with something. Traveling the rest of the way with him was a good idea too as it would lessen suspicion. All I'd have to do it quell his fears and I'd be clear.

"Well I'm just on my way to the city up ahead." I replied keeping my arms inside my cloak. "I'm traveling alone for my own reasons. But I'd be happy to get a ride the rest of the way."

The man nodded and reached his arm down to me.

"I suppose I won't pry into your business in Bathtwana then. I know kids these days can go through an awful lot. Come on up then."

As he reached down I turned around and let him at least see my face. He didn't react to seeing it so he clearly didn't know who I was. Before reaching for his hand I looked up at him and spoke in a serious tone.

"You know I'm a mage. The people I was traveling with before were afraid of me."

With a laugh the man leaned down more and kept reaching to help me up.

"I'm not afraid of you. If you were gunna do something to me you would've already. Besides what would a farmer have a mage would want?"

I didn't reply and just sighed weakly. Then I reached up my own hand and took his. It was strange getting help like this from someone but it wasn't my place to reject his help. He was going out of his way to help a mage girl without fear or demands of repayment. Touching his hand and reading his mind confirmed as such.

Once he had me up in the seating area of the wagon he let me settle in next to him. He just smiled as he watched me curl up and keep myself hidden under my cloak.

"Do you have a name little lady?"

"Jeanie" I replied curtly. "Do you?"

He just smiled again and turned back to the horses, picking up the reigns and starting them walking again.

"The name's Yender. Its a pleasure to meet you Madam Jeanie. I suppose since asking you why you're heading into the city is out of question I might tell you why I am. You might have guessed already though."

I didn't correct him with the madam part as he was assuming I was some kind of nobility. A good assumption considering I was taking such lengths to hide my identity. The reason he was going into a city was also obvious as a look behind me confirmed my suspicions he was selling produce. The whole wagon was full of root vegetables, all covered by a thick blanket to protect them from the sun.

"Well yeah you're a farmer selling his crops." I said with a bit of indignation. "I mean what else would you be doing?"

Yender let out a small chuckle and nodded.

"Can't get anything past you I see little miss. I see you're learned about the ways of the world, as expected of someone like you. You're still quite young to be traveling alone."

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With another sigh I leaned back into the wooden bench. The hood slid a bit off my face but I didn't adjust it. This man wouldn't be recognizing me anyway. In the back of my head I wondered how much of a story I should make up in this little role play.

"It can't be helped. You know how it is for kids of mages. Well I guess you don't."

"Family trouble?" he half asked half stated. "I've heard wild stories about how nobility treat their own children. Its a crying shame."

I gave a glance up at him and then looked back ahead at the horses.

"You take good care of your horses."

To his credit Yender didn't point out my sudden topic change. He just went along with it as he assumed there was a reason I was avoiding talk about my family. Smart man, one who'd seen a few runaways in his time most likely.

"Yeah I have to" he replied. "These two are the lifeblood of my farm. Without them to carry my goods to market I wouldn't have a living." He then pointed to each of them. "That one's Betty and that one's Jermain."

"I'm sure you'd have a living still" I said watching the animals. "The goddess take care of you like she does me. Do you pray to her?"

One of the reasons I was going on this little trip was to gauge the people's reactions to my appearance so asking this farmer was an excellent opportunity. I had no idea how he'd have reacted and I hoped positively.

To my surprise Yender just laughed and shook his head.

"Oh I don't pray to the goddess. I've heard the stories about her appearing in the kingdom and if they're true I'm not changing how I live my life. She'd be much to busy to notice or care about someone as unimportant as me."

It was my turn then to let out a small laugh.

"Oh farmers are very important! I'm sure she'd understand that."

The city we were heading towards was known as a farming city. It was called Bathtwana and was quite far west of the capital Norlov. Obviously this man was one of the many farmers in the surrounding land and contributed not only to the city's well being but to anywhere that good goods from its markets. Of course I understood the importance of food to humans. Its easy to see why a farmer would consider themselves unimportant in the eyes of a goddess though.

We continued talking about his life on the last few miles into the city with small bits of my made up life thrown in. Whether or not he believed me wasn't important and he probably was a bit suspicions. A young kid like me was going to lie about their life anyway to protect themselves.

Eventually however we reached the gates of Bathtwana. It was an average size city with around sixty-thousand people living in it easily. The walls were made of strong stone and stood at least thirty feet tall. Round watchtowers were erected along it and at corners with a small patrol of guards seen walking to and fro above.

The traffic coming in and out of the city was nothing like what's seen at the capital though it was still substantial. There were other people coming and leaving with goods of various kinds, though mainly foodstuffs. Of course there was plenty of travelers coming to this city for various reasons and lots of locals probably going to work in places in the vicinity of the city.

As we approached the gates we could see a group of guards checking all the wagons coming in and out of the city. Checkpoints of customs were to be expected in a city this size. Not only for safety reasons but also so taxes could be properly collected on expensive goods. The government always needs its cut.

Thankfully it didn't take too long for it to be our turn. As our wagon pulled up to the guards I kept quiet and tucked up into the bench to avoid notice. They'd just assume I was his child which was fine with me. Yender seemed a bit nervous though.

A tall and burly guard armed with a spear and carrying a small book came up on the right side where Yender was. Another guard, shorter and thinner, came up on my side.

"What business do you have in Bathtwana today?"

Yender cleared his throat and kept a tight hold on the reigns.

"My name is Yender and I'm just here to sell my produce in the markets sir. Carrots, beets, and the like."

The guard on my side walked past me and gave me a threatening look. He then threw back the blanket over the crops and gave them a good look over.

"Looks fine to me sir."

The first guard was writing this information down into his customs book. Once he was done he looked up at Yender with a sneer.

"Well then I'll be collecting the entry tax then."

Yender didn't say anything and seemed to be quite afraid.

I tapped him on the arm and whispered. "What does he mean?"

"The guards always collect some of the crops brought in" he replied in whisper. "There's nothing I can do about it. I'm too old to stop them and if I did they might turn me away."

Of course! Corrupt city guards taking a piece of the pie for themselves in abuse of their authority. This was getting me heated and I had to take a deep breath to calm my rising anger. Once I was calmed down I stood up in my seat.

Yender looked at me in alarm.

"What're you doing?"

Without answering I jumped down off the wagon and walked around to the head guard. He glared down at me and shouted. His friend was too busy already digging through the produce in the wagon to notice what I was doing.

"Hey! What're think you're doing brat?" he demanded.

With narrowed eyes I lifted my head up so I could look the guard in the face. He was twice as tall as me but that didn't matter. My eyes were glowing brightly and I lifted back my hood just enough that he could see my face clearly in the shadow of my cloak. I spoke in a calm but angry sounding voice.

"You're not taking anything from this farmer."

This man clearly recognized me. His face went pale with terror and he dropped his book on the ground in terror.

"Y-You're..."

I smiled darkly and kept glaring up at him, keeping my tone hushed.

"That's right. Now understand that you'll never steal from this man ever again. Make sure every guard in this city knows it. You wouldn't to make a goddess angry?"'

"Y-Yes ma'am!" he stammered.

The other guard had stopped his rummaging and came back around the wagon behind me. He was clearly angry and confused.

"What's going on here?"

I gave a look back to the man behind me.

"I was just giving some friendly advice to your friend here."

The first guard was stammering in fear and bent down to fumble around picking up his book. He did it quite quickly too as bending over brought him closer to my level and filled him with even more fear. He then tried to straighten up to address the other guard.

"Nothing's wrong! Don't touch this man's produce. He's free to go." He then whispered over my head. "She's that goddess!"

The second guard had a look of confusion on his face, especially considering his fellow guard's reaction. His face changed to one of worry and understanding however when he caught a glimpse of my face as well. Regardless if he recognized who I was he could clearly see I was a mage of some kind, and quite pissed off at that.

"Yes sir!" he replied with a salute.

With this taken care of I turned back around and walked back over to the wagon. I then hefted myself up into my seat again and settled down next to Yender. The farmer was looking at me with great surprise.

"We're free to go" I said flatly.

Yender looked over at the guards in confusion. They gave him nods and gestures for him to hurry along. The farmer then shrugged and whipped the reigns. The horses whinnied and walked out of the gatehouse and into the city.

"So what was that about?" he asked turning to me. "Did you tell them who you were?"

A knowing smirk came to my lips as I focused ahead of me.

"Oh something like that. None of the guards in this city will be bothering you ever again."

"Well thank you Madam Jeanie."

I just gave him another grin. "No problem. Do you think the goddess allowed us to meet?"

Yender chuckled and shook his head a little.

"Maybe so little lady. If she did then I'll be sure to pray to her and give her my thanks."

After he said that I stood up next to him on the moving wagon. I then pulled my hood back completely and exposed my full head to him. My eyes were bright with power and my hair was gleaming. An aura of radiance was glowing around my shining face. I had a huge smile.

"You're welcome."

Then without another word and while he was stunned in utter disbelief I leapt backwards off the wagon. With some wind magic I alighted on the ground without making a sound and pulled the hood back over my face to hide my radiance and appearance again. With Yender looking on with mouth agape I slipped into the crowed and out of sight. The last thing he heard was my crystal giggle as I vanished.