Winna drove along for a while, humming to herself, pleased to have some company with her, even if they were all currently fast asleep.

The town grew nearer, but she didn’t wake her sleeping companions, thinking it was better for them to have a nice rest, given how long they’d been on the road, trying to escape their pursuers.

They rumbled along through the streets, the high sides of the cart blocking its occupants from curious eyes. Every now and again, Winna waved as someone called out to her.

Arriving at Dern’s house, she pulled up the cart and parked it in an empty spot on the short drive.

Having heard the cart’s approach, Dern came out from the workshop he had behind his house. It housed his forge and all the many tools he used.

“Oh, Winna! I wasn’t expecting you, was I?” he was surprised, but pleasantly so.

“No!” she smiled, starting to struggle down from her seat.

The dwarf hurried forward and helped her. “Be careful! I’m not surprised it’s been a little while since we’ve seen you in town, you must be due any day now!” he said, frowning a little.

“I am.”

“Is Lear not home still?”

“He’s not.” She sighed.

“That troubles me.”

“Me too.” Winna murmured.

It was quiet for a few moments.

Dern broke the silence, “So what can I help you with today?”

“The contents of my cart.” She smiled a little, and waddled around to the back of the cart, and lowered the tailgate for Dern to see its occupants.

He blinked, “And what am I to do with three sleeping fey folk? I see one is Arden.”

“It’s the mermaid and the centaur who need your help. But there are some errands I should run in town while I’m here.” She raised the tailgate again, and secured it back into place. “Can they stay here and sleep? They’ve traveled really far, and without much sleep lately, and could use the rest.”

“Oh yes, of course! You know I don’t mind for you to leave the cart here.” Dern nodded.

“Well, I didn’t want to assume, given it has sleeping people in the back this time.” Winna smiled a little.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“If they wake up before I get back, tell them I’ll be back before lunchtime. But don’t hesitate to listen to their story and go ahead and help them out. I’ll pay for any services rendered and materials used.”

“Yes ma’am.” Dern nodded.

“And, uh, just so you know, the mermaid and the centaur were badly mistreated by a dwarf. I told them ahead of time that you were a dwarf, and they were okay with coming to you, but…maybe keep that in mind? It still might be difficult for them.”

“Oh no! That’s terrible!” Dern rumbled disapprovingly, “I’ll do everything I can to make them comfortable. And anything to help, if one of my kin treated them badly.”

“Abominably.” Winna muttered, then sighed, shaking her head, “They were enslaved, from what I understand. But they’ll be able to tell you more. If they feel like it. I’m not sure they will, and I can’t say I blame them if they don’t.”

“No, of course not.” Dern agreed, “And I won’t press for details. But they can tell me if they like. I hope I can help them see that not all of my folk are like whichever dwarf used them so cruelly.”

“I have no doubt you’ll do just that, Dern.” Winna smiled at him. “You have such a good heart.”

To her surprise, the dwarf blushed. He kicked the ground a little. “Oh, now Winna, you’re married, don’t flirt like that!” He laughed.

Winna burst into giggles, throwing her head back. They were old friends, and she knew he was joking. “You’re a good friend, Dern.”

“As are you, Winna. Go take care of your errands, I’ll have Silver keep an eye on them, he can tell me if they wake up.”

“An excellent idea! Where is that lazy bones dragon?!” she giggled.

“Silver!” Dern called.

After a few moments, a very sleepy little dragon with silver scales meandered out of the workshop. He caught sight of Winna, made a gleeful noise, then bounded forward to rub happily against her legs.

“Careful, silly! You’ll knock me over!” she laughed, but slowly knelt and took a while to pet the miniature dragon, scratching his tummy the way she knew he liked.

When the mage was done, Dern helped her up, and told Silver, “Keep an eye on Mrs. Winna’s friends in the cart, and come get me if they wake up? Yes, you can say hi to Arden first, though.”

Silver chirped happily, and hopped onto the seat so he could look over the cart and keep a proper watch.

“Alright. I’ll be back before too long!” Winna told them, waving farewell as she walked slowly off.

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“Okay! Please be careful, Winna!”

“I will!”

-

“Oh Winna! It’s been a while since I’ve seen you!” Ama exclaimed, clearly surprised as she swept a few strands of her curly white hair off her face, and hurried to the door to greet her customer.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to town!” the very pregnant mage grimaced. “And I haven’t visited you because there’s no sense in me getting any new clothes until I have this baby!”

“And then you can come get cute baby clothes!” The elderly seamstress giggled.

“Yes!” Winna grinned.

“That reminds me. Since this is your first, I know you probably don’t have a whole lot of things for the baby yet. So we got some stuff together for you. It’s all used, but in very good condition. I was going to send it with Jedda or Ena the next time I saw them to take to you, but since you’re here yourself, I’ll just give it to you! We have it all in a big basket, so it won’t be difficult for you to carry.”

“Oh!” the pregnant human mage blinked, surprised, then broke into another broad smile, “That is very, very kind of you all! I don’t know how I’ll ever thank everyone!”

“No thanks required, dear! You and your family have taken care of us so long, the least we can do is get some bits and bobs together for you.” Ama reached out and took Winna’s hands, squeezing them gently. “Now is that husband of yours home yet? We were surprised to hear he’d left.” The lines on her elderly face wrinkled in concern.

“No, but Arden is back. And that’s good, at least there’s someone else around now. Not that Diana isn’t good company, but Diana doesn't have thumbs, and couldn't really go for help if I went into labor.” Winna gave a wry laugh. “And Lou, well…she’s got no brains at all!”

“Those two cats!” Ama laughed, then sighed. “Well, I hope Lear comes back soon. I’ve no doubt you’ll have that baby soon! My sister certainly thinks so.” Ama’s sister was the local midwife.

“I think so too.” Winna sighed.

“Let me go get that basket of things.” Ama hurried into her office, and returned carrying a large basket. “Did you come for any specific reason today, or just to chat?”

“I actually need to pick up some clothing for a couple of visitors. A couple of shirts apiece, I think. That should be enough.”

Rowan and Marri were currently wearing borrowed shirts, though they were welcome to keep them, if they needed and wanted to, but she thought it would be nice to give them nice, new things instead of second-hand. Normally she wouldn't have thought twice about it, but given they’d been enslaved, she in no way wanted them to feel like she thought they didn’t deserve new clothes of their own. So new clothes it was! Although they both really only needed shirts.

“Of course!” Ama nodded.

Winna picked out a few shirts for Rowan in various colors, thinking that he didn’t seem like the type of person who would care too much about his clothes.

But for Marrina, she spent a little more time looking at and comparing various shirts, trying to figure out what would look nice on the mermaid, and wanting to pick very pretty pieces for her, so she’d enjoy them.

“Hmm…”

“Having trouble deciding?” Ama asked.

“Yes. So, one of my guests is a centaur, the man, and he was easy to buy for, the other is a mermaid, and it’d be nice to get her some pretty things you know? I think she’s still relatively young.”

“Oh! Oh my! That’s fun! We’ve not had a centaur or mermaid around here yet!” Ama laughed.

“No, we haven’t. They’re a good sort, though.” Winna smiled, “I just…Marri, the mermaid, her hair is blue, with these lovely teal and green highlights, and purple lowlights. She has lovely warm, brown skin. What color do you think would suit her best? Oh and blue eyes. Very pretty blue eyes. And as far as sizing, she’s about the same size as I am when I’m not very pregnant.”

“Hmm…” Ama looked through the racks for a moment, then started pulling out shirts. “I think these would look nice.” She handed Winna a couple of blouses in creamy whites, blush pinks, and a lovely cerulean blue.

“Oh, good idea with the pink. I wouldn't have thought of that.” Winna nodded. “And I think the blue will match her eyes perfectly. Thank you, Ama!”

“Of course!” the seamstress smiled.

Winna checked out, and bundled her purchases into the basket with the baby things. “Do you need help carrying that?”

“No, I’ll be fine!” Winna waved away her concern.

“Well, alright then. You ask someone for help if you need it though, alright?”

“I will!”

They bade one another farewell, and the mage left.

She’d already picked up the money from the salves and potions she sold at the local chemist shop, and some of that was what she’d used to pay for the clothing. She had plenty left over to pay for whatever Dern would need, a nice meal for them all at the tea shop, and still would have plenty left over.

Not that she wanted for money anymore. Lear’s salary was very generous, and since the goddess had expanded her abilities, she’d been able to branch out into more than just heating shawls and healing and burn salves, and she sold her wares a lot further away from home. But it was in her nature to be mindful of her spending, since she’d been in charge of her own finances since she was fairly young, and she’d never forgotten the hard times when she’d scrimped and saved to make it through the winter.

Rubbing her belly thoughtfully, she ambled along, idly wondering what Lear was up to.

A sharp pain tweaked through Winna’s back, wrapping around her sides and middle. She grimaced, pausing for a moment and leaning against a lamppost for support. “Oh, not yet, baby!” She murmured.

“Winna!” A familiar voice called.

The mage looked up, and smiled, “Bekka! How are you?”

“Just fine! Are you alright?” her friend from her school days hurried up, and immediately took the basket from her hands. “You look a bit pained!”

“Just a contraction! Don’t worry, not a labor one yet. My water hasn’t even broken!” Winna assured her friend.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m a healer, I’ve seen many births.” she laughed.

“Good point!” Bekka snorted. “You would know. But let me help you get this to where you’re going.”

“I’m just going to Dern’s house, that’s where I left the cart.”

“Then let’s go to Dern’s house!” Bekka chirped, linking her arm through Winna’s.

They set out at a slow pace.

“What brought you into town? Errands?”

“I actually have some very interesting visitors. They’re back with the cart. It’s a long story, but Arden brought home a centaur and a mermaid!”

“What?!”

“Yep!”

“Oh, wow!”

“I’ll introduce them to you. They seem very nice.”

“You have the coolest friends, Winna!” Bekka laughed.

“Well, that includes you because you’re my friend too!” Winna giggled.

“Aww!” her friend snorted, then grinned, “I guess it does!”

As they grew closer to Dern’s house, the notes of a lovely song was carried to their ears by the slight breeze that tossed their hair gently.

“What’s that song? It’s so beautiful!” Bekka sighed dreamily.

“How much do you want to bet it’s the mermaid that I left back in the cart?” Winna said thoughtfully.

“Ahh, no, I don’t want to bet anything. That makes sense.”

“Although I haven’t heard her sing yet, but I think it’s a pretty good guess.”