"Should we go check on the others?"

Lexi twined her fingers like she sometimes did when she was nervous. They were packing up everything they thought was important in their shared house, using Rosa’s magical storage space.

Silvie said they had to be ready to leave for this new settlement before the end of the day, no exceptions.

“Carl and Mason could be back at any moment,” she’d told them in their meeting at the hall. “I didn’t talk to Mason long, but he doesn’t seem like the type to wait. We go with him when he’s ready, or we go by ourselves.”

Plenty of girls had complained. They didn’t want to go at all. They didn’t trust Mason or the forest and just wanted to hide away behind Sanctuary’s walls forever. Damn coddled cowards.

"To hell with the others." Rosa almost spit.

"You don't mean that.” Lexi frowned as she jammed a last piece of clothing into her bag. “You like Mary, and Leeanne. They're not all bad."

"No,” Rosa admitted after a pause, “they're not. But I'm not telling anyone I have extra storage or it'll be a frenzy. We'll just tell Silvie, OK? She can give me food or whatever for the group."

Lexi smiled. "OK." Then with a bit of wetness in her eyes, she looked around the house they’d shared for the past few weeks—the only bit of safety and routine they’d had since all this madness began. She gave Rosa a hug. "Got everything?"

"Oh stop that or you'll get me going,” Rosa wiped a thumb across her friend’s cheek to catch the tear. “Let's go."

Silvie’s house was chaos. Girls were everywhere trying to stuff supplies or clothes into any kind of bag. Another group was lined up to talk to Silvie, no doubt with complaints and wanting special treatment. Adele was there with her bitch pack, and Rosa walked by them all with her head high.

"Hey Rosa, there's a line."

"Oh?" Rosa turned and glared. "Something very important, I imagine? Need to ask if it's OK to wipe your ass from back to front?"

Adele’s face scrunched. “You’re so disgusting.”

Rosa choked back the string of curses building like fire behind her eyes. Then she stomped right by Adele and her cronies, staring at the line of women as she knocked on Silvie's door.

After a few muffled voices and footsteps, the door opened, and Silvie took one look at Rosa and ushered another girl out.

"Is something wrong?"

Adele and her pack started screaming about fairness and what a horrible bitch Rosa was and how important it was they talk about whatever stupid complaint they had.

“Is it important?” Silvie raised a chastising brow at Rosa. She nodded, and Silvie sighed. “Then come in. I’ll see you girls after,” she called to a still shrieking Adele et al.

"What is it, Rosa?" Silvie closed the door and wiped a hand over her face.

"I…” Rosa had practiced this but now just shrugged and opted for the blunt truth. “I have magic storage like you. Quite a bit.” Silvie turned on her with a quick glare and Rosa slumped her shoulders. “I didn't tell you because it didn't matter before. But...I got a lot of experience in the tutorial."

Silvie's eyebrows lowered slightly in sympathy, but she said nothing.

"I'm alchemist class now,” Rosa went on. “Which didn't matter before but maybe it will in the new town. Maybe they have some already but I doubt it. Anyway, it gave me some storage, and I can take food and water or whatever, but nothing too big. Maybe the size of a chair. I thought maybe that would help you."

Silvie was smiling now and looked out the window. "You know, Rosa, you're the first girl who came here since Mason showed up who just wanted to help.

In the pale light, Rosa could see the exhaustion, the weight on the older woman's shoulders.

"You do too much Silvie."

She nodded slightly and took a deep breath. "I'll rest soon. Once we're in this Nassau. And I'm glad you're here because I wanted to talk to you."

"Oh.” Rosa felt a slightly nervous pang in her gut. She wasn’t exactly popular, and she tended to get in a lot of fights with the other girls… They hadn’t talked about the kitchen incident, but Rosa was hoping they could just ignore it completely and…

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

“It’s about Mason,” Silvie said. “He's the strongest player this other settlement has. And the patron is his brother."

Rosa tried not to imagine the green eyes and muscled arms of their visitor, but also had no idea why Silvie was bringing this up to her…

"I don't know how to say this.” Silvie shifted in her chair. “He's a young man. I understand he's got a woman at home, but he couldn't have known her long. And well…” Silvie sighed and met Rosa’s eyes.

"You’re gorgeous. I'm sure you know that. And I've been told Mason…noticed too in the lunchroom. More than noticed." Rosa stared blankly, no idea what to say or exactly what Silvie was saying. The ‘mayor’ threw up her hands. "We don't know anything about these people. And we'd sure as hell be a lot safer if one of us were to get a lot closer to this Mason. Wouldn't you agree?"

"You…” Rosa found herself temporarily speechless. “You want me to...seduce, this man? To be his whore? Is that what you’re saying?"

Her tone was maybe getting slightly less neutral because Silvie held up her hands.

"Calm down, I'm not telling you to..."

"I think that's exactly what you're saying. I can’t believe you!” Rosa stood and practically threw the nearby glass of water into the woman’s face. But she calmed when she saw Silvie’s eyes close to tears.

"Rosa." She said quietly, standing to come around the desk. She took Rosa’s hands and held them hard. "I'm afraid. We have no idea what we're walking into. You remember what the tutorial was like. What happened after…with the players. What Carl...had to do. All I'm asking is you play along. Get close to him. I want him to care about us, at least a little bit. Do you understand? You can help keep us safe."

Rosa’s indignant rage died away completely, gone as quick as it came. Where she was from, women did whatever they had to to protect their families in a dangerous world. She knew Silvie didn’t mean anything. That she was just trying to look out for them all.

"We're going to be OK, Silvie.” Rosa said, squeezing her hands. In my life I've known bad men and he wasn't one of them. Even so, if he comes back, I'll do as you ask."

Silvie wiped the single tear that threatened her cheek. "OK. I'll make you our official… ambassador. OK? When he comes back, whatever he needs will go through you. You’ll be our spy." She grinned.

Rosa nodded and smiled, trying to fight the little bit of excitement she felt at the prospect. Silvie was right. They had to be practical. But she had no idea how she felt right now about Mason or their situation or really anything. But she supposed, if she was being honest, being recognized as important was something she liked.

"OK," she said, then giggled. "Ambassador. But I get to tell Adele."

Silvie rolled her eyes and laughed like she desperately needed it. "Sure. Thank you, Rosa. Now, head on over to the supply room and just load up everything you can. I trust you to figure it out."

Rosa just about turned and left it at that, but with a feeling they could both really use it, she pulled the older woman into her arms and gave her a good, long hug.

* * *

Mason had completely regenerated by the time he and Carl were in sight of Sanctuary. He was rather tired, and wouldn't mind about twelve hours in bed with his women, but otherwise good enough. The older, rather less physically gifted Carl, however, was looking a bit...haggard.

"Oh sweet crab apples," Carl wheezed when Sanctuary's walls entered their sight. "Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?"

Mason grinned, and clicked his tongue for Streak to come close. He turned to Violet and activated Speak with Nature.

[Can you wait outside that settlement? Hidden and safe? We'll be going to another one after that.]

Yes, druid. I will wait, then follow you beneath the earth.

"Thank you," Mason said, then realized the worm understood him when it emitted a smell that Mason somehow knew was something like satisfaction.

They trudged the last mile to Sanctuary's gates, and at least this time the automated defences left Mason alone. The gates opened, and Mason and Carl walked inside to find a veritable pile of supplies waiting at the gate covered in a tarp.

"They're back!" someone shouted from the wall, and women began to emerge from the woodwork.

Silvie came from the town hall with a smile and a wave, and Carl straightened his posture and regained a little strength.

"I was wrong," he said low, just for Mason, "about the beautiful thing. Wasn't I?"

Mason grinned. "I expect you were. Now go give your woman a hug before you keel over and die you old bastard."

Carl did just that, practically sagging into his lover's arms.

"He's had a long day," Mason called. "I guess we both have. But the worms are gone." He sighed at what he was about to say next, but saw no real solution. He wasn't about to lead these women on a long march without rest. They seemed safe enough, and no matter the strength of his body, his mind would start getting slow soon. "We should probably stay the night. Head to Nassau bright and early in the morning."

Silvie practically sagged with relief. "Thank you, Mason, for helping us. And for keeping this one alive."

"Hey now," Carl pulled back a little. "Who says I didn't keep him alive? In fact I think maybe I did!"

Mason grinned. "He probably did. But we'll never know for sure."

Silvie smiled and looked on her man with obvious pride. "Well, let's get you home and lay you down." She stopped and narrowed her eyes as she assessed him with fresh eyes. "You look...bigger. How do you look like you've been in a gym for six months?"

Carl flexed an arm, then winced. "I'll tell you all about my grand adventure after I've recuperated." He turned and looked at Mason and turned more serious. "Good work back there kid, truly something, I mean it. Unbelievable, really."

Mason nodded, liking the man. "Glad you were with me, Carl. I'll see you after."

The older man gave a wink and a grin, then hissed slightly from foot pain as he walked on towards the chief hall. Silvie called over Mason's shoulder.

"Rosa! Could you get Mason situated? There's plenty of spare houses but probably no bedding. Could you make sure he's comfortable?"

Mason turned and blinked when he saw Rosa outside what looked like the supply room. She was wearing a tight black shirt, and a brown skirt with a slit down her leg.

"Sure," she smiled. "Come on, I'll sort you out."

Streak was as happy to see her as Mason was. He yelped and took off running, no doubt in the hopes of more beef.

Mason felt a little like he was back in the 'Maker's' vault, staring at the orb. His feet took him towards the girl before he'd given it any thought.