A Safe Trip and some Surprises

The bulky cart slowed them more than Silvan had believed it would. Taking the main road was already going to be slow going, but with the added weight of all their treasure, the horses tired quickly. Silvan found himself glad for the three extra sets of hands that Bufford had sent, so keeping the cart protected at night was never a problem. Silvan offered to pay them, but they simply said that his services to their town had been more than payment enough. Dahlia on the other hand had a solution. She offered them free use of her for the duration of trip. Occasionally one of them would pay for Clair's services instead, but for the most part they were happy to accept Dahlia's offer.

The group often found themselves resting by the side of the road, but managed to find a few inns along the way. During their stops, Clair and Dahlia would offer their services to the people of the inn as a way to promote the brothel. Most nights, Pepper came to Silvan and shared his bed, though Clair tried over and over to get her to "Join in on the promoting wagon." Pepper would laugh and swat the Zombie away, but Silvan could see that she did give it some thought a few of the times she was asked. Andreas spent most of the trip studying the scrolls, with one in particular drawing his attention over and over. It contained information about exotic potions and he was certain he could improve their formulas even more. When they stopped a few nights without the aid of an inn, he would sit by the fire and interview Clair and Dahlia about their thoughts on working for the brothel and about Dahlia's past with the Empire.

The main road proved to be a safe one, and after three weeks, they had no interruptions. When they finally rolled into town, they were tired and glad to be home. There were many welcoming calls and several men volunteered to help carry the chests into the brothel. Silvan was surprised to find that only Slippy and Tila were actually in the brothel at the time, until Winona came out to greet them.

"Glad you've come back Silvan. Its been crazy here this last week, and we sorely need you."

"What's wrong Winona? Has something happened to Mona?"

"Well yes and no. Let me start from the beginning. When we got word through the bonds about the treasure... I accidentally let slip to Gert about it. That fool man has run off! Left a poorly written note that he doesn't believe himself enough of a man for me or any of us anymore and left the tavern to me and you. He even went to the magistrate in the next town over and divorced me! To make matters worse, we realized the next day after getting that particular letter that Mona is pregnant and its most likely his!"

"Pregnant?" Silvan hadn't thought about that particular problem.... He had ordered Tila to be careful during her periods of heat, but Mona didn't have those same periods. He hadn't even taken into account that she could get pregnant...

"I suppose with our new gold we can build a nursery on to the brothel, as well as horse barn and goat farm I was going to need now."

"Goats? Ah never mind, about that. I've got Mona staying in a spare room in the tavern until the pregnancy is over. She says she can still work, but with Gert gone, I need her more in the tavern for now until I can hire another cook and bartender."

Silvan readily agreed to this and was about to try and start introducing everyone to Clair and Dahlia, but Winona interrupted him again.

"That's not all! That idiot Julian went off to try and handle the rumors of a Succubus nearby and hasn't returned. We're without a lawman now too! I... I called a town meeting. We've all agreed that if anyone can be trusted to protect this town, its you. We even elected you as Mayor as well."

"Um... What?"

"Mayor. Are you hard of hearing these days?"

"No I heard you, I just thought I had a stroke and didn't hear you correctly. So you want me to run the brothel and tavern jointly with you, as well as be the law and mayor?"

"Exactly. You're the most influential person in town these days and we're having more and more people move here just because of you! Who better to do the job?"

Silvan agreed, though hesitantly. By this time, Mona had come out to the brothel as well and Silvan finally got to make introductions. The two new girls were welcomed with open arms and welcomed to the odd little family. Silvan also filled everyone in on the job he had hired Pepper for, and she was welcomed to the family as well.

With introductions out of the way and the treasure safely stored at the back of the brothel, Silvan took Mona aside. She was starting to show and she judged that she was far enough along for the cause of the pregnancy to have been around the first night she spent with Gert. She told Silvan that while she hadn't planned on this, she wasn't upset about it. She knew that her child would be taken care of and welcomed into the family. Silvan promised her that he would do everything he could for her and agreed to let her hold off on whoring until after the baby was born. He then felt his tattoo start to burn and wondered how much of this was his God working in their lives.