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Once again I was greeted with the sight of Veira resting her head on my chest as I awoke. Yesterday seems so distant. I believe that It was morning last I can recall as well. But at least I still live. And despite the fact that my body seems to be engulfed in a low throbbing pain, I seem better than yesterday.

I combed my fingers through her sandy colored fur, taking note of the subtle differences between the longer fur on her head and the fur on her back and neck it transitioned to.

I told her yesterday that she was my mate now, my wife. This female who has been so devoted to me. I think my relations to her could be some sort of tragic comedy, that is if someone could find humor in this situation. Not even two weeks since I first met her and even less since we were 'wed' in Green Briar and now she truly is my wife. I could escape my destined fate for such a little time. I think if not for having to face everyone having Veira in tow I might even return to Green Briar. It would be much less painful than at I am experiencing now. And still I have no home or a location in mind to settle in and further no occupation to sustain myself and now her as well.

Today though I think I can walk, I can carry on and make our situation less dire. I will push myself enough to make some progress towards Terrance but I must also not overdo it and weaken myself. What has it been two? Three? Days since I have moved from this spot?

Spirits though! I have a wife, how did I really manage to get stuck with her. Veira, this petite Gre'nahk. Who I can never have children with, who will apparently do anything for me faithfully. I offered her and in fact told her to take my money and leave me to die yet she did not. The only thing that bonded her to me then was her own oaths and will. I have been distant towards her, demeaned her, and even struck her. She killed to defend me when threatened and moved on from it as little had happened. She certainly has redeeming qualities, but still who is she?

Is she the meek completely submissive female I first met and spent a day with? Is she the feisty forward female that confronted me in the inn, imitating Karen? is she the happy and cheerful female she has been since we left Split-Rock Falls? Is she all three? Or is she another? I still can't tell who she really is from these masks she wears.

A break in the metered breathing of Veira's sleep, roused me from my thoughts. "Good morning my sweet mate. Ah it was not the venom's influence which caused you to say such things yesterday, was it Tal?" Veira asked a bit cautiously as she did little to move but turn her head slightly towards mine, sleep leaving her eyes instantly as a serious expression broke over her face when she saw me pause to think.

"Oh? I said something to you yesterday? I don't remember much of anything I'm afraid." I said feigning ignorance. Its not that I wish to deny it, for I don't. But her reaction is so much more valuable than that. If I put her through such emotional highs and lows, acceptance and rejection, love and indifference. surely she will slip up and I will be able to read her better. I need to understand what goes on inside her head if I am to ever truly love her.

"You do not remember?.... Ah, it was nothing then Tal. You fell asleep before you could eat anything yesterday. And ah, since it has been some time since you have eaten, allow me to help you. You must eat something to recover your strength I shall not let you refuse." Veira said moving quickly away from a sad and disappointed face, to that false reserved smile she had been taught to use to masking her feelings.

As she tried to quickly lift off me I put my arm firmly on her back, sending her a wordless message to stop. I waited until she looked at me questioningly before moving my hand to the back of her head and bringing her down into a kiss. I may tease her still but I will not go back on my words, and I will make sure she knows it.

I gave her a few kisses not letting her speak. She closed her eyes and I could feel her heart rapidly pick up pace. Her sudden confusion at my action quickly gave way to a very happy and contented face. "So do I remember?" I asked with a smile, brushing a strand of hair away from her eyes.

"Most assuredly Tal'keelis. Yet there is still the question of your sustenance. It will not do to have my new mate wither away from lack of food. I should hate to be blamed ah, I forget myself. Tal does the poison still hold much sway over your?" She said nervously, moving backwards across my body to sit up and look at me more fully, her hard teats brushing along my chest as she did so.

I moved a hand to grab and gently twist one of her lower ones as she gave me a queer look. "You like to tease me with these things now don't you." I told her, giving her tit another little pull to make my point.

"I do not think so Tal, it is just how my body was made. Yet I should think that you shall find my lower breasts to be of little use until you put some kits inside me. I think you shall find these to be much better in this moment." She said as she guided my hand to her full rounded upper breasts, having me heft and play with them as she wagged her tail in mirth, her concern over my health apparently forgotten.

"I think you are right Veira these ones are better," I said as I gently cupped and squeezed her furry breasts. "And when I have recovered I think I shall have to explore the way your body was made more thoroughly. But for now, something light to eat would be nice. I think I can try to walk a bit today. That is if you are willing to lend me a bit of aid." I told her as I moved my hands to her sides and away from her perfect breasts. She gave me a disappointed glance for a moment before snapping back to her usual dutiful self.

"Ah! Yes of course I shall aid you in whatever small way that I am able to Tal. I should also say that I most certainly am looking forward to being properly mated with you." She quickly added.

"Properly huh? Well I don't know what that entails exactly but I will be thoroughly playing with that tail of yours and what you hide underneath it Veira."

"As you wish Tal, my body is yours, and I shall do my best to support you until you make a full recovery. Ah, and after you recover as well of course." Veira said adding the last part shyly.

My stomach wouldn't take much and I was still very weak from the venom and now my lack of food as well but I was still determined to make a bit of progress today. Veira had prepared a light porridge of our unexciting provisions and found a suitable young sapling to serve as a walking stick while I ate what I could manage.

As we made slow but steady progress onward, my body started to feel a bit better after working out the stiffness of laying around for so long. Still it was very slow going and I was leaning on the staff too much to be moving quickly. When Veira would see me leaning a bit too heavily, she would slip underneath my arm and support me for a ways until I was relieved of my weariness for a time. If someone were to see us, they perhaps would take us for a couple out for a leisurely stroll so slow our pace was. Yet in this way we were able to keep moving through the morn.

She did all of this gladly and without complaint. Keeping a cheery attitude and at times humming an equally upbeat tune. I couldn't blame her for her mood despite myself feeling less than well. She had gotten what she seemed to desire most and was quite happy to have me rely on her. In her place I think I would feel similarly.

Her eyes shimmered with a bright intensity as we walked, full of hope and ignorance to the world around her. Yet I may not be so different myself, setting out as I had so ill prepared. Had I rushed my decision more than needed? I cannot help but think, that perhaps I have misjudged the difficulty of starting a new life and traveling in the Wilds. I of course heard occasionally stories of people encountering troubles traveling. And many times my grandfather related to me his journey to Green Briar and how he established himself in that town.

Now that Veira has become my wife despite my best efforts to escape that same fate, I think I can hardly say it was worth it. I lost friends, family, prestige, inheritance and nearly my honor. And for what? To not have to take Veira as the wife she now is to me. I think perhaps that this whole thing may have been foolishness on my part. But even if that is so I still have chosen this path and it is far too late to change it now. Forward is the only path I have left to take and I will take it with Veira, good or I'll. It's not like this is the worse thing that could happen to me, the poison and bandits notwithstanding.

The day came and went without event. I was poor conversation as the simple act of walking was still taking up most my strength. By the afternoon of the next day my body seemed to be getting stronger, despite pushing it onward. we simply did not have the luxury of sitting around any longer if our provisions were to last.

Veira continued as she had merrily going along her tail going every which way it could. I watched her movements when ever she strode ahead of me a bit. Every so often she would tug at her robe unconsciously, trying to make the fabric cover more of her. I would guess that the robes I picked up from Vicktoria aren't quite to her taste. I don't really like wasting money on something that will be thrown away quickly but I think I am indebted to her for more than a few coins.

"So Veira, I want to get you something when we get to Terrace. The way you have been picking at your robe and I guess considering how much it differs from what you had before, I think that you might like something a little bit nicer. So I think I will have you fitted properly for some robes."

"Tal I am most fine with the ones that you had already purchased for me from the Tal. There is no need to waste money on me further for such a thing."

"Well if you don't want clothing then what can I get for you?"

"Ah, I need nothing Tal just your company and love " She said, rubbing her head against me as we walked side by side.

"Veira, name something." I pressed.

"I could not, ah but perchance just a small thing, yes?" She asked cautiously. "Ah, small metal bands for my horns, would such a gift be appropriate at this time?"

"Jewelry then, that's fine. Hmm won't the bands rub the fuzz off your horns Veira? Wouldn't that be uncomfortable?" I asked her. Rings for her horns, some kind of token of marriage I would guess. I should have figured that she would desire something to solidify her relationship to me.

"Ah, perhaps but they should be smooth anyhow so it matters little but the bands should not move if fitted properly." She said thoughtfully, rubbing her small horns as if to check to see that they were indeed still fuzzy.

"Alright a pair of rings for your horns it is, as long as you answer me one question that is. Remember you can't lie." I added that last part a bit too condescendingly perhaps.

"I know this Tal, ask me and I shall answer without deceit." She said giving me a bit of a reproachful look as if to remind me that telling her that is unneeded.

"Why do you want those bands, over nicer robes?" I asked her to confirm my suspicions.

"Ah, well, it is a custom among my kind to wear such at least amongst larger clans. Some clans bestow rings for the ears others collars or bracelets. The shifting sands clan uses rings as do humans clans. And ah, we do so once we are mated. It is a symbol of us being owned by our males and having their favor, you do not know this Tal?"

"I wasn't aware no. I have rarely seen female Gre'nahks and the ones I have seen were usually servants of the caravans and I'm not sure I have seen the mates of the males who live in town that my father dealt with." Thinking back to the Gre'nahk in town and those on the caravans I can't say that I have ever come across this custom.

"Yes, I see such serving females would not be permitted to wear bands as only the first female mated to a male can do so as well as the female must be of a respected clan and of good breeding." Veira said trying to stress the difference between her and other females. Her linage is clearly a point of pride for her as many times as she refers to it. The constant separation she puts between herself and other Gre'nahk she talks of and her reaction to the single Gre'nahk we met in Split-Rock Falls. And I suppose that she is, still I would like to have her be a bit less high minded. That kind of thing is always bad for business and is more suited to southern lands where they seem to find the time for such folly.

Still she is my wife so I should treat her like I actually chose her. No, that's not right. I did choose her. I have to not think of it any other way or I think that I will find myself treating her poorly.

"But I will still see you fitted with some nice robes none the less. You will look much nicer than you already do while wearing well-fitted things that accent your fine figure. And of course if I don't adorn you in fine things people will take you for a servant or a slave or some other base things and I won't have people thinking that of me or you." I told her as we continued to slowly make our way down the road. The plain robe she wore was designed for an Ah'komeli not really a Gre'nahk's modesty, saying nothing about the low quality of the threads and poor dye."

"Ah, I am not worthy of your praise but if it is you desire Tal, I would be more than happy to consent to it. I should admit as well that a larger sash around my waist would make me feel more comfortable as well as a robe with buttons to cover my bosom more fully. These robes are terrible in that I cannot help but let strange males see the tops of my breasts. They should not be so privileged, such things are for you only my mate." She said while parting the top of the beige robe she was wearing, to show off more than the little valley her robe naturally shows off.

"What if I want to show you off to other males then Veira would you refuse?" I said deciding to push and tease her a bit.

"Tal'keelis, I most certainly would not care for such a thing, yet as my mate I shall obey you. However I would be more fully embarrassed about such an encounter."

"Good, good, men often like it when women are embarrassed about being nude. It makes them bolder and increases their desire."

'Nude!? Tal, surely you jest. You would exhibit me to strange males. I should die of embarrassment, a proper male should do no such thing to his female."

"Well we will need income and you are a fetching thing so perhaps I could loan out your 'services' to a few men while I try to establish a business for myself." I said as though I was deep in thought on the matter.

"Tal'keelis......" Veira growled slightly.

"Of course if the money turns out to be good then I would be all but bound to make it a permanent situation, lest I disappoint the customers and gain a poor reputation."

"Tal'keelis Alos....." She said more forcefully her posture becoming more rigid and disapproving as I continued on with the idea.

"But then there could always be a problem with time and not having enough of it. It is one thing that cannot be bought you know, so perhaps I would have to rent you out to two or three males at a time, if you proved to be popular which I am sure that you would be." I said with a smile while looking at her as if I had come up with a grand plan to secure my finances.

"Tal, you have yet to mate me and now you are talking of having me whore myself out like that hussy and other low breeds. Such a thing is completely reproachable." She was quite mad now, her hands were clenched at her side, her ears down and tail had left my waist, being held motionless behind her.

"Are you saying you would not follow your mate's command Veira?" I said with a grin giving away that I am not serious, since I think that I have pushed her hard enough for now.

"Ah, you are jesting. You are mean Tal'keelis, teasing me like this. Must you still invoke my emotions to probe me? You still do not trust me or who I am? " She said instantly relaxing her tail moving straight back to my waist as if we were climbers tethered together for safety.

"Not in the least Veira. But I do enjoy watching you face when you get upset, I still find it very cute." I told her bluntly.

"*sigh* "Tal, I do wish that I could please you better in this regard still but I simply do not understand how. I do not believe that I wear any such mask as you say. I am yet who I am and have always been." She took ahold of the tip of her tail holding it like some sort of comfort item as she clearly expressed disappointment in herself.

"You just change your mood, and actions and affections to match what you perceive your mate's wishes right?" I asked quizzing her more obviously than before. She is still so strange in how she acts, such an enigma to me yet.

"Ah, Tal you do realize, that is wonderful. I learned such things from a kit until I left my parent's side, how would I know different from this proper way." She clasped her hands together and quite nearly jumped for joy, deciding for herself that I understood her and her actions. I will have to level with her again. It will not do either of us any good to keep up false pretenses in this matter.

"Sorry Veira I don't know still. And I think the hardest part for me is that, while pushing you and stressing you to reveal emotions, I am finding that you perhaps really don't have any of your own, but what you were told to have. You really are a doll. I think that if I looked at you in a mirror, I should see my own interpretation of a perfect female looking at me, instead of looking at you. Are you really no more than that Veira? When you gaze upon yourself, tell me what is reflected back?" I asked her in all seriousness

"I do wish to be the perfect wife for you. However I have doubt that I shall ever become as such to you. For it is obvious to me that I understand you less than you comprehend me. Ah, that is not to say that doing such is a poor thing but rather understanding....grrrrr." She whined fitfully unable to express her frustrations or perhaps even know what she should be feeling at this point. "I do not understand what it is that I should say at this time Tal. You test me at every corner and I know not what I should think of it nor how I should react. I do wish that I had learned better how to please you but I am afraid that I am still failing in my duties to you Tal." She said with a sullen voice looking at the ground and nothing else.

"Veira, what do you want? Forget your training, and how you were raised and just speak. Don't worry about what you should or should not say or what I want or don't want you to say. Just tell me what you want." I said stepping closer to her. The physical distance between us seemed to mirror the emotional distance that I wished to close. I cannot have my wife staying this distant from me and neither can I let myself just cast her and her emotions off. That would be purely unhonorable, irresponsible, and ungrateful. She has saved my life and I will show her my gratitude and commitment to this marriage.

".....Ah, Tal I..... just desire to be loved by you." She said tentatively, cautiously, while looking at me with her head lowered in submission. As if she saying something simple like that would be some kind of egregious error.

"If thats all then you shouldn't worry. Things like love take time Veira. Like the seasons they come when they will, sometimes early sometimes late. But they always do come, and seeing how we are a couple I'm sure they it come. But we were talking about getting you some things in Terrece now before getting side tracked. So it was some rings for your horns and a new robe at least, wasn't it?" I don't think I can be sure that love is the extent of her desires but it seems close enough and it would be unproductive to try her further.

"It is not kind to tease your wife in such ways Tal. Playing with a female's emotions is a poor sport she spoke remorsefully, before picking her face up as she had an idea. "Ah, so then for this I shall have to make another request for when we arrive in Terrace. Tal, you should buy for me a fur brush." She said contently her tail going back to the merry swishings to and fro behind her.

"Oh? Is that the price of teasing you Veira?"

"Such it is Tal. Ah, I mean just a small plain brush." She added quickly, trying to downplay her request like she was afraid of pushing me too far or being unsure of crossing the lines i've told her to cross.

"Well, just this once I suppose I can make overlook such impudence towards me and perhaps find a brush of sorts for you. Because I think it is infact my privilege as your mate to tease you. Still perhaps sheering your fur rather than combing it would be a better answer here. I would gain some coins for the fur and get to see exactly what you're hiding underneath." I said as I made clipping motions with my hands and we continued to walk.

"Not funny Tal." Veira spoke as she gave me a stern glance before sticking her tongue out and wrapping her tail around my waist as we continued by.A deafening crash followed by a loud series of rapid clicks and hisses made us stop in our tracks. The sounds quickly became louder as whatever beast which the sounds came from closed in on us. Veira held closer to me trying to both support me as well as hide behind me. She was quivering still remembering her earlier encounter with the beasts of Desova. My strength is far from recovered but I have to do what I can to protect us. I drew my sword and set a stance just as the creature burst through the trees and onto the path ahead of us. Splinters flew through the air as the trunks of a pair of young trees were toppled. The creature a Hezzek matron tripped in her haste impaling her back right side on the shattered stump of a tree. She wailed some more as she tried to rise from the stump at the edge of the road, looking back in abject terror.

As suddenly as she appeared no perhaps faster a large clawed hand grabbed and held her back two legs. The matron was perhaps six or eight feet long and stood taller than a man yet this claw was easily able to hold the matron. The green scales.of the hand glimmered as a beam of midday sun broke the clouds strenuous hold on the sky. I could easily see such grasping a man fully around the waist. The Hezzek screamed more and struggled further opening the wound on her side a sickly green blood started to stain the grass beneath her. I could do nothing else but gaze at the scene mere feet in front of us.

"Tal please let us make haste away from here." Veira spoke as she tugged one arm trying to get me to the treeline. Her eyes were wide with a panic that matched the Hezzek. "Tal, please let me help you. Hurry." Yet I couldn't move I was frozen, as the owner of that large scaly green hand slowly almost as it was for show, emerged from the forest to claim its prize.

Two large brown horns sat upon its green scaled head with another two brown tusk like horns protruding from its upper lip. Its brow and face was likewise covered with small brown bumps and horns. Gazing, piercing two bright yellow reptilian eyes beheld the Hezzek matron. A dragon, a large perhaps 15 feet long and over twice as large as the Hezzek slowly brought itself up to its prey. Veira stopped tugging at my arm, fear having taken full hold of her as well as the great creature made its entrance.

Now dragons were not exactly rare yet being this close to one and hopefully surviving were a bit more so. It is far from the fact that dragons seemed to be intentionally hostile to sentient being but rather that they instilled such fear upon local population that encounter such as these often ended with the smaller races trying to fight for their lives and subsequently being cut down by with ease by the angered dragon. Of course there are a few cases of dragons being killed by other races but these were generally rare and much more common in the southern lands where they seem to find the need to dominate all around them. Here in the Wilds live and let live was a far more common approach. And as such dragons were left to their dens and hunting grounds and in turn towns and villages were left intact and unmolested. Yet my heart can only take so much as we were far from any town by now and it seemed that we were very much in this particular dragon's hunting grounds.

"YOU THOUGHT TO ESTABLISH A WARREN HERE IN MY HOME INSECT?" The dragon thundered in the common tounge. The Hezzeck made a series of frantic chirps and clicks trying to communicate with the dragon and apparently was understood full well.

'YOU TAKE ME FOR A FOOL INSECT. YOU ARE FULL OF EGG READY TO SPAWN YOUR FILTH ACROSS MY LAND AND HUNT MY PREY." The dragon bellowed and the Hezzek shuddered. Then reaching out a single claw of its free hand pierced the belly of the Hezzek and ran its claw lengthwise down until a large opening was cleanly sliced open. Green blood oozed from the opening and a few black and green speckled half developed eggs fell out of her as she shrieked in pain. "OH YES, THOSE ARE EGGS INDEED, MEAT AND EGGS YOU SHALL MAKE A SUCCULENT MEAL FOR ME YET." The dragon spoke as its maw quickly stretched forth and ripped half of the hezzek's bellie away from the rest of the soon to be lifeless husk. The dragon chewed a few times relishing the taste of the eggs and blood or perhaps the screams of a fallen foe, before swallowing and as my heart fell and grew weaker still. Then the dragon turned its head towards us.

"HUMAN AND GRE'NAHK, AN INTERESTING PAIR. WELL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE MY DINNER AS WELL? HAVE YOU DEFILED MY HUNTING GROUNDS AND KILLED MY PREY ALSO? FOR THIS IS DEATH TO THOSE I CATCH DOING SO."

" YET YOU DO NOT SMELL OF MY PREY ONLY OF THE BLOOD OF AH'KOMELI IS UPON YOU SO PERCHANCE I SHALL NOT DINE UPON YOU IF YOU DISAPPEAR FROM MY PRESENCE NOW." It spoke with a force that seemed to penetrate my very bones.

"Ah,....pardon us great one for intruding upon you. We shall disappear as the night's wind." Veira spoke quickly, giving a low bow to the dragon.

"SEE THAT YOU DO LITTLE ONES.' The dragon spoke as it turned again to the now dead Hezzek and took another bite. The crunch of the exoskeleton made a sickening sound as it cruched inside the strong maw. Pieces of bloodied meat few around as it chewed splattering the ground with a grisly spectacle.

"Tal please my mate, let us go quickly now." Veira said frantically tugging at my arm with a strength I did not know she had.

"Sorry Veira I froze there, I don't know why." I took her hand and we hustled as well as we could into the forest to make a loop around the dragon. I don't want to go too far from the road but at the same time encountering the dragon again would likely be most unwise. But still the dragon let us go unharmed and seemed to take little interest in the two of us other than being a couple of differing races. Of course actual stories of dragons killing the peoples of the Wilds are rare but they do very much happen and in such instances it is always better to err on the side of caution, than to find oneself being hunted by such a creature.

The encounter with the dragon had put a fair bit more spring in both of our steps as we tried to make haste away from the scene behind us. We carried on quickly until twilight had fallen over the forest. We ate a few stripes of dried meat and hard biscuits as we risked no fire to attract attention. Our nerves kept us on edge and made us see things in the strange shapes that the moon cast upon the forest floor at night. We both slept fitfully as we sat against the trunk of a particularly large and old tree just off the road.

When the morning came neither of us were very rested but we immediately set off again regardless. I gave Veira a quick kiss on her nose and held her close for a moment before we started out to try and reassure her, which I don't think I succeeded in. Nevertheless we worked our way down the path quickly as I could manage and by midday the covering of Desova started to fade away and become less dense.

I stopped Veira at a small stream that crossed the path. It had a lazy flow moving out of Desova and into the lands to the north and east. If we really made time we could likely reach the town before they shut the gates for the night but I wish to have a bit more time to rest and be in good condition when we get there, so we're not taken advantage of. We could call the day early and each rest a bit more. Tomorrow by midday we would be in looking for a room and have a bed to rest in for a few days while I recover fully and decide where to head next. Veira of course made no complaint and was happy to lay at my side and have me lazily comb through her fur with my fingers and rested.

Terrace had been originally settled as a mining town on the plains. Instead of gold or iron however Terrace had been settled near a pair of large sulfur pools and a tar pit. It was the latter that provided by far the greater profit, as year had near limitless uses. The sulfur was used by the fire worshipers for their strange rituals and the Breck for their alchemy as well as a fertilizer for crops in some places I have heard.

The town itself was set upon a hill above these pools. Over time as the city grew a new ring of houses would be raised and a lower part of the hill leveled. Short walls and steps separated the rings. The rise between each being no more than the size of a man. This was easy to see as we approached the gate. My father had made trips to this town on occasion when he had goods which he wished to sell or acquire from the fire worshipers. It was very much a transitional town between the Wilds and foreign lands under the rule of Kings and Lords.

The smell of sulfur was strong but not overpowering as we made our way slowly to the gates of the city. Veira scrunched up her nose and looked displeased but otherwise made no comment as the yellow brick wall the encircled the town came into view. A single guard dressed in light leathers holding a pike stood off to the side hiding from the midday sun under a white canopy, a trio of throwing knives strapped to his side made clear the pike was not his preferred weapon. The man, a human of middle age who wore a few scars across his visibly bronze skin gave us only a nod of acknowledgement as we passed him.

The city being ringed and built over time means that the market must almost certainly be on the lowest level where there is the most room to grow. While individual shops run out of homes or of greater renown might still to be found in the upper rings of the city, old places left over from old market squares, attesting to the city's constant expansion.

As fortune would have it, there was at the end of the first block a tailor's store set up on the corner. The walls were of yellow mud and straw plastered to a base of some sort. The front of the store being more oddly made of wood like a facade over the yellow mud, with colored banners hanging from the roof posts. All in all it looked horrendous, tacky, and as mismatched as it was. Yet being able to have such a location inside the town on the main road meant either that the owner had been there quite some time or more likely that they were successful enough to pay for the spot. Since Veira needs a new robe and i'm new in town it is as good as place as any, seeing as the midday lull has left the shop bereft of customers.

As I entered the building, we were greeted by a slim, black haired man who wore the wrinkles of his age well considering the depth of his eyes betrayed he was much older than the 40 or so he looked. "Good sir, welcome to my modest store. Is there some wonderful garment you require? Having the look as one coming out of the wastelands of the Wilds, I have many fine things more comfortable and appropriate for a fine town such as Terrace. Or perhaps something for the female?" He said hopefully, eyeing the both of us up almost as if he could smell the coin I carried on me.

"Veira here needs a new robe, and perhaps some other things. She needs to be fitted and would prefer to be attended to by another female." I told the man looking over the garments he had already finished on display. He seemed indeed to have a good eye and skill based on the displays. His finer works would compare well to those in Green Briar. In addition he also had rougher works of lesser materials. All sorts of colors could be found in his shop but unmistakable was the heavy presence of red, oranges and yellows. Which quite assuredly shows the great deal of business he and this town does with the fire worshipers.

"Of course, of course, my dear sir, Gre'nahk females are quite that way are they not? My wife can tend to her. Is there any specific style you wish for her or colors you'd prefer to see her in?" He asked me ignoring Veira, who kept silent during the exchange unsure of how she should be acting, looking around only slightly.

"Veira has taste enough to decide what she would like." I said looking back to her, where she gave me a slight nod and a smile. Veira seemed uncomfortable here but also seemed to understand that I was making her make the choices and wanted to please me by doing so for herself.

As if almost on cue a slightly heavy woman emerged from a back room wearing a yellow and pink tightly sewn dress of small floral patterns. The square neckline plunging down generously revealing the middle aged women's generous breasts. The collar of the dress ringed in ermine fur. Her face was plain but heavily marked with makeup to smooth over her rougher features and blemishes. She was the type of woman who undoubtedly paraded herself around with the well connected falsely pretending to be a friend to all while talking about all other perceived rivals behind their backs.

She is far from the type I would wish to keep company with but seemed friendly enough towards customers as she immediately made her way over to Veira and introduced herself and started talking about what would suit her best. Veira shied away at first but quickly opened up a bit about what she would like to wear to the apparent delight of the tailor's wife.

"As you can see good sir my wife can take care of your female well. Are you sure there is nothing you, yourself require? Being midday you have my undivided attention, and any request or orders can be started immediately." The man said as his wife started to measure Veira.

"I need nothing, I have clothing enough in my pack. I do seek an apothecary however. Is there one to be found in the market?" I inquired and while the man seemed disappointed that I wanted nothing of his. He continued with his friendly business face.

"Of course there are a few in town. The closest is in the market to the west is run by a younger man named Byron, who was himself taught by an old Rugesh who used to live here. He is quite knowledgeable despite his youth and is familiar with the medicines of the Wilds. You cannot mis the smell of strong herbs from his little stand." The man said with a smile, gesturing towards the market.

"Thank you, I'll see if he has what I need then." I said with a nod. "Veira, i'll go there and then see about securing a room and supplies. By the time i'm finished I'm sure the tailor should just about be done with what you need. Get whatever you need. I'll pay the man when I return, alright?" I said to Veira as she put on a less than pleased face about leaving my side.

"If that is your wish Tal, I shall wait for you here then. Ah, but are you sure you have the strength to go alone?" Veira asked quietly, her tail making small nervous movements back and forth.

"Yes, i'm well enough, and shall be better after a visit to the apothecary" I said to her making a motion to go.

"As you will then Tal, I shall trust in your judgement as always." she said with a nod and a smile to me

"Take good care of her, and make sure she looks nice of course my good tailor." I said to the man who seemed to already be considering which style and colors would suit Veira best.

"There is nothing that would please me better than to see this fine lady adorned well in our magnificent clothes, my young master. Please see about your business and we shall have her things ready as fast as we can stitch." The tailor said with a warm smile and a bow.

The well worn dirt street was just starting to pick up with afternoon traffic when I left the tailor's shop. A mix of mainly Humans mixed with a few Rugesh and Ah'komeli went about their business. Who went along their business now giving much of a glance to me as I made my way towards the market.

The homes of this the lowest seems to be as the the first ones and made mostly of mud and straw. While above the wall that separated this from the next higher ring, the homes seemed to be made more of yellow bricks like the walls of the town. Above in the top two rings of the city several two and three story building of wood and brick stood out in contrast to the rest of the city.

It of course made sense that lumber building were rare here. Having to haul and cut lumber from the eves of Desova several hours away would increase the cost a fair amount and make the readily available materials around the town on the plains more appealing. The cities of the Fire worshipers are almost all of such brick as Terrace, a testament to how near the edge of the Wilds this town really is.

The market was a ragtag assortment of small dwellings, stands and carts packed in two lines enclosed by the outer town wall and the wall separating the first and second rings of the town. The smell of sulfur was still so new to my nose that I could in no way smell my way to the apothecary even if my nose could normally do that. Yet a quick walk up and down through the market revealed the half stand, half shack where a man not much older than myself had displayed all manner of dried herbs, small pottery containing slaves and vials of liquids.

"Can I help you friend?" The man called out seeing my stop a few steps off to gaze over his wares.

"I would hope so but I'm not sure." I said honestly.

"Well if you can tell me what ails you I can see what I can do to alleviate it. I have most everything that the Wilds can provide and I was taught by an excellent Rugesh shaman."

"I was poisoned by some type of small water creature on the way here from Split-Rock Falls. It struck fast as did its venom and laid me waste for a few days before I could recover enough to travel on to here. But my strength still seems to be sapped and my mind is not as quick as it should be." I told him honestly as I looked over the various colors and shapes of things he had to sell.

"Spirits!, you're a tough one I'd say then. If the place you were stung was a small pool just off the road. That cursed pool is full of an insect called a Reatesh the ones there have grown to a larger size and have more potent venom than found elsewhere. There was even a village close by there years ago that moved because several youth were killed by those things. I will not lie to you friend but you are blessed by your ancestors to be able to move after only a few days. Us Humans especially take poorly to the venom, most die from it within two days, so I think you shall be fine. I can mix you up a tea that should help expunge the remnants of the venom from you system if you wish but otherwise I should think you will be full well recovered in two weeks." The man said looking over me and nodding as he gave me an assessment.

"I would appreciate it if you could. I'm tired of feeling like shit and would like to enjoy my wife while i'm in town and have a bed." That drew a smile from the young man. " Also if you were trained by a Rugesh then perhaps you could get something a little more rare for me." I said and seemed to peak his interest as he started to gather a few herbs together and calculate a price for the tea.

"I was indeed. You have some traditional Rugesh medicine you desire or something else?"

I took the guidestone out from under my shirt and showed it to him and he instantly showed a knowing grin. "I take it you know these then?" I asked to make sure.

"A guidestone, specifically a Rugesh one made for their own kind. I would ask how you acquired one like that but I suppose its not my business." He said with a shrug.

"Since you asked by not asking, it was a friend's he gave it to me when I left home and started traveling. I would like more of the seeing potion that accompanies it. Do you know the formula? I could teach you if you do not know it."I said angling knowledge as a form of payment.

"I do, its really simple, just synwyn milk and manshock, half and half the milk negates the magic eating effect of the manashock so when you touch the a tuned guidestone it casts the spell using the dense magical essence of the manashock that is rendered inert by the milk a fuel. Really you should be able to use about anything ingestible thing with a high magical essence to make it work if you find yourself in a pinch." He said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Interesting. I didn't think it was such common knowledge."

"Its not really. The fire worshipers use manshock all the time so its easy to get here, goes into all kinds of things and any Rugesh shaman would know how to make their own guidestones work. So you just happen to be in luck, south of the Greywater you'd be out of luck."

"I'm relieved that you know your trade then. I'd like several weeks worth of the potion for the guidestone then as well as the antidote for that damn bug."

"Not a problem, just a few more things oh and to make the herbal tea work faster I would recommend getting Tillivian livers. I'm afraid I don't stock them since they need to be fresh but if you get a decent room in town they should gladly fetch some for your meals if you wish."

"I will then thank you." I told him in this town that seemed to have everyone minding their own business this man appeared to be both trustworthy and honest, a true son of the Wilds.

We talked a bit more about possible places I could visit as he said he would brew a cup of the tea for me right away after he had gathered ang ground the herbs together, placing them in small tea bags, a half dozen plus the one he was making me drink on the spot then he produced eight vials of manashock which he had ready for whatever other use they have. Then taking out a jar a cabinet set it before me as he took eight more glass vilas out. Taking off the lid a frosty haze rose from it. The jar much be enchanted to keep the milk cold and fresh and handy thing in his profession. He deftly took a large dropper and filled the vials and shut again the milk jar and put it out of sight again.

"This far at the edge of the Wilds Synwyn are much more rare than manashock is. Which I'm afraid will drive the cost of this up considerably but given that you haven't raised the point of price yet I can assume either you have no money to pay me and will try to give me some story about why you can't pay or you can cover it plenty. Despite looking a bit rough and wearing adventuring garb, you carry yourself like a merchant and seem educated so I guess the latter. I hope I'm not wrong am I?" The man said with a grin.

"The latter it is Byron, Tal-keelis is my name by the way. May both our business be profitable." I held out my hand and gave his a firm shake and a smile. It is better to make what acquaintances I can where I can find people who could be helpful to me in the future.

Byron for his part seemed equally pleased to meet me as I was him. He asked me for twelve silver and twenty five copper for the stuff. Given the impression I think I made on him I thought that it was almost at his cost and in the hopes of making a friend I paid him fifteen silver and thanked him. He told me I should try an inn on the second level back near the tailor called the Late Night Trader. He said there I could get the livers as well as make supply orders for a small fee and that the owner was a good man and a friend of his father. I can't say that I have a preference and if I can mention a name to the man in charge it could only be better for me.

The midday lull was well over when I made it back towards the tailor. I should see how Veira was doing and might as well wait for her if I could get what else I need at the inn. I can only hope that the smell is less inside then it is out. I can't see how the people here get used to the sulfur.

I entered the tailor's store and saw there were several people mulling around and both the tailor and his wife were busy showing off their wares. As I looked over the store for a moment I couldn't spot Veira. The Tailor catching my entrance came over to me with his greedy smile.

"Good sir, welcome to my humble store. Is there some fine clothing you need." He spoke with a smile and showing no sign of recognizing me.

"I was here earlier at midday with Veira, where is she? You were to see to her needs and I was to pay you now." I asked a bit annoyed at being forgotten so quickly as my stomach started to churn.

"Oh dear, it seems the heat has seen you worse for the day good master. I'm afraid I have never seen you before and there was no one here this midday. I would love to help you, but perhaps a cold drink from a tavern and some shade is what you truly need right now. So if you would please excuse me." He said putting on a face full of fake sincerity.

The people inside seemed to nod in agreement for a moment before going back to looking to their clothing as if I was somehow not in my right mind. This is the place, and I am the best that I can tell in my right mind but why was he saying those things and where is Veira?

Not a record for length between submissions but it feels that way to me. I actually cut this chapter in two since I felt it was getting too long. The next chapter will contain good stuff and bad stuff, whatever those are. Hopefully I will have it out in a day or two since it is mostly written but on the other hand I've been picking at this part for months never getting it done.

Thanks for reading hope you enjoyed it.

Edit: I hate how this site chews up formatting, it makes everything look like crap. I'll have to fix this later.