Soul Fire Sale, chapter 12.

Ditto with this one. Please enjoy.

The sun felt good, everywhere my dress wasn't touching. Which was probably too many places on my body, but I couldn't do much about that now; I'd have new clothes tomorrow, or so Amiera had assured me. I wasn't so enthused about the two new dresses I was promised, but the pants and shirts I'd asked for would be welcome.

If I got one of these peasant dresses and Oliver laughed about it, he was wearing the second one. As for me, I'd steal and wear Loam's stuff if I had to. Sure, I'd swim in it, but it would be preferable. I couldn't even be all judgy at how those dresses made certain women's breasts pop out, since this dress did the same for mine and worse.

I swear, I would be the only prudish witch on this entire world. All would marvel at my prudish-ness.

Overall, the effect was one of warmth, even though the day was cold enough to chill drinks with. I was a little surprised I didn't need to break ice to get to the well water.

It was still good, though.

I watched with a bit of amusement as Loam pulled her drinking trick, only this time while upending the bucket, she had her pinkies out as if drinking tea from a very large cup. She stopped with one bucket, and then turned to look at me.

She looked expectant, for just a second. She... wanted me to wipe her off, didn't she?

"Follow me Loam."

My golem, my wonderfully infuriating creation, followed me. I led her to the porch of the mayor's house and snagged his spare towel, or napkin, or whatever it was. He wasn't using it at all judging from the amount of crumbs he was wearing, and the only thing I could do was stain it with water.

The mayor did not object at any point while I wiped my golem down. Even though he didn't know Loam was a golem.

At least, I didn't think he did. I knew he was more competent than he looked, and I didn't mean that in the insulting way.

No, he was just staring at Loam's boobs. Joke was on him, then.

I placed the towel back on the empty chair; with luck, the sun would dry it... in about twelve hours or so.

"Sorry about that. Your towel was closer."

The mayor waved it off, switching his gaze... to me. Not my eyes. "Think nothing of it; no harm done."

He looked like he wanted to say more for a moment, but then decided better on it. I turned away, and I would have sworn I could feel his gaze switch for just a moment. I was grateful for my cloak. "Loam, follow me."

I was making it clearly apparent, but somehow no one was calling me on the obvious. Or what I thought was obvious.

Loam followed, of course.

There was little to do but wait; I wanted my new clothes before we left for the mountain, and that wasn't likely to happen today. Four sets of clothing for three people in one day, even if you had the measurements? For one person? We might be here the rest of the week. Hmm, what even were the days of the week here? A thought, and the answer just popped into my head.

Something I would never really get used to, and yet even so wanted more of. A lot more of.

I entered the house to find Oliver sitting where I'd left him some time ago. Still sipping tea... yet his bag was beside him and packed. He wanted to be gone from here as much as I did. Maybe even more.

I hadn't found out too much about the mark he bore; it was a head swimmingly complex rune that bound to his name and bound that to consequences and a contract that apparently just worked on presence alone.

Having someone automatically sign a contract just because they were present was a special kind of diabolical evil. One that I'm sure whatever demon king lived here to torment everyone would approve of as being right at home in his kingdom.

I suppressed a shudder; I wasn't happy about my lot, but the new body had at least spared me a type of horrific and disgusting slavery seared into my very soul.

The magic was familiar, however, and moral quandaries aside, It was only a matter of time before I cracked it. I'd already found at least one thread I could follow.

I was sure I could have it off him before we hit a city or some form of recall order came through; then we could pull a fade and see.

I sat, and Loam sat beside me; the chair nearest the one I liked near the window empty no longer. She just plunked right down, watching me the entire time.

It wasn't like she had to be standing to keep me safe, so that was fine. Better than fine even, if she could act naturally.

Well, more naturally; there was no sense getting carried away there. Right now, she was perched on the thing awkwardly, and the chair was creaking in protest, just a bit. I leaned back, and my creation did too.

"Another day here is going to be moderately horrible," Oliver commented idly, staring at something behind me out the window.

"I thought you liked it here?" I couldn't help but ask. He'd been cheerful just the day before.

"It's a warm bed and hot meals," he answered. "But getting watched as if I might snap and kill everyone here is getting old."

I couldn't argue that. The mix of awe, fear, and wariness felt seeped into the very earth of the place. Into the stones, bricks, mortar, and wood that made this entire village up. "I think that they are watching me, not you. I think it's a class thing."

"Bullshit," Oliver answered mildly. "The stares are for both of us."

He might be right. I might simply have read too much into it. I didn't think so - Oliver had gotten smiles when people thought he was alone. But it was nice of him to say regardless.

"The sooner we can set up a tower in the middle of nowhere, the better."

"I can't argue. But I also can't help but think the world at large won't let us alone. And when we figure things out... I'd really like to help the others."

That was vague, yet not vague enough. I leaned back, out of easy view, and held a finger to my lips. Some people could be listening even now. "Of course, way ahead of you there; us other-worlders have to stick together to defeat the demon King, no matter who paid for our services."

I'd almost said 'no matter who owns our leashes', but that might also have given the game away. I was going to need to watch that.

"I was thinking about that," Oliver continued. "Once we get set up, we could start a rumor mill. Something like 'come see the witch of the west for all your problems! Consultations on the cheap!' something like that."

That... would not work. "We could, and sure, we might get in touch with our friends. but we would definitely get a bunch of idiots who don't need us to solve their problems stopping by. Unless we put our tower in a place that almost no one could reach... and I'm not really a fan of us potentially leading our own into an area that has dangers capable of killing them. They aren't all as strong as we are, after all."

Oliver hummed. "Fair point. We will have to work on it."

"You work that problem; I'll work the other one." First things first, after all.

I brought out ink and quill; writing things down helped me catalog and understand the stuff this weird system was foisting upon me, and I didn't get how this 'create lesser growth' was different than 'create greater growth', and the creation spells. Yay, I could make stone.

I couldn't use the made stone for golems though, for some reason. Why?

No idea. It had to be found, gathered, and cut by the person to use it for best results, and using something created through magic didn't help at all. There was a way to cheat, after a fashion, but I wasn't going to cast any spells to make rock flow like a river just yet. That seemed like nine kinds of bad idea for the moment.

Enough of this. "We're counting chickens, and all that. We can work out how to meet the others later, after we've done a good job for our current employer. Who knows? He might even be reasonable and allow us to all on his own."

I didn't believe that, and I was certain Oliver didn't either; but any watchers and listeners might.

"Right, right. We've got a nice relaxing hike up the mountain to plan for." Oliver agreed, even nodding along. Of course, he was in full view of the window.

Neither of us would be walking, of course. Not once we were out of sight of this village. "Can you think of anything you need to bring?"

"Just the normal stuff. Food, water, some herbs. I'd love some more potions, but that's not happening, so we will make do."

"Can you think of anything we need to bring that we already have on that scale?" We didn't have a lot of food and water. About a week's worth; there were no real shops here that offered preserved food. At least not any that I or Oliver had seen just yet.

There were certainly shops and farmer's markets here, but they weren't open. Open for us, or open at all, I didn't know yet. I likely never would, unless I disguised myself and came back.

We would have to come back to report in, but after that, I was done here. We were done here.

Come to think of it, we could get out now. Forage for what we needed. It wasn't like the wolves were going to attack us. "I think we should just go out and forage. Go up for a bit and see what we can find while we can. It gets us out of here, and with the wolves, the villagers haven't been able to do the thing for some time."

Oliver scratched his chin. "Sounds good to me. I'll put my shoes on."

Shoes on, huh? I had my boots on already, of course. I should have taken them off, possibly, but I hadn't tracked anything in, so it should be fine.

"Loam, go get your sword and come back here."

It was possible they might send someone to watch us even while we were out and about, but they couldn't use everyone; it just wasn't safe. Loam did as she was told and made it back before Oliver showed his face again.

It was another two minutes or so before he came waltzing back... or rather stomping back. "Stupid boot won't settle... there."

He finally stood upright, and then they were both waiting for me.

I stood up and led the way, Oliver giving way to let me go first. Loam quick on my heels but not quite stepping on them, he sword slung on her shoulder like she liked it.

I was going to be happy when she had a scabbard for the thing.

The streets were empty; the mayor watched us go. The gates were open, and the guards watched us go, too. One favored us with a wave, so of course I waved back.

You know, for a place with demons attacking and monsters and feral beats everywhere, the gates for this town were open far too much. At the very least, I wouldn't leave the damn things open if I were in charge.

Whatever, I wasn't in charge.

The more important point was, my sense life spell caught the hunter, or ranger, or whatever he was, following us out. I probably wouldn't have caught the man trailing us without the spell, but since I knew to look for a tail, it was all too easy. Still, the man was skilled.

He was likely the only man here who could follow us anywhere on this mountain. Which was sad because it was likely he'd be behind us when we left tomorrow. We might have to give him the slip before we take flight.

Invisibility was an option for that, I suppose. Would Loam freak out if she couldn't see me? Could she see me? Ugh, more things to test.

Oliver was looking back occasionally, as if he'd be able to spot the man. Who knows, maybe he would... but I had all the X's to doubt from me.

I could already sense some other little lights as well, squirrels and rabbits and birds. I couldn't sense the mushrooms or plants, however, which was probably a good thing since I'd be blind right now if I could. There was probably a different spell for it, but oddly enough, I hadn't seen it offhand. One of few I didn't know, or was I just blind?

It didn't matter.

"So what are we looking for?" Oliver asked.

I wasn't in the mood for small game; we could already get enough of that in the town. "It's the wrong season, I think, but nuts and berries I guess? With how cold it is, we've got to be nearing winter, I think. Unless the seasons don't work the same here, somehow."

"It isn't just being on a mountain, for sure. Summer and fall on mountains aren't like this. However, you're forgetting. We did get told winter was approaching already. So, yeah. We aren't likely to find anything. Not like those first two days, anyway."

Shit, he was right. It was mentioned in the keep by the staff. I'd been a little distracted since, and had it slip my mind.

I needed to work on that. Maybe find a coffee replacement. Or some other kind of stimulant - I was too young to be suffering dementia just yet. I hoped.

"Don't worry about it," Oliver said. "We all have those senior moments. Nothing wrong, seeing that from an older lady."

Right. "I'll older lady you. You're going to get the toad treatment. Poof!"

My companion waved that off. "Then who will help you remember what season it is... or what day?"

Hell, he had a point. I wasn't about to let that go, though: "Loam will."

Oliver just gave me a stare for that one, as if to say it wasn't worth his time.

Motion made me look. Loam was nodding. At me. As if she knew what I was saying, and agreed with it.

It was a little cute... and more than a little terrifying.

Still, if there was a way, then I was sure now that Loam would find it. She was learning, still learning - and doing it at a scary rate.

"Well, we might be stuck to small game then. Let's look around and see what we can see."

"Something wrong with game?"

I should have expected that question: "Not really, but I think we need other things. Vegetables, wild onions, maybe rice or oats... something other than just meat. I do not think we can just eat tasty animals the entire time."

Oliver smirked. "Not a fan of Keto?"

I decided I'd answer seriously: "I don't trust it. Too many weirdos in that space, to my understanding."

Oliver got serious too. "Well, it does work. I and a few friends tried it before. I left it because there was too much else I wanted, but some friends of mine? Absolutely ripped and enjoying life."

"Good to know, but I still want that variety if I can get it."

"Sure!" My companion agreed readily enough. "I don't blame you, I do too."

Wait, what was that there? A splash of color... red and yellow, among the tattered muddy colored leaves and faded branches on the forest floor.

A withered mushroom. A rather large one, and quite poisonous if I could trust the knowledge shoved into my head. It had a use, however. It could be distilled into a potion for curing poisons derived from the same family of mushrooms it was a part of.

I plucked it carefully, mentally putting it in the bad pile and making sure my gloves were on firmly.

Oliver watched me. "Not a good one, then?"

"Good for potions. Just got to make sure I don't eat any of it before processing. Or anyone else, really."

I settled in for the long haul. "Just keep your eyes open. If you need to know whether something is edible or useful, bring it to me. We likely won't find anything else this close, but we got hours yet."

I could see, doing this, why our hunter-gatherer ancestors couldn't wait to settle down. This was likely to take all day and net us nothing at all. Well, almost nothing; we had already got something after all.

It was nice moving around, at least. Good exercise.