Here came a story about a bee. She woke with the dawn. Bees do that. Even Ashfire Bees. Especially in the spring. After all, they lived and died by the changing green, the bounty of nature. In the mornings, bees would be flitting from flower to flower, gathering nectar and pollen, the lifeblood of a Hive.<\/p>\n
Female bees, that was. Drones, the male portion of the hives, were lazy creatures who neither gathered nor produced honey. They ate<\/em> honey, but their main purpose was to mate with the queen. They had neither stingers nor, in any real sense, agency. They existed to mate, or if need be, try and defend the hive or regulate the temperature. But they weren\u2019t more than that. When they mated, they died.<\/p>\n This Ashfire Bee was female. Which was important. She was a worker bee, or at least, not a queen. Also very important. Queens were unique to a bee hive. The entity which the entire hive revolved around. This bee was not<\/em> a queen, for all that she had eaten enough royal jelly. Even though the potential was there, she was virginal; she had not mated with a drone. And she had no hive. What would you call a bee like that?<\/p>\n The bee had no words. And she had no thoughts deep enough to speculate. So she was a worker. But she was female, and that was enough. For didn\u2019t all workers have in them a shred of what could be queen?<\/p>\n The bee did not think such large thoughts as she woke up, though. In fact, she thought very little. She was, after all, a bee. And what did bees think of, really?<\/p>\n Very little. A bee wasn\u2019t like a Human or a Drake or even a more intelligent creature like a monkey or dolphin. Bees were simple insects who lived by instinct. So this bee, who woke up in a little basket of wood that was lined with cotton, crawled out and flexed her wings. Then she took off, because she had sensed movement.<\/p>\n After all, if a bee loved anything, surely it loved to fly. That was one of the reasons for which it was made. Up, the bee flew, chasing after the thing that was racing about.<\/p>\n Another fact. Bees had a different sense of color than many bipedal races. Unlike Humans, they saw no red. They could see orange and yellow to some degree, but their senses shifted into different spectrums as well. They could see ultraviolet, a color only abstractly known to most Humans as a concept. In this world, only a few hundred Humans would even know the idea. And Selphids and Antinium of course. But they had a different word for it.<\/p>\n The creature that raced about was white. White, and just a bit ultraviolet. Her fur shone in Apista\u2019s vision. And so the bee flew after her, zigging and zagging to match the energetic creature. Not in malice; Apista\u2019s long, reddish-orange stinger on her backside wasn\u2019t extended. In fact, if anything, she thought of this racing creature as\u2026what?<\/p>\n Bees had no idea of \u2018friend\u2019. No concept of family. They knew of hives, and so that was this bee\u2019s closest approximation. This thing was of her hive. But even bees could see the obvious. The white fluffy thing wasn\u2019t a bee. It was closer to a bear cub, if a small one. But it was nevertheless a friend, a valuable part of the hive that must be protected, even with Apista\u2019s life.<\/p>\n How the bee knew this, she did not know. She didn\u2019t think of it. It simply was, and that was enough. She caught the racing white thing at last and clung to its\u2026head? The fur gave the bee\u2019s legs ample purchase, and it had learned that the white thing didn\u2019t mind her holding on. She and the white thing raced about the room for another minute and then pounced on a shape lying on a bed in the center of the room. Apista saw the movement and took off before the white thing landed. She heard an oof<\/em> and felt\u2014not in her mind, but close enough\u2014a mix of emotions.<\/p>\n Surprise. Mild pain. Panic\u2014and then\u2014exasperation? <\/em>Half of the emotions weren\u2019t things the female bee could process, but she got surprise and panic. Her stinger extended, and she flew to the attack. But what? Not the white thing. The being who was so upset sat up, and the bee heard a voice.<\/p>\n \u201cMrsha!<\/em> I told you not<\/em> to wake me up that way!\u201d<\/p>\n A Human, a young woman sat up. She grabbed for the white thing, who was wriggling like a larva emerging from its cocoon. She caught it, and the worker bee, still poised to attack something<\/em>, suddenly felt a rush of emotion.<\/p>\n Love.<\/em> The bee had no concept of this either. For a bee did not love. But it understood happiness, contentment, and satisfaction. And the outpouring of all these things was so great that it immediately relaxed.<\/p>\n Bees had little concept of past and future. They understood the changing of seasons, but that was a biological instinct as much as thought. There had been something possibly dangerous, then not. The bee was content. She landed on the white thing as the Human stroked its head. The bee heard an exclamation\u2014odd in the way bees heard, but familiar\u2014and then the voice.<\/p>\n \u201cApista! You\u2019re awake too? Why didn\u2019t you<\/em> stop Mrsha?\u201d<\/p>\n And the bee said nothing because it had nothing to say. Nor did it realize that was its name.<\/p>\n Apista.<\/p>\n Bees had no names. And besides, this bee couldn\u2019t understand language to begin with. But it had grasped that the particular rhythm of a particular voice meant something. Aapiissstaaaa. <\/em>And when that voice said it, it usually meant warning. Or food. Or an invitation to rest and have something touch it. So the bee crawled up the white thing\u2019s head, and the touching thing happened now.<\/p>\n Pat, pat. A large hand stroked the top of Apista\u2019s body. The bee let it happen. It couldn\u2019t properly feel the touches. Bees had very few nerves compared to a Human. But it felt the contentment coming from the person touching it, and so Apista was similarly content. Even if she didn\u2019t understand why.<\/p>\n Lyonette du Marquin patted Apista\u2019s body very carefully, then felt a soft headbutt. She looked down and saw Mrsha was demanding the same. She laughed and obliged, running her fingers down Mrsha\u2019s soft fur, scratching her back.<\/p>\n Almost like a dog or cat. But the difference was that Mrsha did the same. She combed Lyonette\u2019s hair gently with a paw. And the look in her eyes was far too intelligent for any animal. She was mute, but not stupid. A child, but growing by the day. And all too soon, she patted Lyonette\u2019s arm and pointed a furry claw at the door.<\/p>\n \u201cOh? Done so soon?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette teased Mrsha. The Gnoll child looked up at her, rolled her eyes, patted her stomach twice, pointed at the door, and then leapt<\/em> from the bed Lyonette was sitting in. She landed on the floor with all four paws, again like a cat, then straightened and caught Apista as the bee flew after her. She lifted the bee, flew her over her head, and then patted her stomach and Apista\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cOh? Food for you and<\/em> Apista, is it? How selfless.\u201d<\/p>\n The Human smirked. But she was proud all the same, and Apista felt it. Even if proud to Apista only translated into\u2014the hive is big, there is much honey, we shall not starve.<\/em> But pride Lyonette felt, because Mrsha was talking.<\/em><\/p>\n Sort of. Mrsha was mute. She\u2019d been born that way, and for that reason, she\u2019d been abandoned as a child by her true parents. She had been raised by the Stone Spears tribe who had treated her as\u2026well, a handicapped child, but one of their own nonetheless. But it meant that while they\u2019d taught Mrsha what every Gnoll child living in a tribe must learn\u2014how to help with chores, what to do not to interfere with the adults, and so on\u2014they had never thought to do more.<\/p>\n But Lyonette had. And so had Erin. The [Innkeeper] had no grasp of sign language from her world\u2014but she knew it existed, and she\u2019d played chess with more than a few people who had spoken to her through sign language, interpreters, and the game itself. And Lyonette was simply intelligent and had understood that language wasn\u2019t a sole thing\u2014even if this world had only one true language that everyone spoke.<\/p>\n So Mrsha had begun coming up with her own way of speaking. Encouraged by the two, she\u2019d developed some simple signs over the last few days, since Erin had told them about her true origins and shared some of the knowledge of Earth with them. She could say she was hungry\u2014two pats on the stomach, one was pain if she held it there\u2014or that she needed to go to the bathroom. A quick twirl with arms spread to indicate running around and needing a place to go.<\/p>\n Some of the ways Mrsha had chosen to communicate had Erin and Lyonette in stitches because they were original. Others were heartfelt.<\/p>\n Sadness to Mrsha wasn\u2019t miming tears running down the face, or an expression. It was two tiny paws clasped together and then drifting apart. Sadness. A thing broken, gone forever. Destruction. Desolation.<\/p>\n Nothingness.<\/p>\n But today, Mrsha was happy. She didn\u2019t need a sign for that. Her wagging tail said it all. Mrsha had combined Human sign language with Gnollish tells. Her ears and face and tail could do as much talking as her paws, and both Erin and Lyonette had long ago learned to pick up on the signs. It also meant older Gnolls could understand Mrsha quite easily once they learned a few of her words.<\/p>\n Mrsha patted her leg urgently. Hurry up! <\/em>Lyonette groaned and put her legs out of bed.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, alright. I\u2019m getting up. Don\u2019t you dare open that door until I have my clothes on, understand?\u201d<\/p>\n Mrsha sighed through her nose, but she waited as Lyonette put on some clothes. Mrsha was technically naked, but she had fur on, and Gnolls really didn\u2019t wear much in the way of clothing even when they were adults. A Gnoll could walk around with barely more than a breast band and loincloth and males just the cloth and not attract much attention\u2014at least, from most. Drakes and Humans, on the other hand, were more prudish.<\/p>\n True, City Gnolls were pickier about their garb, and Lyonette had met a few Gnolls who went around fully dressed. But Mrsha hated shirts, hated pants more, and had hid both cute hats that Erin had bought for her in the stove. So Lyonette dressed herself and no one else. In the meantime, Mrsha tossed up Apista and raced around the room after her.<\/p>\n The bee named Apista had no concept of plans or the complicated futures that Mrsha and Lyonette envisioned. But she had learned this new schedule, and she knew what was coming next. So like Mrsha, she was prepared to eat. And she could sense that intention from her\u2026other hive member. Or was it her queen? No. Her\u2026master?<\/p>\n No. It wasn\u2019t a thought Apista would ever have of Lyonette. She didn\u2019t know the girl\u2019s name or what she was\u2014to Apista, Lyonette was a fairly blobby thing, sometimes wearing odd colors, but always with the same pheromones. And Apista would recognize her everywhere. For Lyonette was her<\/em>. Apista\u2019s other self.<\/p>\n It was through Lyonette that Apista understood more of the world. Because she could sense Lyonette\u2019s thoughts. They were abstract, often confusing. But always there. When Lyonette was angry, Apista felt it. When she was confused or tired, Apista knew. She and Lyonette were connected, and so the bee thought of Lyonette as another bee. Just uglier, unable to fly, and who did many odd things.<\/p>\n But she was the more important bee of the two. She had raised Apista from a larva, fed her, and cared for her. So Lyonette was the most important thing in the wooden hive. Second-most was the white thing, for which both she and Apista cared greatly. The other two things Apista thought of as being part of the \u2018hive\u2019 were the green thing that was sort of friendly and the scary thing.<\/p>\n They met the green thing two steps out of the door when Lyonette finally opened it. Mrsha scampered out and then paused. So did Lyonette. She stopped and stared at Numbtongue, who\u2019d walked out of his room roughly the same time as them. He stared at them.<\/p>\n \u201cUm. Hello, Numbtongue.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette only hesitated for a moment. Mrsha stared up gravely at Numbtongue, then raised a paw in her silent greeting. The Hobgoblin blinked at them, and there was a moment of\u2026<\/p>\n What? To Apista, it was a moment of wariness, like if a bear was approaching the hive and it might have to be driven off. She fanned her wings and took off of Mrsha\u2019s head. To ward the green thing off. It wasn\u2019t exactly<\/em> part of the hive, although she sensed Lyonette\u2019s goodwill towards it. The green thing stared at her as Apista flew, stinger extended threateningly\u2014<\/p>\n Apista flew. Lyonette uttered a word with her name in it, but the feeling of caution<\/em> emanating from her only grew more, and Apista just interpreted that as more warning against the green thing. So she flew at it\u2014<\/p>\n And the green thing grabbed Apista.<\/p>\n Numbtongue stared at the struggling bee in his hands. He thought he\u2019d grabbed it in the right spot. Gently, around the abdomen to hold the stinger back. But Lyonette exclaimed.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Numbtongue! Let her, go, she\u2019s going to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The Hobgoblin had underestimated Apista\u2019s flexibility and strength. The bee wriggled. It was caught! It reacted as bees do. She coiled up, one angry ball of insect. And then she did what came naturally.<\/p>\n Apista stung.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI am so sorry. Apista does that whenever she\u2019s around new people. She doesn\u2019t mean any harm by it\u2014she just warns them off. She does it to everyone, but you grabbed her. No one\u2019s done that before.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette apologized to Numbtongue profusely as they sat at the table, applying a bit of healing potion to his hand. Only a few drops, but it was necessary. Apista\u2019s stinger had gone right into Numbtongue\u2019s hand before he\u2019d let go, and her stinger was big.<\/em> Apista herself was bigger than two hands put together now, and her stinger was dangerous.<\/p>\n Even more dangerous than a normal Ashfire Bee\u2019s stinger because Apista was<\/em> the size of a queen. And worse still because of Lyonette\u2019s Skill. [Crimson Stinger]. The [Princess] hadn\u2019t had a good chance to see what the change had wrought in Apista\u2019s stinger aside from making it larger and more red, but now she saw as she tended to Numbtongue\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n The wound in his hand was inflamed, and it was already puffing up. Lyonette poured the potion into the wound, watching the swelling go down\u2014a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cThere must be a lot of venom in that stinger. I\u2019m so <\/em>sorry\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fine. Doesn\u2019t hurt that much. Good morning.\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue shrugged. He flexed his hand, barely wincing as the skin closed up. It was the first thing he\u2019d said all day. Lyonette stared at him and then couldn\u2019t help but smile. The Goblin [Bard] looked at her and then at Apista.<\/p>\n The bee was confused. It had stung after being grabbed. As far as it was concerned, everything was great. The green thing had let it go and retreated. But Lyonette was angry. At Apista.<\/em> The bee sensed it and didn\u2019t know why. It flared its wings, wondering if the situation called for more stings. The green thing was keeping well away from it while the white thing bounced up and down at the table. Apista was about to fly about to look for more enemies when it heard another voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI told you that bee\u2019s a menace! A menace I say!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin Solstice walked over, planted a huge plate of eggs and bacon in front of Mrsha, Numbtongue, and Lyonette, and mock-glared at Apista. She had tankards in her other hand as well. Milk for Mrsha, water for Lyonette, and milk for Numbtongue.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of eggs, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette eyed the eggs with mild alarm. Mrsha reached for the heaping plate, and Lyonette grabbed her paw.<\/p>\n \u201cAh! Did you wash your hands, miss? And where\u2019s your<\/em> plate? And fork?\u201d<\/p>\n Mrsha\u2019s face fell. She slunk off the table and found the washing bucket of water and the little soap ball. Apista flew with her. She thought about drinking from the bucket, but experience had taught her that was not good<\/em> water. She was flying with Mrsha because she was wary of the fourth creature in the wood hive she lived in.<\/p>\n The scary one. If Lyonette was a fellow bee, the white thing a precious creature, like a baby larva, and the green one\u2026a green one, then the scary one was a threat. Like a wasp or a bear, but somehow, still part of the hive. Lyonette liked her, and so Apista didn\u2019t consider the scary one a threat\u2014but she was still scary.<\/p>\n Erin Solstice stared at Apista warily as the bee flew about Mrsha. Apista was giving her much the same look.<\/p>\n Bees did not see like people. In fact, their eyes weren\u2019t much hot stuff anyways. They could make out bright colors to find food, but it wasn\u2019t for clear, stunning, high-resolution analysis. So Erin didn\u2019t look that much different from Lyonette in Apista\u2019s mind. But bees were also animals, and in that sense, Apista saw more than Lyonette.<\/p>\n To Apista, Erin was bigger than her form. At times, she was just the size of her body. But at others, she filled<\/em> the room, the wood hive that was Apista\u2019s home. She became the hive, and in those moments, she was a terrible giant. A thing the bee had no words for and which scared Apista.<\/p>\n So, the scary one. Right now, Erin wasn\u2019t scary, but the bee had decided long ago not to get too near her. She flew past Erin and investigated the bright eggs and meat. Not her choice of food, and indeed, Lyonette instantly shooed her away.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Apista! I\u2019ll get your food in a moment. Erin, I\u2019m going into Liscor today. We need more sugar for her water, and I\u2019ve got some other errands to run.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good! I\u2019m going into Pallass.\u201d<\/p>\n The word made everyone look up. Erin\u2019s face was set. Lyonette scratched her head.<\/p>\n \u201cPallass?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. Just to see what it\u2019s like. You know, get a feel for the place? Ilvriss is still banned from there, and no one else is using the door\u2014those jerks still don\u2019t feel like visiting Liscor. So I\u2019m going through.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay then. Mrsha will come with me, I suppose. Or visit Krshia?\u201d<\/p>\n Mrsha, sitting at the table and bouncing up and down, waiting for her plate and fork, nodded eagerly. Lyonette smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then that only leaves\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n They stared at Numbtongue. He was staring at the eggs and bacon as hungrily as Mrsha. He looked up belatedly and then shrugged\u2014caught himself\u2014and opened his mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cI will go into the mountains. To mine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith the mana stone?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin was anxious. Numbtongue nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWith stone. You\u2019ll check the door?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at Lyonette. She nodded as well.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m not here, Ishkr or Drassi will check it every ten minutes. And they\u2019ll have it set to your mana stone by default.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded to the rotating mana stones that had been installed on the door. There were five now. One for Celum, Liscor, a bright purple mana stone that Numbtongue carried, an orange gem for a door that Griffon Hunt and the Halfseekers used, and Pallass. Erin nodded, smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re adding more mana stones! Hawk just put that stone up in Pallass\u2014I\u2019m still not sure how useful it is since we barely do anything, but I guess it\u2019s convenient for security and stuff. Plus, Ilvriss paid for it, so that\u2019s cool by me. But we\u2019ve got two more connections.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat door that Griffon Hunt\u2019s helping bring north to Invrisil. And Numbtongue\u2019s personal door.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette looked at Numbtongue. He reached into his pouch and showed them the purple gem.<\/p>\n \u201cHave it here. Good way to go from mountains to here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure<\/em> you want to go alone? I don\u2019t want you getting hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked at Numbtongue. The Hobgoblin shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cNot too dangerous. Just climbing and looking for good spots mostly. Boring. And if I find anything\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed to the gem. Erin huffed and hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cJust remember you need a door<\/em> to get it to work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will bring one. And mine all day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure you just need a pickaxe? What about a shovel? Don\u2019t miners work in teams or something?\u201d<\/p>\n Numbtongue shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably. But that\u2019s not how Goblins mine. Not how he<\/em> mined.\u201d<\/p>\n The others fell silent. Apista flew into the kitchen and inspected some bacon grease before resuming her patrol, checking on if anything had changed in her \u2018hive\u2019, the inn, while she\u2019d slept. As the sole proper bee, she had to make sure nothing had penetrated the hive and was lurking there. Like\u2026hive beetles. Or spiders. She hated<\/em> spiders.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay then. I guess that\u2019s our plan for today! Lyonette, the inn\u2019s all yours. Now, let\u2019s get some plates and dig in before the adventurers come by! There\u2019ll probably be at least a few groups. Griffon Hunt\u2019s started eating here every morning, plus the other teams come by to relax\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Erin clapped her hands. Lyonette helped her get plates, smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cThey come here for the good food. You should be happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but all they do is eat, argue, and take turns escorting the door.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, they are<\/em> relaxing after the dungeon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdventurers relaxing means one of them starts causing trouble at some point. Remember when they tried playing baseball again? Right outside the inn? They cracked two<\/em> windows.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, they paid for them. And today Ishkr will be here, not Drassi. I can trust him. I\u2019ll be back soon enough, Erin. I\u2019d let someone else get the supplies, but I have other business\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOoh. While you\u2019re at it, can you get me some more eggs? They\u2019re cheap, but I, uh, used them for breakfast. And I want to make some more egg-based dishes when I get back from Pallass. Egg drop soup. I don\u2019t quite<\/em> know how to make it, but I assume you have egg and soup and there\u2019s dropping involved\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette sighed, but Apista felt the hint of amusement from her. The bee flew down as Lyonette filled a bowl with water and sugar. Erin eyed the bee greedily drinking up the syrup before Lyonette had even carried it back into the common room.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure Apista\u2019s fine with just that? I thought she needed more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I haven\u2019t let her out of the inn for fear she\u2019ll get attacked by birds, but there are the flowers.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette waved towards the little yellow flowers blooming in the planters near the windows. Erin stared at them.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Right. I forgot! We should make some more Faerie Flower drinks, Lyonette.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Princess] shuddered.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not exactly social drinks, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2026but they are good for some people. Sometimes. And Halrac and Ilvriss ask me if I have more now and then. Say, could you get more honey as well?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette paused.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the Ashfire Bee hive? I haven\u2019t gone back there in a while. I could\u2026try.\u201d<\/p>\n The last time she\u2019d harvested honey from them had been in the winter, but she\u2019d stopped with the spring rains and the uptick in monsters. Now, the Floodplains were muddy, but some of the muck was turning into proper soil again. And there were plants blooming, the last of the undead had finally been taken care of\u2026it was beginning to be a proper spring. Erin hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I know it\u2019s dangerous, but your smoke trick\u2019s worked before, right? And honey is<\/em> a money earner.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. I\u2019ll try it. After I see Krshia. Oh\u2014and I\u2019ll visit the Players of Celum and see why they haven\u2019t dropped by yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you? It totally slipped my mind. Well, not slipped<\/em> my mind, but every time I go through to Celum, Octavia\u2019s bugged me about new potion ideas and helping her burn down this other guy\u2019s shop\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The two chatted as Apista drank the precious water and sugar up. She knew it was exactly what she needed to survive. But Erin was right. Water and sugar were one thing, but a bee lived on honey. And Apista was predisposed to another thing too.<\/p>\n Nectar.<\/em> As she was not a queen who lived to lay brood, she was instinctively motivated towards the little flowers. So as the other adventurers came down the stairs, Numbtongue and Mrsha fought for a rasher of bacon, and Erin and Lyonette circled the inn, the Ashfire Bee flew up and towards the little planters near the windows. There she landed and inspected the flowers.<\/p>\n They were small and yellow. Vibrant, like little coins of gold sprouting from the soil. Ironic, since that was how Erin had first received them. Fake gold coins, a faerie\u2019s trick payment. But she\u2019d taken the flowers and planted them, and they\u2019d bloomed into flowers that were very useful and very<\/em> magical.<\/p>\n One sip of the nectar could make you see things. Mix it with alcohol and you\u2019d see the past. Or a past that might have been or\u2026just dream. Lyonette had found you could burn the flowers too. Dried and burned, they created an incense that put the Ashfire Bee hive to sleep and allowed her to collect honey. The flowers probably had other uses too, but they were as yet still growing and multiplying, and Erin wanted a veritable garden first.<\/p>\n A certain little Gnoll and Apista were responsible for the much larger body of flowers in the planters along the windowsill. Encouraged by their efforts, the flowers had multiplied from three boxes of scattered blooms in the soil to six full boxes, and a seventh one was on the way once Lyonette or Erin transplanted the delicate flowers. To Apista, it was a bounty of nectar.<\/p>\n And yet, still the bee hesitated. Bees had short memories in some regards, but in others? They could navigate back to a patch of flowers pollinated years ago. Because while individual bees died, a hive remembered. And Apista, short though her life had been, knew these flowers.<\/p>\n She knew what would happen next. But it wasn\u2019t a strictly negative experience, one that would warn her away, like getting grabbed by the green thing or accidentally getting smacked by Mrsha while the Gnoll was asleep. It was something else. And because Apista had no concept of it, because she was programmed to seek the nectar in the little flowers, and because part of her wanted to, she drew closer. Her proboscis lowered, and she delicately inserted it into the bud of the first flower.<\/p>\n Bee fact. Regular Earth bees could forage as many as six miles outside of their hive. Ashfire Bees, the colossi of the bee families in this world, could forage for as many as twenty<\/em> miles outside their hives, and further still if need be. They had to, as smaller flowers were far too tiny to provide them with enough nectar.<\/p>\n In that sense, the six beds of Faerie Flowers were just a warm-up for the Ashfire Bee. In another?<\/p>\n Apista drank. And the world slowed ddddddoooooooowwwwwnnnnnnnnnnn\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n Bees didn\u2019t think like people. But they did think. And Apista was thinking about thinking, which was a novel experience for any bee. The idea of thought was to her like this strange thing. You could think? About thinking? That was\u2026like\u2026<\/p>\n Thought<\/em>. Apista raised her head. Yellow flowers looked at her. But from a different angle, they looked like blooming gold. Or gold that bloomed through a flower. Maybe they were<\/em> gold and the flowers were the illusion. Maybe this window was\u2014<\/p>\n Apista ran into the window. Okay, maybe it wasn\u2019t an illusion. The Ashfire Bee crawled up the window. Wow. This hard stuff was really hard. And see-through. She could see right through it, but it was there. <\/em>Outside, the sky glowed with dawn light. Apista wondered if it had anything to say. She fanned her wings.<\/p>\n She could see\u2014<\/p>\n \u2014the shape of\u2014<\/p>\n \u2014tomorrow\u2014<\/p>\n And it was green. With pink polka dots.<\/p>\n Apista tripped. And when bees<\/em> tripped, they tripped hard.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. You know, I never realized it, but what does Apista do all day when you\u2019re working, Lyonette?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin was about to leave for her trip to Pallass when she spotted the Ashfire Bee. It was crawling all over the window where the Faerie Flowers were blooming. Erin assumed it was good for the little things, for all Apista could have squashed them. But they really had been growing nicely.<\/p>\n Lyonette looked up from learning a new word Mrsha had invented. A tap on the nose and quick circle meant \u2018tracking\u2019. An important word for Gnolls. She was wondering if there was a way to write all this down for other people. A book, maybe?<\/p>\n She looked up and blinked at Apista. Lyonette frowned, then shrugged, unconcerned.<\/p>\n \u201cAll day? Mostly that. She always gets like this after eating. Quiet. Some days, she just sits on the flower beds for hours. I guess I should let her out more, but I feel like she\u2019s pretty happy like this.\u201d<\/p>\n She got up and walked over to Apista, picking the bee off the window. Apista didn\u2019t resist. Erin eyed Apista as Mrsha tried to teach her the new word.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Is she trying to fly upside down?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think so?\u201d<\/p>\n To Lyonette, Apista\u2019s mind was a distant thing. She could sense if the bee was hungry, in pain, or so on thanks to their [Lesser Bond] skill, but that was about it. Right now, she was getting\u2026something approaching static from Apista\u2019s mind. It happened surprisingly often. Lyonette assumed Apista just wasn\u2019t thinking that much.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s bees for you. Must be nice. That\u2019s a nice word, Mrsha! Tracking. Got it! I\u2019ll remember. And you can \u2018track\u2019 me down if I\u2019m late. I\u2019m off to Pallass! See ya!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin waved at the others and walked through the magic door. Numbtongue was already gone for the day. That just left Lyonette, the adventurers who\u2019d come downstairs and into the inn, and the hired help. Mrsha padded over to Ishkr and tugged on his leg. She was determined to teach everyone her new word.<\/p>\n \u201cMrsha, don\u2019t\u2014well, okay. But don\u2019t bother Ishkr if he\u2019s busy, got it?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette sighed as the Gnoll [Waiter] obligingly bent down to learn Mrsha\u2019s word. Some of the other adventurers looked up; they were playing dice and waiting to change places with the Halfseekers, who were lugging the door north.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Not even at Celum yet. Why don\u2019t we hire a carriage and speed the process?\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac was grunting to Dawil. The Dwarf shrugged as he rolled some dice in a cup.<\/p>\n \u201cYou in a hurry, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m older than you are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019m a Dwarf. I get to call Humans \u2018lad\u2019 and \u2018lass\u2019. Besides, the slow pace means we can take jobs around the door if we want.\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac grimaced.<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. Esthelm has hunting missions. It\u2019s just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cToo good for Bronze-rank requests?\u201d<\/p>\n The Dwarf grinned, teasingly. The [Scout] almost smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI was going to say that killing too many animals would hurt their [Hunters]. Roll the dice, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will as soon as we put up some money on this. How\u2019s five coppers sound? Hey, pointy ears! You want to get on this? And no cheating like last time, or\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n All seemed well. Lyonette looked at Ishkr. He was managing a pair of Gnoll workers today.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can handle watching Mrsha for a few hours?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Lyonette. Honored Krshia is busy at work, and I think she will be fine here. One of us can let her run about outside now the undead are gone. Although I think she is content here.\u201d<\/p>\n Ishkr was referring to Mrsha wandering over to Typhenous and Revi. They were talking magic, and the Gnoll was content to listen to them\u2014or sit on Moore\u2019s lap when he was relaxing. Lyonette nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be back, then. To Celum first. Remember, every ten minutes and keep\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014the door attuned to Numbtongue\u2019s stone. I understand.\u201d<\/p>\n Ishkr patiently nodded. Lyonette smiled sheepishly.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you!\u201d<\/p>\n She put Apista back on the windowsill. The Ashfire Bee lay there, content with the world, or so Lyonette vaguely felt. The [Princess] shook her head. She stepped over to the magic door, envying Apista\u2019s simple way of being. She on the other hand wasn\u2019t always so happy. Even though Erin had given Lyonette run of the inn, the job wasn\u2019t always easy. Especially when Lyonette thought about money coming and leaving the inn.<\/p>\n True, they were a thousand gold coins richer from the Redfang Goblins\u2019 gift. But the third floor and Bird\u2019s tower were still gone. Adventurers made up their small day-to-day earnings, and the new staff required pay too. Lyonette had big plans, so she needed big business. Which meant the Players of Celum had to come back and start putting on huge shows.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve been gone for a long time. I thought they\u2019d be chomping at the bit to come back, but they didn\u2019t. Not while Erin was crying, and not even afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette frowned to herself, worried. That probably meant they were putting on performances in Celum. Which was\u2026not ideal. But she had hopes she could convince them to come back to The Wandering Inn. Jasi and Wesle owed Erin a lot.<\/p>\n The instant Lyonette pushed the door open and stepped into Octavia\u2019s shop, the [Alchemist] sprang from behind her counter.<\/p>\n \u201cLyonette! Just who I was looking for!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot now, Octavia. I\u2019m just coming through.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight, right. But while you\u2019re here, why not stock up on some potions? Stay and chat? Have a stamina potion, on me. This one\u2019s extra sweet! Why don\u2019t you sit, talk about Erin\u2014has she mentioned me at all? I\u2019ve just got this thing going on that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOctavia, please. I don\u2019t have time to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Princess] tried to fend off the dark-skinned Stitch-girl. She gritted her teeth, wishing she could shove Octavia out of the way. But that wasn\u2019t right, was it?<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Lyonette? We\u2019re pals, aren\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think so?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? You\u2019re breaking my heart, Lyonette! We\u2019ve been the best of friends! You and me, both working with Erin. Buddies, ever since you and Mrsha stayed here during the Face-Eater Moth attack. And friends help friends, right? If you could just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette felt a hand dragging at her. She shook Octavia off, making for the door. She tried to tell herself it was just Octavia being Octavia. No need to get upset.<\/p>\n Be polite. Smile, don\u2019t think of Octavia as a peasant. And don\u2019t kick her even if she shoves another potion bottle in your face.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIf you could just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n At last, Lyonette slammed the door to Octavia\u2019s shop. She shook her head. Octavia. That [Alchemist] had a way of getting on people\u2019s nerves. She was always, always<\/em> trying to get Lyonette or Erin or even Mrsha to do something.<\/p>\n \u201cNot once have I walked through there without Octavia trying to get me to sit and listen to her idea for twenty minutes. Or spend a dozen gold pieces to \u2018fund\u2019 her.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette grumbled to herself. She stomped away from the shop and only then noticed that part of the boarded-up exterior of Stitchworks was slightly charred. Lyonette stopped, frowning at the exterior.<\/p>\n Ever since one of Erin\u2019s plans had ended up with the front of Octavia\u2019s shop getting knocked in, it had been boarded up. It didn\u2019t exactly make the shop look appealing, but the [Alchemist] hadn\u2019t bothered to fix it. Only, it looked like someone had nearly set fire to the wooden exterior.<\/p>\n From the outside. Lyonette wondered if Octavia had dropped some matches or something. She frowned, hesitated, and then shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably nothing. And if I go back in, I\u2019ll have to listen to that\u2026that\u2026peasant<\/em> talk some more.\u201d<\/p>\n The invective slipped out of Lyonette\u2019s mouth before she could stop it. She caught herself, frowning, and then turned and hurried away from the shop, suddenly ashamed. Lyonette walked past a gossiping couple of women, hurried down a street past a man with a cart full of radishes, and towards the base of the Players of Celum. All the while she was thinking to herself, barely noticing the people around her.<\/p>\n Peasants.<\/em> Wasn\u2019t that what Lyonette used to call them? It felt like a foreign word now. A stupid one to apply to everyone who crossed her path. True, it was somewhat accurate because they weren\u2019t royalty, but\u2014no.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was old Lyonette. Old me. I\u2019m not like that. Judgmental. Stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette muttered to herself. The man with the wheelbarrow gave her an odd look. Lyonette gave him a strained grin, and he decided to cross the street to the other side. The [Princess] shook her head.<\/p>\n It had just been a slip of the tongue. But it was a good reminder. She couldn\u2019t be old Lyonette. Not bossy, not stuck-up. She had to be nice and friendly, a good [Barmaid], a helpful friend\u2026<\/p>\n Perfect. Meek, unassuming, content to be a [Barmaid]. And that was something Lyonette didn\u2019t enjoy either. She\u2019d loved running Erin\u2019s inn without Erin. Being a host, being in charge.<\/p>\n Being a [Princess]. Pawn had shown her that. She didn\u2019t want to be just in the background, but the old her had been a nightmare. So where was the compromise?<\/p>\n Lyonette shook her head. She felt more and more like the old her, sometimes. It was her [Princess] class reminding her. That was why she\u2019d volunteered to run Erin\u2019s inn while the [Innkeeper] went on a semi-vacation. She\u2019d wanted the job, wanted the power. She had so many ideas\u2026<\/p>\n At last, Lyonette came to the large storehouse that had been converted into the base for the Players of Celum. It was, of course, locked and usually had a pair of hired [Guards] lounging about the front to prevent fans of the Players from breaking in and watching the [Actors] at work.<\/p>\n They weren\u2019t here today. Which was curious. And slightly worrying. Lyonette hesitated and then knocked hard on the door. She waited impatiently for a few seconds, knocked louder, and waited some more.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe they\u2019re out?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette wondered if she should do the Erin thing and push her way into the storehouse. But was that too bold? Too rude? Too much like old Lyonette? Because she wanted to. She knocked a third time, then put her hand on the door\u2019s handle. She was about to yank the door open when someone pushed from inside.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoops!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman sprang back. She saw an unfamiliar face appear in the doorway. A young man with a painted face. An [Actor]. He wasn\u2019t one Lyonette recognized by name, but she\u2019d seen his face in some of the plays. She blinked at him, and he blinked at her. Then his eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Lyonette?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh\u2014Temile?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Actor] nodded. He pushed the door open and beckoned Lyonette in.<\/p>\n \u201cCome in, come in! I didn\u2019t expect to see you today! Apologies\u2014we were practicing and we barely heard\u2014is Miss Erin alright? Is the inn open at last?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette stepped into the storehouse and looked around. The Players of Celum had bought the place with the first of their earnings and turned it into a miniature theatre and dressing room. There were wigs, costumes, fake weapons, a stage to practice on and seats for the \u2018veteran\u2019 [Actors] to critique the newbies, a place for Emme and the [Writers] to come up with new material or alter Erin\u2019s plays, and so on. It was a bustling place, or it had been the other two times Lyonette had visited it.<\/p>\n But today, the storehouse was almost empty. A dozen people were in the building, three on the stage, the rest watching. There was one person fiddling with the costumes. Lyonette stared around. The Players of Celum was a troupe of over sixty members now! They were the hottest thing since flaming Corusdeer! Where was Wesle? Jasi? Grev and Emme? Kilkran?<\/p>\n \u201cTemile, where is everyone? Are they performing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Well, you see\u2014I wish we\u2019d been able to tell you. But what with the siege of Liscor and us not knowing when Miss Erin\u2019d be back, and then the door going dead and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Temile was hesitating. His painted face, already supposed to look sad, looked even more apprehensive as Lyonette turned to him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Did they start performing at other inns? That\u2019s fine, but Erin\u2019s inn is back open. And we could really use the business\u2026what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou see, Miss Lyonette\u2014and don\u2019t be angry, it\u2019s not my choice! Wesle and the others were talking it over, but we gave Miss Erin our word we wouldn\u2019t put on plays anywhere but her inn. But everyone needs paying for food and families and so on, and we were just sitting there. And then came along an offer\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAn offer?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Actor] nodded miserably.<\/p>\n \u201cA good one. From Lellisdam.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette had never heard the name before. Temile elaborated.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a big city. Nearly eighty miles north of here. Far from Celum, but it\u2019s one of the bigger cities on the road north.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEighty miles?<\/em> And they left? Without telling us?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette was horrified. Temile winced.<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026you were out of touch! There was talk of war<\/em> with the Drakes, and the [Mayor] of Lellisdam had heard rumors of our acts! He sent us gold as an advance, promised to pay for the entire troupe to come down the road with<\/em> an escort\u2026there was a huge argument about it. Lots of debates.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut in the end, they chose to go?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette felt weak at the knees. Temile sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt weren\u2019t easy, but yes. Jasi wanted to tell Erin, but the offer wasn\u2019t going to sit. So\u2026I\u2019ve got a letter from her to Miss Erin explaining. The Players left for the north. Me and two of the old crew, Damius and Rima, stayed with some of the new recruits. We\u2019ve been sitting here, learning the old plays and living off the funds from the main group. The plan was that if you took a long time to get here, we\u2019d train up a new group while Wesle, Jasi, and the others earned money up north. There\u2019s tons of interest in our plays, and no one in the north\u2019s even heard<\/em> of us yet. There\u2019s a fortune to be made. So\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI get it.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette spoke flatly. So, the Players had gone. She shouldn\u2019t be surprised. Not really. But she was anyways. And she\u2019d been counting on them to start pulling their old crowds in. Now\u2026Lyonette looked about at the handful of [Actors] and the recruits. One of them was on stage. Lyonette could see him waving his hand about like a boneless chicken. Temile followed her gaze and winced.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re new. But they want to learn, and we\u2019re working on them. Not everyone\u2019s got Kilkran\u2019s voice or Jasi\u2019s instinct.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan they put on a play? I was hoping we could have you back. But\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette stared at the [Actors]. Temile nodded hurriedly.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course! We\u2019re overjoyed to have the inn open. And we\u2019ll put on a performance tonight! Dead gods, this is the time to recruit those Drakes and Gnolls, isn\u2019t it? We might not be able to do as well as Wesle and Jasi, but with time and practice\u2014we\u2019ll draw in some crowds, at least, I\u2019m sure. Why, with a few weeks to get our new group up to speed\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He faltered a bit as Lyonette looked at him. But all the [Princess] did was nod and put a fake smile on her face.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure Erin will be delighted. And yes, by all means come tonight. There were Drakes and Gnolls interested in joining. I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll be\u2026a real help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe could use more hands. Er, claws, paws, and whatever. So, ah, tonight? I\u2019ve got to tell the others if we\u2019re actually going to\u2014I mean, prep them. We\u2019ll do a simple play, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n The man edged away from Lyonette. She nodded and saw him hurry over to the Players, shouting and pointing back at her. One of the young women on stage seemed to be taken with a bout of stage fright already. The actor with the floppy hand had the opposite reaction and began emoting with twice the waving of his arm. Lyonette debated staying, but decided she couldn\u2019t. If she did, she might end up saying something she\u2019d regret.<\/p>\n She went back the way she\u2019d come, fuming a bit inside, and trying not<\/em> to be angry. Part of her wanted to take the [Actor] to task. Would it have been that<\/em> hard to send someone with a message? Really? Instead, the Players had just left for greener pastures. But she bit her tongue\u2014it was entirely understandable of them.<\/p>\n Understandable, but it didn\u2019t make Lyonette less angry. But she was slightly proud of herself for not blowing up at Temile. It would have done no good. She\u2019d be polite, nice, and if they fouled up on stage and drove away her guests\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m back!\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette slammed the door on Octavia before the [Alchemist] had a chance to pester her. She saw the adventurers were still at their tables, and Mrsha was watching Dawil arm-wrestle Typhenous. And lose.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn it! What kind of spell is that?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Dwarf roared in frustration as the elderly [Mage] cackled. Lyonette sighed, but then saw Ishkr poke his head out of the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got the Players of Celum tonight? Should I get ready for a lot of customers?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, and no. We\u2019ll probably get some crowd, more from Liscor, at least until they realize what\u2019s changed.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette sighed. Ishkr raised his eyebrows, but she didn\u2019t elaborate.<\/p>\n \u201cSend one of the Gnolls\u2014Rishka? Into the city and spread the word that the Players will<\/em> be performing tonight. But maybe only people interested in joining should come. I\u2019m going there too. I\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnderstood.\u201d<\/p>\n Ishkr nodded. Lyonette walked towards the magic door. She slipped through it, not noticing or caring that Dawil, in his huff, had gotten up to pee away his frustrations. He slammed the door open, and it slowly began to close. No one cared; they were all busy watching Typhenous begin to arm-wrestle Falene, both [Mages] actively casting spells on themselves and each other.<\/p>\n The door bounced back slowly towards the shut position. And that was fine, because Dawil would close it on the way back in. Or someone else would. Mrsha was too responsible to go outside without a Gnoll watching her now, and the zombies had mostly been eradicated. This was an inn full of adventurers, so what was the worry?<\/p>\n None at all. Unless, of course, a completely Faerie-Flower-drugged Ashfire Bee decided that it was going outside. Then you might have a problem.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Apista the bee spoke to herself for the first time. It was not the way a bee thought, but she had eaten from flowers and so it felt fine.<\/em><\/p>\n She said or whispered or spoke however a bee does, \u201cOh, I am a bee, and a bee I must be. But what is a bee, if a bee is not free?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n There was no one to listen, or even to hear. And her other half, the bee that walked and thought, wasn\u2019t here. She had been, but now she was distant, as it sometimes happened. \u201cDamn magic,\u201d thought Apista, though she had no notion of magic or how to swear.<\/em><\/p>\n On other days, Apista might have lain and thought deep thoughts about flowers and basked in the sun. But oh! Look there! She saw an open door, a crack. And a great plot was begun.<\/em><\/p>\n Stealthily, as stealthily as a bee could be. Apista crept towards the door. It was a fabulous plan, as smart as an Ashfire Bee could hatch. But it was foiled by the creature of scales who came through the door, as loud as thunder, as loud as a boar.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIshkr! I\u2019m here to work! Hey\u2014\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Apista took wing, racing for the door. The thing of scales exclaimed, \u201cOh no! Apista! Shut the door!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n She lunged, but the door was ajar and the Dwarf coming through already sloshed at the bar. Apista flew at his face, and he jumped in surprise. The scaly thing, whose name might be Drassi, shouted, \u201cStop her! Get her, Dawil!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n And the Dwarf leapt for her, ready to foil her plans. But clever, she, the bee. She dodged and wove around the grasping hands, landed in the beard and crawled up the screaming face. Then she leapt again and flew out the door. Apista laughed at the one chasing her of scales and fright. She shouted at them in words they could not hear, \u201cAt last, I fly free!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n And then she was airborne! Apista flew through the skies. Free for once of her hive of wood. Free at last, as free as a bee. As free as could be. Until a terrible thought occurred to her. She was free, but could she be? (She was still high or drunk or tripping, as you clearly can see.)<\/em><\/p>\n She had no hive nor purpose. Apista flew through the skies, aimless and helpless, suddenly gripped by philosophical woes. She looked at the sky and wept, only bees do not weep. And there was no one to hear her. She was still hallucinating that she could speak.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat reason have I?\u201d cried the bee. \u201cWhat am I to do? By what reason am I free?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n And the sky spoke. \u201cYou are alone.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n And the bee knew it to be true. So she flew across the land, looking for her other half. For she completed she, but even together they were a bee twice alone. For what is a bee without a queen? Two bees, then, flew together. Neither one worker, neither one queen. But both in between.<\/em><\/p>\n So the bee found her other self and flew down to her. Asking, \u201cWhat shall we do? What do you see? What pulls you, and how do you see me? What shall I do? By what reason am I free?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Thus was began Apista\u2019s great quest in the open. And in an inn made of wood, a Drake stood in the door. <\/em>Drassi stared at the open sky, mouth agape. Dawil swore as he felt at his beard that Apista had crawled up, and Drassi saw Apista\u2019s form grow smaller and smaller in the sky. She gulped and looked back at Ishkr, who\u2019d arrived too late.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Ancestors. Lyonette is going to kill me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Lyonette\u2019s journey to Liscor was uneventful, at least to begin with. She made her way down Market Street, saw a familiar Gnoll at her stall, and made her way towards her. She got halfway there when an angry voice shouted at her.<\/p>\n \u201cThere<\/em>, you see? The [Thief]! I\u2019ve been telling everyone, that inn is just a den of criminals! Look at her, without the decency to stay out of the city! She was exiled! And look! She\u2019s swanning right about, defying the law<\/em>. Just like that!\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette jumped. She looked around and saw the shouter was a familiar Drake. Lism was shouting from his stall, his scales red and purple as he screamed at the people around him.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only did that damn Human bring a Goblin<\/em> into our homes, but a [Thief]! They caused riots in the city, and one of their flesh-loving friends nearly drowned me<\/em> in the confusion! Are we to let this pass? I ask you! You, Shopkeeper Malvilla, didn\u2019t that [Thief] steal from you? And you, Skemil? And even honored<\/em> Krshia over there was a victim! But it appears that Gnolls forgive and forget too easily! Not so with Drakes, I say!\u201d<\/p>\n An accusatory claw was pointed at Lyonette. She flushed as all eyes turned towards her. The two [Shopkeepers] mentioned gave Lyonette dark looks. Lism, still spitting outrage, pointed at Lyonette.<\/p>\n \u201cWell? What do you have to say for yourself? Nothing? Just like a Human! First your kind attack our city with Goblins, and now\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up, Lism! No one wants to hear it. I came here to buy fruits, not hear you spray.\u201d<\/p>\n A passing Drake shouted, annoyed. Lism turned his wrath on the Drake.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes? And where were you<\/em> when the Humans were throwing rocks at our gates? Waiting to welcome your Human friends with open arms?\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake glared and opened his mouth. Not coming up with a response, he went with a simpler option and turned his claw into a fist.<\/p>\n \u201cShut it. Or I\u2019ll shut that mouth for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOho? You and what Humans? Got an army of fleshbags with you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette slunk away from the argument towards Krshia\u2019s stall. The two Drakes were shouting at each other. Lyonette\u2019s ears were crimson as Krshia waved her closer. The Gnoll bared her teeth, her eyes flashing as she looked at Lism.<\/p>\n \u201cPay no notice, Lyonette. He\u2019s been angry since someone tried to drown him in the baths. And angrier still since half the city thinks it\u2019s a pity whoever did it didn\u2019t finish the job.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Princess] felt her cheeks redden. She looked at Lism. He was getting jeered on as the Drake on the ground challenged him to leave his stall and take a few swings, but there were a number of people still glaring daggers at her. Her and Krshia. Mostly Drakes, but a few Gnolls too.<\/p>\n \u201cHas he been like this all the time?\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia grimaced and dug at her ear. Lyonette realized she\u2019d packed some wax in there as makeshift earplugs.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of yesterday, the day before, and today. The Watch warned him twice to keep it down, but he\u2019s argued they\u2019re showing favoritism since they didn\u2019t investigate who tried to drown him. So they\u2019re letting him waste his breath. I wish I could say that I had the same hopes, but that\u2019s the price of healing and stamina potions, no?\u201d<\/p>\n She grimaced. Lyonette nodded. She glanced back at Lism.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s right. But wrong. I was let back into the city, but I didn\u2019t ask for it. Zel intervened on my behalf. And it wasn\u2019t us who led the Goblins here. Erin fought the Goblin Lord\u2019s army.\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia nodded. The Gnoll knew everything Lyonette was saying, but the [Princess] had to say it again. Just to hear it and not what Lism was shouting.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a fact most Gnolls know, Lyonette. And we have settled our debts. Ignore Lism\u2014he speaks because he cannot act. And those who listen reveal themselves. Myself, I just wish I had better earplugs.\u201d<\/p>\n She offered Lyonette a toothy grin. The young woman half-smiled. She wished she could shout all those things back at Lism. But she had no ground to stand on. She had burned down Krshia\u2019s shop and stolen from half the shops on this street. Every time she came here, she did<\/em> feel their gazes on her. But she hoped she could rectify that today.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not staying long. But can you add some sugar to my delivery list for tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHrr. Of course. How much?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm. Make it a big sack. I know it\u2019s pricey\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia waved that away.<\/p>\n \u201cNot so much now that the siege is lifted and spring begun, yes? One of the [Merchants] already made it from Celum. His goods were pricey, but the prices will already go down. Sugar is expensive since it comes from Baleros, but there are no wars there to drive up the price either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLucky for us, hrm?\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia blinked and then laughed at Lyonette\u2019s imitation of her way of speaking.<\/p>\n \u201cGo along with you now! Unless you want to hear Lism bellowing more?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette did not. She walked away from the market, but not before Lism got a few parting shots in.<\/p>\n \u201cHah! Look at that! Running like the cowardly Human she is! Not a tail to tuck between her legs! Hey\u2014don\u2019t you climb onto my stall! You attack me and I\u2019ll call the Watch! I have a right to free speech! Not that a Human-loving pervert<\/em> would understand anything of\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n For a second, Lyonette thought about going back. For a second. But no. Running up to Lism and calling him a peasant with eggs for brains would not be helpful. As much as she wanted to do just that. Lyonette walked down the street, passing by Drakes and Gnolls and knowing<\/em> they could see her red cheeks and ears. And then, like that, a bee fell out of the skies and landed on Lyonette\u2019s head.<\/p>\n \u201cApista!?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Ashfire Bee buzzed, her wings flapping rapidly as the Drakes and Gnolls took one look at the oversized insect and sprang away. Lyonette grabbed at Apista as the bee wobbled erratically around her in flight. The Ashfire Bee\u2019s thoughts were disjointed, but Lyonette caught confusion, desperation, and\u2014melancholy<\/em> from her. She\u2019d never sensed these emotions from Apista. Or seen her act like this!<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is going on with you? And how did you get out of the inn? Did Mrsha let you out? Is something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette scolded the bee. But Apista didn\u2019t seem worried or in battle-mode as she might if something was wrong, like the inn being attacked. She landed on Lyonette\u2019s open palms at last and fanned her wings. The [Princess] brought her up to eye-level, hesitated as she noticed the crowd staring at her, and made a rapid decision.<\/p>\n \u201cJust hold on to me and don\u2019t make a fuss, understand? I\u2019m bringing you right back to the inn. After I\u2014drat. You know what? Just stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette placed the bee on her shoulder and started walking. And despite the bee\u2019s odd emotions, it did obey. Lyonette could do that<\/em>, at least. She hurried down the street. Apista helped her make better time than usual; half the pedestrians took one look at Lyonette and decided to walk around her.<\/p>\n \u201cI wonder if owning other pets is like this. Father used to have a dog, but it\u2019s not the same as [Beast Tamers] raising an animal, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman groused as Apista rubbed her face on her shoulder. She still felt the bee\u2019s wooziness, quite intensely in fact. Lyonette hadn\u2019t noticed it, but now she realized it was the same feeling she got from Apista every morning.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the Faerie Flowers, isn\u2019t it? Of all the\u2014no wonder you lie about all day! I\u2019m going to have to stop you from eating those! Why didn\u2019t I notice it until now?\u201d<\/p>\n Predictably, Apista didn\u2019t respond. But Lyonette sensed the bee sobering or waking up or\u2026doing whatever bees did to flush out their system as she walked down the street. She guessed that Apista would usually go back to the Faerie Flowers for seconds or even thirds.<\/p>\n Idiot.<\/em> Lyonette sighed as she pushed the door open to the Watch barracks and strode in. She marched up to the front desk. A Gnoll was on duty. He looked bored\u2014right up until he noticed the bee on Lyonette\u2019s shoulder. Then he stared at that as if it was the most interesting thing he\u2019d seen all day.<\/p>\n \u201cUh. Excuse me, Miss?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette pointed at Apista.<\/p>\n \u201cPet. I\u2019m a [Beast Tamer]. May I ask if the Watch Captain is in today?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm. She is. Are you looking to see her about\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll waved at the bee. Lyonette shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to request an appointment. I can do that, right?\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll tore his gaze away from the bee. He looked at Lyonette, blinked, and then nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2026I\u2019ll send up a request. But, ah, she\u2019s usually busy. If this is a minor matter, I or another [Guardsman] on duty could help you out, Miss\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLyonette. And no, I\u2019d like to speak to the Watch Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll frowned dubiously, but with a sigh, and another look at Apista, he got up and walked up the stairs to the second floor of the barracks. He came back a few moments later and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s busy. If she has time, she\u2019ll hear your request. Please take a seat.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette\u2019s spirits fell, but she did find a seat. The barracks were full of activity\u2014people coming in, Drakes or Gnolls being charged or paying fines, other [Guards] doing paperwork or chatting\u2014it only occurred to Lyonette after a moment that the Gnollish [Guardsman] at the desk had omitted an important detail.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked up and sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow long did Watch Captain Zevara say I\u2019d have to wait?\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll frowned. He was scribbling on something on the desk with the air people had of something quite<\/em> important. Since Lyonette could see the nude sketch he was doing of a Gnoll (not much different from a regular sketch, honestly), she wasn\u2019t impressed. The [Guardsman] covered the paper with one paw and spoke briskly.<\/p>\n \u201cShe didn\u2019t say, Miss Human. Watch Captains are very<\/em> busy individuals. If you have a concern, I can redirect it to a Senior Guardsperson. However, for Watch Captain Zevara\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease have a seat. I will let you know if Watch Captain Zevara wishes to see you. If you\u2019d like, I can schedule you for a formal appointment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd when would that be?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWatch Captain Zevara would have to make the determination. But perhaps later this week? Next week?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette stared at the Gnoll. He stared back, the picture of helpful unhelpfulness.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd will she have time for me today if I wait?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe? It depends on\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWatch Captain Zevara. I see. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette went back to her seat. The Gnoll sighed in relief, muttered something about crazy Humans, and went back to his artwork. Lyonette sat very still as Apista crawled up the side of her face. A passing Drake, clearly hung over, walked past Lyonette, burping, and did a double-take. He pointed at her, laughed, and Lyonette remembered what she\u2019d told herself.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be rude. Don\u2019t be old Lyonette.<\/em><\/p>\n And then Apista started licking the sweat off the side of Lyonette\u2019s face. Another Gnoll, younger, female, clearly new to her job, walked up. She hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Human? Do you know there\u2019s a bee on your face?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette looked up at the helpful Gnoll. Then she snapped.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Apista\u2019s Faerie Flower induced trip was slowly fading from her system. The bee had stopped believing she could make weird sounds with her mouth like Lyonette did and that the sky was giving her sage advice. She was still muddled however, but she\u2019d found Lyonette, and she could sense the young woman\u2019s emotions quite clearly as she clung to her face.<\/p>\n Exasperation, impatience, worry, guilt, more worry, and then\u2026anger.<\/em> It came from Lyonette, thorns amid flowers. Apista froze as the [Princess]\u2019 turbulent emotions came to a boiling point in the guard house. The anger was red hot and blossomed like flames. Instinctively, Apista fanned her wings, but a hand caught her before she could fly and present her stinger to everything and everyone in the room as a warning sign.<\/p>\n \u201cStop.\u201d<\/p>\n The command was mental and verbal. Apista felt it telling her to not fly about and cause a scene and stick to Lyonette. It was a powerful order, as if Lyonette were Apista\u2019s queen of the hive. But the Ashfire Bee\u2019s instincts were awakened by Lyonette\u2019s anger, and Apista wanted to sting something.<\/p>\n And yet\u2026maybe it was the Faerie Flower nectar or being so close to Lyonette. But Apista understood in a flash that this wasn\u2019t a time for her stinger. Or rather, not her<\/em> stinger. Because someone had kicked Lyonette\u2019s hive, and the young woman was about to unveil her<\/em> stinger. So the Ashfire bee clung to Lynette\u2019s shoulder as the [Princess] got up, marched over to the Gnoll at the desk, and asked where the toilet was.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWatch Captain Zevara?\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake woman was writing at her desk, sorting through reports when the door opened. There was no knock, and no one announced themselves, as was customary of any [Guard]. Zevara looked up, already scowling, and opened her mouth to roar at whomever it was. She stopped as she saw it wasn\u2019t one of her people but a Human who opened the door and stepped into the room.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat in the name of scaled rats\u2014<\/em>who let you in here?\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara rose behind her desk. She recognized Lyonette of course. And she\u2019d decided not<\/em> to see the girl as soon as her desk-guardsman had told her the Human wanted an appointment. So seeing Lyonette in person made the Watch Captain even unhappier.<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you get in here? This is a restricted area!\u201d<\/p>\n No one was supposed to just walk into<\/em> a Watch Captain\u2019s office. Lyonette shrugged, looking around. She had a huge bee on her shoulder, waving its antennae at Zevara. But if the Drake let something like that slow her down, she\u2019d never have survived Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cI walked upstairs when the person at the desk wasn\u2019t looking. When people on the second floor stopped me, I told them Erin sent me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou what?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara nearly spat fire in disgust. She was going to smack at least a dozen heads down there. One [Innkeeper] could not<\/em> do as she pleased! True, if there was anything that would qualify as an emergency, Erin Solstice could probably qualify. But this was ridiculous!<\/p>\n \u201cIf someone\u2019s dead or we\u2019re under attack or there\u2019s a disaster about to happen\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s not. This is personal business.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen get out.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette stayed put.<\/p>\n \u201cI was told you were busy. So am I. I won\u2019t take up much of your time.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara felt heat rising in her chest. She fought down the instinct to flame, but some smoke still escaped as she glared at Lyonette.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think you can just walk in here and demand to talk to me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n That threw Zevara for a second. She stared at Lyonette. For a moment, she debated shouting for someone to kick the girl out. But she had a feeling that might lead to Erin Solstice marching through her door in an hour. Rather than take that risk, she sat down, steepled her claws together, and glared at Lyonette, wishing she had [Evil Eye] as a Skill.<\/p>\n \u201cStart talking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll have a seat, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette walked forwards and calmly sat in the chair across from Zevara. Again, the Watch Captain blinked. She didn\u2019t have a Skill that allowed her to use aura powers like a Wall Lord, but even without one, she\u2019d mastered her hostile presence skill, as most busy people did. But Lyonette ignored the atmosphere as if it didn\u2019t exist. In fact, she seemed\u2026<\/p>\n Cool. Composed. Her chin was slightly raised, but not so high as to be condescending in any way. Just raised, and her shoulders and back were straight without slouching. She looked Zevara in the eye, and her voice was level despite the fumes coming from Zevara\u2019s mouth. If Zevara had met a junior [Guardswoman] with that level of poise, she would have immediately promoted them on the spot.<\/p>\n Coming from Lyonette, the effect was almost intimidating. Zevara instinctively found herself sitting straighter and composing her thoughts, as if she were talking to another officer or someone she needed to impress, like Ilvriss. She caught herself doing it and stopped. With a growl, Zevara glared at Lyonette.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here about my criminal record.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara hadn\u2019t expected that either. She looked at Lyonette, frowning.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat record? You mean, your exile and thefts? Taken care of. Or didn\u2019t you notice that you\u2019re strolling about my<\/em> city without anyone arresting you?\u201d<\/p>\n Maybe she\u2019d heard Lism shouting on Market Street. That damn [Shopkeeper] was agitating hard, but Zevara couldn\u2019t really arrest him after she\u2019d let the people trying to drown him in the bath off. Lyonette nodded coolly.<\/p>\n \u201cI know that. And I also know that General Zel Shivertail interceded on my behalf. You can\u2019t have been happy about that, war hero or not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was not. But I made an exception for him, and you got your sentence cleared. Good for you. You had connections. What\u2019s your point?\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara glared, reminded of the moment when Zel Shivertail, the Tidebreaker himself, had strode into her office. No one had stopped him, either. Now that<\/em> was something you remembered all your life. And then Zevara felt the pang as she remembered his funeral. Lyonette shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cMy point is that I broke a law. I was exiled. A crime fitting for the punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2019d like an apology, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n If she did, Zevara would punch the girl. Or\u2026maybe not. That was an Ashfire Bee, wasn\u2019t it? Erin kept one of those<\/em> as a pet? Zevara eyed the thing. Was it napping? Lyonette leaned forwards, and the Drake looked back at her.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not asking for anything. In fact, I agree with the sentence. If anything, I think me being allowed into the city was the real problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Thrown and thrown again. Zevara\u2019s jaw opened a bit before she snapped it back shut. She stared at Lyonette. Why was the Human saying this?<\/p>\n \u201cReally. You don\u2019t mind the punishment, despite you nearly dying in the snow?\u201d<\/p>\n It had been a cold day when they thrust the girl out of the gates. And they\u2019d known it was close to a death sentence. But she\u2019d have been dead at the paws of the Gnolls if she\u2019d stayed, jail cell or not. Of that, Zevara was sure. And Lyonette\u2019s gaze didn\u2019t waver.<\/p>\n \u201cThere must be law. And that was Drake law, wasn\u2019t it? I survived. And I got a second chance, fairly or not, thanks to Zel Shivertail. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll get a third.\u201d<\/p>\n There must be law.<\/em> The words came at Zevara, full of\u2026authority. She actually believed that. Impressed, despite herself, Zevara leaned back in her chair.<\/p>\n \u201cReally? What makes you say that?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette blinked once, as if surprised.<\/p>\n \u201cThe letter of the law, of course. The punishment for offence in Drake cities differs from Human cities in Izril. And from Terandria. Jail time is customary, but offenders of lesser misdemeanors may pay off their debts and clear their names, if not their records, as though nothing had happened. The fines are<\/em> steep, but Drakes take a more mercantile approach to punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n She raised one finger as Zevara gaped. Now she sounded like some kind of [Lecturer]. Or\u2026[Historian]<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the other hand, greater offences are much less tolerated. Depending on the severity, the least of the punishments employed will be exile. Sometimes exile with a hand or tail removed depending on the city. Thereafter, a criminal is marked; if they commit an offence of similar severity in another city, they are put to death.\u201d<\/p>\n Practically the definition of Drake law, at least in general. Zevara had never heard anyone quote it at her, at least, no one who wasn\u2019t a Drake. She stared at Lyonette.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you know that how?\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman, no, [Barmaid] shrugged nonchalantly.<\/p>\n \u201cI studied Drake law at one time. I never thought it would be useful. I\u2019m well aware that the second time I break the law, I could be put to death.\u201d<\/p>\n Studied where? <\/em>But Zevara bit her tongue on the question because she didn\u2019t think she\u2019d get an answer. She studied Lyonette and realized the girl was moving towards a point. So, intrigued, she bit the bait.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is the law as described by most city-states. However, the implementation is hardly so strict. If you returned to stealing, I doubt I\u2019d request the death penalty for that. In another city, perhaps. But your exile was also due to the Gnolls\u2019 outrage at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand that too. I\u2019m not disputing it. But as I said, I was let back into the city without paying any fine. I\u2019d like to redress that error.\u201d<\/p>\n It took Zevara a second to work this out. Then her eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want to pay for the damages you caused?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette met her eyes. The Watch Captain drummed her claws on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just what would you like in return? No, wait\u2014I think I get it now. You want your things back, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n She could have just come out and said it. But from the way Lyonette smiled, slightly, with a polite twist to her lips that gave nothing away, Zevara felt like Lyonette had maneuvered her into making the connection. Quite adroitly too.<\/p>\n If she\u2019d just come out and said she wanted to buy her old things, what would Zevara have done? Thrown her out. But if you looked at it like repaying your debts to the city\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cYou took the artifacts I had in my possession at the time. That\u2019s standard procedure as part of recouping costs. But I\u2019m fairly certain none of them have worked for you, have they?\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara frowned. She could barely remember the minutiae of her job, but she was organized, so she yanked open a drawer and paged through the Watch\u2019s reports of miscellaneous objects in their possession. She found the piece of parchment, yanked it out, and studied it.<\/p>\n \u201cThose artifacts? Between all the incidents plaguing Liscor, they weren\u2019t exactly on the top of our list, but I recall\u2026ah, yes. They were almost all drained of mana, and the others seemed to be locked, due to keyword or some other nature of the enchantment. We were keeping them to have a Wistram [Mage] look at them when they checked the enchantments on our walls.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you still have them. I\u2019d like to pay my fine and reclaim my items.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara looked at Lyonette. As she recalled, the girl had owned artifacts that not only gave her the [Invisibility] spell, but had allowed her to throw webs and even [Fireballs] among other things. Those were powerful artifacts.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy should I entertain that idea? You barged into my office, you\u2019re a former [Thief], and those artifacts are quite valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you can use them. If not, they\u2019re useless. You\u2019d pay a [Mage] more money than it\u2019s worth to uncover their secrets, believe me. And as I said, there must be law. My exile being commuted aside, if I pay my fine, I should be entitled to the confiscated goods, shouldn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n Damn.<\/em> That did make sense. If you agreed with exiling Lyonette, it was fair to let her buy back her things. Zevara scowled. She\u2019d let Lyonette nod to her exile being fair, so she was supposed to nod to this.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you a [Diplomat] of some kind? A [Diplomat]\u2019s child?\u201d<\/p>\n That would explain a lot. A wealthy nobleman\u2019s daughter, far from home. Lyonette blushed slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but I\u2019m pleased you think so. About my possessions\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m thinking. Hold onto your tail.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara glared and thought, but only for a moment. She sighed and pulled up some scrap paper. Why was she doing this? Oh yes, to make a headache go away. That was why she did most things these days.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve made your point. Rudely, barging into my office without permission, I might add. No wonder Erin Solstice hired you. Now, your fines. According to the damage reports\u2014and this is bearing in mind that I\u2019m charging you three times the damage you\u2019ve done\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Drake custom. Two eyes and a tail for an eye, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara almost dropped the quill she was holding. She glanced up at Lyonette. Was<\/em> this the same [Thief] who\u2019d shouted childish insults at her a few months ago? She nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cCorrect. Bearing that in mind, and from what the affected [Shopkeepers] have claimed\u2026I\u2019m going to ignore Lism\u2019s claim here\u2026and the notable absence<\/em> of a substantive claim for Krshia\u2019s shop, despite what the Gnollish reaction was at the time\u2026forty-seven gold coins.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette sucked in her breath. Zevara eyed her.<\/p>\n \u201cToo much?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Well, it is a high number. I suppose I\u2019m just relieved it\u2019s not more.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cYou burned some stalls. But those were trade goods, not exactly enchanted artifacts. Even so, you racked up a steep fine. Congratulations. Between your spells from those artifacts and raiding the shops, you managed to beat the previous offender\u2019s record quite handily.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette paused.<\/p>\n \u201cWho was the previous offender?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe [Necromancer]. Pisces.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman sighed. Then she fished some coins out of her belt pouch. Zevara saw the sparkle of gold. Lyonette placed them on the table, eight coins.<\/p>\n \u201cHere you are. That\u2019s how much I can pay right now. I have a salary with Erin, but I can\u2019t afford to pay the entire fine now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot going to ask the [Innkeeper] to foot the bill?\u201d<\/p>\n That was sarcasm, but to Zevara\u2019s surprise, Lyonette shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cHer money needs to go to rebuilding the inn and\u2026other things.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara suppressed the urge to whistle. For a moment, her tail coiled in a knot of jealousy. Erin Solstice could afford to pay nearly fifty gold coins like that? She covered the instinctive emotion with a cough and looked at Lyonette.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll keep your artifacts impounded until the last coin is paid from your debt. But I will keep them. If you have a payment on your fine, place it at the desk and make them issue you a receipt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. You\u2019re very generous, Watch Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette smiled at Zevara. The Drake eyed her.<\/p>\n \u201cI am, aren\u2019t I? I don\u2019t know how you talked me into that.\u201d<\/p>\n Talking of law and reminding her of the death sentence. That was clever. Zevara felt a twinge of admiration and covered that too with a dark glare.<\/p>\n \u201cThe next time you barge into my office, I\u2019ll toss you out the window. Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPerfectly. Thank you. I won\u2019t waste your time anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette stood, nodded, and walked out of the room. Zevara saw the Ashfire Bee wave its antennae at her. She was gone so quickly Zevara was left staring at her back. The Drake blinked, stared at the eight gold coins, and swept them to the side. Drat. Now she\u2019d have to divide and return the coin among the victims. And file a report.<\/p>\n Still, the encounter hadn\u2019t left a sour taste in Zevara\u2019s mouth, aside from the smoke. Lyonette. Zevara had never recalled the girl having as much presence, or being so\u2026reasonable. Probably because Erin was the one Zevara was used to talking with. This had been almost pleasant. Now, why couldn\u2019t Erin be as easy to deal with? Zevara sighed, returned to her work, then got up and strode downstairs to yell at the Gnoll manning the desk. A good shouting always made her feel better.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Victory!<\/em> Lyonette wanted to punch the air as she left the watch barracks. The Gnoll at the front desk had seen her coming down the stairs and was getting to his feet, but he never got a chance to speak. Zevara had come down the stairs like a storm, and Lyonette had practically skipped out as she gave the Gnoll a tongue-lashing.<\/p>\n On her shoulder, Apista nestled next to Lyonette. Aside from the prickling of her legs, she was pleasant company. Her wings thrummed<\/em> quietly, and Lyonette felt the bee mirroring her satisfaction.<\/p>\n That was the way to do it. Not by yelling or throwing a tantrum like a child. Be an adult, but be confident, be brave. Copy the examples Lyonette had seen at court, from foreign dignitaries, [Kings] and [Queens], not just her parents.<\/p>\n Back straight, chin up, glide, don\u2019t walk. Act as if you have every right to be on the street and no one else does. No wait\u2014ignore that last bit. Everyone has a right to the street, but you own the street. Something like that. Yes.<\/p>\n The next stop Lyonette made was a quick one. She asked for directions twice, both times from people with pets. The first time a Drake with a cat on a leash, which neither was happy about, the second from a Gnoll who owned a dog. They directed her to a shop filled with noise. Lyonette opened the door and heard a minor commotion in the back.<\/p>\n There was a bell on the counter and cages around the room. Only half of them were in use; a number of cats were lazing in the sunlight in the store front, and there was a dog sniffing something on the ground. Birds in cages who went still the moment Apista came in. The Ashfire Bee fanned her wings, and Lyonette soothed her.<\/p>\n She rang the bell. The shop went insane for a few seconds, and then a Gnoll poked his head out of the back.<\/p>\n \u201cOne second, please! Thank you! Everyone else\u2014quiet!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The shop went silent as the dogs and birds and one lizard all went still. One of the cats looked up and meowed<\/em> defiantly, but the rest were quiet until the Gnoll came out. He had blood on his paws, and there was whimpering coming from the back. A dog? The Gnoll wiped his paws on his fur and looked at Lyonette. His eyes focused first on the bee on her shoulder and then on her face. His eyes widened with recognition.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. I was dealing with a dog who had toothache problems. I had to pull\u2014but I see there is no Mrsha. Is this a business call or social? Miss Lyonette?\u201d<\/p>\n He remembered her. Lyonette smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cBusiness, Mister Elirr. I wanted to ask for advice. Do you have the time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. I take it has to do with that bee? I recall it from the inn. Quite a fierce one too. I, ah, have a seat. I have a seat somewhere around here\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The older Gnoll looked about. Lyonette shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t impose long. Unless\u2014I am<\/em> imposing?\u201d<\/p>\n Her conversation with Zevara and Lism\u2019s shouting had reminded her of the injustice she\u2019d done the Gnolls. But Elirr waved that away with a brisk paw.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are known to the Gnolls of Liscor. But the debt was paid. Moreover, you are Mrsha\u2019s caretaker, and she<\/em> is owed a debt. Come in. I can give you\u2014shoo!\u201d<\/p>\n He scared a cat off a stool and offered it to Lyonette. Then he found a tea cup, some tea, and before she knew it, they were sitting and chatting at the counter. The Gnoll grinned at her.<\/p>\n \u201cPardon the animals, yes? They\u2019re part of the job, but sometimes it seems they\u2019re training me.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette smiled politely. Part of her was still humming from her encounter with Zevara. So she acted more like that Lyonette and less like the polite, helpful, personality-less [Barmaid].<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a [Beast Trainer], aren\u2019t you? [Beast Tamers] and [Beast Masters] raise only a few animals at most.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, you understand our class.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve known some of both. [Falconers], [Kennel Masters], and so on.\u201d<\/p>\n Elirr sniffed.<\/p>\n \u201cSpecialists. I deal in pets myself. More variety and challenge that way. But between you and me, I\u2019ve tamed Shield Spiders for a dare and handled Griffin babies, but cats<\/em> are the worst.\u201d<\/p>\n He raised his voice. A few of the cats lounging at the window looked up as if they understood. Elirr glared at them.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you! I don\u2019t care if you\u2019re all intelligent. You\u2019re pests! If you eat another bird by unlocking the cages, I will eat you<\/em>, understand?\u201d<\/p>\n One of the cats lifted its tail and displayed its rear end. Lyonette laughed with delight as Elirr hurled a pellet of dried dog food at it.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can understand <\/em>you? I had no idea!\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll shrugged, but he was smiling, and his tail wagged.<\/p>\n \u201cIt depends on the species. You know [Beast Tamers] and such classes improve an animal? Dogs can grow beyond their natural size, or run faster, become tougher\u2014it applies to all animals. All can learn some intelligence, if you have the right Skills. But some animals are naturally smarter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd cats are smarter than dogs?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you doubt it? Or perhaps cats are more suited to some things. I can train a dog to fetch wounded [Soldiers] from battle or even apply healing potions\u2014so long as the bottles are properly scented for them to pick out. But I can never tell how intelligent the cats get. I think<\/em> they can understand words, at least some of them. But maybe they just understand tone? They\u2019re clever enough to insult, at least.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette looked down at a pure white cat that was twining about her legs. It leapt up onto her lap, clearly demanding a scratch. Apista fanned her wings, and the cat hissed<\/em> at the bee.<\/p>\n \u201cEnough of that.\u201d<\/p>\n Elirr snagged the cat with one paw, deftly hoisting it up by the neck. The cat yowled<\/em>, protesting the indignity, but Elirr was soon scratching it behind the ears, and it was purring loudly. Lyonette let Apista crawl down her arm and stroked the bee very carefully with a fingertip. Elirr eyed the bee.<\/p>\n \u201cI have never seen a [Beast Tamer] with an insect before. I\u2019ve heard some can have such creatures, but they live such short lives that it hardly happens.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette felt a pang as she thought about how long Apista might live. She hoped Ashfire Bees lived longer than regular ones, however long that was.<\/p>\n \u201cReally? Like what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh\u2014a Lizardwoman who kept ants. A colony as snacks as much as entertainment. A Dullahan who raised beetles. Not roaches, you understand. Beetles with big shells and huge horns.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh! I\u2019ve seen pictures of them. Terandria doesn\u2019t have many.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Hrr. Apparently, some Dullahans like them as pets. But as I say, they aren\u2019t my expertise. Still, I assume you\u2019ve come because this one is acting up?\u201d<\/p>\n Elirr offered a finger to Apista. Lyonette was afraid the Ashfire Bee would show her stinger, but there was something about the Gnoll that appealed to the bee, because she walked up Elirr\u2019s arm, fanning her wings. The Gnoll smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, Ashfire Bees. I know something of them. Deadly and immune to smoke or fire which most would use to harvest honey. A terror for adventurers to fight\u2014as many monsters are. But their honey is sweetest yet. I wondered how Krshia came by any honey from their hive. It made a lovely snack, and the cats enjoyed it with their milk. I understand more, now.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI got Apista from that hive. I have a trick\u2014but I\u2019ve raised her and not done much with her until now. Today she found me in the city. She must have slipped out the door. I don\u2019t know how I should raise her. Any tips?\u201d<\/p>\n Elirr puzzled over that for a second.<\/p>\n \u201cHm. You mean, how you should level or how to make her obey?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette didn\u2019t want to mention she had consolidated her [Beast Tamer] class into [Worldly Princess]. She hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth. I mean, she obeys just fine most of the time. But what should I do<\/em> with her?\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cDo? Nothing. If she is a pet, she is a pet. Feed her. Love her. That is all. But if she is not, then you have a problem. I see it sometimes with those who buy animals I have bred to war and keep them as pets. Animals have a nature to which they are inclined. It may be Apista seeks to realize that nature\u2014or that she is simply uncontrollable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUncontrollable?\u201d<\/p>\n Elirr nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cSome animals are beyond [Beast Tamers] or even [Beast Masters] unless you are high enough level. Some\u2026beyond even the highest-leveled, I suspect. I do not know. A [Beast Tamer] over Level 40 is exceptionally rare. I can think of a Named Adventurer who is so high, but no higher. So functionally, yes, there are animals that cannot be tamed. I could barely tame a Griffin, and only to the most basic of social functions, for instance. And insects may be too foreign for some training. Like Crelers, for instance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone\u2019s tried to train a Creler?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette was appalled. Elirr nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cFools do anything, and there was a point. Imagine one of those in war? But it was futile, as I\u2019m sure you can imagine. The first of the [Beast Tamers] who tried it enjoyed some success. Hrr. But it was short lived. He was found two months later in his home, dead. The Creler had devoured half of him and laid eggs in the rest. More tea?\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette hesitated, then saw the twinkle in Elirr\u2019s eye. So she gave him a polite smile.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll guffawed and filled her cup.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, but you are different than I thought you\u2019d be! As befits one who raised Mrsha. Again and again I must change my thinking. But where was I? Crelers. Even the [Beast Master] who took the case found the Crelers were simply too instinctual, too\u2026predatory to handle. The most he could do was direct them like a weapon, and as they grew older, their destructive instincts only increased. They are all hunger with little else to guide them. And the adults? The Gnoll who tried it told me she sensed a dark intelligence from it. Too intelligent. She suspected it was gaining too much from her Skills and had it destroyed at once. Terrible things.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, a [Beast Master] can truly make an animal intelligent.\u201d<\/p>\n Elirr raised a finger.<\/p>\n \u201cTo a point. But only beasts, I think. A truly intelligent creature, say, a Unicorn, if one existed, might not qualify as a beast but a person. And some animals grow truly smart, but I have never met one I thought I could carry on a conversation with. They were only able to grasp a bit of nuance, learn to perform small tasks. If they had more potential, they would not be animals, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. So is Apista a pet or something I can\u2019t control?\u201d<\/p>\n Elirr studied the Ashfire Bee.<\/p>\n \u201cShe has not stung me, which is a positive. Have you any Skills with her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh\u2026[Crimson Stinger] and [Lesser Bond].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Then I would not worry. The [Beast Master] who took the Creler could not bond with it. A bond denotes trust between master and animal. If you have it, she will obey most things, even if she does not understand. What she becomes depends on you.\u201d<\/p>\n That reassured Lyonette. She smiled, thanked Elirr, and traded for his cat while he stroked Apista\u2019s back and checked her over. She left a few minutes later as Elirr bade her farewell. He declined to accept payment, but left her a bit of advice.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you wish to tame this bee, I might suggest giving it a purpose, even if that purpose is only to be loved. I raise the dogs to be either companions or war hounds. Either suits, depending on the nature of the dog, and they can be shaped by lessons and Skills. But they must have purpose, or to what reason do we tame them?\u201d<\/p>\n That was true. Lyonette looked at Apista. She felt guilty, remembering how she left the bee to its devices or to play with Mrsha so often. If she should carry Apista around or have her on a leash of some kind\u2014both ideas were fairly ridiculous\u2014or she needed to let the bee\u2026be a bee. And how did you do that? Lyonette didn\u2019t know, but she resolved to find out.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Before she left the city, Lyonette made one last stop, and this one was happy chance. She\u2019d been intending to wait for Pawn to come by, although she feared he was still in mourning, but she saw a gathering of Drakes and a few Gnolls at an intersection and stopped to see what was happening. Then she spotted a familiar burly Drake and an Antinium, distinct because he had only two arms and a slimmer frame, as well as twin silvery swords, at the center of the gathering.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me. Pardon me. I have business with that Antinium.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette tried to force her way towards Klbkch, but she was rebuffed. A [Princess]\u2019 haughtiness got her pretty far with Zevara, but there are some who generate their own natural egos that could resist even a [King]\u2019s presence. She ran up against one such individual now in the form of an older Drake with slightly faded orange scales.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all<\/em> have business with that Antinium, young Human. So wait your turn!\u201d<\/p>\n She shook a claw in Lyonette\u2019s face. The [Princess] backed up a step, and Apista fanned her wings. Lyonette soothed the bee and looked at the Drake.<\/p>\n \u201cMy apologies, Miss\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake harrumphed.<\/p>\n \u201cElissa Slipscal, Miss. Not Slipscale<\/em>\u2014that\u2019s a fault many Humans make! Now, if you don\u2019t mind? I\u2019m protesting to Senior Guardsman Klbkch about the rent.\u201d<\/p>\n She turned back to Klbkch, who was writing and listening to the other Drakes and Gnolls. Relc hesitated, then waved at Lyonette when he saw her. She waved back, then directed her attention to the discussion. Predictably, Elissa Slipscal\u2019s was the loudest voice.<\/p>\n \u201cThe rent\u2019s gone up another<\/em> four coppers this week! Four coppers! On top of last month\u2019s rise? It\u2019s nearly doubled what it was when I first moved here! Honest Drakes can\u2019t afford to keep the rent rising, but did that [Landlord] listen?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would assume the answer is no, Miss Slipscal.\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch\u2019s voice was polite and matter-of-fact. Relc rolled his eyes, but Elissa looked pleased at Klbkch\u2019s response. It gave her more time to talk.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you are correct! He wouldn\u2019t hear of a reasonable<\/em> argument! And we\u2019re not the only block with issues, you may believe it! Rent\u2019s going up across the city! What will the Watch do about it?\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch folded the bit of parchment and addressed the crowd. Lyonette watched, partially admiring Klbkch\u2019s poise. From one trained leader\u2014at least, leader in theory\u2014to another, she could see that Klbkch had a presence similar to Zevara\u2019s. It calmed the crowd and made them hang on his words, for all he was an Antinium.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe this issue is one of predictable cause. Liscor is a city of finite size due to the static walls. It may be possible for the buildings to expand upwards or down, but that would require action on the part of the property owners. Until then, given the influx of adventurers and other visitors, space is at a premium.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA premium that comes at our expense! How will you fix this, Senior Guardsman?\u201d<\/p>\n Elissa raised her voice. Klbkch nodded slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cI can only relay your concerns to Watch Captain Zevara, but I will forward the issue to [Strategist] Olesm as a matter of city-wide concern. The issue of housing may be taken up by the Council, but the Watch will address any exorbitant rent issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Amazingly, that seemed to satisfy the crowd. It wouldn\u2019t have flown in a Terandrian city no matter who said it, but things were different here. One of the Gnolls, dressed with a skullcap and minimal clothing besides, bared his teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cWill you arrest the [Landlord], Senior Guardsman? I would enjoy watching that, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was instructed that doing so was technically out of our jurisdiction last time we did it. But I will defer to Senior Guardsman Relc\u2019s judgment on the case.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc, who\u2019d been scratching his tail, looked up. The crowd glanced at him, at Klbkch, and murmured approval. So did Lyonette. Relc grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry. We\u2019ll talk sense to any greedy [Landlords]. Or I\u2019ll trip, right Klb old buddy, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n He elbowed Klbkch. The Antinium looked at his partner.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease stop elbowing me. I am aware of subtext.\u201d<\/p>\n The crowd began to disperse, but to Lyonette\u2019s chagrin, more Drakes and Gnolls wanted to talk to Klbkch. He was popular! This time, Lyonette moved through the queue. Without Elissa to stop her, she made it to Klbkch. The Antinium turned to Lyonette.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Miss Lyonette. How may I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Klbkch. I was hoping I could talk to you about the inn\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh! How\u2019s Erin doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc bared his teeth in a grin. Lyonette smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cGood. She\u2019s\u2026good. You saw her, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSaw? Oh yeah. I\u2019m glad she\u2019s still doing well. I would have visited, but Klb\u2019s been busy, and I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Killed Garen Redfang. <\/em>People were still talking about that. Lyonette looked up at Relc. He was apparently famous for his past as the Gecko of Liscor, a soldier who\u2019d fought in any number of battles in Liscor\u2019s army. But all she could think of was Relc drinking, swearing, and causing trouble. As a retired war hero probably would act.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure she\u2019d\u2026like to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe not.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc\u2019s face fell. Lyonette hurried to reassure him.<\/p>\n \u201cGive her time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I can\u2019t blame her. I\u2019ll keep it chill. Maybe pop by with Klb someday. Until then I can drink in the city\u2014until the kid catches me.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc winced. Klbkch ignored his partner as he turned to Lyonette.<\/p>\n \u201cRelc\u2019s familial problems aside\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014what was it you wished to discuss, Miss Lyonette? The restoration of the inn? I have bookmarked a time for Belgrade to lead some Workers in reconstructing the third floor and Bird\u2019s tower later this week.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have? I\u2019m very grateful, Klbkch, but I was actually hoping to