As they walked down the road toward Shounto Village, Iredys drew in and exhaled a shaking breath.

‘Everything alright, Iredys?’ Ponderosa asked.

‘For the most part, Ponderosa,’ she replied. ‘Information about the people in Shounto Village is already coming to me.’

‘Is that…? Nevermind.’

Iredys lips lifted some. ‘It’s hard to know what is normal when it comes to the visions I am given. I was bombarded with information about Pride Town, but for the moment, only a slow, steady, flow of information is coming regarding those in Shounto Village.’

Ponderosa nodded. ‘Anything I should be concerned about?’

Iredys linked her arm through Ponderosa’s. ‘Just remembering to treat me like a blind person.’

She turned her head to look at Ponderosa as Ponderosa turned to her. After seeing her cloudy white orbs again, Ponderosa nodded.

‘I will do my best.’

‘I know you will.’

The streets were quiet when they arrived in Shounto Village. The sky was just losing the last of the light as they stepped into the inn. Ponderosa pulled the hood of her cloak down.

“Good evening, Ponderosa,” the innkeeper greeted.

Ponderosa nodded with a smile. She carefully and slowly helped Iredys into a chair before sitting beside her and pulling out her writing kit.

The innkeeper finished drying and putting away the cups before approaching. Iredys tipped her head to the side at the sound of his footsteps, but kept her face hidden from view.

‘Is it possible to get a room with two beds in it tonight?’ Ponderosa wrote.

“Sure thing. I will get the room warmed up. Do either of you want anything to help warm you up in the meantime?”

Iredys shook her head then let it lower.

Ponderosa rubbed her arm then wrote, ‘We’re okay for now, Grant. Thank you.’

“You are most welcome, Ponderosa. Won’t be but a few minutes.”

She nodded.

Grant stepped away and headed upstairs to prepare their room.

Iredys exhaled loudly once Grant had gone upstairs.

‘Is something wrong, Iredys?’ Ponderosa asked.

‘A strange feeling,’ she said, bringing a hand up to her head as she shook it.

‘Can you describe the feeling?’

‘It is lost amidst all the information I am still getting.’

Ponderosa’s eyes widened. ‘It has been many hours. You are still getting information?’

Iredys nodded. ‘The futures of these people have a lot of possibilities. Too many for me to be of any help at this time.’

She nodded in understanding, tucking away the desire that had grown in her heart while they walked. To have Iredys help the people in Shouto Village would be a blessing, however, she also knew that too much exposure too soon could pose a threat to her and Iredys. They needed to be cautious. The time would come when she would be able to help those in Shounto Village as she had begun to help those in Pride Town. For now they would rest then visit with Krissy in the morning.

Grant came back to the main floor. “The room is ready, Ponderosa,” he said. “Second door on the right.”

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Ponderosa nodded.

“Is there anything else I can get for you?”

Ponderosa shook her head.

“Just ring the bell if you do.”

She nodded with a smile.

Grant stepped into the kitchen as Ponderosa put her writing kit away. Iredys had turned her head toward the kitchen. The edges of her mouth shifted some as she continued to look at the door.

‘Did the feeling come back?’ Ponderosa wondered.

‘It did,’ Iredys replied. ‘I still cannot identify it and… it concerns me.’

‘Are we in danger?’

Iredys shook her head.

‘Is Grant in danger?’

‘He could be if he is not able to get a set of helping hands soon, but that is not related to this feeling.’

‘What…?’

Iredys motioned subtly with her hand. ‘Let’s go upstairs first.’

Ponderosa started to nod, but stopped herself. She helped Iredys stand. She had started to climb the stairs then stopped when Iredys didn’t follow. Stepping back down, she lifted one of Iredys legs to help her locate the height of the step. Only when Iredys felt her foot upon the stair did she step up. Ponderosa tried to see if she would take the next one on her own, but Iredys remained unmoved. She lifted Iredys leg once more to set her foot on the next step followed by the next.

By the time they reached the upper landing, Ponderosa was glad that Iredys walked a bit more willingly on her own after that. They entered the room. They settled on the two beds before Iredys answered the question that Ponderosa was going to ask.

‘Grant will need someone that can help clean the inn.’

‘Can we help with that before we leave Shounto Village?’ Ponderosa asked.

‘...Possibly,’ Iredys answered.

‘It would be nice if we can.’ She yawned. ‘Grant is such a good man. …I would …feel terrible… if….’

Ponderosa didn’t finish the thought as her mind slipped effortlessly into a dream.

When she woke, the sun was just beginning to shine through the window. Iredys was sitting on the other bed. The fire started to dim as it consumed the last of the available logs.

‘Did you sleep well, Iredys?’ Ponderosa asked.

‘I did. Did you?’

‘Yes.’

She nodded. ‘How soon did you want to leave to see Krissy?’

‘After we eat.’

Iredys nodded.

Ponderosa got up. She helped Iredys with her shoes and cloak before they left the room. As they neared the stairs, Iredys purposefully slowed down. Ponderosa rubbed her arm then very slowly helped Iredys down the stairs. The dining room was quiet, but Iredys stopped not far from the bottom of the stairs.

‘Is something the matter?’ Ponderosa asked.

‘What do you see beside the barrels outside?’ Iredys asked.

‘Nothing. I see… a child?! What is he doing…?’ She had started to let go of Iredys arm, but Iredys kept her grip.

‘Not yet.’

‘Not yet?! It’s freezing out there. He….’

‘We will help him, but we need Grant’s permission first.’

Ponderosa pressed her lips together and sighed. She needed to trust Iredys’ timing. She could see more than she could. Taking one last look at the boy, Ponderosa then helped Iredys settle into a chair at one of the tables. The scraping of the chair against the wood floor brought Grant out of the kitchen.

“Did the two of you have a pleasant night?” he asked.

Ponderosa and Iredys both nodded.

Grant’s smile grew larger as he stepped around the bar to approach their table. Ponderosa pulled out her writing kit once more. Iredys head turned away from Grant a bit as he waited for Ponderosa to write what she wanted to speak.

‘I hope you had a good night as well, Grant.’

“All things considered, I did. I am guessing the usual for you, but for your guest?”

‘She will have the same.’

Grant nodded. He was about to leave when he noticed her writing something else.

‘Can we also get a roll?’

“A roll?”

‘There is a boy near the barrels outside. He looks hungry.’

“Ah, yes. Poor boy. Every time I open the door to invite him in for a bit, he takes off before I can get a single word out.”

‘Would….’

‘Could you use another set of hands around here?’ Iredys prompted.

Ponderosa scratched the word out and wrote, ‘Could you use another set of hands to help you?’

“To be able to get some help here would be great. I just can’t find anyone willing.”

She nodded.

“Let me go get your food. I’ll be back shortly.”

She nodded once more.

‘Tear off a small portion of your page and write, ‘Ask him if he would be willing to work in exchange for food and shelter,’ Iredys prompted.

Ponderosa’s brow furrowed, but she wrote what Iredys said.

‘We will be giving this to the boy to give to Grant,’ she explained.

‘Okay.’

Ponderosa sanded the paper so the ink wouldn’t smear when she folded it.

Grant returned with two glasses of warm meal and the roll. “I hope you will be able to give it to him.”

‘Me, too, Grant,’ Ponderosa wrote in reply. ‘Thank you.’