The rest of the evening I was in a daze. For the better part I had trouble keeping my thoughts coherent. I barely managed to answer some of the questions the goblins had as Gash'zur kept retelling some of our experiences during the campaign to take Gothol'gathrak. I kept distracting myself with the food. Calamari, fish and steamed vegetables, they all were incredible and the spicy sauce was something I had really been missing. I decided to focus on my plates, mostly blending out the conversation, as my mind kept drifting in other directions anyway.

Eventually things wound down though and we saw our guests off for the night. Well, my companion did most of the seeing off. I was not quite there for most of it. As the gates finally closed and the two of us were left in silence I finally turned to face the giantess. “Is this really happening? Its not just me going crazy, right?” For a moment I fell silent before speaking up once more. “I feel so dumb right now. For all kinds of reasons.”

The giantess wrapped an arm around me and gave me a squeeze. “You really aren't the only one. Don't worry about it too much right now. It will be some more time before it becomes an issue. Probably.”

“Probably?” I tried to recall my lessons but not much was coming to me. Eld'tide's mother, our village priestess, had tried to hammer the basics into my thick head back then but apparently not much had stuck. All these things regarding having children of my own had not seemed terribly relevant to my younger self. I groaned and rubbed my temples. “Damn it all! How much time? I think my lessons didn't go into too much detail regarding mixed couples but with a giant involved it should be longer? Maidens, I shouldn't have spent those days day dreaming of adventures instead of actually listening!”

Gash'zur chuckled and ran a hand through my hair. “Overall? Since you already have some giant blood it should be close to a year. Until you really shouldn't ignore it anymore? Another month. Or maybe two? One can't easily say, as it can be different from case to case.”

At least I wasn't the only one uncertain about how things would proceed, as it would appear. “Well, that leaves us some time to get home. Yes? Or should we take Sim up on his offer and sit this out here in relative comfort and safety? Maybe even enough to deal with the Devourer and her pawns since I doubt she'll just lean back and let us have some peace and quiet.”

The giantess was silent for a while, shaking her head in the end. “I wish we could just sit it out. I doubt we have that luxury though. You are right, the Devourer and her pawns haven't been active like this in ages. She won't stop now just because you are inconvenienced.” She let go off me to have a look at the rest of the purchases we had brought. “At least you won't have to worry too much about strange cravings. These things should cover just about anything your body might need. At least for a while. Depending on how long we stay we might have to inquire about getting some more before we leave again.”

I followed her with my eyes as she went through the various containers. “So you think that they will let us go? They won't just keep us locked up here until old age claims us?”

She shook her head and put the last of the containers down. Not before before popping one of the honey candies it contained into her mouth though. She offered one to me as well and I gladly accepted. “I'm pretty sure. They might put a geas on us though, to keep the secret.”

I nodded as we headed into the courtyard together. I didn't know anything about rituals like that, as they were usually shrouded in mystery, but I knew they existed. This certainly sounded like a situation where something like that might be used.

Initially I wanted to sit down and stretch my legs a little but Gash'zur pushed me in the direction of my bedroom instead. “Go and get some sleep. You can tell me about your day tomorrow during our morning meal. Night!”

I let her push me into my room. I really hadn't told her anything about my day yet although my meeting with what could only be described as an incarnate goddess was quite possibly more important than what was happening with me personally. I groaned and slipped out of my clothes, picking them back up from the floor only as an afterthought. It was a nice dress after all. It didn't deserve to be treated roughly.

I stood there for a moment, running my hand over my stomach. How had Gash'zur been able to tell? Was it really just due to the dress? It couldn't be, right? It wasn't that noticeable anyway! She wasn't wrong though. Probably. The goblin apothecary and her diagnostic spell were just the last nail in that coffin that I had successfully ignored so far.

Stolen story; please report.

Grumbling to myself I slipped under the covers of my bed but now that I had had a few days to recover and was actually somewhat rested again sleep wouldn't come to me easily. And when it came, it came with a number of weird dreams that just barely didn't qualify as nightmares as they were just too silly overall.

As I woke again next morning I was glad for it. Thankfully none of those dreams managed to stick and by the time I was sitting up the last vestiges already fled my mind. Just as well! I got up and headed for the bathroom. Surprisingly enough my tunic had been washed over night. Either we had a good spirit in our quarters taking care of things as we slept or one of the goblins had busied themselves. I was grateful either way.

When I reached the sitting room afterwards Gash'zur was already preparing breakfast. She had some of the boxes from the apothecary, now opened, and the note the old woman had written set aside. She poured me a cup of very aromatic tea. “Morning.”

“Morning.” I returned her greeting and took a first sip. My eyes opened wide and I had some trouble not spitting it back out. “That is some rather strong brew!”

Gash'zur nodded and tapped the note. “It is supposed to be.”

I sighed and started eating one of the sweet honey glazed cakes, that were laid out in between us, with it as I kept sipping. I nodded in the direction of the note. “You can read that?”

She looked up at me and swallowed the bite she had taken out of her own little cake. “Sure. They use the same letters my people do. Their way of writing is just a little dated … and that handwriting is something else, but in general its just a list of rather simple instructions.”

Well, that made at least one of us who was not entirely lost here. We kept eating in silence for a while but then I spoke back up. “I met a goddess yesterday? They call her The Artificer.”

Now that got a rise out of her. “The Artificer? A goddess, you mean like …”

I nodded. “Yes, like the Maidens. Except, she is very much physically present and not just spiritually in some way.”

Judging by her expression she still had some doubts. “Are you sure?”

I nodded again. “Very much so. Her presence … it was almost too much for me at the start. And she is a forgeborn. Quite possibly the first one ever. Made of Titanium from the tip of her little toe to the top of her head. And her eyes, Maidens! If you look into them …” I shook my head. I had no words to properly describe the feeling.

“Oh, so that is why you were gone all day? Smitten by a goddess?” Something was strange with the way she said that. Was she jealous?

I kicked her shin under the table. “Don't be silly! Apparently I will receive new gear. Weapon, armor, shield, everything. Apparently my things weren't able to keep up with my growth anymore …” I fell silent and banged my head against the table. Careful not to hit my horns against the stone surface too hard. “... She knew as well. Didn't she? I was really the last one to figure it out and only after your prompting and you pretty much spelling it out to me to boot!”

Whatever had been bothering the giantess was now forgotten again, as my words set her off laughing like a madwoman.