"Well, I hope your week starting tomorrow is uneventful." Kershka said.
I nodded, hearing him go inside the house. Biri came and stuck her head in my lap. After a few minutes, Kershka came back and joined me. He sat in what appeared to be his normal spot. We talked about where we came from, how I came to have Biri, and other things about our pasts. It was lovely to spend time in such a manner.
I felt the air grow cooler as the sun was beginning to set. We had dinner together, and he took me to the Inn and helped me set up a room. Then he went home for the night. I spent my night needle felting after a bath. By the time I was ready to head to work, I had finished my needle work creation. I put my things up, and headed out of the room to find Biri, and see Kershka.
Led by Biri, I found Kershka in his usual spot. "Good morning, Kershka." I greeted him.
"Good morning Vern." He said.
"I made you something over night." I said.
"Oh? What is it?" He asked.
I held out the little needle felting spider I'd made for him. "I don't know how accurate it is, I don't remember fully the colors or placement of the features. But it is meant to be a jumping spider."
He came close and said, "This looks.. amazing."
"It's been over a hundred seventy years since the last time I saw a spider. I am glad it looks good to you." I said.
I felt Shaska tap me. "Well, it appears you have a volunteer model." Kershka said.
I laughed lightly, letting Kershka have the felting spider, and touching Shaska. I didn't mind the hairlines of the spider, it was another way they see. "I think Shaska may have decent vision." I commented.
"Oh? Why?" Kershka asked.
"The accuracy in approach. She's found me both times while I was not moving." I said.
"That's true." He agreed. "She doesn't use her vision for hunting. Just blankets a field in web."
I pet her on the sides of her face, letting her feel my non threatening touch. "You are quite pretty Shaska." I told her.
"Yes, she is, and she has been enjoying Biri hanging around." Kershka said.
"Ah. That does remind me. I learned from. Gold dragon that Biri is in fact a dragon. An obsidian one." I told Kershka. "It was quite the surprise for us both."
"Gold dragon? Oh, Wren. Oh... I probably shouldn't have said... it's probably fine." Kershka said.
"I will certainly not endanger them." I said. "But I do need to get moving. I hope you enjoy the felting spider, Fjell Hjerte."
"Okay. I will see you when you come back around. I will have something to show you then." Kershka said.
I hugged him, and kissed his cheek, before stroking Biri's head and tapping Shaska and heading off. I found more traps, confiscated them. Took note of some of Mills and Arthur's traps having been tampered with. I left them be as requested. I found signs of poachers, but no camps. There were no signs of giants this time, but I did come across a boy with two little girls.
Oddly, a tower had appeared as well. I'd questioned them, and the boy was forthright. I was very curious bout the tower, and told them so. Even more to my surprise, th boy was Isarial. Still, I had work to do and moved on. Eventually I happened by the shack that was being repaired. I'd heard a person moving, but when I drew close, the person quit moving.
"Hello? I heard a person here... is it Osgard? If not, I will have to request that you report your dwelling to your lord. If it is not reported by next week, I will have to dismantle it." I said.
From inside the house I heard, "Please don't take my house," a strained voice said., "Yes, I am Osgard."
"Are you alright?" I asked. "Tilton is aware of you, so your home is permitted. Thank you for answering."
"Just had a number with some giants. I'm fine. They should be out of the territory now." Osgard said.
"I guess they are not friendly? I was raised by Hill Giants." I said.
"I wouldn't say unfriendly, but their form of hospitality was a little rough. They were setting up for a contest." Osgard said.
"Ooh, what kind of contest?" I asked.
"Feats of strength, and mating." He said.
"Aww, how lovely. I hope they find the best partners. I'm courting a fine Stone Goliath, myself." I said, placing my hands on my cheeks, "He's so sweet and looks after Biri for me. Biri is my dragon." I dropped my hands, scowling, "Ock. I've been rude. My name is Vern."
"Oh, you're the new Ranger." He noted. "And your courting Kershka. He's a nice fellow."
"Yes. It seems like we can work together a bit to keep the forest and it's inhabitants safe. Monster races are only a problem if they are causing undue harm to the ecosystem." I said. "So I'm not extremely worried about the giants, and the goblins seem to be going after small game to stay covert. But, I did notice there seems to be a large number of goblins moving steadily. Do you know anything about it?"
"No, I've been preoccupied with the giants of late. What part of the forest are they in right now? I can go and take a look." Osgard said.
"There have been signs of them in the fourth and second quadrant, but not near where people are. They are skirting any locations with people from the looks of it. Ah- I divided the territory into nine parts for ease of reference. From West to East. North West is one, North is two, North East is three, four is West, Five is town, six is Hearthstone, and so on. Then each of those sections are broken down into nine, too." I explained. "Anyways, I didn't find them exactly, but they seem organized by their prints. Keep an open mind if you encounter them, please."
"Keeping an open mind is not a problem for me. If I find out what they are up to, I will try to let you know." He said.
"Thank you, Osgard. May I know why Tilton said you are unusual?" I asked. "I had to remind him I'm blind."
"You're blind?" Osgard asked.
"Yes. I can not see. I lost my sight when I was a child." I said.
"I am... an oni." Osgard said.
"Oh. You're a giant, then? Helsingen, cousin." I replied.
"Helsingen." He replied. "I will need to.. rest for a little while. But I would like to speak with you again."
"I will be patrolling the woods weekly. Doubtless I will run into you again. But I can come find you, if you'd like...." I hesitated. "Are you hurt? I can heal or make medicine."
"Just a couple of sprains. I'm not bleeding." He said.
I got into my pack and found some herbs. I laid them out, feeling them carefully until I found the right one. I packed the rest away, and approached the house and held out the herb. "This is Ebur. If you make some tea with it, it'll double the rate of your sprains healing. It can also reduce likelihood of sprains."
"Oh.. ok.. um.. I guess I will just open the door and take that.." He said. He opened to door a little. "I'm going to take the herbs now." He very carefully did so.
"If you have honey, it will sweeten it and reduce swelling." I said. I heard an odd whooping sound from behind me somewhere. "Is that a monkey?"
"There are giant apes around. They are not friendly." Osgard said.
"Hm. They tend to be wily. I'll have to make note of them. But atheist they are not chimpanzees." I shivered involuntarily. "They got mad at a Tigrine and ate their face off."
"That sounds horrifying." Osgard said.
"The smell and sounds were, yes." I said. "A rare moment I was thankful I couldn't see."
"Well, it sounds like you were lucky on that instance, then." Osgard said.
"Well, thank you for the chat, Osgard. I was just feeling lonely without Biri. I'll go on now so that you may rest." I said.
"If I am ever at home, stop by again. This was a lovely chat." Osgard said.
I smiled, "Thank you. If you see me in the woods, feel free to chat. Just let me know it's you."
I waved as I left. Finishing up the week, I only had one run in with the Giant Apes. Which unfortunately ended when it was dead. I donated the meat and goods from it to Hearthstone I would have to report in about it to Tilton a couple days. It took me a while that night to write the reports, but that was mostly due to the fight.
Still, that morning, just after what a good breakfast hour would be, I knocked on Tilton's door and waited for him, while my report were in my hands. He opened the door after about a minute.
"Alright. What do we have here? Anything extreme I should be worried about?" Tilton asked.
"Don't feel like a full sit down again?" I joked. "I made note of a large amount of goblinoids in the West and North, but I didn't encounter them. Osgard said he would investigate further. He also sustained some injury while getting the Giant's to leave. They were setting up for their strength competitions, you know, courting in their ways." I tapped my lips, thinking. "In the South East, I was unable to avoid a fight with a giant ape. They are almost as aggressive as chimpanzees."
"Alright. I can make some requests and see what can be taken care of." Tilton said.
"That may be good, because I'd learned of them in the North East, that is a ways from where they should be nesting." I noted. "I donated the remains of the one I couldn't evade to Hearthstone."
"That's a good use of it. I've heard you are.. courting Kershka." Tilton said.
"Yes. I thought he'd make a fine husband." I said, smiling brightly.
"Well, that was awfully quick of you... but I am inclined to agree." Tilton said.
"I am not sure how to proceed, though. He seems too gentle to care to fight me, as I was taught the ways of the giants with such matters.. he gets on with Biri, and doesn't mind that I am blind." I explained my reasoning. "He is lovely to talk with, too. And likes my cooking. Isn't that perfect?"
"Kersha is a gentle soul, but if you wanted to fight him, as is tradition, he would do so." Tilton said.
"Do you think it's strange?" I asked.
"Do I think what is strange?" He asked.
"My relationship with Kershka. Or is it curiosity?" I asked.
"No, I don't think it's strange. I hope it goes well for the both of you. Truly." Tilton said.
"Thank you, Tilton. I promise you that I have no ulterior motives. I really do think that Kershka I someone I can enjoy marrying. If that is all, I would really like to go see Biri and Kershka." I told him. "But I can have patience if you'd like to talk."
"You can run along, it's fine. I will see you next time." Tilton said.
I smiled, "Yes, if there is anything you need about the reports, I will be either at the Inn or with Kershka."
"I'm sure I'll piece together what information I may need." Tilton said.
I nodded and headed off, knowing where I am going this time. Biri noticed me first, sprinting over to me. She was immediately distressed over smelling the fight on me. I stroked her head and told her I was fine, before going with her to see Kershka. I heard him getting settled on the bench as I approached.
"I'm back, Kershka." I said.
The bench creeked as he got back up, he said, "You're getting scooped." And then I was scooped up into his arms.
I giggled and settled into his arms. "I am glad you seem happy to see me."
"I am." He said definitively. "How was your patrol?"
"A little tiring. I got into a scrap with a giant ape. Tilton said he'd put in a request about them." I told him. "I didn't catch any poachers yet, but I did meet Osgard and collected more traps. I'm going to have to dump them off. They are almost too heavy for me to carry now."
"I can help with that." Kershka said.
"Some of them are nice, so I figured I'd offer them to Mills and Arthur. The rest I need to breakdown into scrap." I said.
"Ok. Did you want to relax, or do that?" Kershka asked.
"Either is fine. What I your preference?" I asked.
"I can go stretch my legs. Let's go see if they want these things." Kershka said.
"Tilton said you'd make a fine husband for me." I said.
"Tilton is a smart man. But that is your decision." He said.
I felt us moving as he spoke. "I said it first." I admitted.
"Well, you are a very smart lady, so." Kershka said.
I could hear Biri following us. We soon approached Mills' stall. Mills said, "Well, hello, you two. Out for a lovey morning stroll?"
"Yes. Kershka decided he wanted to bring me to see if you'd like any of the traps I've confiscated. There are some quality ones, so I figured you and Arthur may want to take them. I'll be destroying them otherwise." I explained.
"Well, I'd be willing to take a look." Mills said.
I nodded and Kershka set me down. I accessed the area of my pack that held the traps and released the mechanism holding them in. Biri made sure there was plenty of room for the traps to be. There were many of them.
"It will be faster if you simply sort through it." I told Mills.
"Alright. I'll get at it and see which ones are worth saving." He said and got to it.
Arthur came over after a moment, "What have we got going on? Why are there so many traps here?"
"Ah. Arthur. These are confiscated traps. You may go through them with Mills to see what you'd like to keep. The rest I will turn into scrap." I said.
"Ah, alright." Arthur said. He began going through them.
"If any issues arise of your use of them, report it immediately and I will issue fines and other consequences. Traps are not permitted to be used by Adventurers unless thy are within a sixty foot range of it." I clarified.
"They can't claim what they can't figure out." Arthur said.
I smiled, agreeing, but heard the ping of my spell Alarm sound in my head. "It would seem one of the poachers have returned to their trap location."
"So you have to go?" Kershka asked.
"Yes. You can come with me if you'd like." I said.
"I am not very stealthy, but if that's ok, then I will go with you." Kershka said.
"Haah. More paperwork for Tilton." I sighed. "You gentlemen can watch over the traps for me for now, right?"
"Certainly can. Might even be able to fix a few of these." Mills said.
I nodded, slung my bag on, took Kershka's hand, while Biri touched me, and used a Port Key to get to the location of the trap. The pissed off poacher was cursing bout all their traps disappearing.
"Yes. I took them. You are not a designated hunter of this area. You are not permitted to use traps, only a bow. However, I have seen signs that you only collect valuables off the animals. You are not a hunter or hunting for food. This is strictly illegal and it is my job to stop you. This is your final warning." I said.
The man had gone quiet and still as I spoke. "God damned Elf bitch. Why don't you mind your own damned business?"
"This is my business." I said.
I heard Kershka step forward. "That is no way to talk to her. You should apologize." Kershka said.
"Then she should return what she stole!" The poacher snapped.
"Return what you stole from Tilton and the Crown, then." I replied.
"Yeah. Return what you stole." Kershka said.
The man spat. He took a breath, and I said, "Biri."
She moved quickly, burning her claw print as a V into the man's arm. She then swirled back to me as the man screamed. "You have been marked, now. Your next offense will land you maimed." I warned.
He was cursing and sounded pained. Jumbling his words. I tossed a bandage at him. "That will cool the brand." I knew what Biri did, because we did it often. Hearing him scrabble for it, I touched Kershka, "Ready to go back?"
"I feel I should punish him for not apologizing, but ok." Kershka said.
I was about to use the Port Key to return us, when I heard an arrow loosed and flying for us. I used the strike of the Stone Giant to stop it, Biri send a chirp near the shooter, so I was able to hit them while drawing my bow and loosing an arrow. Unfortunately for them, they did not have my reflexes. I heard several others in the trees. Pulled by the man's screams, I realized.
Kershka moved, sounding like be was taking something out of his bag. "I will try not to kill. Try."
"You are allowed, I am not." I said, hearing a rock get smashed with something wooden.
"I prefer not to kill." Kershka said, another rock and wood sound ringing out with cracking severity. "But it is hard to control where the rocks go."
I noted a pained sound following this one. I heard a distinct chirping sound again, and fired an arrow there. It was quite obvious when Biri was noticed. I heard a few running away. And then their screams as Biri marked them. She told me she got them. I'd heard at least two more cracks, accompanied by shouts. But they weren't attacking back anymore.
"Alright. If you are done fighting, and want medical treatment, come here. Any aggression will result in more pain." I called.
I heard a few coming towards us. Those ones I had Biri stand with me and borrowed her vision to nurse the people. One asked me to tend to the unconscious person. And because I wasn't heartless, I did so.
"The next time I catch you poaching, I will be taking an arm from each of you. The next step is killing you. This is per the Queen's orders. I have heard that Hearthstone Town accepts people into it. Gives them jobs and purpose. Free housing. I recommend you l quit your current job and head there. Poachers generally know each other, so if you'd spread the news that I will uphold the laws of the Queen, that would be great. Ah, also. Once you are marked, any and all of is Rangers will carry out the next steps in consequence." I informed them.
"We were going to go to Hearthstone, but our leader burst into flames. So we opted to not." One said.
"I had not heard of that. I have come and gone from there twice, I'll investigate that. If you are scared, I suggest going to the Capital and trying to change your lot there." I said.
I didn't know their plans, but they started to leave, helping those who couldn't. So I took Kershka's hand, using Biri to see him. She touched me, and I Port Keyed back to Dueling Rivers with Kershka. It was nice to see how he looked. Stone colored skin, beefy, a soft looking face, and red tribal tattoos. I felt my cheeks burn a little, and stopped using Biri to peep at him.
"Are you ok? No one nicked you with an arrow?" Kershka asked.
"Yes, I am fine. Do you think they will heed my words?" I asked.
"Hopefully some. But I doubt all." Kershka said.
"I've got to write reports about the encounter." I said. "We're close to water, are we in the square?"
"Yes. Where would you like to go to write your report?" Kershka asked.
"Anywhere comfortable where I can spread out a bit would be fine." I said. "Oh, right. The traps.."
"I can collect those." Kershka said.
"If they decided to keep them all for parts, they can." I told him.
"Ok. I will see what they decided." Kershka said.
I nodded, "I will go to your bench and write out the report."
"Ok. I will be there in just a bit." Kershka said.
Biri lead me to the bench and I spread everything out to write the next bit of my report. I noted exactly what occurred, with the consequence and warning. Kershka returned as I was writing it.
"All done with the report?" Kershka asked.
"Just about." I said. "Do you want to see?"
"Okay, common is a little hard, it might take a bit. I don't practice like I should." Kershka said.
"If you want to practice, you can read to me." I said. "It is difficult to find books written in braille."
"Okay, I have a few books Bibs gave me to practice. I'll go get them." Kershka said.
"You don't have to, you know." I said.
"I know, but I should practice, and I get to talk to you." Kershka said.
I smiled at him. "Alright, Hjerte. I will wait here for you." I offered the report to Biri, "Biri, will you bring this to Tilton?" She told me yes, took it, and scamper off.
He went inside, and came back after a few minutes. "Bibs has given me many books to practice with. I think I have lost a couple. But I have these." He said. "There are five here."
"What are they about?" I asked.
"This book is about animals. This one is about herbs. This one is poems. This one is monsters and this one is mapping." Kershka said.
"I think animals or poems would be easy to read." I said.
"We will start with animals." Kershka said.
He picked me up and settled me into his lap, he opened the book and began reading to me. He definitely wasn't a strong reader, but I found it comfortable. I placed my hand on his neck to feel him read. When he finished that book, I kissed his cheek.
"You are good at reading. It's nice to feel your voice." I said, kissing his cheek again.
"It's nice to read to you. I don't feel rushed." Kershka said.
"Are you a more fluent reader in our first language? Giant that is. I didn't learn other languages until I was fifty." I told him.
"I can read Giant very well." He said.
"Did you want to continue, or do something else?" I asked.
"Actually, I have some things for you." He said. He placed something in my hand after leaning over for a moment. "This one is for Biri." Then he gently took my other hand into his. He set something else into my hands and said, "This will hopefully will take you some time to figure out. Get a feel for it, then I will take it apart."
So I began feeling it with both hands. It felt like a cross, only stabbed through with an extra piece, making it like a six sided star. On my next morecareful pass over on it, I found that rather than it being three pieces, it was six. I frowned slightly, puzzled by it.
"What is this?" I asked, nearly to myself.
"It's three crosses." He said. Then did something with it and it fell apart in my hands. "And now it's a puzzle to put it back together."
I started feeling the pieces. They were identical to each other. I took a moment to process what had occurred, then I started experimenting with the pieces. "Stein weirdner." I murmured.
He laughed. "No magicks here, promise. I believe you can do this."
I tilted my head back towards him, still working at the pieces with my fingers. In Giant I said, "*You say no magic, but you do seem to have a way with wood.*"
"*I may have my ways with wood, but I assure you, I have no magic.*" He kissed my forehead, "*I am blessed by land, not mana*"
"*So you say, Heart. My mother said I'm like a star, from the sky and all.*" I commented. "*She said she named me for the alder grove to ground me.*" I almost got a part of it figured out, but I was still missing something.
"*That is a beautiful meaning to your name. Mine is a.. little simpler. It's just the sound of when two rocks smack together. Really hard, and explode.*" He said, then mimicked it.
"*A spark that can light a hearth, then. One that warms a home.*" I said.
He chuckled. "*I don't think that's what my parents were going for. But I like that.*"
I leaned my head on his shoulder, still working on the puzzle with my hands. "*It does feel comfortable to speak in our first language, but would you prefer to speak in Common?*"
"*I try to use common more because I am a little slow with it.*" Kershka admitted.
"I think, as long as you take your time, that you are quite clear with what you want." I said.
"Thank you. It is nice to talk in Giant from time to time. Very few know it." He said.
"In case I wasn't clear, if we're compatible, I do intend to marry you at some point. Should we discuss that, or do you want to just leave it for now?" I asked him.
"If we are good together, I would be happy to." Kershka said. "Are you sure you're OK with me?"
"Yes. I have no reason to not be. You are sweet and don't seem bothered by my disability." I said.
"May I see your hand for a moment?" He asked.
I raised one of my hands up, "Yes."
He took my hand and put it in his face over his lips. "I wanted you to see that I was smiling."
I smiled, bringing my other hand to his face, and feeling his features. "You're handsome." I moved my hands to guide me, placing a kiss on his lips.
He kissed me back, "I like you a lot."
I hugged him around his neck, laying my head on his shoulder. "Would you want children when we marry?"
"I would like a big family, but I would love two just the same." Kershka said.
"Like ten or fifteen?" I asked.
He laughed. "Maybe if the fates allow."
"Would you care if they are small? Or weak?" I asked.
"Bibs is small and frail at times. I have seen him topple many giants and dragons. I have no hate for the small. My children will be mountains in their own ways." Kershka said.
"Yes. I can definitely imagine that." I said, "They are not likely to be blind, by the way. I lost my vision due to illness as a child."
"What illness happened?" Kershka asked.
"It was a severe flu in my lungs. It killed several giants in my clan, the fever lasted for days, so hot, it burned away my sight." I said.
"Sounds terrible. I am glad that you survived. I would have been sad without knowing why." Kershka said.
I snuggled his shoulder, "Well, I hope you can be always happy."
"I think you will make that happen. I hope you will be happy too." Kershka said.
"I am." I said. "It's easy to be when you're so sweet."
"Like your treats." He said.
"Yes. Speaking of, are you hungry? The Inn's food isn't bad." I said.
"Okay, do you care if I ask Bibs to come?" Kershka asked.
"I do not mind, if he wants to, he can." I said.
"Okay, I'll ask then." He picked me up and set me on the bench and went to ask. Then cme back, "He said no, but thanks for asking. I told him to eat before we get back."
I nodded. "I did not figure this out yet." I showed him the pieces.
He rubbed my back a little. "It's alright. You'll get it. I am already working on a new one."
I collected the pieces and stood. "I will figure it out."
"I am pos.. positive you will." He said.
I smiled, holding out my hand for him to take, "Let's go, then."
He took my hand, "Okay. Let's go."
We went to the Inn and sat at a table. A waitress came by and took an order from us, after Kershka read the menu for me. They had a lot more options than I'd expected. So I got to order something more to my liking. I also made sure to order desert, since Kershka liked sweets. I let Biri come in with us this time. Ordered her some food, too.
"I wonder if I will like this more." I commented while we waited for our food.
"Hard to know." Kershka said.
I reached out, finding him and trailing my hand to rest over his cheek with my pinky against his lips. "It sounds like there are plenty of people here."
"It is pretty packed tonight." Kershka said.
"I am trying to tell how you are feeling." I explained. "Your lips are a little tickly as you speak."