{"id":8106,"date":"2020-04-12T01:58:07","date_gmt":"2020-04-12T01:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/wandering-inn\/?p=8106"},"modified":"2025-12-24T01:00:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T01:00:57","slug":"7-17-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2020\/04\/12\/7-17-s\/","title":{"rendered":"7.17 S"},"content":{"rendered":"

(MouthyMaven (Andrea Parsneau) is recording The Wandering Inn’s Volume 2 audiobook on her server! You can check her out, but be warned–it’s live recording, mistakes, swearing, and all! You can find her server here, as well as times when she records!<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It turned out that summer was hot. Not just in temperature, but\u2026hot. The sun could scorch at times and while Izril wasn\u2019t\u2026Baleros<\/em>, or at least, what people imagined Baleros to be, an endless, humid jungle, it was true that parts of Baleros had that swampy, oppressive heat that went into your lungs and dehydrated you to death.<\/p>\n

But then\u2014Chandrar\u2019s weather could freeze and scorch you in Zeikhal, and yet there were wonderful coasts full of verdant greenery too. It was rude to generalize.<\/p>\n

All of that didn\u2019t really matter to the young woman lying in a puddle of her own sweat in a dry patch of land. She looked around, vaguely.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026\u2019shot. Whysithot?\u201d<\/p>\n

She mumbled as she looked around. Then her head flopped down. You could die like this. She might die like this. So\u2014Erin Solstice rolled over. Once, twice, doing full-rotations. She stopped next to a glass pitcher.<\/p>\n

Lovely glass, beaded with condensation from the cool liquid within. Erin Solstice stared at the lemonade and licked her lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cMm.\u201d<\/p>\n

It would be deliciously sour and sweet. Perfect for the dry mouth she had. Erin reached for it. And someone lifted the pitcher up and poured himself a drink.<\/p>\n

\u201cNoooooo. Monster.\u201d<\/p>\n

Numbtongue stared down at Erin as he paused with a glass raised to his lips. Erin paused and corrected herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Numbtongue. I thought it was some monster. Like Lyonette.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh. Right. Want some?\u201d<\/p>\n

He found another glass lying in the dry, arid ground and filled it. Erin reached up.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy savior!\u201d<\/p>\n

She drank, gratefully. Numbtongue casually sat down. He too was covered in sweat. And dirt. He stared at Erin. She waved the glass at him and he obligingly refilled it. This time with the water pitcher. There were actually three\u2014the third had apple juice. Because\u2026why not?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin mumbled as she found the hydration in her to sit up. She had been miserably<\/em> hot, she realized. Dehydrated. But now, the liquid was doing her a world of good.<\/p>\n

The Goblin shrugged. He stared at Erin, and then the dry landscape around them. An acacia tree, arid, tall grass yellowed and scarcely green\u2014he peered at Erin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you sitting here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Here, as in\u2014the driest part of her Garden of Sanctuary. The arid section, to be precise. Erin wiped her forehead.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was<\/em> cooler! And I was digging a hole. See?\u201d<\/p>\n

She pointed to the left. Numbtongue looked. Erin had abandoned her shovel to flop onto the ground. But she\u2019d been working hard; there were several holes in the ground. Erin nodded proudly as she pointed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee? I cleared the ground! Got rid of the weeds, made some space\u2026how\u2019s your end going?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMm. Chopped down a tree. Well, kicked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAwesome. Well\u2014wait, what?\u201d<\/p>\n

Numbtongue pointed. Erin saw\u2026a tree. In the jungle-section. Someone had ripped the roots out of the ground, and with Bird\u2019s help, literally pushed<\/em> it over. She stared at Numbtongue.<\/p>\n

He had also dug every hole he\u2019d been assigned. And weeded the entire area. The [Bard] was sweaty and dirty, but he wasn\u2019t dead. Erin stared at her cup of water and then at her friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a green thumb, Numbtongue. You know that?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Hobgoblin grinned. He got the reference and<\/em> joke. He waggled his thumbs at Erin.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan plant now? Bird is chopping tree up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure. Just give me a second to stand up?\u201d<\/p>\n

Numbtongue waited for seven seconds. Then he stood and pulled Erin up without effort. She sighed, standing. And she saw Bird was hard at work.<\/p>\n

\u201cLa, la. Chop, chop. I am helping chop wood. Which is good. This song has rhymes. I will think more up in time.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The Antinium [Bird Hunter] was holding an axe. He was chopping at the tree, removing limbs with eager, if inexperienced, effort. Erin saw a little white shape grabbing each branch he tossed to the side and pulling it away. A young woman with red hair was putting the branches to one side with the little Gnoll. They\u2019d be good firewood once they dried.<\/p>\n

Five people stood in the Garden of Sanctuary. Just five. An [Innkeeper], a Hobgoblin, a [Princess], a white Gnoll child, and an Antinium Worker. If you wanted to reduce them to the basics.<\/p>\n

They were planting things. Erin was no [Gardener] or\u2026[Horticulturist], but she reckoned that it was time. She nodded around as Bird looked up from his task.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Erin. Are you done melting?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am, Bird. And no thanks to you all! I could have died there! Of dehydration!\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin waved her arms, smiling. Lyonette sighed as she wiped sweat from her forehead.<\/p>\n

\u201cMrsha would have smelled you dying, Erin. And you didn\u2019t dehydrate. You fell asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026No I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou laid down and slept for twenty minutes. I saw you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin opened her mouth and looked around for confirmation. She saw Numbtongue nodding.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh. Really? Well\u2014I worked hard!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNumbtongue uprooted a tree.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWasn\u2019t hard. Weak tree.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Hobgoblin pounded his chest as Mrsha flexed her biceps and waved her paws to show she had helped! Erin smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2014that ground is harder! This is nice soil. Lush.<\/em> Fertile. I think. Let\u2019s plant stuff. Where\u2019s the seeds?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere. And here. Are we really doing this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lyonette had a handful of round\u2026seed cores. She handled them very gingerly; they\u2019d break if you squeezed hard. They\u2019d been mostly denuded of the blue flesh, the sweet fruit they resided in. Erin nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cYup. Let\u2019s put four of them here\u2026four over in the arid spot, and four\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn every biome. I get it, Erin. Numbtongue?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lyonette tossed him the cores. The Hobgoblin caught them and walked off. Lyonette looked at Erin.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you really think they\u2019ll grow in the dry spots?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea where they grow. What do I look like, a gardener?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely not. But they do grow in\u2026Liscor. So why not put them in the temperate section?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they get submerged by water once a year for like, a month. So I don\u2019t know where they\u2019d grow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd your answer is to put them in every section?\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin Solstice smiled triumphantly. It was her logic, which was why Lyonette and Mrsha were giving her skeptical looks.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an experiment. <\/em>We\u2019ve got ground to spare! Anyways, we\u2019re planting more cocoa seeds. And<\/em> all the vegetables.\u201d<\/p>\n

She pointed to the side. In another section filled with friendly grass, the kind you could wiggle your toes in, some space had been cleared near the vine-covered walls. Lyonette nodded; they\u2019d planted hundreds of little seeds with some fertilizer earlier this morning. Carrots, cucumbers, potatoes, even some wheat and other plants.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope it grows well. It would certainly cut down on costs. Especially if someone makes them grow, isn\u2019t that right, Mrsha?\u201d<\/p>\n

The little Gnoll nodded her head proudly. The [Druid] produced her wand and waved it about. She\u2019d make the garden grow!<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd all<\/em> the plants? Not just the ones you like? That means not just garlic and squashes and wheat, Mrsha. Cucumbers too. And potatoes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The little Gnoll stuck out her tongue.<\/p>\n

Bleh. Potatoes? Cucumbers? <\/em>They were both Terandrian foods Lyonette loved to feed her. The [Princess] picked Mrsha up and cuddled her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we get good crops, I might make you a treat, Mrsha. Fresh food!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd blue fruits! And chocolate! All free!<\/em> Mountains of chocolate! And faerie flowers growing on the hill! And\u2014and apple trees! Although those might take a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin threw up her hands excitedly. This was it! Free food! She saw Bird throw a seed core into a hole, kick the pile of dirt over it, and smack the ground a few times with a shovel.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am done planting, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Bird!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMay I go back to the tower now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Bird.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Lyonette and Erin chorused. Bird waved at them. Lyonette sighed as she flicked hair out of her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m sweaty and dirty and I think we all need a bath. But<\/em> we also have work. Ishkr\u2019s about to get off-duty, Erin. I\u2019ll take over for him\u2014will you take Mrsha to the public baths?\u201d<\/p>\n

The private little bathing room Lyonette wanted made wasn\u2019t done yet. There would be a hot tub in it\u2014a big one, as well as other, convenient cleaning places. And thanks to Erin\u2019s Garden, water wouldn\u2019t be a huge issue\u2014although Lyonette wanted to divert the local stream to run by the inn so they\u2019d avoid draining the pond.<\/p>\n

Divert a stream. She had the Antinium working on it. And the inn was coming together. The 2nd floor was done, there were new tenants in the inn\u2014the [Mages], the Players of Celum, and more. Erin nodded as Mrsha edged backwards.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can take a bath. It\u2019ll be fun, right, Mrsha?\u201d<\/p>\n

The little Gnoll wrinkled her nose. She<\/em> didn\u2019t see the point. Nor did she want to sit in a public bath while Erin\u2014who could be slow\u2014<\/em>splished about and got clean for half an hour. Or longer!<\/em> She shook her head and pointed towards the pond. Erin frowned.<\/p>\n

\u201cMrsha, no. We can get clean with soap! It\u2019s fun, right? Mrsha? Come back here. Mrsha\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The white Gnoll raced off. Erin ran after her, shouting. But she didn\u2019t realize that her attempt to stop Mrsha from taking her own bath was actually\u2026a trap.<\/em><\/p>\n

Numbtongue, walking back from his finished planting, saw Mrsha waving her paws at him and signaling frantically. He paused, grinned, and obligingly stuck out a foot as Erin ran past him. She tripped and saw the pond.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMm. I have nothing. Damn. Three Archmages again, Palt? What\u2019re the odds?\u201d<\/p>\n

Montressa threw down her hand of cards and glared. She was sitting at a table. Gambling. She saw the Centaur smirk and reach for the pot.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood ones, Montressa. Especially if you know when to fold. Which you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI nearly had a straight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beza grumbled. Palt rolled his eyes. He reached for his cigar and lit it with a snap of his fingers. Montressa and Beza saw him take a puff, and sigh. Then the Centaur looked around. But Erin wasn\u2019t here.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s still planting in the garden. You\u2019re clear, Palt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Mons.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Illusionist] smiled and puffed away. Erin Solstice still had a ban on him smoking in her inn. It was the one sour note in an otherwise quite pleasant experience. The three [Mages] were guests of The Wandering Inn.<\/p>\n

And right now, they were gambling. With cards.<\/p>\n

New cards. Montressa peered at the little deck Palt was shuffling. Cards. They were hardly unknown to her. Although this particular deck and configuration were.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like this game. Palt\u2019s winning far too often. If you\u2019re cheating, Palt, I\u2019ll pull out your tail hairs one by one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beza gave Palt a suspicious look, as was somewhat appropriate for a [Mage] specializing in illusion spells. Palt smirked at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot at all, Beza. Stay away from my tail. I just understand the rules of the game better than you. I told you, it\u2019s about odds.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd luck. Do you have any luck-Skills?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish. Another hand?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure. But we\u2019re going down in the ante.\u201d<\/p>\n

Montressa grumbled as she slid four copper coins over the table. Palt gave her a flat look.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome now, Montressa\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not losing silver to you while I\u2019m playing the game. Anyways, this game\u2019s decent. Not sure it\u2019s that<\/em> great. And Wistram already knows about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Centaur puffed on his cigar.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue, but Miss Solstice is introducing it. \u2018Poker\u2019. I\u2019m a decent fan; I played with some of the\u2026guests, though. Thoughts?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI object to these cards. They\u2019re all Drakes. Even the Archmages.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beza held up one playing card. Montressa and Palt nodded. They were playing cards, from this world. Card games existed\u2014if not the specific ones Erin knew. There were four Archmages that Palt was shuffling into his deck\u2014the equivalent of Aces, Erin had decided.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, she ordered some cards from Liscor. Drakes being Drakes, of course they\u2019d make all the cards Drakes. Archmage Zelkyr, Archmage Salindeca\u2026not speciesist at all. Oh, look. A Gnoll [Soldier]. I don\u2019t see any of them on the face-cards.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Minotaur held up another card with a lowly Gnoll [Soldier] and a symbol marking it as \u20183\u2019. Montressa looked for some chips.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you making a point, Beza?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m making chatter because I\u2019m tired of losing to Palt. And I\u2019m bored. We\u2019re banned from the garden\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be fair, so am I.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShut it, Palt. We\u2019re banned, so why don\u2019t we do<\/em> something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething other than wasting money playing cards!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Beza put down her fist on the table and the cards and drinks jumped. Palt sighed.<\/p>\n

It was a quiet day. A few days since the\u2026incident with Klbkch. And the dozy morning had brought cards to the inn\u2014and gardening. But not in any big way. He puffed on his cigar and gestured around the inn.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeza, Beza. You have to be patient. Just wait until Erin gets back. Then, we can let her know how we feel about the cards. Proving once again we\u2019re not weasels from Wistram\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you<\/em> can get in her good graces. I don\u2019t think telling her how her playing cards idea is going will earn us many points, Palt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Montressa sighed. But it was that sort of morning. She reached for more chips and wondered if she was eating too much. It reminded her of Wistram, actually. Good food, drinks, time on your hands\u2026<\/p>\n

And a bee. In the quiet morning, a large bee detached herself from the ceiling. She flew downwards, like a stealthy\u2026giant\u2026bee. Bright yellow and black. Buzzing. A colossus compared to most insects.<\/p>\n

Apista alighted on the Centaur\u2019s cigar. Palt went cross-eyed and stopped smoking. Montressa and Beza froze. After a second, Montressa whispered at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cPalt, you have a bee.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Centaur didn\u2019t move. Probably because he was aware of this fact. Apista\u2019s wings beat hard. She lifted, and the cigar dropped out of Palt\u2019s mouth as he leaned back.<\/p>\n

The bee flew away, carrying her prize. The Wistram [Mages] stared. And Apista buzzed through an open door and into her little nest that Lyonette and Mrsha had made for her in the Garden of Sanctuary.<\/p>\n

With the cigar, which she lit as her wings beat sparks and the air burst into fire around her. And the cigar smoked and Apista was happy.<\/p>\n

After all, what was a bee if she could not fly as high as could be? A bee was high as she could be. And she was free.<\/em><\/p>\n

But not her comrades in the dark. So the bee went higher in her head. For the hive fought valiantly. But one day, if not rescued, they\u2019d be dead.<\/em><\/p>\n

Those were the bee\u2019s thoughts. But who could hear them? No one. At least\u2014no one listening. Not even the [Mages]. They just stared after Apista. Palt slowly fumbled out another cigar from his belt pouch.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Do you think Erin\u2019s trained the bee to smell you, Palt? Can they smell?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe hasn\u2019t. That bee just wants my cigar. It\u2014she\u2014has good taste.\u201d<\/p>\n

Palt glowered after the bee, from one smoker to another. Apista didn\u2019t hear or care. She was high in the sky of her head\u2014rather than in reality, which could be cold and dark and dead<\/em>. She could do nothing to save the others.<\/p>\n

And the one person who could have heard her was busy. A sopping wet Gnoll hung from under one arm as Erin Solstice, dripping<\/em>, stomped through the open door to the Garden of Sanctuary.<\/p>\n

Heads rose. People watched Erin as she put Mrsha down. Ishkr glanced up from his job waiting on a table. He looked at another Gnoll, a new hire. The rookie stared at Erin.<\/p>\n

\u201cErr\u2014Ishkr?\u201d<\/p>\n

The other Gnoll, the veteran of The Wandering Inn, didn\u2019t even look over as he went back to taking an order. The guest didn\u2019t bat an eyelid as he requested a smoked fish. Nor did the other guests, after a quick look to make sure Erin didn\u2019t explode or start spitting blood. Ishkr nodded to the new Gnoll [Waiter].<\/p>\n

\u201cGet a towel, Rkhi. Better make it two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cErin. Trouble with water? Need a drying spell? How\u2019s the planting going? Care for a round of cards?\u201d<\/p>\n

Palt tried to smile and hide his lit cigar as Erin turned her head towards him. The [Innkeeper] narrowed her eyes. She stomped over as Mrsha, quite proud of herself, walked over to the fire to get dry.<\/p>\n

And that was the day. Erin sat down, taking a towel from Rkhi, grumbling about evil Gnolls and jerk-Goblins. Eying Palt\u2019s cigar pointedly as he winced, and getting dealt into the hand of cards as Montressa and Beza leaned over, relieved to have someone to beat. After all\u2014they weren\u2019t bad<\/em> at cards.<\/p>\n

Palt was just too good. Lyonette came through, ready to relieve Ishkr, as the second shift began to replace the first one and the lunch crowd arrived in trickles from different locations. Mrsha sat by the fire, wondering why Apista had suddenly gone cloudy after being sad\u2014she did that a lot. Bird sat in his tower and the Workers building the 3rd Floor got free bird samples, gratis.<\/em><\/p>\n

Numbtongue was wondering if he could steal Apista\u2019s cigar while he practiced fishing in the pond. He rather liked fishing. He might go mining later.<\/p>\n

It was that kind of day. Nothing much was happening in The Wandering Inn, by the inn\u2019s standards. The most that might happen was a conversation about thieving bees, which was just\u2026boring.<\/p>\n

In Liscor, Relc returned to work after two days off due to injuries. Senior Guardsman Klbkch was on indefinite leave. The Free Antinium had guests.<\/p>\n

Small events and large. Boring and consequential in Liscor.<\/p>\n

As morning rose in Pallass, Grand Strategist Chaldion fell.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the way of things, Grand Strategist Chaldion fell down the steps. He was walking with General Edellein Blackwing of 4th Army when he tripped. One moment, he was arguing over the distribution of funds and recruits. The next, falling.<\/p>\n

It was just the accidental slip of his walking cane. And he, overbalanced, was unable to catch himself. And the other Drakes around him realized what was happening too late. They had amazing reflexes, boosted by training and Skills. But surprise was surprise.<\/p>\n

They were a bit too slow to catch him. And he tumbled down eight steps on the Northern Grand Staircase before General Edellein and his [Strike Commander] leapt after him and stopped him from falling further.<\/p>\n

That was all. Eight steps. But it was a poor tumble. And Pallass\u2019 citizenry who saw the incident stopped and stared. When they didn\u2019t see the Grand Strategist immediately rising, they had a thought. And when General Edellein called for a [Healer] and a stretcher\u2014the Walled City worried.<\/p>\n

All the Walled Cities worried. Over a single moment. An accident that had nothing to do with Wyverns, the machinations of Humans or other foreign powers like the King of Destruction. Of course, they demanded answers as word spread\u2014too quickly, as it now did by way of [Messages].<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oteslia. Inquiring about the state of Grand Strategist Chaldion.<\/em><\/p>\n

Manus. Is this information confidential? Requesting lockdown of unnecessary gossip.<\/em><\/p>\n

Fissival. And how did you find out about it, Manus?<\/em><\/p>\n

Zeres. Seconds Oteslia\u2019s request.<\/em><\/p>\n

Salazsar. Seconds both requests.<\/em><\/p>\n

Manus. Pallass, confirmation?<\/em><\/p>\n

Pallass. Standby.<\/em><\/p>\n

Zeres. Ancestors, not again. Pallass, CONFIRMATION?<\/em><\/p>\n

Pallass. \u2018Go to Rhir\u2019s hell and stop spreading gossip.\u2019 From Grand Strategist Chaldion, verbatim. Exiting shared [Message] spell.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t dead. But neither was he alright. And\u2014despite his words, there was worry. About thirty minutes later, Grand Strategist Chaldion lay in a bed in the best [Healer]\u2019s personal treatment clinic. And the [Healer] was fending off queries from a hundred different people, including several [Senators] and General Edellein and more.<\/p>\n

She was, somewhat ironically, a Gnoll. And they were mostly Drakes, Pallass\u2019 leadership. The Gnoll woman, a City-Gnoll born and raised in Pallass, was trying not to growl her replies. But she did snap with a bit of a hiss<\/em> in her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is fine.<\/em> Fine as can be expected for someone of his age falling down the stairs! It would have been worse if he hadn\u2019t been caught. But he needs rest, which means no visitors.<\/em> None!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we applied healing potions on the spot! Are you sure he\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

General Edellein Blackwing, a relation to the late Thrissiam Blackwing and Osthia Blackwing, two family members who\u2019d been lost recently, was not having a good day. First the Wyvern attack that his army had failed to fight because they\u2019d laid the ineffective ambush, next, this. Right next to him. He was thus very concerned, for his reputation as well as Pallass\u2019 military leadership. He peered past the [Healer] into the room.<\/p>\n

Chaldion lay in a bed lined with stones enchanted with healing properties. The very fabric of the bed itself was a composite fabric-gel that he was not <\/em>happy about lying in. One of his legs was raised and in a sling. For all that, the Drake looked healthily annoyed. He was conscious. But his old scales, grey and flaked off in places, were mottled with bruises. His left leg had a fractured bone.<\/p>\n

The female Gnoll [Healer] propped her paws on her hips and sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cGeneral Blackwing, you did everything you could.<\/em> However, Grand Strategist Chaldion is too old for potions to work perfectly. I told the Grand Strategist as much last time. He should have a personal [Healer] or [Bodyguard] with the appropriate specialization on him at all times. A [Minder], at the very least. He\u2019ll be sitting on that broken leg for at least two days, even with my best crystals and recovery Skills. And he\u2019ll have to take more care.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo days? But I was in and out of here in sixteen hours when I broke my claw\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou<\/em> are half the Grand Strategist\u2019s age. Bodies develop resistances to healing potions, General. You know this.\u201d<\/p>\n

He flushed at the tone in the [Healer]\u2019s voice. But it was basic knowledge any [Warrior] knew. He cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2014obviously, yes. Then, in that case\u2014what about another [Healer]? No disrespect, Healer Demerra, but perhaps the Healer of Tenbault might\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Gnoll woman laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you could get her to make a visit to Pallass, that would be the miracle, General. And even if she were able to restore the Grand Strategist\u2019s health, the fact remains that any fall could have done this. He needs<\/em> an aide. And he has to have one. No arguments. Someone has to order him to have one.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drakes standing around in conference looked uncomfortable. They exchanged glances. One of the [Senators] coughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHealer Demerra, one does not order\u2026Grand Strategist Chaldion.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was the Grand Strategist <\/em>of Pallass. Older and more experienced than any Drake\u2026here. Perhaps anywhere. None of them, any of them, had been serving in their positions when he had first been appointed head [Strategist] of Pallass. Some of them hadn\u2019t even been born, back then.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone must. He has<\/em> fallen before. If this had happened in his quarters or somewhere out of the public eye\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Demerra let her voice trail off. The others looked at each other. Senator Errif winced. The Gnoll adjusted his skullcap.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s bad enough in<\/em> the public eye. We can\u2019t have another lapse in confidence. As for, erm, ordering Grand Strategist Chaldion, we could put it to a vote in the Assembly\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll just ignore it.\u201d<\/p>\n

[Strike Commander] Bes, known as \u2018Lighthouse Bes\u2019 for reasons that were entirely uninteresting, predicted glumly. The others paused, and nodded. What were they going to do? Relieve Chaldion of his post? He was the best [Strategist] they had, the best and highest-leveled of all the Walled Cities. And oldest.<\/p>\n

And yet. General Edellein searched for ideas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2014what about a Ring of Stonescales? We have<\/em> Barkscales-level enchantments in our army. Any number of artifacts. Surely that might\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Healer] glowered. People loved<\/em> to tell her how to do her job.<\/p>\n

\u201cStone skin<\/em>, fur, or what have you isn\u2019t much good if your bones are glass, General! Grand Strategist Chaldion could use a high-grade artifact, like a Ring of Health. But that is relic-class. If the Walled City could source one, I would be happier. Even so\u2014he\u2019d quickly be dependent on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo we have anything like that in our treasuries\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

Senator Errif looked around. Healer Demerra snapped.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do not. <\/em>Ladies and gentledrakes, I remind you that this is age<\/em>. And there is little anyone can do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

She paused. And reconsidered her words because they were patently\u2014wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026There are options. Many of which I have explored, and so has the Grand Strategist. Even so, few options are cheap,<\/em> let alone convenient, even for Pallass. I would like to remind you all of one thing: Grand Strategist Chaldion is one hundred and six years old.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone stopped. General Edellein opened his mouth and closed it a few times. But then he nodded.<\/p>\n

In the face of that, no one had anything to say. Demerra sniffed and ushered them into the waiting room, sealing her clinic against intruders. A squad<\/em> of 4th Army\u2019s elites were blocking the doorway as well; no one would assassinate the Grand Strategist.<\/p>\n

The others talked outside the clinic. Edellein paused.<\/p>\n

\u201cI forget how old he is. He\u2019s as spry as someone three decades younger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lighthouse Bes chuckled, and prismatic light lit up the inside of her throat for a second. But then she realized no one else was laughing. She adjusted her armor, blushing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we all take Grand Strategist Chaldion\u2019s youth for granted. At least\u2026his health. But he is aging.\u201d<\/p>\n

The others nodded. It was moments like this, moments like when you heard Zel Shivertail was dead, that you feared for the worst. If Grand Strategist Chaldion were to pass away suddenly, or Dragonspeaker Luciva, or\u2026Captain Femar\u2014the Sharkcaptain of Zeres\u2014any one of the Drake heroes, their bulwark against the Antinium suddenly grew weaker.<\/p>\n

But what could be done? Replace him? Maybe in three decades. But today? The high command of Pallass shuddered and argued and made very little in the way of concrete plans. And that was what they did the last time Chaldion had fallen, or snapped his wrist, or taken ill with a common cold.<\/p>\n

And while they worried\u2014someone else heard the news.<\/p>\n

He listened. Nodded. It was news he\u2019d heard before. So\u2014without worrying, or rushing about, or getting into an insults-match via [Message] spell, he went into his home, pulled out a few of his possessions, and made an arrangement or two.<\/p>\n

A while later, Octavia Cotton went back to The Wandering Inn to find a little Gnoll passed out by the fireplace. Mrsha was snoring and giggling after warming herself back up. Erin was playing cards. Her opponents\u2014were not happy about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did you do that?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Palt threw his hand down in disgust. Erin smirked as she pulled the hefty pot over.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told you not to gamble. Wait, do I get to keep all of this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGambling makes it fun. But how\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI count cards. I mean\u2014I learned to. It\u2019s like chess, except not. But I had these friends who loved to\u2026well, they stopped playing. Which is good, because gambling\u2019s bad. Like smoking!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s counting\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The Stitch-girl saw Erin poking the stacks of coins. The [Innkeeper] looked up vaguely.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know there were actual [Gamblers] in this world. But it\u2019s just a strategy. I don\u2019t play much, but\u2026oh, hey Octavia. I thought you were going to study with Saliss?\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Alchemist] frowned. Something about what Erin had just said\u2026but then she smiled ruefully and shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaliss had to cancel. What\u2019s that? Cards? Can I play?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, really? Why? And you know how to play cards, Octavia?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Stitch-girl gave Erin a curious look.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverywhere has card games, Erin. Even Nerrhavia and Chandrar. What game is this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPoker.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPoke\u2026? Well, I\u2019ll learn. I didn\u2019t catch why Saliss was busy. Where\u2019s Numbtongue?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFishing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Montressa was on her third bowl of chips. She couldn\u2019t stop herself. And she was sure<\/em> she shouldn\u2019t be eating this much ketchup and mayonnaise. But she kept crunching. Chips, fries\u2026it went well with drinks. Too well.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have fish?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe tossed some in the pond. Not the huge, jumpy, bitey ones. Those are jerks. Okay, you play like this, Octavia\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin began to explain. Octavia listened as Beza grumbled and demanded to be dealt in; she was on a losing streak and was convinced her luck would turn! The [Alchemist] wasn\u2019t upset about the cancelled lesson. She still woke up and pinched herself that she was being taught at all<\/em> by a living legend.<\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t think much of it; after all, Saliss was an important Named Adventurer and [Alchemist]. He had any number of things that could keep him busy.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Healer Demerra\u2019s clinic wasn\u2019t exactly besieged by crowds. But there were people keeping tabs on the place. [Informants], the kind of fences for information like Fierre, busybodies, well-wishers, keeping track for any number of reasons. They were not allowed in.<\/p>\n

4th Company\u2019s Elites were a mix of Drakes and Dullahans. A pair of Gnolls\u2014no Garuda. The kind of elites who took after Relc, rather than, say, Bevussa\u2019s old squadron, or Keldrass\u2019. That meant they were quick<\/em>, rather than burly. True, Relc was both, but the Gecko of Liscor was famed for speed over brawn, ironically.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one\u2019s allowed entrance. Don\u2019t block the street!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake [Major] was snapping at people asking questions. And he was not in a mood to share details, even if he\u2019d been privy to them. He put his hand on the hilt of the mace he carried when words weren\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n

Not that many people tried. That was\u2014until a rather familiar voice and figure caused a disturbance in the crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing through! Hey! Whoops. Where are you going? The street\u2019s big enough for all of us. Hey! Hey. Do I know you?\u201d<\/p>\n

A Drake with dusky yellow scales, rather slimmer than the [Soldiers] in their armor, was navigating through the crowd\u2014although no one really stood in his way. In fact, they got out<\/em> of his way rather quickly.<\/p>\n

Because he was naked. The squad recognized him on sight of course; anyone living in Pallass for any amount of time would.<\/p>\n

Saliss of Lights, Saliss Oliwing, Named Adventurer, famous [Alchemist] and even more infamous nudist, walked out of the crowds, holding up a claw for people to high-five. No one did. He didn\u2019t look put out by this. He strolled towards 4th Army\u2019s squad and the doors.<\/p>\n

\u201cHalt. No one\u2019s allowed in. General Edellein\u2019s orders.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Major] called out weakly. The two elites, a Dullahan and Drake, crossed the blades they carried\u2014long glaive-type weapons\u2014in front of the doors. Saliss paused.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Oh, hey. Do I know you?<\/em> Don\u2019t mind me. I\u2019m just going to both\u2014I mean, say hi. I\u2019ll just slip in and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He tried to limbo under the spears. The Drake [Major] stared at Saliss. Like a true Pallassian, he almost forgot Saliss was naked, even though it was\u2026obvious.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdventurer Saliss, no one is allowed in. Not even a [Senator].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? No one? Come on, make an exception. I know you, you know me, I know Edellein. You\u2019re, uh, Qune, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir. And I can\u2019t open the doors\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss was edging around the spears. The [Soldiers] were looking at the [Major] for guidance. By all rights, they should have already picked Saliss up, slammed him onto the street, and proceeded to kick him hard enough to justify his visit to another [Healer].<\/p>\n

For someone else they might have. But Saliss just leaned on the two spears the [Soldiers] were keeping crossed. He gave the Drake [Major] a cheerful grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll just be a little bit. Promise! I won\u2019t get old Chaldion too riled up. Anyways, I brought lunch. Chocolates. And this nice pie I got from this inn in Liscor. Have you heard\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdventurer Saliss, I can\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me just slip<\/em> under the spears\u2026hey. Nice armor. The door\u2026oh, it\u2019s locked? Well, I\u2019ll just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The elite [Soldiers] of 4th Army stood to stiff attention as the naked Drake did something to the lock. There was a click<\/em>, and he slipped inside. They did not stop him. They did<\/em> shout ten kinds of obscenities at the young Garuda who tried to copy Saliss and raised their weapons.<\/p>\n

But not towards Saliss. They let him in, embarrassing as it was for their pride. Because it was that or Saliss would walk in, through<\/em> 4th Army\u2019s best and brightest if he wanted to. And both groups knew it. And the affable, liked, tolerated, Named Adventurer, Saliss of Pallass, who was always cheerful and annoyingly friendly, would<\/em> walk through those doors today. And anyone who got in his way. He\u2019d done so before.<\/p>\n

Word got around.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chaldion was staring at the ceiling when he heard the familiar voice arguing with the [Healer]. The old [Strategist] sighed and glowered, but he knew even Demerra wouldn\u2019t keep Saliss out for long.<\/p>\n

Nor did she. Because soon, a figure poked his head through the doorway.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeeeey <\/em>Chaldion. You\u2019re looking terrible!\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss waved cheerfully. The old Drake glanced up and gestured with one claw. The magical projection of Noass and Sir Relz vanished; he\u2019d been watching a scrying broadcast. At least he had entertainment. Scrying, books, correspondence\u2026no chess, though.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaliss. I\u2019m not in the mood for you. Go. Away.\u201d<\/p>\n

The old Drake turned his head. Saliss spread his arms. He edged around the bed. Gyrated, rather.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw. Come on, Chaldion. Here I am, to cheer you up! Look! I even brought you lunch. Since I bet no one thought of that! Tada! Pie! And chocolate.<\/em> Want some? I\u2019ll feed you. Say \u2018ah\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will have you thrown off the walls first before I let you feed me. Get out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake watched Saliss busy himself around the bed. Saliss had a floating tray in front of Chaldion with the pie and a fork propped in the center.<\/p>\n

Demerra\u2019s clinic had a lot of expensive treatment options. Like healing crystals placed around the bed which naturally boosted a body\u2019s recovery. Floating trays, options that relieved stress on an injured patient\u2026it was a far cry from a simple cot and some poultices.<\/p>\n

But as she said\u2014she couldn\u2019t cure old age. And a [Healer] was a\u2026[Healer]. At some point, Demerra did rely on magical objects or tinctures to aid natural healing potions\u2014which could do a lot.<\/p>\n

Saliss was an [Alchemist]. And Chaldion, eying the cake and half-melted chocolates that Saliss put on the tray, glowered at Saliss. His one good eye flashed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI. Fell. It was perfectly natural. I do not want or require your sympathy, Saliss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, don\u2019t say that. What would the Walled Cities do without \u2018Chaldion the Great and Powerful?<\/em>\u2019 The Grand Strategist of Pallass! Oh, heavens! I swoon just imagining it!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Named Adventurer pretended to do so by the bedside. Chaldion looked around for his stick. He swiped irritably at Saliss with his claws and winced.<\/p>\n

\u201cI. Am. Fine.<\/em> I do not need a minder or\u2014or a bodyguard!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, come on, Chaldion. It\u2019s only a matter of time before someone hires a killer to off you. Or the Antinium get you. Frankly, if they asked me<\/em>, and I was an [Assassin], I\u2019d do it at a discount. They don\u2019t even need a knife, just a staircase. It would be the perfect assassination.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss spread his claws past Chaldion\u2019s head. The old Drake just stared at him. Then he flipped up his eye patch with commendable speed for someone his age.<\/p>\n

The naked Drake ducked.<\/em> There was a flash\u2014the blast and flash of light wasn\u2019t too strong since Chaldion didn\u2019t have his good eye in, the ones that could do nasty<\/em> things, but it still blasted around the enclosed room.<\/p>\n

Demerra came running.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo casting spells! Saliss! If you can\u2019t avoid provoking Chaldion, you\u2019re leaving!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t do anything! He\u2019s<\/em> touchy! And old! And he smells like\u2026ew.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss protested as Chaldion swore and looked for his bag of holding, which carried more deadly weapons. It was missing, not on the nightstand. Demerra pointed at Saliss.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop provoking him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, fine. Don\u2019t ruin your pie, old man. Or the chocolates! Mm. These are great. Have you had any? Say \u2018ah\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chaldion stared at Saliss. It was the kind of stare that couldn\u2019t kill, but only for lack of trying. The fact that he\u2019d actually had his missing eye replaced with magical gemstones that could kill with a look proved Chaldion\u2019s commitment to the art of the death-glare.<\/p>\n

But it didn\u2019t work on Saliss, who was giving him a smarmy smile. The Named Adventurer leaned on the gel-bed Chaldion was resting on.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re good<\/em>, I\u2019ll bring you entertainment. Like Erin. Or Olesm. Or we can get Grimalkin in here to teach you how to lift!<\/em> Yeah! <\/em>So you\u2019ll have strong bones that don\u2019t break whenever you sneeze!\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss posed, flexing his slim physique. And Chaldion, turning redder behind his grey, flaking scales\u2014paused. And abruptly, the anger went out of him. He didn\u2019t give up per se\u2026he just put it away.<\/p>\n

The old [Strategist] eyed the pie and mangled chocolates. Saliss had helped himself to some of the melted chocolates. And it wasn\u2019t as though Saliss had brought an oversized pie; it was actually closer to tart-size, given Chaldion\u2019s stomach capacity. He looked at the pie, chocolates, and then Saliss. And he spoke, in a quiet voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I assume you put the age potion in the pie, rather than the chocolates? I\u2019ve had my fill of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss stopped, mid-flex. The younger Drake looked at Chaldion. And his smile slipped. For a second, the two Drakes met gazes. And the anger and annoyance of Chaldion, Saliss\u2019 insincere taunts. They vanished. Saliss took a breath, and heaved a sigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t fit<\/em> in chocolates. I don\u2019t even want to think how I\u2019d manage that. At what process in making it? And if I poured it on top\u2026? Nah. It\u2019s in the pie. Eat the entire thing. I think it\u2019s a mincemeat pie. Erin made it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He held up a claw.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd before you think it\u2019s something else, it\u2019s just a meat pie. She told me she was trying to figure it out. I thought it was self-explanatory, but apparently it\u2019s different. Anyways, it\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmf. At least you got me something I can stomach. What kind of meat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Pork?\u201d<\/p>\n

The old [Strategist] nodded. He picked up the fork and began to eat. In silence, Saliss watched Chaldion take bite after bite. It was a decent pie. And the added potion did little to take away from it. Well\u2014it did a bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt still tastes foul. I don\u2019t suppose that youth potion is in here too?\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Alchemist] laughed. He produced a little vial. And Chaldion saw a vibrant, viridian glow. He put his fork down for a moment and saw\u2026magic.<\/p>\n

A potion, held in Saliss\u2019 claw. And it shone like what it was. Pure magic. A Potion of Youth. Something that could make even the oldest of people young. For a moment, a week.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmf. So you did make one. I got the report, but I know how often you fail. The world\u2019s already abuzz with people ready to pay far too much for it. How was making it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss shrugged, tiredly. He spoke conversationally as he found a little stool and sat. Chaldion kept eating.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know how it is. Actually\u2026no, nah.\u201d<\/p>\n

He waved it away, but it was too late. Chaldion\u2019s good eye snapped towards him.<\/p>\n

\u201cErin Solstice. Something in her inn helped you improve the process. Her fire. Or was it the flowers mentioned? Something else?\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss laughed innocently, waving it off.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Why would you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He fell silent. Then he looked at Chaldion.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo rot yourself, Chaldion. Why do you have to bother her?\u201d<\/p>\n

The unexpected aggression would have caught anyone off-guard. But Chaldion just grinned. Victoriously.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the same reason you\u2019re<\/em> interested in her, you brat. So. Something helped with your process?\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss swore under his breath. But eventually, he nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt helped in the refining process. No ingredients<\/em>, which would be massive. But I\u2019ve got\u2026another 6% chance of making the potion rather than it exploding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUseful. Very useful. And you won\u2019t tell me what her level is? You know I will find out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave her alone. She\u2019s not your<\/em> anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s not a bystander either. You may stay out of it. This is my decision as a [Strategist]. You<\/em> are a busybody that Pallass deigns to call on and suffer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two Drakes glowered at each other. Saliss turned his head and saw his tail was moving snappishly over the floor. He took a few breaths.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Well, I\u2019m going to sell my Youth Potion on the market. You can pay me for it, Chaldion. I\u2019ll give it to you for the same price the last one went for. How about it? You can dance around for a week like when you were young. The duration\u2019s a week now, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations.<\/em> I\u2019m sure any number of petty idiots would like to sire a new generation of fools. I wish you the best of luck selling it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, not me.<\/em> I have an apprentice now. And I have someone to sell it for me. Sales skills, you know? You going to eat the chocolates?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the pie. Don\u2019t touch\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss swiped a chocolate. Chaldion hissed<\/em> at him. He settled back as Saliss smirked and moved his head back out of smacking range. Then\u2014Chaldion was quiet again. He looked at Saliss, seriously.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me. Honestly. How much does the Potion of Youth earn you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Trying to outbid the competition already? I told<\/em> you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how much do you spend on the Potion of Reverse Aging in this pie each time?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chaldion pointed at the pie on the tray. Saliss froze, mid-cavort. He looked at Chaldion. And shrugged, as innocently as could be. A perfect shrug. Like an Erin-shrug. And his voice was as good as Erin\u2019s. Better.<\/p>\n

\u201cEh. You know how it is. You make money, you don\u2019t make money.\u201d<\/p>\n

The old Drake looked at Saliss steadily. He looked at the pie, and gestured with his loaded fork.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026If I didn\u2019t eat the pie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d probably feed it to you with a funnel. Anyways, I can\u2019t just spike your drink. It\u2019s best eaten with food.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss\u2019 voice was perfectly serious for a second. Chaldion nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not turning it down. Put the funnel away or I\u2019ll shove it somewhere we\u2019ll both regret.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that an offer or a threat?\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Alchemist] chuckled as he put away the metal funnel. But the two of them\u2026Chaldion chewed, swallowed.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026How much?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t count numbers, old man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLiar. I\u2019ve never met an [Alchemist] who didn\u2019t. It\u2019s that much, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss turned his back abruptly. He rested his elbows on the bed as he leaned against it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m getting better. It\u2019s up to two years now. If I get to four, or higher? That\u2019s a real savings. I\u2019m<\/em> still leveling up. And I don\u2019t depend on levels. Who knows, maybe I will find something amazing at that inn?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Grand Strategist regarded his grey scales on one arm. As he chewed, he thought he saw them brighten a bit, turn colorful. Some of the places where dead scales had flaked off\u2026were they starting to regrow? Was it just his imagination?<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd until then? No\u2014even if you master it. How many Potions of Reverse Aging will you give me? How much of the profits of your adventuring work, your Potions of Temporary Youth\u2014everything else\u2014goes into this pie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEh. I\u2019d charge Pallass for it, but the Walled City can\u2019t pay all my bills. Enjoy your pie, old lizard. I<\/em> liked it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other Drake\u2019s head never moved. Chaldion poked the back of it with his fork.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe serious for once in your life. When will you stop, Saliss?\u201d<\/p>\n

Silence. Just pure silence. And then, Saliss replied, without turning his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you dance naked with me in the middle of Pallass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chaldion snorted, despite himself. He looked at the pie, finished but for a quarter and put the fork down for a second. He chewed on a bit of chocolate.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmph. Then, I suppose I\u2019d better prepare to live forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laughter from Saliss. Chaldion enjoyed the sweetness for a moment. He felt better already.<\/p>\n

Two years.<\/em> It hadn\u2019t always been two years. He still remembered when it was one. And the cost\u2026<\/p>\n

People often said it was amazing that Chaldion had lived as long as he had. A hundred and six years. But he looked like he was in his seventies, at the latest. And\u2014in a way\u2014he was. How many potions was that? More than just twenty. How much gold\u2026? Even the old [Strategist] feared that number\u2019s truth.<\/p>\n

Chaldion just looked at Saliss. Eventually, he went back to eating. He cleaned the pie tin, carefully, wasting not a crumb. He put down the fork, saw Saliss turn, about to make some smart comment and leave. And the old Drake couldn\u2019t bear it. He spoke to Saliss\u2019 naked back.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t keep me in this world forever, Saliss. I\u2019m too old for it. And I am no hero. Just a [Strategist]. Someday, even your age potions will stop working, just like the healing potions.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Alchemist] paused. He sat back down and kept facing the opposite wall. The two Drakes weren\u2019t alone. There was a little fly, buzzing around. Saliss must have let it in when he\u2019d walked in\u2014Demerra allowed no pests in her clinic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m doing pretty well, aren\u2019t I, Chaldion? You\u2019re younger than when I started.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy three years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s three years on time<\/em> itself!<\/em> What do you want? Fine, I\u2019ll brag when I get you to fifty<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fly buzzed as Saliss raised his voice. It was just a fly. Although\u2014if it ate some of Saliss\u2019 healing potion in the pie, would it turn into a larvae? Chaldion wondered. What would someone else, like, say, the Blighted King, or even the King of Destruction, pay for a service Chaldion got for free? Even against his wishes?<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was it you told me once, Saliss? Four<\/em> [Alchemists] in the world can make Potions of Temporary Youth? How many can reverse age?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t brag about it. That\u2019s how you get captured forever. Temporary Youth\u2019s one thing. Reverse Aging? That<\/em> makes people go crazy. No sane [Alchemist] advertises that, and we\u2019re all a bit sane if we make it this far. Hazard of the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss pointed that out. Chaldion nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you might be the only one who\u2019s able to create them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRediscovered. No one makes anything new in our line of work. But yes, I am better than Xif. He thinks we\u2019re equals. I laugh about that, when I\u2019m in a bad mood. Praise me more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss raised his claw and made a beckoning motion. Chaldion snorted.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t bring me any wine, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, and ruin your good mood? I\u2019ve got some shots of that filth Rufelt makes. Your \u2018Chaldion\u2019s Eye\u2019, minus the sweet. Not that you mind. But I think Demerra will<\/em> kill me if I give you any.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Put it in my bag of holding and pass it to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss did. Chaldion sighed as he took a covert swallow. [Healers]. Tyrants every one. After a moment, he spoke again.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a waste on me. How much gold? What kind of [Alchemist] would you be if you weren\u2019t<\/em> making these potions and giving all your profits to me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone needs a hobby, Chald. Can I call you that? Besides, it\u2019s kept me busy. And you\u2019re<\/em> the \u2018Grand Strategist\u2019 now. It\u2019s a public service.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chaldion looked at Saliss. The Drake still hadn\u2019t turned to face him. It was easier for the both of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the Grand Strategist because I\u2019m old. I\u2019m no Niers Astoragon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, you\u2019re taller. So what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cListen to me.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The old Drake swiped at Saliss\u2019 head in genuine anger. Saliss ducked without even looking and the claw missed him. In a way\u2014that reassured Chaldion most of all. He calmed down again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not the Titan of Baleros. I\u2019m only<\/em> a Grand Strategist, and that\u2019s after I had twice the time most [Strategists] have. I\u2019m not a hero like Zel Shivertail.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, you\u2019re not dead yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

This time Chaldion tossed the pie tin. The fly and Saliss both dodged. The Grand Strategist went on.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need<\/em> a hero. The Antinium will attack a third time. And an eighth<\/em>. They won\u2019t stop. They overpowered the Blighted Kingdom and the only reason it survived was because they wanted to leave Rhir. Listen to me, Saliss. I am not that hero. Zel Shivertail was<\/em>. And he was killed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy a Goblin Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat practiced necromancy. A single Goblin Lord spellcaster, who beat the Tidebreaker in single combat, out of sight from everyone. That\u2019s not strange<\/em> to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss was silent. So was Chaldion. He paused, looking around the room. But the two Drakes spoke no further on a hunch that Chaldion might have had. The Grand Strategist took another breath. He did feel better, truly. Not only had he received another two years of life\u2014or rather, de-aged by two years, the effects of the potion would last with him for as long as a month.<\/p>\n

What a waste.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSaliss. I can\u2019t rally the cities against the Antinium. Or the Humans. I couldn\u2019t even convince the Assembly to reinforce Liscor. And I pushed<\/em> for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re just not bossy enough. But yeah. You failed. Feel ashamed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chaldion inhaled and exhaled.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think they\u2019ll listen to me more after today? All of Pallass saw me carried here. I don\u2019t blame them for pulling back. We need a hero. Someone younger. Someone who can inspire<\/em>. Bring together our squabbling, idiotic species.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t forget the Gnolls. They hate that. Also, this is sort of their continent too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not forgetting anything you insolent little lizard!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Strategist] turned purple in the face. He gulped for air and tried to go on. Convince Saliss. He had to try again.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could be one. You are<\/em> one. A hero. Pallass\u2019 greatest child. You could bring us together. You and your potions\u2014you could do it. No one else in the city has the will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chaldion waited for a response. After a moment, Saliss shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026There\u2019s Grimalkin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe could barely stall the Greater Wyvern. You<\/em> could have beaten it.\u201d<\/p>\n

No answer. They both knew it was true.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho could replace you? One of the Gold-rank adventurers? General Edellein?\u201d<\/p>\n

Both of them laughed at that. Edellein was no Thrissiam. And Thrissiam Blackwing was dead too.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrissiam might have. But he\u2019s dead. We have too many dead hopes, Saliss. But you could do it. Become Pallass\u2019 hero, even now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chaldion\u2019s voice was pleading. But\u2014he saw Saliss\u2019 head turn. The [Alchemist] looked back at Chaldion once. Then he gestured towards the wall. Towards the fly, picking over the tin.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone\u2019s<\/em> a hero, Chaldion. That fly on the wall? That\u2019s a hero if it dies in battle. Drakes, Gnolls\u2014we have too many heroes in our culture. It\u2019s not for me. I don\u2019t want to be one.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Grand Strategist exhaled, tiredly. Furiously, exhausted. No good. It was the same argument and both of them knew it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you weren\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chaldion\u2019s head rose, wrathful. But he contained it. He stared at Saliss, and his eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo stubborn.<\/em> I\u2019ve met Turnscales. If Shivertail was one\u2014the Walled Cities abandoned him, ignored him, because of his politics. That was our fault. But you? I know enough about Turnscales. That\u2019s not a choice. You don\u2019t have to\u2026act like what you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

This time it was Saliss\u2019 turn for his head to snap around. He stared at Chaldion, wide-eyed. With the same fury of a thousand conversations. He opened his mouth, stopped himself, and then spoke. Slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right; I could pretend. I\u2019m good at it. I could be the great hero you all want me to be. Put on pants and armor, strut around talking about how amazing<\/em> Pallass is and how superior Drakes are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want that.\u201d<\/p>\n

A fly buzzed past Saliss\u2019 face. He clapped his claws together without missing a beat. Then he wiped the guts on Chaldion\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cEw.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two Drakes didn\u2019t break eye-contact, although Chaldion resolved to get that cleaned. Saliss went on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could. And maybe it would be for the good of all Drakes. I <\/em>doubt it. But guess what? I want to choose<\/em>, Chaldion. And I choose this.\u201d<\/p>\n

He jabbed a thumb-claw at his chest. Chaldion stared at him. Then he put his head back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did I do wrong? What made you turn out like this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss eyed the old Drake. He spoke slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou gave me everything I needed. Look at me. I\u2019m a Named Adventurer. The best [Alchemist] in all of Izril. Isn\u2019t that enough? I found who I was. Your mistake? It wasn\u2019t turning me into a [Slave] to Pallass, a blind idiot like the ones you complain about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chaldion stared straight up.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you say. But all I see is a disgrace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t even look at me, old man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Painful words. The two of them tore chunks out of each other with words alone. Saliss turned and walked towards the door. He\u2014both Drakes shared a thought. They should have known it would turn out like this.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Antinium are coming. We need a hero to lead us. Can you be that hero?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chaldion stopped Saliss at the door. The Named Adventurer turned, claw on the doorknob.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I\u2019m just me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen who will lead us back?\u201d<\/p>\n

The quavering question struck Saliss harder than any of the old arguments. He looked at Chaldion, turned away.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnjoy your medicine, Chaldion. And stop falling down stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then he walked out the door and shut it softly behind him. Not slammed; that wasn\u2019t really Saliss. The Drake teased Healer Demerra as he left and she gave him that look. Envy, annoyance\u2014because she knew what he could do. Or guessed. But she was wise enough to keep that to herself.<\/p>\n

Gnolls often were. Saliss left the clinic, bothering the [Soldiers] on guard duty, and gyrated up the steps. People stared. They pointed. But they didn\u2019t see through<\/em> him. Chaldion, for all he had one good eye, had more vision than all of them.<\/p>\n

And\u2026Erin Solstice, for that matter. Saliss only dropped the mask when he was in his alchemy lab on the 9th floor. He had a home. But in some ways, he was safest here. Certainly, most of his protections and such were built into this place.<\/p>\n

The Drake leaned against the wall as he entered his laboratory. He covered his eyes with one arm and sagged. For a single second. And then ten. Then a minute.<\/p>\n

Stay alive, Chaldion. Stay alive.<\/em><\/p>\n

That was all he really wanted to say. A fall? Damn it. Ancestors take it. After the Wyverns? After who knew how many wars and conflicts and decades? Saliss had the urge to explode staircases everywhere in the world.<\/p>\n

But he just rested there. Hurt, furious. And\u2026unable to be with himself, alone, like this. For any number of reasons.<\/p>\n

Chaldion wanted a hero? Saliss fished in his belt pouch. And he pulled out two items. He stared at one of them dully. The Potion of Youth, which would earn him hundreds of thousands of gold coins? Tens of thousands at least. It depended on the market. A coveted item.<\/p>\n

\u201cTemporary Youth. The real thing? That<\/em> was alchemy, Octavia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss murmured to himself. But he put the Potion of Youth away for a moment. And the other potion\u2026Saliss looked at it. Then he turned. He put his clawed hand back on the door, and then he uncorked a vial. He paused, for just one moment. And wished there was a potion to change Chaldion\u2019s mind, rather than his body.<\/p>\n

But [Alchemists] weren\u2019t miracle workers. So Saliss lifted the vial to his lips.<\/p>\n

He drank a potion and changed.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Liscor, a Drake sat at an outdoor caf\u00e9 which was pioneering a new treat. Sweet cream tea. Or, as the Drake owner was advertising it\u2026Cream Tea.<\/p>\n

The branding could use some work. But the point was that someone had made it and, in the way of fads, every tea-lover had to try it out, critique it, and tell all their friends they\u2019d tried it.<\/p>\n

The idea for the tea was actually based on ice cream; people had been innovating, but they\u2019d failed to crack Erin\u2019s mysterious recipe.<\/p>\n

(Ice cream is now permanently on sale at The Wandering Inn! 2 silver a bowl! Ludicrously expensive, but who else<\/em> is selling it? Huh? Huh?<\/em> Also\u2014free ice cubes. And depressing fire!)<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, they\u2019d made progress. And this new tea brand was\u2026decent. Too sweet by half, but it had something to it. The caf\u00e9 was close to crowded, but each table had a decent remove and most patrons were being cycled in and out. You had to wait<\/em> for a table and your turn.<\/p>\n

Unless you were one of the two Drakes sitting there. One of them had light green scales, wearing a very stylish cut of clothing made of high-quality cotton. The other, bright yellow scales and was dressed for work.<\/p>\n

Selys had not waited for a table. One had been procured for her when the owner saw her coming. And Drassi, as her friend, was also free to enjoy her tea as long as she wanted.<\/p>\n

\u201cMm. Nice snacks. What\u2019s this? Cream and scones?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToo much dairy. I\u2019m gonna throw up. Hand me your hat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys recoiled as Drassi reached for her hat. The Drake swatted at her friend\u2019s claws.<\/p>\n

\u201cBack off. I like this hat. What about the tea?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good. But expensive<\/em>. Do you know how much they\u2019re charging for all of this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys paused.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nor had she asked. She\u2019d assumed\u2014rightly\u2014that she could cover it, whatever it was. Selys Shivertail adjusted her hat and noticed the envious stares. The [Heiress] paused, and again, felt that sense of surreality at her position, the amount of gold she knew she had. But only for a moment. She was getting used to it.<\/p>\n

Money. It bought so many things. And\u2014it was wrong how much it could <\/em>buy. A position at the head of the line, for instance. Respect<\/em>, or at least, privilege.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t wait in line to get in here. I would have been right at the back of the line\u2014I couldn\u2019t even have gotten a tea before work started. Oh. Hey! Is that you, Fransk?\u201d<\/p>\n

Drassi pointed down the line of waiting guests and waved to a Gnoll. Selys winced.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop waving, Drassi.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? What are they gonna do, kick you<\/em> out?\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Gossip] and one of Selys\u2019 best friends looked at her blankly. It was true as well. Selys shifted uncomfortably. Her name was one of the up-and-comers around Liscor. Selys Shivertail, owner of the Heartflame Breastplate.<\/p>\n

Part of it might have been due to her Skill. [Shadow of His Name]. Or it might have been the money again. Because Selys was rich.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo\u2014how much is the tea? Three silver a cup? Ew.<\/em> And I thought Lyonette<\/em> was greedy. And the scones and cream\u2026let\u2019s see. That would be how many hours of work for both of us if I was paying?\u201d<\/p>\n

Drassi curiously and unashamedly began adding up numbers. Selys blushed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDrassi\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m curious. Do the math with me. And how much money does Keldrass pay you per day to rent the armor?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Drassi.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you say? Like, three gold coins per day? And that\u2019s because you\u2019re giving him a discount<\/em> in case he finds treasure. Just asking.\u201d<\/p>\n

The former [Receptionist] took a deep sip of the tea. It really was too sweet. A bit invigorating\u2014the [Teamaker] had a Skill after all\u2014but it was just a fad. The recipe would have to be improved.<\/p>\n

Former [Receptionist]. It was true that Selys still had her class. But\u2026she didn\u2019t really work as much in the Adventurer\u2019s Guild anymore. She was there for parts of the day, and she came by to help train the newbies. But even her grandmother had let her stop working as much. It was a hobby now; Selys didn\u2019t need the coin.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe can afford it, Drassi. Adventurers make that kind of money every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drassi rolled her eyes. That wasn\u2019t the point and both Drakes knew it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that. <\/em>I heard Keldrass complaining that his team only pulled in, like, five gold coins on a bad day. Five<\/em> gold coins. That\u2019s like\u2026Erin pays well, but I can\u2019t toss five gold coins out. I\u2019d sit down and cry if I lost five gold.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou heard him wrong, Drassi. He\u2019s mad if his team earns fifteen gold a day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Oh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys felt the need to clarify.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s from the dungeon. With the monster parts bounties, he can make a lot of money. And that\u2019s an average\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight. So he can afford to pay you a measly three gold coins <\/em>each day.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Gossip] and [Bartender] gave Selys a bright smile. The Drake shifted. She was still friends with Drassi, who was a childhood confidant and who hadn\u2019t been affected by Selys\u2019 newfound wealth in that she hadn\u2019t asked for favors. But this conversation was\u2026awkward.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdventurers make tens\u2014hundreds of thousands of gold coins. And they spend it on potions, armor, artifacts. And because I can rent the Heartflame Armor\u2014I don\u2019t have to work. Because my uncle\u2014because Zel died. But he wanted me to have this. Should I feel\u2026guilty?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely. It\u2019s totally unfair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys stared at Drassi, poised to take another sip of tea.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her friend laughed and waved one claw.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m being serious. It\u2019s disgusting. But hey\u2014at least you\u2019re benefiting, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m building houses. An entire apartment complex.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood for you. How much is rent?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Drassi, are you in a bad mood today?\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Gossip] winked at Selys cheerfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not. I\u2019m just throwing numbers around. Does it bother you?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys put her cup down. She was done having tea. Her friend chewed on a scone and sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink I can get a bag so I can share this with Mrsha? I\u2019ve got work in twenty minutes. Or\u2014can you lend me your bag of holding?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? And absolutely not. Drassi\u2014that\u2019s disgusting. Can\u2019t you stay? I wanted to talk more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWork! <\/em>Hey, can I get a bag for this?\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Bartender] was talking with a [Waitress] as she shoved her scone and the whipped cream into one mess. The worst part was that Selys was sure<\/em> Mrsha would eat it and enjoy it.<\/p>\n

\u201cErin could let you off, Drassi.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Gossip] paused. She looked back at Selys as the other Drake fumbled for an appropriate tip and the money for the food. She saw a gold coin flash as Selys put it down on the table.<\/p>\n

The two Drakes looked at each other. Drassi glanced around at the caf\u00e9. Tea parlor, whatever. It was for well-to-do Drakes and Gnolls, and they<\/em> were waiting in line. The [Waitress] was already thanking Selys profusely for a silver tip. Drassi smiled with teeth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure she could. But you wouldn\u2019t ask her to do that, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

The two Drakes looked at each other. And Selys felt\u2026she glanced at the tip. That wasn\u2019t something most Drakes did. It was more of a Human tradition, but Selys had adopted it because it made a difference. She could afford to tip.<\/p>\n

Silently, Selys got up, and the two walked through the streets towards The Wandering Inn. They joined a crowd around the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhew. Looks like a bigger crowd. I guess word got around about Erin\u2019s new card games. It\u2019s great when she comes out with something interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drassi commented as they got into line. A few people looked over. Some of them seemed to take offense to the comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not here just<\/em> for entertainment, Miss Drassi. The Human\u2019s not the only fun in Liscor.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Gnoll sniffed at Drassi, doing a pretty good Pisces impression. Selys suddenly missed him. The other people waiting for the magical door to be switched to Liscor agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not. There\u2019s dancing, card games, dice games, magic games, drinks, socialization, music, um\u2014[Bards] with jokes or news\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSex.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drassi helpfully nodded as she balanced her snack-bag from the caf\u00e9 in one claw. The guests coughed or shuffled their feet awkwardly. Someone went on.<\/p>\n

\u201cTraining, ball throwing, sekach\u2014<\/em>swimming in the spring, and<\/em> visiting the [Traders], cooking\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Sekach<\/em>, a Drake game of conquest and hoarding\u2026stealing the opponent\u2019s treasure, played with colorful pieces of wood. The subject of many fights between players.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm\u2026plays? Baseball?\u201d<\/p>\n

Two new crazes sweeping Liscor. But the plays were confined to The Wandering Inn mostly; there were some knockoffs, but The Players of Celum were the best, without question. And baseball? Teams were playing for fun, but there was some talk about another competition. People wanted Erin to organize it.<\/p>\n

The guests in line frowned. And who had brought that game to the city?<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, that\u2019s her new stuff. But there are pets!\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone agreed. Pets. Pets were good. See? Liscor had more entertainment than just the crazy Human with the inn! Absolutely! They could entertain themselves elsewhere.<\/p>\n

At that moment, the door opened. Drassi pushed past everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me! I\u2019ve gotta get to work. Mrsha!<\/em> I have a treat! Let me know if you\u2019re not coming through. Hi, Ishkr. Want some cream scones? Anyone who\u2019s coming through\u2014we have card games! Poker! That\u2019s what it\u2019s called, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled back through the doorway. Selys and the other Liscorians looked at each other. There was tons<\/em> of stuff\u2026elsewhere\u2026they could do for fun. Tons of it. However, well\u2026<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cErin!<\/em> What\u2019s new?\u201d<\/p>\n

The young woman in the inn looked up to a small avalanche of guests coming through from Liscor. She saw Selys, Drassi\u2014Mrsha had already raced towards the Drake [Bartender] as she set up.<\/p>\n

\u201cSelys! Hi! I\u2019ve got cards!\u201d<\/p>\n

She waved her hand in the air. Selys, walking over, saw Erin was alone at her table. There were a number of guests and familiar faces around the inn. At other tables.<\/p>\n

\u201cCards? Oh, the poker thing Drassi mentioned. How do you play? I\u2019m free for the day. Hello, Mrsha!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Gnoll waved at Selys absently. Drassi had scones<\/em> with cream! Selys turned to Erin. The young woman was explaining.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s this fun game. You can play with a group. Want to learn?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure. Will anyone play with us?\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys looked around. She caught the eye of a Centaur, moodily smoking near an open window.<\/p>\n

\u201cPalt. Do you want to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The Centaur glanced up. Normally, Palt was affable as could be. Right now? He gave the deck of cards a dark look. Selys blinked. She looked at Erin, whom she was fairly certain Palt liked. Erin wore a guilty expression.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone else? Montressa? Beza?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will not play with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Minotauress folded her arms. Selys looked around.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Bird?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo! I am not playing! You cannot have my birds!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The Worker shouted. He was possessively clutching his boiled eggs to him as he had lunch. Selys looked at Erin and raised one brow.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you do, Erin?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing! I was just playing\u2014and I kept winning\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Erin has an unusual gift for playing cards. Which in turn takes away from our enjoyment of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Palt explained as he blew a smoke ring out the window. Erin blushed as Selys looked at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cApparently it\u2019s known as \u2018counting outs\u2019. And Erin can do it in her head.\u201d<\/p>\n

Montressa was counting the coins she had left. Erin had returned some of the money, but she\u2019d swept the table too many times for anyone else to be happy. She\u2019d even won two birds off of Bird.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou never told me you\u2019re a [Gambler], Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys was surprised. Erin shook her head instantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Psh. I don\u2019t gamble. <\/em>I thought you all liked to play!\u201d<\/p>\n

She pointed accusatorially at the Wistram [Mages]. All three looked quite put out.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe like to play fair games, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Montressa shot back. Erin turned red.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? <\/em>All three of you were cheating! You used magic to see my hand!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s how you play in Wistram! And it didn\u2019t help<\/em> because you figured it out each time we tried! You\u2014you\u2019re using calculations to win! That\u2019s not fair!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just math!<\/em> Odds! Probability! It\u2019s easy! And you have to not show people what you\u2019re really thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo says the board game expert.\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys rolled her eyes. Of course Erin was good at games like this. She could be surprisingly competitive, and when she learned a game, she learned<\/em> it. Especially how to win. And her poker face? Erin\u2019s<\/em> poker face? It was probably unbeatable.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, do you want to play, Selys? Or\u2014I know! Why don\u2019t you check out my garden? I was planting stuff with the others all day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys glanced at the cards and table. And at the Garden of Sanctuary. And she realized she didn\u2019t really want to do either. Perhaps it was that, or Drassi\u2019s nettling comment that made Selys look back the way she\u2019d come.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, Erin? I was sort of wondering. Is the door to Pallass open? I\u2026might want to visit again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin Solstice blinked. She looked at Selys. And then she smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. And the grass has it fully charged up so it\u2019s easy\u2026easier. Lyonette wants to charge people. But if we go now, she doesn\u2019t have to know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can pay\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Heiress] saw Drassi roll her eyes. Erin laughed as she led Selys down the passage to the door. She waited as a group of Humans came through.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou coming for the inn?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh? No, Miss. We\u2019re here to work, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n

A small group of women and men hurriedly bowed to Erin, some removing their caps. Erin smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? Where are you from? Wait\u2014Esthelm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got day-jobs in Liscor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2014then let me put you through. One sec, Selys\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake watched as the Human disappeared. Liscor was changing a lot. Selys looked at Erin, in her [Innkeeper]\u2019s work clothing, a bit dirty from gardening and newly dried from her pond bath.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Do you want to come with me, Erin? I\u2019m actually hoping I can meet some people in Pallass, and I have some\u2014acquaintances Keldrass recommended me to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin Solstice paused at the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, I probably should stick in the inn, Selys. I could<\/em> go through, but the last time I went\u2026aaah! Wyvern attack! <\/em>You know? I might hold off.\u201d<\/p>\n

The young woman mimed and Selys nodded. When you put it like that\u2014she was somewhat glad as Erin adjusted the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne to go through! Hey Zekia, is that you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHalt! You can\u2019t just open\u2014<\/em>Miss Solstice!\u201d<\/p>\n

The voice instantly became resigned as Erin poked her head through the doorway and waved. Selys glanced at Erin.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know the guards?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure do. I sometimes leave pizzas in the door at night. They stopped shouting as much at me. And threatening to shoot me. Hey Zekia, this is Selys. Can\u2019t she go through? I told you, the door\u2019s all charged up now. See? I can jump through, jump back\u2014waitasecond. I\u2019m gonna stop doing that now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin caught herself, turned to Selys and smiled. The Drake [Lieutenant] on the other side sounded resigned.<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Solstice, we cannot<\/em> just waive the list. We have a system!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but the door has magic<\/em> now. Come on. It\u2019s Selys. She\u2019s been here before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t constitute a reason to let her through. Miss Solstice, we cannot<\/em> allow you to break the rules\u2014wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pair of eyes behind the sliding panel flicked to Selys. The Drake eyed the steel door\u2014crenellations from which the guards could shoot through\u2014and the other eyes watching her. She saw the Drake [Lieutenant]\u2019s eyes widen.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you mean Selys Shivertail,<\/em> as in\u2026the niece of General Shivertail? The owner of\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin blinked. The Drake, Zekia, looked at Selys. And the [Heiress] saw her step back, confer with one of her squad mates. Then Zekia spoke again.<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Shivertail?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm\u2014if this isn\u2019t legal, I can go back\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys pointed weakly over her shoulder. She<\/em> was no Erin. But\u2014Zekia paused.<\/p>\n

\u201cAllow me ten\u2014five minutes, Miss Shivertail. I will communicate with the Watch Captain on duty. Pardon me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin stared at Selys. And the Drake waited nervously in the box of a room where the door was now stored. Until Zekia came back, opened the door, and motioned Selys through.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight this way, Miss Shivertail.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? You\u2019re letting her through?\u201d<\/p>\n

Even Erin was taken aback. Zekia nodded to Selys and the [Heiress] realized that there was someone waiting for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Shivertail is on a list, Miss Solstice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

A Drake with a monocle was waiting for Selys. He bowed quite smartly and adjusted the monocle he was wearing. Selys recognized him of course, instantly. The world would recognize this Drake. And he was not alone. Watch Captain Venim gave Selys a smart salute and Erin a glare. The [Innkeeper] waved. But it was for Selys the two Drakes were here.<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Shivertail? My name is Sir Relz Hauscale of Pallass. And this is Watch Captain Venim. I had the good fortune to be speaking with the Watch Captain when I heard about your desire to visit our city. May I be the first to welcome you here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA pleasure, Miss Shivertail. I had the honor of meeting your uncle. Twice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Venim nodded to Selys. She blinked at him. And then at Sir Relz.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve uh, been here before. I just wanted to visit because\u2026I\u2019m Selys. Uh\u2014pleased to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sir Relz didn\u2019t miss a beat. He bowed and offered his arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, in that case, it would be my delight to introduce you to Pallass, Miss Selys. Or rather, a part of it simply begging<\/em> to meet you. We were aware of our peers in Liscor, but this is a fortuitous circumstance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sir Relz gave Selys a curious look as Watch Captain Venim saluted them and went to lecture Erin on bothering the [Guards] on duty. Erin blinked after Selys.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat people? Hey, are you that monocle-jerk? Hey!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Sir Relz ignored Erin. But he answered Selys as he gestured down the street, waving at people who turned to stare at him and thus, Selys.<\/p>\n

\u201cSociety, Miss Selys. Proper society. And if you\u2019ll allow me to be forthright\u2014it pays to get to know an up-and-coming Drake. I doubt anyone has introduced you to the right circles. But for the niece of General Shivertail and the owner of a relic-class artifact\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Heiress] looked at Sir Relz. And she looked down at her clothes and adjusted her hat as he led her down the street. And she realized\u2014<\/p>\n

She might be underdressed. Erin stared after her friend\u2019s back. High society?<\/em> She scratched her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one\u2019s ever invited me to high society.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch Captain Venim closed the door in Erin\u2019s face. The Drake sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t imagine why.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

High Society. It needed the capital letters. Because it was high<\/em> society. The kind of society you couldn\u2019t get into without something.<\/p>\n

Fame. Wealth. Connections. A mix of the three. It was a world hidden from the masses. And it had its own rules and system. Most people were probably aware it existed. But if you danced in the world of the elite, you understood the game, even if you didn\u2019t play.<\/p>\n

You had to. And the young, female Drake who appeared in the ritzy room of socialites knew none of the rules. You could just see it, from the way she looked around at the d\u00e9cor, the names<\/em>\u2014wide-eyed, impressed. That wasn\u2019t how you were supposed to do it. Even if you met your hero, you were supposed to be casual. Act as if you belonged and everyone might believe it.<\/p>\n

Then again\u2014she belonged. Or else why would she have been invited? A name ran around the room as fast as lightning.<\/p>\n

Selys Shivertail. <\/em>Heiress to the Heartflame Breastplate. Relative of a hero of the Drakes. Rich\u2014well, moneyed. And new to all of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAncestors. They\u2019re going to eat her up.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the watchers on the outside of the room commented as she saw Selys being swept into the room by one of High Society\u2019s darlings. Sir Relz himself, one of the two [Commentators] whose star was on the rise. And she was being introduced to the other big names in Pallass.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Lord Werdin Blackwing, Miss Selys. One of our distinguished nobles\u2014Lords and Ladies of the Wall, as I\u2019m sure you\u2019re aware.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSimply Werdin, Miss Selys. We\u2019re not exactly as antiquated<\/em> as the other Walled Cities. I have a number of business interests. The Blackwing family is one of the largest in Pallass. And this is my wife. Lady Melika. And my daughter, Salkis\u2014Salkis, this is the<\/em> Selys Shivertail. Owner of the Heartflame Breastplate!\u201d<\/p>\n

Look. From the sides you could see the Wall Lord\u2014one of Pallass\u2019 few remaining families\u2014introducing his daughter, whose scales shone like onyx. Lady Salkis, the demure, sheltered young Wall Lady, her father, Lord Werdin, who was more business-Drake than noble. And his wife\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cA delight. Truly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys blinked<\/em> at the plumed Garuda\u2019s colorful feathers. But\u2014points to her, the young Drake greeted Lady Melika. A Garuda.<\/p>\n

Unthinkable in another city. But Melika was stunning, and her marriage to Lord Werdin after his scandalous divorce was set in stone for nearly a decade. Sir Relz was adjusting his monocle, speaking quickly, still in his commentator-mode. Which really meant giving his opinion on everything and everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re far more progressive than other cities, Miss Selys. Not a strong Human population as Liscor has, certainly, but our Garuda and Dullahan minorities are growing. I\u2019d like to introduce you to everyone here; it\u2019s not a large<\/em> gathering. But\u2014well, this is the place we tend to congregate in. The Noble\u2019s Fancy.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn inn?\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys was taken aback. Sir Relz chuckled as did Lord Werdin, Lady Melika\u2014the Garuda sheltered her beak with a wing as she laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, what else would you call it? But an inn\u2014<\/em>I suppose it fits, but this is one fit for royalty. The [Innkeeper], Adalton Serristail\u2014wonderful fellow, we\u2019ll introduce you\u2014designed this place based on Terandrian mansions. With a classic Izrilian take, of course. But any Human<\/em> [Lord] or [Lady] would be envious of this place.\u201d<\/p>\n

He gestured around. Selys looked around the room designed for socialization and private company. You couldn\u2019t pay to get in\u2014you had to be invited. Rather like Tails and Scales, honestly.<\/p>\n

But Tails and Scales wasn\u2019t the 6th Floor\u2019s largest building by far. The Wandering Inn, [Grand Theatre] and all, was dwarfed by The Noble\u2019s Fancy. The most expensive and elite\u2026\u2018inn\u2019 in Pallass. And then\u2014only because the idea of a hotel hadn\u2019t been properly introduced yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a marvelous residence. I\u2019ve bought my own room and stayed for, dead gods, it must be eight years now. Lord Werdin has his own estates, but we like to visit here. It\u2019s something of a hub<\/em>. Linger here long enough and you\u2019ll meet anyone from General Edellein to Grand Strategist Chaldion himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sage nods. Across the room, someone\u2019s face twisted at the names. Edellein Blackwing. Their family was<\/em> the big name of course. And Chaldion\u2026Lord Werdin was nodding sagely.<\/p>\n

\u201cRarely. Although he has made an appearance now and then. Although I fear we won\u2019t see him for a while. Have you heard about the accident, Miss Selys?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAccident? No. I thought\u2014I saw him just the other day at The Wandering Inn.\u201d<\/p>\n

A pause. Sir Relz blinked behind his monocle. Some of the outsiders laughed, those in the know about the other<\/em> inn. It was as if these people forgot that Chaldion met ordinary plebeians as well. And that he preferred Tails and Scales, which didn\u2019t serve most of High Society\u2019s clientele.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, well\u2014it was today. A terrible tragedy. He slipped on some stairs. He\u2019s at the healer\u2019s now. Broken leg, as I understand it. Oh\u2014and let me introduce you to Miss Duskal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no. Um\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys found herself shaking a hand of a Dullahan woman and staring at the head being borne by an attendant, rather than asking about Chaldion. The torso bowed slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am in charge of Pallass\u2019 manufacture of mechanical devices. Its export to other cities. Control and design.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dullahan woman was very formal. But she offered Selys a cordial smile. The [Heiress] looked at her rather riveting armor studded with costly metal and clearly designed for ornamentation rather than combat. Miss Duskal preened like a Garuda under the gaze.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you an [Engineer], then? And you make\u2014siege weapons?\u201d<\/p>\n

A titter of laughter. The Dullahan woman looked offended and hurried to correct Selys.<\/p>\n

\u201cOversee. I manage<\/em> the [Engineers] and Pallass\u2019 innovations. Which are of course, the pride of Izril.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnmatched. And here is Dellibe, our [Merchant of Curios]. Well, not exactly of<\/em> Pallass, but he circulates between all the Walled Cities. Say hello, Dellibe\u2014don\u2019t let him make you an offer for the armor, Selys. He couldn\u2019t afford it. And that fine Drake lady with the white and pink scales is a [Fashionista]\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

It was funny. Here were classes and people you had no idea existed. Well-dressed sorts of various invisible ranks falling over themselves to be remembered by the important people. Who, of course, changed with the seasons and the whims of High Society.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t too long ago that Relz was one of the hangers-on. And Noass would have been allowed in here only on sufferance.\u201d<\/p>\n

A female Drake hanging out near the back of the circle engulfing Selys commented acidly to the Dullahan in fake-gold armor. Well, it looked good, but she was quite aware that it was just gold leaf painted onto ornamented, plain steel.<\/p>\n

He was an [Auctioneer]. She was\u2026well, her. The two traded glances. The Dullahan, whose name was Calert, whispered back as he adjusted his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let Relz hear you say that. Do you know\u2026her?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake snorted. She cast her eyes dismissively around the gathering. Selys had come at a good time\u2014well\u2014sort of. Most of the movers and shakers were here, and she was getting to know them all.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a kid from Liscor, Calert. She inherited the Heartflame Breastplate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh.<\/em> Does she have any plans on selling it?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dullahan\u2019s eyes lit up. As stated, he was an [Auctioneer], and he was allowed in these sorts of gatherings because he often sold the very things Pallass\u2019 elite\u2014and other elites across the world, even [Monarchs]\u2014fought over. The Drake flicked her tail and smacked him in the leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t think about it. You don\u2019t have the security to protect the armor even if it went on sale, Calert. I\u2019m surprised no one\u2019s stolen it, but I hear she\u2019s renting it out to Gold-rank adventurers. Smart for her, but someone\u2019s going to make a move eventually.\u201d<\/p>\n

Calert buffed at the spot that had been smudged on his armor, nervously checking to see if the gold paint had flaked away. He gave the Drake a glare. But she was immune to it.<\/p>\n

Nor was she entirely welcome here. She<\/em> was not a mover or a shaker or someone who enjoyed playing the games of High Society. But then\u2014that was because this Drake was aware that high society was rather like the low society. In the underworld of Pallass, there were faces<\/em>. Master criminals, and gangs. Similar to the Blackwing family, except not sanctioned by the law. And anyone who was anyone had to obey the rules down there too.<\/p>\n

The only difference was that High Society just ostracized you if you made a mistake. In the shadows, you got stabbed and if you were lucky, people found enough of you to identify.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least [Thugs] are honest about when they\u2019re about to bash you over the head and take everything you own. How much do you want to bet half of Miss Selys\u2019 new friends are just begging to try on the Heartflame Breastplate so they can be first to show it off? She\u2019ll get a lot of favors until the novelty wears off. And then she\u2019s at the back of the line. Unless one of them gets her first.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dullahan shushed<\/em> his companion, looking around, askance. But no one was listening.<\/p>\n

The Noble\u2019s Fancy really was\u2026fancy.<\/em> Refreshments were of course, freely offered and the [Innkeeper], Adalton, was keenly aware that his clientele weren\u2019t coming here for just the food or rooms, but the service<\/em> and the scene.<\/em> So there was entertainment to be had at all hours.<\/p>\n

Including the work Calert was here for. The [Auctioneer] was checking a magical time-teller nervously; it reflected the sky above him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got to begin the bidding soon. Onieva\u2014do you have it?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake sighed. She plucked something from the bag of holding she wore and dangled it at the Dullahan. Heads turned. Even with Selys in the middle of the gathering.<\/p>\n

\u201cFresh from himself. Catch.\u201d<\/p>\n

She tossed it. The vial of liquid spun through the air and Calert grabbed desperately at it. One of his arms detached and caught the vial. It hovered in the air and slowly floated back to his body. He was sweating.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnieva!<\/em> Don\u2019t do<\/em> that!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRelax. Don\u2019t get your tail in knots. Saliss wouldn\u2019t put his potions in a regular glass vial. You can give the money to him. And I\u2019m<\/em> done being his Street Runner.\u201d<\/p>\n

The female Drake snorted. She turned. And she missed Calert\u2019s glare at her back. She looked around, disinterested in the entire room. But Selys\u2014as Calert hurried away with the item of the hour, Onieva counted.<\/p>\n

\u201cLadies and Gentledrakes, we are ready to begin the auction. Our top item\u2014which will be bid on worldwide\u2014is a Potion of Temporary Youth, brewed by Saliss of Lights himself!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Calert\u2019s voice echoed through the hall. And scrying mirrors began to light up as viewers from elsewhere tuned in. Like many auction houses, those from afar could bid on items in Pallass.<\/p>\n

Well, there were private auction-houses too, with darker items on sale. Chandrar had them. And there were even more elite gatherings than these. But Pallass\u2019 was notable, despite being smaller for one thing.<\/p>\n

The Potion of Youth.<\/em> Onieva saw heads turning. Everyone who was anyone here grew attentive. Some weren\u2019t even that old. But it was the name, the power and desire that made them look for the very item she\u2019d tossed at Calert. And which gave the fake Dullahan his small amount of power here.<\/p>\n

Youth<\/em>. A way to restore age, however temporarily. Lord Werdin broke off from speaking with Selys, and Onieva chuckled, seeing the naked desire in his eyes. This was why she stuck around. And also why they let her in here.<\/p>\n

\u201cFat chance you\u2019ll get it, Werdin. You can\u2019t outbid the really<\/em> rich. And for what? One week.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake was drinking something expensive. She made a face and spat it into an ornamental vase. She caught sight of one of the few Gnolls sniffing at her in horror. Onieva stuck out her tongue. The Gnoll hurried off, shaking his head in disgust. And Onieva strolled across the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must<\/em> attend one of our gatherings, Miss Selys. I am part of it, but Healer Demerra organizes the events. I believe there is one in four days. Allow me to send you an invitation\u2014it will be at my estates this time, but we do alternate locations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2014uh\u2014and what do you all do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Duskal, the rich Dullahan woman whose armor was totally authentic and totally worthless, smiled grandly.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeak, of course. About such matters that concern us. But we also bid on our own small collections. Demerra has a collection of very fine healing crystals which rejuvenate the body. There are tonics, other artifacts\u2014ah, but speaking of which, the auction has begun. I was waiting for this. If you\u2019ll excuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her head was looking as well towards the auction, and the vial of viridian liquid. Age.<\/em> Duskal had to be pushing sixty. Oh, to be a young Dullahan for a moment! But she\u2019d be bidding against the world\u2019s biggest purses. She wouldn\u2019t make it past the first round of bidding, but she\u2019d be part of it, just to prove\u2014she could have it if she beggared herself.<\/p>\n

Selys saw the Dullahan woman walking quickly towards the auction house. Well\u2014a measured tread, with the attendant Dullahan holding her head on the pillow. Now that<\/em> was rich. Someone just to hold your head. She tried to count how many invitations she\u2019d received.<\/p>\n

One from Duskal to join\u2026a circle of Pallass\u2019 most wealthy? Lord Werdin wanted her to visit his estates\u2014the shy Lady Salkis was a bit younger than Selys, but he seemed to think they\u2019d be friends. A Gnoll had told Selys there was this delightful trend to go to Pallass Hunting\u2014Selys had been under the impression that it was all fake, according to Erin, but maybe not?\u2014and someone wanted her to go to\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cA party tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sir Relz had invited her to that. One in this very\u2026inn. Selys glanced about. She was tempted to go. And she felt distinctly<\/em> poorer than she had with Drassi. Sir Relz was on the scrying orb! And Duskal controlled all<\/em> of Pallass\u2019 engineering\u2026?<\/p>\n

\u201cPsst. Idiot. A word of advice. Stop gaping and pretend you\u2019re not impressed. And don\u2019t go to that party.\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys jumped<\/em>. Someone was standing next to her. She saw a taller Drake, slim, with rose-and-cobalt scales eying her from the side. She had a glass in one claw.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n

She had to have misheard the \u2018idiot\u2019. The female Drake looked at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t want to go with them to their fancy shindigs. You\u2019re just going to do the most expensive and overpriced drugs and have mad sex\u2014or buy a bunch of magical \u2018healing gemstones\u2019 or illusions. Again, overpriced.\u201d<\/p>\n

Selys blinked. Here was someone who didn\u2019t fit in. The Drake eyed Selys with urbane amusement. And she had a sharp tongue. Selys frowned.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow would you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been, of course. If you want to, go ahead. But you\u2019re going to catch something. Or get hooked. You\u2019re new to \u2018High Society\u2019, aren\u2019t you? It\u2019s all a bunch of idiots in a bucket clamoring for attention and you\u2019re the newest bait.\u201d<\/p>\n

She reminded Selys a bit of Drassi\u2014when Drassi was in a bad mood. She was also fairly familiar for someone whom Selys had never met. Selys glared.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m new here, yes. But I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve met. I\u2019m Selys<\/em>. Shivertail.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026niece of the great General Shivertail, owner of the Heartflame Breastplate. Yes, so I\u2019ve heard. Congratulations. You got lucky, like everyone else here. Including myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake transferred the drink to her other claw to hold out a claw to shake. Selys stared at her. The [Heiress] folded her arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cCharmed. And you <\/em>are?\u201d<\/p>\n

A slight smile, like a razor\u2019s edge.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnieva Oliwing. Yes, yes, related to the great<\/em> Saliss Oliwing. Please don\u2019t compare us. He\u2019s part of the family, but distantly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSaliss? <\/em>You mean\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPallass\u2019 naked, dancing [Alchemist]? Or Saliss of Lights? Same one. I delivered the Potion of Youth. That\u2019s my job. Also\u2014being rich. How do you do?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Onieva drained the glass. Then she tossed it. Selys winced<\/em>, waiting for the glass to shatter, but instead of breaking on the carpet, it landed softly. Onieva laughed, ignoring the looks she was getting.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing breaks in The Noble\u2019s Fancy. Fancy for tricks. And I\u2019m afraid that Shivertail is a big name\u2026in Manus, Selys. General Shivertail\u2019s family moved there back when he became a big hero. But around here, if you\u2019re not Blackwing\u2014or Oliwing I suppose, we\u2019re relatives\u2014you need something else. Don\u2019t let anyone steal that Heartflame Breastplate or they\u2019ll never let you back in.\u201d<\/p>\n

She gestured around the room. Selys hesitated.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes you think I\u2019m part of this place? I just came here to visit and I was spirited\u2026here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Onieva gave Selys a sidelong glance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you seemed so taken with them\u2026but good for you if you\u2019re not interested. I just came here to warn you that this is an elite<\/em> group. Not everyone hangs out here. I\u2019m the only Oliwing who does, and it\u2019s just to deliver Saliss\u2019 potions and tweak tails. You won\u2019t catch Chaldion here and they banned Saliss long ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChaldion\u2026? He\u2019s related to Saliss?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Heiress] stared. She saw Onieva wink at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cChaldion Oliwing? Yeah, they\u2019re related. And not happy about it. But both of them hate this place. Don\u2019t let Relz fool you. He\u2019s just like all the other people here. Go visit Tails and Scales if they\u2019ll let you in, or somewhere with real people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnieva.<\/em> Are you bothering our newest member?\u201d<\/p>\n

A voice floated back down the hall. Selys and Onieva saw Lady Melika coming back their way. Onieva stage-whispered to Selys.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd here comes Melika. A literal [Socialite]. Married into the Blackwing family. She came from Baleros. Look at all the beautiful Skills and illusions that go into her feathers!\u201d<\/p>\n

Her whisper was a bit too loud. Or just loud enough. Melika\u2019s eyes narrowed like a hunting bird. Onieva backed up, smiling with all her teeth.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd my time is up. I\u2019m leaving, Melika. Don\u2019t lose another feather. Selys\u2014you were warned.\u201d<\/p>\n

She walked towards the doors as, behind her, the auctioneer shouted numbers and people bid on the Potion of Youth. Selys glanced over her shoulder at Onieva. Melika adjusted her ruffled plumage as she extended a wing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry you had to meet that Drake<\/em>, Miss Selys. She\u2019s something of a black sheep in her family. Even Saliss of Lights, as\u2026singular as he is, has some redeeming value. Miss Onieva leeches off both her relatives. She mainly delivers potions for her cousin. Now, you must come see the auction.\u201d<\/p>\n

She led Selys back towards the bidding, speaking into Selys\u2019 ear. Onieva was walking towards the exit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI doubt you will win any of them; the bidding is fierce today, with the Potion of Youth, but it is something to see what\u2019s being offered\u2026where is<\/em> Salkis? I do hope you\u2019ll be friends, but my stepdaughter is rather reclusive. She disappears for long periods. Studious. Well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

A strange world. Selys felt her head spinning, but the richness<\/em> of this place spoke to her, even above Onieva\u2019s warnings. Something at the heart of her heritage, Drakes, Dragons<\/em>, loved the feel of this place. Power, moving unspoken.<\/p>\n

And yet\u2014Onieva made Selys look back one last time. That Drake had given her a warning, sharp-toothed as it might have been. She had been uncannily familiar too. Had they met?<\/p>\n

No. Surely not. Selys shook her head. And she was wrong, of course. But, contrary to what she might have believed, this wasn\u2019t her moment.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

A Drake walked through Pallass. And she attracted very little attention. Almost by design. Well\u2014she got looks for her unique coloration of scales, rose pink fading darker to cobalt. And she wasn\u2019t unknown. In fact, she got friendlier looks after leaving The Noble\u2019s Fancy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnieva! Are you delivering another potion? Did Saliss make another Potion of Youth?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

A Garuda apprentice [Alchemist] was making a supply run from the 1st floor trading market. He was flying up, with a package in one claw. Flying hard<\/em>; even the extra weight was hard on him. Onieva called out as the Garuda flapped past her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Temporary<\/em> Youth. And yes he did! Go bother him about it if you want one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHah! He never answers anyone. Even when Xif pounds on his door all day! Wait\u2014I heard he took an apprentice. Is that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, can\u2019t hear you!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The female Drake shouted back cheerfully. She heard an oath from above as the Garuda spiraled, straining to pull the ingredients for his master all the way to the 9th floor. He could have taken an elevator, but he probably saved a few minutes doing it like this. Onieva continued her walk, going down, not up.<\/p>\n

And she had no more conversations as she walked. Some of the [Alchemists] knew her, but it was actually most of Pallass\u2019 elites that knew Onieva\u2019s name. After all\u2014she was Onieva Oliwing. Not Saliss, or Chaldion.<\/p>\n

Everyone knew those two. And Saliss, on a trip to any floor, would invariably speak to most people he passed by. Even if it was them pleading with him to put on pants<\/em>. But Onieva walked in silence. If she did recognize\u2026two faces in the crowd, she didn\u2019t call out to them. And they did not acknowledge her.<\/p>\n

Down. Further down. Not down the Grand Staircases, but one of the numerous smaller staircases. The 6th floor had a lot of activities for people with money. But Onieva wasn\u2019t in search of those things. She headed down. And down. And\u2026<\/p>\n

The 1st and 2nd Floors of Pallass weren\u2019t places for the ultra-rich. In fact, they were something of the opposite. Because that was where traffic was highest; people came in and out of the city through there. There were high-capacity lodgings, plentiful shops, the trading bazaar. But the rich preferred to take that at a remove.<\/p>\n

Also, the 1st and 2nd Floors were by far<\/em> the largest. Because Pallass\u2019 floors grew progressively narrower the higher they got, the bottom two floors utilized all of the Walled City\u2019s incredible space. And in that alone the 1st floor made Liscor small by comparison.<\/p>\n

There were places in Pallass that even regular residents didn\u2019t know. There was crime in the Walled City. Not as much as in the north, or perhaps, more accurately, the law cracked down harsher on crime, which meant those that survived were up to the challenge. But if you knew where to look, you could find crime.<\/p>\n

And secrets. Like this. As she descended, Onieva pulled out a handy rain cloak. As if it wasn\u2019t a warm evening. But\u2014the sun wasn\u2019t visible as she walked under the shadow of the 3rd floor, along the second. There was artificial lighting, but it wasn\u2019t the same.<\/p>\n

Further inside, along the walls. No one wanted to live in the shade all the time, so there was another metric of wealth. The richer you were, the closer to the edge you lived, literally. And also\u2014the higher. Somewhere around the 6th floor was where the bell-curve of wealth reached its peak.<\/p>\n

Now her scales were concealed. And her face was hidden in the shadows of her hooded cloak. Onieva walked carefully, amid a dense intersection of buildings.<\/p>\n

There.<\/em> You\u2019d never know it among the other buildings. But here was a suspiciously new<\/em> door. And this building\u2014Onieva studied it, and put her claw on the door. She whispered a phrase and the door clicked<\/em>. The lock opened and she pushed the door open. She stepped into\u2026<\/p>\n

A bar. Or perhaps \u2018pub\u2019 was a better word. Yes, a pub. The difference was that a bar was where you got alcohol. A pub was for everything.<\/p>\n

Then again, there was alcohol here. But also food. A few tables and chairs, of varying quality\u2014but it wasn\u2019t exactly the cleanliest of places.<\/p>\n

And the bar looked\u2026well, \u2018worn\u2019 was a poor descriptor. There were also, coincidentally, no windows. But there were two\u2014three exits. And a cellar. Onieva counted.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh.\u201d<\/p>\n

She threw back her hood and removed the cloak. It went into the bag of holding. Onieva sensed eyes on her\u2014they had been on her the moment she\u2019d entered. But only a few lingered. People recognized her here.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnieva. I haven\u2019t seen you in a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

A voice came from the bar. Onieva made a beeline for the Drake owner of this establishment.<\/p>\n

\u201cMirn. This place is awful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t say that. You\u2019ll wound my pride. Here, have a sandwich on me. And a drink?\u201d<\/p>\n

A plate and drink were slid across the bar. They didn\u2019t exactly do a smooth, Rufelt-quality slide; they hit a bump and would have gone over the side if Onieva hadn\u2019t caught them. She grabbed the drink and plate and swore. Then she took a bite of the sandwich and promptly spat it over the bar counter.<\/p>\n

\u201cAncestors.<\/em> What is that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnieva! <\/em>It\u2019s food! Can\u2019t you tell?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is the stalest<\/em> food I\u2019ve ever had. And I\u2019ve eaten five-week old bread by accident. At least that<\/em> had fresh mold. You can\u2019t cook, Mirn. Don\u2019t tell me you tried?\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at her old acquaintance. Another Drake with dark blue scales, practically midnight, leaned on the counter. Mirn, the owner of\u2026this place at this moment, grinned at her. He had an infectious smile, also a scar across both his lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t. I bought these from some idiot and it\u2019s all we\u2019ve got. They went stale, alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen did you buy them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat explains it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Onieva pushed the plate away. She sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour bag of holding isn\u2019t good at preserving food, Mirn. Stop buying this stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the only one with the capacity I need. Have a drink.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake urged his friend. Onieva took a swallow. She opened her mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpit it and I\u2019ll make you eat the entire plate.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake warned Onieva. She closed her mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is disgusting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s cheap.<\/em> Honestly, it is bad. But it\u2019s all we could get on short notice. Take a seat. Where\u2019ve you been?\u201d<\/p>\n

Their greetings finished, the two Drakes leaned in. Mirn wasn\u2019t exactly circulating the room, waiting on clients. And Onieva noticed most had brought their own food or drinks. Some were chatting together, or finding new people. Cautiously.<\/p>\n

In the background, someone had set up a music crystal. Onieva heard a thumping beat and a female voice. She smiled and began to tap her foot.<\/p>\n

\u201cCatchy.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t it? The Queen of Pop. She\u2019s selling those music crystals. That\u2019s a gift. The kids are loving it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn tilted his head, indicating a group of Gnolls and Drakes and a single Garuda dancing wildly in a corner. They were being treated with some forbearance, despite the pub\u2019s clientele differing wildly in ages. But the pop song didn\u2019t bother anyone unduly. In fact\u2014Onieva smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI should buy some. For myself, obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously. Can\u2019t share it with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll just put it in here. And then someone might ask questions. And I am done with questions. And I\u2019m in a bad mood, Mirn.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, really? And here I thought to myself \u2018Mirn, you know when I see Onieva? It\u2019s always<\/em> when she\u2019s in a good mood.\u2019 What crawled up your tail today?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026you know the usual suspect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight. I heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn went sober for a second. He investigated a mug, picking at a bit of something. Onieva checked her mug; Mirn was in theory a [Pub Owner], a [Publican]. In theory, because he didn\u2019t have that class and because his establishment was nothing like Tails and Scales, or even The Wandering Inn.<\/p>\n

Rufelt would have probably burned down this place if he knew it existed. But he didn\u2019t. Not many people did. This was a word-of-mouth place. And you had to know the password. You had to be invited. And you had to need it.<\/p>\n

Somehow, people found this place, through any number of whispers, chance meetings. Even though it changed locations, even though there was\u2026trouble. In a way, it was as magical a spot as The Wandering Inn\u2019s magical door. But Onieva would have paid a lot for Erin\u2019s magical door. Let alone her garden.<\/p>\n

\u201cMirn. I\u2019ve got a lot<\/em> to tell you. Not just my problems. But have you ever thought of being an actual [Pub Owner]? Or [Innkeeper] or something? Even a [Bartender].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho, me? <\/em>Well, my class is adjacent, Onieva. Adjacent. But I\u2019ve thought of it. I could clean up each place. I used to, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely. You mind at least swabbing the floors?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake\u2019s smile slipped. He studied Onieva.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll think about the next good place we find. But we won\u2019t be here long, Onieva. We\u2019ve got tails.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake paused, halfway through the bad drink.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026What kind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s official. I\u2019m glad you\u2019re here, actually. There was a bad situation with the last bar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t hear. I\u2019m sorry. I was in the laboratory all of this week. I barely made a new potion after the Youth Potion and I have an apprentice. And that was on top of the Wyverns\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn nodded. He was dressed in casual clothes, not a [Bartender] or other owner\u2019s distinctive clothing. He could, if needed, disappear into a crowd. Everyone could. Most had come here with some sort of disguise. And some still wore them.<\/p>\n

Onieva looked past tables, at the dancing youths. The two Gnolls she recognized and the Garuda. Not the Drake. The Gnolls were a couple. Both male.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard about the apprentice. It\u2019s all the buzz in the alchemist circles. Do you mean Saliss<\/em> has an apprentice?\u201d<\/p>\n

Onieva looked back at her friend. She jabbed her chest with a claw.<\/p>\n

\u201cI<\/em> have one, Mirn. She\u2019s a good kid. And I was delivering the potion. I met this young Drake. Selys Shivertail. Niece of Zel Shivertail. She was getting tangled up in society with all the rich idiots at The Noble\u2019s Fancy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hear they have good food there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRich food. Don\u2019t get any ideas, Mirn. It tastes almost as bad as this stuff. Just get me something stronger, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFirebreath Whiskey, coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pulled out a bottle of the stuff and filled a glass. Not a shot glass, or a cute tumbler. A proper drinking glass. Also\u2014not a tiny bit. It was two thirds full and Onieva took the glass and drained half. Mirn winced.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo [Alchemists] have iron stomachs?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could take an acid bath and not lose a single scale. But you learn to drink<\/em> anything and everything. Come on, fill it up. I\u2019m not<\/em> in a good mood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

The level of strong liquor went up in the glass, and went down just as fast. Onieva exhaled slowly. Then she reached for her bag of holding.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd your payment, good sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, miss. Is this a tip?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn watched as gold spilled onto the counter. Onieva wagged one claw; she was blocking the others from seeing the small fortune as Mirn made it disappear into his bag of holding just as quick.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t the tip. Just payment for my drink. This<\/em> is today\u2019s tip.\u201d<\/p>\n

She produced several small bottles of a glowing liquid. Mirn\u2019s eyes went round.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStraight Orgasminium, mined from the halls of Saliss of Light\u2019s laboratory. And I made it while teaching my new apprentice, so I don\u2019t have to lie if I get interrogated about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Onieva tapped the glowing bottles of liquid pleasure, which she\u2019d made a few days ago while teaching Octavia. Mirn reached for one.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought they were banned. Even you said you couldn\u2019t risk making it\u2014you can do it if it\u2019s your apprentice?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYup. Nice loophole, right? If you\u2019re found with it, I was giving them away. Which I\u2019ll do later, with a few of the bottles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne, two\u2026six?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSplit them into quarter-doses if you need to. That\u2019s all I\u2019ve got, Mirn. Xif\u2019s got two bottles, but knowing him he\u2019s already traded it for favors<\/em> from his Gnoll friends and social circle.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake spat the words. Mirn nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese ones will go straight to the ones who need it most in their life.\u201d<\/p>\n

The glowing potions disappeared as well as the gold. Onieva sighed. Her head lolled back as the whiskey hit her all at once. Mirn looked at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat would I do without my best customer?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep running this place. Only, your clientele would eventually end up sitting on the ground and eating dirt and bugs instead of using tables and spitting out awful sandwiches.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHm. Sounds appealing. So\u2026tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Onieva passed a claw over her eyes. She turned to face Mirn at the bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cChaldion\u2019s fine. I slipped him some of the you-know-what.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAgain? How much did you spend to\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll make it back with the Potion of Youth. Enough. I have a new lead on some ingredients. I\u2019m not in the mood to talk shop, Mirn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just asking. In all seriousness, if you disappear, I\u2019m not going to have the money to keep renting new places. Let alone replacing the door or\u2026you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Onieva sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Mirn. Saliss of Lights knows how to juggle his finances. And he\u2019s not an idiot. If worse comes to worst, he\u2019ll sell some of his potions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot hunt Wyverns in the High Passes?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake opened one eye and gave Mirn a look.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not an idiot<\/em>, I said. He doesn\u2019t risk his life without a damn good reason. Those adventurers are going to get slaughtered there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?<\/em> Damn. There\u2019s one of us in a team planning to head north. Should I warn her off?\u201d<\/p>\n

Onieva sat up slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? Who?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDrake. She\u2019s been here twice. Her team\u2019s after that gold, like anyone else. Should I\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Alchemist] closed her eyes and thought.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026No. It\u2019s a fair risk for a team. That much gold for a Wyvern? I have no idea who\u2019s posting the bounty, but if it\u2019s legitimate\u2014I\u2019d jump at it and take the risk if I was that level. She\u2019s high-Silver rank, right? I think I know who you\u2019re talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neither Drake mentioned names. Names\u2014were a risky thing to mention in this place. After all, this was a bar, a pub for a particular sort of person. They had a name in Drake society.<\/p>\n

Turnscale.<\/em> Or at least, that was a broad term. It didn\u2019t cover Onieva quite right. Drakes didn\u2019t have a name for her. Mirn regarded his friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes Saliss have any more Polymorph Potions, Onieva? I\u2019m asking for a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake\u2019s head was lolling a bit. She was tired\u2014the alcohol was working fast. But her body was dispersing the drink just as quickly. She sat up, shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Polymorph] is the spell, which applies to people turning into completely different forms. This is different, Mirn. And I can\u2019t make it last\u2026that\u2019s not my specialty, and even if it was, this is serious magic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. But could you\u2014Saliss\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

A fist smacked<\/em> the bar. Mirn recoiled just in time. He saw Onieva\u2019s eye glaring at him. Even her eye color was different. Pale blue and yellow.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, Mirn. <\/em>It\u2019s always me.<\/em> I\u2019m as authentically Saliss as I am when I\u2019m Onieva.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, always lying through your teeth?\u201d<\/p>\n

The two Drakes looked at each other. Onieva sagged back down.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, probably. We\u2019re different, you know? I\u2019ve been noticing it more and more. Saliss likes smoking. I like drinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn eyed the empty glass.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t say. Look, the potions aren\u2019t for me. I\u2019d only be curious to try it once, and even then\u2014I\u2019m fine in my scales. But there are some people who\u2019d\u2026need them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Alchemist] closed her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t make enough of them, Mirn. This isn\u2019t just scales-deep. It\u2019s complete. It\u2019d be easier to buy illusion spells. Or\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Damn. But I can\u2019t. Someone finds that potion, and they will trace it back to me or Xif. Or one of a few [Alchemists] in this city. Saliss cannot<\/em> be linked to you. I\u2019ll give you gold, even the other potions, but not that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The male Drake chewed that over. He nodded at last.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine. You do enough for us as it is. So\u2014no potions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWant me to ram one right up your ass?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo thanks. Not even as Saliss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Onieva made a fist, and Mirn chuckled. He looked at his friend. Then he decided to ask another question on his mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut let\u2019s say you perfect the potion and it doesn\u2019t wear off. Would you ever consider not<\/em> being Saliss? I mean, you\u2019d have to have an excuse. But if it could be permanent\u2026also, do you ever get the urge to have sex as\u2026Saliss? Or only as you? Or does it change between\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

He saw Onieva pause. She closed her eyes. But then she shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not in the mood to discuss every way I\u2019m a disappointment to my grandfather, Mirn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe hasn\u2019t changed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think he would after all this time? No.<\/em> That old bastard is the same. I could strangle him. Rgh! Hero<\/em> this, future of Pallass that. Haven\u2019t I done enough?\u201d<\/p>\n

Onieva made a grasping motion with her claws. It was something Saliss would never do. But then\u2014even if he was the famed nudist of Pallass, he was also Pallass\u2019 hero. Or as close to it as they got.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaliss is pretty beloved. I didn\u2019t hear anyone even so much as calling you out for the naked dancing for a week after the Wyvern attack.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Alchemist]\u2019s lips twitched and she relaxed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was funny. But Saliss is the closest I can get to what Chaldion wants. And even then\u2014I\u2019m not putting on pants. I\u2019d rather tweak all of Pallass\u2019 tails as their famed Named Adventurer<\/em> than be the respectable hero. I\u2019d be a fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn was slowly trying to polish a cup and smearing it with some kind of oily residue. He eyed Onieva from the side as another Drake came in, following a group of cloaked and masked Dullahans.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019re not a hero already?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you start, Mirn. We don\u2019t need heroes.<\/em> We need to change\u2014we need\u2014I could do it. I could. I could walk around, pretending to be as perfect as Chaldion wants. He might even be proud of me. But that\u2019s not what I want to be. I have<\/em> to drink this potion. Come here or walk around Pallass as me. Or I will snap. Even as Saliss, I can\u2019t pretend to be a \u2018good Drake\u2019. I have to run around naked and annoy those idiots. Or else I feel more and more like an imposter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn nodded. He watched as the Drake newcomer walked over to a table. The people there greeted him warmly. They were all friends here.<\/p>\n

Turnscales. Or\u2014people that didn\u2019t fit, like Onieva. There weren\u2019t many of them\u2014or at least, many who came here. But more than you thought. How many were there, really? How many had no clue? Or were afraid to know the truth?<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with us, Mirn?\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Alchemist] stared past him. At nothing. At the wall. Mirn leaned on the bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe? Nothing. You? You\u2019re rude, violent, a nudist, you enjoy annoying people no matter who you are, you gobble food\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

He dodged the swipe from the claws. Onieva kept staring past him. And Mirn\u2014was concerned. This was bad, even for her. Chaldion and Saliss seldom spoke because this happened. And Chaldion and Onieva?<\/p>\n

Never.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me about Zel Shivertail, Onieva. He was one of us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTurnscale. Yeah. I met him a few times. Never in secret. I bet you he could never have come here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I could have met him. I bet you I could tell. You\u2019re sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

Onieva still looked past Mirn.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely. You\u2019d know in a heartbeat. I think he found me out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGeneral Shivertail. The Tidebreaker.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn closed his eyes. The hero of the Drakes. He was dead. But the knowledge mattered. They were not alone. If Zel Shivertail had been one of them, they were not wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was one of us, Onieva. That means something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means Drakes, the cities, need heroes<\/em>, Mirn. It means the old man\u2019s right. And that the world needs Saliss more than Onieva. It means I shouldn\u2019t come back here. And you know what? Part of me agrees. That\u2019s why I\u2019m Saliss.<\/em> Because I know we need Saliss of Lights. The Antinium. Humans. Monsters. We need him. Not someone who\u2019s a traitor to our species.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was resting her head on the bar. Mirn had nothing to say to that. He left her for a moment as someone came over.<\/p>\n

\u201cMirn, Mirn. That Drake is asking if this is our regular gathering spot.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Garuda whispered urgently at him. Mirn saw the newcomer circulating the tables. Laughing, smiling. But something\u2014he felt a warning bell go off in his head. He looked at the Garuda.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not bad, <\/em>Quet\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

But the Garuda had the same thought as Mirn.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s how<\/em> he\u2019s asking, Mirn. You know? Like last time.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

His feathers were standing up. Mirn grabbed the Garuda and towed him back. He whispered, urgently.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t get alarmed. Onieva and I are both here. I\u2019ll deal with it. Tell everyone else not to run for the doors. Stay put.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Garuda nodded. Mirn strode over.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey! You! No one asks questions<\/em> here. You can come back tomorrow. No details, no names. <\/em>Don\u2019t you know the rules?\u201d<\/p>\n

He glared, and saw an unfamiliar face turning towards him. The Drake was young. Fairly handsome. Nice tail. He raised his claws, looking sheepish.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, I\u2019m new.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn repeated. Nothing was certain. He saw Quet glancing at him and nodded. Keep an eye out.<\/em> He got a nod and went back to Onieva. She was past depressed and spiraling. Now she was staring at the ceiling. And when one of her eyes moved towards Mirn, he got worried.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you ever feel like burning it all down, Mirn? Sometimes I wonder if I could.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBurn\u2026what down, Onieva?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPallass. Sometimes I wonder if I could. Just destroy the city, maybe. I can\u2019t destroy the walls. But the rest of it? If only the people weren\u2019t in the way. Then it would be easy. I could do it. They couldn\u2019t stop me. Not at first. It would be like the Greater Wyvern.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stared past Mirn. And he remembered. His friend was a Named-Rank Adventurer. Mirn made his voice cheerful.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2014wouldn\u2019t do that, though. It\u2019s a shit society. But we need the cities. And we\u2019re still Drakes, aren\u2019t we? You can\u2019t quit being that. You can\u2019t stop being a Drake, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

He believed that. But the [Alchemist] just looked past him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a heartbeat. But you know why I\u2019m still me?<\/em> It\u2019s because I still love that old idiot. Still. And because he\u2019s right. Not about\u2026Onieva. But because Saliss is needed. He has to do terrible things, Mirn. Things I can\u2019t even tell you about. The Antinium don\u2019t stay in their Hives all the time.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

She whispered that and Mirn\u2019s scales tingled. Onieva\u2019s head rolled. She looked at him again, seriously.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd even then. Even when he\u2019s seen me fighting for Pallass. Chaldion won\u2019t look me in the eye. Not me.<\/em> After all I\u2019ve done. And you know what? I\u2019m keeping him alive until he\u2019ll look at me. Because someday he\u2019ll die. And when he does, they\u2019ll come down on us harder. Turnscales.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

She raised her voice. The pub went silent. Mirn saw the Drake newcomer circulating near the back look up. The forbidden word made the other guests look at Onieva nervously. They knew her, but\u2014<\/p>\n

She was too angry to care.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey won\u2019t ignore us after the old man. They\u2019ll hunt<\/em>. Overturn every rock and exile us. If they don\u2019t find enough rope first. But it\u2019s not like that everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean\u2014Oteslia? I hear it\u2019s easier there. Or Zeres?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the same in all the Walled Cities.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Onieva snapped. She pointed at Mirn, her finger remarkably unwavering despite how drunk she was.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m talking about other places!<\/em> It doesn\u2019t have to be like this, you know. Nerrhavia\u2019s different. For Drakes, at any rate. They care about your fabric. So\u2014ironically, us Drakes can walk around as we please. It\u2019s the Alterkind they hate. So it\u2019s the same everywhere, actually. Nevermind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnieva, you\u2019re drunk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn gently pried her claws off her empty cup. Onieva stared at him. Then she shook her head. Mirn remembered his friend. She had come back from Nerrhavia as a seasoned [Alchemist]. With a potion and her name. And a resolution not to take an apprentice and get romantically involved, ever.<\/p>\n

The normal atmosphere returned after a while. Onieva idled as Mirn fed her some of the terrible sandwiches.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026You should get food from The Wandering Inn. They have good food. It\u2019s a nice place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, yes. But it\u2019s not for us. <\/em>Liscor\u2019s like Pallass, I bet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt could be better. It could all be better. I could burn it down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you burn this pub down, I\u2019ll hit you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou couldn\u2019t touch me. No one can. I\u2019m the biggest disgrace in Drake society and they can\u2019t fire me or stop me. Isn\u2019t that funny?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHilarious, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMirn\u2014he\u2019s asking if there are more places like this one.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake was bothering some of the other clients. This time Mirn looked up. Onieva jerked upright and pointed a finger. She didn\u2019t bother with subtlety.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so angry<\/em> at that old damn Drake. Hey! You!<\/em> Stop bothering them or we\u2019ll pull out your scales one by one!\u201d<\/p>\n

She shouted at the Drake. And Mirn saw the Drake look up nervously. He waved apologetically and slid towards the doors. Mirn\u2019s scales chilled.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnieva. I think that guy\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Clear everyone out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Alchemist] might have been beyond drunk, but she was still an adventurer. She narrowed her eyes, and sobered up almost at once. Mirn\u2019s clients watched sedately as the Drake left, smiling around and apologizing. The instant the door closed they moved<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cDownstairs. No one bother with the doors!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn snapped. Everyone flooded towards the real secret exit. Mirn checked all three of the magical doors he\u2019d installed.<\/p>\n

Erin wasn\u2019t the only one who\u2019d learned you could install your own magical doorways. These were only reinforced and magically locked. Onieva looked around and cursed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got four minutes, I bet. Grab the doors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. They\u2019ll slow them down\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn was herding everyone out of the secret hole in the basement. It led to the 1st floor\u2014everyone was hurrying out into the street, scattering. They\u2019d done this before. But Onieva was angry. Her tail lashed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow much do they cost? Grab the damn doors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnieva, forget about them and come on.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a sound from outside. Mirn spun. A voice bellowed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the Watch! Open the door at once!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Watch. Not someone else. Ancestors. Go on. I\u2019ll buy you a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirn hesitated. He flicked a blade out of his side pocket. Both edges were razor-sharp. You could open someone\u2019s throat with it in a moment. The [Protector] looked at Onieva. She was drinking another potion.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet lost, Mirn. I\u2019ll find you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded. And vanished through the trap door. Onieva sat by the bar. Silently, as the lights flickered out.<\/p>\n

No crystals playing music. No drinks. Some crappy sandwiches on the floor. Even the tables and chairs were gone, in the bag of holding. Only the Drake remained as the Watch, exasperated, finally decided to blast through the wall rather than the reinforced doors they\u2019d been battering.<\/p>\n

They found no Turnscales. No illegal activities. Only a female Drake, sitting at the bar. And her scales were deep green. She was taller than she had been a moment ago. And when she turned, the [Infiltrator] who\u2019d discovered the place didn\u2019t recognize her. Her mouth flickered as the Watch aimed their weapons at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cPut your hands up! Where are the others?\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Captain] barked at her. Onieva narrowed her eyes. And she opened her mouth and spat frost. They went for her. And she grabbed a club. There were a lot of them. But she was a Named Adventurer. They had no idea.<\/p>\n

Four and a half minutes later, Onieva let the last ones run. She stood amid unconscious bodies. Broken bones, frostbite at the worst. No more. The Drake had a few bruises. Nothing worse. They had barely touched her.<\/p>\n

She could have killed them with a wood club. It would have been easy. <\/em>She paused and bowed her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has been a really terrible <\/em>day.\u201d<\/p>\n

She paused to kick a Drake in the groin on the way out. She stepped into the street and took a final potion. All the liquids were giving her a stomach ache\u2014they would have done horrible things to a regular stomach. But the [Alchemist] walked through the streets. She made only one mistake, and corrected it before she left.<\/p>\n

By the time the Watch flooded into the empty den of depravity, a Drake was walking through Pallass. Invisible to their eyes, camouflaged by his very nature. Of course, everyone looked at him.<\/p>\n

But that was only because he was extremely naked.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

It was a terrible kind of day. And it had started with a fall. And\u2014at the heart of it all was Chaldion. Love, terrible, fraught, and twisted. Bitter. And a Drake had not had a good day.<\/p>\n

But he didn\u2019t end the day by burning down the city. Or even murdering anyone. Because he had lived through worse days. The [Alchemist] stretched in the sun. And he felt all wrong. But that was as much a sense of himself as the world.<\/p>\n

Saliss of Lights walked through Pallass, as invisible in his own way as Onieva. And if anyone recognized him\u2014if he saw Mirn in the crowd\u2014he gave no sign of it. Pallass needed a hero. And if anyone knew<\/em> him, they kept it secret.<\/p>\n

Gnolls were good at keeping secrets. So were Dullahans. So were the sort of folks who existed outside of what was good and pure and right. And this was the world Saliss protected. Year after year. Until, perhaps, his potions stopped working. For today\u2014let it be.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey. It\u2019s me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake lay in the hallway in Erin\u2019s inn. Flat on his front\u2014there were children about, after all. He inch-wormed his way down the hallway, ignoring the looks he got.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me, Mister Saliss. Would you mind\u2026not doing that? People are worried.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lyonette, a bit flustered, tried to get Saliss to get up. He rolled over.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026No. Erin? Erin.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Innkeeper] came after a little bit. Saliss stared up at her. And he was ready to stop annoying her after a while. She didn\u2019t deserve full-Saliss. He respected her, liked her a bit. From a fellow person with a mask to another.<\/p>\n

But the young woman didn\u2019t chase Saliss away, or shout. She just squatted there as he stared up at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Sup?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing much. People don\u2019t like me playing cards.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope. I have a great poker face, apparently.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s poker?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCards.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh. You don\u2019t say.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMhm. Why are you lying on the ground?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Because it was there?\u201d<\/p>\n

A stupid answer. But the young woman smiled. And she saw straight through him. Well\u2014part of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wanna drink? Octavia says Chaldion got hurt. Is he okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss looked up at Erin. And he sat up abruptly.<\/p>\n

\u201cChaldion? Psh. He\u2019s fine. Ornery as always. I had <\/em>a lot of drinks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut is he okay? And we have milk. And blue fruit juice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saliss paused.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026I\u2019ll have some milk. Chaldion? He\u2019d probably like a visit. You know him. If you go visit, can you play chess?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll let you get by the [Healer]. And I\u2019ll pay you to slip some spicy peppers into his food.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026I\u2019ll think about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He found himself sitting at a table. And he felt a bit better as he found cards being explained to him. It wasn\u2019t anything in particular he enjoyed. But he beat Erin in a single hand of cards by bluffing. Because her poker face was an open book to an expert. It was obvious if you knew what to look for.<\/p>\n

And the Drake was alone. Alone, in an inn. Alone in a city. After all\u2014he knew there were people like him. But there was no background, no understanding in this world, for what Saliss felt like.<\/p>\n

In this world. But someone understood. A young woman understood a bit. Not everything. In fact, very little. But she understood his mood. And the [Alchemist] relaxed. For\u2014she had many things. Glorious fire. Flowers.<\/p>\n

Keys, perhaps, to his potions. Towards immortality. He owed Erin Solstice nothing but goodwill. Saliss looked at the young woman and felt\u2026content.<\/p>\n

Until the door opened and reality stepped into the inn. The Named Adventurer turned. And he saw a flash of color.<\/p>\n

Shimmering eyes.<\/em> Azure chitin. A staff. And a slim, feminine form. Made for her. The Drake locked eyes with someone who knew exactly<\/em> what she was. And he felt fear.<\/p>\n

Xrn, the Small Queen stepped into The Wandering Inn. And she brought silence with her. She looked around. And she was a stranger and familiar.<\/p>\n

She had been here once before. But not this inn. And this time\u2014Erin Solstice halted with a plate in her hands meant for Saliss. Because perhaps she understood.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Small Queen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Someone whispered her name. Liscor\u2019s residents stared in trepidation. But those of Pallass paled. Not a month ago, they had seen a Worker standing on their walls.<\/p>\n

Look. And remember.<\/em><\/p>\n

First the Slayer. Next? Xrn\u2019s eyes swirled like a nebula, changing colors, vast as clouds in the sky. And she shone like glory. Forgotten, until you laid eyes on her.<\/p>\n

Centenium. The True Antinium of Rhir.<\/em> Saliss sat there, looking at her. And he saw her looking back at him. The two appraised each other.<\/p>\n

It would be\u2014the Drake shuddered. Then he saw the Antinium\u2019s head turn. She walked towards Erin.<\/p>\n

\u201cErin Solstice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm.\u201d<\/p>\n

The young woman looked at the Antinium. Xrn smiled. She inclined her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would like to speak to you, Erin Solstice. Greatly so. I am Xrn of the Grand Hive. Do you remember me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2014yes. You\u2019re\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cXrn, the Small Queen. Hi. They call me Saliss.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake popped out of his seat. And everyone turned to look at him. Saliss struck a pose. Xrn stared at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are naked. Fascinating. I know you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Alchemist] grinned. He felt every single potion on his person. Ready to throw, or detonate.<\/p>\n

It would be\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, I didn\u2019t want to slow your roll. It\u2019s just\u2014I have a question.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes? Ask.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake spread his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it war?<\/em> I\u2019m asking for a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

A pause. And then\u2014laughter. Everyone laughed at that, with nervousness, and then\u2014relief. Saliss grinned. But he never took his eyes off Xrn.<\/p>\n

And she? She smiled. And then she laughed. And it was a strange, fluttering, alien sound. Insectile. It made the laughter stop. And the Small Queen looked at Saliss. And she replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cSilly little Drake. <\/em>The question is not yes or no. The question is: with whom? Because we never stopped<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin looked at Xrn. And Saliss nodded. He walked out of that inn. And back towards Pallass. And he said only one word.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

This was the end of it. It began with a fall. And ended with a conversation. A female Drake sat next to a bedside. She had pink and blue scales.<\/p>\n

Rose and cobalt. She looked at the old Drake. And he looked past her.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Chaldion. Will you look at me?\u201d<\/p>\n

He made no answer. He didn\u2019t look at her. Or respond.<\/p>\n

She sat there. Too afraid to try and touch him. Too proud to walk away and deny the truth for his reality.<\/p>\n

It felt like they had been sitting like this forever. But this was the first time. It had always been like this. One refusing to give. And the other trapped.<\/p>\n

It could have lasted this way forever, without changing. But\u2014Onieva spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a Level 40 [Magical Innkeeper]. And she has two Skills I\u2019ve never<\/em> seen before called [Immortal Moment] and [Wondrous Fare]. Lots of combat Skills for an [Innkeeper]. Weird spread.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chaldion jerked. His eye moved and then found the female Drake\u2019s face. He opened his mouth. And she spoke before he could. She produced a jar of glowing green acid and stared at it. A gift from an inn.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes I wonder if she\u2019s on our side. I like her. I think she\u2019s a good person. But I don\u2019t know. And sometimes\u2026I wonder. People say such things<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two looked at each other. Onieva twirled the jar of acid on one claw, caught it as it wobbled. The [Strategist] just looked at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we get down to it, Chaldion, are we on the same side?<\/em> Because we\u2019re both Drakes of Pallass. If I\u2019m not, let me know and I can be the monster I <\/em>think I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

She showed him the glowing jar. The [Strategist] made no sound. Onieva tossed it up, caught it. And then\u2014the jar vanished into the bag of holding. She went on, tired. Uncertain.<\/p>\n

\u201cXrn, the Small Queen, is in her inn. She wants to talk to Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n

A sound. The two Drakes looked at each other. Chaldion opened his mouth.<\/p>\n

Onieva leaned forwards. She stared into Chaldion\u2019s eyes. Her mouth opened, closed. She searched for words but none came around the pit in her stomach. At last, she asked, with all the feeling in her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is she?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Chaldion stared at her. He stared at Onieva, through her, away. His one good eye jerked backwards, dancing away. But she was there. He looked back at the two eyes, staring. Waiting.<\/p>\n

And he said nothing, for so long. His mouth stayed closed. But there was no immortal moment. Forever was too short. And they had so little time.<\/p>\n

At last, the old Drake replied. Slowly, each word coming out so slowly. As he met the eyes and looked away and back.<\/p>\n

And away again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. Someday, I will find out whether she\u2019s ally or foe or something in between.\u201d<\/p>\n

He saw the Drake bow her head. For a long time she sat there. Then she looked up. Her eyes shone with no magical light. Just a reflection, and water.<\/p>\n

\u201cMake it soon? I\u2019m tired of waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n

She reached out. Chaldion looked at the claw as it took his. He closed his eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Author\u2019s Note: <\/strong>The end. I\u2019m not sure about this chapter. Mainly because I went through a terrible time writing it.<\/p>\n

\u2026Me-wise. The chapter was probably fine since I got it done, but the first chapter after a break has always sucked. And I\u2019m still recovering from something. I could have taken more time off, but the world sort of sucks too right now. I want to write.<\/p>\n

Still, I\u2019m not at what I\u2019d call 100%. But I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I am back from the break! But wow. This took me about\u202610 hours? Wait, that\u2019s normal. I guess I just need to get back into the rhythm!<\/p>\n

Hope you enjoyed, really. And I have some art to showcase! Today\u2019s artist is Zelanter, who has done The King of Challenges<\/em> in an amazing scene! Also cute Horns of Hammerad art! But I\u2019m showcasing the amazing picture for another one of Innworld\u2019s heroes.<\/p>\n

Find the rest of all the new art in Fanworks!<\/a> Hope you enjoy and thanks for reading! See you next chapter. Which is like\u2026in three days. Hm. Back to work!<\/p>\n

\"King<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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