But he’s a blacksmith. That’s the definition of handy.
Anyway. I finish up, grab a bloodhorn dragon scale bracelet, leave the cottage, and head up the hill. Once again, there is a little group of monsters waiting for me. Cookie gives me a bagged lunch and Batty hands me a sandy rock. I tuck both these things into my messenger bag and turn to Tomas. “Where’s Pell?”
“Last I saw him he was cursing his way up the steps. But he said not to leave. He’ll be right out.”
“OK. Hey, are you going into town today?”
“I will be tonight.”
“Another date?”
Tomas puffs up with pride.
“Well, I think you should get more of those solar generators.”
“You do?” His eyebrows are raised in surprise.
“Yep. We need them. It worked OK?”
Tomas gets a faraway look in his eyes, but nods. I’m suspicious, but not really sure what of. “It worked great. We made toast, tea from a kettle, and listened to the radio last night.” He gets that look again. And I’m just about to ask what he’s thinking when he says, “But they’re very pricey, Pie. A few thousand dollars when you add in the solar panels.”
I sigh, then throw up my hands. “Well, who cares. We need them, right? I mean, it’s no fun living without electricity. Everything’s harder. So, whatever. Get two of them. No. Get five of them.”
“Pie!”
“I want them, Tomas. It’s OK. I’ll work the debt off. Don’t worry.”
“Don’t worry about what?”
Tomas and I both turn to see Pell walking towards us. “The shopping list I just gave Tomas. I want some generators.”
“And they’re very expensive,” Tomas adds.
Pell looks at me. But I put up my hand. “It’s OK. I’m fine with the debt. I’ll look at the book today and make sure I complete tasks that wipe out a lot at one time.”
Pell shoots me another look.
“Stop it,” I say. “I doubt there’s any sexy stuff on the new list. Tarq wants me to do magic.”
This earns me yet another look from Pell. “Do you do magic, Pie?”
“No,” I laugh.
“Then how are you gonna pay this off?”
I kind of want to tell him about the whole princess thing. But one, I don’t want to worry him. And two, I’m not sure how it works. But if I’m a princess, I think this will change things. I might be rich in this other world. It could happen.
Instead, I tell a half-truth. “Pia got us bonuses yesterday. I’ll trade my bonus in for debt points.”
“Does it work that way?” Pell asks.
“Let me worry about the debt, Pell. You worry about…” I nod my head towards the monsters. Then I whisper, “Did you find it?”
He nods, then whispers back. “Yes. But it was in the great hall this time. Not the Pleasure Cave.”
“You worry about that,” I say. “And I’ll worry about the debt, agreed?”
“All right,” Pell sighs. “I guess it’s better if we divvy up the problems so we don’t both have to stress out about everything. No point in that.”