With Plight agreeing, we take the cart of weapons into town and to the smithy. The dogs following us all the while. "Hello, we have an abundance of weapons." I tell the blacksmith, Balnur, cheerfully.
"Alright." Balnur replied, gruffly.
We brought in the twelve short bows, twelve arrow quivers, eleven scimitars, six javelin, and the great sword.
"These are decent for goblin weapons." Balnur commented.
I nod in agreement, "You would be able to strengthen them, I believe, unless it is more worth while to melt them down and make other things from them."
"Hmph. I'll give you four hundred seventy-eight gold for the lot of it." Balnur grunted.
"Thank you very much." I smiled at him and accepted the payment. I didn't bother asking about the thing I asked him to make as it hadn't been long since I had asked.
I split the money with Plight evenly, as he insisted on that instead of me just giving him the money. "Let's take the cart to the lumberyard. We may need to pick up the other one, too." I say.
We get the cart and look at the square for the other one, not seeing it we shrug and continue on to the East gate. Once there, we take the cart to the lumberyard and leave it.
I mentioned that we still needed to turn in the hunting quest as well. So, we started making our way to the Guildhall.
Just as we were almost there, two older elves exited the Guildhall chatting with themselves. The dogs cowered in response.
Frowning, I try to soothe them, when I hear, "Ah, there are my dogs now. One less, I see. Come."
My body stiffened as I heard him speak. "Your dogs?" I asked, straightening.
"Yes. My dogs. Come." He ordered again.
I tell them each mentally, 'Go to Mills.' Chaser and Theo immediately blink away, going to Mills as I'd asked. Fawn, still cowering, butted my hand with his head, I patted him gently, and said "It's ok. Go."
With a whine, he did as I asked, too. I Mind Linked to Mills to explain to him.
*Sorry, can you watch them a moment? This Elf bastard has abused them, clearly, and I want them out of harms reach.*
*
"Insolent!" The elf snapped. "Where have you sent them?"
"Away from you. You don't have the right to be their master." I stated.
"I bred them." The elf scoffed.
"I don't care." I replied coldly. "We can fight about this outside of the walls, or you can walk away and pretend they died."
"How dare you! They are my dogs!" He snapped.
"And?" I asked.
"I will bring this to the Mayor!" He growled.
"Go ahead." I taunted. "He's known me since I was a baby." A lie but.. He doesn't know that.
"I have their control rod." The elf states.
"I don't care." I reply.
"Let's calm this down." Plight says, reasonably. "You say these dogs are yours.. do you have any proof?"
The conversation was getting no where fast. He could not produce any proof stating he is the owner, and I wouldn't yield since the dogs feared him. He then demanded I pay him for the dogs. It was one thousand silver for each of them.
I stared at him. "Fifteen gold and you leave town and don't come into contact with me again. Or we duel."
He glared at me hard. Then yielded. "Fine. You are infuriating anyways. Here is their control rod."
I wouldn't touch it, so Plight took it and I damn near threw the money at him. The two elves then chose started to leave. Plight put the rod in his backpack.
*Send the dogs behind the Tavern, please. If you see the elves, and they seem to be looking for the dogs, please tell me.*
*
*Thank you.*
Plight and I entered the Guildhall and approached the secretaries. Due to my stated preference, we went to Clara.
She got out folder and logged the quest completion. She then gave us a special quest to advance our Adventure status to deal with a hobgoblin seen patrolling the area with a strange pendant. Noting that the other adventuring group hadn't returned from that quest.
"Is it this one?" Plight asked, raising the pendant I'd put on him.
Clara looked it over and checked a paper. "Yes," She concluded. "You two've been up to things you shouldn't have yet."
"To be fair, we went there because Lana and Ash had been trying to take Thomas there. Thomas is safe because I bribed him to return to town with us instead of going with them. A good thing, too, because both women were unconscious when we arrived." I explained.
Clara sighed exasperatedly, "They were taking Thomas with them?"
"Yes. Tilton has been made aware and they have been dealt with by him." I told her.
Showing stress, and perhaps a migraine, she rubbed her temples and said "Very well. You are now Copper adventurers. You may take Copper level quests and lower."
Sympathetically, I got some dried herbs out of my herb kit and offered them to her. "These can be made into a tea that helps with stress and head pain. My dad uses it.. and my mom said Tilton uses this one."
Hesitantly, she accepted the herbs with a thanks. We took our leave from her, as she took the herbs to the guild cook to, presumably, have tea made.
We went to the guild board once more. I saw a couple of goblin quests. And took them down. We'd do them tomorrow, I told Plight. For now, I needed food and we needed to go get a room and have that questionnaire type conversation.
His anxiety seemed to increase by a lot, as we left the Guildhall. I then remembered the dogs. I thanked Mills again, for his help, and told him I would come see him at seven near his stall. I then severed the Link and reached out mentally for the dogs.
It took a moment, as they can't reply, but with the vague familiar feeling to their mind, I knew I had them. I asked them to come to us at the Inn.
They reached us before we reached the Inn. Sniffing us in an anxious manner. I scratched their ears lightly as we got some rooms and headed upstairs.
I stopped by my room, grabbed the pillows, and told Plight we'd talk in his room. When we got to his room, I fluffed the pillows and set them up in a manner it'd allow Plight to lean back and be comfy and well supported. I then gave the dogs each a bone.
I ordered him to remove his armor, pack, and weapon. I hadn't been wearing armor, so I merely removed my weapons, instrument, and pack. My next directive was for him to sit down between the pillows.
After he complied, I sat directly next to him and cuddled to him, tucking my right shoulder under his left armpit, and wrapping my arms around him. I told him where to place is arms, too.
As soon as we were comfortably in place I felt like all my stress melted away. I'd been touch starved, I swear. I let out a relieved breath, relaxing entirely.
Once I'd gotten settled, Plight prompted me, "So, what would you like to know?"
"You are a?" I asked as a courtesy.
"Just right into the core of it, hm? I am a vampire. Born, not turned." Plight said.
"Do the fangs hurt? Or is it kinda like a snakes fangs?" I gave him a light squeeze.
"The fangs.. do not hurt. No." He replied.
"Are you unhealthy?" I ask, rubbing my cheek against him.
"In what way?" Plight asked.
"Hmm. You haven't bitten anyone till today, that I am aware of, since we've traveled together. Are you starving?" I worried.
"No, I'm not starving. Blood does sustain me, but it doesn't need to be of a humanoid." Plight replied.
"Should you be eating more?" I asked.
"No, I eat quite enough. It would take quite a few days to get me into a state of starvation." Plight answered.
"Oh." I say. "Have you been frustrated with me?"
"Why would I be frustrated with you?" Plight asked.
"Because, I'm mean to others. You're sweet. And I haven't been nosy towards you." I tell him, peeping up at him.
"Not being nosy is perfectly alright. And you are mean to those who need a good paddling." Plight replied gently.
"Does blood taste differently? Like depending on the animal, person or whatever?" I asked.
"Actually, it does." Plight answered.
"What is your favorite?" I ask
"I don't know if I found a favorite, but deer is my preferred." Plight said.
"Why did you panic?" I asked "I thought you were going to leave..."
"I did consider running away. Usually its the far better option to hanging around and finding out the opinions of those around you." Plight replied.
"Have people, aside from your pretend family, been bad to you?" I ask, concerned.
"To answer that question, I feel it would be best to.. Start from the beginning." Plight said. "I was born to a family of vampires, as you may have guessed, we had a beautiful home in the Underdark. My family, even before they locked me away, were never caring.. parents. There was me, and my three siblings. We were raised more by the caretakers..."
He took a deep breath and continued, "When I turned four. The family held a ritual with me and my siblings. The ritual was to see if there was.. some ancient family spirit inside of us. And I so happened to draw the short straw. When it was found out that I was the one holding the spirit, they locked me away, in that very, very small box. I don't know how much time had passed, but eventually someone started to come to the box and would sing to me."
Another short pause, "Years and years went by. But that person kept coming. By that point I was already lost in the hunger. But I could always hear the song. I'm not sure when, but eventually the song stopped. When it did, I gave in. I surrendered myself to the madness. The next thing I knew, something or someone, slid open the box. I was so fatigued, malnourished and my muscles we so atrophied that I couldn't even escape once it was opened."
He stopped and collected himself again. "When I did struggle and scale the walls of my prison all of my family were dead. Their bodies all strewn across the estate. I only remember flashes of it. The hunger was driving me to find prey. I do not know how I did not die."
He had gone silent for a moment, then continued again, hauntedly. "I hunted and hunted and could not find prey in the Underdark. So my addled mind took me higher. I don't know when I reached the surface but when I did, my mind locked onto something that I considered prey.. And I attacked. After I fed.. and was able to recognize what was around me. There was an older man laying on the ground, clasping at his neck... His last words were, 'Why will my goddess not heed my plight?'. Horrified at what I finally saw, I vowed to be someone that helps. I didn't want to be like my family who were cruel and unfeeling. I did not want this mans life to go to waste. I took everything from him. His clothes, his weapon, even his last word. And then I buried him."
He shuddered subconsciously with his guilt. "I learned quickly to keep my vampirism a secret. No matter what I'd done before, as soon as they saw the fangs, they'd always attempted to kill me. So I decided the life of wondering adventure would be easier to obtain. And once I'd gained a reputation, maybe people would look past the fangs."
There was so much I could say in that moment. But I was at a loss to know how to best comfort him, so instead. I told him what I'd told Mills. "There is a noble by blood and actions that I'd like to support. I think you would, too. He was kicked out of his household for being sympathetic towards the poor. He wanted to help the poor who have no access to medicines and make it easier for them. Less reliant on corrupt religious practitioners who need your years worth of savings just to help...." My voice trailed off..
I looked up at him and said "You are a sweet man, with a beautiful soul. People are terrible, though. For every kind person there are a hundred that will rob you blind or murder you. My family are not good people, either. But we love each other and respect each others decisions, even if its not a choice we'd personally make."
"I only wish my family had been, even remotely, that kind of supportive." Plight responded.
"I'll love you in their stead. You are my brother now." I tell him.
"Your family is quite expansive and full of oddities." Plight replied.
I said "I just realized I have abandonment issues. Huh. I'm gonna bu-..... You're older than me...."
"Probably by a fair bit, yes." Plight replied.
"Huh. So you're a big brother. It's your duty to pick on me, and mine to irritate you." I smile at him.
"My job to pick on you..?" Plight asked, "How's Mills doing?"
My face flushed red as I looked at him, "You.. You.... He's fine? I'm gonna meet him at seven since he wanted to talk. Oh, I'm supposed to meet some chatty people through him at some point. They are supposed to be figuring out ways to improve lives of commoners, but they're just 'planning' currently."
"Its good to have a plan before doing something or it could go horribly, horribly wrong." Plight said.
"How many die daily or suffer painfully while they talk? I've been helping people with my pocket money since I was a child while working as a courtier." I replied. "If they are taking no actions, it's the same as a blind eye to me."
"Helping where you can with your earning is fine, but to make a real change to the Kingdom it requires a lot of planning, funds, influence.. It require a lot of time to be able to do it." Plight said.
"I have some funds, and am working towards more. I have a little influence, and am working towards boosting my name. I am constantly thinking of ways to help people and make things more easily accessible. Teaching recipes that can be turned into medicine is one such way. I know I'm lacking. But I'm trying more than talking. Dean used to help me a lot, too." I told him, frustrated.
"Well then maybe your input will get them out of planning and into action." Plight said.
"Do you think so? Tilton would likely say it's pointless. He's been around a long time and seen a lot. Mom never said anything specific, but she said he's tough because the world has been. And of Greggor, she said he's lost." I told him, glumly.
"You don't agree with their feelings on this." Plight said. "You see helping others.. making change as something that is achievable."
"I want it to be worth while." I said. "Do you enjoy cuddles, now?"
"I am far more comfortable with them now than I was." Plight replied.
"Good." I tell him. "You don't feel cold. You don't sleep, then?"
"No. I have no need of sleep." He replies.
"That's kinda like an elf, then. Except they have to at least be calm and restful for a few hours." I tell him.
"I could run for days without needing rest." He says.
"That sounds lonesome and boring." I tell him. "What do you do with your time?"
"Think and pray." He answered.
"Is there anything you want to tell me?" I ask him.
"I feel after sharing my whole life story that I am out of things to share at the moment." Plight replied.
I hummed a little, then my mutinous mind recalled a tricky situation that would be arising. "Plight... I have something awkward to ask you and it is ok to lie." I said slowly.
"Alright...?" He said.
"How good is your sense of smell?" I asked.
".. Fairly decent." He replied hesitantly.
My eyes got big and I sat up away from him staring at him, "Do you... are you.. can you tell when a woman is having her bleed?"
"I can." He answers.
"Does it bother you?" I asked.
"No, it doesn't bother me. Should it?" He asked.
"It smells disgusting and it's a frustrating time." I stated.
"I have heard of these things." Plight replies. "That it often comes along with many physical discomforts."
"Oh yes. Mine comes with tears and aggression. Mood swings." I replied darkly. "The cramps aren't bad for me. But I do whine."
"I hear wine is often a fall back during those times." Plight replied amicably.
I sniff uncomfortably and say, "So, I wonder which will reach my family first, the letters I sent, or Tilton teasing Mother about Mills."
"Something tells me the teasing will get there much faster." Plight said.
"Hah.. I should warn Mills." I sigh.
"About... your family?" He asked.
I nod. "Oh, yeah. One word about a 'boyfriend' or 'special guy friend' and I guarantee this place will be covered in Leonin. They'll want to intimidate him and introduce themselves. And you'll get it, too." I looked out the window then. Noting the time. It was getting closer to the meeting time I'd stated. "I can't decide whether or not I should change clothing." I admitted. There was the hole in my pants where the javelin had landed, and my shirt was bloody from the arrow, and the sword.
"Should probably change, yeah." Plight agreed.
"..Yeah I guess so. I'm gonna do that. What are you gonna do?" I ask.
"I will roam the town and meet more people." He replied.
"That sounds fun. The dogs will do as they please, I think." I looked at them. They were still content with their bones. "I'll go now." I gave him a hug.
I leave him and go to my room to change. I put on a thigh length pink dress with puff sleeves that connects to a frilly choker, the end of the sleeves and dress also have frills, the neckpiece has a gold jasper accessory hanging from the middle. I also select a simple pink flower hairclip for my hair. This time, it's not over the top for this small town, rather, common or modest for a bard.
Leaving my things, except my dagger, the glass dagger hidden in a cloth, and my lyre, I left the room and asked the Inn keeper for the time. He tells me it's nearly seven. I thanked him and headed out of the Inn and to the stalls.
On my way, I remembered that I'd skipped lunch. Oh well. Jack and Fish stopped me just after I entered the square. I frowned, looking towards Mills briefly before turning to them to try and find out what they want.
"What you dressed all up for?" Jack asked.
"I'm not. This is plain." I replied.
"Iffin ya say so." Jack said.
"What do you want?" I said, losing patience quickly.
"How come you done tied up Ash and Lana?" Jack asked. "Can't we all just get along?"
"No." I answer.
"It ain't that hard to." He insisted.
"Leave me alone. This will be a final warning." I replied.
Jack seemed put off by my attitude. "Just cause you're a little pretty for a surfacer don't entitle you to treat people however you want."
Fish said "She's nicer than Little Lady."
I shake my head and said "I'm not nice. Being nice is for those who don't have the courage to be kind."
Jack was gearing up to say something. I interrupted him. "What is this? Low down alley trash type justice? You're trying to make me 'mind my place' and leave those girls alone? Let me tell you this, continue with this bullshittery and you will have to leave and return to wherever you are from. I'm not a simple person to fuck with."
"You just keep jabbering." Jack said angrily, "Anything can happen anywhere."
Mills put his hand firmly on Jacks shoulder, having crossed over to us during the exchange. Whereas I kept my voice even and low, Jack was speaking loudly. "Now, why don't we call it here for the night before things get messy."
"Fish don't like this. Shadow Lady don't do nothing for nothing. Shadow Lady gives Fish food." Fish interjected, frowning. Looks like I have a nickname and fan? "Fish didn't agree to be mean to Shadow Lady. Only agreed to ask what happened with Little Lady and Fire Lady."
"Take your hand off of me." Jack glared up to Mills.
Mills removed his hand and backed up next to me. "Now, now, ain't no reason to get so up in arms. To my understanding, your friends got tied up because they tried to bring a small child to a goblin encampment."
"That'd give 'em character." Jack responded.
"Fish can't agree with that." Fish frown at Jack.
I glance at my wrist, remembering the glaive. Then I shake my head and pat Mills' shoulder "Fish. Your small friends are bad. Why don't you help the guards watch over town? You're big and strong, aren't you?" I asked.
"Fish IS big," Fish agreed. "Fish IS strong. Fish can be guard, too."
"Yes, Fish. you just need to talk to Dulcan, do you remember Dulcan?" I asked.
"Shiny man from gate after the cart ride?" Fish asked.
"Yes. That is Dulcan. Dulcan needs lots of help to keep the town safe." I told him.
"Yes. Fish help keep town safe!" Fish said. "Fish be important."
"Likely. Does Fish think Jack is being very safe right now?" I asked.
Fish went quiet. "No." Fish said after a moment. "Blue man bully Shadow Lady and try and fight Flower Man."
"Well, how to fix this then, Fish?" I asked.
"Blue Man come with Fish, now." Fish said. He then picked Jack up and started taking him to the guard barracks. Jack was trying to protest with a weapon, but Fish dropped him, clubbed him, then finished the journey.
"Poor Dulcan." I commented unsympathetically. "Be careful stepping in like that Mills. It's not worth getting attacked over."
"You think these two would be the first ones to try to attack me? We are a town on the outskirts that has a lot of adventurers who think they deserve a discount." Mills replied.
"That's a livelihood issue, which is worth fighting over. This was just kid grade shit." I replied, stubbornly.
"True. This was some schoolyard nonsense. But I could not just let them stand here and attempt to bully you." Mills said.
"It could have been hilarious, though. And set an example." I shrugged.
"Well instead you've given Dulcan quite the.. show I'm sure." Mills said.
"If he bothers me again I'll beat him and hang him on Tilton's house as decoration." I commented.
"I don't believe Tilton would enjoy that." Mills said.
"Oh, he would. Because I wouldn't be able to get out of being lectured like I did earlier." I smiled.
"You got out of one of Tilton's lectures? Now that's skill." He replied.
"No, it's skilled to be complimented by Tilton, which you have been." I told him.
"I don't know whether I should be honored or terrified." Mills said.
"My mother has been casting Sending to him, frantically, since my departure from home so.... Terrified." I replied giving him an apologetic look.
"I would have to reserve that judgement as to such a time as your family appears to either wring my neck or shake my hand. I would prefer to shake my hand, as I would like to live."
I shrug, "Tomorrow, Plight and I are going goblin hunting. Much like today. May the eventual many carts I end up making find suitable homes." I joked.
"I had wondered where that cart came from. I think Thomas carted it off somewhere." Mills said.
"That's ok. It only took an hour to make, so no skin off my bones. The second one was made much faster. Were you all done for the day?" I asked.
"Yes, I had the stall cleaned up before seven so.. I am set and ready." Mills answered.
"Ok. I had no plans.. if you were wondering. You'd said we'd talk later when I wasn't busy, so I set a time.." I blushed slightly.
"Yes, I had simply wanted to make sure everything is ok. But, since you're here now, I did just so happen to pack a dinner. Did you want to join me by the river?" Mills asked, bringing a basket out of his satchel.
"Sure. I won't push you in." I told him in a sweet, innocent voice.
"And I'm sure I won't try and drag you with me." Mills replied.
I giggled at him as we started for whatever spot he wanted to be at. It was a spacious area next to the wall in between the bakery and river.
Once we got situated there, I offered him the cloth wrapped glass dagger. "Want this?" I ask him.
He accepted the it, and unwrapped it. He examined it for a moment, then said "Where did you find such a fine piece of weaponry?"
"In a hobgoblin's tent, after it tried to gut me." I told him.
"What in the world would he be doing with something like this? Probably got it off someone they killed." He commented.
"Do you know how to get this thing off, by the way?" I asked holding out the wrist with the glaive in bow form on it.
He reaches for it and tries to tug the ribbon strand. "Oh. It's not that simple." He comments when it doesn't budge.
I hold my hand out for the glaive and it appears. When I let it go, it coils back around my wrist. "See?" I say.
"Pop that out again." Mills said. I complied. And he grabbed ahold of it. "Try.. to retract it now." I let go of it and he said "Ah, there we go, simple transfer. Here you go."
I take it back and say, "I should have studied magic items more before leaving. Thank you." He lets go of it, then I do, and it becomes a ribbon again.
"Not a problem." He replied.
He brings out the good for the meal. It was pretty basic, bread, sliced meats and cheese. He had two cups for water, too. He made us both sandwiches and poured us water, too.
It was simple, but delicious. I leaned my head against his shoulder as we ate and watched the river. He offered me some cheese on bread, I accepted it.
"What do you hope for with your interest?" I asked when we were done eating.
"I hope for a relationship." He replied.
"Why? What kind?" I asked again.
"Hopefully a meaningful one for both of us. If it doesn't work out then it doesn't. But I'd still like to try." Mills answered.
"That's not specific." I laugh.
He also laughed and said "Because it wasn't supposed to be."
"I don't know what to do with you." I grumbled.
"Fair," He comments. "If you knew what to do with me that would have made it to easy."
"I know what to do with Dean. Though, I miss his friendship. I do believe his words. And I believe I know what to do about the Desquin's offer..." I replied.
Glancing towards me, he says, "Oh? What do they offer?"
"They're old and lonely, so quite a bit." I grin at him cheekily.
"I feel that statement can have implications, so I am not sure I understand." He replies.
"They've offered to adopt me, mostly when I was younger. They've also offered to add me to their family registry as a Hearthry, Desquin becoming a middle name. They've also offered to arrange a marriage for me with the Heint, Vasilios, or Elmire's sons." I shrug, "lots of offers."
"Indeed, quite a few." Mills replied. "Are any of them something you're interested in?"
"Definitely not the Elmire's sons. They are my parents ages." I smile at him.
"Oh, by the way, the group I mentioned early will be meeting the day after tomorrow. I should say, the night after tomorrow." Mills said.
"I'll do my best to be available," I reply. After a break in conversation I say, "To answer your question in earnest, I'll probably cave to them adding me to their family registry before they pass. But I don't know that I'd enjoy an arranged marriage."
"I have seen some arrange marriages work out, and others go horribly, horribly wrong." Mills said.
"My birth parents married for survival in the slums. My parents married for love and enjoyment. I'd rather do that I think." I replied.
"Relationships like that are harder to find, and harder to keep. But I think I'd agree." Mills smiled.
Recalling Plight's suggestion, my cheeks reddened some and in a quiet voice I said, "You smell good, by the way."
Peeking at him, I see his face is a slight bit red, he then replied, "..Thank you. You smell nice as well."
I giggled and commented "..Adorable." He gave me a confused look, so I said, "You're cheeks colored this time. It's adorable."
"I don't know how to respond to that. It's out of my wheelhouse." Mills replied.
"That's ok. I'm glad to pay you back from the kiss." I grinned at him.
"Fair enough." He replied.
"Besides, being adorable means you're able to be adored. I'm adorable, too." I giggled.
"I agree." He replied.
"Are you a gentle person?" I ask.
"I've learned many forms of combat. I've seen many fights... I've seen people give their lives for what they believe in. But I certainly hope that I can be considered a gentle person." Mills replied softly.
"Uncle and Father are gentle people. I'm a soft person." I replied.
"Sometimes soft is necessary." Mills answered.
"Soft gets hurt, betrayed and taken advantage of." I stated. "I haven't been, yet, because of my Father. And Dean."
"Well, I don't know this Dean fellow. But if he's keeping knives out of your back, then he can't be all bad." Mills said.
"He is a great person to be friends with. He taught me quite a bit. He's considered just a common thief, but he's ambitious. I respect him." I tell him sadly.
"You seem saddened, talking about this great person." Mills commented.
I rubbed my head on his arm a little and said, "Dean has feelings for me that I do not reciprocate. I also refuse to sleep with him. So our friendship has had to end."
"Ah. Doesn't know how to take a 'no'." Mills commented.
"Doesn't know how to move past the 'no' and move on. He actually even tried the 'get her jealous' method." I replied.
"Oh, lord. That never works out." Mills said.
"He helped me.. leave the capital, though. Gave me a quiver, knowing I'd have forgotten to bring one." I smiled a little.
"Well, at least he didn't forget how to be a friend." Mills replied.
"I'd snuggle all night..." I told Mills, looking at him, "But you've a business to run in the morning, and I've goblins to slaughter."
"Indeed I do, and indeed you do. Oh, the lives of such busy people." he said.
I laughed softly and kissed his cheek, "I should make dinner for you the next time. When shall that be?"
He laughed and said, "Well, I'm always available tomorrow night."
"Got any favorites?" I ask.
"I've been hearing of this new dish called sashimi." He commented.
"So you'd like to try it? I can certainly provide such a meal." I replied, "What time would you like to meet?"
"Seven seems to work out just fine." He said.
"That it does." I nodded.
"Let me walk you to the Inn." Mills said.
"Alright." I nodded and stood, offering him my hand to help him up. He accepted, amused. I pulled him up, with his help and he put away the dagger and basket. We then walked to the Inn together and I took liberty of linking my arm with his as we walked.
I yawned when we'd gotten close to the Inn. "Thank you for walking me, I'm quite sleepy it appears." I smiled at him, "Good night Mills, I hope you have wonderful dreams."
He stole a kiss from me as I spoke, then smiled and said, "Now, I certainly will."
My cheeks turned red as I looked at him, "You're... permitted to do that." I commented.
"Then, my Lady, thank you for the permission. I shall treasure it." He took my hand and kissed it, then walked away casually.
I watched him for a moment before entering the Inn with my scarlet face and pounding heart. I went straight to my room, unconcerned with Plight, or the dogs' location at the moment.
After my heart rate returned to normal I wrote a letter to my siblings and Mom. Telling Mom about my budding romance with Mills, as I assumed that's exactly what it is. I decided to put these letters in my bag for now, intending to let the other letters get to them first.
Then, I went to bed. I fell asleep quickly after.