To explain the ending of the last chapter: in the books, Guild Girl uncovered an D&D style game intended to help train Adventurers, and started play it with High Elf Archer, Priestess and Cow Girl. I had honestly forgotten that it hadn't shown up in the animie. At the end of the last chapter, they discovered that the legend of Goblin Slayer and his party has grown to the point where someone has created a scenario based on their adventures, complete with stereotypical over-the-top cover art.

Married Life

Chapter Twelve: Shelter From The Storm

The rain fell in an unending torrents, the distant flash of lightning and rumble of thunder indicating that it was no passing shower, but rather perhaps the last of the summer storms, a final Hurrah from nature before autumn fully arrived. The wind howled unceasingly, trying to pull the shutters off the windows and the thatch from the roof as it lashed the cottage relentlessly. But Goblin Slayer had built his home to survive far worse, and it stood defiant in the face of the storm, a haven of warmth and light amid the growing darkness. The fireplace cracked and spat, keeping the parlour snug, the scent of freshly brewed tea and homemade biscuits filling the air.

"I'm glad we had enough warning, and that Uncle was able to get the cows into the barn in time." Cow Girl cocked an ear to the sound of the raging tempest, "Those farm-hands he took on are really working out."

"I'm glad to hear it." Guild Girl nodded, not looking up from her knitting, "No one else seemed willing to give them a second chance."

Cow Girl frowned: the young man and his fiancee who had taken over her place helping out on her uncles farm were the only survivors of a part of Adventurers who'd taken what should have been a routine job escorting a merchant from Market Town to Frontier Town. It had been a small convoy, just two wagons, two servents, the merchant and the Adventurers, which if anything had seemed almost excessive at first.

Then the bandits had attacked, and it had become clear that, rather than simple household goods to sell, the boxes in the wagons had been filled with alchemical supplies, worth a small fortune on the black marget and highly flammable. All it had taken was one flaming arrow to turn one of the wagons, the servent driving it and two of the Adventurers into a raging inferno. The young woman, a scout by training, had been forced to watch her own brother burn to death as the other wagon raced away. The leader of the party, a Dwarven axe-fighter, had covered their escape, paying for their lives with his own.

Arriving in Frontier Town, the Merchant had lodged a formal complaint with the Guild, claiming that it was the fault of the Adventurers that half of his merchandise and one of his servents had been lost. The two survivors had countered by pointing out that they had been hired to escort a shipment of pots and pans, not volatile chemicals. Accusations had flown back and forth as the Guild Master had struggled to uncover the truth, going as far as sending Spearman and Witch to Market Town to collect the original contract.

In the end the Guild had sided with the two Adventurers, but it had been a long and stressful fight for them, and in the end they had turned in their tags and sold their remaining equipment. Given how the investigation had been the talk of the town for so long, and the extremes the merchant had gone to sully their names, no one had been willing to offer them honest work within the town. They had been on the verge of turning to prostitution to keep a roof over their heads when Cow Girl had convinced her uncle to offer them a job on his farm. He had been reluctant at first, but they had worked hard to prove themselves, and soon the farm was running better than ever, especially when Goblin Slayer had shown the young woman how to make iced cream. She had been the one who'd had the idea of adding fruits, syrups and nuts to the mix, increasing the varieties.

"They're doing really well." Cow Girl agreed, "They're even talking of going back to using their true names."

That got her wives attention: it was a long standing tradition that Adventurers, and those who worked closely with them, took up a name that was more descriptive of their role within a party, usually based on their 'class' and level of experience. Even among long-time party members, it wasn't unusual for Adventurers not to know the true names of those closest to them. Even among those who did know an Adventurers true name, it was an unspoken rule never to use it. Even the Guild Records were sealed, meaning that Guild Girl hadn't known Goblin Slayers or High Elf Archers true names before their wedding ceremony. And even they had been exchanged as whispers so not even Lizard Priest or Priestess could hear them. Cow Girl and Goblin Slayer had known each others true names, having grown up together, but even in private they had rarely used them. Even retired Adventurers, if they were remaining in the area where they had worked, tended to keep their true names hidden.

For the young couple to be openly contemplating otherwise was a sure sign that they were turning their backs on their old life for good.

The sound of a key in the lock of the front door ended further discussion, as the three women looked around in surprise: Goblin Slayer wasn't due back until the next day, and Cow Girls uncle, while having been given a key in case of emergency, always knocked. Cow Girl grabbed the tea pot off the table; it was made of iron and had a reasonable heft to it, making it a passable weapon in an emergency, while High Elf Archer grabbed the poker from beside the fireplace, a far more traditional improvised weapon. She mentally kicked herself for not keeping at least her throwing knives within arms reach, as one of the first lessons that had been drummed into her when she first started training to be a Ranger was to never be without a weapon within reach.

Tiptoeing silently across the room, she opened the door just enough to see down the hallway to the front of the cottage, eyeing the crossbow that hung on the wall, trying to judge if she had time to reach it before whoever it was outside managed to gain entry.

"ACHOO!" Priestess sneezed violently as she stumbled through the door, rain pooing off of the oiled cloak she wore.

She was followed quickly by a truly miserable looking Apprentice Cleric, Rookie Warrior, Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest, with Goblin Slayer bringing up the rear, closing and locking the door behind him, once again shutting out the storm.

"Finished quest early." He offered by way of explanation, his armour squelching with every step, "Got caught in storm on way back to town."

"Get in! Get in!" High Elf Archer put the poker down and opened the door wide, "Get dry and warm before you catch your deaths."

The assembled Adventurers shuffled into the small parlour, leaving puddles of water as they went. Cow Girl vanished into the kitchen to boil water for a fresh pot of tea while Guild Girl went to collect towels and blankets for everyone. High Elf Archer collected their wet rain capes and took them to the scullery to dry, but returned to find them just as wet underneath.

"You really were caught by the storm." She stood with her hands on her hips, "Strip."

They all looked at her in silence.

"Strip!" She ordered a second time, "You need to get out of those wet clothes if you expect to get dry any time soon."

There was a moment of hesitation, but her stern expression made it clear that she wasn't in the mood to argue the point. While the older, more experienced membera of the party had long ago developed a pragmatic view on the topic, the three youngsters were still at that age where the idea of seeing others in little to no clothing, and likewise being seen in a similar state, was a fate worse than death. Fortunately for them Guild Girl returned with thick, woollen blankets that they were able to wrap around themselves before shredding their rain-soaked clothes.

Cow Girl walked back into the parlour and looked at the Adventurers as they huddled around the fire. She put an arm around Goblin Slayer and lent into him.

"How did the Quest go?" she asked softly.

"New nest." he responded in the usual dispassionate tone he used when discussing his work, "Two Hobs, but no Shamans."

"We saved both of the prisoners." Appreciate Cleric added through chattering teeth, "Got them back home to their families."

"That's good." High Elf Archer looked at Priestess and Apprentice Cleric, then put a hand on their shoulders, "OK, you two come with me: a nice, hot bath will do you the world of good."

The two teenagers were too cold and miserable to object as the Ranger led them down the hall to the bathroom. Soon the sound of running water could be heard over the storm outside, and the scent of lavender oil filled the air. There was a faint squeal of protest from Priestess, indicating that High Elf Archer was forcibly removing the last of her comrades clothes, followed by the splashes of the two young woen getting into the bath.

A high pitched whistle informed everyone that the kettle was boiling, and Guild Girl assisted Cow Girl in making everyone big mugs of hot, sweet tea, High Elf Archer collecting a cup each for Priestess and Apprentice Cleric.

"You're going to have to spend the night and go report to the Guild Hall in the morning." Guild Girl looked at the unexpected guest, deep in thought, "Goblin Slayer, if you, Dwarf Shaman and Rookie Warrior take the spare room, Priestess and Apprentice Cleric can join Cow Girl, High Elf Archer and I in our bed." She looked up at Lizard Priest, "I'm sorry, but we're in the process of turning the other bedroom into a nursery and..."

"No apologies needed." the gentle giant raised his hands, "I will be more than happy to bed down here before your wonderful fire for the night."

"I'll find you some extra blankets." Guild Girl looked at Dwarf Shaman and Rookie Warrior, "We have a couple of spare undershirts that should fit the two of you. They're Goblin Slayers, so they'll be a bit long."

"We'll survive." the Dwarf laughed, adding a generos shot of something from a hip-flask to his tea before offering it to Lizard Priest, who likewise topped up his cup with the unknown liquor.

Guild Girl shook her head: despite everything, she wasn't sure she'd ever understand Adventurers.

To Be Continued...