Lira and I rode back into Fernwick on her stallion, our bags loaded down with my spare equipment and all the goblin weapons and armor we could carry.

She sat in front of me, my arm around her waist. Mostly around her waist; my hand may have wandered from time to time. She’d been delighted with the gift of the shaman’s staff, and it was the right size for her. To be fair, it had been too large for Manchee, but he’d probably acquired it the same way I had—at swordpoint.

Rolf came out from his forge as we arrived, bare-chested and in his apron as usual, and held the bridle while I dismounted. I helped Lira down, then turned to greet the blacksmith with a grin and an offered arm. “Good to see you again.” I meant it – if it wasn’t for him, I’d never have got this quest. Besides, I knew a good man when I saw one.

“Welcome back, Kaelan. I was beginning to worry.” He clasped my forearm, then turned to Lira with a grin of his own. “Hello again, little lady. Now that I see you with this man, it all makes sense.”

She gave him a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes like it did when she smiled at me. Perhaps she didn’t care for the ‘little lady’ comment; at five-foot-eight, she was only 'little' compared to Rolf’s bulk.

Rolf turned back to me. “When you didn’t return, I figured you were lunch for the goblins. It’s good to see you again. Any progress?”

“I’ve finished,” I said, unable to hide the smugness in my voice. “The mine’s clear.”

Rolf stared at me. “The mine’s clear? Did the goblins just up and leave?”

I grinned. “Nope, still there. Didn’t have time to move all the bodies, though. You can probably round up some men for that.”

Rolf blinked. “You killed them all? Already?”

I was enjoying his shock. “Yep, all done.”

His eyes narrowed. “How many were left?”

“I lost count around twenty or thirty. Something like that. And a shaman.”

Rolf’s eyes widened. “A shaman?”

“We were off to give Bjorn the good news. Want to come?”

“Sure,” Rolf said, pulling off his apron and reaching for his shirt. “I wouldn't miss this for anything. I want to see his face.”

*

Bjorn’s house, naturally, was the largest in town. He introduced us to both his wives before showing us into a comfortable room where we sat around the hearth. There were wicker chairs for Rolf, Lira and me, simple yet surprisingly comfortable. One of his wives served drinks, while the other sat beside him on a bench covered with cushions.

Lira didn’t bat an eyelid at the fact that Bjorn had more than one wife; either she was a consummate diplomat, or the custom was common enough in Valorah. Either way, it wasn’t my place to comment, and I focused on the reason for our visit.

“I finished the quest you gave me. The mine is clear.”

Bjorn’s reaction was more skeptical than Rolf’s had been. He crossed his arms, eyeing me sharply. “You expect me to take your word for that?”

Lira’s posture stiffened beside me, her fingers tightening around the armrest. She shot Bjorn a glare, her voice like cold steel. “How dare you speak to Kaelan like that!”

I leaned back in my chair, content to let Lira have her fun. She was already in full defense mode—my tigress ready to pounce. Rolf met my eye, covering a smile with one hand.

Bjorn had the decency to look embarrassed, but wasn’t ready to back down. “Yes, well.” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “We’ll need to send men to the mine before you’re paid. I’m sure you understand.”

“Thank you,” I said graciously, like he hadn’t just doubted my word. I couldn’t resist twisting the knife a little. “Maybe you could ask them to do a body count while they’re at it. I lost track after I passed twenty.”

“Is there a bonus for a shaman?” Rolf asked with exaggerated innocence, clearly on my side. Maybe Bjorn wasn’t his drinking buddy.

“A … a shaman?” Bjorn’s eyes boggled.

“Oh, don’t worry, he’s dead too,” I assured the mayor, then nodded to the staff that Lira was holding. “That used to be his.”

We all took a moment to admire the staff, and there were gasps as Lira activated the light spell. The crystal glowed brightly, filling the room with a radiance that outshone the daylight. Unlike the shaman’s erratic, headache-inducing pulse, this light was steady—constant. My High Priestess was clearly stronger, and I couldn’t help but give her a proud smile.

“I’m sure we can work out some kind of bonus…” Bjorn mumbled, still mesmerized.

“There’s also the matter of the house,” I reminded, delicately.

“Yes, yes,” Bjorn said, tearing his gaze from the staff and waving a hand dismissively. “Take your pick. Rolf can show you which ones are available.”

“Thank you,” I said, rising. “Do let me know how many bodies there were, won’t you?”

“Yes … of course,” Bjorn said, caught like a deer in headlights as he gazed again at Lira’s staff.

I smiled. “Good day, then.”

Rolf and Lira followed me out.

“He can be a bit tightfisted, but he’s not a bad fellow,” Rolf said. “Want to see the houses?”

“Sure. Lead on.”

“Houses?” Lira murmured to me as we walked.

I shrugged. “I thought I’d need somewhere to live until I’m ready to return to Norathil.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “Good idea. Could I … possibly stay with you?”

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I raised an eyebrow at her. “Did you think I’d let my High Priestess stay anywhere else?”

She smiled and lowered her eyes.

Rolf led us to a house, larger than the others on a side street off the main thoroughfare. It was built mostly of timber, with wattle-and-daub filling the gaps, if I remembered my history right. A thatched roof, two stories, shutters on the windows, and a sturdy front door—it was tidy, practical, and had a certain charm.

"This one’s first," Rolf said, gesturing toward it. “Biggest, too.”

I nodded in approval. It looked perfect.

“Belonged to a man called Petro,” Rolf said. “Son of a merchant from Taralith, a few days from here. Quite wealthy.” He shrugged. “I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, but truth be told, he was a bit of a prick. No great loss.”

“Why did he move here if he lived in Taralith?” I asked.

Rolf shrugged again, his massive shoulders rising and falling easily. “Married a girl here. Nice one, too. I think her name is Senna.”

“That’s sad,” I said. Even if Rolf hadn’t liked the man, I felt sorry for the girl. Lira caught my eye, her expression sympathetic. “And this is the biggest, you say?”

“Biggest and the best, if you ask me.”

“Do you like it?” I asked Lira.

“It’s lovely,” she said, offering a soft smile.

I nodded. “We’ll take this one, then.”

“Good choice,” Rolf said. “Do you want to see inside?”

“Sure.”

He strode up to the door, but instead of unlocking or opening it as I’d expected, he knocked.

I exchanged a puzzled glance with Lira as we followed. Was someone living here? That would complicate things.

The door opened, revealing a young woman in a simple shift, her feet bare. She looked at Rolf, glanced past him to Lira and me, then quickly lowered her eyes and took a pace back, opening the door wider. “Please, come in.” Her voice was soft and quiet.

A maid, perhaps? Sent to prepare the house, no doubt. Thoughtful of whoever had arranged that—likely Rolf. I made a mental note to thank him later.

We followed him into the house.

We stepped inside, the house rustic but cozy. A stone hearth dominated the central room, with pots and cooking utensils hanging neatly along one wall. Herbs and vegetables lay bundled nearby. Another kind touch. The stone floor had been swept clean, and a large wooden table stood in the center, surrounded by chairs. A timber staircase led upstairs, and a back door opened into the common area that ran behind the houses.

“What’s in there?” I gestured to a smaller door off to the side.

“Storeroom, if I recall?” Rolf said, glancing at the maid, who nodded.

“Very nice,” I commented, noticing the woman blush. She was pretty, her long dark hair braided tightly down her back. I briefly wondered if it would be possible to keep her services. While I was sure Lira wouldn’t mind the housework, I’d much prefer to pay someone else to handle it. “What’s upstairs?”

“Two bedrooms, my Lord,” she replied softly, “and a bathroom.”

Lira smiled warmly at her, but the girl still kept her gaze down.

“This is one of the few houses in the village with a bathroom,” Rolf added, leading us up the stairs. One room held a copper tub, the prospect of filling it from the town well looming in my mind.

The maid, noticing my gaze, spoke quietly. “I’ve already fetched water, my Lord. There are jugs in the storeroom.”

“Thank you, that’s very thoughtful.” I smiled, trying to ease her nerves, and was rewarded with another blush.

The upstairs held two bedrooms: a small room opposite the bathroom with a single sleeping pallet, while the master at the end of the hall had a large bed comfortably big enough for two. I winked at Lira when the others weren’t watching.

“It’s perfect,” I said to Rolf as we descended. “We’ll be quite at home here.”

The maid bit her lip, eyes still cast downward.

“Right then,” Rolf said with a nod. “I’ll let Bjorn know you’ve made your choice. Fancy a beer later?”

“Sounds good.”

He tugged at his forelock toward Lira and the maid. “Ladies,” he said before leaving, the door closing behind him.

“Would you like some dinner, my Lord?” the maid asked, her voice almost a whisper. “I gathered extra provisions, in case you chose this house.”

“You knew we were coming?” I asked, surprised.

“Rolf kindly mentioned it a few days ago,” she explained, her voice wavering. “Though … I didn’t expect you so soon.”

“You’ve already done so much,” I assured her, with a kind smile. “I couldn’t ask for more, and I’m sure you’ve got places to be. Lira and I can handle the cooking.”

The maid’s head snapped up and her eyes widened in alarm. From behind her, Lira shook her head urgently, warning me I’d somehow erred. But we weren’t even paying the girl yet, wasn’t it presumptuous to keep her here?

“Of … of course, my Lord,” the maid said, her eyes brimming with sudden tears as she turned away.

Lira stepped forward, placing a calming hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Why don’t you sit by the hearth, dear? I need a quick word with Kaelan.”

Frozen in place, the maid seemed too stunned to respond. Gently, Lira guided her to one of the chairs near the fire. I distractedly noticed they were wicker, like the ones at Bjorn’s house, and looking just as comfortable, but I was more concerned with the girl’s reaction. I was clearly missing something. The tension in the room had thickened into something almost tangible. Taking a seat at the table, I let Lira handle the situation—she had a much better grasp of this world’s social subtleties than I did.

Once she had the girl settled by the hearth, Lira came over to sit beside me, leaning in close.

“I think we should make sure she has family before we turf her out,” Lira murmured.

“Turf her out?” I said, a little too loudly. The maid gave a little sob, and I quickly lowered my voice. “What do you mean ‘turf her out’?”

“If she doesn’t stay here, she won’t have anywhere else to go.”

“Maids live in the house?” I asked, feeling a bit confused but seeing the advantages to such an arrangement.

“Maid?” Lira repeated, her brow furrowing. “That’s Senna. The widow?”

I blinked. “Wait … this is her house?”

“Yes. Well, it was. It’s yours now.”

“That can’t be right! Rolf never said she lived here!” But then I remembered Bjorn mentioning something about wives. “Are all the houses occupied?”

Lira nodded. “Most likely. The houses would have belonged to the men who died in the mines, and if they had wives, the women stayed. It’s rare for a woman to live alone otherwise.”

“What happens to them?” I asked, frowning.

“They find another husband or they’re evicted when the house changes hands,” Lira explained with a casual shrug, though her eyes darkened slightly at the harshness of it.

“That’s …” Barbaric. But this wasn’t Earth, and my judgments didn’t belong here. It didn’t sit well with me, but maybe, in such a society, it was the only way for a woman to have safety and security. I took a breath. “I didn’t realize. Very well. I’ll talk to her.”

Lira smiled gently. “I know you’ll do the right thing, my God.”

Great. But what was the right thing? Upsetting Lira wasn’t on my agenda, either. “Wait … do you think she should stay?”

Lira nodded without hesitation. “It would be the kindest option, don’t you think?”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

She tilted her head, studying me with a curious smile. “Why would I mind?”

“Well, you know … you and me …”

“Whatever you choose to do is your decision, Kaelan,” she said, her hand resting warmly on mine. “With or without Senna, I just hope that I may stay by your side.”

I swallowed. Right. It was like that.

“I’ll talk to her,” I muttered again.

As if I didn’t have enough to deal with already. Keep Lira safe, level up, kill Drakos, save Valorah … and now another mouth to feed.

Suppressing a sigh, I walked over to the girl, who rose at my approach, standing nervously.

“Senna, isn’t it?” Lira’s reminder of her name had saved me from fumbling that one.

“Yes, my Lord,” she said quietly, still staring down at the floor, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shift.

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

She glanced up, her face showing her confusion. “My loss?”

“Your late husband.”

“Oh. Him.” She looked down again. “Thank you for your kind words, my Lord.”

Not exactly the reaction of a grieving widow missing the throes of early love. I raised an eyebrow at Lira, who only shrugged in return.

I tried another approach. “It’s a beautiful home. You’ve kept it very well.”

“Thank you, my Lord,” she said, woodenly.

Alright. This was going nowhere. Time to be more direct.

“Would you like to stay? Live here, with Lira and me?”

Her head shot up, wide eyes brimming with surprise and hope. “Do you mean it?”

Seeing her reaction, I realized I couldn’t turn her away now. “Of course. We would be glad if you did.”

“Oh, thank you, my Lord!” Before I could react, she threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my waist, her head pressed against my chest. “Thank you so much!”

You have gained a new Companion.

Yeah, I’d already figured that out.