To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Nineteen
(Nebard)

…
As she moved off, Makinor said, “I really pity the man that gets Jelnaya for a wife.”

I felt able to reply, “I believe she will be a wonderful wife.” Thinking about Eashae, I mumbled, “I believe she will let her husband touch her.”

As if I had spoken out loud, Makinor exclaimed, “Touch her? Whoever gets her better hold, fondle, and squeeze her. And I don’t mean late at night either. I see her as the type of wife that will track her husband down and have him take her wherever he is.” I guess he understood my expression, as he asked, “Your wife does not treat you that way?”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Eighteen
(Nebard)

…
Makinor said, “Yes, I am getting the same impression. The problem with me is that I should know my job. I’ve been at this longer than Jelnaya. No offense intended, as I can clearly see that Fergush knew what he was doing in calling her, but I should be the one teaching her.”

“Yes, but I – DAMN!” I saw both my companions turn to me, so worked to explain. “All I hoped to do was set things right and return to my life. I had a life. I grew up being taught to do things a certain way. I learned how to work with animals, secured a house, and was ready to get married, have kids, and start things for the next generation.” I had to hold back tears as I looked around while saying, “I’m not going to get to go back home, am I?”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Seventeen
(Jelnaya)

I could have chosen a life in a world of high science. Between my father and his father I however learned a lot about weapons. I found those in this community to stress certain lessons. When I picked up one of their weapons, they were scared of the weapon. I thus did not use the instruments of high science, but went around breaking them, as I wanted those I met to be scared of me.

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Fifteen
(Jelnaya)

…
I saw my wife smile. The expression made me feel really good. I believe the smile on Jelnaya’s face indicated she caught our expressions, although her words were not to embarrass us.

“Well, good. Listen, you tell Quafrey that I appreciate the freedom she is giving me in doing this job. I feel it is going to get bad, really bad, and I don’t need some smothering goddess limiting my options.”

Eashae asked, “Really bad?”

“Yes.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Fifteen
(Jelnaya)

I quickly moved to a deeper part of the pond hearing footsteps, and was glad that I did hearing a girl’s voice say, “Jelnaya! We could have provided you with a warm bath.”

A lad spun making an exclamation of embarrassment. I knew both the kids, and wondered about their life together. I was clearly concealed by the liquid, but whatever I had the young lady, named Kairsy, surely was allowing the young man, named Priven, to see. I felt a need to just tell the couple to go back home, but the girl made it known that she would not be embarrassed by the way she found me.

“Jelnaya, we can give you a good bath and a warm bed.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Fourteen
(Nebard)

…
In a very serious manner, Albroth admitted, “No. I am not human. If you would have checked, your wives were not human either.”

I heard the voice of a lady say, “Don’t let him fool you, Nebard. They did things to us to improve our appearance, but we were human. Jelnaya said nothing about finding us, our souls, different than what she saw of us.”

“Now that I think about it, she’s right, but you just got lucky. Could have been a skunk lady that I put in the body of your wife.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Thirteen
(Jelnaya)

…
Eashae said, “You are following the right path, Nebard. I promised you everything, and I am seeing nothing to have me regret that decision. I will always love you and your children.”

The voice of Nebard broke as he replied, “This is hard, Eashae.”

“No, Nebard, but it is necessary. I cannot say that I am good with animals, but I will learn to do what I can while you do what you must. It might be hard doing what Quafrey commands, what I desire, what our children will demand, and what the animals must have done for them, but I will help all I can. I understand that it will be necessary.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Twelve
(Nebard)

…
It was my mother who said, “Felther? Oh, Felther, they took your soul, didn’t they?” I saw Lord Felther just quiver, then my mother asked, “Honored Jelnaya, could you look into Felther’s eyes and rescue him?”

She replied, “He gave up his willingly. I don’t know if I could. Nebard, what does Quafrey say about it?”

The female voice inside my head told me that I needed to see. Quafrey explained that I needed to have a relationship with her like Jelnaya had with He-Who-Fights. I had no idea how to do that. Not hearing any directions from the voice inside my head, I looked to the one that had asked me the question.

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Eleven
(Jelnaya)

...
“What can be worse?”

I stepped up to the man so he could hear me even with me hissing my words, “Think, Makinor. Think about what I said. We are divine champions. Our souls are not ours. Now, think about those in Nebard’s town. Other than Nebard, they are not divine champions. Their souls are not secure. They can be pulled into Hell with no recourse to their fates. There can be innocent people in Hell.”

To Face the Ugly Deed
Chapter Ten
(Nebard)

...
Hearing some words, I gladly replied, “Quafrey appreciates what you said, Jelnaya.”

“Okay, so let me tell you some things that she might not like. I am not going to promise that you will live. I have been defeating these creatures, so I have some confidence, but too much confidence can kill. Should things get desperate, I reduce to caring for myself. Good tactics however can win any battle, so you keep talking to me. Hopefully we can gain an edge that keeps us with a victory.”

“I’m trusting in you, Jelnaya.”

“And I have not bitten off your head when you spoke to me, so you should not fear speaking to me. You hear me? We talk, we make plans, and we figure out how to win.”