"The Manor Hotel," it was called, but it appeared to be a dozen trailers shabbily networked together with questionable materials.

"Here we are," said Alana.

"Ah, can I ask what you were in the city for?" Anna asked.

"Business," said Alana, airily.  "Here to make money.  Which hasn't actually worked out, but I'm making the best of my circumstances."

"I owe you a lot," Anna said.

"Which I will remember," said Alana, "but we are all in this together now, so I'm making the best of it.  I'll be back in a few.  Stay here and don't talk to strangers."

She went into the building.

"...why did she say that?" Artz asked.

"I don't know," Anna said. "Why don't you tell me about yourself, Artz?"

"Well, I'm not sure what there is to say," said Artz, scratching the back of his head.  "I raise sheep back home, and I mess around with special things to make my spear work better to keep the beasts off 'em, but I wanted to go into the city to see the other side of things.  Miss Alana said she could help me, so here I am."

"You are a very good man," Anna said.

"Well, I don't rightly know what to compare that to," said Artz.  "I try to not be a bad man, I guess."

"You helped me a lot," Anna said. "I owe you too."

He blushed.

"I'm just trying to do what's right," he said.

"Yes, and I appreciate it," Anna said. "I'll pay you back some day."

"Just so his sheep remain intact," teased Krovna.

"I mean, if that's what he wants...," Anna said.

"Oh, he might want something more," said Krovna.  "If he ever stops blushing, that is."

"I have nothing else to pay people back with," Anna said. "If that is what people want, it is what they'll get."

Artz just blushed more.

"...Don't be so fast to go there," said Krovna.  "You've got power.  It might become a heck of a lot more, give it time."

"Perhaps, but I understand there are things I have to do to survive," Anna said.

"Well, don't feel that you must go too far too soon," said Krovna.  "I like you.  We all do.  We all benefit from working together anyway."

"Okay. Are you okay?" Anna asked Artz.

"What?  Oh, sure, I'm fine," said Artz.  "Got banged up in that fight, but it's nothing serious.  I've had worse."

"I didn't mean physically, you've been blushing a lot," Anna said.

This did not help one bit; he blushed more.

"He's not used to seeing beautiful women dressed like you," Krovna deduced.  "And he's shy."

"I understand that you like me," Anna said, placing a hand on his arm. "It's okay, you're a good and kind person."

"Well, thank you," he said, clearly finding it awkward to look at Anna.  "I'm just... I don't know what to do about that. And all these other folks like you, too."

"Well, to start, I'd like to be your friend," Anna said.

Artz swallowed.

"Well, that part's easy enough," he said.  "Sure thing."

"Do you want more than that or do you need time to answer?" Anna asked.

Artz had an even harder time than usual meeting her eyes.

"...I mean, I do," he said, "but I don't know how to do that and I don't want that if it's you doing it to pay me back for helping you.  Where I'm from, looking out for each other is just something you do, period."

"Okay, that's fair," Anna said. "I'll respect that."

"...but I'd expect that you have a good chance in the long run, Artz," teased Krovna.  "But the rest of us might be your competition."

Artz clearly didn't get that.

"You're a very sweet guy," Anna said. "You remind me of some of the boys from back home."

"...thank you?" said Artz.

"Hey!" called Alana.  "If you two are finished, I've got clothes.  Uh, if you're not finished, the hotel's right there..."

"Good," Anna said, taking the clothes and putting them on.

"Here, let me get your hair," said Alana, tucking it up under a cap.  "The idea is to change your silhouette as much as possible.  I wish we could do more for the rest of us, but hopefully yours is the only description that they have."

"How do I look?" Anna asked the other two.

"Still cute but not like you," said Alana.  "Let's get moving, though.  No point in taking chances."

"Right. Let's go," Alana said.