Duncan came inside the bar and he could not see Wazsh so he went looking for him. He found him in the backyard doing some gardening chores.

Wazsh looked at him and nodded, “I see you got your clothes done right away.”

“I brought your clothes to her and she will probably deliver them later,” Duncan responded.

“You didn’t have to come and tell me that. What brought you here?” Wazsh said with a smirk.

Duncan looked at him and frowned feeling something was up.

“Why are you smirking?” he asked.

“Probably for the same reason you came here. Did Clara make a pass at you?” he asked.

Duncan went slightly red in the face before he asked, “How did you know?”

“She does it to me every time she comes here to pick up her clothes,” Wazsh said with a laugh.

“She does?” Duncan asked surprised.

“Well, according to her she was married once and her husband was conscripted more than 150 years ago measured in your time and never came back. After such a long time what else is for the poor thing to do. You can imagine her being terribly lonely,” Wazsh continued.

“I guess,” Duncan murmured.

“Did she just make sexual innuendos, touch your thigh or slap your buttocks?” Wazsh asked.

“Just the innuendos,” Duncan uttered.

“Oh, don’t worry. You will get there as she relaxes around you,” Wazsh teased.

“I don’t want to get there…” Duncan shouted before he saw the smirk on Wazsh’s face.

“Well, she is harmless,” Wazsh said while laughing.

“Anything else of great importance?” Wazsh asked after he stopped.

Duncan rubbed his forehead before saying, “Give me some food and then I will leave for the barracks. I have to tell Fenris about the boundary before Shaya spills the beans to everyone. I think he can handle her better than I can and he will know the importance of staying quiet.”

“Alright. I still have some steaks or do you want rat legs?” Wazsh asked.

“Give me a steak,” Duncan said and took a plate right after that from Wazsh.

----------------------------------------------------------

After lunch he made his way to the barracks. He found Rosen coming out from the entrance just as he arrived. They greeted each other and Duncan asked about Captain Fenris. He was old he was in his office so Duncan said his goodbyes and went ahead.

He knocked and the office door and there was an official sounding commanding voice heard right after, “Come in.”

“Hello Fenris,” Duncan greeted as he came in and saw Fenris going over some paperwork at his desk.

“Oh, hello. It’s you Duncan. What brings you here?” the voice went from commanding to welcoming in a second.

“Did you happen to talk to Shaya about our little expedition?” Duncan asked.

Fenris frowned before asking, “In the matter of fact I haven’t. I had the feeling she has been avoiding me. Did she do something wrong?”

Fenris looked genuinely concerned about the behavior of his subordinate so Duncan quickly shook his head and waved his hands in dismissal before answering, “No, no nothing like that. Everything went well.”

“Then why has she been avoiding me?” Fenris asked perplexed.

“Probably because I asked her to,” Duncan replied.

Fenris frowned before he asked in a calm voice, “And why would you do something like that?”

“We found out some things I wanted to talk to you about myself first,” Duncan said.

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“Which things would warrant such secrecy?” Fenris asked intrigued.

“Things like bypassing the barriers or boundaries set by the mayor,” Duncan whispered.

Fenris motioned for Duncan to come closer before he leaned over the desk and asked in a whisper, “Are you sure?”

Duncan just nodded.

“Excellent,” Fenris said with a big smile on his face and Duncan nodded.

“Maybe I can visit Wazsh’s place tonight with my guards,” he said right after and Duncan facepalmed.

“No!” he adamantly refused.

“That was the whole reason I told Shaya not to tell anyone. The mayor must not find out and I also don’t want to play chaperone to everyone who wants to bypass the barrier,” Duncan said hissing out whispers.

“What do you mean chaperone?” Fenris said with a frown.

“I have to physically touch people to get them over the barriers effects without harm,” Duncan whispered.

Fenris slumped back down in his chair in disbelief, “Why would that help?”

“You know about adventurers?” Duncan asked.

Fenris nodded and Duncan continued, “Well, I am one of them and as long as I touch you the barrier is restricted from hurting you. It does not occupy a very broad area so once you are out you are basically free.”

“You, said touch, how did you find out? I know Shaya is a pretty lady but I thought she was—" Fenris said before he was interrupted by Duncan who shouted, “Stop. Get your mind out of the gutter I will explain.”

Fenris looked at Duncan wearily and wanted to say something before Duncan raised his hand in his face, “Let me tell you what happened!”

Fenris nodded surprised Duncan dared to be so rude.

“We found a long corridor crossing below the village wall and Shaya ignored the warning signs of the barrier until she could no longer hold on. She was clutching her head as she collapsed and I took of her helmet. I touched her neck and she was alright again. After I let go of her, she collapsed again. That is what happened and nothing else,” Duncan said.

Fenris nodded before saying, “If you say so.”

Duncan stared daggers at him until Fenris raised his hands and said, “I believe you I do. I know Shaya has high standards.”

“What the -BLEEP- is that supposed to mean?” Duncan yelled gritting his teeth from the headache and shock.

Fenris waved his hands and said, “Nothing… Really… How do you like out training facilities by the way?”

Fenris avoided Duncan’s gaze and waited for an answer.

“Do you understand why you can’t tell anyone?” was what he got from Duncan next.

“I do. I will tell Shaya once again to do as you told her and let her know, I have been told,” he nodded.

Duncan thought that he was finally getting somewhere and said, “Alright. I can take you two to through the mine corridor to level every few days but the town is still off limits until we settle the mayor. If anyone asks, we are going into the mine.”

“Seems like a good cover to me. I will let Shaya know,” Fenris nodded at the plan in satisfaction.

“Shaya mentioned you have a library here. Could I perhaps borrow some books?” Duncan asked next.

“Well, it’s not exactly a library. More like a small collection of the former Captain of the guards,” Fenris said and pointed at the books behind him.

“You can take whatever interests you, but please bring them back,” Fenris continued.

Duncan went closer to the books and read the titles.

“Herbology vol.1-8”

“Eclectic sword style”

“Beasts of Zynnia vol. 1-12”

“Mana manipulation for beginners”

“Meditation for beginners”

“Traps from beginners to experts vol. 1-3”

“History and Geography of Zynnia”

Those were the interesting ones for Duncan. The rest were romance and hero novels according to Fenris.

“How many can I borrow?” Duncan asked.

“Try leaving some of the romance fiction for the guards,” Fenris replied.

Duncan tried not to laugh and nodded before saying, “So, I can borrow all of the rest?”

“Yeah, if they haven’t learned from these books so far, they probably won’t ever so there is no point in limiting you,” Fenris replied. Duncan nodded as he knew he was talking of over 150 years of the books being here.

“How long can I keep them?” he asked.

“It should be alright if you return them once you decide to leave the village. Please don’t take them with you on adventures though,” Fenris replied.

Duncan knew what he meant by that. He didn’t want him to die with the books in his inventory.

After that Duncan stored everything that was not fiction in his inventory and said his goodbyes.

Getting out from the barracks Duncan smelled fresh air again instead of testosterone and took a big breath.

Seeing the guard tower in the distance he got interested in climbing it. As he knew all the guards, he figured there would be no problems in letting him have a peek.

As he came closer, he was greeted by Demira who shouted from the top, “You just could not stay away from her?”

“Hi. I presume you are talking about Shaya,” Duncan yelled back before retorting, “I didn’t even know you two were on guard duty in this tower.”

“I am sure you didn’t,” Demira said before asking, “So, do you want to come up or will you just stand there?”

Duncan really wanted to return the way he came from at first but he didn’t want to give her the satisfaction.

“I will come up,” he shouted.

“Try not to fall,” she shouted back.

He rolled his eyes as he climbed up. The guard tower was about 15 meters high made from wood. It felt solid and didn’t sway in the wind which was getting stronger the higher Duncan climbed. The top had a rail around it and a roof overhead.

As he came up, he saw Shaya sleeping inside.

“She is a heavy sleeper,” Duncan said pointing at Shaya.

“Nah, she took a sleeping potion,” Demira replied and before Duncan could ask why she interrupted him and continued, "because she is a light sleeper and she had guard duty a few hours after you two came back.”

Duncan nodded before asking, “So she took a sleeping potion and dozed off?”

“She took it after she was awake all night and I slept. And before you ask, why she didn’t sleep at night, I don’t have as good night vision as she does. And by day it’s hard to fall asleep when there is light and sound all around you. I can wake her up if I need her by shaking her,” Demira explained.

Duncan nodded trying to be quiet although he knew it was wasted effort. He looked around before he found a seat on the ground and took out a book.

“Eclectic sword style”

Demira looked at him with disbelief, “What do you think you are you doing?”

“Reading,” he said and ignored her staring daggers at him.