"So, The town is Melsbrook, an hour west?" I asked Tom, and he nodded.
"Yeah, you should have no problem finding the place; just follow the road. The two is bigger than Brackfield here, but the inn is at the center of town," Tom explained, but then something strange happened, and the world started to tremble.
[Goddess Jessel of The Dragon Claw has renounced her position presiding over this world, choosing to return to the Mortal Realm as a mortal with a Minor Heroes Blessing.]
[God Gaston of The Two-Headed Vipersnake has returned as God of this world, his blessing already seeded to The Nameless God.]
My eyes nearly dropped out of my head as I read the golden text in my vision, and I could tell I wasn't the only one surprised by it.
"Well, look at that! Your buddy is back in power! Wonder what happened up there?" Tom asked, but I needed to know.
"Where is your God's Tear?" I asked and then said, "I need to find out why that witch is coming here! That doesn't make sense why she would give up her immortality! Damned crazy woman!"
"Don't have one here. The nearest will be in Melsbroek, so you will have to ask Charles when you get there. That's the owner of the inn," Tom explained, and I nodded.
"I guess I will have to do that," I said, still thinking about Jessel.
"Well, John should have the wagon loaded by now. Thanks for doing this. I would have had a helluva time trying to explain this to the town," Tom laughed.
I nodded and exited the inn, heading to the back where the stable was. John was back there using two planks to roll a barrel into the wagon.
I ran over and helped him push it the last bit, and then we hopped up into the back, standing it up.
"Thanks, these barrels didn't get any lighter with you changing them," John said to me with a slight chuckle.
"No problem. Thanks for getting the rest loaded up," I replied, and John nodded as he tied the crates and barrel down for me.
"No problem. Better than having everyone get angry because we ain't got no booze," John laughed as he got the last knot tied.
I, as a Bard, was curious about John and hadn't really talked to him much. I decided that I would take this time to try to get to know him a bit better since I already had him talking.
"So, I hear you are a Bard and a pretty good singer!" I said, remembering him singing the night before when he had helped in the kitchen.
"Oh, yeah, I do a bit of that and some instruments," John replied, not looking at me.
"That is pretty amazing. I can't sing or play an instrument, and I have the audacity to call myself a Bard like you!" I laughed, but then John looked up at me thoughtfully.
"You can talk to people, and they all listen to every word you say! You can tell a simple story and have everyone in the room at the edge of their seats! I have seen it! Do you know how many people my father will say more than one word to?" John asked me intently, staring up at me.
"Hmm? You think so?" I asked, and John nodded.
"I wish I could have the same conversations that you had with him, but just like Anne, I get frustrated and nervous around him," John sighed, but I was confused.
"Wait! You and your family call her Anne, but she goes by Annie? What is that about?" I asked, and John rolled his eyes, which surprised me because he didn't seem like the type.
"Her full name is Annella, but she doesn't like it. So, we call her Anne, and she tolerates it but prefers Annie, but not for us to call her that. My sister is a very confusing girl, so good luck with her," John chuckled, and I nodded, slapping John's shoulder.
"Well, how about this! Tonight, you and I will take the stage? Afterward, we can have a drink with your father. It might help you feel a bit less nervous if I am there, right?" I asked, and John's eyes went big.
"You would really do that for me?" John asked in surprise, and I nodded with a grin.
"Of course! Plus, I want to see if my storytelling is really a thing, and you can play the background music to set the tale. Sound good?" I asked, and John nodded emphatically.
"Thank you! I will get my instruments tuned for your return!" John said with excitement that even seemed to surprise himself as he quickly calmed down before hopping from the wagon and running back inside.
I turned to the front of the wagon and sat down on the long seat, picking up the reins for the single large horse that was attached, but then dropped them. I hopped down and walked over to the horse, rubbing my hand on the mare's side.
"Good girl, let me check those shoes before we get going," I whispered near the horse's head and then tapped on one of her front legs.
The horse lifted it from me, and I turned the hoof up, but the shoe was in good shape. I walked around the horse and checked the other hooves before hopping up into the wagon, thinking about my interaction with John.
The boy just needed a little push, and he would gain the confidence that he needed in time. I would give him a bit of a hand with that tonight, but for now, I needed to head to Melsbrook.
"Let's go, girl. We have a bit of a ride before your next water break, so we best be getting a move on," I called to the mare, and she bobbed her head and started moving without me touching the reins.