-- Lilith POV, Laketown --

  The man ignored John completely, "There she is! See! He brought a demon in town!"

  Before she could protest, John stretched an arm across her front, slightly pushing her backwards and took half a step towards the group by himself, "I said, she works for me. What is your problem?"

  "We don't want any demons in town. She'll eat our babies at night!" Another voice from the crowd and she couldn't make out the speaker immediately.

  "I don't eat babies." She spoke loud enough so everyone could hear.

  "Let me talk," John addressed her, then towards the group, "That's fairy tales and you know it. She's a rune crafter and does good work. She's alright and she works for me now."

  "See! She's already bewitched him. He sold his soul to her! And she will bewitch all our husbands to follow her!" Another acute voice from the back of the crowd, a female voice this time.

  She could only shake her head in disbelief.

  "Listen. I have the praetors permission to bring her here. And I have the kings permission as well. She is working for me, and you'll leave her be." John sounded a tad angry now.

  "The guards are coming!" Another voice from the back of the crowd.

  "Good. They will take the demon!" Someone exclaimed.

  There was movement in the back of the crowd, which finally parted and three armed guards stepped through, "What's happening here, smith?"

  "I've hired a new worker and brought her here." John's voice and his expression were serious, "And I have the praetors support on that."

  "Got some proof for that?" The guard in the lead asked.

  John nodded, "I have", took something from an inner pocked of his vest and handed it to the guard, who unfolded the paper to study it briefly.

  The guard handed it back to John, "Alright, that matches the message we've got from the praetor just earlier. Just wanted to be sure it wasn't a hoax."

  He turned to the crowd to declare loudly, "Listen everyone. She is here on kings order. The kings order!" He repeated in case someone missed it, "She will forge blades for the praetorian guards. Don't get any stupid ideas, that's none of your business. Now go home!"

  They watched as the crowd slowly dispersed, one women giving Lilith a last vitriolic look before she turned to leave too.

  The guards waited till everyone was gone. "Smith", the lead guard spoke up again, "even if you have the praetors support and the kings permission, I hope you know what you are doing. We can't be here all the time to look over the two of you."

  John shrugged, "They'll get used to her. And we can defend ourselves if needed. She's tough."

  "One can keep hoping," the guard replied, then looked her right in the eyes, "Hey demon!"

  "Yes, guardsman?" She tried to give her voice a friendly tone.

  "Be careful if you walk alone. Townsfolk won't like you much. If you kill someone, you'll be in trouble, even if was them who started the fight. Shit game, I know. Can't help it though."

  "Can I kick them in the groin?"

  He laughed, "Guess that'll work. Alright, listen. Guard's house is over there." He pointed roughly across the marketplace, where a full stone building could be seen with the guard banner flapping in the wind, "We want you to report to us daily. That's so we know that you're still in town and alive, but also so you can tell us if someone tries to do shit to you. The praetor will be pissed if some shithead burns down John's workshop and you can't work. So if people threaten you, tell us."

  She didn't really know what to reply right away, but he seemed to think about something and added quickly, "Probably best you come over right in the morning each day. Doesn't have to be morning, but calms our minds and gives you the rest of the day to do whatever you have to do."

  It was John who replied for her, "I'll send her over after breakfast, before we start business."

  "Sounds fine to me." The guard agreed, "Also, there are always some of us here at the marketplace. Too many pickpockets and shifty figures lately. Just shout if you need help. Don't wait till you actually have to hurt some idiot. Let us do the hurting, that's what we are for."

  "Will do", she confirmed. The lead guard nodded briefly to her before he addressed John, "Keep an good eye on her smith."

  "Sure thing, guardsman," John replied in his usual calm demeanor.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Once the guards had left, she had to shake her head, "That's just crazy."

  "Don't think about it too much Lilith. There are hateful people everywhere, can't do anything about it. I'll acquaint you with some friends of mine, so you won't feel so isolated. They are nice people. You'll see."

  Then John nodded in direction to the guardhouse, "The guards are a bit rough but they are alright. They want to see you every day. You heard the man. They want you to talk to them. Use the chance, talk to them, make friends."

  She looked at the guardhouse, thoughtful, "Guess you're right."

  He gave her a pat to the shoulder, "Good, now lets unload the wagon and unpack our stuff."

  At least this time they didn't have to carry everything down or up these endless stairs that led to skyview monastery. Most things went to John's workshop, some upstairs to the trunks in their living room and his bedroom.

  "I'm hungry now," John declared, "How about you?"

  "I could do with a bite," she agreed, "You mentioned an inn?"

  "Yep. Lets put on fresh clothes so that we are presentable and then I'll show you the way."

  The inn wasn't that far from John's workshop, just a few steps down a side alley from the marketplace. "The Golden Cruse", big gilded letters on a wooden board advertised the place, and the inviting scent of food filled the air.

  John opened the door for her. She had to duck a little, the door frame felt dangerously low to her and she didn't want to bump her horns against it, just when entering a place new to her.

  The air inside was thick filled with steam, scent of food, traces of pipes weed and more that she could not immediately name. It was quite crowded, almost each table was occupied by people eating, drinking or playing cards together. Voices mixed, the occasional louder word piercing through.

  She took another step and John followed her in, ducking likewise through the door frame, then leaned to her and spoke quietly, "Hey Lilith, see the table over there, right at the window? Let's take that one."

  John knew the place, knew the habits, so she just followed his advice and made her way over to the table, which John had suggested. First she didn't notice, but with every step of her hooves on the wooden floor the room became more and more quiet, till she froze mid step to notice everyone looking at her. John nudged her forward, "Keep walking. You're a curiosity for them. Try to be a good curiosity for them."

  She continued to walk, John was all gentlemen to arrange a chair for her so she could sit down comfortably, before he took seat at the other side of the table.

  To her relief, the murmur of voices soon returned, a different tone than before, but she just wanted to agree with John, she was a curiosity here and people were now likely no longer talking about their former topics but about her. She felt exposed, but there was little to do now, just try to be normal. Wasn't that what superior Martins had told her several times? "Just try to be normal." Easier said than done, but sensible advice nevertheless.

  A waitress approached them, bringing two menu cards, "Welcome to The Golden Cruse", she handed Lilith a menu card first, then the other one to John, "What may I bring to drink?"

  "Two white sour wine spritzers", John replied before she even could make up her mind and the waitress gave a curt nod, "Very well" before she turned to fetch the drinks for them.

  "See", John offered an encouraging smile, his hand put on hers for added comfort, "No one makes a fuss here cause of you."

  She nodded a little, still quite intimidated by the moment when everyone had been staring at her.

  The menu was interesting. Dishes with pork, beef, lamb, even fish. Quite the contrast to the vegetable stew they had had almost every day in the monastery. Fried fish. She wanted to try some fried fish today, "John, I don't know much about fish, but I'd like to try fried fish. What can you recommend?"

  He was quick to answer, "The fried zander filet is quite good. They catch them in the lake, it's the best fish you can get here."

  After just a little while the waitress returned with their drinks, "Do you have decided on the food already?"

  John nodded, "Yes. The fried zander filet for the lady please, and I'll have the lamb chops with green beans."

  "A good choice. The zander is all fresh from the lake and the lamb chops are just superb today", the waitress praised and collected their cards, to deliver their order to the kitchen.

  She was still looking into the direction where the waitress had left to when someone stopped at their table, "Hey John, long time no see."

  John looked up, "Hi Steven, yep, business required me elsewhere but now I'm back."

  "Lilith, please meet Steven Fisher, an old friend of mine. Steven please meet Lilith, my new assistant"

  "Hello Steven", she tried her most friendly expression, "Hello Lilith. Never seen one like you before. Mind if I sit and we chat some?" The last part was addressed to John again.

  "Bring your drink, sit with us." John was quick to decide.

  It took Steven only a few moments to fetch his drink and join them at their table, "Have you been to Laketown before, Lilith?"

  She shook her head lightly, "No. Actually I haven't seen many places. I've been living in a monastery before, and John sorta found me there when he was looking for an assistant."

  "Now that sounds like a story. John, how did you find her?" Steven asked in a open and curious way.

  John began to explain his part, then their food was delivered and it was just delicious. Steven wanted to know more and more, and she barely could answer all his question while she tried to enjoy the fish.

  "Never thought I'd meet a real demon", Steven eventually concluded, "but you seem alright. Sorry to hear about all the shit that happened to you. Advice among friends. Stick to John. He knows the right people."

  She nodded a bit hesitantly, "I want to work with John for sure."

  Then he laughed, "If I tell my wife that I met a demon in the inn today. Man, that will be a story to tell! She won't believe a single word."

  John piped up, "Hey Steven, how about we meet at the tavern one of the next evenings to play cards? I haven't been playing cards a long time."

  Steven nodded, "Sure. But we need three. Hey Lilith, can you play cards?"

  Now she was lucky that she couldn't blush, "I've learned some games. Don't know if I'm good at them. What do you two usually play?"