Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

It's not just the effort of my mental workout that makes me feel hot and tired. Sure, arranging numerous runes in multiple circles and memorizing the arrangement without the help of pen and paper is tiring, but that isn't all. The fever makes a comeback too, as I have anticipated already. It's what I have come to expect from previous experiences after all. This time around it might just be a little worse than ever before though.

In the end it turns out that complex rune circles can make for terrifying nightmares when distorted by a fever addled brain. Even knowing that it's just a dream doesn't help. The glowing runes just snarl at me within the confines of my mind, as if to spite me. In the end there is nothing I can do but endure until the fever finally subsides sometime during the night and I can at long last slip into a more restful sleep. Small mercies and all that.

I wake up with Sour Cream curled up atop of me, and the sheets, early next morning. It's curious how I feel utterly immobilized by the comparatively slight cat.

My feline guardian is busy cleaning her paws. That doesn't stop her from purring gently though. She shoots me some glances every once in a while too, as if to check up on me.

I'm very tempted to reach out and pet her, but I refrain. I'd probably have to jostle her to extract a hand from under the sheets. And I'm not sure she would appreciate me touching her right now. I'm all sweaty. I probably really need to wash first.

It's still dark outside, thus I don't feel any urgent need to get up already either. In the end I just let Sour Cream be.

Then a soft whimper from by the fireside distracts both of us. Of course, Ulryk. The little boy probably doesn't feel any better than I do right now.

The cat comes to a similar conclusion it seems. Unlike me she is quick to act on it too. She gets up, stretches and jumps off the bed to saunter over the fitful baby. She climbs over Elzbieta and curls up against her and the boy to resume her purring, which really calms the boy within a few moments.

I can't help but smile. It's really good to have someone watch out for you like that, no doubt. And, of course, I finally can get up now, thus I do. I stifle a groan at the last moment and stop leaning against the wall for a moment until my head stops spinning. I quick check reassures me that I'm not having a fever anymore. Not a terribly high one anyway at least. I probably just need to drink something. I certainly sweated quite a bit over the course of the night.

I quietly pad over to the fireplace where Elzbieta and Ulryk are sleeping, now under the watchful eyes of Sour Cream, taking great care not to wake either.

There still is some tea in the cauldron over the now cold fireplace. It's cold too, of course, but I don't mind. It's like most adventurers have to drink concoctions like this anyway, thus I have no right to complain. I drink a cup and sit down by the workbench afterwards for a little, until the dizziness finally fades. I'm not all good, but well enough at least to not restrain myself to the bed anymore. Long walks and the like are still out of the question though. Performing strenuous activities like that would be like asking for trouble. Trouble I can seriously do without right now.

Meanwhile dawn breaks outside. It'll still be a little while before the sun actually makes its way over the horizon, but the sky is already lighting noticeably. Another good reason not to get back into bed as far as I'm concerned.

There is something I need to check first though. I grab the enchanted lantern and move to the shop, so I won't disturb my housemates too much. I open the windows facing east too, to make the best possible use of the early morning sun as well. Thankfully I don't have to worry too much about passers by peeking in at this time of the day.

Once the preparations are done, I take off my nightdress to inspect the rash best I can. Of course I really only can check my front on my own, but I have no reason to suspect that my back will look any better or worse. Anyway, it's still there, but it's getting better. The affected area isn't quite as big anymore and it's not quite the same angry red anymore either. Another day or two and it should be good, or good enough at least.

The itch isn't quite as bad as it used to be anymore either, although it's not quite gone. I can tell now that the balm has worn off over night and yet I don't have to actually fight down an urge to scratch myself all over. That is quite possibly the most noticeable improvement of my situation.

I probably should still apply some more of the ointment, with Elzbieta's help, a little later. Just in case. I wrinkle my nose. First I need to wash up though. Seriously, those feverish nightmares haven't helped. A hot bath is still out of the question though. And I still have to be careful about not scrubbing too hard. I better wait for Elzbieta to wake up, so she can help me out once more.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

In the end I don't have to wait long. Little Ulryk is the first to wake up, probably because he is hungry. That and any discomfort he may feel due to the rash is quickly forgotten as he notices the purring Sour Cream curled up against him.

"Guh!"

I can't remember having heard a sound of such joyful elation in quite a while.

Sour Cream is well aware of it too and she knows what it heralds, among other things. Grabby hands. She doesn't panic though. She lets the little boy grab some of her fur, but only briefly. Instead of hissing or clawing him though, she simply twists and turns so she can lick his nose instead, prompting the baby boy to let go and giggle, as he reaches for his nose instead. And while he is distracted she gets up and moves over to the place where I usually feed her, looking at me expectantly along the way. Oh yes, she is well aware that she deserves praise for the way she handled the situation.

It's pretty obvious that she expects something in turn too. Why else would she go straight to the spot where I usually pamper her? I hurry up not to keep her waiting and pour her a bowl of of her favorite treat, which she immediately starts to lap up with great gusto.

Well at least one of us is happy. Or maybe it's not just one. Ulryk does not seem too disappointed that the cat escaped his grasp. He keeps looking over her way but considering all the happy baby noises he is making, he is more than content just watching from afar for now.

Of course his babbling then wakes up Elzbieta too. For a moment she blinks owlishly at us, one after the other, then she sits up while Ulryk finally helps himself to a quick meal. Elzbieta eyes me up critically in the meantime.

"You are up and about again?"

I look down at the chair I'm sitting on by the workbench.

"For a certain value of up and about. Do you think we could head up to the bathhouse? Not to take an actual bath, but to wash with water that isn't quite as refreshingly cold as its fresh from the creek?"

She nods while patting her boy's back gently.

"I think we could do that."

"Great, you let Ulryk have his morning meal. I'll pack up everything we'll need. Well, anything I can think of anyway."

Without delay I start to do just that. I grab a fresh nightdress for me, some towels and washcloths and, of course the leather rag and the jar with the ointment for the rash. The jar is the same we have been using so far. It seems Elzbieta hasn't touched the second one I made yet. Just as well. It's for the best if we use this one up first. I add some soap too. Even if thorough scrubbing is not an option, a little soap might still help. Or rather, especially since scrubbing is not an option a little soap will go a long way. A little later we are on our way.

The rest is routine, except, Ulryk is less than happy with the fact that he doesn't get to sit and play in the warm water. By the time Elzbieta puts fresh balm on both him and me after properly washing us down first, he has calmed down again though.

The real surprise is waiting for me sitting on the bench besides the backdoor of my house when we return. It's Urszula with her little girl, who obviously is not well. She doesn't even need to ask out loud. Instead I voice the first thing that comes to my mind.

"Balm for the rash?"

The village's wet nurse nods.

"It would be much appreciated."

I let out a laugh.

"Well, you are in luck, I made enough to fill a second jar before the fever knocked me out. Come on in and we can take care of business and your little girl."

It's not a big sale, but I'll happily take whatever I can get. Especially now to get my back on track and help shake off the last effects of the fever.