Prunhiline was bored. Since leaving the last inn, nothing had happened, no bandits, werewolves, or dragons. Absolutely nothing! She sat on her warhorse, amusing herself by making funny sounds with her mouth, puckering her cheeks, and blowing out with a splat. Each time, it made her laugh.

Prunhiline’s boredom irritated Britina. The warrior’s attention span was limited when there was no fighting to do, and her antics tested Britina’s patience, which is the downside of having an "accidental" wife.

“Dear love, why don’t we play a game?” Britina suggested, hoping to distract her.

“Sure, Bri! What do you want to play?” Prunhiline perked up at the idea of a game to pass the time as they rode to the next town.

“Hmm, I’m not sure. How about we play ‘Name the Plant’? My sister and I used to play it on long trips,” Britina said, remembering her travels with her sister.

"Oh, look,” Prunhiline pointed, “a tree! And that’s a leaf!” The sarcasm wasn’t lost on Britina.

“Well, do you have a better idea?” Britina sneered.

“My brother and I used to list off all our kills when we went hunting,” Prunhiline replied with a grin.

“You have a brother?” Britina asked, surprised she didn’t know this.

“Yeah, he’s younger than me. We hunted together all the time when I was home,” Prunhiline said, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

“What’s your brother like?” Britina was curious. Prunhiline hardly talked about her family unless it was about hunting.

“He’s short and irritating but good with a bow and sling,” Prunhiline said, smiling. "I taught him how to use the dagger.”

“Short? Like, what, seven feet?” Prunhiline snickered.

“Nah, last time I saw him, he was about your height. I hope he’s grown by now.” Prunhiline missed Britina’s eye-roll. “What about your sister? She’s about the same age as my brother, right?”

“She’s kind and smart,” Britina said with a smile. “We used to sit in the garden and read together, finding the funniest poems we could.”

“Just sit and read? Didn’t you play tag or hide-and-seek?” Prunhiline couldn’t imagine just sitting and reading with her brother.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“My sister is unfortunately bound to a wheelchair.” Britina said, sadness seeping into her voice, “She hasn’t been able to walk for many years.”

Prunhiline was taken aback. “I’m sorry, Bri. But she sounds like she’s happy.”

“Yes. I always did what I could for her, but I miss her,” Britina said with a frown.

“Why don’t we visit our families when we have time?” Prunhiline suggested, flashing Britina a big smile. “You could meet my parents, my little brother, and the whole village. Maybe you’d even join us on a hunt! You’d love it out under the stars, tracking big game across the plains.” Prunhiline swept her arms high, and her smile was large and bright.

“That sounds nice,” Britina said, yet she thought she didn’t like the idea of the hunt.

“I’ve told them all about you! My parents are excited to meet you. I mean, you are technically my wife.” Prunhiline shook her head with a bit of embarrassment.

“True, dear love. We could visit my family too,” Britina said, though she wondered how she would tell her father about her "wife."

“So, you told them we are married?” Prunhiline asked.

“No. It hasn’t really come up in my letters.” Britina said, feeling guilty. She had said very little about Prunhiline in her letters to her family.

“Oh, I told everyone in my letter after, ya know, we got married,” Prunhiline said, feeling as if she again caused the mage more trouble. “I mean, I know it’s my fault, but..”

Britina interrupted Prunhiline, “Enough about that! It’s not your fault. If it is, then it’s as much mine, too. I went willingly, and I thought we were in the correct place. I’ve meant to write a longer letter to my sister telling her the good news.”

“Your sister, what about your father?” Prunhiline asked.

“My father. Well, he’s a, um, difficult man sometimes when it comes to certain things.” Britina didn’t know what else to say.

“You mean he wouldn’t approve,” Prunhilne said.

“Yes, but he’s got no choice. We are married, and he could do nothing about it.” Britina said.

“Would you?” Prunhiline became serious.

“No, dear love, my life has been rather adventurous with you in it,” Britina said, giving her companion a warm smile.

“Yeah, me too,” Prunhiline said.

The rest of the journey was uneventful. They chatted until they reached the inn, much like any other. The innkeeper was a chubby man with a hearty laugh and a broad smile, standing a bit shorter than Britina.

The two ladies had handed off their horses to a boy who looked up in awe at the warrior. The innkeeper shushed him away to tend to the horses and then led the two into the inn.

“I’ll take your stew and tea, please,” Britina said to the innkeeper as she sat at the table near the fire.

“Ah, sorry, miss, no tea here. We got water and ale.” The innkeeper said.

“Well, then I’ll take an ale and stew,” Britina said with the best smile she could give the man.

“Me too! Bring three ale for me.” Prunhiline said, sitting across from Britina. The innkeeper looked at the tall warrior and decided to bring her three bowls of stew, too.

When the innkeeper returned, he sat the regular portion and one ale in front of Britina. He then gave Prumhiliner three ales and a large bowl of stew.

“Wow! This looks good!” Prunhiline said as she dug into the stew.

“Thank you, innkeeper.” Britina said, “And when we are done, Is there a chance of a hot bath?”

“Yes, miss, I can start drawing you one now.” The innkeeper said.

Prunhiline looked at Britina, horrified. Britina only smiled back, “Just one for me in my room, please.”

The innkeeper left to draw the bath, leaving the two alone.

“Just one bath?” Prunhiline said.

“Yes, dear love, you don’t smell as bad as earlier,” Britina teased, laughing. “I thought I’d give you a break. Besides, I can’t have you rampaging in every town.”