Chapter 88: What in the Hell
This time, when they arrived, the miller was already hard at work, using the gusty winds to turn wheat into flour. He was an earnest, hardworking fellow, and he didn’t seem nearly as sinister with the sun out, and though he seemed a little concerned when Simon stepped into his windmill armed and armored, the man’s demeanor quickly softened when he saw Simon had two children with him.
“I found them at the site of a … well, let’s call it a battle,” Simon explained. “Owlbears. They were the only survivors.”
“May the Gods preserve us,” the old man said as he turned his attention to the children.
Simon let them do the talking for a bit, but when Eddik was about to brag about what a big shot his father was, Simon cut in, saying, “his family are merchants. Doubtlessly, when they find the caravan wreckage, there will be some small reward for the good person that takes care of them in the interim.”
“I don’t need no reward to do a good turn for those who have already been through so much,” the miller said with a shake of his head. “Now, let's find all of you something to eat before you all pass out in front of me.”
Simon had been about to make his exit, but a little warm food wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. He’d powered through several unexpected levels now, and he had no idea whether or not he was going to have to fight the troll next.
He kind of hoped that he would, to be honest. He could use the chance to get some of the aggression out of his system. A little rest before that would probably be warranted, though.
Inside the man’s house, they met his almost equally old wife, but after a few whispered words, she got the message and turned the conversation to brighter topics. She’d obviously almost finished cleaning up their breakfast but quickly started some new oats boiling when she saw the traumatized, bloodstained children.
She didn’t take a liking to Simon right away, but after Eddik explained how Simon had slain the owlbear in single combat to save them, she was friendlier. When the boy explained afterward that he’d struck down the second with lighting, she gave Simon a worried glance. However, when he started laughing and playing it off as a bit of childish exaggeration, she did too, fortunately, and the situation resolved itself.