Scarlet nodded, looking in Sarah's direction. The woman smiled and said, "I'm Maisy, Sarah's mother. You must be Scarlet, I saw you at the meeting earlier."
Maisy sneaked up to Sarah and quickly grabbed her from the tree, causing Sarah to squeal with delight. Maisy walked back over to Sarah and said, "Thanks for humoring my daughter."
Scarlet replied, "Anytime." Scarlet tapped Sarah's nose and said, "Find me whenever you like. I'll play with you."
Maisy smiled but it seemed to be holding back something. She changed the topic and asked, "Would you like me to show you around the village?"
Scarlet decided to explore the village under Maisy and Sarah's guidance. Along the way, other villagers glanced at Scarlet as she passed by. This time, however, with less wariness and even a bit of welcoming.
Finally, the group arrived at Maisy's small cottage. Maisy put down Sarah and gestured at Scarlet, "Wait here for a second. I'm going to get my husband."
Maisy ran in and called for her husband and he came out. He was not as fit as the other warriors due to his age but he was still somewhat on the lean side. He put a hand around Maisy and asked Scarlet, "So you must be the new girl everyone is talking about. The one that used evil magic."
Maisy whispered, "Kevin! Stop! The chief already said Scarlet is a good person and is one of us now."
Kevin coughed and said, "Right, Scarlet, I guess I'll see you around."
Sarah groaned at Kevin and said, "Dad! I wanna play with Scarlet now!"
Kevin smiled helplessly and could only relent to her request. Scarlet extended a hand and said, "Alright then. Come now, Sarah. Where to?"
Sarah gave a toothy grin and pointed into the forest, "I wanna climb a Blorn tree!"
Scarlet could already feel a headache coming on, "I don't think that's a good idea. Do you know how thorny it is? What if you hurt yourself? What if you fall?"
Sarah whined, "Why not?"
Scarlet sighed and tugged Sarah away from the forest. Unexpectedly, Sarah complied and asked, "Big sister, what's wrong with your hand?"
Scarlet raised an eyebrow, "You're calling me big sister already?"
Sarah nodded furiously and pried open Scarlet's hand. She gasped, "Wow! That's like a flower!"
Scarlet asked, "You like it?"
Sarah continued to bob her head in affirmation. Scarlet laughed at Sarah's exaggerated gestures and said, "I'll show more of it to you later on, okay?"
Sarah seemed to be distracted again as she asked, "Can we eat now? I'm hungry."
Scarlet ran her hand over Sarah's hair and agreed. She walked Sarah over back to Maisy's house and Maisy invited her in.
Inside the cottage at the dinner table, Kevin asked, "Scarlet, since you're new here I assume you already learned about the village rules?"
Scarlet shook her head and asked about it. Kevin explained, "In the village, most of the men are hunters with the remaining few as merchants and traders. I'm a trader myself and trade with the neighboring villages."
Kevin hatefully said, "All of us have to prepare our best goods as a tribute. If they are ever considered 'unsatisfactory', the imperial collector could punish the family however they want."
Scarlet asked, "Why go under Zoria's rule then? Girid wouldn't do anything like that."
Kevin shook his head, "What can Girid do? It's nothing more than a small country now."