You have 2 days left of your debt to the Salty Swine.Your debt to the Salty Swine has been reduced to 4 hours.You are well rested.

It’s still very early, but the morning just feels so good I have to wake up for it. The mayor came through. Just one more breakfast service, and I’m free to go. I stretch, scratch and leave the room. As I pass Bethas room I decide not to knock yet. It’s still very early, and she doesn’t have to get up. Instead I head to the kitchen and start preparing for the breakfast. There’s still no instructions as to what I should prepare, so I go for eggy toast with bacon. I’m starting to think Yadra was making it all up as she went along.

I run a plate upstairs to Bethas room, placing it on the floor and knocking.

“Room service!”

Back in the kitchen, I find the landlady waiting for me. She has a smoldering look in her eyes.

“There’s the clever little boy. I knew I was under working you, seeing as you had time to do so much extra around here. Serves me right to allow the help time off despite their behaviour.”

I smile at her. Only a couple more hours to go.

“And a good morning to you as well miss. Did you sleep well?”

I check on the food, making sure everything is perfect.

“You think you did well here, don’t you. Pulled one over on the old woman, made yourself some connections in town.”

Her voice is steady, but there’s an undercurrent I hadn’t expected to hear. Regret? Anger? Fear? No…

“I reckon you’ll find out soon enough. Staying with me would have been the safer choice. I want you out of the inn after breakfast. Until you come up with something useful to barter with, you’re barred from the Salty Swine.”

She turns to leave.

“Wait. Do you know where Yadra went? I was the reason she was kicked out, I’d like to make sure she’s okay.”

Her eyes have a gleam in them when she turns back.

“I kicked Yadra out because she was weak. She always put others before herself, never did her job properly when entertaining. Lying to me about where you were was a drop in the ocean. I’d guess she went towards the sawmill. Only place nearby for women like her to find a dry bed or two.”

She snorts as she exits the room. She was mocking me, gloating. I shake my head and go back to work. Soon, I’m joined by Betha. Her attitude is cold as she moves to freshen herself up. I have to open the doors, so I leave her alone.

The service goes well, and my choice of food is popular. I shake a lot of hands, letting the customers know I’ll be leaving soon, and I get a lot of sad expressions. It’s a good feeling that the people want me to stay, but I explain that it’s just not possible, that I have to continue my travels. In the end I’m made to promise to write them when I find a place to settle down.

As breakfast nears an end, I get the notice I’d been waiting for.

[Your debt to the Salty Swine has been repaid.]

[Warning: You are no longer welcome in the Salty Swine.]

[Your standing with the Salty Swine has been reduced to Unliked.]

I go to the kitchen, finding Betha cleaning the dishes alone. I pick up a rag and help her out.

“You’re not supposed to be here anymore.”

I shrug, picking another dish.

“I can’t just leave a job undone like this, can I.”

She looks at me, an annoyed expression.

“You’re not a very good person. You always do these gestures, helping out, trying to be friendly. Then, as soon as you start to seem decent, you do something bad.”

I focus on the soapy water, letting her get it off her chest.

“And now you’re leaving for good, even after…”

She stops, scrubbing furiously. I look, and there are tears in her eyes.

“After what, Betha?”

I brush her hair away from her ear, and she looks at me. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

“On the first night. I know you were drunk, I know that the captain was influencing you, but I thought you’d remember by now.”

Blinking in confusion, I scratch my head.

“Remember what?”

She throws her rag into the water, turning to me.

“You said you’d take us away from this place. You said you’d take us with you when you left!”

Her voice is louder than I’d ever heard it, and it clicks. It sounds exactly like something I’d say when I was drunk. I open my mouth to answer, but a voice from the door interrupts me.

“You’re not welcome here anymore. Leave.”

The landlady points at Betha.

“You. Go into the main hall and clean the floor.”

I look from her to Betha and back, before leaning into Betha.

“I’ll get you when I can. I’m sorry.”

You have been struck for 30% damage.

An arrow just out from my shoulder. The landlady is standing with one finger pointing at me. Her other hand is raised with two fingers pointing at the ceiling. I look up, seeing nothing unusual. When I look back, there’s only one finger left. A countdown. I scramble, dashing towards the door.

You have been struck for 40% damage.

As I get the door open the arrow detonates, throwing me clear of the door frame and into the mud. I manage to turn around in time to see the landlady in the doorway.

“And stay out!”

I close my eyes, relaxing everything for a moment. The landlady knows some magic. Excellent. I guess I’m homeless. Fantastic. And I’m near death. Awesome.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Getting back up is painful, but doable. My health regenerates slowly, and soon I have use of my shoulder back. I decide to check my mailbox to see if there’s any news. Mr. Houg is there, doing his thing. There’s no reply yet, so I decide to go to the church to sit down and think about my situation a bit.

The church is empty at this time, so I sit in the corner on an unpleasant pew.

I have to check out the Candrid farm and talk to Tiene.

While I’m there I have to poison a pig.

When that’s done, I have to go see a few farmers to learn the skills I need.

Then, when I’m skilled enough, I have to see the mayor about his friend.

I should really find out what happened with Yadra.

Finally, I need to find out about this cult so S can help her friend.

Not too bad really. Looks like I’m visiting Tiene. It’s a bit odd that she hasn’t visited me yet. Hopefully her family are all out farming now, so they won’t kill me on sight.

***

I get to the door without being shot this time around. I can’t see anyone at all actually. I knock, bracing myself for another kicking. A few minutes later I knock again, but still no response. I decide not to try to go inside on my own, somehow I doubt they’d appreciate it very much. Instead, I head towards the large barn.

Inside, I find the large guy. He’s lifting a cart off the floor. I can see legs poking out from underneath it. I raise my hand in greeting.

“Hey buddy. Good to see you again.”

His head snaps towards me, eyes wide at first, then angry. He grunts in frustration, unable to beat me up without dropping the cart.

“What was that Sel? I can’t hear you.”

Hearing Tienes voice makes me relax. I probably won’t be killed now. Ignoring the big guy, I kneel to get a better view.

“Hi Tiene, it’s just me. I decided to come visit since I haven’t seen you for a few days.”

I glance at the giant, who’s eyes promise pain.

“You know, make sure you’re okay.”

She squeaks, then scurries out from underneath. She’s wearing coveralls, every pocket apparently filled with tools or jars. Her hair, face and clothes are covered in grease and her hair is tinged pink, as if she’d been exerting herself. I smile and wave at her.

“Tee, I wasn’t expecting… Hi. How are you?”

Her consternation lasts only as long as it takes for her training to take over, and she becomes the refined lady her family wants her to be. She reaches out a hand for me to take, and I shrug, going along. When she looks down seeing how she smeared the grease on my hand, her eyes go wide. I hold up a hand to keep her from panicking.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it. It’s good to see you.”

The big guy drops the cart hard, making sure I know he’s there. Tiene turns towards him with thunder in her eyes.

“You did not just drop the wagon I spent all morning repairing. I swear if I find a single bolt loose, a single brace cracked, I’ll throw you to the pigs. Now get out, go help Johnny gather logs.”

He runs off, not even glancing back. I get the feeling I shouldn’t spend any time alone with that guy. Tiene turns back towards me with a warm smile.

“It’s good to see you Tee. I’m sorry about him, about all of them really. What’s up?”

I get some hay to clean off the grease.

“I came to let you know that I’m going to leave town soon.”

Her face drops.

“What? Why? I thought you’d have days left on your contract.”

I nod.

“I did, but I managed to negotiate my way out of the last few days. The landlady wasn’t happy about it, so she kicked me out. I thought I’d take my chances with Farmer Barret tonight, as he owes me some farming lessons, then see where the days take me.”

She looks down, clearing her face of all emotion.

Skill discovered: Social Perception

“I’m sorry to hear that. Thank you for visiting me. I do hope you’ll…”

I move closer, gesturing for her to stop talking.

“Stop that. You’re hiding behind your mask. I’m here because I want to keep in touch, and because I hope I’ll see you again before I have to leave for wherever I go.”

Your relationship with Tiene Candrid has increased to Appreciates you.

Emotions wash over her face again and she smiles at me.

“Thank you Tee. I’d very much like to see you before you leave as well. Do you have to go to Emmet's farm immediately, or do you have time for a little tour?”

I smile my widest smile, thinking about the charm in my pocket.

“I would love a tour.”

Skill discovered: Deception

I feel a pang of conscience from that as Tiene takes my arm and leads me out of the barn towards some pens.

The tour takes an hour, taking us around the animal pens, the fields and the production buildings. Each person we meet greets her on sight. When they see me, they scowl. I make a point out of smiling and greeting them, showing that I have no fear of them. Finally she brings me to a nicer pen near their house.

“And this is the crown jewel of our animal stock. Lady Penelope P. Buttercup the Fourth.”

I blink. There’s a gargantuan pig sitting in a puddle of mud. At the sound of Tienes voice, it gets up and trots over. Tiene enters the pen, meeting the giant pig.

“Who’s a good pennypig? You are!”

The pig oinks happily as she’s scratched behind an ear. I jump into the pen myself, kneeling besides them. When it notices me, the pig grunts, aggressively snouting me.

“No, penny! Bad pig. Tee is a friend.”

Tiene holds me to steady me, preventing a messy spill, greasing me up in the process. I gently reach out to scratch the pig, and I’m allowed under great suspicion. Soon, I’m rewarded by a happy grunt.

“Affectionate pig, isn’t she?”

Tiene beams as she strokes her back.

“Yeah, Lady P loves scratchies.”

With a snort, the pig turns her large head, pushing Tiene over before I have a chance to help. With gusto, the large creature starts eating Tienes coveralls.

“She also bloody loves the grease I use to lubricate the axles. Give me a hand, will you?”

I get the charm as inconspicuously as possible, rubbing it against some grease. I put it right in front of Lady P, who snatches it up, forgetting all about Tiene. I use the opportunity to help her up. She looks at me through a mask of mud. I look at her for a moment before I speak.

“You got a little mud on your… yeah, right there.”

She scrapes it off her face, looks at it, then slaps it right in my face.