Once upon a time there was a [Princess]. She was bad at being a princess. She never leveled, and she ran away from home, no doubt causing a lot of trouble because of that. She ran in a childish fit of anger, and ended up on another continent, where she caused more trouble because she was petty and small-minded and useless. Then she died.<\/p>\n
The end.<\/p>\n
That was how the story should have gone. Every day Lyonette du Marquin knew she should have died a long time ago, cold, alone, lying in the snow. She knew that, and so she tried to be grateful for the second\u2014no, probably eighth\u2014chance she\u2019d been given.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t hard to be grateful. Because Lyonette had everything she\u2019d wanted. In some senses, she\u2019d found exactly what she\u2019d come to Izril to find.<\/p>\n
She had a job, something to do that mattered. She had a duty, to protect Mrsha, to take care of the inn. And what was more, she had what she\u2019d wanted for so long.<\/p>\n
Levels. Classes. Skills. For the first time since she was seven years old, Lyon was actually leveling again. Not just gaining a level every few years.<\/em> She was gaining levels rapidly. Not as a [Princess], true, but as a far humbler class. A [Barmaid]. Perhaps it was below her station, but Lyonette didn\u2019t care. Because she had Skills!<\/em><\/p>\n [Charming Smile]. [Lesser Strength]. These were her two latest Skills, obtained as she\u2019d reached Level 11 in the [Barmaid] class. They made her happy and slightly ashamed. Happy because they were Skills, and ashamed because the part of Lyonette that still thought of herself as royalty knew these Skills weren\u2019t what she should be hoping for.<\/p>\n A [Princess] should not have a Skill that let her lift heavy objects, Lyonette knew. True, a Skill like [Charming Smile] was<\/em> a very Princess-like Skill, although a [Princess] should not smile so openly for no reason. But these weren\u2019t grand Skills, the kind that could aid her nation or inspire her people. They were just\u2026Skills.<\/p>\n And yet, her entire life, all eighteen years she\u2019d lived, Lyonette had only had one small Skill from her [Princess] class. Just one Skill while everyone else learned more Skills and leveled. This was better, truly.<\/p>\n Lyonette was grateful for it. She was a Level 11 [Barmaid], a Level 4 [Beast Tamer], a Level 6 [Carer], a Level 2 [Tactician], and\u2026a Level 5 [Princess]. She knew she had far too many classes, that she should only have one.<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t care. Lyonette was more grateful to Erin Solstice, the [Innkeeper] and owner of the Wandering Inn, than she could say. Erin was almost always cheerful, always helpful, brave, and kind. If she had one flaw, it was that she was also impulsive.<\/p>\n And that sometimes made trouble for Lyonette. Sudden party? Lyonette would be rushing around to fill orders by herself and washing dishes all next morning. Erin\u2019s selling magical food to adventurers? Time to buy another five kegs of alcohol! Where did all the food go? Erin cooked it all? Back to the city.<\/p>\n Lyonette usually didn\u2019t begrudge these decisions. However, this time she wished, just a tiny bit, that Erin had consulted her.<\/p>\n The younger girl stared at Erin\u2019s beaming face and then her eyes slid sideways. It was just past dawn, and it was a bit too early for thinking. Cleaning and hauling water, that was okay. But this?<\/p>\n \u201cYou hired\u2026all of them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYup! This is Safry and Maran, Selys\u2019 friend Drassi, and a Gnoll that Krshia introduced me to\u2014he\u2019s Ishkr. They\u2019re all going to be helping you out! Isn\u2019t it great?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette stared as the two young women Erin had pointed out, the yellow-scaled Drake, and a Gnoll with red-brown fur waved or nodded to her. She blinked a few more times and then turned her head.<\/p>\n Ryoka Griffin, the strange Runner with exotic features was eying the new staff with as much skepticism as Lyon felt. Mrsha was sitting on top of Ryoka\u2019s shoulders, detracting from the girl\u2019s poise as she chewed on a cracker and showered Ryoka with crumbs. Lyonette looked back at Erin and smiled weakly.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Great, Erin!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin never talked to her about her plans. One day she announced she\u2019d be hiring the Antinium to add a third floor<\/em> to the inn and that the Antinium named Bird would be living here from now on as a guard, the next\u2026this.<\/em><\/p>\n In fairness, Lyonette had really respected hiring Bird. She\u2019d never felt safe without someone who could fight. But these new people\u2026Lyonette didn\u2019t know anything about them. Erin clearly thought they were competent, but it was also clear after a few moments that there would be trouble.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, I\u2019ll start cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner. You all can uh, well, clean up. And I need some water. Lyonette, can you show everyone how things work? Thanks!\u201d<\/p>\n And like that, Lyonette found herself dealing with another one of Erin\u2019s new ideas. The [Princess] turned [Barmaid] took a deep breath and then smiled at the people Erin had hired. They were all staring at each other with a bit of wariness, but maybe this wouldn\u2019t be so bad!<\/p>\n \u201cHello everyone. I\u2019m Lyonette. I\u2019m a Level 11 [Barmaid], and I\u2019m very happy to be working with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPleased.\u201d<\/p>\n The woman called Safry smiled at Lyonette. She would have said something else, but Drassi spoke up. And kept speaking.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you the [Thief] that got kicked out of the city? I was going to watch, but I was working and Selys said it wasn\u2019t that exciting. And that\u2019s the scary Gnoll kid right? Hi! I\u2019m Drassi, a Level 8 [Barmaid]. Well, I was also working as a [Receptionist], but I like waiting tables more since you have to sit in one place as a [Receptionist].\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette blinked as a wall of words hit her ears. It was rather like listening to Octavia deliver one of her sales pitches, only Drassi was just talking. Chattering, rather.<\/p>\n The Drake cut off as the Gnoll, Ishkr, cleared his throat. He looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cHrr. I am a Level 16 [Waiter], yes? Honored Krshia recommended that I work here.\u201d<\/p>\n That was it. Drassi opened her mouth, but it was Maran, the other Human woman who spoke up.<\/p>\n \u201cReally? In that case, Safry and I are the highest-leveled workers here.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone stared at them. Ryoka and Mrsha had already gone off to play \u2018don\u2019t crawl on my head\u2019. Safry smiled as Maran pointed at her friend.<\/p>\n \u201cSafry\u2019s a Level 21 [Barmaid] and I\u2019m a Level 22 [Barmaid]. We\u2019ll look after things and teach you all how things work. Lyonette, Erin said we\u2019re cleaning, right? Where are the supplies? And what\u2019s this about water?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette stared at Maran. Wait, what had she said? They\u2019d<\/em> teach her? But\u2014<\/p>\n That should have been the first clue. But then Lyonette heard Zel coming down the stairs, so she just grabbed a few of the dust rags, a bucket of soapy water and showed the others which tables were clean before hurrying out the door. Yes, looking back on it that was the start.<\/p>\n The start of a few truly miserable days for Lyonette du Marquin.<\/p>\n Two Human [Barmaids], a Drake [Server], and a Gnoll. It sounded like a recipe for disaster.<\/p>\n And it was. Upon getting back, puffing and panting with more water, the first thing Lyonette saw was chaos. Maran and Safry were serving food to the bemused Gold-rank adventurers who\u2019d come down, Zel was waiting patiently for his food while Drassi cleaned and talked his earholes off, and Ishkr was waiting for instructions, standing at attention by the kitchen. Mrsha was sniffing at him as he tried to shoo her away. And Erin was shouting that she needed more pots to hold all the food she was going to make ahead of time! Lyonette nearly screamed.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n After half a day of work, Lyonette realized that things weren\u2019t as bad as she\u2019d thought, and they were worse than she could have imagined.<\/p>\n The inn was busy from dawn till dusk now, mainly due to Erin advertising her magical cooking to the adventurers in Liscor. You could stop by for a quick bite before going out hunting monsters or braving the dungeon, and you\u2019d have an enchantment that would last for hours, at a fraction of the cost of a normal potion!<\/p>\n This amazing opportunity meant that Erin\u2019s inn always had a steady flow of visitors, mainly adventurers looking for one type of magical food or another. Everyone was busy, and Erin had set up the schedules so that not all of the staff would work at the same time. Sometimes, like around dinner, all four of the new workers might be helping at once, but usually Lyonette would be working with two or three of the others at most.<\/p>\n That gave her time to relax and play with Mrsha, in theory. But Erin hadn\u2019t accounted for the need to teach the new workers everything, and since she was busy \u2018hanging out\u2019 with Ryoka, an expression that meant going shopping, chatting, and generally enjoying herself in Celum and Liscor, the duties once again fell to Lyonette.<\/p>\n It gave her the opportunity to learn about the others. And what Lyonette learned was that she didn\u2019t actually mind some of them. They had their negative qualities, true, but also good ones.<\/p>\n Drassi, for instance. She talked. No, she gossiped, no, she conversed <\/em>with anyone and everyone nearby. She could chat about Drake politics and switch over to a serious discussion about the latest Human fashions in a second. But while that could be annoying, she was always chattering away while she cleaned a table, or served food. She didn\u2019t linger.<\/p>\n That couldn\u2019t be said for Maran and Safry. They worked, talked, and when they were done serving, they sat around and talked with the inn\u2019s guests. At first Lyonette thought they were just taking a short break, but it became apparent that when there was no more food or drink to be served, the two [Barmaids] would just sit down and relax, rather than clean tables, wash dishes, or get more water or firewood from outside.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can do that later. After the inn closes. Relax!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe inn doesn\u2019t close until Erin sleeps, and that\u2019s after midnight!\u201d<\/p>\n Lyon argued with Maran as the other woman sat with a drink. Maran looked slightly off put, and then shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll do it when more dishes pile up. There\u2019s barely more than a few cups and plates.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette tried to think of how to insist without forcing the issue, but Ishkr beat her to a reply.<\/p>\n \u201cI will do it, yes? I have time.\u201d<\/p>\n He headed into the kitchen, rolling the sleeves of the uniform he was wearing up. Maran gave Lyon a smile as if to say, \u2018you see, there\u2019s no problem.\u2019 By her side, Safry watched Ishkr go in and leaned towards the other two Humans and whispered conspiratorially.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope he doesn\u2019t get fur all over the dishes. How does a Gnoll wash plates anyways? With his tongue?\u201d<\/p>\n Maran giggled, but Lyon gave Safry a look that wiped the smile off the other woman\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cWith his paws, I imagine.\u201d<\/p>\n That was the issue. Not Ishkr. The Gnoll had been hesitant at first, but when he was told what to do, he did it without complaints. He wasn\u2019t talkative, but he seemed to enjoy idle work, the kind he could get engrossed in without talking to anyone for good periods of time. Better yet, he didn\u2019t have a problem with Mrsha\u2019s white fur.<\/p>\n \u201cI was born and raised in Liscor, yes? I do not know many of my tribe\u2019s superstitions. Honored Krshia says the child is alright, so I will not mind.\u201d<\/p>\n That put him in Lyon\u2019s good books. No, Ishkr and Drassi weren\u2019t the problems. The problem pair were Maran and Safry, by a long shot.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t that they didn\u2019t work as hard. Well, it was partly that. But Lyonette just didn\u2019t like them as much. For a while, the girl had wondered if she felt threatened, but she realized it was because of how Maran and Safry seemed to regard Lyonette\u2019s advice as suggestions and thought of themselves as in charge.<\/p>\n Even when they didn\u2019t have a clue of what to do. In the mid-lunch rush as adventurers came to eat magical food, normal food, or just drink, Lyonette saw Safry delivering one of Erin\u2019s Corusdeer scrambles to a waiting Drake. She called out, but Safry didn\u2019t pay attention until she was on her way back to the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the problem Lyonette? I served him his food.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no! That\u2019s the wrong Drake! He\u2019s eating the wrong food!\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette hurried over to the Drake. When she came back, after apologizing profusely, Safry made a face.<\/p>\n \u201cHow can you<\/em> tell the difference? That looks like the same Drake to me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not! Look at his scales!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re green. All of those Drakes have green scales too!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n How could they not tell? Lyonette looked at the green-scaled Drakes that Safry had pointed out as proof, and saw an elderly Drake male with patches of grey scales, a Drake warrior with a speckled pattern across his far lighter green scales, and a Drake with darker green scales and some distinctively long spines along the back of his head. When she pointed this all out to Safry, the woman just looked confused.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are you seeing all that? They still look sort of the same. Okay, the old guy I can see, but Drakes aren\u2019t distinctive like us Humans.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette bit her lip. She\u2019d heard Drakes and Gnolls say the exact same thing. And to be fair, most of the people on this continent had light skin, whereas Drakes and Gnolls had all kinds of variation among their fur.<\/p>\n \u201cHow about this. Next time, why don\u2019t you ask if this is his order? If you know his name, you can check to make sure. It\u2019ll just take a second and I\u2019m sure they wouldn\u2019t mind\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Safry\u2019s eyebrows crossed, and she raised a hand to cut Lyonette off.<\/p>\n \u201cLook Lyon, I appreciate the advice, but Maran and I know what to do. You just point out the right Drakes and Gnolls and we\u2019ll do our job.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette stared at Safry, but the woman turned away too quickly for her to respond.<\/p>\n That was the first big issue Lyon had. The second came when she noticed they were running low on water. They were always <\/em>running low on water to cook with, boil for drinking, wash with, use for cleaning, and so on.<\/p>\n \u201cMaran, can you go get some more water?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyon was busy serving a group of Gnolls that the two Human [Barmaids] couldn\u2019t tell apart. Maran stared at Lyon, then her eyes flicked to the Gnoll [Server].<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not Ishkr? He\u2019s free, and he\u2019s stronger than me.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette paused feeling angry. It was true Ishkr was free for the moment, he had just worked his entire shift and Safry and Maran had just had lunch! Moreover, why was Maran\u2019s first response to ask someone else to do the work?<\/p>\n \u201cIshkr needs to have his lunch break. You just finished yours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut we still have some water left.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSome, but we\u2019ll be out soon!\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnolls sitting at the table eyed Lyonette as she went over to argue with Maran. They flicked their eyes at Ishkr, who made some motion behind Lyon\u2019s back she couldn\u2019t see. Maran clearly didn\u2019t want to go.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s cold out there. This isn\u2019t a [Barmaid]\u2019s job, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cErin told you you\u2019d be working here, right? This is what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want to talk to Erin about this. This isn\u2019t what I was hired for.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette\u2019s patience was at an end. She felt like she was dealing with a child, not an adult.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can do it when she comes back. Just go now, please. And take two buckets!\u201d<\/p>\n She thrust another one into the affronted woman\u2019s hand and practically pushed her out the door. Lyonette got back to serving, apologizing to the Gnolls. She waited for Maran to come back. And waited. And waited\u2026<\/p>\n Maran returned after twenty minutes, twice as long as it should have taken, just when Lyonette was about to go look for her. She was irate at having to carry the buckets up the hill in the snow. And they weren\u2019t fully filled!<\/p>\n Lyonette bit back her words when she saw Maran\u2019s face and instead thanked her. Twelve minutes later, she wished she could have taken back the thanks when Safry began to complain about Mrsha.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, can you do something about her?\u201d<\/p>\n She was pointing at Mrsha as the Gnoll tried to sneak up on the group of Gnolls. They were letting her do it, and one would turn to stare at her when Mrsha got ready to pounce on a tail. Thereafter Mrsha would run about excitedly. Lyonette saw nothing but pure fun in Mrsha\u2019s game, but Safry was clearly displeased at having to watch to avoid Mrsha being underfoot.<\/p>\n \u201cThe kid\u2019s cute, but we\u2019re trying to work. Can\u2019t you make her go upstairs or play outside?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust ask her to move. It\u2019s no problem.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s in the way every two seconds. Why not let her run outside if she\u2019s so excited?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette stared at Safry.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are monsters outside. She\u2019s not causing that much trouble and she needs the room.\u201d<\/p>\n Maran spoke up as she swabbed a table. She made a face as she held up a rag full of white hairs.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s getting fur all over the tables and chairs we already cleaned.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo? Just clean them again? It\u2019s only a few wipes of the rag.\u201d<\/p>\n The two [Barmaids] looked at each other, clearly displeased. Lyonette had to turn away so they wouldn\u2019t see the look on her face.<\/p>\n Small things. Small things that would go away. That was what she told herself, but then Bird came by and things got\u2026awkward.<\/p>\n He wanted a drink, and he had some birds for Erin. Simple, right? Only Maran and Safry left him sitting until Drassi <\/em>got a drink, and although Maran had a pitcher of refills, she kept seeming to miss Bird.<\/p>\n \u201cJust fill his cup! What\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s\u2014don\u2019t you think it\u2019s weird? He\u2019s one of them! One of the Antinium!\u201d<\/p>\n It was only then that Lyon realized how clearly uncomfortable Maran and Safry were around Bird. They walked wide of the Antinium, not going near him if they could serve other customers. Drassi and Ishkr were far more relaxed around the Antinium, having seen them before, but Safry and Maran weren\u2019t happy with him around.<\/p>\n \u201cThat Antinium in the Horns of Hammerad was one thing, but is he going to be here all<\/em> the time? He just stares and talks about birds!\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette crossed her arms as Maran complained.<\/p>\n \u201cErin\u2019s going to hire him permanently. He\u2019ll stay here all the time as a guard.\u201d<\/p>\n The woman looked dismayed. Safry shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe he\u2019ll stay upstairs where we don\u2019t see him. I\u2019d hate to turn around and just see him there. Staring.\u201d<\/p>\n Not once had Lyonette ever felt uncomfortable from Bird\u2019s stare. He was just curious, and she never felt uneasy around him. She opened her mouth, and turned away.<\/p>\n When Erin came back, a few hours before dinner, Lyon had never been more relieved. She would have loved to chat with Erin, but dinner had to be made ready, and Erin was far too busy laughing with Maran and Safry for Lyon to pull her aside to talk about\u2026Maran and Safry.<\/p>\n Indeed, while Erin was around, things suddenly began to work smooth as butter. Neither Maran nor Safry had a problem with the Gold-rank teams, the Horns of Hammerad and Zel in the crowd, mainly because everyone was distinctively, and largely, Human. Lyon rushed about until Erin pulled her aside. She was sitting with Ryoka, eating rather than cooking or serving for once and looking pleased as a cat about it.<\/p>\n \u201cIsn\u2019t this cool, Lyonette? I can take a break!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm. Yes.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette bit back the words she wanted to say. Erin smiled up at her.<\/p>\n \u201cSo how was everyone? Did Drassi talk a lot? Selys says she does that, but she swears Drassi\u2019s a hard worker. Oh, and did Ishkr do okay with Mrsha? I was worried about that but he seems cool!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey both did great, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAwesome! So there were no problems?\u201d<\/p>\n Safry and Maran were walking around, serving the tables and talking with the adventurers. Too near. And it was only day one, right? Lyonette felt she couldn\u2019t say anything. So in the end she didn\u2019t. She only mentioned Maran\u2019s reluctance to get water.<\/p>\n Erin groaned aloud when Lyon brought that up, but she was already nodding cheerfully when Lyon was finished explaining.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, the water? I guess I didn\u2019t mention that to them. I\u2019ll talk with Safry and Maran about it, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n And that was that. Erin had a word and then came back to assure Lyon that water wouldn\u2019t be a problem. Lyon tried to take Erin at her word, but she really couldn\u2019t. She just felt like something was wrong.<\/p>\n Then in the middle of the night, Lyonette woke up and realized what was wrong. Safry and Maran thought they were in charge. Because they were higher level. But Lyon was. Right? She\u2019d been working here longer, so she should know what to do. Right?<\/p>\n But it occurred to her as Mrsha rolled over and Ryoka snored loudly from her corner of the room that Erin had never mentioned who was in charge while she was gone. Maybe Erin hadn\u2019t thought about it. But it mattered. It mattered\u2026quite a lot.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The second day was no better than the first. It started out promising, with Safry and Maran turning up exactly when they were supposed to and cleaning last night\u2019s dishes and the room cheerfully while talking with Erin.<\/p>\n The trouble started the moment Erin left to hang out with Ryoka in Celum. Lyonette missed her chance to ask Erin who\u2019d be in charge while she left. She felt awkward just bringing it up\u2014it felt as though Lyon was trying<\/em> to get Erin to give her more authority, when it was really an important matter.<\/p>\n Either way, it meant there was no leader, and so the duo of Safry and Maran butted heads with Lyon over countless issues as the day wore on. It began with tips, and came to a head with buckets of water.<\/p>\n This time Erin had left the inn before breakfast had ended. She\u2019d already cooked up days of food in advance, a handy suggestion of Ryoka\u2019s that was convenient all around. But it meant that the Gold-rank adventurers and the Horns of Hammerad were eating at the same time as Zel. And wouldn\u2019t you know it, but Safry and Maran seemed to serve food first to the Gold-rank adventurers and leave Zel for last.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, you\u2019re not serving Zel first. Bring the sausages to his table\u2014he\u2019s been waiting the longest!\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette caught Safry\u2019s arm as she went out holding a steaming plate of reheated sausage. The [Barmaid] frowned at Lyon.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? He\u2019ll get some in a minute. But the Gold-<\/em>rank adventurers are sitting over there, Lyonette!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n Safry rolled her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, <\/em>they might tip us!\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette paused. She looked accusingly at Safry.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you told Erin you didn\u2019t get any tips!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, obviously not from normal folk. But Gold-rank adventurers throw their money around like water, especially for good service! If you smile the right way at some of the men, they\u2019ll give you a gold coin just for serving their table!\u201d<\/p>\n She moved away from Lyonette and to her outrage, served Griffon Hunt first. And indeed, both Safry and Maran flirted with Halrac, Ulrien, and Typhenous, who might have been twice as old as they were! Lyonette nearly swallowed her tongue when she saw that, but according to Safry and Maran, that too was customary.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t understand how being a [Barmaid] works, Lyonette. You need to pay attention to the most important customer.\u201d<\/p>\n Safry\u2019s arch tone made Lyon want to kick her. She pointed towards Zel, who was eating sausage with Mrsha, oblivious to the drama.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah? Well he\u2019s<\/em> a Drake [General]. Why don\u2019t you shake your hips for him?\u201d<\/p>\n Both Safry and Maran\u2019s jaws dropped. They exchanged a speculative glance, and then Maran shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cEh, I don\u2019t want to flirt with him. What if he took it seriously?\u201d<\/p>\n Safry nodded. Lyon ground her teeth together. It wasn\u2019t the idea of Zel and Maran together that was upsetting her\u2014that was pretty much impossible\u2014it was how Maran had phrased her words.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with him? What if one of Griffon Hunt took things seriously?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s different. Obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n Maran looked surprised Lyon had to ask.<\/p>\n \u201cUlrien and Halrac are fine, and so is the old [Mage], I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n Safry made a face, but nodded reluctantly. Maran cast her eyes over to the other adventurers in the room and shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the half-Giant\u2019s obviously no good, and neither is the fish man. Ugh. No way. And the others are all female\u2026at least there\u2019s that handsome [Mage] sitting with the Horns of Hammerad.\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed to Pisces appreciatively. Lyon stared at Maran, and her dislike of her and Safry grew four times larger in that moment. She smiled bitterly at both of them.<\/p>\n \u201cWho? Pisces? Go ahead if you want. He\u2019s a [Necromancer], you know.\u201d<\/p>\n She left the two horrified women and stomped away.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Midway through the day, Lyonette paused to check how much water they had left. There was a good amount, but a fit of pique made her go and ask Maran to get more water. She expected the other woman to resist, but she wasn\u2019t expecting an outright refusal. But that was what she got.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no way I\u2019m going out there. Neither is Safry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n Maran\u2019s face was set.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are fish with teeth<\/em> in the water. That\u2019s what Erin said! And Rock Crabs? Shield Spiders? I\u2019m not doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette stared at her, and realized Maran hadn\u2019t been told of Liscor\u2019s natural hazards before now. Drassi and Ishkr accepted the slight danger as a matter of course, but Maran\u2019s face was white at just the thought of running into one of the monsters.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, Maran, it will be fine. Just take a seed core and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n It was customary now for Lyonette to use some of the wizened, dried-up seed cores that Erin had stored from the blue fruits just in case a Rock Crab showed up. She\u2019d scared one away twice by now, and knew they weren\u2019t a threat if you had your eyes halfway open. But Maran was insistent.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get some water from Celum instead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, from a well there? Fine. But if you\u2019re going\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo! I\u2019ll do it like civilized folk do and have it delivered! You can pay to have water barrels sent to your inn or home each day. It\u2019s just a few silver coins\u2014a few more for a fast delivery, but it\u2019s safe.\u201d<\/p>\n Silver coins for water?<\/em> Lyonette gaped at Maran and then shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t do that. Just go and get some water!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t. If you need them, get it yourself or get the other two to do it. But Safry and I won\u2019t get water from now on. You can melt snow in the buckets if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n That was it. Lyonette crossed her arms, too frustrated to let this go. She glared at Maran, who was staring hard at Lyon, mouth a firm line.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need water, and Erin told you this was part of her job. No one else is getting water, so until you go\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll just pay for some water to be delivered here! Erin\u2019s got enough money.\u201d<\/p>\n Maran went over to the bar\u2019s counter and to Lyonette\u2019s horror, opened the lid of the money jar where Erin collected the day\u2019s earnings. She went to stop Maran, but Safry got in her way.<\/p>\n \u201cErin\u2019s not<\/em> going to pay for barrels of water when she can just get it from the stream.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell that\u2019s too bad, because I\u2019m not going to get some and risk my life.\u201d<\/p>\n Maran marched over to the door leading to Celum. Before Lyon could stop her, she\u2019d disappeared through with a handful of coins from Erin\u2019s money jar. She came back thirty minutes later, and Lyonette watched six huge barrels of water come through the doorway with butterflies of panic and anger fluttering about in her stomach. She took a deep, shuddering breath, and walked right past Maran\u2019s smug face.<\/p>\n Lyonette was furious Maran had wasted Erin\u2019s money. But deep down she was also pleased. It meant that there would be trouble, and that both [Barmaids] would get what was coming to them. At least, Lyonette hoped that was the case.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Lyon. Get Mrsha off the table!\u201d<\/p>\n Safry was trying to clear the plates off of one and Mrsha was happily trying to steal scraps. She flicked her hands at Mrsha, trying to shoo her off, but Mrsha just saw that as an invitation to play. Lyonette hurried over and pulled Mrsha away. Safry glared, and Lyonette glared back.<\/p>\n The other woman broke the stare-off by glancing towards the door.<\/p>\n \u201cBy the way, one of the Antinium things was here earlier. Not the Bird one\u2026this one called himself Pawn or something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Pawn?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette dropped Mrsha in her excitement. Pawn was alive! Erin had been so worried.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is he?\u201d<\/p>\n Safry shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. He was looking for Erin, so I told him to come back later because Erin\u2019s not here. We\u2019re busy cleaning up breakfast, so\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette clutched at her hair. She screamed at Safry, right in the woman\u2019s surprised face. How could she turn away Pawn<\/em>, just because she was afraid of the Antinium? He was a guest, and she\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cWe always<\/em> let the Antinium in! Always! Is he still nearby? How far did he go?\u201d<\/p>\n She rushed out the door before the woman could respond.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Death. Pawn had known it would come to that. He\u2019d known it, but not really known.<\/em> There had been some stupid, foolish part of him that had imagined fighting with his Soldiers, triumphing over the monsters and not losing a single one.<\/p>\n What a fool he had been. The Antinium dragged himself away from Erin\u2019s inn. She wasn\u2019t there. And he was empty.<\/p>\n His Soldiers had died. Twenty five of them. But far more had died that weren\u2019t his. He\u2019d heard Belgrade give the report to Klbkch. Over two hundred Workers and about half the number of Soldiers had perished while they\u2019d been fighting. Two hundred.<\/p>\n These weren\u2019t devastating numbers. The Hive had suffered worse, and always come back. New Workers and Soldiers were always being created. That also meant each day they were also dying. If not by the hundreds, at least a dozen.<\/p>\n Each day. Each day, a dozen Soldiers like the ones who lived on the walls of the barracks in paint died. Each day. Pawn could barely fathom that. No\u2014it was because he couldn\u2019t imagine such a thing that he was still able to function at all.<\/p>\n Workers died. Soldiers died. They died and their bodies were turned to mush that other Antinium ate. Each day. If you dwelt on that, you\u2019d curl up and die, like the Workers who never woke up and were carried away. Or worse\u2014you\u2019d become an Aberration.<\/p>\n That was how they were created, surely. Pawn had come close, once. He felt that had to be why. It was when you couldn\u2019t make sense of it all, when the death and emptiness crushed you down and left not even loyalty, not even the shred of\u2026of anything. That was when it happened.<\/p>\n He wanted to talk to Erin about it. But she wasn\u2019t there. The strange Human who hadn\u2019t met his eyes had said so.<\/p>\n So Pawn would go back. He\u2019d go back and\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cPawn!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Someone called his name. Pawn looked up. He saw a figure running down the hill, waving her arms and shouting at him. Not Erin. But someone nearly as good.<\/p>\n Lyonette. She seized him, hugged him. Pawn stood still in the snow, wordless, as Lyonette sobbed in relief that she\u2019d gotten to him before he\u2019d gone back to his Hive.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you might be dead! Come on, come back to the inn. I\u2019ll get you food, and your favorite bee, and you can wait for Erin\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut the Human female said Erin\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can wait for her! Don\u2019t listen to Safry! Come on!\u201d<\/p>\n In no time, Pawn was sitting in the inn, Mrsha sniffing at his hands, a mug of hot honey milk in his hand, and a plate with a dead bee practically dripping with butter and honey wafting enticingly up at him. The bee was making two of the Human [Barmaids] scream and argue with Lyonette. Pawn listened and thought Lyonette sounded angry, until the door from Celum burst open and Erin and Ryoka rushed through.<\/p>\n \u201cPawn!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin\u2019s voice was like the sun. He rose as she ran at him. She threw her arms around Pawn and hugged him tightly. It was like finding his name again. Pawn hugged her back, carefully, and saw another girl he recognized standing behind her. Ryoka Griffin.<\/p>\n When Erin let go, fussing over Pawn, Ryoka approached.<\/p>\n \u201cPawn, right? I\u2019m Ryoka. We\u2019ve met before, but I haven\u2019t talked with you.\u201d<\/p>\n She held out a hand. Pawn stared at it, and gingerly shook it. Ryoka Griffin was nothing like Erin, but she was reassuring in her own way. She had spoken to Klbkch, Pawn knew, and Erin had always spoken highly of her. She was intriguing to him.<\/p>\n But now Erin was fussing about him, and telling him to tell her everything<\/em>. Pawn looked at her, and felt the same pain, the helplessness, hurt bubbling up inside him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened Pawn? Was it bad? Why did Klbkch tell you to fight?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He couldn\u2019t talk about the Hive. Or how the Antinium were barely holding back the monsters. But the dead. Pawn closed his mandibles and looked down at the cooling bee.<\/p>\n \u201cI let them down. They died to protect me. A quarter. They died, Erin. For me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Who died, Pawn? Belgrade? Anand? Who?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin leaned over Pawn, looking anxious, worried. That filled Pawn with something too, something bright, but also painful. He shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNot them. My people. They\u2026I put them on the walls.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin and Ryoka exchanged a glance. Pawn knew he wasn\u2019t making sense. He tried to explain as best he could.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were fighting? Monsters?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrom where?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka stared intently at Pawn, but he couldn\u2019t answer. He told Erin how he\u2019d drawn the symbols of his dead Soldiers on the walls when he started shaking. He couldn\u2019t help it.<\/p>\n \u201cI am sorry. It is just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin hugged him tightly, so tight that Pawn felt the shaking stop, as if she\u2019d used a Skill. But her warmth was simple, plain. It was better than magic, more mysterious than a Skill. Erin stood up, looking angry and upset.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to talk with Klbkch. I\u2019m going to tell him he can\u2019t<\/em> make Pawn and his Soldiers do this!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait a second, Erin\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka rose, grabbing at her friend\u2019s arm, but Erin shook her off.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t argue with me, Ryoka! This is wrong! Pawn, you sit right here. You don\u2019t have to worry about fighting and dying, okay? I\u2019ll take care of it.\u201d<\/p>\n She practically ran out of the door, despite Ryoka\u2019s attempts to stop her. Cursing, the girl returned to her seat and looked at Pawn.<\/p>\n \u201cDamnit, I hope she doesn\u2019t try to storm the Hive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRevalantor Klbkch is most likely on duty as a [Guardsman] in the city at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh? Who\u2019s defending the Hive, then? I assume the monsters are still around.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn froze. Would it be Belgrade? But no\u2014he was resting.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014I do not know. Perhaps Xrn?\u201d<\/p>\n But that didn\u2019t feel right. Who led the hive when Klbkch could not, and when Belgrade and Anand were out of commission? It had to be\u2014<\/p>\n The Queen. Did she lead the Hive? She must. She must have ordered the Workers and Soldiers to do battle thousands of times before Belgrade and Anand had taken some of the burden away. She had to send them to their deaths, over and over. How could she? How could she not care? Did she know?<\/p>\n The storm of emotions was hidden behind Pawn\u2019s face. Ryoka stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Erin will get Klbkch to take your unit off the front lines. Erin\u2019s persuasive like that and Klbkch\u2026will probably listen to her. Even if he wouldn\u2019t listen to anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish she would not do that. Revalantor Klbkch\u2026had his reasons for ordering my unit into combat.\u201d<\/p>\n Good ones too. He was right. Pawn\u2019s group of one hundred Soldiers had suffered least out of the groups assigned to combat, and his had fought in one of the most hotly contested areas. His Soldiers were<\/em> stronger than normal ones. But they had died.<\/p>\n How could he ever ask the Soldiers to fight again? How could he face them? But Ryoka didn\u2019t seem concerned with that. She was staring at Pawn and clearing her throat. He looked at her. She drummed her fingers on the table for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cLook\u2026Pawn. I\u2019ve wanted to speak to you for a while now. Since Erin\u2019s gone, now\u2019s the best time. I know you\u2019re upset, but you and I have to speak now about your\u2026beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn froze. He looked cautiously at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean by that?\u201d<\/p>\n She met his eyes levelly.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I heard from Erin about how she told you about Christianity. About\u2026God. And I had a talk with Klbkch and he says you\u2019re a believer. And you have a class. Is that true?\u201d<\/p>\n If she\u2019d talked to Klbkch, then he could speak to her, right? Pawn hesitated, and then nodded. He lowered his voice, without knowing why. It seemed like something Ryoka would want.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is correct. I am a Level 6 [Acolyte]. I received the class after I\u2026prayed and was told of religion and heaven by Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n Why did Ryoka freeze up at that? Her eyes flicked to Lyonette, who was arguing with Safry about a plate Mrsha had accidentally knocked over. Then she looked back at Pawn, seemingly worried.<\/p>\n \u201cAn [Acolyte]? Damn. Uh, has Klbkch told you why that\u2019s not a good thing?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn nodded. Klbkch had indicated it was not, in action as well as word. He\u2019d told Pawn not to speak of gods to anyone. After he\u2019d tried to kill Pawn for knowing about gods in the first place.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has expressed his desire to keep such knowledge private. I have done so, and only told you of my class outside of my Hive. However, I do not understand the reason for his distrust of gods.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well, that\u2019s complicated. If he didn\u2019t tell you, I don\u2019t think I should either.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka traced patterns on the table, thinking hard. She hesitated, and looked at Pawn again.<\/p>\n \u201cI uh, can\u2019t say why Pawn, but this faith business is trouble. Klbkch, your Revalantor, agrees with me, and so does your Queen, I think. So\u2026why don\u2019t you just stop praying? It\u2026really doesn\u2019t do much good. Or rather, there are other ways you can help your people.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn stared at Ryoka. He felt shocked, stunned by the words coming out of her mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cStop\u2026praying? Stop believing?\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded and leaned over the table.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, it\u2019s not something your people need. A god is important, sure\u2026faith, hell it\u2019s meaningful, but the people of this world have gotten along fine without one for this long. Can\u2019t you, I don\u2019t know, just forget about it?\u201d<\/p>\n Just forget about it. Just forget about Heaven. Forget about god. Forget about\u2014<\/p>\n Something blazed in Pawn. He closed his mandibles, leaned away from Ryoka. When he spoke, his grief was forgotten. It had been replaced by the anger of indignation.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka sighed and scrubbed at her hair.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on. Why do you need to believe? Like I said, it\u2019s really dangerous if it spreads\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is necessary for the Antinium.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked blank.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? Why would believing\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou do not know what it means to be Antinium.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn cut Ryoka off shortly. She did not understand. He tried to tell himself that. And then he realized that was it. She really didn\u2019t understand. Pawn looked at Ryoka, who seemed to be growing more annoyed. She was ignorant.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, I\u2019m trying to be nice, but Klbkch and I agree\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would you give someone with one day to live?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn stared at Ryoka. She blinked.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would you give someone with exactly twenty four hours to live before they died? Someone who knew their death was imminent?\u201d<\/p>\n She stared at him. But unlike Erin, she didn\u2019t question Pawn\u2019s words, but took the query at face value.<\/p>\n \u201cOne day? Well, I guess I\u2019d give them what they always dreamed of. Time with their family if they have any, money to do what they wanted\u2026uh, maybe a chance to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n She broke off.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn shook his head deliberately. She still did not understand. He spoke carefully, choosing each word to make her comprehend.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are misunderstanding my question. I said, what would you give someone who had one day to live? Not years. Not decades. One. Day. One day total. Someone who came into existence and will die within hours of waking.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka\u2019s eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean\u2014a Soldier? A Worker? One of the Antinium?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n The word was bitter on Pawn\u2019s mandibles. He broke off a leg of the dead Ashfire bee, stared at it as he spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cYou Humans live for years, do you not? In most cases, you live at least until you are ten, many twice that age. Some live for nearly a century. Other races live longer, others shorter. But the lifespan of an Antinium may be a single day. Or less.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean they\u2019re born and are fully cognizant the instant they come out?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka seemed fascinated, but she was missing the point.<\/em> Pawn nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThe instant a Soldier emerges, he is expected to fight and serve his Hive. He may be sent into battle minutes after he is born. What can he have in those minutes, if not faith that he is dying for a reason?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor his Hive, you mean. For his queen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. But it is not enough.<\/em> If the Soldier lives, he will fight every day for his Hive. Fight and die, Ryoka Griffin. That is his fate. Fight and die. What can you give him? Money? He has nowhere to spend it. Family? He will never reproduce, and his brethren die with him. An experience? He has never seen the sky.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman sat across from Pawn, staring at him as if she were looking at something horrible or tragic. Pawn felt something surging in his body, something dark, but also\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cYou tell me faith is not needed. I disagree. When Erin told me of God, of Heaven, it was important. It was necessary<\/em>. Because what else can the Antinium cling to? What can I give the Soldiers who died for me, if not hope of a place to rest? What can I give a Soldier who will die in moments, if not faith? Tell me, Ryoka Griffin. Why is faith meaningless to the Antinium?\u201d<\/p>\n She had no reply. She sat back, looking stunned, and then ashamed. When she did speak, minutes later, it was humbly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. You are.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded as well.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know about how the Antinium lived. I guessed, but\u2026I\u2019m sorry about that. I\u2019d change it if I could, how your people live. And you\u2019re right\u2014religion is important. Especially to your people. I\u2026think I\u2019d forgotten that. If I ever knew. But it doesn\u2019t change the fact that faith is dangerous in this world. Faith in a god is dangerous, Pawn. Can you understand that?\u201d<\/p>\n He reached for his mug and drank slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand that you and Revalantor Klbkch fear Gods. You fear one of them. Are there living Gods in this world, then?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka jumped and looked around. Pawn lowered his mug.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not a difficult thing to surmise. But it is curious. I believe in Gods\u2026but you and Revalantor Klbkch know<\/em> one exists.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you do believe.\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman was intent on Pawn.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you a believer in Christianity, then? Are you\u2026spreading the word of the Bible?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn paused. He shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe in Jesus Christ. I believe he was born of the Virgin Mary. I believe he suffered under Pontius Pilate. I believe he was buried. I believe he descended into hell and returned. I believe he is a God. But I believe he is not my <\/em>God.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka\u2019s jaw dropped. She struggled for words.<\/p>\n \u201cHow? If you can believe\u2026how?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is simple. He is not my God. He is yours. When God created the earth, he created animals and Humans, the earth, the sky and stars and sea. But he did not create the Antinium, Ryoka Griffin. I know this. Because we created ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed. Your God cannot be ours. No matter how much we wish for it. Thus, I believe. I am an [Acolyte]. I have faith.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut how can you be if\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe in the Antinium. I believe in Heaven. I believe there is an afterlife, that miracles are possible, and I believe in Gods. Just as I believe the Antinium have none.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn said it simply, and spoke the truth. He believed. He believed the Soldiers who had died would not be swept away into ash and dust. He had to believe in that, because he could not trust a God to do it for him.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what to say.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka seemed breathless, caught between laughter and tears, incredulity and wonder. She shook her head, half-smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I could bring you back to my world and introduce you to the Pope, or the Dalai Lama, or\u2026or\u2026a Jehovah\u2019s Witness\u2026I can\u2019t do this. I\u2019m not qualified to tell you anything.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at Pawn, a bit sadly, regretfully.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t believe, Pawn. I don\u2019t, although I think there is a\u2026a God in this world. But I would refuse to believe in him or her or it. And yet\u2026I can\u2019t tell you you\u2019re wrong. I think you\u2019re right to believe. I\u2019m just worried.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause belief is dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka Griffin sighed. She seemed old, tired. She looked at the ceiling as Mrsha slunk by her feet, chastised by Maran. Ryoka bent down to pet Mrsha, and the Gnoll stared up at her and Pawn. A child. But not a dog.<\/p>\n At last, Ryoka reached a decision. She took a breath and nodded, and then looked at Pawn.<\/p>\n \u201cI think\u2026yeah, I think I should tell you all about it. It\u2019s only right, and it might help. I\u2019ll tell Klbkch the same.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell me what?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka smiled crookedly.<\/p>\n \u201cReligions, Pawn. Not just one. Erin told you about Christianity, right? Well, I\u2019ll fill in any gaps she might have missed and\u2026let\u2019s call it context. I read the Bible back to front. And I know\u2026well, I know a bit about other religions, too. Buddhism, Sikhism, Shinto, Zoroastrianism\u2026not everything, but I can tell you more than Erin did. If you\u2019ll let me, I\u2019d like to tell you about other religions, the good and the bad.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn looked at her. For the first time that day, his heart lifted. His mandibles parted, and raised in a slight smile.<\/p>\n \u201cTruly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re going to be the first religious Antinium\u2026you might as well be the most informed. Sure. Let\u2019s start with Christianity.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know much of what Erin has told me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I know. But did you know Christianity is only one interpretation of, well, everything? It\u2019s part of what\u2019s known as the Abrahamic religions\u2014that is to say, Abrahamism. That encompasses all religions who worship the God of Abraham. But there are many religions within that definition, who believe different things. For instance, there are two other major religions\u2014Islam and Judaism\u2014that believe Jesus Christ was not the Son of God.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn\u2019s mandibles opened wide, the equivalent of Ryoka\u2019s jaw dropping. She nodded, smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cFor instance, in the Islamic faith, they use the Quran, another holy book instead of the Bible and believe that Muhammad was the last of God\u2019s prophets. Now, they differ from Christianity on several fundamental issues, but have several similarities, beginning with\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The skies opened. The snow stopped. The world warmed, and Pawn felt himself standing on the edge of the sky, looking past the horizon at something like stars. It was something vast, something distant\u2014<\/p>\n But all so familiar. He wanted to reach out and touch it. That was how he felt as he listened to Ryoka. She told him about Islam, about Judaism and the difference between Catholics and Protestants, Mormons and Quakers.<\/p>\n And then she told him about what each religion did, how they differed. Erin had told Pawn about people eating Jesus in the form of bread\u2014Ryoka explained the difference between transubstantiation and consubstantiation. But what was far more important than terms was how each religion worked.<\/p>\n \u201cThey eat braided bread instead of wafers?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBraided bread. Yes. That would be\u2026challah. <\/em>I think that\u2019s what it\u2019s called.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka frowned, nodding to herself.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s more of a food than wafers, you understand. The Jewish people will eat it on special occasions, not just before communion.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn nodded. Ideas were flashing through his head like the stars in the sky.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know how to make it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMake it?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka blinked, astounded. Pawn nodded seriously.<\/p>\n \u201cI should like to try some. And\u2026yes, perhaps I can speak to Lyonette or Erin about obtaining honey. It is not the same as wine, but I believe it may be cheaper and more palatable to the Antinium. A tiny bit of bread will not upset our systems.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait. You want bread and honey? For a communion?\u201d<\/p>\n The Asian girl was blinking and frowning.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you didn\u2019t believe in the Bible. Why adopt a religious service like it?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn looked blankly at Ryoka and shook his head sadly. She was so knowledgeable, but she did not understand.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause it is<\/em> a religious service. Clearly, there is merit in it. So the Antinium must have the same. Not the exact same of course, since we will not worship that God. But it is a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka was doing the open-mouthed thing again. She spoke slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to\u2026steal the ideas of Judaism? Wait, not steal, but copy?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. And I would like to hear of non-Abrahamic religions, please. If Christianity is not the only religion, then I must hear of them all. All Human religions. Because there is so much wonder in the stories Erin told me, of God and his people. Surely there must be similar wonders in every religion. I wish to hear of it all. So I can take what the Antinium can use.\u201d<\/p>\n She blinked at him. And then laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Antinium really don\u2019t mind about plagiarism, do they?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn lifted his mandibles in a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cI do not know what that word means. But we do not shy away from copying what is glorious, what works.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka shrugged, cracking her fingers together and making Mrsha jump underneath the table.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then. I\u2019d better get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In the end, she spoke for two more hours, until Erin got back. By that point Ryoka was drinking honey water for her throat, as hoarse as she was. But Pawn had heard many good things. Chiefly among them were a few ideas.<\/p>\n \u201cA shrine. Shinto. Buddhist prayer beads. And a Catholic\u2026what did you call it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA censer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey Pawn, I talked to Klbkch!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked triumphant, but Pawn and Ryoka didn\u2019t glance twice at her.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Erin Solstice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, thanks Erin. Wait, why do you want a censer, Pawn?\u201d<\/p>\n Crestfallen, Erin stared at Pawn and edged slowly over to the table as they kept talking.<\/p>\n \u201cA censer is a powerful tool, or so it seems to me. It is different from a cross in that it has a physical presence.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the incense.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. I would like to have one, possibly on a chain as you described. That would be very convenient.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh\u2026technically, that\u2019s a thurible. If a censer has chains, it\u2019s called a thurible. Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka looked embarrassed to have contributed the detail, but Pawn nodded his head gravely.<\/p>\n \u201cI will commit that to memory. Do you know how to make one?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMake one? Hell, it\u2019s not hard\u2026the trick would be describing it. Look, if you\u2019ve got some parchment and a quill I could\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got one!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin leapt up, surprising Ryoka and Pawn. She ran into the kitchen and came back with the items.<\/p>\n \u201cHere! Draw!\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka carefully sketched out a censer, and Pawn noted the holes on the top and bottom where the burnt incense\u2019s fragrance would drift outwards. Yes, it was just what he\u2019d imagined.<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to have one. If you will assist me with the plans, I believe I will go to a [Blacksmith] and have one commissioned.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you like\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey! What about me? I could build one for Pawn!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin interrupted the two, beaming. They looked at her incredulously.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could do it, Erin?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka was skeptical. Erin blew out her cheeks, exasperated.<\/p>\n \u201cI do <\/em>have [Advanced Crafting], Pawn. I could build parts of my inn myself but\u2026well, that\u2019s a lot of work. The least I can do is help you build a censer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThurible. This one has chains.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka grinned as Pawn corrected Erin. Erin rolled her eyes and then looked at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cSo Ryoka\u2026what does a thurible look like?\u201d<\/p>\n To Pawn\u2019s surprise, there were all the parts Erin needed at hand already. The censer was made, according to Ryoka, to allow the incense to burn and waft out of the container. It required holes, in short, which would also make it \u2018holey\u2019 according to Erin. That was apparently a joke that neither Ryoka nor Pawn laughed at.<\/p>\n To build the first prototype of a censer, Erin took two colanders which had been used to strain spaghetti, and put them together. She added a basin to catch the incense and ash that would fall from the bottom colander, and added a chain around the top.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you think? Is that it?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka eyed the impromptu thurible skeptically. Erin had used string to tie the basin of the colander to the other basin, and she\u2019d put a coal and some sticks of ground-up cinnamon into the colander. Now she picked up the entire affair with another bit of string and swung the censer around gently. Smoke began to drift out of the holes on the top and bottom, bringing a sweet smell that Pawn inhaled slowly.<\/p>\n The Runner coughed as Erin wafted the thurible at her. She waved smoke away from her face.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s\u2026sort of like a thurible, Erin. The real thing would be smaller, and less\u2026unwieldy. Are you sure you have\u2026[Advanced <\/em>Crafting]?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin glared at Ryoka as Pawn inspected the thurible.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I don\u2019t have [Advanced Metalworking] or whatever you need. And I don\u2019t know what a thurible looks like!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s a good start.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka eyed the contraption with quite a bit of reserve, but Pawn shook his head as he carefully lifted the thurible up and examined it. He addressed Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe I can commission a smaller version later, and I will return the colander to you at another time. But for now\u2026this is perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n She beamed at him, and then tugged Ryoka away to whisper to her.<\/p>\n \u201cPsst, Ryoka. What\u2019s a colander?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA strainer, Erin. You\u2019ve been using it every time to drain pasta.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. <\/em>Why don\u2019t they just call it a strainer?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka sighed, and didn\u2019t bother replying.<\/p>\n By this point, the hours had worn on and it was approaching dinner. Pawn sat at his table, feeling better. A thurible. And there were all sorts of things Ryoka had mentioned. This might help\u2014<\/p>\n He paused. It would not help the Soldiers. They would still fight and die. His prayers\u2026could not change fate.<\/p>\n And yet Erin had done just that. They wouldn\u2019t have to fight! There was relief in Pawn\u2019s heart as he considered that, and joy as he thought of sharing the thurible with the Soldiers. The other religious artifacts Ryoka had mentioned would be of interest to them too, surely. Perhaps Pawn could conduct a mass? They could enjoy themselves.<\/p>\n And no one would die.<\/p>\n He barely saw Erin get intercepted on her way to the kitchen, but Pawn\u2019s attention was attracted when Maran, one of the [Barmaids] began pointing out the six water barrels stacked up against the wall. He heard Erin exclaiming over them, and then her cheerful voice.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, that isn\u2019t a bad idea! It might save some time\u2026sure, why not? We can try it out tomorrow as well. Thanks, Maran!\u201d<\/p>\n She hurried back to Ryoka and Pawn.<\/p>\n \u201cGuess what, guys? Maran had this great idea to buy water barrels from Celum! We can just get them filled up each day and it\u2019ll be a lot easier than going out for water, she says! Isn\u2019t that cool?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn nodded obediently, having no input on water barrels. But sitting across from him, Ryoka frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cHow much would that cost, Erin?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh\u2026I dunno. Maran didn\u2019t say.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems like a waste to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but if it saves time\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cErin!\u201d<\/p>\n Someone hurried across the floor towards them. Lyonette. Pawn sat up upon seeing her. He opened his mandibles to greet Lyonette. He had a lot of affection for all the times she had helped him, but she was focused on Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cErin, did you tell Maran you\u2019re going to buy more<\/em> water barrels tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, don\u2019t worry about it Lyonette! It\u2019s a great idea, don\u2019t you think? Maran told me she thought it would really help the inn, so I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe didn\u2019t do it to help the inn! She did it because she was too afraid to go outside and haul water!\u201d<\/p>\n The anger and frustration in Lyonette\u2019s voice made Pawn sit up. She was furious, but hissing at Erin while the other workers served the Gold-rank adventurers filing into the inn. Erin froze. Her eyes swiveled to Maran, who was busy flirting with an impassive Ulrien.<\/p>\n \u201cBut she said\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI asked<\/em> them to get water from the stream and they both said no. Maran took money from your jar and went to buy six barrels! It must have cost at least twelve silver coins, and we could have gotten fresher water if we\u2019d hauled it ourselves!\u201d<\/p>\n The entire story came out quickly, Erin blinking in shock and Ryoka grimacing. When Lyonette was done and breathing heavily, Erin nodded seriously.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, that was wrong. Taking money and not listening to you? Yeah, I\u2019ll tell them they can\u2019t do that again, Lyon.\u201d<\/p>\n Decisively, Erin walked past Lyonette. The girl looked relieved, but that relief changed to panic in a moment when Erin spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Maran, Safry! Lyonette told me that earlier, you two didn\u2019t want to haul water. But you said\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The two [Barmaids] blinked and came over as Erin began to talk with them, frowning hard. Meanwhile, Lyonette was staring at Erin as the [Innkeeper] pointed back several times to her as she talked to the other [Barmaids].<\/p>\n Lyonette hurried away, taking over serving drinks while Erin scolded Maran and Safry. Ryoka and Pawn looked and saw the two barmaids were glaring daggers at Lyonette as Erin spoke with them. Ryoka covered her face.<\/p>\n \u201cThat moron. You don\u2019t dress down workers in public like that. And she told<\/em> them to their faces that Lyonette was\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She was grinding her teeth together. Pawn looked at her quizzically.<\/p>\n \u201cI do not understand the full context of what is happening, Ryoka. Is Erin\u2019s hiring new employees objectionable to you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but it looks like there\u2019s a problem. It\u2019s a staffing issue and Erin\u2019s making a mistake. At least\u2026she might be. Lyonette could be lying, or exaggerating the problem, or there\u2019s something else at work here.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka chewed at her lip distractedly. Pawn listened obediently, since she seemed to know what she was talking about.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one\u2019s impartial in a pissing match\u2026and office drama is always ugly, so why not [Barmaid] drama. Damnit.\u201d<\/p>\n She thought for a second and then looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Pawn, how much do you trust Lyonette? I mean, how much would you trust what she said? One hundred percent?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn didn\u2019t have to think to answer.<\/p>\n \u201cShe fed my Soldiers and I. She gave us honey, and offered us food when no one else would. She helped paint my Soldiers. She gave them respite and shelter. I do not know Safry and Maran. But I would trust anything Lyonette said.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka nodded grimly.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I thought. She\u2019s changed. And Maran and Safry, well, they did come from Agnes\u2019 inn\u2026maybe I should do something about this.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn had no idea what that meant. But he felt relieved and tired. It was over. His Soldiers were safe. He could pray, and know they would be safe. Prayer was good, but knowing was better. He sagged in his seat.<\/p>\n \u201cI am going to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka blinked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWait, what?\u201d<\/p>\n But it was too late. Pawn, exhausted by fighting and grief, slowly drifted off into slumber. All would be well. He believed that.<\/p>\n His dreams were still filled with death. The Antinium he held in his arms had no paint on his body.<\/p>\n But he was still dead all the same.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Once upon a time there was a [Princess]. She was bad at being a princess. She never leveled, and she ran away from home, no doubt causing a lot of trouble because of that. She ran in a childish fit of anger, and ended up on another continent, where she caused more trouble because she […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693084,349],"tags":[7224,250708,4330244,4472517,11693079],"twi_volume":[11693133],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-4039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-4","category-writing","tag-fantasy","tag-inn","tag-web-novel","tag-web-serial","tag-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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