Arondil was gone for over ten days, and by the time he returned, Shawn had mustered the courage to leave the cave and gather the newly sprouted medicinal herbs cropping up at the first touch of spring after layering up on clothes. Nidia was still sulking from their previous conflict, but when she saw the gifts brought by the ranger, all that unhappiness disappeared without a trace.
"My mithril armor!" she exclaimed with joy as she ran toward it. "My money pouch! My gemstone belt! My magic carpet! My greatsword!"
While massaging his sore shoulder, the ranger complained, "I thought that was a monument, not a sword! If I didn't have anyone helping me, I would have just tossed it away. I can't believe you've been carrying such a thing around with you!"
Nidia held her recovered possessions t
