_{by jaymamma.}

I surveyed the damage we had wrought. I then looked towards the tower, hoping to catch a glimpse of the dragon, or perhaps hoping not too. The goblins had uncharacteristically given us a run for our gold pieces. Well, almost. Their corpses littered the immediate area. The bugbear’s head was not present though. Ajax in giant form was quite the kicker of heads. He punted it clear over the Rydolf’s home to the south before the others returned to him to ask for a place to rest our heads. Mercarri looked a little disturbed at our actions, and maybe a little more I don’t know perturbed at hearing of our previous feast of the canine variety. This however did not prevent her from being the only one to assist me in burying our horses. The others were too battle worn, or just didn’t share my sense of sentiment or respect towards them.  I considered them just as much a party mates as I did any of them.

    I hoped grave digging duty wouldn’t become a frequent occurrence. If my shield spell kept failing as it had today, maybe I wouldn’t have to worry about me burying anyone. Had the goblins really been that skilled? Their strewn about bodies spoke otherwise. Was it just the fickle nature of some creature that manipulated the happenings of the world through the measuring of probabilities and chance on  some plane far above our own? Maybe, I liked that one. Was it more that my patron was more leaning towards me continuing my onslaught with Curse-Bringer than standing back and laying down eldritch blasts and support? If I had to measure probability I would say that last one would represent fifteen chances out of twenty. \

    Worst part was I now had what was akin to a hangover. I always got them from healing potions for some reason. I spat on the fire that still consumed that stupid bugbear, who’s name I just realized I had forgotten. What was it Clark, Krag, kling, Ah, Klinger that was it. Like a giant troll shart that clung to their asshair braids. A Klinger. Ha, made total sense that had definitely been his name. Mercarri looked at me strangely as I snickered. I Pulped a goblin’s head beneath my heel as I went to step over it. “Dirty , little bastard. Make me drink a healing potion” Mercarri cringed. I smiled “Sister if your squeamish, this is gonna get ugly we are ramping up” She looked down as I wiped the goblin brains off the bottom of my boots on the grass. “Um, I’ll be ok, just actual combat is new to me. I smiled “It’s ok we will get you all broken in. Key word Broken” “Thanks for helping me bury our dead” Let’s gets some rest. She nodded and without another word we returned to Rydolf.

    I Waved and gave him a slight bow of respect. He sat puffing on a pipe which he offered. I sat on the floor next to his rocking chair, and gladly accepted his offer, while Mercarri laid out her bedroll next to the others. Mystic snored, Ajax looked as still as the dead, it seemed the changing into a giant and missing attacks all battle had tired him out. Dare opened one eye to take us in as we entered.

 We passed the pipe back and forth. 

“Do you ever sleep” he asked.

“Some, not as much as I would like”

He grunted his agreeance. “I know how that is.

“You know, we are going to have to do something about that dragon. He won’t be content to just rule a burned out overgrown village, he will just become more of a threat with every passing day”

He smiled. “I was kind of hoping you all would have killed it already”

I smiled back. “Yea I kind of thought that was your hope. Doesn’t seem wise at the moment, maybe the cultists will do our dirty work for us”

He laughed so Loudly at that that Mystic’s snoring paused …momentarily. I laughed as well it was dam funny.

” We will be back for the dragon, when the time is right and hopefully with allies, can we count you amongst them”?

He motioned towards the now empty pipe and pulled out a leather satchel with more of his herbs inside. 

“Sure pack another one” 

We sat in silence and passed his pipe back and forth. Couldn’t help but notice he never answered my question.

#

We sat for a few hours longer, passing the pipe back and forth. We also shared some weird smoked meat which wasn’t  the worst thing id ever eaten but certainly not the best either.

We chatted, bantered more really. It was nice. It had been a long while since I just sat and chatted with someone and the conversation didn’t end with me cutting their throat or pulling out their intestines.

“So what do you think of those cultists?”

He rolled his eyes. “Idiots they stand no chance against a dragon pup”

I then told him about if not for snickering amongst my party mates, the leader would have bent over to uh see my staff.

He looked at me. “You are lovely, I sense deceptively so.. he then erupted into laughter. “How in the hell could a man a “dragonslayer” be convinced by anyone to bend over and take it up the bum.?”

I shrugged. “its a talent I guess I get people to do things”

“ever think about using that talent to get people to do goods things”?

I realized I couldnt look him in the eye when I answered.

“All the time but I have dug my grave and all thats left is to eventually lay in it”

He put his hand on my shoulder and surprisingly I didn’t jerk away I hated when people touched me unless I wanted them to.

“You know that isnt true, i have dug plenty of my own graves, and lamented having to lay in them. Felt I was required to. what did you do after you dug the graves for your horses and laid their bodies within?”

“I filled them in”

“and if you had not laid the bodies inside would the hole not still accept the dirt ?”

“yes but” he cut me off.

“No there it is, just because you dig a hole no matter how deep it is. You can always reverse the course throw the dirt back in, not all holes need be lain in” with a reassuring squeeze he then let go of my shoulder.

“get some sleep, and when you wake up make better choices one at a time.”

I stood. 

“Thank you for having us here and for the conversation, I appreciate it.

He stood and before I knew what I was doing I threw my arms over his shoulders and squeezed him tightly and then for a moment I was that girl I was. The floodgates opened and the tears streamed out.

“Its ok to be the wounded girl at times it makes the warrior that much stronger. I have enjoyed our chat and I have glad to assist you all it gets a little lonely out here now rest.

I heard dare snort and knew that he had been awake and listening. I kicked him on the way to my bedroll. I slept better than I had in a very, very long time..