Chapter 9

Plasevain Woods, the Kingdom of Wuthia, 1125

Mabel Laenas

We continued onward through the Plasevain Woods. Now that we were fully rested, we felt much better about our journey to Olnfield. Each of my brothers seemed pretty okay and well-adjusted, but looks can be deceiving. But at least they weren’t falling asleep while riding. I take that as a win, I guess.

“So,” Richard said, breaking the silence. “What should we be in this new town? Should we still be farmers? Or something completely different?”

“Farming would be practical,” I said.

“Oh, come on,” Richard groaned. “Isn’t starting over meaning you can do something else than what you were doing before?”

“Then what do you have in mine?” Solomon said. “What does our eldest brother think we should become in this town?”

“Thank you for asking, dear younger brother,” Richard smiled. “I think we should open a tavern.”

“What?!” Both Solomon and I said.

“Hear me out,” Richard started. “A tavern is a well-needed place in any civilization. It’s a place for community, building up connections, and a somewhat easier way to get money. It beats slaving away on a farm our entire lives.”

I wanted to argue with his proposition, but he did make some good points. Taverns are central to public and community life in any town. A hub for travelers and locals to socialize, conduct business, and exchange ideas in a comfortable setting. It can also be a way we can gain the trust of the townsfolk in Olnfield. Becoming well-known figures, we can create strong connections in the town. This will help us hide from any authorities who come looking for us. We will have the trust of the townsfolk and their protection. I was still trying to figure out the downside of his proposition.

“And it’ll be a good place where you can scope the maiden in Olnfield,” Solomon grinned.

There it was.

I must be focused on too many other things that I completely overlooked my brother’s strong character trait.

“A bonus as well,” Richard smiled.

“No,” I said. “We will find something else. Something that will be respectable and clean. And it won’t lead to any problems. That goes along with you, too, Richard.”

“Me?” He gasped.

“Yes,” I said, “You. In this new town and new life that we are starting, you have to change your ways. Especially now, after we learned what lies within us. The same thing that made mother run off to a temple in the mountains and get father killed.”

Everybody got silent.

We haven’t really talked about the cause of our family tragedy and change. I believed we probably just wanted to brush it off our minds to move forward. I love to do that. But we can’t be ignorant of the danger that lies within us. If we are going to escape from our family darkness, we have to become better. Change to adapt to our new reality.

I looked at Richard.

He just nodded in understanding.

I looked to Solomon.

He did the same thing.

“Does that mean I can’t have sex ever?” Richard finally spoke. “I mean, what if and I do mean a big ‘if’, want to have kids?”

I sighed. “I guess you can have sex. But just remember not to lose yourself to it. Stay in control.”

“Easy said than done,” Richard said.

“I understand that,” I said, “and it’s going to be hard, but I believe that you can do it. You’re stronger than you think.”

“You really think so?”

“That’s what father always said,” I said. “He never gave up on you. He saw your potential, and I do too.”

He just smiled. “Thanks.”

I smiled back. “Don’t mention it, you big dope.”

I may not show it, being that I learned how not to, but I can understand with my brother’s plight. I may be a strong and determined young woman, but I won’t lie that my body does have its needs. I prayed to all the gods in the Seven, especially to Nearis the Maid, when I had to drag Richard out of the Narrow Nugget that night. All those hard dicks and chests exposed to me. My cheeks burned as I just thought about it. I fought with everything I had in me to keep myself in check, but I must confess, if I stayed just a little longer in there, I surely would’ve broken. This was what mother felt all the time, and she held back for many years before she broke. I just have to keep my hopes up that my strength and my determination can keep me from falling into that growing darkness in my family.