"I am not going to force them, but if they feel generous, we could use the money! Remember, the more money we have, the more time I can put into actually training you two while feeding, plus putting a roof over your heads!" I said, and I wanted to never sleep in a barn again!
"You sound like my mother!" Annie complained.
"You had better tell her to give me a good deal on our rooms and meals!" I growled, and Annie winced.
"Hey! How did you know that?!" Annie yelled, running in front of me to stop me.
"I didn't; it was just a hunch. I saw you looking at her a few times, and she smiled at you encouragingly. You are the one that confirmed it, so I had better get a deal!" I declared, stepping around Annie.
"You really are an annoying God!" Annie complained as she caught back up.
"I have never had to raise children. Bare with me, I am the first time God-Father the two miscreant brats," I laughed, and Annie scowled beside me.
"Why did you decide to help us?" Annie asked as we got closer to the Inn.
"I see potential, and I am looking for Heroes. This world needs to be saved, and I messed up last time. This time, I have to stay in the back row, so you have to be the ones that take all the credit for things," I explained.
"I think I understand, but I don't know what you see in me. Tracy is amazing!" Annie said, looking away, rubbing her arm.
"I don't think you quite understand the situation we were just in. Do you know what an Orc is? That creature you just faced?" I asked.
"No, I have never seen something like that around here," Annie said, and I nodded.
"That creature was at least level thirteen or higher. You are the one that killed that. You didn't hesitate. That is a Hero," I said, and Annie looked up at me with surprise.
The little woman didn't say anything until we got back into the Inn, and Tracy remained in my arms, asleep.
"Mom! We killed an Orc!" Annie called out, and Dorthy visibly flinched and then looked at me with narrowed eyes and then at Tracy.
"Don't! The creature was in town and was about to kill a woman! Your daughter killed the beast, and then Tracy saved her. We had no choice," I said, and Dorthy relaxed.
"Well, if that's the case then, but where is that other good for nothing?" Dorthy asked.
"Gone, he tried to lead us into a trap, we think," Annie explained, and Dorthy shook her head.
"Can't trust anyone these days," Dorthy sighed and then looked at me, asking, "So, I guess I owe a reward?"
"How about a week of food and lodging. I want to spend it training these girls so I can take them with me into the forest. I am sure we could go now, but I am worried about a certain bitch up in the sky. Speaking of that cow, since we are working together, I will tell you about myself," I said and explained my current situation.
I didn't really want to tell that many people, but I needed to make sure that Jessel couldn't backstab me at every turn. She had already used Dorthy once, but that would be the last.
"Long story short, I need you to forsake Jessel. You don't have to do as the girls did, but that will ensure that she doesn't try to use you as a medium," I explained, and Dorthy nodded.
"I Forsake that bitch for trying to hurt my only daughter! I shall follow you, the Nameless God, in her place! I had always known there was something wrong with her, but she is the only God we have ever known," Dorthy said, and I nodded.
I am not going to lie, that tickled me pink, and I hoped that cow was watching! I wasn't trying to make a following, but I didn't mind taking away her toys if they kept the ones I was watching over safe.
"Good! Now, can we get some lunch? I am starving! It's been forty years since I had a good meal!" I laughed, and Dorthy smiled, nodded, and headed into the back.
"What are we going to do about Tracy?" Annie asked, and I shrugged.
"She will be up soon; her body is just not used to using that much power at once. Her body is just making some adjustments, and she will get stronger from this. I mean, we all should have. Let's find somewhere to sit," I said, but Annie pointed upstairs.
"We can use one of the rooms upstairs. There isn't anyone staying here, so we can take the master suite," Annie said, and I nodded.
Annie led me up the stairs on the right side of the Inn up to a long hall of rooms. I followed her to the last room, and Annie pulled out a key to open it up.
There was a sitting room with a couch, two chairs, and a small long table. The place was pretty nice, and I could see two beds in the next room with a set of red curtains pulled back across the entrance.
"Wow, this is a pretty nice place!" I said, looking around as I walked into the room.
I headed to the bedroom and set Tracy down on one of the beds. She was still sleeping, so I took her glasses off and put them on her nightstand.
"You are a pretty good guy. I had really thought that a mostly naked guy like you would have been a pervert, but I don't think you would do anything to her tonight," Annie said as I came out of the room.
"What? Of course, I wouldn't! I will probably just be sleeping in a standard room!" Don't worry about anything!" I said and took a seat in one of the chairs across from her.
"No, this is where the two of you will be sleeping. Mom will ask you to take this one if that monster is as strong as you say it was. My mom was sure shocked, so I believe you," Annie explained, but my mind was elsewhere.