The groups parted at the Royal Road. “We have to get to Sommerset,” Word said. “Maybe look for us when you’re on the road again? Our routes will take us mostly to the east.” 

“We don’t have much in the way of plans. We’re going wherever the winds take us,” Ron answered and glanced at the others for confirmation. “But Skrika is the first place we’re going.” 

“Good luck go with you, then.” Word reached out for a hug. The puppets dismounted to give ve tight hugs. Perry barked and stood on his hind legs for hugs as well. “Puppets give the best hugs, huh, buddy?” Word laughed. 

The merchant group headed east while the small group headed west. As they walked, Dan told the other two about his dream.

“Hm,” Ron said. “He has a point. We should stick to our beliefs in a world like this.” 

Sage cocked their head to one side. “Rehabilitation? Really? Replace a dead loved one with their murderer?”

“We usually would. In most cases, the rehabilitated murderer would go above and beyond the call. Besides, murder isn’t usually something someone would just DO in our world,” Ron explained. “Usually it was an accident or negligence. Few ever murdered out of a need for power or maliace or passion.” 

“You creatures are unbelieveable,” Sage said in a flabbergasted tone.

“What would you people have done?”

“Killed the bastard, for one. If someone tried to replace my loved one with their killer, I’d get revenge.” 

“Wow,” was all the two puppets could muster. 

“What about thieves? Or repeat offenders? Or sexual offenders?” 

“Well, there would be some therapy involved.” 

“Therapy?”

The puppets glanced at one another. “Mental work done with a professional,” Dan explained simply.

Sage crossed their arms together. “Okay. And then what?” 

“There would be getting to the root of the issue. With theivery, we’d find out why it was happening in the first place. Usually it’s a need not being met or a symptom of abuse or neglect. There would be some rearranging in their life if it was the latter.

“Then for sexual offences, there would be extensive therapy for both sides, forgiveness and atonement exercises, and likely a rearrangement of positions, since it is usually an abuse of power. The offender would be moved to a new job or given a job where they’re easily monitored for a year or two while continuing therapy.”

“Does it always work?”

Ron shrugged. “Not always, but those are edge cases.” 

“You puppets are a strange bunch. Usually we bury a sex offender up to their neck and dump honey on their head for ants to eat off. Slowly killing them.” 

The puppets stared at them. 

“Or we just burn them alive at the stake. Depending on what cult gets a hold of them.” 

“Sweet Threads,” Dan whistled. 

Sage continued the questioning about rehabilitation, scenarios becoming more and more specific and outlandish until Ron finally asked them to stop. It was getting exhausting.

“Okay. One more.” 

Ron sighed, “Fine. One more.” 

“What if,” Sage paused, biting their bottom lip. “What if a mother abandons their child because a disagreement and curses them with a horrid anti-magic curse?” 

“You’d be put in the care of the state and your mother arrested for child endangerment. Both of you would undergo therapy and extensive forgiveness and atonement programs.” 

“What if she thinks she did nothing wrong?” Sage asked, tears welling up.

“You have to forgive her, even if she doesn’t want it. You can’t hold your resentment forever, Sage. You have to allow yourself to heal.” 

The witch turned away and hugged their Golem’s head for some comfort. Bevel made a low song and patted Sage gently on the back. 

“I guess they need time,” Ron whispered to Dan. “Still, I’m glad to hear you had a breakthrough. I was worried about you.” 

“When Word sounded more like a human, I felt even worse. I guess Word adopted this world’s way of thinking. I don’t want that. It seems … angry.” 

“Empires, hierarchy, revenge - it all seems that way to me.” 

With the mountains behind them, the four of them turned in to Dusty Goat Tavern. The tavern was quaint, with a homely quilt hanging behind the bar and various goat heads on display on one wall. 

“What’s this guy’s story?” Dan whispered and pulled out his notebook.

“I bet he likes goats,” Ronnie said.

“Hmph,” the tavern owner said as he turned and looked at the three of them. Bevel was hidden in Sage’s necklace. “I hate goats,” the man’s voice boomed. “Almost as much as I hate witches and puppets!” 

“How - I’m not a witch!” Sage said.

“Its written all over you, kid!” 

Sage balked with a gasp. “Oh! I can’t believe this! Kid!? I’m well into 18 years old, I’ll have you know!”

“If you want to sleep, sleep out in the barn with the animals! Same price as a room! You’re taking up precious space!” 

The three glanced at one another. Sage started to roll up their sleeve on their good arm and whispered, “A kid can’t -” 

“Tom, please,” said one woman clad in leather armor. She was built like an ox. “These are some weary travelers looking for a place to lay their heads.” She gestured to the three of them, two of whom put on their best puppy-dog eyes while the other pouted.

Tom sighed, flexed his shoulders in thought, whispered something, and finally said, “Fine. Just no singing, no magic casting. If you cause any trouble, the Fume Knights are a horn blow away.” He pointed to the ram horn with the Fumer’s crest carved into it. He jerked a key off the hook and held it up. “Payment if you want this.”

The four of them gave thanks to the villagers and Soren who sent them off with a bag of blarns to pay for anything. It was a two bed bedroom with dressers at the end for storage, along with fresh linens and a few sets of threadbare pajamas. The group unloaded their things and climbed into bed. Sage slept in their clothes and boots. The other two stayed in their underwear.

“Why are you sleeping dressed?” Dan asked as Ronnie curled up to the wall the bed was pushed against. 

“So I can be ready anytime there’s a threat. You never know.” Sage’s hand cupped around the miniature Bevel, who hugged the pillow.

Dan laid down, thinking about it. Eventually, he got up and put on his handmade pants and tunic. He laid out Ron’s overalls on the dresser and sighed as exhaustion took hold.