During dinner we sat at the table eating mom's stew.

"Aya, so what's it like being an adventurer?" Lillie, asked. "Do you fight lots of monsters and stuff?"

I could tell my sister was excited. Even though I couldn't see them, I could hear the creaking of the chair as Lillie swung her short legs back, and forth as she always did when she was excited about something.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Replied Aya.

"Have you ever fought an ogre, or a troll, or a dragon, or a-"

"Lillie, let's not overload her with too many questions now", Mom said, cutting her short. "I'm sure she's very tired"

"Oh, I don't mind really!" Aya assured them. "It's the least I can do for all your hospitality... And the flour incident", she said with her eyes shifting to one side.

She looked at Lillie and whispered. "Just the ogre and the troll. I've never seen a dragon." She said with a smile.

I could hear Lillie's feet kicking faster as she laughed.

"So, I hear you're headed to Gram tomorrow, is that right Aya?", Mom asked.

"Yes, that's right. I was supposed to meet there with my party today, until I got lost." She said embarrassed and slightly trailing off.

"If that's the case you can go with my husband. He's heading there tomorrow."

"Oh, if that's where you're headed then you can definitely hitch a ride with me in the wagon." dad said shoveling another spoon of stew into his mouth.

"Wait, why are you going to Gram tomorrow, Dad?", I asked.

"I gotta go ask for an extension on the damn tax the kingdom added. If I don't you know they're just going to find that as a reason to start sending in soldiers to start seizing all the stuff they can to make up the difference. Then it's going to be bye-bye home before you know it"

"Dad, are they really going to take all our stuff?" Lillie asked with a slight whimper.

"No, no. They're not. That's why I'm going down tomorrow to talk to them about an extension. It's completely unreasonable and they know it."

"Should I come too?", I asked.

"No, I need you here so we don't fall behind on any of the work.", Dad said shaking his head. "One day off could set us back a lot more than you'd think."

"Wow, I had no idea the capital was overtaxing small villages like this.", Aya said.

"Yeah, but we'll make due." Dad replied nonchalantly, finishing off his bowl. "

"Well, you two better get as much rest as you can. It's a long journey tomorrow", Mom added as she began packing up the dishes.

"Alright, Aya, you're in Aiel's room, and Aiel you're on the living room floor." Dad said before heading off to bed.

"Uh, I don't mind sleeping on the floor. I would feel bad for taking your bed..." Aya said glancing over in my direction.

"Don't be silly. You are my son's guest after all, and he couldn't possibly let a girl rest on the cold hard ground while he has a perfectly good bed, isn't that right, Aiel?"

"Well, she is an adventurer, so that would be pretty norm-"

Before I could finish my response I felt an icy chill creep up my spine, followed by faint searing heat on my neck.

I turned to the door to see my parents, Mom smile like always, but it was almost as if her face had been replaced with a frozen, smiling, sinister looking porcelain mask, and my father looming down at me, eyes blazing wide.

"I mean, it's totally fine with me, y'know? I was just saying as far as adventuring goes and stuff, it's just interesting, y'know, Right?" I chuckled nervously and as I let my rambling trail off I sunk back down into my chair.

"Good! So, you see, Aya? It's perfectly fine with my son! Right son?"

Mom replied, cutting me off before I could say anything. "Very good!"

I knew there was only one right answer to this question...

Not to answer the question...