Kreet awoke to the moaning of Kallid.

He was turned away from her, sitting facing the wall with his hands on his head.

"Kallid! What is it? What's wrong?"

"I have a headache. Kreet, it hurts!"

"Did you hurt yourself or something? Did you eat something maybe?"

"No. It's the light. I was alright for awhile but... it never stops. Oh Kreet, I don't think I can do this!"

Kreet fumbled through her inventory and took out one of the pair of sunglasses she'd made.

"Here. Put these on."

Kallid took them and fitted them to his head, pulling the dark cloth at the sides down to cover light leaching in from there and wrapping the woven stretchy loops around his horns. Then he went back to moaning and rocking on his haunches.

In the meantime, Kreet wove a light healing spell around him, hoping it would help ease the sensory overload his eyes were delivering. While it was comparatively dark here, it was probably lighter than the kobold had ever experienced for a long period.

"I'm sorry Kreet," he said, turning to her and she stifled a giggle at the rather ridiculous looking face in front of her. But he was sincere and suffering.

"Don't worry too much, Kallid. We'll just stay here till until nightfall, okay? Is that any better?"

"I think so."

"Maybe Eilistraee can do something later. Just lay back down for a little bit. I'll get some food."

"Food would be good," he smiled wanly.

Kreet rose and walked around to where Sigmundurr was still snoring. She touched him lightly but there was no change. She shook him more firmly. "Sigmundurr. Wake up."

Sigmundurr said, "HNNNNGGG."

"SIG!" she shouted and shook him with all her force.

"Hmm? Oh! Kreet. It's you. Is it time to get up already?"

"Yes. I think so. We're hungry. You got any food in your inventory?"

The big man sat up, rubbing his eyes. He looked outside. Though full daylight, the shadows did indicate it was approaching night again already.

"Food? Oh, sure! Do you want me to cook or something quick?"

"Oh good! I didn't remember to ask you to take food with us, but I was hoping..."

"Kreet, I'm an adventurer. You don't need to remind me to bring food. You might want to think about such things yourself more."

"Can we get both then? Kallid's not feeling well. The light, you know. I'm pretty used to it, but it will take him a while to adjust. I thought maybe something to distract him."

Sigmundur brought out some dried fruit and nuts, then went out to get wood for a small fire while Kreet brought the food back to Kallid.

"Got any mushrooms?" he asked, greedily scarfing down the offering.

"Let me look around you pig," she laughed and set about searching the cave. She found a few, but it should be enough. Before going back to Kallid, Sigmundurr returned and started a small fire near the entry.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

"Thanks Kreet," Kallid said when she got back. "I'm feeling a little better. Sorry for eating everything. I didn't save anything for you. I'm... not used to being married I guess."

"Oh, don't worry about it. Sig's going to be cooking something, and knowing him there'll be plenty for all of us."

Suddenly Kallid looked up. She couldn't see his eyes, but he seemed suddenly worried about something.

"What is it?"

"I... um. I have to go."

"Go where?"

"No. I have to GO."

"Oh!" Kreet said, understanding at last. "Well, I guess you could just... go over there."

"Kreet! What kind of kobold do you think I am? Besides, this is the first place we ever slept after we got married. It's like our honeymoon cave! I don't want to piss in it!"

"Well, it's either that or brave the full daylight outside. You think you're up for it?"

"I'll have to be! But I think this is working pretty good."

Kreet put on her own glasses and went outside with Kallid. He didn't complain at the light, though they stuck to the shade of the nearby trees as much as they could, and the sun was just about to set.

"Still okay?" Kreet asked.

"Yeah! I'm fine! But... would you mind turning around?"

"Why? We're married now."

"I'm shy. Please?"

"Well, okay."

When they returned, Sig was cooking some eggs and some sort of meat over the fire he'd built.

"Wow! Sig, that smells awesome!"

"Best cook in the wild. Got some eggs and pork belly. Should be done in just a few minutes. You okay Kallid?"

"Yes! These glasses work great!"

"I hope so. You look ridiculous. What were you doing out there?"

"Pissing," Kallid answered, then apologized for the vulgarity.

"Kallid, you don't need to apologize," Kreet said.

"Why?" Sigmundurr asked, flipping some eggs over. "I just went over in that corner."

Kallid looked at Kreet. "Oh well," she said. "So much for our honeymoon suite."

However, when the breakfast was served, all was forgiven.

"Sigmundurr, this is great stuff!" Kreet said, wolfing down another egg. "What's in it?"

"Oh, just some spices I keep around. It is good though, isn't it?"

Kallid just nodded, his mouth full of potato.

When finally they were finished, they gathered up everything. Outside the sky was clear and the stars were beginning to show.

"I guess we'll start without Eilistraee," Sigmundurr said, and they walked back they way they'd come. They weren't far from the path, and they started down it again.

Kreet removed her glasses and put them away, but suggested Kallid keep his on for a little longer. But he decided to take them off anyway.

"I need to get used to it eventually, Kreet. It's not too bad now anyway."

"That's probably right. I was taken out of my home caverns when I was little, so I got used to it pretty quick."

"STOP!" said a voice suddenly and unexpectedly from just ahead. Three armed men stepped from behind trees on their right and left. Sigmundurr smiled and pulled out his sword.

Kreet heard something behind her and she turned around to see three more. They did not look friendly.

"What have we here?" said another of the men in front. "A fat man and a couple of kobolds? Slim pickings I say."

"Lucky to get 2 gold off them. Not worth it I say," said another.

Sigmundurr laughed at that.

"I've got over 700, if you gents would like to try and get it!" he said, and Kreet stared at him horrified.

"Bullshit," said the first. "You look like you ate it all if ever you had any!"

That set the others laughing, but they didn't approach any closer.

"Funny man," Sigmundurr said, obviously itching for a fight.

"What, you think you can take us all on Big Man?" asked another behind them. "Just leave us what you got and nobody gets hurt, right?"

"Sorry gents," Sigmundurr laughed. "You picked the wrong guy to rob. But I tell you what. You send your best up against me, and if he wins, you can have everything I own! Sound good?"

"Pfft," the first responded. "If you're dead we'll take it anyway."

"Well, there's still my two friends you'll have to contend with."

"What, kobolds? Fuck man, you've taken leave of your senses. I could snap one of their scrawny necks with my left hand! Look, you look like you might be alright. But you can't take us all on, and I'd hate to hurt one of your little scaly 'friends' in the scuffle." said the man behind them, and Kreet noticed they were approaching.

"What, now you're threatening to hurt my kobold slaves? You guys must be really stupid. I can buy two more back in the Underdark tomorrow," Sigmundurr laughed, and kicked Kallid to the ground behind him. Kreet looked back to Sigmundurr angrily as her husband got back up.

Sigmundurr looked at Kreet. "Oh, now what, you guys going to rebel on me too?"

"No master!" she said, finally getting the ruse.

"Fuck this," the guy in front said. "Come on guys. Let's cut the fat guy down to size."

Suddenly they all charged in. Kallid pulled Kreet to the side away from the impending melee, almost instinctively. The bandits paid them no attention, but she took aim at one of the men coming at Sigmundurr from behind. Not a Guiding Bolt this time though. She'd not had time to consider her options, and still hadn't learned any new spells since rising to the third clerical level, but she knew the sleep spell and cast it at him.

He crumbled to the ground but the others were charging and didn't notice, and then all five remaining bandits were on Sigmundurr.

Kreet readied another spell but couldn't be sure she wouldn't hit Sigmundurr.

Then Eilistraee arrived.