Janna gazed over her day's work. Even after eleven hours the dill and basil still filled her nostrils. Soon, perhaps two weeks she could begin harvesting her spices and rare herbs. In less than three months she would be on a boat drifting down the Wander River to Von Bhunal. For nearly all of her bundled and sun dried spices she might receive 20 Orbs, barely enough to cover travel expenses. Her garden however, includes Aze'ean Sweet-Herb. Properly harvested she would only attain a yield of one, maybe one and one-half pecks of the coveted herb, but she could bargain for 500 Orbs or more per peck.

She paused a moment, realizing that she had not even thought about food since early morning. Her stomach growled loud in anticipation of its next meal, one of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers with a large helping of the cheese wheel Godwin had traded her two days earlier. Tomorrow she would have to leave her beloved gardens to hunt small game west towards Swamp Sloosh to replenish her meat reserves.

"Maybe I'll just go fishing." She thought aloud, breathing deeply a sudden cool breeze, and turned towards her cottage. A wiry, homely man of moderate stature moved towards her rapidly, like a cat pouncing. The unexpected arrival of another person in her solitary surroundings surprised her.

"You always talk to yourself, Janna?" Willes questioned snidely, still moving forward quickly. He grabbed her free arm. His steel gray eyes peered into hers, his grip surprisingly strong for someone so slight of build. She pulled away from him quickly only to fall to one knee, her loosely-tied long black hair splashing onto her shoulders.

She grasped her trowel tightly in hand trying to keep her eyes locked on his, looking for any indication of what may be his next move realizing to her dismay, she was located behind her tallest most concealing crop: the sunflowers. "What do you want on my property, Willey?"

"You! And everything you have of course. Haven't I made that obvious in the past?" Her heart thumped so loudly she could swear that the ground shook as he lunged at her again.

She rolled backward in a reverse somersault to regain her feet, quietly thanking the small part of her heart that beat Elven, giving her greater agility than a normal human. The energy had been wasted. She watched as Willes sailed a good ten feet from the charge Godwin had launched. The ground really had shook. Godwin stepped between her and Willes, the full bulk of Godwin's 300 or more pounds obstructing her view. She heard the staggering footfalls of a limping man trying to run. Willes was more than smart enough to know that he couldn't weather a stand-up fight with Godwin.

"You won't even live long enough to regret that Godwin." She heard Willes hiss back as she stepped around the massive human in front of her. She could see him holding his ribs as he hastily retreated.

"Humph!" grunted Godwin. " Maybe I should go after him... maybe beat some more sense into him. I ain'ever seen the little barstard quite so cocky, imagine that little cow-turd threat'n my life."

"I don't know Godwin. I can't imagine what could have possibly gotten into him. He has always been arrogant, nasty little runt but..." Janna's voice trailed off, her mind capable only of composing half the thought. She brushed off her ragged pants, not realizing that the day's work had rendered idle brushing useless. Looking around the ground at her feet she spied a short piece of yellow twine, picked it up, and bound her hair back into its familiar pony-tail.

"I suspect lunercy. I mean, after all, it is only two days to a full 'un. Wha'cha think, I mean, it could be possible... right?" He questioned hesitantly.

"Well, I would have my serious doubts. The two are probably not related."

"Well, you would know more 'bout that than me. Here, let me carry that for ya." He spoke as he grabbed the trowel from her hand.

"I'm perfectly capable of carrying a small trowel Godwin." Janna smiled but made no effort toward the tool.

"Well, I wou'nt want ya ta strain yerself ." He stated firmly.

Pausing a moment to scan her expansive gardens, "Your about ten hours too late for that", she mused.

******************************************************************************

Janna had two rooms in her cottage, her living/bedroom and her kitchen which outsized the former room by two to one. The living area contained little else beyond her bed, a simple dresser, two windows and a small, two shelved bookcase. In her kitchen there was a small table with three chairs, a rough hewn countertop, three windows, two cabinets and a large iron wood stove. Above the countertop, in various stages of dryness, hung a huge assortment of herbs. Janna and Godwin sat in the kitchen drinking comfrey saffron tea. Godwin added a touch of whiskey to his blend.

"So wha'cha think would make the lil' runt so uppity?" Godwin leaned forward, the table creaking under his massive forearms.

"I don't know. He's a queer one." She replied. "Besides, I've got more important things to worry about. The Sweet Herb needs wet acidic soil and all this sun we've had lately isn't helping."

"Gods Janna! You has'ta be the only one in the world that wou'nt appreciate this weather. I mean by Orin's left testicle, if you ev'n get half that crop you'll still be richer 'an anyone else round 'ere."

"You know it goes beyond just the gold Godwin. I need to prove to my parents that I can succeed in this venture. Everyone else who came to form our little unnamed village had a viable profession. Bick's woodworking skills, your years at the livery and husbandry skills, even Willes' liquor making contributes to our tiny community. I'm lucky I can sustain myself, let alone add to the mix."

"Well thanks for the compliment, but I ain' ev'n married yet."

"What? What do you mean? What's being married have to do with any of this?" Janna shook her head and took a sip of tea, waiting for his explanation.

"Well ya mention'd my husbandry skills and I ain' ev'n married yet." Godwin stated indignantly.

Janna nearly choked on her tea. She quickly reached for a clean towel to wipe her chin. A huge smile played across her face. "I meant your animal husbandry skills."

"Now wait a min'it! I don' know who's been telling who what but..."

"No, no, no. I'm talking about your ability to breed animals, how you have such good livestock. I didn't mean anything else." Janna interrupted. It took all of her strength to avoid bursting out in laughter.

"Oh... Umm... thanks."

...to be continued.