… the Evil Turn a Profit

[the Blushing Maiden Inn, Brewbury]

"… Fer 'e's a jolly good fella, fer 'e's a jolly good fella…"

Daerinnid practically crumbled under the sheer pressure of the noise around him. He was eating dinner, everyone else was getting drunk.

The important thing to remember was that every man present was willing to chip in a few coins to keep their precious town safe. The hapless villagers thought this meant safe from the Te'nakh'nor, but the money actually kept them safe from Daerinnid. That is, if Daerinnid didn't die of a massive headache first.

"Hey there, hon, you ain't drinkin'?"

"No, thank you. If this is going to be my last day on Earth, I'd like to live it with a clear head on my shoulder," smiled Daerinnid.

"Gee, you're a pessy, ain'tcha," the waitress retorted, rotating her hips as she turned away to find a more profitable customer. Something seemed to dawn on her, and she turned back. "If it's a good last day you're lookin' fer, look no further. Unless that country wench has you 'round her finger?" She inclined her head towards where Neesa sat, chatting up some red-faced young gentlemen. "Course, doesn' look like she's terr'bly interested in you."

"Thanks all the same, but no. I intend to help this town prepare for the Te'nakh'nor."

"All bus'ness, is ya? Well, you gotta make time fer play!"

"Maybe another time."

"I'll hold ya to it."

Daerinnid sincerely hoped that she wouldn't.

***

Though the men had been horribly drunk, Daerinnid had managed to impart upon them knowledge that would save their lives in the unlikely event of a Te'nakh'nor uprising. It helped that Daerinnid knew a little about how the creatures worked. They turned insubstantial in any kind of light, including fire, so they could not be harmed by it. If a room was half-lit, they would be half-substantial, and near-impossible to kill. That fact, worked in reverse, was the center of Daerinnid's theory of Te'nakh'nor defense. Simply put, if you always have some light, the Te'nakh'nor would be unable to do any harm.

Daerinnid's thoughts turned to the town candlemaker, whose business had just increased tenfold. Daerinnid's earnings for one night's lecture were probably triple that. The villagers could put no cost on the safety of their wives and children.

They couldn't, Daerinnid could.

His lecture a success, Daerinnid sat alone in his bed, reading a book. It was a book about potions, a small sort of magic Daerinnid could actually do. There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," said Daerinnid, expecting to see the waitress from earlier. He was wrong. It was Neesa.

"Mista Daerinnid?" she said softly. She was dressed for bed in a modest nightgown from a sympathetic villager.

"Yes, Neesa?" Even though Neesa was not the waitress, Daerinnid suspected she could have the same idea. That had certainly been the case back at the Black Pig.

Timidly, Neesa scurried forward. Her nervous manner spoke of something Daerinnid could not quite place his finger on…

"Mista Daerinnid, c'n I sleep in 'ere?"

"Neesa," he said reproachfully, "I think it’s not right to do something like this so soon after the deaths of your par--"

With a squeal of pain, Neesa ran forward and clutched Daerinnid. There were fresh tears on her cheeks as she sobbed into his sleeve. Taken aback, Daerinnid exclaimed, "Neesa, whatever is the matter?"

"I--I'm scared, mista Daerinnid!" she wailed between sobs. "I don't want to be in that big room all by myself! Please don't leave me alone."

"How absolutely heartrending," a small voice in Daerinnid's head said coldly. Daerinnid frowned.

"Please, mista Daerinnid!" she pleaded, her large blue eyes gazing at him.

"Fine."

"B-but-- huh? I c'n stay?" She seemed to think Daerinnid would turn her away.

"Well why not?" grumbled Daerinnid.

"Oh, thank ya, mista--"

"Just one thing."

"Yes?"

"Please, stop calling me 'Mr. Daerinnid.' Just 'Daer' will do." Neesa gave an obliging nod, suddenly turning romantic again.

"Oh, Daer…" she began to sigh, crawling into the bed as he stepped out. "… Where ya goin'?"

"You take the bed, I'll sleep in the chair."

Neesa suspected she was probably not going to have much success getting Daerinnid into the same bed for a very, very long time…