Kresta continued apologizing profusely to each member of the group as she led them outside.

“Really, truly,” she said. “We will hold my brother accountable. But in the meantime, why don’t you enjoy the amenities of our little village. That is, so long as you can spare a visit. You will be treated as the honored guests that you are.”

“Well, actually, we do have to be getting somewhere,” Andy said. “We’ve—“

“We’d love to accept your offer of hospitality,” Morwen said.

“Lovely,” said Kresta. “Please, let them know whatever you require is on my tab. I will be back in a few minutes. I’ve got to get out ahead of this story… inform the counsel that you’re simply some favors Bertha called in.”

“Wait, Bertha asked you for a favor?” Kermit asked.

“She may as well have,” said Krista. “And if anyone asks, that’s what you’re doing here.”

“Understood,” said Morwen in an authoritative tone.

Andy got the hint. They were going to be neutral so that Kresta could do damage control for her brother’s reputation, and by extension, her own.The group’s cooperation was a small price to pay for having Kresta on their side. Aside from the food, equipment, and other supplies that she had effectively just offered them, she seemed to be reasonable, unlike her brother. Besides, establishing sympathetic contacts within this bandit organization couldn’t be a bad thing.

“Welcome to the bandit village of Bundybrook,” said Kresta. “Enjoy your stay for as long or as little as you would like.”

Kresta wandered off as Andy began surveying the town square. They were surrounded on all sides by woods, but there was large clearing filled with both permanent and semi-permanent structures. Many of the town’s buildings were made of wood and sported ornate carvings with sylvan flourishes: leaves, vines, flowers, and fauns as well as other fae-like creatures. There were also many hide tents that had been fortified for long-term use.

There was a relatively large row of businesses, all of them adjoined along a well-swept, dry dirt path. The forest moss grew just over the path’s edges.

“Where’s PL?” Kermit asked.

Andy looked past a row of trees to an adjacent clearing, where several stables stood. Andy saw the boar’s giant tusks protruding through one of the gates.

“I see him,” Andy said. “You don’t need to worry.”

“Oh thank goodness,” said Kermit. “Can we go see him?”

“I’d be happy to go with you,” Andy said. “I’d like to see him myself too.”

“I’m going to hit the shops,” said Morwen said. “Want to come with me, Arlene?”

“Sure,” Arlene said. “But, shouldn’t we be going to our… you know, mission?”

“I always plan for trouble,” said Morwen, “whether it’s an ambush or an unexpected opportunity to acquire some equipment and a meal. Or, in this case, both.”

“So we don’t need to be there as soon as possible?” Andy asked.

“Listen,” said Morwen. “For low-level favors, the fighting guild deals in days and weeks, not minutes and hours. This is a pretty low priority in the grand scheme of things. It’s a minor noble’s hunting trip. We’ll get there when we get there and if he doesn’t like it, he can leave me a bad review.”

“How do they leave reviews?” Andy asked, now curious about a new game mechanic.

“They don’t,” said Morwen. “It was a joke. You all go check on PL and afterward you can shop. Consider it a reward for surviving the ambush. We may as well crash here tonight too and just get a fresh start in the morning.”

I’m just going to defer to Morwen on this one, Andy thought. I’m not going to argue against an opportunity to acquire free gear.

Morwen headed toward a row of shops. Arlene waved to Andy as she followed behind.

“Let's go see the pig,” Sven said, heading toward the stables, smiling.

“Yeah!” Kermit said as he leapt forward.

Andy followed.

***

They made it across the busy part of the village, where foot traffic was heaviest. Many bandits regarded them suspiciously, but none approached them.

The stables were not under any special sort of security. Some of the stables were padlocked, but not all of them. Not even most of them.

“PL!” Kermit said as he skipped over to the pig’s stable door, easily unlatching it.

The pig grunted as he rose to his feet, trotting out of the stable.

“Oh man, look at his tusks,” said Sven. “They’ll need to be cleaned right away.”

He was right. PL’s tusks were still bloodstained. He had used them in a ferocious display of power, skewering several bandits. Despite his friendliness, PL was a giant boar, a natural killing machine.

"That doesn't scare you, Kermit?" Sven asked.

"It is scary," Kermit said. "But I know he was only doing it to protect us. And sometimes, it's good to have someone so scary on your side."

"Wise beyond your years," Sven said as he grasped the lead attached to PL's tusks. Thankfully, they were not using the less humane restraints employed by the Cresthaven nobility.

"What do we need to clean the tusks?" Andy asked.

"We could use some mountain hyssop," said Sven. "If we make a tea with it, we can use a washcloth to scrub the tusks clean. Plus it is good for his tusks. Mountain hyssop is a wonderful herb."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"You're an herbalist?" Andy asked.

"Oh, ha," Sven chuckled, raising his arm and scratching the back of his neck. "Well, I know some about herbs just because I'm a pig handler. Herbal medicine is vital to my occupation. But no, I am not an herbalist or anything like that in terms of class."

"Ah, I see," said Andy. "What classes have you taken?"

"I actually haven't taken any," said Sven. "The only feat I have is Befriend Animal, same as Kermit has. I was allowed to take a level zero feat that would assist with my duties."

"Seems like a fitting choice," said Andy. "It suits your needs, right?"

"It does," said Sven, letting out a loud sigh.

"Would you rather have something else?" Andy asked.

"Well, the truth is, I've always wanted to do something else… to travel, to see the world. I love the animals I take care of, but I've always wanted to see more. I've always wanted to make more of a difference."

"What kind of difference?" Kermit asked.

The group began walking toward the businesses in the center of the settlement. Many of the bandits were impressed with the boar's gore-covered tusks, and many others horrified.

"I always wanted to be a trader," said Sven. "To start a company, build up a fleet of ships, bringing in things that will make the life of the average person better. But the Noble Court controls trade so there's really no point in trying."

"Could you become a trader somewhere else?" Kermit said.

A puzzled expression crossed Sven's face. "I suppose it's possible," he said, "but I wouldn't want to. Cresthaven is my home."

They continued leading PL around the town. They arrived at a storefront with a sign hanging out front that read: SYL'S CO. PERVEYORS OF HERBS AND PANTRYSTUFFS.

"This place ought to have what we need," said Sven.

Andy could see through the wide front windows. There were rows of different plants, some were potted while others were dried. There were countless dried bundles and bouquets hanging from the ceiling, some consisting of decorative flowers and others that seemed to have a collection of plants for a more medicinal nature.

A younger woman stood in the back, digging around in a pot. She had sun-tanned skin and light brown hair, and she wore a thick apron that had soil and earth stains on it.

"I'll stay with the pig," said Sven, quickly turning around to face the street.

"I guess I'll go in and get some… what did you say?" Andy asked.

"Mountain Hyssop," said Sven.

"Right, right. Mountain Hyssop… dried or fresh?"

"Fresh is preferred, dried is Ok," said Sven.

"Great," said Andy, "I'll get what we need."

***

Andy walked into the store. Why had Sven been so insistent on him doing it? Perhaps Sven wasn't used to dealing with people. He did seem like a hermit. But he wasn't too shy around the group…

As Andy made his way in, the woman lifted her face and smiled.

"Hello," she said in an inviting and warm voice. "Welcome to our little flower shop. Let me know if I can help you find anything."

She was radiant.

That's why Sven didn't want to do this, Andy thought. Maybe he's nervous around beautiful women. Maybe in the group setting it's not so bad, but one on one…

"Thank you," Andy said, giving a friendly smile. "I actually do have something I'm looking for in particular."

"Ah, yes?" the woman said, knocking the dirt off her hands. "What is it you're looking for?"

"Mountain hyssop," said Andy. "Are you aware of it?"

"Yes," she said with a little chuckle. "Of course I'm aware of it. I have to clean dishes after all, just like everyone else."

"Oh, it's dish soap? I didn't even know," said Andy.

"You must be noble born, eh? Did you flip on them and join us like Atnar and his sister?"

"Actually, no…" Andy said. His mind raced for a moment, processing the information the woman had just spilled.

Atnar and Kresta are defected nobles?

That was an interesting piece of information. Andy stored it away for later.

"Well, where are you from, then?" the woman said. She eyed the sword strapped to his back. "Wherever it is, you're a man of means, and you don't do the dishes."

"The other world," said Andy.

"Oh," the woman said, growing quiet.

"I did the dishes sometimes," he said.

The woman chuckled and walked over to a basin of hot water, pulling out a washcloth and wringing it out. She began to wipe off her hands and picked up a bar of soap with purple flours mixed into it. She began soaping her hands.

"This," she said, "is mountain hyssop. It fights disease and revitalizes living tissues."

"Is it magical?" Andy asked. The way she spoke about it made it seem like some kind of spell.

"Only to the extent that all plants have their magic," she said. "If you're doing the dishes, then it's magical. If you're washing your hands, then its magical. But no enchanter made it so." She continued scrubbing her hands, taking her time. "It just grows that way."

She dried off her hands with a fresh towel and walked across the room, extending her hand for a shake.

Andy didn't register it for a moment.

"This is how you otherworlders greet one another, right? Grasping each other's hands?"

"Ah, yes," Andy said, returning to the moment. He extended his hand.

"I'm Syl," she said.

"Andy," he said.

"The hyssop is over here," she said, not breaking off the shake but instead moving his hand into hers, guiding him across the room. Finally she released his hand. "Dried bundles above, some fresh here in this jar, and there are some soaps here too."

"I was told fresh is preferred," he said.

"Yeah? What are you using it for?"

"Truthfully," Andy said. "We're trying to clean blood and gore off of our giant boar's tusks."

"Ah," said Syl, unphased. "Yes, you'll definitely want fresh hyssop. You want to boil it for about ten minutes and then you can use the tea as a soap."

"Fantastic," said Andy. He was pleased that she could solve his problem and get him the product he needed, but he was also delighted to know that Sven knew what he was doing. Andy hadn't doubted him, but he did note the independent confirmation that Sven's wisdom was shared by experts.

"Um, about payment," Andy said. "Kresta said it's on her tab."

"Oh," said the woman. "Kresta? You must be important."

"Well, I don't know about that… It's a long story."

"Sure," said Syl. "Take what you need and I'll charge it to Kresta."

"Thanks," said Andy. "How much should I take?"

"How big is the boar?"

"Really big. He's right out there," said Andy, pointing outside. PL walked back into view.

"Oh… wow," she said. "You'll need a lot." She reached down and grabbed a big handful, putting it into a small drawstring sack. "This should do it. It'll make about five gallons."

Andy took the bag.

"Thanks, Syl," he said. "I'll see you around?"

She winked.

"If you ever need a plant, you know where to find me."