Just a few more to go. Three, maybe four if I wanted to also build an extra.

Brushing off some dust from my sanding, I smiled as I appreciated my handiwork. This was one of the bigger beds I’d made so far, and I planned for this one to be mine. Or well, Renn’s. I’d made the thing sturdy and stout, using twice as much wood as I had the others.

It was of course not in one piece at the moment, I would put it together in the bedroom, but I still could see its final form in my head just by looking at it. Every piece looked perfect. All of the pieces were thick and heavy, far more than typical. Perfect for me.

Honestly I had enjoyed making it. Not only did I enjoy working with my hands, building such stuff calmed me… but for most of it I had been getting assistance. From Renn. I had vastly enjoyed the few hours we had worked together, before she had gotten pulled away to go and participate in the funeral rites for Kass.

They weren’t burying her yet. That was for later on, tomorrow morning… right now they were just having something of a wake. One that I myself didn’t feel like I needed to be a part of, especially since I’d heard the son wasn’t participating either.

He had chosen to spend a few days in isolation, fasting, as his way of honoring her memory. Not too normal, but also not something surprising for a potential priest to do either.

Honestly human deaths were something to be expected. Not only were they frail things, they simply didn’t live long. Though… it was a tad odd someone so old and unhealthy had even been given permission to join this expedition. Though I had thought it odd before, it was a tad disheartening to be given such proof so quickly.

“Hopefully it wasn’t the lack of a decent bed…” I mumbled as I sighed and stood. I stepped away from the pieces of Renn’s bed and glanced around at the other one’s I’d made so far. I planned to carry them all into the dormitory building soon, before the night got too late, as so the outside elements didn’t mess with them too much. It didn’t seem like it was going to rain anytime soon, and it was growing warmer by the day… but it would be just my luck that we had a sudden cold snap or something and as such ruined all my work.

Plus there was no need to let them all sit out here for no reason. I’d be able to carry the pieces in and put them all together relatively easily. And earlier, in the morning and while Renn had helped me build some of them, several of our other members had gone into town to purchase the actual bedding supplies. They had purchased enough fine cloth and even some feathers as to make the mattresses for the beds. They’d not be perfect, but they’d do fine temporarily until we got better supplies from Telmik.

“Shouldn’t be too long anyway,” I said softly as I thought of the twins. Randle had mentioned they planned to arrive soon, and would do so not just with supplies but people. I was honestly a tad worried over who was going to show up… but I also knew that it likely didn’t matter.

They’d likely be bringing me orders, or at least requests, once they did. So I’d not need to worry much about who was here and who wasn’t…

I sighed as I brushed my hands off and glanced around. I still had a few I wanted to build… but maybe I should just take all the beds into the building now, while everyone else was busy in the church for the wake. Other than the lad, at least.

Choosing to do so, I went ahead and picked up a few of the larger pieces of Renn’s bed. I decided to handle hers first, since maybe by doing so I’d get to avoid the teasing and whatnot by the others as they watched me put it together.

Plus I knew for a fact that Renn’s bedroom was still mostly empty. Enough so that I’d have no problem taking all the pieces in and putting it together… unlike a few others who were likely not so.

It was a sad thought… but Renn really didn’t own much. She had a small chest of personal items now, stuff she’s accumulated over our journey… but it was a far cry from what a typical person had. Even in this era of serfdom. It was honestly a tad… depressing to know that my wife likely owned less than any other common farmer’s wife.

I’ve given her a few things so far, and planned to give her more… such as the rings I wanted to make for her, but the truth of the matter was I’d not given her enough. And some of the few things I’d given her, such as her little nail box was starting to really wear down. I’d noticed it the other day as I helped her, and others, carry stuff into the building from the tents. Its little lid was barely holding on anymore, and not just because the tiny hinge had come undone. The very wood itself, that it was made of, was starting to warp. It had likely gotten damp or wet once or twice during our travels, just something that happened when living on the road.

Usually I’d not pay much mind at all to such a thing. One of her little decorative boxes or bags rips or breaks? Make a new one, or buy one. Some clothes wear down? Replace them. The pins she uses to keep her hat on firmly snap or get lost? Just make more.

But I knew to Renn it wasn’t that simple. Far from it, in fact.

Renn cherished the little things. Such as the feather she had gotten from Sap. Or that painting that Lughes had made before the chaos in Ruvindale. She had kept those things safe for a long time, though now they weren’t even here but instead in the cavern…

Wonder if I really should make such a base here. My plan was, under the property I’d purchased the other day with Renn here in town, to build a bunker styled underground building. One I could keep well hidden, and store things of importance in… such as hearts, or stuff I’d bring here over the years for Renn and myself.

Right now though that was still a distant plan. I’d not even finalized the purchase of the land yet, I’d have to get more money to really do so… Rivonne had offered capital, but I had not wanted to get so deep into her graces so quickly. I wanted to save her aid for a day when we really needed it…

“When, not if…” I whispered as I walked into the dormitory and carried the first part of Renn’s bed down the hall to her room. I found it open, the door ajar, but empty. I could tell by the quiet cold of the building that no one was here… or at least, not more than a single person. I could hear soft mumbling from upstairs, but it was a man’s voice doing so. It was likely the old woman’s son, Tristin… though if he was praying, mumbling to himself or talking to someone I couldn’t tell.

I left the man alone and continued bringing in bed pieces. It didn’t take me too long to bring in most the pieces and put them where they belonged, but occasionally I had to put the bed pieces out in the hallway in front of their intended destinations. Only a few rooms had left their doors open, and thus allowed me to step into them and place the pieces down accordingly. The rest had shut doors. And even though not locked, I was not authorized per long standing rules to enter such doors. I would need permission first, especially since no one’s life relied on my doing so.

As I continued bringing in the beds, people started to show up. At first it was Merit, who huffed at me but said nothing as she ignored me completely as she headed to her room. Then it was Nessa, Oplar’s mailroom girl… who was technically no longer working in a mailroom, so I knew I should probably stop dubbing her such. She thanked me for the bed, though did have to open her bedroom door for me to finish putting it in there for her.

The night arrived as I then went to putting the beds together. By the time I started doing so; nearly everyone was back from the church except Randle and his mute attendant. And because of this, my working speed dropped considerably. Where before it had only taken me a handful of minutes to put a bed together, it now took twice as long if not thrice… because people asked questions, offered deferring opinions on where to place them… and simply just chitchatted with and around me as I worked.

I didn’t mind of course. I was far more than used to such a thing, since it was typical for members to raise questions or simply talk to me as I worked… but it was a tad odd to do it all the while Renn was missing.

Sometime after nightfall, as the moon began to shine through the windows… as I helped Randle put together his bed, the last one needing to be put together, I finally found myself unable to resist figuring out where she was. I could sense her, but only distantly.

“Where’s Renn?” I asked Randle as I patted the end post of his bed. It was finally put together.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Oh…? You weren’t told? Sap returned a few hours ago, she’s in the church with her,” Randle said.

I frowned at that. “What…?” I asked, a tad shocked. Sap was back? And had been for that long and no one had told me…?

Rude.

Randle nodded as he stepped back as Merit and Celine carried in a makeshift mattress. It, like nearly every other one made today, was just a large sewn up collection of clean and soft cloths and feathers. I helped them get it into the bed-frame, squishing it into it, and smiled once we got it tucked in firmly. It was a tad too firm for my taste, and I knew the one Renn had was the same, but it was still far better than nothing… and also better than the hammocks and simple blankets some of them had been sleeping on this whole time. And would be especially so once they all broke them in and put their own pillows and blankets down upon them to better soften them.

Though hopefully Renn would not complain too much over their smell… the cloths and feathers weren’t too bad, but Renn had a picky nose. Hopefully I eliminated the smell soon enough for her…

“Thank you, Vim. Merit, Celine,” Randle thanked us as I nodded and stepped out of the room, before anyone could ask me to move their beds again. A few had, after I’d already finished putting them together and helping handle the mattress, had come to ask me to move it again after realizing they didn’t like it where it were. I figured it’d happen for a few days at least, until people settled… but right now…

Sneaking out of the dormitory, a little too easily, I smiled as I headed for the church building. It was bigger than the dormitory, but not by much. Plus it really only had one floor. The upper section of it was just a few small rooms for storage, nothing more. Plus it really didn’t have any big windows, and wasn’t very decorative either. I’d fashioned it in a simple manner, per Randle’s request, and as such it looked more like a big barn than anything else. I knew eventually he’d build, or would ask others, to build religious motifs and maybe even a large cross to place atop it… but for now it was as is.

Entering the church, I frowned at the odd smell of candles. Ones with odd scents. I stepped deeper into the church as I heard Renn hum thoughtfully as I glanced around. There were hundreds of candles littered all over, on the windowsills, on tables and shelves… even on the floor. Not a one as lit anymore, but their scent still strongly lingered from having been lit earlier. Likely during the wake.

“You know I always am surprised at how fast it happens, yet I guess Vim and I had been much the same in our own way,” Renn said, speaking lightly to Sap.

The two were sitting at one of the few tables in the church, not far from the back of it where the podium was. The place still was relatively empty, since I’d not made any pews or anything yet. Sap chuckled at Renn as the two glanced at me on my approach. “You say that as if it happens overnight. It’s not over yet, you know,” she said to Renn’s statement.

“I assume then Lellip has benevolently accepted Branches?” I asked as I walked over to the two.

Sap grinned as Renn happily stood and nodded at me. “Isn’t it great!?” Renn asked.

Yes. It honestly was.

“I’m glad. Especially since I was wondering how I’d overlook the fact that Nebl would have ripped the lad’s head off had he broke her heart, and neither I nor Lilly would have been able to disagree with such an action,” I said.

Sap laughed. “Now I want to meet that man even more! Lellip has bragged a lot about him, the smith that not even a mountain could eat!” Sap said.

What a way to put it. “He’s a good man,” I said as I glanced at Renn. She had stepped towards me and hadn’t sat back down. She looked… apprehensive. “Hm?” I smiled at her to let her know she can go ahead and say whatever was on her mind. Was it about Lellip? Lilly? The wake they just partook in?

“Can I go back home with her, Vim? For a few days at least?” she asked without hesitation.

Ah… I nodded softly. “Of course, Renn. Hopefully this is just to celebrate their new budding relationship…?” I asked with a glance to Sap.

The winged owl’s grin slowly died as she softly shook her head. “It’s actually because of my sister,” she said simply.

Great. “Not getting better is she?” I asked.

“If she had wings Vim, I’d bet by now they’d be listless and mangy and unable to keep her aloft. That’s how bad it is,” Sap said softly.

I sighed at that. “Depression is a hell of a drug,” I said.

“Drug?” Renn asked.

“So you plan to go back in hopes of… what? Cheering her up?” I asked her, ignoring her questioning look.

Renn nodded. “Lilly wants me to bring her here. To give her something to do. Since she really likes the kids and the church stuff,” Renn said.

Right… Lilly’s daughter, Crown, has been for the last couple decades working at one of the abbeys north of Telmik. Though more on the orphanage side than not. We still didn’t have such a program set up here, and likely wouldn’t for a few years, but… we did have plenty of kids, considering.

“Plus it’d let me and mother keep an eye on her. Mother plans to come and… linger, as she calls it,” Sap added. I could tell she planned to do the same.

Figured. “You owls usually do raise your children from a distance, but I hope she doesn’t neglect Root,” I said… and immediately felt bad for doing so. Neither Sap nor Renn seemed to notice much my statement as they nodded and agreed with me, but I felt like kicking myself.

Usually I didn’t share such personal opinions so readily… not even to Renn, let alone in earshot of others…

Feeling a bit bad, I coughed and cleared my throat. “So? If you left tonight I bet the two of you could get there rather quick,” I said. Did Sap plan on flying there with Renn? She’d likely be able to do it if Renn didn’t take any large bags or anything.

“See? I told you he’d suggest it,” Renn said with a huge grin.

Ah. I’d been seen through. Sap grinned back and nodded a little worriedly. “I don’t mind trying, Renn… but it’s not as easy as you think,” she warned.

“But I’ll pretend to be as light as a feather, promise!” Renn argued.

“She is actually pretty light. You’ll be a little surprised when you go to pick her up,” I said. Renn, being such a thick-blooded predator, was deceptively deceiving concerning her weight. It was why when she showed excess strength it was so shocking, because in theory her weight and mass shouldn’t allow her to be so explosive in power.

“Did he just call me fat?” Renn asked Sap.

“Honestly I don’t know. Could be either yes or no,” Sap said.

I sighed at the two. “If you do try, keep low and if you drop her do so either over water or grass. She’s sturdy but if you drop her through trees, it’ll blunt her fall but she’d likely break half her bones as she hits the branches,” I warned. Realistically Renn would likely be able to survive a rather big distance of a fall; what with her not just being what she was but thanks to her heart… but that didn’t mean I wanted them to risk it.

“You say that but mother always tells me dropping people into lakes and stuff is a surefire way to kill them,” Sap noted.

“Because she’s right. Water can become harder than land depending on velocity and stuff, but at lower altitudes it’s safer because it can cushion more. In reality the best thing to land on from extreme height is snow, if you really had to choose,” I said.

“That makes a lot of sense,” Renn said.

“Honestly as long as she doesn’t land on her head, or sharp rocks or gets punctured by trees and stuff… she’d likely survive nearly any fall, though wouldn’t enjoy doing so,” I said as I thought of it.

“Why are you talking as if I’m destined to fall anyway?” Renn asked with a huff.

“Sap’s dropped people before,” I said.

“It was one time…!” Sap groaned.

Renn grinned happily as Sap’s wings fluttered in embarrassed annoyance. Which was funny to me, since we were talking about something that might endanger her life. Usually hearing such a thing would make one hesitant to agree, yet it seemed she found it even more appealing. My wife sure was odd.

“Well… I suppose this is fate then. I finally make us a bed suitable enough and you go on and abandon me,” I said with a sigh.

Renn turned and blushed as she laughed at me. “Vim!”

“What…? Listen I love my sister, Renn, but she’s not worth missing out on that you know?” Sap teased.

“Sap!” Renn then turned to laugh at her.

I enjoyed the moment for a moment, as the two giggled at each other, and then decided I should send a letter with Renn to Lilly and Windle. I knew I could just tell Renn and thus have her repeat it for me… but there was actually something I wanted to say to them that I wanted to keep secret. For now at least.

But if I did that Lilly might still just tell Renn its contents… but I suppose that was a risk I’d have to make…? Honestly it was becoming rather obvious that I wasn’t doing too good a job at keeping secrets from her, even the ones I really needed to keep. But…

“I’m going to go write a letter real quick then, before you go,” I said as I decided to do so.

“Okay. I’ll come let the rest know that I’ll be leaving in a second,” Renn then said as she kept smirking at me.

“Yes, yes. Leave me alone to endure the brunt of the teasing as they all remind me of how hilariously timed it is that you leave the moment a bed is ready,” I said as I stepped away.

The two returned to giggling, which I enjoyed and was almost so nice to hear that I didn’t actually leave… but I did anyway.

“Who’d you drop, by the way?” Renn then asked as I left.

“Vim.”

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