[Some time ago]

“Mareen!” Jenny yelled and waived, while her dog moved her sheep forward.

Mareen waived back. Jenny was only this excited when there was gossip to share. Mareen waited for the shepherdess’s dog to bring the sheep into the pasture. Satisfied that her sheep were settling in with Mareen’s she rushed to join her.

“So have you heard?” Jenny asked bursting with the latest gossip.

“No, I do not. You know I have not been to the village. What has you so excited that you are bouncing?” Mareen watched as he friend actully shook with excitement.

Jenny pursed her lips and turned away. “I am not going to tell you if you are going to be like that.”

“As you wish.” Mareen pointed at one of the ewes. “I think that one is about to lamb. We will probably need to keep an eye on it.”

Jenny looked over her shoulder at Mareen incredulously. “How can you talk about sheep when there is something so exciting happening?”

Mareen shrugged, “Your father pays me to watch the sheep. You also get excited about everything that happens. I imagine one of the idiots got into a fight again.”

“Do not call them idiots.” She immediately turned away from Mareen’s searching gaze. “Fine Burrach and the others are idiots, but Burke is decent.”

Internally she agreed with her friend. Burke was the only young man in the village that had something resembling a brain between his ears, but that was no reason to pass up an opportunity to pick on her friend. Smiling evilly she poked at her friend, “Decent you say? That was not what you said earlier. I distinctly remember you saying his butt was more than decent.”

Jenny gasped and looked around horrified that someone would overhear. Mareen cackled while her friend’s face turned as red as her hair.

Jenny started slapping her arm, “Why are you like this? What if someone overheard?”

Mareen stepped out of reach of her blushing friend, “Jenny, who is going to hear? We are the only ones who come this far out. It is only sheep and Rufus out here.” At the mention of his name Jenny’s sheep dog’s head popped up. Her voice got a bit softer, “And he is a good boy. Yes, he is.”

“I swear you talk sweeter to my dog that the village boys.” Jenny shook her head, exasperated. “But what if Burke came here, too….” She was clearly looking for a reason that the tavern keeper’s son would come to the summer pastures. “…to deliver a message.”

“First, unlike the village boys I have actually seen Rufus do work. Second, if Burke came here you have a problem.” Mareen pointed a bit to the north. “Because you were supposed to be over there. I wonder what he would need to come all this way to tell me?” She batted her eyes up at the imaginary Burke.

Jenny’s eyes narrowed, “That you are a terrible friend, most likely.” Softening her expression she continued, “But it is not as if you have given him or anyone else a reason to come out here. How do you not get lonely?”

Mareen smiled and watched the sheep grazing. “I like the quiet, and I am happy to do without that group of lay-abouts. Now if you meet someone like Orntrech the Breaker, I might have a different opinion. “

Jenny scoffed. “If you judge every man against the people from your grandmother’s stories, no one will ever meet your standards.”

“He does not have to be a great warrior. I would not mind meeting Krazzak the Fool either. He had a sharp wit and sounded fun.” She smiled as she though back to her grandmother telling her of how the fool tricked a group of bad men into defeating each other. I still think the moniker was undeserved. If anything he was clever.

“Warrior.” Jenny’s palm hit her forehead. “You got me distracted. I wanted to tell you tell you about the village.”

“So what is the latest goings in the village?” Mareen grabbed her water skin and took a drink.

“A representative of the king arrived.” Jenny said bouncing with excitement.

WHAT?! Mareen sputtered coughing up water, while Jenny laughed. Whipping her face with the sleeve of her dress she glared at her friend, “You were waiting for that moment, I imagine.”

Jenny smiled innocently, “I would never.” But her big green eyes were filled with a light that could only be described as malicious.

“So, what actually happened in the village?” Mareen asked watching her friend closely.

“I just told you.” Jenny’s smile grew wider. “A representative of the king came. He is looking for a lot of different paths for the campaign.”

“Why would he come out here? It is all farmers and herders. The priests know that.” Mareen asked not quite fathoming what need the king needed sheep for.

“Oh but that is the interesting thing, he did not bring a priest.” Jenny smile widely, “So if a person with a skill that was not part of their path wanted to show it without…” Jenny’s words were cut off by Mareen embracing her tightly.

Mareen squeezed her friend, “Thank you.”

“Get off me.” Jenny managed, as she pushed Mareen to arm’s length. “If you are that excited, he said he was looking for several with herding paths. That means you do not even have to reveal your other gift. Just grab the best of the sheep, and you can take them to father.”

“Which will take me right through the village center.” Mareen added thanking the goddesses that she had such a good friend.

[In a rocking wagon]

The healer saw the madwoman’s lips spread into an evil smile. Shivering he made the sign of the loom. Goddesses protect me from whatever this monster is dreaming of.