When I wake up I receive a bit of a shock, as the giant silvester Kamas is lying on the floor. Completely forgot about using his room when I went to sleep last night. I sneak my leather armor outside, and dress there as to not wake him up. I expected to be the only one up, but I hear grunts and groans. I follow them to the courtyard, where Atna is doing some practice. Better sneak out on my morning run, would feel kind of awkward running into her now.

When I return, there are a few people around in the main room. "So, that's Kamas, Atna, Larn and Bern in." I hear Bosir's voice

"In for what?" I ask.

"Oh, I got a contract while you guys were out yesterday. Somebody specifically asked for us to do an escort. We need four hunters to satisfy him. I will go if necessary, but I prefer to hang around here in case something happens, wanna join?"

Atna gives me a mean look. It seems she doesn't want me in, but I want the experience.

"Well, yes but don't you already have four?" I ask

"Haha, the more the merrier." His laugh is really distinct, almost like he yells a little on the first breaths before calming down on the later ones. "Besides, that's four hunters, apprentices don't count, so even with you, we're still short one."

At that moment, a rusty voice sounds from the stairs "Count me out, I need rest after that last trip" it was Sirgut.

"Mynie is the only one left I haven't asked yet" a very heavy sigh sounds. "She's gonna refuse though, she has been out with you the last week or so, and she is not a very diligent worker. I'll ask her just to be sure though." he says as he goes upstairs.

I use the oppurtunity to apologize "Sorry old Kamas, for stealing your bed"

"Mind not, I suspect you had only forgotten. It is an issue we have to fix long term though. We're out of rooms, so perhaps adding a bed to Asger's. He seems to think highly of you, so I doubt it will be an issue."

Asger think highly of me? I wonder what part? I want to go up and ask him, but that would be really awkward.

Bosir returns "She's in on one condition: that she gets to share a bedroll with Yos, haha"

Huh? Well, I honestly don't know what to think of the situation with Mynie. She is not really attractive, nor ugly. Or maybe she is attractive but it is difficult to tell. People here only wash themselves with a wet cloth, so everyone tends to be a bit smelly and have messy hair and sometimes even dirty skin. I luckily don't really seem to have a problem with it, though.

Her forward attitude, her scars, the age difference (perceived, anyway) and her lack of modesty are also not really appealing to me. But it is honestly also a little nice to be reminded you are attractive to someone constantly like that. But ultimately.

"Please no" I answer.

"Haha, figured as much. Looks like I'll go with you. I'll pop over and inform the client. We leave early tomorrow. Oh, and someone take Yos to get him outfitted for the trip. It's only three days away, so no need to pack" He orders as he is leaving the clan house.

After a brief talk, it ends up being Kamas that brings me along. I am instructed to pull the cart and follow him. He leads us to the marketplace, where we go behind the association's building to find a peculiar storefront. Nothing is displayed, only a single man I haven't seen before.

I left the cart outside and watch as Kamas recites a long list "A cloak, a backpack, medium size, a bedroll, a canteen, a sparkstone, a carving knife and a hundred portions of cured meat"

"Erhhh, a little less at one time, Kamas" The guy answers. They sort it out in smaller chunks after that.

Seeing all this cured meat makes me think. There's no animals, but the food goes bad, so microbial life must still exist right? But I have never seen someone turn up sick if not for eating something that has gone bad, neither have I seen a fungus. I asked my mother when I was younger why food goes bad, but was merely met with a fairy tale of how God doesn't like his people wasting his gifts, so he curses food uneaten, in hopes we will do it in more moderation, but that would make preservative methods kind of blasphemous, right?

Oh, looks like they are done. All the gear is loaded into the backpack with the bedroll stuck on top. The straps are very loose and there is no adjusting mechanism. Guess I will have to learn it. The cured meat, presumably provisions for the trip is loaded into the cart and we head back. I am kind of looking forward to this like a camping trip.