Garroth's POV

I was standing at the top of the finished wall around the village, watching for any threats.

All seemed fairly quiet, then a girl wearing a hood, but with raven black hair from what I can see, came up.

After speaking to her, I learned her name was Lillian, and she was apparently a fortune-teller.

Lillian requested to be let inside, and I asked her to wait while I spoke to the Lord. She agreed, and said she'd be right at the gates when I returned with Aphmau.

"Aphmau," I said, finding her in the plaza with Katelyn and Jeffory. "There's a girl at the gates, requesting to be let in."

"What's her name?" Aphmau asked. Katelyn and Jeffory looked on curiously.

"Lillian." I replied.

All three of them stilled. "And...her appearance?" Aphmau asked, her voice dangerously calm, but her eyes were almost swirling with anger.

"Tan skin, light blue eyes, raven-black hair, and she's wearing a hood." I replied, listing the features that I had noticed.

Katelyn began scowling, Jeffory glared at the ground, and Aphmau took a few deep breaths, her eyes closed, and began counting under her breath.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Aphmau opened her eyes and gave me a slightly strained smile. "You just described Lillian the Silver Scythe, a Jury of Nine member. She hates everyone else in the Jury, is almost fanatically loyal to Zane, and does just about anything he says."

I froze. "Well, that's something to not let her in for."

"It is, but Aphmau's reputation as a nice person precedes her. It's well-known that she lets anyone into the village unless she has a very good reason not to." Jeffory pointed out.

Katelyn nodded, and picked up on what he was saying. "And no one, besides us, Dante, and Laurence knows that Aph is Jessica the Demon Sword, so realistically she has no reason not to let her in."

I groaned and facepalmed, while Aphmau looked like she wanted to punch something. Then, she sighed and pulled herself together. "Alright, Garroth, let's go. Kate, Jeff, I don't need to tell you to keep out of her sight, do I?"

"No, only Jeff. I'm here on official business, remember?" Katelyn said. "Or I should be, at least."

"True." Aph conceded.

"I have a set of older armor in the guard tower," I offered Jeffory. "It's not the best, but it'll definitely hide your identity." He nodded in thanks and he and Katelyn went to the guard tower.

Aphmau and I continued to the gate. "Oh hello," Lilian said. "You would be Lord Aphmau, correct?"

Aphmau nodded. "Yes, I am." I was both surprised and impressed that she managed to look as nice and welcoming as usual, even though I had seen the hatred for Lilian in her eyes earlier.

"Well, I'm a traveling prophet and I had hoped to stay in you village for a short while." Lilian said with a small smile.

Aphmau nodded. "Of course, I'll ask if any villagers would be adverse to you staying with them during your visit."

She left, and I went to give Lilian a tour around the village. A little while later, Aphmau caught up with us in the plaza. "Cadenza, our village seamstress, has agreed for you to stay at her home."

Lilian nodded and went to where I had pointed out the homes were. After she was out of hearing range, Aphmau turned to me. "Guard meeting in the new tower." She said. "I'll collect Katelyn and Jeffory, can you get Laurence and Dante? Forget Brian for now, he's not in on the Jury thing."

I nodded and went to get the guys. Once we were all in the new guard tower Aphmau updated Laurence and Dante on the situation.

They both agreed to keep an eye on Lilian to be sure she didn't do anything underhanded or possibly detrimental to the village or the villagers' health.

After that little meeting broke up I went back to guarding the gates, this time with Laurence.

Dante went to patrol the edges of the grounds where we didn't have a wall yet.

Aphmau's POV

After the meeting broke up I went back to my house to check up on the boys. As it turns out they were up in the treehouse with Zoey.

"Hi." I said, coming up there with them.

"Hi momma!" Levin waved.

"We're playing with soldiers." Malachi told me.

I laughed. "I see. Mind if I play with you two as well?"

"No, we don't mind." Malachi grinned, scooting over so I could sit down.

"Here Momma." Levin put a toy soldier in my hand and grabbed another.

"If you're watching them, then I'm going to go back to the house and cook dinner." Zoey said.

I turned and nodded, smiling. "Okay, thanks Zoey." She left, and I turned back to the boys.

We spent the rest of the afternoon messing around with the toy soldiers, and I was happy as I saw the boys play together so well, as if they were actual brothers who had known each other all their lives.

It was truly heartwarming, the way they acted. I enjoyed the time I had, just sitting around with them, not having to worry about anything. It was nice to be carefree again for once.