Six days later, the two women arrived outside the farming village of Brightfield.  Setting up camp that afternoon in a meadow filled with sweetgrass and a nearby pond fed by a clear running stream, they unhitched the horses, letting them wander to graze and rest.  They themselves, being a bit weary from the long trip, sat next to the campfire to relax and eat.

"You know Petra, this haggis isn't too bad, really," Cailin said to her companion, "the redberry cider you also brought, and I thank you for that, helps wash it down."   Then with a slight laugh, Cailin continued, "I'm just glad you didn't tell me what it was made of until I had a few bites to determine that."  Amused with her friend's comment, Petra replied, "yer welcome, darlin'... it does come as a surprise to many that such gods awful stuff can make a decent meal.  And with my secret blend of herbs and spices, it be even better... fit fer a king."  "I don't know about that, o' great chef," Cailin chided, " I said it wasn't too bad, I don't recall mentioning anything about courtly cuisine."  And with that, both women began laughing and sharing the camaraderie of their joint venture.

A few moments later, Cailin rose from her seat and turning to her friend, "think I'll head down to the pond and wash off some of this road dust, why don't you join me?  The horses will be fine and we'll be close enough to take care of any problems should they arise."  "Ye go ahead, love.  That water looks a little too chilly fer these old bones of mine," Petra replied, "besides, I still got a half tankard of stout to finish... would be an unforgivable sin to let it go to waste.  I'll start settin' up our bedding here in a bit while ye be gone."  "Suit yourself, then," Cailin told Petra as she walked to the wagon to retrieve a light blanket to take with her, "you know, one of these days you're going to play that 'old woman' stuff once too often and it's going to come around to bite you on the butt."  Walking back by the dwarf on her way to the water, Cailin bent down to give the woman a hug, "I won't be too long, I'll be back in a bit to help you finish."  Giving Petra a light kiss on the forehead, Cailin once again started her short trek toward the pond.

When Cailin arrived at the pond, she partially unfolded the blanket beside some large rocks.  As she undressed, she lay her clothes on the blanket. placing her sword and her father's favorite knife (Kukukirhi she remembered him calling it, funny sounding name she thought) on top of the pile.  Then easing down the rocks, lowered herself slowly into the comfortably cool water and wading out a little until it came up to her waist.  A few minutes passed when she sensed she was no longer alone... thinking Petra had changed her mind and decided to join her, Cailin glanced toward the camp and saw the woman moving items from the wagon into their tent.  Turning slowly toward where she felt the other presence, Cailin glimpsed from the corner of her eye, what looked like a man's shape trying to hide himself in the plants just a sort distance past where she had laid her clothes and weapons.  Not wanting to arouse the intruder's suspicions that he had been discovered, Cailin nonchalantly lowered her body under the water's surface appearing as if she were rinsing off.  In an instant, she made her way underwater, leaping over the rocks to snatch the kukukirhi  from its sheath, her momentum covering the distance to the interloper in the blink of an eye... slamming her shoulder into the kneeling man's chest, knocking him on his back.  Landing astride the the man, her free hand pressing hard upon his chest, pinning him to the ground and the other holding the knife against his throat, its razor keen edge making a slight cut to the flesh of his neck... not enough to bleed, but enough to know it was there.

"PETRA... COME QUICKLY... I NEED YOU!!!" ,Cailin bellowed, then turning her eyes back to the stunned man, angrily shouted, "who are you, what do you want?"  After getting a better look at the man's face, Cailin exclaimed, "YOU?!?!"  Still in a state of shock from the woman's assault, the man looked meekly up toward her face and managing a weak smile replied, "well, hello again."  Continuing in a shaking voice he went on, "you know, having a beautiful, naked woman astride me on such a lovely evening in so wondrous a place, I would normally find most... ... ... pleasant.  However, the knife really is dampening the mood."  With a disgusted grunt, Cailin replied, "you just don't know when to give up, do you?"  With a nervous chuckle, he responded' "well at least you should respect the fact that I am tenacious."

Hearing her friend's call for help, Petra quickly retrieved her father's old battle axe from the wagon and ran to Cailin's aid, grabbing a lit torch as she passed.  Within seconds of the call, Petra arrived on the scene, "what be happenin'... are ye hurt... what ye got there?"  Turning his eyes toward the dwarf, the man said, "Petra, my love, how are you doing?  Marvelous evening for a moonlit stroll, don't you think?"   "Marren?", Petra questioned, "what in blazes are ye doin' here?  And, don't ye dare 'my love' me, ye scoundrel."  Shifting her gaze toward her friend, but still holding her captive firm, "you know him?" ,Cailin asked.  "Aye," stated Petra, "his name be Marren Jorann, hunter, trapper, tracker by trade... came to Stoneport a little over three years ago."  "Also, fancies himself a ladies' man... a legend in his own mind," she added with a sarcastic grin.  "Ladies man, huh?" ,Cailin retorted, "explains a lot."  "Oh, he hit on you, too?" , Petra laughed, then looking back at Marren, "Not surprising... ... ... did the same to me his first night in Stoneport.  If I'd had a few more brews in me, I probably would've taken him up on the offer... lucky fer him I didn't, don't think he'd have survived the night."  Once again, speaking to her companion with a sigh, Petra said, "let him up Cailin... he may be a total ass, but he be harmless.  Grab yer stuff and head back to camp, we'll be along shortly."

"You're bringing him back to camp?!", Cailin exclaimed.  "Aye, these woods aren't safe fer a lone person to be at night and he can sleep by the fire to keep it stoked... besides, he promised to behave himself," pointing her axe at Marren added, "didn't ye Marren?"  Looking in the short, but stout muscular woman's eyes, Marren meekly responded, "yes ma'am."  Pushing herself off Marren's chest forcefully enough to cause him to loose his breath again, Cailin reached down, grabbed the blanket and threw it around her, gathered her clothing and with a huff began walking back to camp.  Turning again to Marren, who by now was on his feet and gingerly rubbing the spot where Cailin's knife had nicked his neck, Petra said, "well lad, ye got one night reprieve, make the most of it.  Now what are ye doin' here, exactly?"

Marren stood silent for a moment, his attention still on the woman walking away that recently was about to separate his head from his shoulders, then replied to Petra, "she's quite a woman... by the way, did you notice she's an elf?"  Shaking her head in frustration, Petra let out a heavy sigh, "aye, again Marren, what are ye doin' here?"  "Hmmm, I always thought elves were a might taller and blond, any way, it's a long story... perhaps if I were allowed to stay a little longer than a night, I could fill you in on all the details.  How about it, Petra, please."  With a bit of resignation in her voice, Petra spoke again to Marren, "all right, I'll discuss it with Cailin and do what I can fer ye, but know this now... Cailin is in charge and her word is final.  Now, I know ye didn't travel all this way with only the clothes on yer back, let's go get yer gear.  Then we're goin' to have that nice moonlit stroll you mentioned and discuss the ground rules on our way back to camp."  As they began walking, Marren looked at the hand he had been rubbing his neck with and found a minute smear of blood, showing it to Petra, he exclaimed, "look, she actually cut me!"  Straining to see the small spot, Petra sighed, "oh, shut up ye big baby, let's go... ... ..."
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