Apple stirred from his slumber. His idle body and the weight of the blankets draped over him made it difficult for him to move. He flexed his stiff physique and rolled around to cure the idleness restraining him. Once the chorus of satisfying cracks and pops was heard, he arose from where he laid, rubbing his eyes all the while.

“You’re finally awake.” He heard a young feminine voice state.

Apple creaked his head towards the direction of the voice. Sat upon a familiar looking wooden bucket was his young companion: Mula. She stared back at him with a neutral expression that only revealed a crumb of boredom within. In her hand was Apple’s old knife, the rusty blade was being twirled into the tight gaps in between her finger. Under and over; under and over; under and over; with it finally being flicked beneath her palm to start the game anew. Never once did her gaze fall upon the dancing dagger.

“I guess I am.” Apple replied, noticing Mula’s unusually melancholy demeanour. “Do you normally watch me sleep?” He joked.

“No. Mula doesn’t like the people in the house, so Mula sit in barn.” She said, as the knife found its way back to her index finger with an effortless flourish.

“House?” Apple mumbled in confusion. “Oh! Gale’s father’s place. I forgot where I was for a second.”

“Mula’s not surprised. You passed out as soon as we saw the house, after killin’ all them gobbies. Mula got hairy old man to put you in barn. You’ve been sleeping for three days.”

“Three days...” Apple mimicked. Three whole days of sleep after their goblin slaying excursion. The sight of those grotesque creatures, all the fire, the women – so much fire, it all came flooding back to Apple’s mind. “Mula!” He had thrown her down to the ground and never explained why. “No wonder she seems so moody.” Apple thought.

“Yup, three days. Old annoying lady and scaredy girl helped you not die.” She explained. Never once did she move from where she sat ever since Apple had regained consciousness.

“Well that’s a tad embarrassing. I assume that means they also had to wipe my arse and piss, like a baby.” Apple groaned, dragging his hand across his face while he did so.

“Yup. Mula laughed a lot when scaredy girl got shit on her fingers and threw up.” She remarked in a monotonous pitch.

Apple arose from where he sat and stared hard at Mula, his torso completely bare, except for the occasional wrapping of bandages. “Look, Mula...” He began, “about the cave. About me throwing you, I... I can’t say why I did it. But please don’t be mad at me.” He begged quietly.

“Mula knows why you did it.” She so causally declared.

Apple was stunned. “What, you do?”

“Of course. Mula smelled the smells. Heard you shout and gobbies scream. Saw your face, while naked woman laid on your back.”

Apple was unsure on how to respond. Maybe some part of him knew she would understand. Perhaps that was what made him so desperate to hide the scene from her all the more. Apple used to consider himself a smart man but after the birth of the Circle reality had crashed down hard on his intellect, yet he was still no fool either. His small companion was from the slums, born a bastard birth. Sold as a slave to a rich old man of proudly admitted perversion. He had seen how skilfully and causally she had killed their enemies and absorbed the gruesome sights their travel had brought them. Her eyes would absorb the sights with the same enthusiasm one would get from watching a man pick his nose in front of them. Still, Apple clung to the idea of her blissful ignorance as if it was a baby and had hoped to nurture it; he still planned to nurture it.

Apple took a deep breath and sat beside Mula on the large upside-down bucket, his rump just barely managing to find space. “I suspected you’d comprehend what was going on in that room.” He admitted, “but I’d do it again in a heartbeat – I would. Just because you’ve seen horrors that no one should ever have to see in your life, especially for a child, doesn’t mean I’m going to let you witness them again.”

Mula finally stopped playing with her knife, and looked at Apple next to her. “Mula kills gobbies and you don’t mind. Why is that any different?” She protested.

Apple looked up at the barn’s ceiling while he wrestled for an answer, admiring the wooden beams and panels that kept the structure intact as if they were the most fascinating things in the world. “A fair question, Mula - I’ll admit. Honestly, I don’t have a fair answer...What we saw, what we did yesterday was barbaric – to say the least. I brought you along knowing full well we’d been killing dozens of a species of no acquainted quarrel. All because I thought it’d be exciting and a bountiful well of experience to drink from, which it most certainly was. However, while you’re accompanying me, there are still things I never want you to see or do.”

“What if Mula thinks you’re wrong and does what Mula wants.” She questioned, testing him.

“Depends, I guess.” Apple hummed, still staring at the ceiling with an idle kicking of his feet. “If it’s something small, like refusing to eat your vegetables, I’d probably just give you a stern look. If its disobeying something as serious as the women incident... I don’t know. This is tough, Mula. I’m not your father nor your leader. Maybe a tutor - though. Something like that”

“What’s a tutor?”

“An easier question,” Apple was thankful for. “A tutor is a teacher. If you don’t what a teacher is, it’s someone who helps you learn how to do things. Like learning how to read and write, wield a sword, tan a hide, or even magic.”

Mula suddenly leapt from her spot on the bucket and gawked at Apple with wide sparkling eyes. “Magic? You can teach me magic? She cried.

Apple returned her look with an awkward scratch of his nose. “Umm... Maybe, I don’t know. Don’t get excited, Mula. You can’t just learn magic, you need to be born dwimmer-blessed.” He explained.

“Dwimmer?” She echoed. “What’s that? How do you know if you have dwimmer?”

“Dwimmer is an invisible energy that dwells inside some intelligent humanoids. There are ways to find out of someone has it, but unfortunately I don’t know any.” He grimaced, regretting his mention of magic completely.

Mula’s big bright eyes withered and her head slumped down. “Oh....” Was all that she replied.

Apple felt lousy. He had accidentally gotten her all excited and happy again and then he had immediately taken it away. “Wait,” he said, getting her attention once again. “I may not know right now, but I could always learn how to do it. Nearly dying several times has made me realise that I’m not as strong as I thought I was and I didn’t think I was very strong to begin with. I need to get more serious with my training, both physical and magical. But I can only do so much right now... I’m sick of getting stabbed so armour is a must. I’m annoyed at only having my catalyst as a melee weapon. I’m tired of scavenging for food and mediocre clothing. But most importantly of all, I’m sick of only knowing nine spells. I’m going to change all that.” Apple vowed.

“Mula think Apple is strong. You kill many gobbies and even magic fire-man.” She argued in his defence.

Apple simply shook his head. “Goblins. They’re nothing, the lowest of the low. A couple of regular soldiers could do what we did. And don’t shame me further with praise of slaying that Espavailier, he was pathetic. A silver-thumb sucking man of average dwimmer – at best, and so obviously possessed not a single ounce of combat experience in his pot-bellied body of his. Yet even so, I still only managed to best him thanks to him completely underestimating me and also because of you, of course.” He admitted plainly, though he deliberately left out the part about blaspheming the Circle.

Mula was silent for a brief while. An interesting look of concentration was evident on her face. “Kay,” she finally replied. “So, what do you wanna do about it?”

“I’m glad you asked. As well as increasing my exercise regime and meditation, it’s time we went to another city, or at least a large borough. There we can get weapons, armour, and some comfier clothing. Hopefully a spell book of some kind as well. With one of those I can learn how to search for dwimmer inside someone.”

The twinkle in Mula’s eyes returned and her body bounced with glee. “Yippee! Let’s go to city. Let’s go now!” She commanded.

Apple smiled, “not yet, young lady, not yet. First, we’ve got to sort things out here. Also, I want to make this very clear, you most likely don’t possess dwimmer as it is very rare. That’s why you don’t see many magicians wandering around.” He honestly told her.

Apple did not believe Mula was magic born. Though he did admit the chances were not completely zero. Nobles were much more likely to be born dwimmer-blessed than the common folk but that was mostly because nobles had the luxury of selecting powerful mates to increase their chances. Dwimmer users, also known as Hegel mage, received their magic through heritage, nevertheless some anomalies have been recorded throughout history. Apple himself had a powerful fire user for a grandfather and several magicians in his extended family, not to mention his prestigious little sister. It was not impossible for one of Mula’s relatives to be a magician, they certainly do not shy away from brothels, Apple knew that from experience. He briefly wondered if it was rude of him to naturally assume Mula’s mother was a prostitute.

“Kay!” She beamed, interrupting Apple’s thoughts.

Apple shook his head slightly and smiled. “Alright. Let’s go head inside and see if they have any spare clothes left for me.”

With that said, the two headed off towards the house connected to the barn. Apple buried the worries of what might occur when he finally come face to face with Gale’s family deep below.

**********

“Well, certainly wasn’t expecting you up so soon – I wasn’t.” Remarked the gruff gentleman in front of Apple. The creaks of his footsteps while he walked did little to mask the man’s booming voice.

Apple had walked boldly into the household. Only a brief nock before he cast aside the flimsy door was the only decorum he had offered. He was not sure why he had entered the building so rudely, perhaps he just wished have the whole ordeal over with. Although, even with his impulsive intrusion, he marched gently through the house and sought the attention on an inhabitant as swiftly as possible.

“Sorry for the intrusion.” Apple apologised, with a distracting flick of his matted aubern hair. “I thought it would be best to see you as soon as I awoke, Ger.” He added, the name suddenly came back to him when the large man now stood only a mere foot in front of him.

Ger folded his bear-like arms and nodded, “fair enough. Though I’ll let ya know that if ya tried that a few days ago, you’d bin knocked out by me own boot, and not a bunch of goblins.”

Apple laughed softly. While he had no doubt the man was serious, he was not displaying any hostility at the moment. “Oh, I don’t doubt that. Thanks for carrying me to your barn.”

“Ain’t nothin’, you should be thankin’ me wife ‘n’ girl, they’re the ones who healed your sorry lookin’ arse.”

“Oh, I will, as soon as I see them. But for now, let’s talk goblins.” Apple remarked.

Ger let out a small sigh and unfolded his arms, “’iight, suppose we should best get it out the way. Come sit down, lad. The wife will fetch us some ale while we chat.” Ger strode away and walked into his dining room just ten feet away. Apple followed suite and sat on the opposite side of where Ger placed himself, staring at him.

“So, lad. Tell me what went down in that cave.” Ger asked of him.

It was Apple’s turn to sigh this time, he could hear the not so distant sound of someone scuffing in the kitchen. He used the noise to distract himself for a moment, giving him time to collect his thoughts.

Apple told the man everything, although some segments in greater detail than others. He spoke of their journey through the forest with Nick, being surrounded goblins, and escaping through unknown tunnels until they found their foes leader. Apple did however lie and say that he cauterised his wounds himself with a torch. He only spoke very briefly about the discovery of the women and Ger’s fallen friend, bravely guarding the cave entrance from its own inhabitants. Ger just sat silently throughout the whole tale.

After what felt like hours, Ger finally spoke. “After your niece told us you had collapsed right outside our house, me, Gill, ‘n’ some of the lads went ‘n’ investigated the cave. There we found Nick like ya said, along with a pile of the green bastards. My boy ‘n’ a few others even went into the cave to have a gander. Gill said there were nearly an ‘undred of the things, all dea, most of ‘em burned. We ‘ad no idea there were so many, it's a good thing you showed up – it is.” Ger paused, his face momentarily became softer, highlighting the haggard lines of age. “They found the girls... Put ‘em all to rest we did... One of ‘em was me girl, sweet lil’ Gywn.”

Apple could hear the lump forming in the man’s throat and said nothing. He had planned to ask if he had actually saved Gale’s sister, unfortunately it would seem the question had come to him all too easily. He felt sorrow for the man in front of him, yet not as much as he expected to. A small cauldron of annoyance burned his stomach. The people around here knew full well of their missing kin and the vile behaviour of goblins, yet barely did anything about it. All they did was merely wait until someone arrived to do what they should have done as soon as they had first laid eyes on the green curs.

Apple simmered the emotions within himself and spoke, “I'm sorry, Ger. The girl I carried back was the only one still alive when I arrived. How is she, by the way?”

While Ger’s expression was no longer one of deep sorrow, it still lurched from the evident sadness he felt. “Tilda’s her name.” He informed Apple. “Her body will be recover. Her mind... Only time will tell.”

Apple realised his hands were trembling and ached from the pressure of an unintentional clench. He relaxed his fists, fearing that he would agitate the painting of scars and encourage his rage to grow. It never occurred to him while he carried that frail women away from the horrors that the horrors were still lurking in her mind. Although, now that Ger had told him of it, he was not surprised at all. Apple believed that few would have been able to resist the temptation to guard themselves from reality with the blissful ignorance of insanity.

“Will you see her?” Ger asked, while Apple had lost himself in his thoughts.

“I don’t know.” Apple admitted. “I doubt there’s anything I could do to help her.” While true, Apple failed to say that he was worried what seeing the girl would do to his own mental state.

“I understand, lad. You’ve done enough already.” Ger stated warmly.

Apple felt no desire to continue this conversation any longer. “If you believe that, then our job here is done. It’s time for Mula and I to head off.”

“Shame. You sure I can’t tempt ya to stay ‘ere for a while. Give ya a nice cosy life as the village guardian, we can make an appeal to our Lord?” Ger offered him.

Apple was slightly shocked, he had not expected such an offer. Perhaps months ago, he would have accepted the proposal, yet right now it failed to sway him. While the encounter with the goblins had aged him, Apple only felt even more determined to seek adventure and become stronger.

“A tempting offer, Ger. However, I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.”

“And do what?” A sudden sharp voiced asked. “We’re else will you two go?”

Apple turned towards the shrill voice and saw Ger’s wife, holding a tray two wooden cups, full to the brim of the familiar watery ale. “Well, I plan to head to the nearest city and acquire a living there.” Apple mostly lied.

“A city? And do what there? What could you do there to provide a comfortable life for you ‘n’ your niece?” She challenged him.

Apple furrowed his brows, he was not particularly fond of being interrogated by this strange woman. “I can read and write, and as your already aware I possess a formidable level of combat experience. Even such a position as Captain of the city guard isn’t impossible for me.” He replied, indulging in her questions for now.

“What of the road there? You said yourself that bandits managed to take your belongings on the way here. Why couldn’t it happen again?”

“Why are you so inquisitive of my life? I have saved your village for no reward other than the basic necessities of life. Do you fear for my niece? If so, speak plainly.” Apple informed the woman, as he was quickly losing his patience with her.

“Leave the lad, Kat. It seems he’s made up ‘is mind.” Ger said to his wife.

“Why should I? Did you see the state of his niece when she came back? Littered with so many cuts ‘n’ bruises, not to mention the amount of foul blood she was covered in. In all my years I’ve never seen so much blood!” Kat protested.

“My niece is a fighter. She has killed more goblins than anyone one in your village. Yes, she was injured, but those are marks of a warrior, of pride.” Apple bellowed with conviction, more to himself than anyone else.

“Pride?” She mimicked incredulously. “You call the wounds on a child pride? You twisted man, you- “

“Shut up!” A young voice cried out.

All went silent. All turned towards the once silent girl stood at the table.

“Stop saying what best for Mula. Mula likes fighting and Mula follows Apple. Mula thinks this little place is boring anyway.” She spat at the woman so brashly.

Kat blinked in surprise at Mula, while Ger gawked at her with a bewildered expression.

Apple decided it would be best if he was the first to break the tension. “It would seem things have become a little heated in here. I think it would be best if Mula and I left to gather our belongings and prepare for our journey.”

“’Ight, lad. Please stay another night though. By the time you’re ready to leave, it’ll be night. I’ll be out soon to give ya the supplies you’ve earned.”

Apple stood up and nodded, he actually hoped Ger would make that offer, he too knew it would take a while to gather everything. “Thank you, Ger. We’ll see you later.”

Apple turned and left the house with Mula silently following suite.

**********

“Hey Mula?”

“What?”

“Can I have that bronze sword you got off that goblin king, or whatever he was?” Apple pleaded to the little girl.

“But I found it, it’s mine.” She argued, while she examined the new clothing Kat had silently left her.

“Yeah, but you also found that scramasax too. That sword isn’t even suited for you, it’s too broad. You’re more of a stabber than a slasher.” He pouted.

“What’s a scram-ass-sax?” She asked.

“It’s that long dagger you took from Nick.” He informed her.

“Oh. But you also have staff to hit people with.”

“I can’t rely just on my catalyst to hit people with. I also really don’t want to test the limits of its durability. Come on, I haven’t used a sword in years.” He whined.

Mula hummed to herself in thought. Her fingers stroking her chin as she squatted on the ground. “Kay, Mula let you borrow it – for now.” She picked up the alloyed blade beside her and handed it to Apple.

“Thank you, Mula.” Apple beamed. He apprised the weapons balanced in his hands. The blade was the shape of a slender leaf, a little bit shorter than Apple’s arm. The metal was nicked and bent in some places but nothing that could not be fixed by an adept. The stout wooden handle only provided enough room for one hand to grip it. Apple swung at the air, taking in its weight and sharpness.

Once he finished duelling the calm evening wind, Apple bound the blade tightly in cloth as he lacked a sheath, and placed it next to the rest of his belongings.

“So, what now?” Mula asked from behind him.

Apple did not reply at first, instead he gazed out of the gaping hole of the barn. An almost clear sky the colour of a young maiden’s blush. The tip of a peeking sun signalled the eventual arrival of his silver-sister.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m getting some sleep. My body aches and I feel no desire to chat with our benefactors.” Apple finally responded.

“But Mula not sleepy.” She pouted.

“Then don’t sleep.” Apple flatly told her. “I’m not your father, you’re free to wander – but not too far though.” He immediately added at the end of his statement.

Apple stood from where he sat and headed towards the soft mound of hay he had claimed when they first arrived at the barn and laid down. He ignored the feeling of Mula staring at him and quickly drifted off to sleep.

**********

Apple stared at the waning moon from the steady grass hills of a desolate hamlet. He turned to the side for a moment to spit out the phlegm that had been accumulating in his throat.

He had been awake for what he guessed a little over an hour now. He had entered the world of dreams easily but what he found there did not treat him so kindly. Plumes of green ooze the shape of children tormented him with sharpened brambles and lassos made of their own entrails. Unable to bear it anymore, his body freed him with a bath of cold sweat and thunderous heartbeat. With no desire to attempt sleep any longer, Apple ventured out in search of somewhere to relax.

Since Apple possessed little desire to explore this drab hamlet, he took comfort in a lush slope of grass not one hundred feet from the barn.

At first, all he had done in his time was look at the moon with unfocused eyes, his mind only barley thinking about warming his body, as the blanket draped over his naked shoulders provided little warmth. Eventually Apple remembered the promise he made to himself and Mula; he began to mediate. His mind’s eye conjured a bowl, a small simple clay bowl, full of translucent weaves of glowing white light. Once the visualisation was completely, Apple willed the bowl to expand ever so slowly.

Minutes would past and the bowl would only grow the merest sliver of an inch. With every single growth spurt, Apple would also beg the stars and moon to offer their energy to his bowl and become one with the rest of its contents.

At least an hour had passed, yet Apple had only successfully expanded the bowl a quarter of an inch, even that much had caused his body to burn from the strain, knot the muscles in his stomach, and throb his brain horrifically.

“Sir...”

Snapped out of his stationary trance, Apple lurched to the side and gawked at the source of his surprise.

Standing before him was the dark silhouette of Gale. Her face barely visible through the shadows of her milk-coloured bonnet. It would seem that Apple’s shock had too made her jump, as she jerked backwards and yelped.

“Oh, it’s you, Gale. Sorry I spooked you, I was a little lost in my thoughts.” Apple greeted her, his composer immediately returning now that he knew what he was dealing with.

“No-no, I should be the one sayin’ sorry. I shouldn’t ‘ave been so quiet walkin’ towards ya.” She replied, a slight nervousness evident in her voice.

“Don’t worry about it. What brings you out here anyway?”

Gale looked down and began to twiddle her thumbs. “I came to see you...” She stammered.

“Oh,” Apple replied, “why?”

She played with her thumbs and refused to meet his gaze. “I, I ‘eard you’re goin’ next day. So, I thought I should say farewell now. I doubt mother would let me do it then.” She explained quietly.

Apple chose his next words carefully. He had forgotten that he suspected the girl before him might be smitten with him. He wondered to himself how he wanted this conversation to lead. She most certainly was not a beauty, although in this moment he could barely see her features in due to the darkness. She seemed a kind soul and Apple had not felt a woman’s touch in over a year.

While still unsure on how to proceed, he could not remain silent any longer. “I see. Thank you for seeing me, Gale. It means a lot that such a cute lass would take the time to do so.” He boldly declared.

After a pause, Gale sat beside Apple in silence.

Minutes past and the pair just sat gazing at the night sky, simply enjoying each other’s company.

While Apple appeared calm and stoic on the outside, inside his heart pounded and his lungs begged for more air. He felt similar to the first time he had his first whore at the ripe age sixteen. Yet this was different. Back then so long as his sweaty, flabby hand awkwardly handed the woman her coin, she would wear her practiced smile and take charge of the situation, as if it was the best night of her life. Now, it was all up to him.

He took a deep breath and looked at Gale. “Do you like the moon?” He causally asked, trying to break the tension.

She slowly turned her head towards him but was unable to completely match his gaze. “Yes. Tis quite pretty.” She whispered.

It felt as if Apple’s heart from attempting to tear through his chest. A lump clogged his throat and he could feel his legs shake beyond his control. Only the repeated forced memories of the hardships he had endured helped him calm down. With a silent sigh, he gently took hold of Gale’s chin and pointed it at his own.

His eyes, the colour of storm clouds, met the earth of her irises.

At first the two just looked at each other. Apple smiled warmly and Gale eventually returned her own nervous grin. When Apple decided enough time had passed, with his callused fingers still wrapped around her chin, he pulled her towards himself. Closer and closer, until their lips became one.

As the experienced one and the instigator, Apple took charge of the kiss. Nothing but a fixed peck at first; gently the lips rolled and parted at his beckoning. Quickly they became fiercer and fiercer, as their primal passion took hold of them both.

It was not long until the two were entwined, sprawled on the long unkempt grass. Examining each other's body’s without sight; grasping and stroking at the unknown. Apple took hold of her back and held her tightly with his strong arms, massaging the muscles beneath her soft skin with a growing knowledge. This was different than all the other times. In the past all he had to do was lie down and wait for his compatriot to ride him until completion. Now it was as if he was in the midst of a lesson, a lesson in which he was both the teacher and the student.

His new lean body of hardened flesh forged in the hardships of his travels allowed him to move her as he pleased. Her legs were where he chooses them to be, her breasts where he always desired them to be, and his mouth beside her ear, a location he had no idea he enjoyed it being.

“You’re so warm.” Gale admired with a gasp, her own passion began to match Apple’s own.

It was not long until the pinnacle moment arrived, unable to wait no more, Apple took hold of her small curved frame and pinned it to the ground, his large hands pinning her hips. He yanked himself free of his trousers, uncaring whether he tore them or not. With a light stroke of her thighs as he parted them, they finally became one.

Gale let out a pained gasp, Apple regained control of himself and slowed down.

As time went on, Apple gradually regained his past primal speed. Using the sounds of her breaths and moans as evidence that she was ready for him to fully unleash himself.

Fully immersed in the ecstasy, Apple gazed down at Gale as he loomed over her. Her eyes were closed as she had completely lost herself in the act. As Apple was about to kiss her once more, a vision appeared in his mind. A flash. A glimpse of a vile humanoid the colour of dried bile, having its way with the husk of a human women.

Apple shook the picture away and carried on with the task at hand, but then it appeared again – longer this time. More details blasted before him than before. Maggots and flies blurred the scene.

He tried to ignore the images, sadly they refused to halt their attack, over and over again they appeared, mocking him; taunting him.

Apple’s eyes darted around in a wild flurry and he could feel rage and panic burn inside of him. It was not until he heard the sound of a pained yelp that he remembered where he was and what he was doing.

He threw himself of Gale and sat naked on the grass, his desires completely forgotten.

Gale sat up panting with a warm smile on her face. Her pleased face seemed to suggest that she was unaware of Apple’s distraught and assumed he had finished. “That was wonderful.” She breathed.

Apple reluctantly looked at her naked self, “yeah. It was great... Sorry if I hurt you.” He said nonchalantly, burying his true feelings deep within himself.

Gale began to redress herself. “It’s okay. I knew it would hurt a bit. But it mostly felt good.” She praised.

Apple smiled slightly. “That’s good to hear. Forgive me for being rude, but I must be heading back to bed.”

The displeasure on Gale’s face was painfully obvious, even in the vast darkness. “Oh, okay. I’ll try ‘n’ see you tomorrow.” With that, she stood and walked away, planting a quick kiss on Apple’s cheek before she departed.

Apple gathered his things and slowly made his way towards the barn. Unable to control himself, he punched the barn wall on his way in, barely managing to contain the true magnitude of his strength. The old wooden wall bent under his knuckles, but Apple cared little for the property damage he caused. He was having so much fun and it was ruined by those accused goblins.

With no other option, he collapsed back into his makeshift bed and once again attempted sleep.

***********

The day had finally arrived. After an audacious quest, followed by days of perilous sleep, it was time for Mula and Apple to leave this quaint little hamlet.

Apple was in the process of draping a shirt over skin, tunic over shirt, wool jumper over tunic, and finally cloak over jumper. He was gifted no cold-warding luxuries from the Ger family, so he made due with layer upon layer of old patchwork clothing. He was at least thankful that his study leather boots had survived his journey so far.

Apple lifted his travel sack over his shoulder, tied his bound bronze sword to his belt, arose his catalyst to its height, and waited for Mula to finish arming herself.

She was dressed almost identical to himself, however instead of a tunic she wore a dingy tan dress, its skirt trimmed crudely to her knee length so she would not trip on it. Both of her knives were hidden in the shadows of her cloak.

“You ready?” Apple asked her.

Mula gave herself a quick look up and down, and hooded. “Yup.”

“Terrific.” Apple beamed. “Let’s be on our way then.” With that said, the two left Ger’s barn for the last time.

“Oi! Where ya think you’re goin’?” A loud booming voice demanded from behind them.

Apple turned was met to the sight of Ger and his son Gill, standing on the very edge of their garden with folded arms and sour expressions. “Oh, morning Ger.” Apple nonchalantly replied. “Didn’t want to wake you so we thought we’d just be off.”

“You think ya can just walk on out of ‘ere after what ya did to my little girl?” The man snarled, one of his arms was unleashed and pointing threateningly at Apple.

Apple gulped. He was hoping that Gale would have kept last night's incident a secret. Unfortunately, it would seem that wasn’t the case. “Last time?” Apple repeated innocently. “Sorry, but I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit!” Ger retorted, as he began stomping towards Apple, “the wife confirmed it this morning that my girl bed was stained red. The girl then admitted it ‘erself, she did.”

Apple’s mind was a whirlpool of possible responses, none of which he could see helping him right now. “Did Gale tell you this?” Was the best he could think for an answer.

Ger was now less than a foot away from Apple. “Course she did, boy, just said that. Said you told ‘er you gonna marry ‘er ‘n’ stay ‘ere – she did.”

Apple threw up his open hands in a sign of peace. Still he failed to find a suitable way to steer this conversation in his favour. “Listen, Ger I...”

“No, you listen, boy.” Ger interrupted. “You’ve done a lot for my friends ‘n’ family, ‘n’ I’m a nice bloke – I am. So, you marry me girl to keep her ‘onour in tack, ‘n’ me ‘n’ me boy won’t beat ya to death in front of ya niece.” He threatened

Apple suddenly stopped panicking. His frantic twitching and chaotic mind came to a sudden halt. He found this situation strange, awfully strange indeed. It did not make sense to him that Ger was being so reasonable, he especially found Gill’s behaviour strange. That grumpy tree-stump had done nothing during this whole fiasco. It did not make sense that the sod was not currently trying to beat him to death. None of this made sense.

“Sure, that sounds most reasonable.” Apple replied calmly. “It would seem that the girl in question has come out to weigh in on the conversation.” Apple turned his head slightly to the left and stared hard at Ger’s front door, with a smile.

Following Apple’s gaze, both Ger and Gill turned and looked behind them.

“Run Mula!” Apple cried, as he took off in a sprint in the opposite direction of Ger.

“Oi!” Ger roared. “Get back ‘ere ya bastard!” The old man ordered

Apple ran with all his might and was thankful to see that Mula was galloping closely beside him. In the corner of his eyes he could see Ger and Gill make chase.

Apple moved faster than ever before, completely ignoring the protests of his injuries, fuelled by the desire to remain a free man.

The pursuit lasted longer than Apple had expected. Fortunately, the two enraged men were never able to catch the forever wandering Apple nor the nimble Mula. After about half a mile Ger relented and collapsed in exhaustion. The younger Gill managed to keep up all the way until they found another dirt road about three miles out from the hamlet. Whether he gave up due to fatigue or lack of will to kill Apple, he did not know.

It was not until at least another mile down the unknown road did the two finally come to a halt.

“Why did we run?” Mula asked in between her panting. Her hands on her hips to allow the air flow through easier.

Apple took a couple deep breaths before answering. “They tried to get me to marry their daughter.” Apple wheezed.

“Why?”

“Because they wanted to keep me as their guard dog... Miserable bastard almost managed it too.” He grumbled

The two didn’t speak for a few minutes, focusing on regaining their breath.

“Did you fuck her?” Mula asked, once she breathing had returned to a steady rhythm.

Apple’s eyes bulged at the question. “Blood abyss, Mula! Talk about crass.” He bellowed.

“Well, did you?” She pressed.

Apple took in a long deep breath, “maybe...” He whispered, while he played with a knot in his hair.

Mula stared at Apple with narrow judgemental eyes. “Idiot.”

“In my defence, I’m just a man.” Apple argued.

“How is that defence?” She huffed.

“I don’t know... It made more sense when I was younger.” Apple stammered. “Anyway!” He yelled with a sudden enthusiasm. “Let’s go and find ourselves a city. Yeah! City!” He declared, throwing his fist in the air.

Mula said nothing as the two began their march on the dirt pathway they have found themselves on. Side by side together. Ready for more adventure.

Apple turned to look at Mula, “in my defence, she...”

“Shut up.”