The days for Kurt seemed to pass by too quickly, Carl had come back and asked for more potions, and for Kurt to give a list of what he needed that was bigger. Apparently it was worth something.

The next carriage ride to the next town was very uneventful, things seemed to be working out. Which started to worry Kurt as that always seemed to be the time when a massive rabbit would attack him. Things were going a little too smoothly, but of course they had just gotten started. Life was getting started, since Layla had made payment upon departure, it was like having a bunch of money and taking a little trip to a new town.

Most of Kurt's actual life was on the other side though. He didn't actually need much of the money he had in a lot of ways, no one was charging him rent, it was actually more likely he could charge rent to them really, and the mess hall was for everyone.

There was a set of six human guards, they had been subject to the same oath to secrecy, but had found a room in one of the hallways for each of them. It made a lot of it easier, as the set really only had to guard a doorway, and on the other side of the doorway was a goblin. Finding a place on the road wasn't always easy, but always possible with them.

There may have been too many humans that knew Kurt thought. Which was a weird thought to have when he pondered it, whose side am I on anymore? I mean if goblins had attacked any human before Kurt would have thought obviously the goblins were the bad guys. That didn't seem to be always true anymore, even in the abstract.

It wasn't like Kurt didn't spend time in the towns, he always came around. And found a few things. He found a few pieces of this and that on each stop. And the food.

Carl had insisted on taking Layla and Kurt, and sometimes the others, to the fanciest restaurant in any town they came to. That's mostly when Kurt would wear his cloak, and some of the stiff suits he had. They were starting to feel more comfortable, especially the cloak, as winter was approaching, he wore it more often. And Kurt couldn't argue after the first place, it was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted, until the next town. A man could get used to this treatment. Layla always dressed more esteemed as well, but always walking, of course, unlike on this side. One dress after another, her long red hair with one style or another. It was the formal affair in his normal informal life, he had actually really started to like the whole ordeal, as he was near the center of it, instead of a cook in the background.

His progress with a sword and spear advanced as well, he was better with a sword. But a spear is generally easier, its advantage of range can overtake the skill of a sword user. Beyond that, spears also worked much better as a formation than swords, and in formation you don't need much skill to be effective. Shields up front spears coming out from behind against a squad of swords was just a losing battle to spears, of course ones that hadn't been practicing a Crescent Wave Slash that could break a defense L. Weapons Master Trenton clearly was still superior with both weapons, but Kurt speed and strength were starting to close a gap, with the same skill the stronger one usually wins.

Today he was visiting Sara's Duchery, it was a big day. The final tree was going to be placed, the wall of the Duchery would finally be complete. And everyone had seen her work for it, moving one at a time, even though there was going to be more work, moving the tree wasn't the end, but it connecting would be the end of Sara's hobby.

There was a gathering of everyone, the elves, a bunch of goblins, even Layla showed up. Sara was putting the final trees into place, the wall of her Duchery was about to be finished. And there were only three more left until she had finished.

"Three."

Sara groaned, and a tree slammed in, it was a bit off, and she made a fierce face, slowly the tree moved into the correct position.

"Two," the crowd shouted.

Another..

"One." The crowd was about to break, there were no more numbers left, to the goblins at least.

And Sara made a last groan, and the last tree slammed into the last position making a loud, proud knock. And it was done, the wall was connected, it was complete. Even though the tops of the tree would be cut to actually truly finish the wall, it was done. The goblins, the gnomes, Kurt, the elves all went wild. The entire heart of Mary's well was encased, there was a large castle like structure, the Duchery, and the start of an actual settlement. There was still a lot to do. But there couldn't be a more obvious milestone than the wall finally touching.

"You fucking did it," shouted Kurt, "you crazy girl."

Sara fell to her knees breathing hard, she had made a last rush to finish, the crowd was encouraging her, and had sped up for the last ten. Kurt walked quickly towards her. "Sara, you okay?." said Kurt.

She stilted but raised to her feet, turned around and faced the crowd but mostly Kurt, she took a deep breath and screeched loudly , "That's fucking Dutchess Sara to you!" using all her body, and seemingly the last of her energy. Her face then turned into a huge honest tired smile, Sara was laughing at the end, hunched over, clutching her stomach while breathing a little hard between the laughs. She really did deserve it today.

And the crowd exploded with laughter, there was hugging, screaming, and pushing each other in crazy exuberance from the shout from Sara. Goblins and elves and gnomes somehow in a weird happy mosh pit, and a few rams actually. There was cause for celebration, the sound of laughter rose higher as well, it had honestly taken Sara months to finish. A cloud of powder spread, a few simple fireworks-type fireballs, and electric sparks exploded above the crowd from the shaman goblins in the crowd. The end seemed just like her, screaming at Kurt, with everyone somehow agreeing with her.

"My lady," shouted Kurt in a laugh.

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