The next morning Isa woke to the murmur of voices downstairs. Lund had said he wanted to get an early start. Maybe he and Mery were talking. She sat up in bed to see sunlight streaming into the bedroom. It certainly didn’t seem early, but without a clock, who could say?

Isa pulled on her pants, wincing when she saw the long rip on one leg. She’d happily take Mery up on her mending offer. Last time, Mery had cast the spell while Isa was still wearing the torn shirt, hopefully she could do the same with the pants.

She’d fallen asleep conflicted about which path to take. On the one side, she had the Children of Thorn quest, but on the other, Isa now had this official “Get Home” quest. The Home quest didn’t elaborate; it gave no specifics - just go to the temple. Maybe she needed to return to read more in Tinero’s book. That had been her plan anyway, but helping Mery had taken precedent.

Downstairs she was surprised to see Mery talking with not Lund but Wat. The two sat at the table in the kitchen sharing a round of bread and knife, which they used to saw pieces off a sausage. Wat was saying, “I like dogs well enough, though.”

As Isa stepped into the kitchen Mery turned to her with a forced smile. “Look who’s here, then.”

“Hi Wat,” Isa sat down at the table and pulled the bread toward her. “What’s-- I mean, why are you--” She stopped and tried again. “You’re here.”

“Yeah,” the young man ducked his head. “I was just telling Miss Mery--”

“Just Mery, lad.” She shot a look at Isa that seemed to say I have no idea what’s going on.

“I was a ways down the road,” said Wat, “when I said to myself, ‘Wat, what are you doing? Those were the nicest people you ever met in your life, and you’re leaving them.’ So I turned right around and walked back. I waited at the edge of the woods until I saw the light. I didn’t want to wake anyone.”

“You waited all night?” Isa tried to keep her voice even.

“Just a few hours, really. I do that all the time. See what I mean? You care - no one in Deney cares. I could tell that you cared. Once I stopped being scared of you, I mean. And you made me feel important, needed….” He looked down at his lap as his ears turned bright red. “Smart.”

All Isa could manage was “Oh Mery….”

But that was enough. Mery sat up and said, “Listen lad, uh, Wat. Listen, that was…. Last night, that was - that was magic. The magic made ya feel the way you felt. And I’m sorry. Wasn’t nice, wasn’t fair casting that spell on ya, Wat. I’m sorry.”

It was Mery’s turn to be a little red-faced. Isa had never seen her at a loss for words or apprehensive. It was actually kind of comforting to witness; it meant that Mery had a conscience.

After a moment, Wat shrugged his shoulders. He was still staring at his lap, but he said, “That’s alright. Still better than what usually happens.”

That didn’t sound good at all. Exactly how had he been treated in his short life? “Wat?” Isa put her hand near him. “Wat? Does anyone hurt you or--”

“Not anymore,” he said. “I used to get hit sometimes if I messed up. Now it’s just…. They expect me to do everything and never give me credit or thanks.” He looked up and quickly wiped his face. “That orc, he even sharpened my dagger.”

“He’s a half-orc,” Mery said softly.

Wat shrugged again in response. “Never knew it mattered much.”

“It does. His name is Lund, and he’s a good friend. So is Isa. We’re going to Deney. Are you aiming to come with us? We could use your help with Thorn. No magic I’m using on you now. For true, we could use a good lad like yourself.”

“I’m not going to Deney with you,” Isa blurted out. “I need to go to Bywater first. I can - I can meet you in Deney, for sure, but I have to go to Bywater first.”

“That’s just fine, then. Wat and I will have a chance to get to know each other.” Mery smiled at Wat, but the smile faltered a little as she looked at Isa.

“It’s not…. It’s not anything,” Isa said. “I mean it is. It’s a quest. It has to do with my home, my world. But I will help you. I want to know you-- I mean help. You.” Isa felt her own face get hot. What a group they were - the blushing gang.

“Well, that’s good then.” Mery knocked once on the table. “And I owe you a mending or two. Wat, have you seen much magic, lad?” Mery pointed at Isa. “I promised this pretty lady that I would fix her torn pants and the bracer that a gnoll tried to chew off. You can help.”

“Yeah, sometimes I get to watch the spellcasters but not usually.”

“Do you have the touch yourself? Any magic in ya?” Mery asked.

“I don’t think so,” Wat said, but he reached into his jacket pocket and handed Mery his notebook.

Isa couldn’t help herself; she scooted her chair closer to Mery so she could see the young man’s notebook. He was a rogue, which made sense to Isa, given his line of work, and a level 2. That seemed about right for his age. His numbers surprised her, though. She’d assumed that everyone was more skilled than she was, but what she saw was this:

STR 11

DEX 12

CON 12

INT 10

WIS 10

CHA 10

“You’re good and healthy,” said Mery. “That’s fine.” She handed back his notebook. “But what do you want to do? With your age and your base, you can do anything. What’s it to be?”

Wat mumbled something, and as one Isa and Mery leaned forward. “What was that?” Isa asked him.

“I said I like singing. I don’t know; sometimes I sing to keep myself company, I guess.”

“So you’re thinking bard, then?” Mery asked.

Wat shrugged and blushed again.

“I’m a bard,” Mery said. “Did I tell you that? Grew up in the theater, singing, acting. It’s a fine life - especially for one like yourself that’s used to the hard road. But I won’t lie to you, Wat. It’s a long journey you’d have in front of you. A year or maybe 2 of studying. Bards, they need good charisma, yeah? You have to be able to hold someone’s attention, speak from the heart, lie with complete confidence.” She wiggled one eyebrow. “That takes practice, lad. Trust me.”

“Are you, uh are you lying now?” Wat asked, and Mery and Isa both burst into laughter.

“Good on you, lad. Well done.” Mery’s voice held admiration.