Mariel’s effort to wake before the unwanted Paladin failed as Jana was already sitting at the table, a fresh coffee brewing over the hearth. Amon held to his routine of reading before breakfast, who was likely the first was awake. Mariel walked past them, finding it far too early to talk.

“Wait, I’m starting breakfast soon,” her brother said.

“I’m not hungry.”

“I will never believe that. Besides, you’ll get dirty.”

She looked at her brother, their harsh words from the day before already behind them. The siblings had many days like that, their feelings never quite reaching each other and, upon exploding, fell away as if they were never there.

“I picked some great blueberries yesterday, so I thought I would make pancakes.”

Her stomach spoke at the suggestion, slowing driving away her reason for wanting to leave. She looked at Jana, who flipped through Amon’s pile of books on plants and nutrition. Mariel yawned. She wasn’t sure if it was the light from the lantern or her sleepy state, but the interested smile on Jana’s face appeared to glow, her bright blue eyes soaking up the words.

“I have chores to do.”

“I will help you. That way, you can eat sooner,” Jana said.

“There’s no need.”

“It is no trouble. I am happy to help.”

“It’s trouble for me because I don’t want you around.”

Jana followed Mariel out the door, either ignoring or not hearing the words her fellow Paladin said. Frustration bubbled under Mariel’s skin, trying to determine how she could get rid of this petite eyesore. Suddenly, an idea struck her. “If you insist on helping, then I guess I can’t stop you. Come on, there’s wood that needs to be chopped.”

They walked to the other side of the barn, where several massive logs lay on the ground. Jana gasped at the sight, and Mariel hid a grin. They were far too large to be carried by a human or beast, even if the distance was relatively short. Any normal human, that is.

“Well, come on, the sooner we start, the sooner we get done,” Mariel said.

“How do you suggest we move such massive pieces of wood? It cannot be moved by hand.”

“Really?” Mariel said, picking up the trunk of the tree and hoisting it to her shoulder with ease. “Guess my parents didn’t raise a bitch.”

She left the Paladin stunned as the tree dragged behind her. That should be enough to enrage Jana enough to leave. A bush was bigger than here. It would be impossible for her to move even the smallest of the trees alone. The Capital would think again before sending someone else to drag her away from home. Mariel was still chuckling to herself as she split the wood, tossing them into a wagon that would go to the already high piles of wood alongside the house. If out right telling Jana that she wasn’t welcome didn’t work, then all Mariel needed to do was break her spirit. The image of that tiny woman trying to move those massive logs made her laugh louder.

“What are you laughing at?” Yvonne asked, coming up behind Mariel.

“Oh nothing, is breakfast ready?”

“Not quite. Amon said you were up early so figured you were up to something.”

“I’m just doing my chores,” Mariel said.

“Your father chopped wood yesterday, so that means you’re scheming something.” The mother looked around with an eyebrow raised. “Where’s Paladin Jana?”

“You don’t have to call her Paladin all the time, you know.”

“It’s respectful.”

“Who says she deserves respect?” Mariel grumbled.

“She’s gotten under your skin already, huh?” Yvonne chortled. “No one is saying if you go to the Capital that you have to stay.”

The words punched Mariel as the ax hit the wood. “What?”

“You’re assuming that if you go, you’ll have to stay there permanently, but you can leave whenever you want. Why not go? You’ll have satisfied Jana’s mission, and the request from the Capital, and if doesn’t work out, you can just come home.”

Mariel hesitated. “I don’t want to give them the satisfaction.”

“No, you’re scared.” Dark blue eyes turned to Yvonne, begging her to stop the conversation. “Which is ok, but being scared doesn’t mean you can’t move, it’s doesn’t mean things will turn out badly. I know you aren’t content being here Mariel, the world is calling you.”

The daughter wanted to answer but heard the groan of a voice and the sound of something dragging. Jana trudged walked towards them, dragging a portion of the tree behind her by a rope. She finally stopped at the women, her breath ragged and sweat beading on her forehead. “My mother did not raise me to complain either.”