Everton, Town in Kingdom of Stilyra- Early Summer 14 years AR

Andrew was woke up with a hand over his mouth, he jumped but calmed down when he recognized the hand as belonging to Jon even in the dark as the very slight glow of the magic emerald face paint reached his eyes. He could also see Aethred was already up and quietly putting on the dark blue duelist gambeson that had been bought for him. Jon moved to assist as the gambeson was worn like a coat with the right side fastening on the inside of the left and then the left securing with a set of toggles that ran down the right side of Aethred’s torso. The gambeson was lighter than Leofrith’s and only reached a little past Aethred’s waist.

Andrew stood up and collected his fathers bow as the three were dressed and ready, they quietly walked through the dark milking barn turned shelter for the survivors, they passed stalls as they walked, each one housing at least two children and made their way outside. Andrew placed the leather hat he had bought on his head. It had a wide brim to keep the sun out of his eyes but with some help from Erin they bent one side of the hat straight up and secured it with leather straps. The slouch hat fit well and after the modification, Andrew could still draw his bow without his hat getting too much in the way.

Outside Leofrith, Cara, Diana, and Mrs Elaine already awaited them. In the light of the slightly waning moon he could see Leo was wearing his more traditional looking gambeson and a tabard with the crest of House Barling over the top. He and Diana were busy hitching two horses to the wagon while two others stood with saddles nearby. Cara for her part was quietly whispering to Mrs. Elaine, like Andrew she was without armor but the northern style leather top she had bought the day prior would probably do more than his own linen tunic. It was a more modest design than his mother with cloth attached to the leather covering the shoulders and back. In the front it came down in a point only revealing the sides of her stomach and lower back.

“Good morning Andrew,” Mrs Elaine greeted him as he walked up.

“Mornin’ misses Elaine,” he replied and stood with her and Cara feeling a little awkward. He knew the plan to try to sneak their way into the Adventurer’s Guild despite only Leofrith being old enough. After multiple discussions they had decided to try as unarmed on the road would be risky but armed and no way to show they weren’t bandits could be just as so. They waited till that morning so they could leave right after whether they were registered as adventurers or not. He rocked forward and back on his feet not really sure what to do. The plan was to go fully armed and armored but he was already ready. Aethred was helping Jon put on his chainmail and if Cara was here that meant Erin and Jaesmin were already awake.

“Did you find a good weapon?” He asked Cara and she turned to show the Utinum Gladius at her side, pulling it slightly from it’s scabbard.

“Leofrith helped me sharpen it, he said it was good steel but was meant as a decoration in the manor,” she said looking a little awkward herself, “how bout you?” He turned and pointed to the long dagger attached to his quiver on his back. They had both focused on range and hopefully would never need the weapons… Well Andrew was ranged as he was fairly decent with his father’s bow, Cara would be too with a bit more time as she worked on her BOLT spell.

Her along with Jon and Jaesmin made up the main three that could use magic. Leofrith had pulled spellsheets from the manor containing LIGHT, PURIFY, and FIREBOLT. Jaesmin could now cast all four once the final use of HEAL was included. He hadn’t been sure how he felt about the idea of his ma’s spellsheet being used up but it was Erin’s idea and she made a good point. Someone needed to learn it because if Jon was hurt and unconscious, he wouldn’t be able to heal himself. Jon knew all the same except FIREBOLT he turned down leaving one more charge to learn that, Leo had decided to wait to figure out who would learn it. Andrew was pretty sure he was thinking of having Aethred learn it but wanted to be well away from Everton before giving their obnoxious friend the ability to shoot small balls of fire from his hands. All of them except Leo, Cara, and Erin had learned LIGHT but there wasn’t much need for it at the moment with ample moonlight outdoors and the risk of waking the young ones inside the barn.

Jaesmin and Erin finally walked out of the barn ready to go. Andrew took in Erin’s face, she of course looked like a younger version of Hild and now with her face painted in a vibrant blue he couldn’t help but thinking of the only mother he’d ever really had. The paint had faint magical properties and to everyone’s surprise the previous night it glowed lightly all on it’s own. Erin used the same three lines from the forehead and one on the lower lip but she changed the eyes. There were no downward streaks, instead a consistent line ran from above her ear in a gentle curve that mimicked the curve of her eye and rose to a point on the bridge of her nose before mirroring the look on the other side. A second set of streaks followed her jawline on both sides, each narrowing to a point an inch away from her jaw. Finally she put paint only on the upper eyelids.

The two wore matching hardened leather over their long tunics a second layer added protection to the upper chest and acted as a built in gorget. More leather covered their shoulders, they had matching vambraces, and a series of dangly straps that he’d learned was called a baltea. Matching gray hooded cloaks across their backs. Black tights and leather calf high boots finished their looks.

“What the fuck?” Aethred whispered loudly, “Did they give you a deal if you bought two or did you two actually pick out matching outfits for no reason?”

“Fuck you, we look cute,” Erin shot back as she approached the wagon and pulled out a mid sized round shield and passed it to Jaesmin before pulling out an identical one and putting it over her own back. Jaesmin had also reached in and grabbed an elegant but dangerous looking falchion and started attaching the scabbard to her belt. Andrew half expected Erin to pull out the same but she pulled out a shortspear made by cutting down the shaft of a spear from the manor. She did however pull out a falcatta and strap it to herself.

“We’re not suppose to look cute, we’re trying to get in as adventurers not get jobs at a bawdy house.” Aethred grinned but dropped it quickly as he noticed both Jon and Leofrith, one with a longsword and the other with a broadaxe on their hips, the latter propping his woodmaul on his shoulder. Erin grinned as it dawned on Aethred that he had just compared the sisters of the two strongest members of their group to prostitutes. Andrew watched as Aethred missed the hidden threat of Mrs. Elaine walking up from behind and slap him across the back of his head without a word. Andrew covered his mouth to muffle his laughter.

“Come here, let me get a look at ya,” Elaine said as they all finished strapping on their weapons and gear, “bunch of misfits.” She smiled warmly as she took them all in.

“Don’t take too long… The little ones are going to want to see you off and that might take some time itself. Wouldn’t want you to still be on the road come nightfall,” Diana said. Andrew could clearly see her eyes glistening but tears didn’t fall. With Mrs. Elaine flicking her hands at them to shoo them off they departed for the guild.

**********

Jon walked at the back of the group as they made there way through the streets of Everton. They barely spoke along the way, only explaining to the guards at the gate why a group of armed teens wanted entrance to the city. The guards were skeptical that they were all of age but decided that it was the guilds problem, not theirs.

His eyes caught the green paint on the bridge of his own nose as he walked, the faint glow of it taking his focus for a moment. His mother had told him while she got ready for her wedding that as a man he should only paint around his eyes nose and forehead. It wasn’t tradition, more common sense when facial hair was involved. Lacking any other ideas he ran a solid broad line from the bottom of his eyes to his eyebrows in height. It ran across his eyes, nose and halfway to his hair in a straight line. Shorter versions of his mothers three lines were placed on his forehead and another tapering line rose from the band that covered his eyes; starting at middle of his brow, stopping just short of longest one pointing down.

Aethred of course made fun of him and Erin but at least relented that it made them look mean. Plus that if they wanted to be taken seriously by whoever they spoke with at the guild, having two heavily armed barbarians could only help. Jon wasn’t sure if he should take it as a compliment or not.

“Alright, lets go be badasses” Aethred said as they entered the guilds rear door. They walked down a short hallway before entering the two story main room. A few looks to the handful of patrons that were already up at the crack of dawn or hadn’t slept yet welcomed them but no one seemed to care. Leo led them to the counter set near the main entrance that had a tired looking woman sitting at it. Jon noticed Leo flexing and fidgeting his hands as they walked, he wondered if he was nervous.

“Team name and origin?” The lady asked as they approached, it was the monotonous drawl of someone who said the same thing over and over all day.

“Err…” Leo hesitated.

“Your team name and the city you registered with the guild,” she clarified, still monotonous.

“Umm… we’re actually hear to register,” Leo said.

“Huff,” the woman got up and walked into the back room for a moment before returning with a middle aged man. She just gestured to the new arrival and sat back down on her stool boredly playing with her hair. The man gave them all an appraising look, his eyes stopping on Jaesmin for a moment. Jon kept his look neutral but couldn’t help but worry; Jaesmin was the youngest of them all and the least likely to pass as an adult being only 13. The man beckoned them closer to the counter.

“Listen, I ain’t gonna report you but those two can’t be joining, come back in a few years,” he said and gestured to Jaesmin and Aethred.

“Fuck you old man, I’m just short!” Aethred threw out in his true fashion before Leo could respond. Jon cringed internally,” “And never met a pretty lass before? You gotta look old and wrinkled as shit or something to join?” The group held their collective breath and looked like everyone but Andrew was going to hit him. The plan was to play off Leo’s former title and the sympathy of being orphans. It was obviously not in the plan to swear at the person they needed to convince! A couple of adventurers seated behind them laughed.

“Alright, then how old are all you?” he pointed at Aethred indicating only he should answer, the man sounded more amused than angry though.

“Sixteen, sixteen, just turned sixteen, nearly seventeen, seventeen but fuck if I know how close to 18, and the tall bastard and the angry one are twins, seventeen in five months,” Aethred said as he indicated to himself, Cara, Jaesmin, Andrew, Leofrith, and ended by jabbing a thumb at Jon and Erin. Aethred hadn’t hesitated, hadn’t paused, hadn’t lingered on any one person, the whole sentence rolled out continuously in Aethred’s default slightly condescending tone.

The old man studied their faces a moment before he knocked on the counter once and turned towards a shelf along the wall. He snatched a couple sheets of paper and a quill.

“Alright, fair enough,” He said and started scratching some information on one of the sheets, “Alright, you again. Leader and names of all you lot.”

“Captain Leofrith over here, then Aethred, Jon, Andrew, Er-” Aethred listed off.

“Slow the fuck down,” the man glared at Aethred who stopped to let him catch up before continuing annoyingly slow after the man indicated him to continue. More laughter from their audience behind them. The group just stepped back and let Aethred do his thing. Being an annoying prick with a knack for bullshitting his way out of trouble had it’s uses it seemed. The man finished with the names and called off each name to double check then wrote down a note along each after giving them a visual inspection. He asked a few questions like magic ability, if they owned enchanted items, and if they were wanted felons; he explained no one ever said yes to the last one but he had to ask.

“Alright sign or make your mark and that’ll be five silver, either pay it up front or take a job from the board, we’ll take coin from your reward until it’s paid. You won’t receive your medallions until you’re caught up and you have one year to pay it off. You don’t, ya forfeit everything and have to start again,” he said while finishing up the form and setting it on the counter with a wooden quill. Leo dug through his coin pouch and pulled out the required silver. Aethred stepped forward to sign the form but immediately started laughing. Jon stepped forward as well and looked over his short friends shoulder.

Leofrith

Captain-Warrior

Aethred

Warrior

Jon

Barbarian-Healer

Andrew

Bowman

Erin

Spear-woman

Jaesmin

Shield Maiden-Healer

Cara

Mage

“HA! I love the guild already,” Aethred said trying to contain his laughter and steady his hand while he scribbled his name, “fucking barbarian.” Jon looked at the sheet.

“Ahh…” Jon started and looked up at the man who was finishing up with the second form.

“Don’t care where you’re from, nothin’ to do with it,” the man said anticipating his question, “You’re big, heavily armored, and that thing on your shoulder is only good for smashing things to pieces. By how we sort you, you’re a barbarian.”

“Still…” Aethred said and walked away as the man grinned at his back.

“Honestly I almost wrote your friend down as a warrioress but figured any lad that walks around in a dainty gambeson like that is already insulting himself. Not many men out there would armor his navel but not his jewels.” The man said his smirk growing. Aethred turned around and the man added, “I’m pulling your leg, if you can’t take a joke without your face scrunching up like that you wont last long… although I do recommend you getting a leather fauld, a baltea or something like it before long. Now we just need a team name, say something stupid and I’ll put it on there, cost 2 silver to change the name once it’s written down.” The warning seemed to be directed mainly at Aethred.

“He’s not jesting,” a female adventurer called out, the man by her side smacked her shoulder with a look that Jon took as annoyance. He seemed to be looking forward to hearing the stupid names. The group ignored the comment and got in a huddle to discuss, the man didn’t seem to care and instead walked around the counter to get a cup of tea from the hearth.

“So, who has an idea?” Leo asked and pointed to Aethred “Just assume the first two you say are automatically a ‘no’ and start with the third one.” Leofrith hadn’t known Aethred that well but he was learning quickly about Aethred’s temper, his tendency to swear constantly, and his ability to making nearly anything that came out of his mouth sound vulgar.

“Did you just make a joke?” Aethred asked sounding slightly cheerful.

“Maybe something to do with Terra?” Jaesmin opined, “It’s our home.”

“No, not anymore, let the past lie. It’s a new start,” Leo brought up, he shot down the idea but didn’t put in his two coppers either.

“Fated heathens,” Aethred said, “that was a serious one by the way. Already skipped past ‘heroic six plus Erin’ and ‘the ogre and priestess company’.” More snickers from the gallery but they ignored him.

“How bout shadowcats?” Erin asked, “We were originally brought together by one.”

“Technically it was chasing a badger that brought us together,” Andrew stated.

“Shit, why is it so hard to think of a dumb name?” that was Jaesmin, the group stood looking at each other. They had completely glossed over the fact that team names was a thing during their previous discussion.

“Fuck it,” Aethred turned to the man who’d returned to the counter, “we’re the ‘Badgers of the Dain’.” The man didn’t even look at the other’s for confirmation and put ink to paper, it was obvious he really didn’t care. Jon breathed a sigh of relief.

Jon actually liked the name after a moment of thought, he remembered badger they’d hunted. It was quick, mean and didn’t give up until Aethred crushed it’s head. The Dain part brought up the past but not as blatantly as outright putting Terra in the name.

The man jotted down the name and signed the paper before taking out a wooden stamp with the crest of the Adventurers Guild of Everton and pressed it to both sheets. He blew on it to dry the ink and shuffled around under the counter bringing up seven bronze medallions each with a strip of leather through the ring at the top. They too held the Adventurers Guild insignia stamped into the surface. He held them up in one hand and the second paper in the other.

“A medallion needs to be presented in order to accept or turn in any contracts,” He shook the pieces of bronze in his hand, he held the paper up next, “you lose them, you can replace them for a fee at any guildhall by showing your team identification. You lose that, you have to come all the way back here and pay to have it replaced. Welcome to the guild.” He unceremoniously dropped the paper and medallions on the counter and walked into the back room.

Six hands quickly snatched a medallion while Leo carefully picked up the paper and folded it before stowing it away, only then grabbing his medallion as well. Jon walked over to a large board with pieces of paper attached to it. Most were for hunting down minor monsters or dangerous animals in the plains, gathering herbs, cleaning gutters… thanks to Fred it was what he’d expected. The entire board was tasks that could only be turned in at the guild in Everton, so not really helpful to them. A second board was filled with more exciting things, rewards posted by the town about crime or reports of bandit activity on the roads, those seemed more warnings than bounties though. Leofrith had left with Erin to go to the messenger’s guild to check for deliveries on the road to Saena.

“Congratulations, Welcome to the Guild!” The man and woman that’d been watching them approached, “Daren, captain of ‘willow’s tits’ and this here is Willow.” The woman who looked to be in her late 20’s didn’t look happy at the introduction.

“Hey, can I borrow two silver,” Aethred asked, an eager look to his face.

“You’re not changing our name to Erin’s ti-” Jaesmin started, Jon had been thinking the same thing.

“What? No!” Aethred said looking at her.

“He have your team slip? Cant change a name without it, why do you think we’re still named after these,” Willow said giving herself a grope while glaring at her captain, “Well that and we’d have to go all the way back to Valentia.”

“It was funnier when we first signed up, she didn’t have anything there but now we’re keeping it. We’ve worked hard and gained a reputation under that name. ‘Willow’s tits’ are famous in some circles while Willow’s tits are just as famous in others.” the man said the Willow making a mocking laugh and Jon thought he saw Aethred twitch as a false innocent look turned into a smile in an instant. He’d apparently found a kindred spirit.

“Valentia’s down south, right? How’d you know he’d write down a stupid name?” Andrew asked.

“Yup, southernmost point of the isle… and we’ve been in or around for a while; you’d be surprised how often it happens. Most adventurers start young and dumb,” Daren said.

“And most end up old and dumb,” Willow said with a jerk of her thumb, “but enough of us, pick up your first contract yet?”

“Ahh.. no, we’re not staying in Everton, we’re planning to head north,” Cara answered this time, another internal cringe hit Jon and judging from the looks on Jaesmin’s face she wasn’t sure if they should tell their travel plans to strangers either.

“Don’t worry, your secrets safe with us, you could travel with us for a bit, we’re headed to the crossroads. From there it’s straight west to the imperial highway,” Willow offered cheerfully, “Takes a bit longer than going through Saena but there’s more cities and towns on that route.”

“We’d invite you to come with us but cleaning up after a monster attack isn’t the best for your first time out,” Daren added, oblivious to the sudden tense moves around him, “Some little backwater village not far from here got wiped off the map. Talk is the Countess is sending soldiers down there, we’re hoping to get there first and see if we can find anything… wait your from around here, do you know Tora, Terra, whatever it is?”

Jon looked at the others who’s expressions were either forlorn or suddenly hardened at the thought of these two and probably others stealing what was left. The hard part about that is they all knew that the only thing left was jewelry or coins on the corpses themselves, they didn’t pick through them when they stripped the village. While Daren was oblivious, Willow was not.

“You do know of it,” she stated. It wasn’t a question. Cara and Andrew both glanced between him and Jaes. He felt they were trying to defer the question onto one of them. Aethred did probably the smartest thing and turned around and walked away.

“Come on, if you know something least give us a heads up. Something up with that village? Any recent news? Willow and me sat in a few different pubs trying to figure it out. All we learned was everyone was slaughtered and a bunch of kids sur-” His eyes went wide as the looks he was getting from the young people in font of him clicked.

“Old and dumb…” Willow said calmly, She at least sounded sympathetic to Jon’s ear, “Sorry, we’re still going down there. We do treat the dead with respect if that’s what you’re worried about but we need to make coin somehow and you mighta noticed there’s not much worthwhile on the board.”

“So you’re actually, you know, from there?” Daren was greeted by four reluctant nods, “Shit, sorry.”

**********

By midday they were miles away from Everton, their wagon and two saddled horses making good time down the road that went northwest to Saena. They hoped that they could be in Vanheim, the first major city in Ederath, within the month. Their first stop would be in the village of Habernack, it was a good 45 miles away, at their pace and slightly later start they’d still get there before dusk.

“You know what.. fuck ‘Willow’s tits’!” Aethred blurted out from the back of the wagon, Andrew started to chuckle, “you know what I mean! Business? Nah they just didn’t want to travel with us.” The mentioned group had decided Terra was a bust after hearing a brief description of the survivors looting the town. They too decided to head north but would take a few days, they discussed waiting briefly but the Badgers had waited too long already.

“So you want willow’s tits here to entertain you?” Erin asked slyly.

“What? You know what i- you know what fuck it, yes,” Aethred said, he made an hourglass shape with his hands in a downward motion, “not the best looking but least she’s got something to look at… you..” He brought his hands straight down with a whistle and followed up with flapping his hands like a mouth quickly while making faces at her. Erin gasped and covered her chest with her arms.

“Eat shit.”

“Can we not do this again?” Leofrith spoke up from atop his horse, “You two bicker like an old couple.”

“Fuck you Leo and your high horse.”

“Aeth, you shouldn’t talk to him like that,” Cara spoke up in Leo’s defense. Jon couldn’t help but turn his gaze to her. It was surprising to him. She was the quietest one of the group, even compared to the stoic Leofrith and shy Andrew.

“Aeth?” Jaes asked with a grin, she’d noticed Aethred’s sudden annoyance at the nickname, “I like it.”

“You guys call me that and I’ll stab you.” Aethred pulled out his dagger and waved it around, Erin moved away but Jon doubted she was worried about being stabbed. Aethred hadn’t stabbed her yet, why start now. She was probably worried about being accidentally cut or the others retaliating, “and why can’t I talk to him like that, he’s not a noble anymore and he’s a good guy, he knows me… kinda. Besides it’s not like I ever cross the line.”

“Pfft!” The sound could be heard from everyone, even Cara knew of Aethred's reputation.

“Name one thing I’ve done where I went too far.”

“Aethred, you realize you’ve crossed the line so many times my father considered banishing you from the village?” Leo said, anyone who saw him could tell he was serious but didn’t care one bit, “After the reports of the well he was about to deem you a danger to the community and a nuisance. Only reason he didn’t was because of your parents. He figured they at least might stay if he waited till you were 16.”

“Are you fucking serious? Exile?” Aethred looked confused. How couldn’t he know that he was rubbing the people the wrong way, “Name one thing I’ve done that’s dangerous, I know I pull a lot of pranks but really?”

“You shit in the west well.”

“Ewww. Wait the west well? EEEEWWW! Aethred we drank from that! You drank from that!”

“I did no such thing, it was the one by the market.”

“Not any better.”

“Yeah it is, that one’s only used by the vendors, assholes deserved it they kept overcharging me.”

“Man, the overcharged you because you kept stealing from them, they were trying to get back what’s theirs”

“And I nicked some shit because they overcharged and I was getting what my coin was actually worth. They started it.”

“Okay, not dangerous but a nuisance issue instead. Why don’t you tell us of Misses Beth.”

“Yup, that was Andrew and Jon not me.”

“We were eight, we didn’t know what we’d see.”

“You’re the one that told us to look.”

“What’d they do?”

“Got caught peeping on Misses Beth topless.”

“Like you haven’t seen a fucking pair before…. You have a sister and a mother, god’s know I’ve seen Erin’s and your mo-…. Nevermind, no jokes on that, I’ve never seen your ma.”

“Appreciate it.”

“Wait, wait. You’ve seen Erin…” Leofrith said but faded off, he held up his hand and stared at Aethred, “How the fuck did you do that? Was it intentional?”

“Do what?” Erin asked, confused by the sudden turn of events. Judging by the look on her face she was enjoying the roast of Aethred. Jon was hoping it’d continue for a bit too.

“He brought up your… ummmm…” Leo stalled out.

“Erin show him that poor excuse you call a chest so the guy doesn’t have to be embarrassed anymore.” Aethred quipped, Jon thought for a second that Erin was actually going to expose herself. She lifted her tunic but before she showed anything or he was able to even move to stop her, she let go and her hands transitioned into a rude gesture aimed at Aethred.

“That! I asked to stop the bickering between you two but you managed to get right back to the original topic within a minute and piss Erin off anyways.”

“Oh that! That’s just practice, timing, and a bit of luck you brought up Misses Beth. It’s not hard to steer a conversation a bit.”

“He gets it from a lifetime of trying to set up jokes, learn peoples secrets, and trying to bullshit his way out of trouble.” Erin looked smug with her input, she looked at Aethred waiting an answer back.

“Don’t look at me like that, I actually agree,” Aethred said and held out his fist, “wouldn’t be as good at it if it wasn’t for pissing you off all he time.” He shook his fist a bit, not in a threatening way but just to get Erin to focus on it. He motioned for her to do the same. After a moment she did and he fist bumped her.

“What was that?” Cara asked, seeing the strange exchange.

“Dunno but it beats shaking her hand. No one knows where it’s been,” Aethred said making a scene of rubbing his knuckles on his pants.

“Say’s the young man courting three women,” Leo pitched in, it wasn’t a sure thing but that’s what the rumors said. The only one for sure was Mardry.

“Actually there was only the one, the rest was bullshit,” Aethred actually looked ashamed saying that, “Mardry.”

“Was she one of the ones that went to live with kin in another village? I don’t remember seeing her name on the list at the orphanage.” Leofrith asked, it got quiet after that. He looked to Jon who could only shake his head, Aethred was nearly 16, his girlfriend was 16 and the youngest child. She was in the village that night, “Sorry.”

“Were you two thinking of getting hitched?” Andrew turned around from the front seat. Jon honestly didn’t know much about Aethred’s actual relationship, the only thing he’d talk about it was of the more intimate variety. That being said it could have been a fling or it could have been serious.

“Just because you guys probably wont believe me anyways, yes. Me and Mardry were talking marriage,” He looked between Jon, Erin, and Andrew “Your ma was actually helping me out with that… Dont look at me like that, there’s no joke. My ma was too uptight, your ma was easier to talk to.”

“Really? Fuck Aethred, I didn’t know,” Erin said and scooted towards him. She put an arm around him and he put his head on her shoulder..

“You really don’t take after your mom do you?” Aethred said and put his hand on her boob.

“I’m gonna let that go, just this once,” Erin said. Aethred was obviously sad and it wouldn’t surprise Jon if he had actually been in love with Mardry. That being said, his friend was groping his sister, Jon reached in his bag for something heavy to throw. First thing he pulled out was an object wrapped in colorful linen with a blue ribbon. The moment he realized what he had in his hand he tried to shove it back in.

“Hey it’s that fucking thing! Just give it to her,” Aethred exclaimed, he looked at Leo, “It’s some present for your sister, he was going to give it to her that night but you were there too and then..." Aethred followed the second rule of the 'Badgers of the Dain' which was, don't talk about Terra, that night, or the creatures in the Dain... other than badgers.

“Actually it isn’t from me, it just said ‘for her’… The wrapping and ribbon is obviously my mo- Aethred please move your hand,” He looked at Jon and moved it to her thigh, she moved her hand to his. Jon wasn’t sure if they actually had a thing or if it was just them teaming up. It was bad either way for Jon, “anyways ma obviously wrapped it but the note was in Kaden’s handwriting.”

“Knowing them it’s either really sweet or really funny… I’m hoping both,” Andrew was right, that’s kind of how his family worked.

“Hey, stop for a minute,” Jon said and hopped off the wagon when it came to a halt. He walked up to Jaesmin’s horse and held up the gift. She just looked at him and pulled the ribbon loose. The ribbon fell loose and he opened up the linen to reveal a necklace made from the teeth of a badger and a shadowcat and a note. She gingerly took the note and unfolded it while Jon passed the wrapping off to Andrew, holding the necklace in hand. She read the letter and he waited, it was meant ‘for her’. Handed the reins to him and dismounted. As she smiled, Jon felt the goofy grin coming on but fought it. Instead he put the necklace over her head and pulled her hair over it. A glance up told Jon that Leo was okay with it, he looked on with amusement.

Jaesmin fiddle with the necklace for a second with one hand and holding Jon’s with the other. She looked at him with a smile and Jon waited for a thank you, a this is what the note said, something. Instead what he got was a kiss, Jaesmin stretched up and gave him a quick peck on the lips before pushing him towards the wagon. She hopped on her horse and handed him the note, his grin even wider despite him trying to hide it. Her smile and laugh was even more so, she handed him the note and spurred her horse. He crawled on the wagon and it started moving along, he opened the note and read it. He got a shocked look on his face and started laughing. He tossed it to Erin. In their parents handwriting it said:

He’s going to try to be all sweet and put it on you, Do whatever you can to make him look like a dope. -Hild

Boy likes you, enough said. Trust me when I say, there’s nothing wrong with ‘heathens’ -Kaden

The note started to get passed around, first Erin and Aethred, followed by Cara and Andrew, then Leofrith. Jon didn’t care, he was 5 outta 10 embarrassed, 2 outta 10 amused, and 3 outta 10 thinking bout the kiss… It was his first one so maybe more than 3 outta 10.