Chapter 160 Raisin

Chapter 160 Raisin
Koth had been walking the path of the new fence he was planning to put up. Meghart and Nenhir insisted on helping him. Truth be told, they were more of an annoyance than a help.
"Should we form a protection for you against her father? I mean, if his daughter is that fierce, he must be truly scary," Meghart said. Koth chuckled and thought about Irin's kind father. That made him lose count again.
"Her father actually likes me," he told them as he walked back to start over.
"He does? What's wrong with him? Brain injuries?" Nenhir asked. Meghart laughed.
"Oh, shut up. If you want to help me, distract the older brother. He isn't part of my fan club," Koth told them. They both nodded.
"So, one brother and five sisters – that is a large family. It's natural for the brother to be protective of the sisters," Nenhir asked.
"No, it's four," Koth corrected him.
"Four what?" Nenhir asked.
"Four brothers and five sisters."
"They had nine children?" Meghart asked.
"Ten if you include Irin," Koth said and tried to focus on the counting.
"That is one big family. Are you okay with being included in all of that? I mean, you are a lot like us – not really a people person," Nenhir asked.
"Hey! Don't include me in that. I enjoy meeting people," Meghart objected.
"No, you like to fuck people. That doesn't count," Nenhir told him.
"He's right," Koth agreed. "And for the record, I like Irin's family. They are good people; they are kind and were genuinely nice to me even if I just showed up on their doorstep, looking like I do, telling them I was going to marry their sister. Fuck! You made me lose count. Again!" he exclaimed. "That's it. You two will walk the fence line and tell me how long it is so I can order the planks." As his friends wandered back to start over again, Koth made his way to the garden. Just as he had expected, Irin was sitting in the shade.
"All done?" she asked.
"No. They kept distracting me. I have now tasked them with doing it for me, as punishment," he told her as he sat down and leaned back against the tower. She had really found the perfect spot.
"I have something that will make your mood better," she told him and straightened out a fold on her dress skirt. There was a pile of sun-ripened strawberries. Koth smiled and took one.
"Where is Melir?" he asked after enjoying a couple.
"He's 'researching' Noodle," she told him with a giggle.
"In other words, he and Noodle are playing in the forest?"
"Correct. Do you think we'll make it to the city today?" she asked as they both watched Nenhir and Meghart have a heated argument.
"I would say it's a fifty-fifty chance at the moment. I don't mind. I like this," he answered.
"I don't mind either way," she agreed. Half an hour later, Meghart and Nenhir had resolved their disagreement and came walking with measurements they both agreed with.
"We will be heading into the city. Do you want to join us?" Irin asked them.
"I think we'll hang here, if you don't mind," Nenhir said.
"Not at all. Feel free to eat and drink what you want," Irin told them.
"I would like the tower to be still standing when we get home," Koth added.
"Is it impossible for you to be hospitable?" she asked him.
"Probably not, but I don't really want to find out," he said, and Irin laughed. "We'll just take Maximus. You can ride with me and then ride him back while I drive the wagon," he suggested.
"Good idea," she agreed. Koth helped her up on the big horse and she looked even tinier on his back. Koth mounted behind her and enjoyed wrapping his arms around her. "What will we do with the new horse when we go to my Dad's house? We can't just leave him at home," she asked.
"No, we can't. We'll take him along. He can carry our bags," Koth agreed.
"Does that mean we can bring gifts? If we don't have to worry about trying to fit everything onto Glima and Maximus, I mean. When we went back last time, we were in a hurry, and it wasn't really a good time to stop and get gifts," she said. It was easy for him to hear how excited she was at the idea.
"We can get as many gifts as you like," he told her.
"Oh, I think one per person is enough; it will be plenty," she said. They were riding into the city, and both got down, and Koth led Maximus. The first stop was to order the planks and wood needed to make the horses comfortable. With any luck, it would be delivered while they were away, and Koth could start working on it as soon as they got back home. Then they went to the market, and just like last time, Koth watched Irin as she was shopping. Anything he saw she enjoyed or thought was fun or beautiful, he bought when she wasn't looking. It gave him so much joy when he thought about how she had reacted last time she had found her gifts mixed in with her shopping.
"Koth, do you think Dad will like this?" she asked. He walked up to her and looked over her shoulder. She was looking at two bookends; when they were placed next to each other, they looked like a tree with a crown full of flowers. If you placed books between them, it would look like half a tree on each end.
"I think he would love it," Koth told her and gently ran his finger along the trunk. "It reminds me of the apple trees when we were there." She nodded.
"That was what I was thinking as well." The salesman wrapped them up for them. "I think that was everything," Irin said.
"Then we'll get provisions for the road and then head to the temple," Koth told her. When they arrived at the temple, the wagon and horse were ready to go. Alongside them, Jacob stood waiting.
"I hope you haven't waited long for us," Irin said.
"Not at all. My spies informed me when you were heading towards the temple. When are we leaving for your father's house?" he asked.
"I just sent him a letter, letting him know we're on our way. We were thinking of leaving tomorrow," she said. The high priest chuckled.
"Impatient," he teased.
"Been waiting too long already," Koth grunted.
"We just want things to get back to normal. That way, I can go back to my usual duties," Irin told him.
"Oh, my child. Things have changed; you have changed. We'll talk about your duties when we get back. Just expect not to go back to junior cleric duties," Jacob told her.
"What? Okay. I'm looking forward to that," she said, sounding a little confused. It was just like her not to see how special she was. Now that she had shown everyone what she could do, it wasn't strange that the temple would find other uses for her skills.
"Come along, little one. We need to be heading home. We don't know how long it takes the two idiots we left behind to demolish it."
"You go. We'll be ready to go tomorrow. We'll meet you at the same place as last time," Jacob said as Koth helped Irin up on Maximus. They had put all the shopping in the wagon, and he climbed up on it and took the reins.
"What do you think about Raisin?" she asked as they were almost out of the city.
"In general?" he asked, confused. She giggled.
"Sorry, I forgot that you can't read my mind. I was thinking about a good name for our new horse," she explained.
"Oh, that makes more sense," he said. "Raisin? Are you always hungry when naming our animals?" Another giggle came from her.
"Maybe," she admitted.
"I like it. He looks a little bit like one: brown and fluffy," he said.
"I don't want to know what kind of raisins you eat," she needled him. He laughed. "Look, the tower is still standing," she pointed out.
"And not even a small fire. I'm proud of them," Koth added, and they both laughed.