It was approaching the city that I became aware of an uneasy feeling, we were being watched. I couldn't see anyone or anything suspicious, it was just a feeling. The city was a short diversion from the planned route and would be a good source of supplies. Lis had helped us to communicate with a priestess at Xeothea's, securing us a place to stay the night, plus Isabelle could collect her new armour.

  She had placed an order for a darker set as soon as she had seen my impressive new field medic armour. Just thinking about it, I couldn't help but admiringly glance at my more heavily armoured left arm, with a samurai inspired shoulder shield and small leaf shaped buckler on my wrist. Tuana had deliberately used thicker steel on my right arm's vambrace, to balance the weight of the surprisingly, allround quite lightweight armour.

  Our party slows approaching the gates of Xeothea's. Vigilant guards in rebuilt watch towers, had spotted us. The gates opened and we rode straight in, the gates closing behind us. It was perhaps some Xeothea sentries that had caused the feeling?

  Any sense of unease is forgotten upon seeing Tuana. As soon as the carriage stopped I leapt off. My run to her is halted by Gwendoline who took hold of my collar, pulling me to the side. Tuana shrugged as I looked at her puzzled.

  "I read that letter you asked me to pass to Tuana." Gwendoline stated in a hushed but fierce voice.

  "Hey! You weren't—!" Gwendoline dismissed my protest with a wave.

  "Lucky I did. In one word— Pathetic. Listen to me Harvey, I think you may be a little naive, so I'll tell it to you straight.

  Tuana is a little older than you, plus she is a sister of Xeothea's. She does not need you telling her what she should or should not do. She does not need some valiant knight to rescue her. So if you're to court her, heed my words, and let your next words be 'thank you Gwendoline for burning the letter', understand?"

  I looked into her eyes, seeing sincerity. I respected Gwendoline, and couldn't deny my mostly solo life of killing, had hardly set me up to know much about women...

  "Thank you Gwendoline for burning the letter."

  I walked over to Tuana who is helping equip Isabelle with her new armour. Not knowing what I could get away with, and Tuana clearly not knowing what to expect, we awkwardly almost headbutted as I went to kiss her on the cheek, and she went for a closed mouth kiss. We chuckled, hugging tightly.

  Isabelle huffed, getting Tuana to snap her attention back.

  I took out and passed the pieces of armour from a sack as Tuana fitted them. As we're equipping Isabelle, Tuana asked about our mini caravan. I surmised everything.

  Isabelle, and I, admired her new dulled, dark grey, medium armour. Topped by a sleek, simple helmet, with a small brim over the brow. A detachable grill like, mouth and nose cover and slight fishtail over the back of the neck.

  The vambraces had a row of rounded bumps running down the middle, for catching and trapping blades. Tough leather, fingerless gloves with metal backplates, over the knuckles, formed metal plates, plus scales just below each second knuckle— I would not want to be punched by them.

  The chest and back were a blend of solid plates and darkened chainmail for maximum flexibility. I stopped gawking and gave Tuana a side hug, while heaping generous praise. My armour was great, however, she had clearly learnt and improved having made it. Isabelle's was awesome, plus in a stealthy, dark scheme, I unfortunately could not allow myself.

  Tuana cleared her throat and nodded, looking at me and Isabelle. She got both our attention.

  "I want to join your quest." She stated.

  I hesitated remembering what Gwendoline had said, thankfully Isabelle beat me to it.

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  "I thought you had a special black smithing course to attend?" Isabelle asked.

  "It's held every year, plus... I might not need it. Harvey I tried Ilmarinen's apron on and, well... I am now apprentice to Arch Blacksmith Ilmarinen, in ghost form."

  A lot to take in, I stepped back, shaking my head, half smiling.

  "And I can defend myself even better now! Watch this!" Tuana took out a blacksmithing hammer, it looked familiar to me...

  She gestured, making us follow her over to a nearby target range.

  She paused, closing her eyes. When they opened, they glowed with spiritual energy. She raised her hammer, Ilmarinen's ex hammer, then swiftly lowered it. A fiery hammer shaped magic construct flew toward the target. It burst into flames.

  "Tuana!" Melody proclaimed, I hadn't noticed her nearby. She jogged over and blasted the wood and hay target with magically summoned water, dousing the flames.

  "Sorry! Thank you!" Apologised Tuana.

  After some discussions, it is agreed she could come. Turns out she had her own horse, a very sturdy Shire, which could handle her, her pack and a very trimmed down, on the go, blacksmithing kit. While it wasn't built for speed, Tuana assured us that, should there be trouble, she'd cut loose the extra weight and Sanara the horse, could gallop quite fast.

  . . .

  The next day we were able to leave earlier than planned. Generous as always, Gwendoline had got us all the dried and preserved foods we needed.

  "Wait!" Raquel raced towards us, waving about a small blanket.

  "Please, something to protect the baby!" She called out. I could have cried at how amazing Raquel was.

  "Thank you, this is... amazing, thank you." Said Amanda, immediately wrapping Anam in the baby blanket.

  "Soon as I heard of your journey I dug that out, spent yesterday refreshing the protective magic in it." She said matter of factly, as though it wasn't an extremely kind act for a stranger.

  "Thank you, Rachel was it? I will cherish this, thank you."

  "It's Raquel, and don't you fret, just get that child safely home!" Raquel turned sharply away, needing no further thanks, she headed over to me.

  "I didn't catch you at the dinner yesterday, that healing mist you taught me... Ooo, I love it! Please take these inventions of mine, they are pre-made healing mist grenades. Enough to fill a large room." She said, handing me two earthenware, egg shaped devices with metal caps, each had a ring pull pin.

  "Impressive, thank you! Raquel, if I might say, you are a truly remarkable woman."

  "Oh I'm well aware, but thank you for reminding me. Off you go now, safe journey!" Chuckling she hastily walked away, as I was already seated in the carriage beside Johann, I couldn't really go say anything more.

  I pocket the healing mist grenades smiling, as I turned to Johann.

  "Let's go!"

  . . .

  The feeling we're being watched was back. We had made excellent progress and we were now near the border of Orc lands. Though a little early, it was decided we'd stop to camp, the hope being, we could do the trip past orc lands in one shot the next day.

  A romantic walk with Tuana before the sun set was slightly spoiled by my paranoia. I pushed it aside, I still had seen no evidence to back up my vague feeling.

  "...I've been talking about blacksmithing, Harvey, What do you like to do— besides adventuring I mean?" Probed Tuana.

  Shit, what did I like to do?

  "Err... I like to read, especially old stories and legends of trapped souls." Best I could think of, and technically true, omitting the desire for skill points.

  "Yeah, now we're alone I can ask you. Gwendoline told me to be secretive and I can tell Isabelle doesn't know, but isn't asking about Ilmarinen... Harvey, what's going on?"

  I fought the urge to use deception. Think, what can I say...

  "My research is quite obsessive, plus I don't want to endanger others. I was taught by a street gang to be very sneaky for thieving purposes, plus they would make me fight. I escaped and became a healer as you know. Well, not wanting to endanger others, like I said, I sneak through dungeons, avoiding any monsters, to see I can't verify legends and stories. Ilmarinen is only the second— no wait, third soul I've freed. First time there was a couple."

  Tuana eyed me, curious. "Why the secrecy?"

  "They would want to join me... plus might tease me."

  "Hm, I get it, when I'm working on something, I don't always want others seeing. Plus some of the others at the forge say I'm obsessive. They tease me for taking so long to make a single arrow head... but... you're lying to me."

  "Bet you make the best arrow heads though, right?" I said, trying to change the subject.

  "Oh the very best! And I love making all the interesting shapes. There's a crescent moon looking one that's used for bird hunting, and then there's the ones with a small cage for incendiary use... Harvey! I saw your armour, remember!"

  Uh oh... "Please could we leave it for now... I'll tell you when I'm ready. Please trust me."

  Tuana stops walking and looks hard at me. "Trust you? How can I, if you lie to me? This isn't a great way to start a relationship, you know?"

  I had no idea what to say, fighting the temptation to use deception... My silence and obvious struggle to answer annoyed Tuana. She huffed and stormed off back to camp.

  That night, me, Johann, Isabelle and Emelia took turns on watch duty overnight.