Chapter 22- Slayer Scrolls
Chapter 19- Chrissy Lydia
Day 16 Morning - Hightailing it!
On the Road Back to the Farm
"I hate this!" Chrissy sneers as she can see how high they were.
"Then close your eyes." Sexy tells her. "I am doing all the work."
"Easier said than done." Chrissy mutters back as she keeps her eyes focused on his neck but closes her eyes as she trusts him.
"Once we reach the bottom, I suggest we have the horses trot most of the way." Lydia suggests.
"I hate trotting. It feels like I am riding a sewing machine on high." Chrissy mutters.
"I don't trot like that." Sexy snaps back.
"Not you. Just most horses."
"I like it." Lydia suggestively remarks.
"You would."
"You can look now. We are at the bottom." Sexy informs her.
"OH, shit a bear!" Chrissy cries out as she opens her eyes to see a large rock that resembled a bear standing on its back legs.
"No, it's a rock." Sexy snickers.
"You did that on purpose." Chrissy accuses.
"It was funny." Lydia laughs.
"Like you wouldn't have done the same." Sexy says between snickers.
"True but you know this means I have to pay you both back." Chrissy warns.
At the bottom the group sets an easy steady gentle canter for a few miles until Lydia had to slow her horse down so it could regain its strength back.
"I can travel at a swift run almost all day." Sexy indignantly informs the women.
"Yeah, but the other horses can't." Chrissy replies as she checks on Lydia's pace and how the other horses were doing.
"I am just saying I can get you there faster."
"If it was just me, I would say go for it but I am not leaving my house carl when we don't know what's out there."
"I can handle myself."
"Against Vampires and Werewolves?"
"You know?" Sexy asks as he looks back at her.
"You are not too subtle when you enter or leave an area." Chrissy remarks. "Don't worry I am not mad. You can handle yourself and you had back up just in case."
"So, what is the plan when we reach the farm?" Lydia asks as she does her best to keep her Thane's mind off the heights.
"Would you mind if I have you stay there and get things ready?"
"You wish to travel alone?" Lydia worriedly asks and gets an evil glare from Sexy.
"I won't be. I have Sexy. I just wish to get to my friends I am worried about them."
"Something wrong?" Sexy asks as he knows that her brother had visions and wonders if she might.
"Just a nagging feeling that they are in danger."
"Then I should go with you." Lydia injets.
"You heard that Sexy can travel faster with out having to wait for another horse."
"Yes, My Thane." Lydia down heartly replies.
"Listen I just want to go and get them. If I can I want to bring them back to take over work on the farm and then you and I can get back to traveling. We still have places to go and people to meet." Chrissy excitedly says.
"I will worry for your safety until your return." Lydia remarks with a bit of smile know that her Thane was a caring person.
"And I yours."
"I'll be safe on a farm."
"Just remember what I said about inviting people in. That should keep the Vampires out if they play by the same rules as the ones back home. Same rule applies for bandits. Be careful. I wish you had someone to watch your back while you are there."
"So, you believe that Jarlam has left with Michael."
"If he hasn't than he will be shortly."
"This is true."
Ronick Stead
Day 16 Evening
The company continued all day, only stopping for a few rest breaks for themselves and the horses. It was just before sunset when they reached Ronick Stead and Chrissy felt queasy.
"What is it?" Lydia asks as she watches her Thane pull at her stomach as though it was hurting.
"I feel like I am starting my female time, but it doesn't feel normal." Chrissy remarks.
"You don't smell like you are starting." Sexy informs her.
"Icksay on the talking." Chrissy warns as she observes the people in the buildings around them.
"If it is not that then what is it?" Lydia asks.
"I feel like we are being watched." Chrissy answers as she looks beyond the buildings into the fields at the many scarecrows.
"There is an Inn up ahead. Let's stay there for the night." Lydia suggests.
"This is the first place I have come cross that doesn't have a gate." Chrissy points out and is a little uneasy about it for some reason.
"Some of the smaller villages don't always have the manpower to build and maintain a wall and gates. Those are usually attacked by bandits quite often." Lydia says as she starts feeling uneasy about things as she notices that there were no real signs of this place ever being attacked.
"Sexy will you be okay out here?" Chrissy asks to which Sexy just nods his head yes.
"I don't sense an evil, but I do feel an unease in the air." Sexy's voice could be heard clearly saying in Chrissy's mind.
"Still be careful." Chrissy warns as she slips off his back next to some stalls.
"Can I help you?" A small boy asks as he gets up from the straw he had been sleeping on.
"Yeah, how much for our horses to stay here?" Chrissy asks.
"5 gold for each horse."
"Does that include food and water?"
"Yes so 15 for all three."
"My steed doesn't need any food he has his own." Chrissy tells the young boy as she knocks on Sexy's metal chest.
"Wow that is amazing." The boy says as he stares up at Sexy.
"He is a metal horse."
"How? Is he magic?"
"No, he is just special." Chrissy answers. "But here is 20 if you take good care of all of them."
"Thank you and I will."
"Do you know if the stage wagon has been through?"
"No, it hasn't been through in over a month."
"Thanks." Chrissy says as she pays the fee then takes her pack while Lydia does the same.
The two women head for the Inn and wash up at the rain barrel then go inside. Chrissy notes that so far almost all the Inns that she has been in the country areas and small villages are built basically the same. The high thatch A frame style roofs and logs for the sides reminded her of old Norse lodges. A long fire pit was in the center and those that were there were sitting close to it. There was the bar at one end and rooms off to the side but there was something missing and Chrissy couldn't quite place her finger on it until the door closed behind them and quiet echoed in the room. The two women looked at each other but continued in and up to the bar.
"Evening." Chrissy said to the bar tender who just looked at her blankly. "I was wondering if we could get some food, drink and a room?"
"We have some fresh venison for 5 gold and some black bear Mead for 2. Rooms are 25 a night or the floor is 5. You came in on the stage?" The lady bar tender asked.
"Here is for the food and room. Could we just have some water we are pretty parched from traveling. No, we did not come in on the stage." Chrissy answers.
"How long are you staying?" The bar tender asks.
"We just plan on staying the night as we're heading towards White Run." Chrissy answers as she takes the mugs of water the woman puts on the bar.
"Room over there is yours." The bar tender says as she nods to a room in the corner that seems to be the only one with a door just as she puts down two large plates of almost raw meat.
"You weren't kidding when you said fresh." Chrissy remarks at the blood dripping off of it.
"The woman who usually cooks for me we haven't seen in several days. And I don't cook." The bar tender barks at her. "If you want it cooked roast it yourself over the fire."
The women take their food to the pit and see that they weren't the only ones cooking their own food.
"Boy she sure is.." Chrissy starts to say but stops as everyone in the room looks at her with a worried look.
"Strong and powerful." Chrissy inputs so she doesn't offend anyone.
"You can say it lass Kalra is a bitch." And old man says with a smile.
"Why?" Chrissy asks.
"The cook usually comes at least once a week to cook but she is late and Kalra gets just a little bit grumpy when she is late." The same old man says.
"Who is the cook?" Lydia asks.
"Her name is Kemelle she lives on a farm about a day from here." The old man tells them.
"She has a son named Michael, right?" Chrissy says as she puts her meat on the metal grill to cook.
"How did you know?" The old man demands.
"Michael tried to run away and fell down a well. We happened along and found him. When we were returning him home, we arrived too late to save his parents from being killed by Vampires." Lydia informs them.
"Where is the boy?" The man asks in concern.
"Why?"
"I am worried for him as also as his mother worked for me and my family." The old man explains in a fatherly tone.
"He is back at the farm with Jarlam as he was running a fever. We had to leave to help another friend and now we are on our way back." Chrissy tells him.
"Looks like that land will be up for sale soon." He offhandedly remarks.
"No. I inherited it from his parents on the condition that I give it to their boy when he is old enough. And that is what will happen." Chrissy coldly tells him which just causes him to smile.
"What happened to the vampires?" The old man growled out.
"Dusted." Chrissy answers.
"That is good to know. I will let my wife know about her passing." The old man says as he gets up to head for the bar.
"I am Chrissy, and this is Lydia, and you are."
"Roardrick. It is my pleasure to meet you ladies." Roardrick said with a slight bow as he leaves to inform the woman behind the bar.
A few short minutes later a loud whale of crying could be heard through the hall as the woman falls against her husband crying and pounding on him.
"So, you killed some vampires? I told them that place was to far away." A younger man says with a shake of his red locks.
"You aren't afraid of vampires here?" Lydia asks.
"Not while I am here." He answers.
"Why?"
"My father is a powerful mage and has placed stockers around the area to protect us." The boy tells them, which causes Lydia to spit her drink out and give him a look of horror.
"He best be careful." Lydia growls out.
"Why?"
"The last time I heard of stockers being used they killed those that they were supposed to protect when the one who cast the spell past." Lydia informs them.
"That is why when my father cast the spell, he used each of our blood in it. So that we all in away cast the spell." The young boy says, and he turns to Chrissy and politely introduces himself. "I am Dartin."
"Dartin still be carefull." Lydia says.
"I have lived with them all my life they are almost like family." Dartin says with a smile. "Bandits have tried for years to raid our homestead, but the Stockers always kill them before they can."
"So, they are limited to your homestead?" Chrissy asks as she usings her old dagger to flip the meat.
"Yes."
"What about just normal people who are passing through?"
"As long as you do not bother them or attack any of us you will be fine." Dartin answers.
"Got no reason to do any of those. Just want to eat, get some sleep until morning then head for the farm."
"What is going to happen to Michael now?" Dartin asks.
"Well, his father wanted him to go stay with his uncle, but Michael wasn't sure if his uncle wanted him. Jarlam says he will take care of him if the uncle wont." Chrissy answers.
"He is more than welcome here." Dartin tells them.
"I'll let him know when we see him again. Hey by chance are the Stockers the scarecrow things outside?"
"Some yes others are made of Earth." Dartin explains. "How did you know? Most people can't tell."
"They creep me out." Chrissy honestly tells him.
"Why they are our protectors?"
"Your protectors not mine." Chrissy points out. "They may not like me."
"You saved Michael you are welcome here. They will not bother you." Dartin says.
"My boy is correct as long as you follow the rules of not harming anyone or bothering the Stockers you will be fine." Roardrick says as he returns to his seat.
"How is your wife?"
"She is saddened by the news and needs to rest so I put her to bed." Roardrick answers. "Is there anything Michael needs? We can bury the bodies for him."
"We took care of that already." Lydia roughly points out.
The night went by slowly and quietly. Chrissy and Lydia were just about to head for their room when they heard several unearthly blood curdling screams piercing the cold night air. Chrissy and Lydia went to run for the door but were stopped by Roardrick.
"It is just the Stockers dealing with something that didn't belong." Roardrick calmly informs them.
"What?"
"Nothing that would be in need of you to protect." Roardrick answers as his eyes glaze over for a moment then return to normal.
"Human or non?" Chrissy asks.
"Non."
Chrissy and Lydia both nod their heads in agreement as if to say, "they weren't going to act unless it was necessary." When they saw that everyone else in the room acted like it was no big deal they walked to their room. Chrissy wasn't sure what bothered her more was what could be happening outside or the fact that these people weren't even phased by it. Inside their room Chrissy closes the door then wedges a chair against it. While Chrissy was busy with the door Lydia inspects the room by checking under the bed and inside the storage trunk at the end of the bed for any unwanted visitors. All the while she was locking the door Chrissy calls out through her minds mental link to Sexy.
"Sexy what the hell was that?" Chrissy demands.
"I don't know. The horses and I are locked in the barn, but I can go check it out."
"No! Don't. I want you to just stay in the barn."
"Why?"
"Those Scarecrows are like Golems and will kill you if they think you, are a threat. We don't want to cause trouble so just stay there."
"Fine I will stay here but I don't like it. What are Golems?"
"They call them Stockers here, but they remind me of the legend of the Golems from Earth. In animate objects are brought to life to obey the caster's will. Lydia thinks it's a bad idea, but we don't have much of a choice tonight. Just stay safe and in the barn for now but be on alert."
"Does your horse know what that was?" Lydia asks as she sits on the other chair.
"No and I told him to stay in the barn but be on alert."
"Good idea we should take shifts." Lydia quietly says.
"I'll take first if you like."
"I can go first."
"I know how we can settle it with the flip of a coin. Heads you take first shift tails I take first shift." Chrissy says as she pulls out a coin and flips it into the air. The coin lands with and Lydia crawling into bed with her sword handy.
Chrissy settles in the chair watching the door with her sword and shield at the ready. The night continued to be uncharacteristically quiet so much that Chrissy started to nod off. Just as her eyes would close Chrissy, she would jerk them open and look around. This happened a few times until finally Lydia gets up and urges her to bed. Sleep did not come for just as she laid her head back on the pillow Chrissy jumps up out of bed drawing her sword ready for a fight staring at the ceiling.
"What is it?" Lydia asks.
"I don't know but I swear I saw something move." Chrissy tells her while both intently watch the ceiling.
At first nothing happens but then the thatch roof moves. Chrissy pulls out her throwing stars and is about to throw them when they see a mouse. At seeing the little creature, the women just snicker at themselves and return to their places. The rest of the night went by uneventful for the women as they stayed up waiting and watching. They talked quietly among themselves throughout the night and into the morning until they heard others starting to get up.
Ronick Stead
Day 17 Morning
"You two could have slept." Dartin tells them as they leave the room.
"How did you know we stayed up?" Lydia asks accusingly.
"I was in the room right next to you and heard you talking." Dartin answers
"Sorry but I guess I watched to many scary movies to sleep." Chrissy tells him with a shrug.
"What's a movie?" Dartin and Lydia ask.
"It's a type of play." Chrissy explains.
"What's a play?" Lydia asks.
"It's a form of entertainment where people pretend or act out a story or event." Chrissy explains.
Seeing more confusion on Lydia's face Chrissy goes on to explain. "Like when a bard acts out something that happened. But for a play it's involves more bards and many more person to produce and act it out."
"Ahhh. Okay."
"I have heard of those are only in big cities." Dartin excitedly proclaims. "So, you have been to a big city?"
"Yeah, back where I lived before was big. We had what were called theaters all over the place." Chrissy reminisces.
"I want to go to a big city, but my father won't let me." Dartin tells them.
"Big cities aren't all they're cracked up to be they have a lot more violence than most people realize and if you move away, you won't have your family support system." Chrissy informs him.
"You moved away." Dartin points out.
"Not by choice. And I was heading for my grandparents when I got sidetracked here. Hey, can we get some food or …" Chrissy hastily changes the subject.
"Sorry, nothing is cooked." Dartin explains.
"Oh well then, it's dry meat as we travel. You have a good day Dartin." Chrissy says as they head out the door into the cold early morning.
"We had straight to the farm." Chrissy says as they walk over to the stalls.
"I think White Run would be better." Lydia mutters as she starts to saddle her horse.
"I don't think those things will go to the farm as they would have killed the vampires." Chrissy says as she packs the second horse while eyeing the scarecrows in the fields.
"You don't like them either?" Lydia quietly remarks.
"Golems are controlled by the will of the caster. People change and not always for the good." Chrissy remarks as she finished packing the horse then moves on to Sexy.
It didn't take them long before they hightailed it out of that homestead. It was after they were several miles away did, they started to slow down. The rest of the day went bye without any trouble. It was just before evening when they saw the farm.
Farmhouse
Day 17 Evening
"Finally." Chrissy smiles.
"They are still there." Lydia says as she points to the smoke coming out of the stone chimney.
"Looks like but still be on guard as there could be more vampires." Chrissy warns.
When they arrived, no one came out to greet them. This made Chrissy uneasy.
"Sexy stay with the horses and watch our back. Lydia, you go first I'll cover you." Chrissy says as she pulls her bow and turns invisible."
Lydia draws her sword and goes first kicking in the door and scaring Jarlam so bad he jumps out of the chair he was in, flinging the book he was reading back and screams like a little girl causing Lydia to laugh outright. Lydia could clearly hear Chrissy trying not to snicker but failing and becoming visible but out of sight of everyone in the house.
"Don't do that!" Jarlam snaps at her.
"Lydia you are back!" Michael calls out as he races out of his room and tries to tackle her with a hug.
"Hey what am I chopped liver?" Chrissy says as she makes her presence known.
"CHRISSY! Michael screams than does the same to her.
"Oh, it is good to see your fever is gone." Chrissy says as she returns the hug and checks his forehead.
"Where is the friend you went to get?" Jarlam asks as he looks around them.
"He's outside and really wont fit inside here." Chrissy explains while she points out the open door to the horses.
"I don't see anyone." Michael says.
"Come on I'll introduce you." Chrissy informs him as she takes his hand leading him out to Sexy while giving Lydia a look that said, "Check make sure everything is okay." To which closes the door and begins to question Jarlam.
Outside the Farmhouse
"Hey Sexy I got someone for you to meet." Chrissy says which causes the metal steed to raise his head and eye the boy. "Michael this is Sexy he is my best friend."
"He's a horse." Michael angrily points out as he feels like she had abandoned him for an animal and not even a living one at that.
"And you are a small human." Sexy says matter-of-factly causing the boy to just stare at him in disbelief.
"Di… d…. He… just talk?" Michaels stutters out in disbelief.
"Yes I did." Sexy retorts at which the boy's mouth just drops almost all the way to the ground.
"Close your mouth or you will end up eating a fly." Chrissy laughs and the boy does and looks from the horse to her then back at Sexy in disbelief.
Inside the Farmhouse
Without saying a word or taking her eyes off of Jarlam she closes the door.
"How was your trip?"
Silence and a cold stare were his only answer.
"What?"
Silence and more of that cold stare was her response.
"Dinner is almost done. I didn't know you would be here, but I did make quite a bit." Jarlam hurriedly remarks as he heads for the oven and stove.
Lydia just walks into the middle of the room, yet her eyes never changed.
"WHAT!?" Jarlam demands as he can't take her cold glare anymore.
Lydia raises one brow at his outburst then asks in a tone of voice that left no argument as to the pain she would inflict on him if he didn't answer truthfully. "Why didn't you come out and greet us?"
"I…I…I … was reading." He answered.
"What?"
"I said I was reading."
"What were your reading that kept you from checking who was out there?"
Jarlam just nods towards a book that he had thrown when they burst through the door. Lydia's eyes quickly scan the book title then looks at him in disbelief. While saying "I thought you were into men?"
"I like both." He says with a shrug.
"We'll talk about that later hide the book." Lydia orders then says with a smirk. "I love the second book." The yells "Coming." When she hears Chrissy calling for her and heads out the door.
After Lydia had left Jarlam gave off a sigh of relief then hides the book upstairs under the pillow on the master bed as if says. "Fine you tease me I'll tease you."
Outside the Farmhouse
"Hey Lydia, I could use your help taking care of the horses." Chrissy says but gives her a look asking. "Is everything okay?" To which Lydia just smirks back reassuringly.
With women and boy take care of the horses and talk a little about what had happened while they were gone make short work of the chores. After the horses are fed, water and put away they start to head back to the house.
"Where do you want to be Sexy?" Chrissy asks.
"Here is fine." Sexy says as he settles in with the other horses. "I'll keep watch."
"Thanks. I am worried with all these vampires around."
"As I am."
"Good night." Chrissy remarks as they head.
"Chrissy, do I have to go to my uncle?" Michael asks as he stares at his parents' graves.
"HMMM. I don't know what the laws here say about it."
"Why does that matter?" Michael demands.
"We have to obey the laws or Lydia, Jarlam and I could end up going to jail or worse. You don't want that do you?" Chrissy says as she enters the house.
"No."
"Jarlam can you explain the why he has to go to his uncle first?" Chrissy says.
"The law requires immediate family members to take in if they can the children of their relatives if the parents are dead. You must remain with that relative until you are at least 18. If the relative can't take care of you or refuse you can be listed as an orphan and go to an orphanage. That is unless someone offers to adopt you first." Jarlam tells them as he serves them.
"How come you know so much about it?" Michael asks as he sits down at the table.
"It happened to me." Jarlam answers.
"How does that work?" Chrissy inquires.
"He just has to say you are not my family in front of witnesses if that happens the child is considered an orphan. It is at that point they will either go to an orphanage or if someone who wishes to adopt them, they must go before the jarl where the family member is and ask to adopt the child. There usually is a fee."
"How much?"
"That depends…"
"Here." Chrissy says as she hands Jarlam a large bag of gold.
"That isn't necessary I have plenty." Jarlam informs her.
"It will be here waiting if you need."
"Why?"
"Why What?"
"Why are you helping me?" Michael asks aloud.
"I was you." Chrissy honestly answers.
"What?"
"My parents were murdered by monsters too."
The night became very sober and quiet after that.
"How to you get through….?" Michael asks.
"With the help of good friends and one moment at a time. Right now, though I am trying to find a way home so I can find my little brother and grandparents." Chrissy explains.
"Does it get any easier?" Michael inquires as he sits in front of Chrissy who is now facing the fire.
"I don't know…"
"You never really get over it happening but time will lessen the hurt. You must remember that was never your fault for what others did." Lydia explains.
"She's right. I had no control over what the monsters did. So you had no control over it either."
"If I hadn't run away."
"Then you would be dead too."
"I could have.."
"Don't! go do the road of Should have could have's. There were twenty of us kids who were taken into slavery. Several of them went down that road and died by their own hand. We were children. You are a child there is nothing you could have done to stop them." Lydia tells him.
"But Chrissy killed them!"
"There are couple of reasons I could when you couldn't first was because I had my choices stolen from me. The monsters that killed my parents were trying to kill me because another monster believe I was one of the ones that was going to kill him. So, I took back my choice from the monsters and got stronger physically and mentally. Do I think that maybe I could have done something.. Yeah, but do I dwell on it? NO. Because I mentally know I was not strong enough to do anything at the time, but I sure can do something now to stop others from having the same fate and that is what I focus on. Plus, I am stronger than people around here because I am not from here. So yes, you need to understand you will think about that but don't let it consume you. Okay?"
"Okay."
"You lost your parents too?" Chrissy asks after she takes a drink.
"Yes. Slavers came to my tribe and killed all the adults." Lydia relays to them as she eats.
"Mine were killed by bandits." Jarlam tells them.
"So, we all are a bunch of orphans." Michael down heartly remarks.
"Yes. But much more too Jarlam is brave, Chrissy is strong, and you Michael young. I am a housecarl." Lydia explains.
"I don't understand."
"Yes, we are orphans, but we are more than that." Lydia tells him.
"Being young is nothing special." Michael bocks.
"Michael didn't you say you wanted to be a soldier."
"Yeah." Michael replies.
"You can train for that or join Jarlam. Being young means, you have many chances and opportunities ahead of you. What would you like to do?"
"I don't want to see my uncle."
"Sorry even adults have to follow the laws or end up in jail or dead." Chrissy smiles at him while she messes his hair.
"Fine I'll go with Jarlam but I want you to come with me."
"I can't. I made a promise that I have to keep. But I will come back here quite often." Chrissy says.
"What are you going to do?"
"I have to head to Falls Creek to check up on some friends of mine. In fact, one of them I was going to hire to take care of this place."
"I don't want you to go!"
"Michael. That is enough." Jarlam warns.
"Michael, I understand how you feel but you must remember this if I don't keep my promise to them how can you know I will keep any other promises?"
"I guess I can't."
"So, I promise you that unless I die or return back to my world I will return back to this place as often as I can." Chrissy promises.
"So?"
"So, I am promising that I will do everything I can so that we will meet again. Will you do the same?"
"Okay, I promise." Michael says as he hugs her.
"When are you going?" Lydia asks Jarlam.
"If his fever stays down the day after tomorrow, we will head to Mark Hall."
"There is a place just a day after Ronick Stead that you and Michael can stay."
"There is only that creepy village I try to get past really quickly around there." Jarlam informs them.
"You mean Ronick Stead?"
"No. Ronick Stead maybe a bid dull but it's not creepy."
"Oh, so you mean the PharCry village."
"Yes."
"It's gone and there is a nice couple who lives at the top of a path that you two can go spend the night with. Brana and her husband are wonderful persons that have said that they may build a barn at the bottom of their path for you to stay." Chrissy explains. "Oh yeah just a heads up Halvar is a great cook. Brana likes to keep her house clean. So be respectful no matter what."
"How is the village gone?"
"Avalanche." Both Chrissy and Lydia say with a smirk.
"Wow. Can't say I am not glad it's gone. Those people." Jarlam remarks and pauses to think how best to describe them.
"Were Cannibals." Chrissy inputs.
"What's that?" Michael asks.
"They ate people." Lydia informs him bluntly.
"They sound nasty."
"That is putting it nicely."
"I have been up that road many times and never heard of this couple you are talking about."
"Do you remember a path that heads up a mountain that is next to a reddish rock that looks like a standing bear?"
"Kinda of."
"That's the path to their house."
"Oh, wait that place is supposed to be haunted!" Jarlam says in between bites of food.
"Well…Brana isn't of the living, but she is a really nice person so don't hold it against her."
"You met a ghost!" Michael asks in disbelief.
"She's nice and has invited you into her home so be respectful." Chrissy warns.
"So do I get to meet a ghost?"
"Well…."
"PLEASE!"
"They have really nice privies and comfy fur cots!" Lydia informs them with a smile.
"We will see."
"Why so leery?"
"Just never have dealt with a ghost before. Only heard stories how they try and kill people." Jarlam explains.
"Some ghosts do but not Brana as long as you are respectful." Chrissy explains.
After they had finished off much of the food the group sits by the fire talking about the past, present and future for several hours that was until.
"It's time for bed Michael come on and I'll tuck you in." Chrissy says to Michael.
"But.."
"No butts. I am tired from the long ride, and I need to leave first thing in the morning as I have a long ride ahead of me. I want you to see me off, so you need sleep too." Chrissy explains as she stands up then helps him up.
"Okay" Michael says as he follows her to his room.
Chrissy tucks Michael in and Jarlam climbs into the other bed. While Chrissy was busy with Michael Lydia locks the downstairs door then heads upstairs and locks the door that went out onto the porch. She is just setting up her bedroll when Chrissy comes up.
"You really plan on leaving tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I keep getting this dreadful feeling that they need me."
"Okay I'll give you two weeks to get back here if you don't, I am coming looking for you." Lydia warns.
"Sounds fair. So what mischief are you planning while I am away?"
"Nothing much other than adding a few things make the place run better."
"Like?"
"First off, finishing the small stalls and fixing a better pen for the horses we have."
"I am going to leave some gold for you to be able to hire some people to help and get supplies."
"That would be good. We should plan for a bunk house later. But I really recommend fixing a privy that is attached to the house."
"We need someone who can figure that kind of stuff out." Chrissy remarks. "I am no good with a hammer."
"If it's a war hammer, I am not bad."
"I was thinking about hiring Jarlam to bring back some load of supplies that we will need."
"That is a good idea. There is a sawmill on the way to Falls Creek if you take the road about 5 miles back on the road to White Run."
"I don't remember that."
"You were sleeping."
"Hey, it was the first time in long time I didn't get rained on when traveling."
"What do you want me to do at the sawmill?"
"Order a couple of loads of wood."
"How am I supposed to get it here?"
"Most mills will deliver if you pay them enough."
"Borazon was right it is expensive to own a place." Chrissy remarks with a yawn and falls in bed. "What the hell?"
"What?"
"There is a book here."
Lydia just starts snickering.
"What's so funny?"
"Look at the title."
"The Lusty… This is a smut book, isn't it?"
Lydia just laughs and receives a book thrown halfheartedly at her, but it misses.