Apple stirred from his slumber. His idle body and the weight of the blankets draped over him made it difficultfor himto move. He flexedhis stiff physiqueand rolledaroundto cure theidlenessrestraining him. Once the chorus of satisfying cracks and pops was heard, he arose from where he laid, rubbing his eyes all the while.


    “You’re finally awake.” He heard ayoung femininevoice state.


    Apple creaked his head towards the direction of the voice. Sat upon a familiar looking wooden bucket was his young companion: Mula. She stared back at him with a neutral expression that only revealed a crumb of boredomwithin. In her hand was Apple’s old knife, the rustyblade was being twirled into the tight gaps in between her finger. Under and over; under and over; under and over; with itfinallybeingflicked beneath her palm to start the game anew. Never once did her gaze fall upon the dancing dagger.


    “I guess I am.” Apple replied, noticing Mula’s unusually melancholy demeanour. “Do you normally watch me sleep?” He joked.


    “No. Mula doesn’t like the people in the house, so Mula sit in barn.” She said, as the knife found its way back to her index finger with an effortlessflourish.


    “House?” Apple mumbledin confusion. “Oh! Gale’s father’s place. I forgot where I was for a second.”


    “Mula’s not surprised. You passed out as soon as we saw the house, afterkillin’ all themgobbies.Mulagot hairy old man to put youin barn. You’ve beensleeping for three days.”


    “Three days...” Apple mimicked. Three whole days of sleep after their goblin slaying excursion. The sight of those grotesque creatures,all thefire, the women– so muchfire, it all came flooding back to Apple’s mind.“Mula!”He had thrown her down to the ground andneverexplainedwhy. “No wonder she seems so moody.”Apple thought.


    “Yup, three days. Old annoying lady andscaredygirl helped you not die.” She explained. Never once did she move from where she sateversinceApple hadregainedconsciousness.


    “Well that’s a tad embarrassing. Iassumethat means theyalso had to wipe myarse andpiss, like a baby.” Apple groaned, dragging his hand across his face while he didso.


    “Yup. Mula laughed a lot whenscaredygirl got shit on her fingers and threw up.” She remarked in a monotonouspitch.


    Apple arose from where he sat and stared hard at Mula,his torso completely bare, except for the occasional wrapping of bandages. “Look, Mula...” Hebegan,“about the cave. About me throwing you, I...I can’t say why I did it. But please don’t be mad at me.” He beggedquietly.


    “Mula knows why you did it.”Shesocausally declared.


    Apple was stunned. “What, you do?”


    “Of course. Mula smelled the smells. Heard you shout andgobbiesscream. Saw yourface, while naked woman laid on your back.”


    Applewas unsure onhow to respond. Maybe some part of him knew shewouldunderstand. Perhaps that was what made him so desperate to hide the scene from her all the more. Appleused toconsiderhimself asmart manbut afterthe birth of the Circle reality had crashed down hard on hisintellect,yethe wasstill nofooleither.His small companion was from the slums, born a bastard birth. Sold as a slave to a rich old man of proudly admitted perversion. Hehadseen how skilfully and causally she had killed their enemies and absorbed the gruesome sightstheir travel had brought them. Her eyes would absorb the sights with the sameenthusiasmone would get fromwatching a man pick his nosein front of them. Still, Apple clung to the idea ofherblissful ignorance as if it was a baby andhadhopedto nurture it;he still planned to nurture it.


    Apple took a deep breath and sat beside Mula on the large upside-down bucket, hisrump justbarely managing to find space. “I suspected you’d comprehend what was going on in that room.” He admitted,“but I’d do it again in a heartbeat – I would. Just because you’ve seen horrors that no one should ever have to seein your life, especiallyfor a child, doesn’t mean I’m going to let you witness them again.”


    Mula finally stopped playing with her knife,and lookedat Apple next to her. “Mula killsgobbiesand you don’t mind. Why isthat any different?” She protested.


    Apple looked up at the barn’s ceiling while he wrestled for an answer, admiring the wooden beams and panels that kept the structure intactas if they were the mostfascinatingthings in the world. “A fair question, Mula - I’ll admit. Honestly, I don’t have a fair answer...What we saw, what we did yesterday was barbaric – to say the least. I brought you along knowing full well we’d been killing dozens of a species of no acquainted quarrel. All because I thought it’d be exciting and a bountiful well of experience to drink from, which it most certainly was. However, while you’re accompanying me, there are still things I never want you to see or do.”


    “What if Mula thinks you’re wrongand does what Mula wants.” She questioned, testing him.


    “Depends, I guess.” Apple hummed, still staring at the ceiling with anidle kicking of his feet. “If it’s something small, like refusing to eat your vegetables, I’d probably just give you a stern look. If its disobeying something as serious as the women incident...I don’t know. This is tough, Mula. I’m not your father nor your leader. Maybe a tutor - though. Something like that”


    “What’s atutor?”


    “An easier question,” Apple was thankful for. “A tutor is a teacher. If you don’t what a teacher is, it’s someone who helps you learn how to do things. Like learning how to read and write, wield a sword, tan a hide, or even magic.”


    Mula suddenly leapt from her spot on the bucketandgawkedat Apple with wide sparkling eyes. “Magic? You can teach memagic? She cried.


    Apple returned her look with an awkward scratch of his nose. “Umm...Maybe, I don’t know. Don’t get excited, Mula. You can’t just learn magic, you need to be borndwimmer-blessed.” He explained.


    “Dwimmer?” She echoed. “What’s that? How do you know if you havedwimmer?”


    “Dwimmeris an invisible energy that dwells inside some intelligent humanoids. There are ways to find out of someone has it, but unfortunately I don’t know any.” He grimaced, regretting his mention of magiccompletely.


    Mula’s big bright eyes withered and her head slumped down. “Oh....” Was all that she replied.


    Apple felt lousy. Hehadaccidentally gotten her all excited and happy again and then he had immediately taken it away. “Wait,”he said, getting her attention once again. “I may not know right now, but I could always learn how to do it. Nearly dying several times has made me realise that I’m not as strong as I thought I wasand I didn’t think I was very strong to begin with. I need to get more serious with my training, both physical and magical. But I can only do so much right now...I’m sick of getting stabbed so armour is a must. I’m annoyed at only having my catalyst as a melee weapon. I’m tired of scavenging for food and mediocre clothing. But most importantly of all, I’m sick of only knowing nine spells. I’m going to change all that.” Apple vowed.


    “Mula think Apple is strong. You kill manygobbiesand even magicfire-man.” She argued in his defence.


    Apple simply shook his head. “Goblins. They’re nothing, the lowest of the low. A couple of regular soldiers could do what we did. And don’t shame me further with praise of slaying thatEspavailier,he was pathetic. A silver-thumb sucking man of averagedwimmer– at best, and so obviously possessed not a single ounce of combat experience in hispot-belliedbodyof his. Yet even so, I still only managed to best him thanks to him completely underestimating me andalsobecause of you, of course.” He admitted plainly, though he deliberately left out the part about blaspheming the Circle.


    Mula was silent for a brief while. An interesting look of concentration was evident on her face. “Kay,”she finally replied. “So, what do youwannado about it?”


    “I’m glad you asked. As well as increasing my exercise regime and meditation, it’s time we went to another city, or at least a largeborough. There we can get weapons, armour,and somecomfier clothing. Hopefully a spell book of some kindas well. With one of those I can learn how to search fordwimmerinside someone.”


    The twinkle in Mula’s eyes returned and her body bounced with glee. “Yippee! Let’s go to city. Let’s go now!”Shecommanded.


    Apple smiled,“not yet,young lady, not yet. First, we’ve got to sort things out here. Also, I want to make this very clear, you most likely don’t possessdwimmeras it is very rare. That’s why you don’t see many magicians wandering around.” He honestly told her.


    Apple did notbelieve Mula was magic born. Though he did admit the chances werenotcompletelyzero. Nobles were much more likely tobe borndwimmer-blessedthan the common folk but that was mostly because nobles had the luxury of selecting powerful matesto increase their chances.Dwimmerusers,also known as Hegel mage, received their magic through heritage,neverthelesssome anomalies have been recorded throughout history. Apple himself had a powerful fire user for a grandfather and several magicians in his extended family, not to mention hisprestigiouslittle sister. It was notimpossible for one of Mula’s relatives to be a magician, theycertainly donotshy away from brothels, Apple knew that from experience.He briefly wondered if it was rude of him to naturally assume Mula’s mother was a prostitute.


    “Kay!” She beamed,interrupting Apple’s thoughts.


    Apple shook his headslightly and smiled. “Alright. Let’s go head inside and see if they have any spare clothes left for me.”


    With that said, the two headed off towards the house connected to the barn. Apple buried the worries of what might occur when he finally comeface to face with Gale’s familydeep below.


    **********


    “Well,certainly wasn’t expecting you up so soon – I wasn’t.” Remarked the gruff gentleman in front of Apple. The creaks of his footsteps while he walked did little to mask the man’s booming voice.


    Apple had walked boldly into the household. Only a brief nock before he cast aside theflimsydoor wasthe onlydecorumhe had offered. He wasnotsure why he had entered the building so rudely, perhaps he just wished have the whole ordeal over with.Although,evenwith his impulsive intrusion, he marched gentlythrough the houseand sought the attention on an inhabitant as swiftly as possible.


    “Sorry for the intrusion.” Apple apologised, with a distracting flick of his mattedaubernhair. “I thought it would be best to see you as soon as I awoke,Ger.” He added, the name suddenly came back to him when the large man now stood only a mere foot in front of him.


    Ger folded his bear-like arms and nodded,“fair enough. Though I’ll letyaknow that ifyatried that a few days ago, you’d bin knocked out by me own boot, and not a bunch of goblins.”


    Apple laughed softly. While he had no doubt the man was serious, he was notdisplaying any hostility at the moment. “Oh, I don’t doubt that. Thanks for carrying me to your barn.”


    “Ain’tnothin’, you should bethankin’ me wife ‘n’ girl, they’rethe ones whohealed yoursorrylookin’ arse.”


    “Oh,I will, as soon as I see them. But for now, let’s talk goblins.” Apple remarked.


    Ger let out a small sigh and unfolded his arms,“’iight, suppose we should best get it out the way. Come sit down, lad. The wife willfetch us some alewhile we chat.” Ger strode away and walked into his dining room just ten feet away. Apple followed suite and sat on the opposite side of where Ger placed himself,staring at him.


    “So, lad. Tell me what went down in that cave.” Ger asked of him.


    It was Apple’s turn to sigh this time,he could hear the not so distant sound of someone scuffing in the kitchen. He used the noise to distract himself for a moment, giving him time to collect his thoughts.


    Apple told the man everything, although some segments in greater detail than others. He spoke of their journey through the forest with Nick, being surrounded goblins, and escaping through unknown tunnels until they found their foes leader. Apple did however lie and say that he cauterised his wounds himself with a torch. Heonlyspokeverybrieflyaboutthe discovery of the women and Ger’s fallen friend, bravely guarding the cave entrance from its own inhabitants. Ger just sat silently throughout the whole tale.


    After what felt like hours, Ger finally spoke. “After your niece told us you had collapsed right outside our house, me, Gill, ‘n’ some of the lads went ‘n’ investigated the cave. There we found Nick likeyasaid, along with a pile of the green bastards. My boy ‘n’ a few others even went into the cave to have a gander. Gill said there were nearly an ‘undredof the things, alldea,most of ‘emburned. We ‘ad no idea there were so many, it''s a good thing you showed up – it is.” Ger paused, his face momentarily became softer, highlighting the haggard lines of age. “They found the girls...Put ‘emall to rest we did...One of ‘emwas me girl, sweetlil’Gywn.”


    Apple could hear the lump forming in the man’s throat and said nothing. He had planned to ask if he had actually saved Gale’s sister,unfortunatelyit would seem the question hadcome to him all too easily. He felt sorrow for the man in front of him,yetnot as much as he expected to. A small cauldron of annoyance burned his stomach. The people around here knew full well of their missing kin and the vile behaviour of goblins, yetbarelydidanything about it. All they did was merely wait until someone arrived to do what they should have done as soon as theyhadfirst laid eyes on the green curs.


    Apple simmered the emotions within himself andspoke,“I''msorry, Ger. The girl I carried back was the only one still alive when I arrived. How is she, by the way?”


    While Ger’s expression was no longer one of deep sorrow, it still lurched from the evident sadness he felt. “Tilda’s her name.” He informed Apple. “Her body will berecover. Her mind...Only time will tell.”


    Apple realised his hands weretremblingand ached from the pressure of an unintentional clench. He relaxed his fists, fearing that hewouldagitatethe painting ofscars and encourage his rage to grow. It never occurred to him while he carried that frail womenaway fromthe horrors thatthehorrors were still lurking in her mind.Although, now that Ger had told him of it, he wasnotsurprised at all. Apple believedthatfew wouldhavebeenable to resist the temptation to guard themselves from reality with the blissful ignorance of insanity.


    “Will you see her?”Ger asked, while Apple hadlost himself in his thoughts.


    “I don’t know.” Apple admitted. “I doubt there’s anything I could do to helpher.” While true, Apple failed to say that he was worriedwhat seeing the girl would do to hisownmental state.


    “I understand, lad.You’ve done enough already.”Ger stated warmly.


    Apple felt no desire to continue this conversation any longer. “If you believe that, then our job here is done.It’s time for Mula and I tohead off.”


    “Shame. You sure I can’t temptyato stay ‘ere for a while. Giveyaa nice cosy life as the village guardian, we can make an appeal to our Lord?” Ger offered him.


    Apple was slightly shocked, he had notexpected such an offer. Perhaps months ago, he would have accepted the proposal,yetright now it failed to sway him. While the encounter with the goblins had aged him, Appleonlyfelt even more determined to seek adventure and become stronger.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    “A tempting offer, Ger.However,I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.”


    “And do what?” A sudden sharp voiced asked. “We’re else will you two go?”


    Apple turned towards the shrill voice and saw Ger’s wife, holding a traytwo wooden cups, full to the brim of the familiar watery ale. “Well, I plan to head to the nearest city and acquire a living there.” Applemostlylied.


    “A city? And do what there? What could you do there to provide a comfortable life foryou‘n’ your niece?”She challenged him.


    Apple furrowed his brows, he was notparticularly fond of being interrogated by this strange woman. “I can read and write, and as your already aware I possess a formidable level of combatexperience. Even such a position as Captain of the city guard isn’t impossible for me.” He replied, indulging in her questions for now.


    “What of the road there? You said yourself that bandits managed totake your belongings on the way here. Why couldn’t it happen again?”


    “Why are you so inquisitiveof my life? I have saved your village for no reward other than the basic necessities of life. Do you fear for my niece? If so, speak plainly.” Apple informed the woman, as he was quickly losing his patience with her.


    “Leave the lad,Kat.It seems he’s made up ‘is mind.” Ger said to his wife.


    “Whyshould I? Did you see the state of his niece when she came back? Littered withso manycuts ‘n’ bruises, not to mention the amount offoulblood she was covered in. In all my years I’ve never seen so much blood!” Kat protested.


    “My niece is a fighter. She has killed more goblins than anyone one in your village. Yes, she was injured, but those are marks of a warrior, of pride.” Applebellowed with conviction, more to himself than anyone else.


    “Pride?” She mimicked incredulously. “You call the wounds on a child pride? You twisted man, you-“


    “Shut up!” A young voice cried out.


    All went silent. All turned towards the once silent girl stoodat the table.


    “Stop saying what best for Mula. Mula likes fightingand Mula follows Apple. Mula thinks this little place is boringanyway.” She spat at the womanso brashly.


    Kat blinked in surprise at Mula, while Ger gawked at her with a bewilderedexpression.


    Apple decided it would be best if he was the first to break the tension. “It would seem things havebecome a little heated in here. I think it would be best if Mula and I left to gather our belongings andprepare for our journey.”


    “’Ight, lad. Please stay another night though. By the time you’re ready to leave, it’ll be night. I’ll be out soon to giveyathe supplies you’ve earned.”


    Apple stood up and nodded, he actually hoped Ger would make that offer, hetooknewit would take a while to gather everything. “Thank you, Ger. We’ll see you later.”


    Apple turned and left the house with Mula silently following suite.


    **********


    “Hey Mula?”


    “What?”


    “Can I have that bronze sword you got off that goblinking, or whatever he was?” Apple pleaded to the little girl.


    “But I found it, it’s mine.” She argued, while she examined the new clothing Kat hadsilentlyleft her.


    “Yeah, but you also found thatscramasaxtoo. That sword isn’t even suited for you, it’s toobroad. You’re more of a stabber than a slasher.”He pouted.


    “What’s a scram-ass-sax?” She asked.


    “It’s that long dagger you took from Nick.”He informed her.


    “Oh. But you also have staff to hit people with.”


    “I can’t rely just on my catalyst tohit peoplewith. I also really don’t want to test the limits of its durability. Come on, I haven’tused a sword in years.” He whined.


    Mula hummed to herself in thought. Her fingers stroking her chin as she squatted on the ground. “Kay, Mulalet youborrow it – for now.” She picked up the alloyed blade beside her and handed it to Apple.


    “Thank you, Mula.” Apple beamed. He apprised the weapons balanced in his hands. The blade was the shape of a slender leaf,a little bit shorter thanApple’s arm. The metal was nicked and bent in some placesbut nothing that couldnot be fixed by an adept. The stout wooden handle only provided enough room for one hand to grip it. Apple swung at the air, taking in its weight and sharpness.


    Once he finished duelling the calm evening wind,Applebound the bladetightly in cloth as he lacked a sheath, and placed it next to the rest of his belongings.


    “So, what now?” Mula asked from behind him.


    Apple did notreply at first, instead he gazed out of the gaping hole of the barn. An almost clear sky the colour of ayoungmaiden’s blush. The tip of a peeking sun signalled the eventual arrival of his silver-sister.


    “I don’t know about you, but I’m getting some sleep.My body aches and I feel no desire to chat with ourbenefactors.” Apple finally responded.


    “But Mula not sleepy.” She pouted.


    “Then don’t sleep.” Apple flatly told her. “I’m not your father, you’re free to wander – but not too farthough.” He immediately added at the end of his statement.


    Apple stood from where he sat and headed towards the soft mound of hay he had claimed when they first arrived at the barn and laid down.He ignoredthe feeling of Mula staring at him and quickly drifted off to sleep.


    **********


    Applestared at the waning moonfrom the steady grass hills ofa desolate hamlet. He turned to the side for a moment to spitout the phlegm that had been accumulating in his throat.


    He had been awake for what he guessed a little over an hour now. He had entered the world of dreams easily but what he found there did not treat him so kindly. Plumes of green ooze the shape of children tormented him with sharpened brambles and lassos made oftheir ownentrails. Unable to bearitanymore, his body freed him with a bath of cold sweatandthunderousheartbeat. With nodesire to attempt sleep any longer, Apple ventured out in search of somewhere to relax.


    Since Apple possessed little desire to explorethis drab hamlet, he took comfort in a lush slopeof grassnot one hundred feet from the barn.


    At first, all he had done in his time was look at the moon with unfocused eyes, his mind only barley thinking about warming his body, as the blanket draped over his naked shoulders provided little warmth. Eventually Apple remembered the promise he made to himself and Mula; he began to mediate. His mind’s eye conjured a bowl, a small simpleclaybowl, full of translucent weaves of glowing white light. Once the visualisation was completely, Apple willed the bowl to expandever so slowly.


    Minutes would past and the bowl would only grow the merest sliverof an inch. With every single growth spurt, Apple wouldalsobeg the stars and moon to offer their energy to his bowl and become one with the rest of its contents.


    At least an hour had passed, yet Apple had only successfully expanded the bowl a quarter of an inch,even that much had caused his body to burn from the strain, knot the muscles in his stomach, and throb his brain horrifically.


    “Sir...”


    Snappedout of his stationary trance, Applelurched to the side and gawked at the source of hissurprise.


    Standing before him was thedark silhouette of Gale. Her facebarely visible through the shadows of hermilk-colouredbonnet.It would seem that Apple’s shock had too made her jump, as she jerked backwards and yelped.


    “Oh, it’s you, Gale. Sorry I spooked you, I was a little lost in my thoughts.” Apple greetedher,his composer immediately returning now that he knew what he was dealing with.


    “No-no, I should be the onesayin’ sorry.I shouldn’t ‘avebeen so quietwalkin’ towardsya.” She replied, a slight nervousness evident in her voice.


    “Don’t worry about it. What brings you out here anyway?”


    Gale looked down and began to twiddle her thumbs. “I came to see you...” She stammered.


    “Oh,” Apple replied,“why?”


    She played with her thumbs and refused to meet his gaze. “I, I ‘eardyou’regoin’ next day. So, I thought I should say farewell now. I doubt mother would let medo itthen.” She explained quietly.


    Apple chose his next words carefully. He had forgotten that he suspected the girl before him might be smitten with him. He wondered to himself how he wanted this conversation to lead. Shemostcertainlywas nota beauty,althoughin this moment he could barely see her features indue to thedarkness. She seemed a kind soul and Apple hadnotfeltawoman’s touch in over a year.


    While still unsure on how to proceed, he couldnotremain silent any longer. “I see. Thank you for seeing me, Gale. It means a lot that such a cute lass would take the time to do so.” He boldly declared.


    After a pause, Gale sat beside Apple in silence.


    Minutes pastand the pair just sat gazing at the night sky, simply enjoying each other’s company.


    While Apple appeared calm and stoic on the outside, inside his heart pounded and his lungs begged for more air. He felt similar to the first time he had his first whore at the ripe agesixteen. Yet this was different. Back thenso long ashis sweaty, flabby hand awkwardly handed the woman her coin, shewouldwear her practiced smile and take charge of the situation, as if it was the best night of her life. Now, it was all up to him.


    Hetook a deep breathand looked at Gale. “Do you like the moon?”He causally asked, trying to break the tension.


    She slowly turned her head towards him but was unable to completely match his gaze. “Yes. Tis quite pretty.” She whispered.


    It felt as if Apple’s heart from attempting to tear through his chest.A lump clogged his throat and he could feel his legs shake beyond his control. Only the repeated forced memories of the hardships hehad endured helped him calm down.With a silent sigh, he gently took hold of Gale’s chin andpointed it at his own.


    His eyes, the colour of storm clouds,met the earth of her irises.


    At first the two just looked at each other. Apple smiled warmly and Gale eventually returned her own nervous grin. When Apple decided enough time had passed, with his callused fingers still wrapped around her chin, he pulledhertowards himself. Closer and closer, until their lips became one.


    As the experienced one and the instigator, Apple took charge of the kiss. Nothing but a fixed peck at first; gently the lips rolled and partedat his beckoning.Quickly they becamefiercer and fiercer,as their primal passion took hold of themboth.


    It was notlong until the two were entwined, sprawled on the long unkempt grass. Examining each other''s body’s without sight; grasping and stroking at the unknown. Apple took hold of her back and heldhertightlywith his strong arms,massaging the muscles beneathher soft skinwith a growing knowledge. This was different than all the other times. In the past all hehad to dowas lie down and wait for his compatriot to ride him until completion. Now it was asif he was in the midst of a lesson, alesson in which he was both the teacher and the student.


    His new lean body of hardened fleshforged in the hardships of his travelsallowed him to move her as he pleased. Her legs were where he chooses them to be, her breasts where he always desired them to be,and his mouth beside her ear, a location he had no idea he enjoyed it being.


    “You’re so warm.” Gale admiredwith a gasp,her own passion began to match Apple’s own.


    It was notlong until the pinnacle moment arrived,unable to wait no more, Apple tookhold of her smallcurvedframe and pinned it to the ground,his large hands pinning her hips.He yanked himself free of his trousers, uncaring whether he tore them or not. With a light stroke of her thighs as he parted them, they finallybecame one.


    Gale let out a pained gasp,Apple regained control of himself and slowed down.


    As time went on, Apple graduallyregained hispastprimalspeed. Using the sounds of her breaths and moans asevidence that she was ready for him to fully unleash himself.


    Fully immersed in the ecstasy, Apple gazed down at Gale as he loomed over her. Her eyes were closed as shehadcompletely lost herself in the act. As Apple was about to kiss her once more, a vision appeared in his mind. A flash. A glimpse of a vile humanoid the colour of dried bile, having its way with the husk of a human women.


    Apple shook the picture awayand carried on with the task at hand, but then it appeared again – longer this time. More details blasted before him than before.Maggots and fliesblurred the scene.


    He tried to ignore the images, sadly theyrefused to halt their attack, over and over again they appeared, mocking him;tauntinghim.


    Apple’s eyes dartedaroundin a wild flurry and he could feel rage and panic burn inside of him. It wasnotuntilhe heard the sound of a pained yelp that he remembered where he was and what he was doing.


    He threw himself of Gale and satnakedon the grass, his desires completely forgotten.


    Gale sat up panting with a warm smile onher face. Her pleased faceseemed to suggestthat she wasunaware of Apple’s distraught and assumed he had finished. “That was wonderful.” She breathed.


    Apple reluctantly looked at her naked self,“yeah. It was great...Sorry if I hurt you.” He said nonchalantly,buryinghis true feelingsdeep within himself.


    Gale began to redress herself. “It’s okay. I knew it would hurt a bit. But it mostly felt good.” She praised.


    Apple smiled slightly. “That’s good to hear. Forgive me for being rude,but I must be heading back to bed.”


    The displeasureon Gale’s face waspainfullyobvious, even in thevastdarkness. “Oh, okay. I’ll try ‘n’ see you tomorrow.” With that, she stood and walked away,planting a quick kiss on Apple’s cheek before she departed.


    Apple gathered his things and slowly made his way towards the barn. Unable to control himself, he punched the barn wall onhisway in, barely managing to contain the true magnitude of his strength. The old wooden wall bent under his knuckles, but Apple cared little for the property damage he caused. He was having so much fun and it was ruined by those accused goblins.


    With no other option, he collapsedback into his makeshift bed andonce againattempted sleep.


    ***********


    The day had finally arrived. After an audacious quest, followed by days of perilous sleep, it was time for Mula and Apple to leave thisquaintlittle hamlet.


    Apple was in the process ofdrapingashirt over skin, tunicover shirt, wool jumper over tunic, and finally cloak over jumper.He was gifted no cold-warding luxuries from the Gerfamily, so he made due with layer upon layer ofold patchwork clothing. He was at least thankful that his study leather boots had survived his journey so far.


    Apple lifted his travelsack over his shoulder, tied his bound bronze sword to his belt,arose his catalyst to its height, and waited for Mula to finisharming herself.


    She was dressed almost identical to himself, however instead of a tunic she wore a dingytandress, its skirt trimmed crudely to her knee length so she wouldnot trip on it. Both of her knives were hidden in the shadows of her cloak.


    “You ready?” Apple asked her.


    Mula gave herself a quick look up and down, and hooded. “Yup.”


    “Terrific.” Apple beamed. “Let’s be on our way then.”With that said, the two left Ger’s barn for the last time.


    “Oi! Whereyathink you’regoin’?” A loud booming voicedemanded from behind them.


    Apple turned was met to the sight ofGer and his son Gill, standing on the very edge of their garden with folded arms and sour expressions. “Oh, morning Ger.” Apple nonchalantly replied. “Didn’t want to wake you so we thought we’d just be off.”


    “You thinkyacan just walk on out of ‘ere after whatyadid to my little girl?” The man snarled, one of his arms was unleashed and pointing threateningly at Apple.


    Apple gulped. He was hoping that Gale would have kept lastnight''sincidenta secret. Unfortunately, it would seem that wasn’t the case. “Last time?” Apple repeated innocently. “Sorry, but I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about.”


    “Bullshit!” Ger retorted, as he began stomping towards Apple,“the wife confirmed it this morning that my girlbed was stained red. The girl then admitted it ‘erself, she did.”


    Apple’s mind was a whirlpool of possible responses, none of which he could see helping him right now.“Did Gale tell you this?” Was the best he could think foran answer.


    Ger was now less than a foot away from Apple. “Course she did, boy, just said that. Said you told ‘eryougonnamarry ‘er‘n’ stay ‘ere – she did.”


    Apple threw up his open hands in a sign of peace. Still he failed to find a suitable way to steer this conversation in his favour. “Listen, Ger I...”


    “No,you listen, boy.” Ger interrupted. “You’ve done a lot for my friends ‘n’ family, ‘n’ I’m a nice bloke – I am. So, you marry me girl to keep her ‘onourin tack, ‘n’ me ‘n’ me boy won’t beatyato death in front ofyaniece.” He threatened


    Apple suddenly stopped panicking. His frantic twitching and chaotic mind came to asuddenhalt. He found this situationstrange, awfully strange indeed. It did notmake sense to him that Ger was being so reasonable, he especially found Gill’s behaviour strange. That grumpy tree-stump had done nothing during this whole fiasco. It didnotmake sense that the sod wasnotcurrently trying to beat him to death. None ofthismade sense.


    “Sure, that sounds most reasonable.” Apple replied calmly. “It would seem that the girl in question has come outto weigh in on the conversation.” Apple turned his head slightly to the left and stared hard at Ger’s front door, with a smile.


    Following Apple’s gaze, both Ger and Gill turned and looked behind them.


    “Run Mula!”Apple cried, as he took off in a sprint in the opposite direction of Ger.


    “Oi!” Ger roared. “Get back ‘ereyabastard!”The old man ordered


    Apple ran with all his might and was thankful to see thatMula was galloping closely beside him. In the corner of his eyes he could see Ger and Gill make chase.


    Apple moved faster than ever before, completely ignoring the protests of his injuries, fuelled by the desire to remain afreeman.


    The pursuit lasted longer than Applehadexpected. Fortunately, the two enraged men were never able to catch theforeverwandering Applenor thenimble Mula. After about half a mile Ger relented and collapsed in exhaustion. The younger Gill managed to keep up all the way until they found another dirt road about three miles out from the hamlet. Whether he gave up due to fatigue or lack of will to kill Apple, hedid notknow.


    It was notuntil at least another mile down the unknown road did the two finally come to a halt.


    “Why did we run?” Mula asked in betweenher panting. Her hands on her hips to allow the air flow through easier.


    Apple tooka couple deep breaths before answering. “Theytried to get me to marry their daughter.” Applewheezed.


    “Why?”


    “Because they wanted to keep me as their guard dog...Miserable bastard almost managed it too.” He grumbled


    The two didn’t speak for a few minutes,focusing on regaining their breath.


    “Did you fuck her?” Mula asked, once shebreathing had returned to a steadyrhythm.


    Apple’s eyes bulged at the question. “Blood abyss, Mula! Talk about crass.” He bellowed.


    “Well, didyou?” She pressed.


    Apple took in a long deep breath,“maybe...” He whispered,whilehe played with a knot in his hair.


    Mula stared at Apple with narrowjudgementaleyes. “Idiot.”


    “In my defence, I’m just a man.”Apple argued.


    “How is that defence?”She huffed.


    “I don’t know...Itmade more sense when I was younger.” Apple stammered. “Anyway!” He yelled with a sudden enthusiasm. “Let’s go and find ourselves a city. Yeah! City!” He declared, throwing his fist in the air.


    Mula said nothing as the two began their march onthe dirt pathway they have found themselves on. Side by side together.Ready for more adventure.


    Apple turned to look at Mula,“in my defence, she...”


    “Shut up.”