Politely Turn Gypsy Down

“I think if you waited this long you can wait just a little longer. Make your first time special with someone you truly love. Your a pretty girl so you shouldn't have to wait to long.”

“Your right of course. Thank you.”

“What are friends for.”

“You know. Once the old geezer moves out me and my brother won't have any use for his cabin. And with all the large trees around it it would be a bitch to chop them down. You can use it if you like as a place to stay if you want or just as a hunting lodge.”

“Don't you think your brother will object?”

“I can say you gave us the fifty coin for it from the money you saved us. He won't even question it. Hell he might offer to sleep with you as well.”

“Pass.” I gave her a look as she giggled. “I like to give it a look over before I say yes for certain but since your offering I won't say no.” I smiled. As much as I loved the tavern it would be nice to have a place to escape city life. I was certain the place would need some work but it be worth it. After that I headed to see Selena though sadly her mom was there this time.

“Ouch.” I said as Selena cut pulled one of the stitches through.

“Oh hush you big baby. You got mauled by a bear and say this hurts.” Selena teased. “Solacium.”

“Your healer friend did a good job with your arm. Can't do much about the scars really but girls like that sort of thing I hear.” Belladonna smiled as she looked my arm over having me open and close it, wiggle my fingers.

“Mom.” Selena said from behind me. I swore I could almost see her blush.

"How long have you been studying alchemy?"

"Near on fifty years now." Belladonna smiled.

"That long?"

"Yes. One of the many benefits of a long life though I am still learning new things all the time. Living way out here gives me access to all sort of the plants. Some that you could never find down south. Some are a little harder to find then others but well worth the effort." Belladonna smiled

"How do you know whats what?"

"Decades of trial and error really." Belladonna shrugged.

"Mom literally wrote a book on it." Selena said.

"I could give a copy if you like. You could make a little extra coin while hunting and we could always use fresh herbs. Some would go for a good price in the city."

"I would like that. Knowing a little about herbs might come in handy out in the wild." I shrugged. “You said fifty years. So you age like elves do?"

"Yes." Belladonna nodded.

"What is the difference between trow and elves? Besides the skin tone?”

“Different goddesses for one. The elves worship Aurora. The goddess of the sun. Trow worship Selene for which my daughter was named. We are creatures of the night and moon while elves are of the sun. Legend has it that the two goddesses were sisters who both fell in love with the same divine and turned on one another and the one race became two as the goddesses demanded the elves pick sides. If there is any truth to it I can not say.” Belladonna replied.

“Any difference in powers, magic?”

“Are magic is more powerful at night while elves are more powerful during the day. Though Selena is an exception to the rule. Elves magic grows more powerful in the warmer seasons when the days are longer while dark elf magic is controlled by the moon and strongest at the full moon. Trow have better eyesight in the dark but find direct eye sunlight overpowering hence another reason why we live in the woods. Trow have a better immunity to poisons and disease but that is probably because most of the trow empire are wetlands were many creatures are piousness and some plants as well. ” Belladonna said. I was sure she could go on all day. "I will go get you that book. Thanks."

"You really interested in a book of herbs?" Selena looked at me.

"Maybe I just want an excuse to come see you." I smiled and gave her a wink making her blush slightly. "Ouch." I said as she pulled out one of the stitches.

"Well stop distracting me." She shook her head.

After Selena was done torturing me I headed out for a little hunting. I managed to bag a few geese and collect the rest of the fairy silk I could find around the lake. I would have to go deeper into the woods to find more. I took the time to make more arrows using tree sap as glue then headed back along the river on my way back figuring I could miss the town entirely if I tried to go back the way I came. I had a sense of deja vu as if I had came this way before. I probably had since I didn't remember any of what happened with the bear. I headed back to the tavern and me and Torvald headed for fairfield.

It was a nice day out and it was fun to hangout and just talk with Torvald. He knew a lot about the area and the different towns and villages. If you wanted crops or farming supplies you went to fairfield, if you wanted to hunt you went to huntersrest, fishing at thieves landing, lumber from Riversend and so on. Every town provided something for the city in one way or another. Torvald made a little extra money on the side making sure stuff got to where it needed to go.

As we road up to the city I noticed it had a small wall built of rocks that had most likely been dug up over years of farming. It was maybe tall enough to keep goblins out at least, unless they had a ladder, or it was meant to keep livestock in.

“Whoa fellas. No weapons allowed in town.” A man said at main gate

“Seriously?” Torvald asked.

“I don't make the rules. I just enforce them. Had a few problems of late. You want to fight do it with your fist.”

“Fine.” Torvald shook his head and handed over his crossbow and I did the same with bow and sword. Once we got past the wall the town was far larger then I had imagined but had few buildings. Most of it was pens for holding different animals. A few holding babies that were just big enough to not need a teat to suck on and were big enough for real food. People loaded up wagons with seeds and who knows what else. I had to hold my nose as someone road by with a cart full of manure. As we pulled up to the general store I hopped out and helped Torvald unload.

“Hey guys.” A voice said. I looked over to see Daisy with her father. As she waved I couldn't help but admire how it made her tits jiggle.

“Daisy. What are you two doing here?” I smiled.

“Dad came to talk to the smith about a new plow and I came to look at around.” She waved. We carried the stuff inside and a gnomish woman behind the counter give us a smile.

“Fuck. Well there goes the neighborhood, and it was such a nice day.” She smiled and came around the counter. Torvald put down the crate he was carrying and gave her a hug.

“You must be the one who saved his dumb ass? I am Hannah his big sister.”

“A pleasure ma'am.” I smiled. I could see the resemblance. She looked a lot like Astrid though the dress she wore was more modest and didn't show off any flesh though it wasn't like she could hide her breast as she took after her mom in that department.

“Thank you for saving my little brother. Though I am sure the goblins would have let him go eventually once they had to put up with him for awhile.” She smiled and gave me a hug.

“Ha ha.” Torvald shook his head.

“Sorry we couldn't meet earlier but planting season is our busiest time of year but Helga told me all about you in her letter. She was right about you being cute.” She smiled and gave me a look over. She was subtle about it though.

"Thanks." I smiled.

“The task master around?” Toryald asked.

“You mean my employer?”

“That's what I said.” Torvald smiled.

“No. He is in the helping someone load up some stuff around back.” Hannah shook her head.

"You know her. hey if your interested that shop next to the tavern is up for sell." Torvald smiled.

"You looking to open your own store?" I looked at Hannah.

"Yeah, it's been a dream of mine for a few years now." Torvald said as he looked over some merchandise. "If I opened a shop in town Torvald could help with deliveries and I would be closer to mom and my sisters. Plus I could have Rodrick deliver stuff from here and I..."

"Could send him stuff from the city. Cleaver." It made sense. They could cut each other a deal and sell products cheaper then other stores in the city.

"Thanks. So let me guess. Mom wants the same as usual?” Hannah looked at Torvald as she took a paper.

“More salt and barrels. Way this one hunts we can actually store meat. Just got to worry about the forest running out of wild animals.” Torvald said.

“Good thing someone can hunt. Only thing you hunt after is women.” Hannah teased her brother. “Go ahead and carry the stuff to the back and I will get all the small stuff together for you.”

“Can do.” He nodded. It didn't take us long between the two of us and I was sure we would be bringing back more then we had brought. “I am going to run down the road for a bit. Need to see a friend if you don't mind.”

“Okay. I will start loading up once Hannah gets things together.” I nodded.

“Thanks.” He smiled and headed on his way.

“Stop it. Let me go.” I heard a familiar voice say. I turned to see some male Minotaur talking to Daisy. She tried to walk away but he put his arm against the wall to stop her and grabbed her arm to turn her towards him.

“Hey. Leave her alone.” I said coming over. I really wished I had my sword on me as big as the fucker was. He wasn't a pure breed like Brutus but he was still pretty big

“This doesn't concern you small fly. Go pester someone else human.”

“She is a friend of mine so I say it does. Now let her go.”

“What are you going to do about it. I have taken shits bigger then you human. You want to fight?” He turned toward me.