Chapter Twelve

**Matters of Truth and Ignorance**

Vanna shuffled out of the door, bound in her cloak. Despite a day warmed by the sun and good feelings, it was still late fall, and with the setting sun came a blistering night of frost and chills. Jason coughed and he saw a wisp of mist as his breath condensed upon exiting his mouth. He shut the door behind him and wrapped his own cloak tightly around himself. “What does Trent need help with?” Vanna asked from beneath her hood.

Instead of answering Jason nodded forward and said, “come on this way.”

Toward the town center, the party still raved. The cook fires had been transformed into bonfires, and the villagers were trying hard to empty Annabel’s barrels of ale. In the alleyways, murmured sounds of love and lust giggled into the street making it hard for Jason to find somewhere discrete to talk to Vanna.

“Jason,” Vanna said.

“It's just this way,” he replied turning into a silent alley praying that he wouldn’t stumble upon entwined lovers. He turned to his companion and even in the dark of the alley and the shadow of her hood he could see the wide grin on her face.

“You didn’t need to take me all the way out here Jason,” Vanna whispered playfully but void of any promiscuity. “I’m guessing Trent isn’t the one that needs help,” she continued accusingly.

“Vanna,” Jason said seriously hoping it would evaporating any assumptions she had made. The air cooled around them and Jason could feel her smile slacken. “Sorry, it's important and I couldn't tell you in front of Eliza.”

“What is it?” Vanna asked her voice heavy with concern.

“I’m guessing Jule hasn’t spoken to you yet?”

Vanna shook her head, “no.”

Jason sighed, “apparently whenever we're off in Laxtar, Eliza sneaks out to the forest at night.”

Vanna's hands moved to her face and she groaned. “I knew we should have told her the truth about her husband from the beginning,” she muttered.

“I think it's too late for that,” Jason whispered back. The mouth of Vanna’s hood focused on Jason and he could feel the weight of her gaze sinking onto him. “Vanna,” he cried, “imagine what she’d do. How would she ever trust us?”

“Trust us? We're talking about her dead husband here," Vanna growled back. She groaned then slackened her body, "What are we going to do then?”

“She needs closure,” Jason said.

“Obviously," Vanna whipped back. "But how?”

Jason reached out a hand and gently grabbed Vanna’s wrist. Vanna twisted her arm for a brief moment but let Jason keep ahold of her. "You know what it's like to lose a spouse,” he said. Vanna’s arm stiffened but she didn’t reply. Jason looked at her hood trying to find some sigh hidden within it but all he could do was wait for her response.

“It been so long,” Vanna’s voice cracked, “but sometimes it still feels like yesterday.” She went quiet again and lowered her head so that all Jason could see was the top of her head. He squeezed her arm then released it. “What’s your plan?” Vanna finally asked softly.

Jason tugged his cloak around himself as a strong gust blew on them. “I worked out a deal with Annabel today. She’s going to need building materials for her projects and I’ve got an empty wagon coming home from Laxtar. We worked it out so that she’ll pay me two silvers for every cartload of materials I bring to Finchead. The thing is though, Ronan is going to travel with us tomorrow to work out what we need with the suppliers.” He paused a moment to let her take in the information then continued. “We both know traveling alone is dangerous especially though the forest, but tomorrow there will be three of us. My idea was that you’d leave Finchead with Ronan and me tomorrow like normal and travel through the forest with us. However, once we are through the forest you go back towards Finchead and wait on the edge of the forest until night. When you see Eliza coming you would then follow her and see what she’s doing.”

Vanna’s hood doesn’t move. “But what do I do from there?”

Jason shrugged and hoped he didn’t come off as callus. “Vanna you’re closer to her than I am. I think you’ll be able to figure out how to get to her better than I ever would.” He sighed, “and if telling her the truth about her husband is what you think is best for her,” he paused and nodded, “then I trust your judgment.”

Vanna continued to look to the ground. “I’ll think about it.”

“Thank you, Vanna,” Jason said reaching out to her again but cut short just before he grabbed her. “We have to realize,” Jason said seriously, “we are all she has. I know it hasn’t been that long but it’s the truth.”

Vanna nodded but didn’t offer a comment. “Let's go back before she gets suspicious.

*****

When they returned they found Eliza curled up by the fireplace with a book. She greeted them with a warm smile and Jason felt relieved as it seemed she didn’t assume a thing. However, she asked what Trent needed help with and he hurriedly made up a story that one of the guards went missing and was quickly found asleep in a nearby alleyway. He hadn’t convinced himself, and by Vanna’s raised eyebrow the story didn’t seem to convince her either, but Eliza accepted it and didn’t probe any further.

“Vanna told me you wanted to have a meeting tonight,” Eliza said then set her book by her side.

“Yeah,” Jason said and moved to sit on a stool. Vanna refilled her cup then relaxed into her own seat. “Seeing the Lady Annabel set up shop in Finchead made me realize that we need to have a plan for the future.”

Eliza cocked her head to the side in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Sorry,” Jason said. “Trading wool is fine and all but we need a plan on how to grow. As it is now were getting by but our growth is at a snail’s pace. Without you guys,” he said nodding to each of them, “I wouldn’t be able to do any of it. So I thought we could sit down and all talk about what we want in the future and come up with a plan.” He looked to Vanna, “I have a letter of recommendation and I’m going by a bank in Laxtar and hopefully get a loan or line of credit tomorrow. I think the only way for us to thrive is to expand. Not just in selling wool, but other ventures.”

“Jason you already know my goal is to be a monster hunter,” Vanna said. “I’m still far away from even starting that journey, but for now as long as you pay me good that's all I care about.”

“I just want to start raising pigs again,” Eliza said. “I don’t have dreams beyond having a herd again and maybe my own home.”

“You’re the dreamer here, Jason,” Vanna remarked. Jason looked at her in shock then saw that Eliza was slowly nodding in agreement.

“Jason,” Eliza said nervously, “may I say something?”

“Of course,” Jason said immediately, excited to hear what she had to say.

“Well,” she paused, “from what I’ve seen you’re not focused.”

Vanna nodded, “you’ve got your eye on this burnt down inn for some reason when you should be getting your wool business straight.”

“Right,” Eliza agreed.

They’re right, Jason thought. I’ve been worrying about this inn when I don’t have the money to even begin thinking about it. “I’m serious about rebuilding the inn. I think it would be a great base for us,” he added weakly. Vanna stared at him and stifled back a laugh. Jason lowered his shoulders, “but you guys are right. There is no point wasting my time dreaming about it while I’m still sorting out trying to sell wool.”

“I think the inn is a great goal Jason,” Eliza offered, "but for the future."

“Thanks,” he replied. “But for now I’m going to put it on the back burner until the money starts coming in.”

“What are you going to use this loan for?” Vanna asked.

“It all depends on how much they'll offer me and on what terms. But if it all works out, first,” Jason said, “I’m going to buy some more pack animals and another cart or two.” Vanna raised an eyebrow and knew immediately what she was thinking. “Then, we’re going to need to start looking into hiring another guard and a driver or animal handler. Vanna, I know you know a little about animals,” he said and the warrior snorted at the understatement, “but I think you would benefit more by leading any guards we hire in the future.”

Eliza looked around the room warily, “Jason? Where are we going to keep two extra people?”

“I was thinking that we could hire the new people from Finchead,” he said. “That way they’re not complete strangers and hopefully they have somewhere to stay at night. Vanna," he said looking at the woman, "maybe you can find the new guard. You seem to know most of the warriors in town."

“I like the idea, but I better be getting a raise," she laughed. "But seriously, going back to Eliza's point, what about the animals?” Vanna said. “The town barn is already cramped with Skippy, Juno, Annabel's animals,” she stressed, "let alone Byron's goats. I don't think we could even fit another chicken in there until Annabel builds her own stable."

Jason grimaced, “I realized. Which is the next part of my plan. I like our little cottage but I don’t plan on staying here for long.” Both Vanna and Eliza nodded in agreement. “My dream was that we’d have the inn but obviously we decided against that. I think we need to look into buying or renting a barn or warehouse to store our animals and gear. Something like Jon's warehouse.”

"It probably the next natural step," Vanna agreed, "we've been here for barely a week and we're already cramped."

"But even if we get all the things we need it all comes down to selling enough wool to pay your guys' wages, rent, and principle and interest on the loan," Jason said. The thought of a long caravan train came to mind and at that point that in this world just as on Earth, scale was the only way to increase profits. Lets just hope we don't get too big too fast, Jason thought. In his heart, he knew that his restaurant chain had grown too big too fast, at least for him. If the buyout deals hadn't started to appear how he and his little team would have handled the exponential expansion their business saw.

“This is a lot,” Vanna said.

“I know,” Jason replied, “but if we want to start growing we’re going to need to make some moves. And,” he paused, “I have a feeling Finchead is going to expand in the future, and with that comes competition.”

*****

Day Fifteen

Jason woke up the next morning and realized he made a foolish mistake. While he had coordinated with Annabel that he would travel with Ronan, he had never informed them that he typically left Finchead early in the morning, preferably before dawn. Based on their lateness the day before, Jason was worried about how he would find Ronan that morning.

“Vanna,” he called out. There was a soft groan from the women’s room and he hoped he hadn’t woken up Eliza. We can’t waste time, Jason thought to himself as he hastily readied himself, I have too many things to do today to have a slow start. “Vanna,” Jason hissed softer.

Finally, the woman poked her head through her curtain door. “Jason,” she groaned, “it's early.”

“I know,” he replied while pulling on a boot. He noticed pieces of leather starting to peel off the shoe and quickly checked its durability to find it was barely over 25%. I guess traveling every day would do that, he thought then remembered that Vanna was still standing by. “Oh sorry,” Jason said, “my ah boot, it's…”

Vanna waved her hand cutting him off, “what’s the matter”

“I forgot to tell Ronan that we’re leaving early,” he said as he slipped on his other boot. “Meet me at Jon’s in ten minutes alright,” then he got up and rushed out the door.

Jason had no doubt that Ronan was in Byron and Jule’s cottage with Annabel and rushed there rather than the tent that had been erected for the rest of Annabel’s entourage. Jason rounded the last street corner and to his surprise watched Ronan walk out of the cottage fully dressed and ready. Jason’s footsteps must have been loud as the man turned in his direction, frowned, then grinned. “What took you so long?” Ronan asked with his arms raised. Jason was dumbfounded as a servant came round the building with Ronan’s pony. “I saw you hadn’t readied your donkey so I had the stable hands groom him and get your cart ready.”

“Thanks,” Jason mumbled and watched as another stable hand brought Skippy round from the barn.

“Think nothing about it, my friend,” Ronan beamed.

“I’ve got to load up on wool but that shouldn’t take more than a few minutes then I’ll be ready to leave,” Jason said to the now mounted Ronan.

Ronan shrugged and replied, “all right I’ll be waiting some more than,” then he kicked his pony forward and rode towards the edge of town.

Jason grumbled but headed to Jon. Vanna was there before him and he filled her in on Ronan’s punctual arrival. Vanna had decided to try riding Juno that day and had the pony ready beside her. The animal still looked too weak for any more than a light trot but it was longer sickly like the first time Jason met the animal.

Jon loaded Skippy’s cart then the companions headed out and met Ronan. As they approached him, the builder was like a statue upon his horse, staring at the eastern horizon before them as the sun slowly rose above the trees. “Beautiful,” he muttered once and then a moment later again and Jason thought for a moment that he could see a tear run down Ronan’s cheek.

Vanna coughed, causing both Ronan and Jason to jump. The builder looked back at them. “It looks like you’re ready,” he said then his pony started forward.

Jason looked to Vanna and nodded at her. The woman nodded back, she knew what awaited her in the forest.