Ryoka, Fierre, and Salamani were over two thirds of their way to Invrisil when the news about the Raskghar caught up to them. Rather\u2014they had to go to the Mage\u2019s Guild and get a letter from Mrsha addressed to Ryoka.<\/p>\n
Dear Ryoka\u2014<\/em>the letter began, because of course, you had to have manners and Mrsha\u2019s mother was a [Princess]\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Dear Ryoka,<\/em><\/p>\n Raskghar have left the dungeon. They are prisoners in the city, but Nokha isn\u2019t there. Everyone is worried. Hurry up and come here.<\/em><\/p>\n –Mrsha<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Of course, that made Ryoka run faster, but she was still a City Runner. She slowed Fierre and Salamani down.<\/p>\n But she was<\/em> coming. And if you looked or listened\u2014they were drawing together again. Faces seen and never seen at that inn.<\/p>\n Away from Invrisil, Laken Godart was fulfilling a debt to Ryoka. Some of her needs he couldn\u2019t oblige her, but a party? He had gotten a few RSVP\u2019s from nobles that Rie could lean on. The ones who\u2019d attended his gathering during the time of the Goblin raids\u2014had politely refused.<\/p>\n But he had his own concerns which dovetailed with the party. Riverfarm<\/em> would be ready for Ryoka\u2019s guests.<\/p>\n Some of it was design. Some of it\u2014coincidence. For instance, Ryoka had not told<\/em> them she was going to Invrisil. Certainly, after the last few encounters she was not kindly disposed to the three Gold-rank adventurers sitting in the wagon headed far more slowly to Invrisil.<\/p>\n It could be as long as a week\u2019s trip. But they were headed back. For a few reasons. Mostly, to see about a famous Dwarf-smith that Dawil thought he could get in with. Also, to meet one of Ylawes\u2019 old friends in the area\u2026<\/p>\n That wasn\u2019t the surprising thing. The surprising<\/em> thing was that they had company who also knew Ryoka. Two people, in fact.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you both know Ryoka Griffin?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I can\u2019t say as I have personally<\/em> known her, Lord Ylawes. More like an encounter one time.\u201d<\/p>\n Termin tipped his hat as he ordered the two mules to stop flirting and keep going. He chuckled.<\/p>\n \u201cCrazy, meeting a Gold-rank team who just met her. She doing well? She was rescuing this team from these evil frogs\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWailer Frogs?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe very ones. Actually, I owe her a bit of a debt. Leveled up from that encounter, so I did. But how\u2019d you meet with her, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Wagon Driver] nodded, much pleased. He turned to the last rider on the wagon\u2014well, Termin was doing a bit of a passenger shuttle so people kept getting on and off, riding with the goods. But the ones bound for Invrisil, his last stop numbered four in total.<\/p>\n The recalcitrant young man looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cWe stayed at the same inn. I\u2019m just moving cities to earn more money. Reizmelt\u2019s dried up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFist fighting. You know, I\u2019d have given you a shot if you hadn\u2019t laid out that huge fellow. Must have been three hundred pounds. You should have tried it, Ylawes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t have been fair. Without my armor\u2026and with it, certainly not.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Knight] demurred. Falene rolled her eyes. She<\/em> objected to the trivial pursuits both her companions were on. Wistram called to her. But\u2014she\u2019d heard some Wistram [Mages] were in the inn, so she had her own reasons for going too.<\/p>\n But that was the thing about travel. The Silver Swords were moving slowly, able to run off and slay some monsters before catching up with the wagon. Ryoka and the other two were moving for Invrisil as fast as they could. Yet they would be too late. Had been too late, for the Raskghar.<\/p>\n Not that they had been needed. The attack had been a non-attack. But the problem with things you didn\u2019t kill was that they remained.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Erin Solstice had been intending to end her day with a bracing game of chess. Perhaps even a few games of cards with Numbtongue who had developed something of an addiction to it. Or perhaps an addiction to gambling.<\/p>\n Instead, she rose before dawn after a sleepless night. She had<\/em> slept\u2014in that way where you forgot you\u2019d rested because you\u2019d kept waking up and falling back into uneasy slumber.<\/p>\n As a girl, Erin would sometimes watch a horror movie or see some creepy picture and have nights like that on Earth. That had been one thing, with only the phantoms of her mind for company.<\/p>\n Knowing there were actually things out there<\/em> had meant that Erin got probably two entire hours of sleep out of the eight she had been \u2018sleeping\u2019.<\/p>\n Only her Skills had given her enough rest to function. And even then\u2014Erin looked around the [Garden of Sanctuary].<\/p>\n Little sleeping forms. Numerous bedrolls\u2014and a bed. Erin passed a hand over her weary face. Dozens of figures, actually.<\/p>\n Silently, she checked the two objects she\u2019d been sleeping with. Not next to her\u2014so there was no risk of rolling into them, but close enough to be grabbed in a moment.<\/p>\n A knife\u2014a frying pan, and closer than that impromptu bar-weapon\u2014a glowing, green jar. Erin examined it in the faint light before the dawn. She was careful not to touch<\/em> the edge of the knife as she unsheathed it. Normally, she didn\u2019t even use it for cooking.<\/p>\n As for the jar\u2014Erin looked it over, making sure the seal was tight, and not corroded. She ignored the pan. Pans were pans. Erin put the knife on her belt, stretching. Then she remembered\u2014<\/p>\n Potions.<\/em> Erin checked her belt. Two healing potions, one Tripvine\u2026no, that was in the bag of holding. She sighed as she put the pan inside the magical bag.<\/p>\n Erin checked the jar of acid one last time for cracks or flaws in the glass. Honestly, she wasn\u2019t happy even carrying it in a bag of holding. If it broke\u2014you had less than ten seconds before whatever the acid did probably wouldn\u2019t ever heal.<\/p>\n But as weapons went\u2014Erin carefully placed it in her bag of holding and stood up. She stretched again as she looked around her garden.<\/p>\n She knew how many people were in and out of it. Two had left\u2014Numbtongue, which was fine, and Palt. Both okay. Even so, Erin checked the numbers within, expanding her\u2026senses. Her aura? Checking her garden for intruders.<\/p>\n Surely she would have noticed. But Erin did it anyways because she felt uneasy.<\/p>\n Mrsha and Lyonette, check.<\/em> Pawn, snoozing in an Antinium-huddle with the Workers and six Soldiers\u2014check. <\/em>The Soldiers were clearly awake\u2014they were staring at Erin.<\/p>\n Little snoring buzzes coming from Ekirra\u2019s nose for all he\u2019d been so nervous Saliss had given Erin a drop of sleepy-stuff to put in a cup of blue juice for him. <\/em>He slept with his parents and other Gnoll families who\u2019d asked\u2026<\/p>\n Visma, curled up with her parents, holding onto one of the Mrsha-toys. The silver ball Numbtongue had made. <\/em>Better make sure she didn\u2019t try to keep it\u2026<\/p>\n Bird wasn\u2019t here. He\u2019d refused to leave his tower, claiming, accurately, that he didn\u2019t need to sleep and that the inn was far more secure with him there. He was still up there.<\/p>\n Kevin, Rose, Joseph, Imani, Troy, Leon, Galina\u2026check. <\/em>Erin ran down the few others in the [Garden of Sanctuary]. And those in the inn.<\/p>\n Few had wanted to sleep in the rooms when Erin had offered the garden for the night. Even people from the city had approached her when they\u2019d heard Erin talking about it. After all\u2014it was probably the safest place in all of Liscor and Erin wasn\u2019t making that up.<\/p>\n The people who\u2019d refused were Bezale and Montressa, who\u2019d put up wards on their rooms, and the Players of Liscor\u2014half had wanted to be with their families or slept in Invrisil given their ongoing thing.<\/p>\n The other half were here with said families or friends, snoring away. They were using bedding from the inn, turned into bedrolls; it was Lyonette who had arranged for a bed to be imported here for herself and Mrsha, and set up a small space for them.<\/p>\n She was holding Mrsha tight and Erin didn\u2019t wake either. The [Innkeeper] exhaled as she finished her check.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing happen when I was out? Yellow Splatters?\u201d<\/p>\n She turned and the [Sergeant] paused. He had walked up on her from behind.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Erin Solstice. No reports from Liscor, either. I have checked every twenty minutes with Purple Smiles, who is deployed there, along with Belgrade.\u201d<\/p>\n He spoke. An Antinium with a voice that made Kilkran remark that he\u2019d fear for his job if Yellow Splatters were anything but Antinium. Erin looked at the Soldier and had a flash of another Antinium.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are here to protect you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Would she ever<\/em> forget any of the other moments like these? Perhaps not. They all flashed across Erin\u2019s mind. Some more pressing than the others.<\/p>\n For instance, the Painted Antinium were here in force. Erin had two squads in the [Garden], and she knew that forty<\/em> were in the inn, hiding in the basement, resting, patrolling\u2014each one a Painted Soldier or Worker-Archers and thus superior to even normal Antinium.<\/p>\n The night Skinner attacked would not repeat itself. The Raskghar\u2019s raids would not repeat themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cWe live and learn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Yellow Splatters watched her. Erin looked around. That was the thing about surviving stuff. You tended to not want it to happen again. Zevara had requested six hundred<\/em> Antinium Soldiers to patrol every inch of the city and hold the walls. And no one was complaining about that.<\/p>\n Not today. The [Innkeeper] walked towards the door. Yellow Splatters followed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing, Erin Solstice?\u201d<\/p>\n He was formal and not at the same time. He did not call her \u2018Miss Solstice\u2019 these days. Which Erin liked. But he did use her full name. Erin turned as she walked towards a door waiting for her along the walls.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone needs to make breakfast. And since the staff are all here or on vacation\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt may be dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Sergeant] moved to block her. Undeterred, Erin walked left\u2014the door was in front of her again.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there\u2019s a monster in the inn, it\u2019s both invisible and it can evade my [Innkeeper]-senses, Yellow Splatters. My innsense. No\u2026that sounds horrible. Have you had anything to eat?\u201d<\/p>\n Yellow Splatters hesitated. He seemed so large,<\/em> despite not being that much bigger than regular Soldiers. But Erin was so familiar\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cThe Antinium have brought field-rations.\u201d<\/p>\n The look of horror on Erin\u2019s face made it quite clear that she knew exactly what Antinium rations looked like. She pushed open the door, shaking her head\u2014<\/p>\n Every Antinium in the common room stood up<\/em> as Erin stepped through the door right outside her kitchen. A dozen bows raised and lowered instantly. Soldiers prepared their fists\u2014and stopped.<\/p>\n The young woman reacted with the same speed; she lowered the knife and jar.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just me, guys. Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium looked at her as she waved. As if they needed clarification on that last bit. Erin sighed as her heart decided it was time for a sudden sprint <\/em>in the morning.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone\u2019s on edge. Hey, Pink Stripes? Nice to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin made finger-guns at a Soldier standing closest to her. He copied the gesture with all four hands, slowly.<\/p>\n Outgunned, Erin looked around. She caught sight of herself in the large scrying mirror. Fortified inn, armed Erin, Antinium ready for a fight.<\/p>\n What if this<\/em> had been the Erin who arrived in this world way back when? Almost a good thing she hadn\u2019t\u2014the Goblins who\u2019d attacked her and the Rock Crab wouldn\u2019t have survived those meetings. Erin walked into the kitchen and stared at a Worker with a bow sitting next to it.<\/p>\n \u201cArcher C2, get that out of your mouth. I\u2019ll get breakfast. Anyone want food? You know what? I\u2019ll just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The Worker slowly spat out the bit of Antinium rations\u2014the bar of\u2014the congealed and dried substance that\u2014<\/p>\n The\u2026semi-solid matter that was slightly crumbly, but was lightweight, kept for over a month, and which even rodents wouldn\u2019t eat. Erin still had to worry about pests, even with her [Field of Preservation]. The Children of the Grain Sack had taught her that, so she did arm her traps.<\/p>\n She\u2019d tried using the Antinium\u2019s field rations until she realized nothing would eat it, not even bugs.<\/p>\n A bee buzzed out of the doorway, saw the room full of predators, and immediately buzzed into the kitchen. Erin, yawning, was grabbing all the pre-mades. Not Imani\u2019s more elegant dishes, but the old standards she made.<\/p>\n Pizza, big pots of soup you could warm up\u2026damn.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThey can\u2019t eat these pizzas. Where\u2019re Garry\u2019s special pizzas with his dough? Let\u2019s see\u2026oho!\u201d<\/p>\n The \u2018oho\u2019 was because Imani had labeled everything. One of the things Erin had never done.<\/p>\n \u2018Antinium-safe foods\u2019 was a pantry with a lot<\/em> of space in it. So much so that Erin had food for all the Antinium just from it alone. She began heating things up. Meanwhile, Apista crawled around.<\/p>\n The bee wasn\u2019t hungry,<\/em> per se. Since the Garden had an ample supply of all the plants she could want and she had a small supply of emergency-honey she was adding to.<\/p>\n However, she was a bit\u2014jazzed. She could take the edge off. Mrsha and Lyonette had been worried, and the air, to the bee, was a bit tense<\/em>. Apista cast about and then flew out of a window Erin cracked open to let some fresh air in and the smoke from the fires out.<\/p>\n \u201cHm. Hm\u2026okay. Hey guys! Food! Come and get it. Help yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin put Soldier-safe bowls and the first pot of soup out after a few minutes. Antinium clustered around. Assured by Erin that the bread was Garry\u2019s and thus safe, they lathered it up with butter and dipped it into the rich\u2014and buggy\u2014soup.<\/p>\n Funny thing about Antinium. The ones like Yellow Splatters had no problem doing anything. But Erin took the extra minute because she knew<\/em> Antinium to make a few pick up the butter knife.<\/p>\n \u201cPut butter on the bread. It\u2019s optional, but you\u2019re allowed to do it, see? All of you, have one buttered slice. That\u2019s an order.\u201d<\/p>\n She phrased it like that because if you gave an Antinium a loaf of bread and something optional, they wouldn\u2019t ever do the optional bit. Like condiments\u2014you had to teach them it was alright to use up a stick of butter. It was\u2026them thinking a bit of ketchup was worth more than they were.<\/p>\n Just a small thing. But you had to do it<\/em> in Erin\u2019s mind. So one of the things Ishkr taught [Servers] was to add condiments to an Antinium table\u2019s order so they\u2019d eat it. Don\u2019t give them the jar of ketchup! And yes\u2014it was a jar. Erin hadn\u2019t developed squeeze-technology yet, at least in a way she was happy about.<\/p>\n \u201cGreedy Drakes now, they\u2019ll take the jar with them. Especially the food-thieves. Don\u2019t see them<\/em> around.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shot a glance around the inn, as if checking for the spies who liked to frequent her inn. To her surprise\u2026she realized the inn had a few people loitering outside.<\/p>\n Busybodies? Erin would attend to food first. Food made the world better. Speaking of which\u2014<\/p>\n She looked around for her mother before she bit into a lukewarm piece of pizza. Just\u2014because her mother would have had something to say about that<\/em> for breakfast. An odd thing, to think of her mother. Erin really didn\u2019t\u2026so the pizza bite\u2019s swallow was a bit hard for reasons other than consistency.<\/p>\n Mom now\u2026her mom didn\u2019t understand the joys of cold pizza over a morning game of chess. Whether that was in the morning or night didn\u2019t matter<\/em> mom! She wasn\u2019t gaining weight!<\/p>\n Erin prodded at her stomach just in case. Decent, decent. Lasica could always make her famous weight-loss menu.<\/p>\n \u201cThe joys of a magical world. Hey, can you all help me bring the food out? No\u2014you can finish your breakfast first\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n A dozen Soldiers walked into the kitchen. Erin sighed, but directed them with the goods into the common room. And then, after a moment\u2019s thought, she had them roll one of the round tables into the garden and set up there.<\/p>\n That proved to be a good move because people were waking up\u2014or hadn\u2019t slept\u2014and few looked like they wanted to leave. Erin let them handle the food, like Ekirra\u2019s mother, who thanked Erin profusely until the [Innkeeper] shushed them both. Little Ekirra was still sleeping.<\/p>\n Bird needed his food so Erin brought it up to him on a plate.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Bird\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t draw his bow at her. Probably because he knew she was coming. Bird sat in his tower.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Erin. Is that food for me?\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled at him. Bird was as calm as could be.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Bird. I have some of that g\u2014Saltbird<\/em> you loved so much. And eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOho. A bird breakfast! This is good. Thank you, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n But Bird didn\u2019t touch the food. Erin saw him looking around.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it, Bird?\u201d<\/p>\n Normally he\u2019d descend on the food. The Worker sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cMy hands are full. I must remain at full-vigilance and I cannot eat just yet. I will eat when the sun comes up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c…But you have four arms.\u201d<\/p>\n Bird nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd they are all full, see? I cannot load and fire with only two arms with any efficiency, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n He had two arrows in his spare hands, his bow in one hand, and another hand on the arrow nocked and ready to go. Erin knew how fast he could loose\u2014he\u2019d taken 1st<\/sup> place in an indoor archery range one time and really ruined<\/em> the old champion\u2019s day.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe you could eat with one hand, Bird?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut that would decrease my firing time by point\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBird. Maybe it\u2019s safe to be slightly less optimal?\u201d<\/p>\n He considered this.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if you fed me?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin passed him the plate. Bird put one arrow down and sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cI will eat. But if we all die because there was an inefficiency in my fire speed, I will be slightly upset!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Bird. You go sleep when everyone\u2019s up, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It amazed others how calm Erin was. The Raskghar were in Liscor. <\/em>The killers who had eaten hearts of Gnolls, who grew smarter with each full moon and the two moons were both<\/em> still pretty full!<\/p>\n And yet\u2014she had done this. It was not that Erin was untroubled. But she was ready. Breakfast done, Erin leaned against a wall and decided\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cInterloper-people. Maybe I should grab one of the crossbows.\u201d<\/p>\n She thought<\/em> she knew who they were, but they were on the edge of her inn\u2019s \u2018radius\u2019 of detection and there was enough reason to be suspicious. Erin looked around for a crossbow. Numbtongue had hidden two dozen around the inn.<\/p>\n \u201cRight here. No. right\u2026here? No?\u201d<\/p>\n \u2026And she realized she hadn\u2019t any idea where his<\/em> secret compartments were. He kept showing her and she kept glazing over the details. Erin peered at a chair leg. She eyed a loose floorboard\u2014no? One of the Antinium stopped to stare at Erin climbing onto a table to inspect one of the beams in the ceiling.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone seen a crossbow hiding around here?\u201d<\/p>\n She was just giving up on the crossbow thing. It wasn\u2019t as if she was that<\/em> great a shot compared to her aim with an acid jar, anyways. Then, Erin heard an angry voice outside.<\/p>\n \u201cGet back here! Get back h\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n A bee flew out of the kitchen, carrying a trail of smoke. Erin and the Antinium stared as Apista buzzed back into the [Garden of Sanctuary].<\/p>\n Carrying a full cigar. She had purloined it from the owner, who clip-clopped into the room a moment after her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou damned pest! That\u2019s my\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The drug-carrying bee disappeared into the Garden as Palt stopped. He saw Erin and coughed into a fist.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, hey, Erin..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you get that bee hooked on\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared at Apista and then at the Centaur. He raised his hands defensively.<\/p>\n \u201cNo! Probably not? I\u2019m amazed it likes<\/em> my cigars. But since it doesn\u2019t pay\u2014er, hi, Erin. Did you sleep well?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMhm. Thanks for help with those [Calm] and [Soothe] spells.\u201d<\/p>\n The Centaur\u2019s face softened.<\/p>\n \u201cMy pleasure. How\u2019s Imani?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStill asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n The two stood together. Palt produced a cigar\u2014a long, thin one this time. Bright orange. He lit a finger\u2014and hesitated. He looked sidelong at Erin and she waved a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cGo for it. Today\u2019s a rough day, anyways. I could almost use one.\u201d<\/p>\n She flicked the cigar he proffered her away.<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The [Illusionist] gratefully lit up. After a few puffs\u2014the smoke flowed into a small ball over his head\u2014he spoke out of the corner of his mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cGood thought you had with the [Garden of Sanctuary]. Ingenious, really.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMm. It\u2019s obvious. All my smart ideas are.\u201d<\/p>\n Sleep in the Garden. Really\u2014it just made sense.<\/em> Palt shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t think of it and no one else did. You know, I looked it up. Er\u2014I was doing a bit of digging. With my faction\u2026just out of necessity, you know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo on.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin gave him a look as she decided she had room for like\u2014half a pizza slice or something nice. One of the boiled eggs with pepper, maybe. Palt exhaled more smoke.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an Inheritance Skill. And since you probably don\u2019t know\u2014it\u2019s a Skill that only one or a few people get at a time. There\u2019s another famous carrier in Izril\u2014well, I can name four total worldwide including you, now. Lots more in secret, perhaps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, the [Garden of Sanctuary]?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin blinked. But she remembered what the Grand Mage had told her. An [Empress]<\/em> had first owned this Skill. Palt nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is\u2014or was\u2014a secluded place for those of royal classes. Occasionally others. A [Healer], an actual [Gardener]\u2026you\u2019re using it um, differently.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow so?\u201d<\/p>\n The Centaur gestured at the door.<\/p>\n \u201cThey used it as a refuge. Not as somewhere where you\u2019d let someone sleep. Mind you\u2014it\u2019s secure. The most secure place I could name. You could\u2014well, build a room in there, couldn\u2019t you? Live there. Unable to be harmed except by someone of exceptional levels. I know some people who\u2019d pay you a thousand gold a month for that.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin nodded absently. Then she looked at the [Garden of Sanctuary] and shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it can\u2019t support everyone in there right now. It\u2019s too small. And if the inn goes, so does it. Also\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlso?\u201d<\/p>\n He prompted her after a moment. Erin looked into the Garden, where more people were waking up, then up at Palt.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great safe-room. Even if it wasn\u2019t designed like that. I don\u2019t use most things like how they\u2019re designed.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded at the magical door. Palt chuckled.<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. But why not build a house in there or something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause the inn\u2019s supposed to be a home. If I need to stay in the [Garden of Sanctuary], something\u2019s gone wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked up at him seriously. Palt nodded after another long pull.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least it\u2019s comforting to people now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Any word from Liscor?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI could check. But I just went outside to smoke. Numbtongue\u2019s practicing with his sword.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Innkeeper] glanced towards a window. The Hobgoblin had been on a hill blooming with flowers when Palt saw him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s fine. I think he\u2019s just mad he didn\u2019t get to cut any of the Raskghar. He feels guilty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot his fault. He can\u2019t be here forever.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Illusionist] was pragmatic. Palt trotted over to the bowls of soup, saw the floating acid-flies, and trotted back.<\/p>\n \u201cBesides, Saliss of Lights handled the situation better than anyone else could\u2019ve.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin ducked her head. That was true too. He wasn\u2019t here today\u2014but she vividly remembered the [Alchemist] in the moments after the attack had ended.<\/p>\n Saliss had been posing with Ekirra and Mrsha while wearing the \u2018privacy box\u2019 in the garden. Comically. He\u2019d reassured everyone that the Raskghar were dead, let everyone else run around and investigate\u2014and played up the silliness for the frightened children.<\/p>\n He\u2019d also killed over thirty Raskghar in less than a minute. Erin had seen the bodies\u2014or what remained.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd here I thought my acid jars were dangerous. Does he harvest acid too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe. But he probably buys and enhances it. There\u2019s a reason why he\u2019s called the most dangerous Named Adventurer for five minutes. Dead gods and hoof rot, I\u2019d hate to be on his bad side. He\u2019d do your curry trick with Isceil\u2026only with acid.\u201d<\/p>\n Palt wore the same expression Erin had had while thinking about her mother for a moment. Erin nodded. Saliss was capable of protecting anyone he wanted.<\/p>\n Protection, safety, <\/em>it wasn\u2019t the real issue today, was it? Everyone was vigilant but the Raskghar were detained! In jail! They were safe, and this was just worrying.<\/p>\n Because Nokha hadn\u2019t been with them.<\/em> Erin bit her lip. But would Nokha dare attack this inn? Palt<\/em> could probably take her in a fight if he saw her coming.<\/p>\n Yet, it was the things you didn\u2019t see coming. That went bump<\/em> in the night if they were clumsy. The things you couldn\u2019t predict. Erin was less experienced with that. Most of her fights had been fast, to the death, and immediate.<\/p>\n This was messy. Raskghar prisoners. Potential enemies skulking about. Erin shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd why are they here? I had my suspicions and Numbtongue was\u2026Palt? Can you walk out with me one sec?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomething wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n The Centaur stopped smoking. He looked quizzically at Erin. She glanced towards a point on the far wall with nothing special in particular about. But she had that look that said she wasn\u2019t looking at the wall.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think so. At least, not with the Antinium around. Just in case.\u201d<\/p>\n That didn\u2019t reassure the [Illusionist]. He began muttering spell buffs and casting them on himself. He wasn\u2019t Isceil, who\u2019d been able to decimate an area with a single breath, or Montressa who could throw up barrier spells or Bezale\u2014well, he was closest to Bezale and Ulinde. But he could cast a lot of enchantments on himself if he had prep time.<\/p>\n Even so, he was support.<\/em> And he reminded Erin of that. She just shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s probably fine. It\u2019s not strangers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if it\u2019s trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAcid jar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh\u2026and if they block or dodge that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve gotta take modest risks, Palt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do. Gambling. Not with anything that might hurt so much as a hair on my body. Er\u2014where are we going?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin Solstice stopped outside. She stood in the grass, looking over Liscor. A summer day was beginning. The sun had yet to appear past the peaks in the High Passes but the air was fresh, the day as yet cool. The Flood Plains looked fairly lovely.<\/p>\n They were alone on the hill outside of The Wandering Inn. The city\u2019s walls were fully-staffed and mage-lights were illuminating the ground outside of the city. Palt heard a distant call, identifying both of them.<\/p>\n High alert<\/em> in short. The kind of thing that made him feel safe. Erin stared ahead. No one was in the outhouses. Numbtongue was by himself on that hill.<\/p>\n \u201cThis Raskghar thing\u2019s scary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm. Yes, it is. But I have calming tonics and spells if you want\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Erin glanced at Palt and he fell silent. She went on.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so dangerous. I\u2019m so glad I\u2019m being protected. By Antinium. And Numbtongue. And you, Palt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He fell silent again and stopped preening. Erin had given him another look.<\/em> This time\u2014Palt began glancing around with his magic, keeping his eyes on the city\u2019s walls.<\/p>\n [Detect Magic]. Nothing but the walls\u2026Erin\u2019s inn was lit up and the door was blinding.<\/p>\n [Detect Heat]. Hm. Palt ran hotter than Erin, but nothing\u2026was that a colony of rats just over there? Erin wouldn\u2019t be happy about that. But nothing\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I love the protection. Not that I<\/em>, personally need it. You sort of wonder why everyone likes to protect me. Since the Raskghar attacked Liscor. And why now? It\u2019d sure be great\u2026if I had protection when the Wyverns attacked, y\u2019know? But there are reasons. Still\u2026I like knowing who\u2019s protecting me, and why.\u201d<\/p>\n The Centaur said nothing.<\/p>\n [Scrying: Palt Fenrisol]. <\/em>Fun fact? Erin Solstice was invisible to [Appraisal] and<\/em> [Scrying] spells these days, thanks to the ring Saliss had given her and\u2026something else. Even the Elusive Lot had problems and they could scry past Palt\u2019s defenses. But he saw nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cSure is a thing. Yup, yup. Ayup. Yuppers. Yeperoonie. Yep\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The [Illusionist] heard a sigh.<\/p>\n \u201cI think, comrades, that we\u2019ve been made.\u201d<\/p>\n A Gnoll, Drake, and five Human men rose out<\/em> of the grass a foot in front of Palt. He freaked out.<\/p>\n \u201cBurn my tail! [Haste]! [Shadow Leap]! Run for\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He grabbed at Erin. She hadn\u2019t been expecting that. Palt tried to turn and gallop into the inn as his spell snatched at him. But he tripped.<\/p>\n Erin and Palt flickered<\/em> out of the air and crashed out of the doorway in a heap. Erin went whubpgh<\/em> as Palt landed half on her.<\/p>\n Wilovan, Ratici, and the five Brothers of Serendipitous Meetings adjusted their hats and stared as Erin lay on the ground and Palt\u2019s hooves waved frantically before he got up. The Gnoll tipped his hat to Erin after she\u2019d stopped being squished.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Pardon about that, Miss Solstice. It seems we might\u2019ve been a bit too conspicuous, as it were, and Ratici here misjudged how long your ear is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat level<\/em> is that Skill?\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake groused. The other Brothers looked amused as they adjusted vests and straightened caps. Erin stared up at Wilovan as he held out a paw. The other Drake, the one with the cap, helped her up.<\/p>\n \u201cSeems we have a bit to talk about, Miss Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin wheezed. She would have felt more triumphant if Palt hadn\u2019t landed on her. That guy was heavy.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Something was wrong in the world. Twenty minutes later, Erin Solstice was sitting in the inn across from the Gentlemen Callers.<\/p>\n Few people were in the inn. Temile had checked in from Invrisil and the door was currently ferrying people from Pallass to Liscor\u2014but the inn wasn\u2019t open.<\/p>\n Most of the people were in the [Garden of Sanctuary] and not<\/em> coming out. They had their entertainment.<\/p>\n Joseph had a football, but he\u2019d been told by Lyonette that if he so much as kicked it into a single one of the fragile Sage\u2019s Grass plants she\u2019d bury him headfirst. So the others were sitting, talking\u2014but mostly, helping with planting some of the seeds or cuttings that Lyonette and Erin had been meaning to get to.<\/p>\n Weeding the jungle biome in the [Garden of Sanctuary] and arguing about what was a weed in the thick foliage. Ekirra and Visma were trying to get Mrsha to help them make a ladder to grab a ripe cocoa pod.<\/p>\n All was well\u2014on the surface. But Erin felt the tension. Still\u2014that wasn\u2019t what was wrong with the world.<\/p>\n What was wrong<\/em> was that the good fellows had turned their backs until she put her shirt back on. And Bezale was smacking Palt hard as Montressa checked Erin\u2019s midsection.<\/p>\n \u201cAny more pain?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I think it\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin had cracked a rib when Palt fell on her. Two,<\/em> actually. Which\u2014to be fair, wasn\u2019t exactly surprising when a horse fell on you.<\/p>\n \u201cI am so sorry\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fine. Healing potion\u2019s already working.\u201d<\/p>\n Cracked ribs weren\u2019t as bad as broken bones. But Erin would have loved for Pisces to be here. She\u2019d survived Skinner<\/em> with\u2026okay, maybe it wasn\u2019t as fair. But Wyvern attacks? Crelers? And this was how she went out?<\/p>\n \u201cDeath by horse.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said, I\u2019m sorry.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Palt was beet-red. He might have been a skilled [Illusionist], but he didn\u2019t exactly have the most nimble build.<\/p>\n Erin eyed the Gentlemen Callers. They had refused to look until she put her clothing on. Not that she\u2019d even exposed more than navel and said ribs. She knew beachgoers who were far<\/em> more scantily clad than she had been.<\/p>\n But they were\u2014The Gentlemen Callers.<\/em> And the five Human men whom had introduced themselves to Erin and were politely helping themselves to a non-Antinium spread of food?<\/p>\n The Brothers of Serendipitous Meetings. And they were\u2026criminals.<\/p>\n What astonished Erin was that they came out and said it. Twenty minutes was all it took. Five minutes really; patching Erin up had taken longer, mainly just to find a female pair of hands to administer the potion properly.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you guys are a gang?\u201d<\/p>\n The Gentlemen Callers looked at each other. Wilovan, the burly Gnoll with the nearly-top hat and Ratici, the capped Drake who was short and slender. They glanced past Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a delicate subject, Miss Erin. I\u2019d hate to insist, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n One look was all it took. Palt grabbed Montressa and Bezale.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t we stand over here, you two?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin blinked. She saw the Centaur shuffle them off and mouth something at her which she completely missed. And it was something because Erin was certain none of the three [Mages] were listening in magically. Beza made a gesture to Montressa and Palt began shaking his head like Mrsha after a rainstorm.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Gentlemen Callers are two big <\/em>Faces, Erin. That\u2019s like\u2014a ruler of the underworld. You don\u2019t make them your enemies. They\u2019re part of the Brothers of Serendipitous Meetings. They\u2019re a smaller gang, but they\u2019re elite. Erin\u2014these guys are big<\/em> players in northern Izril. I have no idea why they\u2019re here! Even one of the Elusive Lot would have trouble getting them to move, let alone send the Callers here!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n That had been Palt\u2019s whispered explanation when he\u2019d put three and three together. It had confused Erin, but Ratici had made it clearer.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re criminals, Miss Solstice. Call us a gang\u2014call us [Rogues] if you like. We prefer to be called upstanding sorts\u2014but only by comparison. We were hired to look out for you.\u201d<\/p>\n That was easier to understand. Wilovan tipped his hat as Erin turned back from the [Mages].<\/p>\n \u201cTo be more precise, in the interest of honesty, Miss Erin, Ratici here is the finest [Thief] you\u2019d ever lay eyes on, which is an indictment, of course, in his line of work as it were. And I\u2019m a humble [Thug]. A fellow with a club who taps folks and absconds with coin. Dishonest men that we are, you can see why we\u2019d hesitate to introduce ourselves before now.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin had noticed this before, but the way they talked<\/em> and even acted had roots in her country\u2019s past. Not entirely one-to-one, but the Gentlemen Callers had a style<\/em> about them.<\/p>\n But they were criminals. Honestly, the first Erin had really met. There was Pisces\u2026and Lyonette, and the thugs and Grev. But these two were actual professionals compared to the amateurs.<\/p>\n \u201cA [Thug] and a [Thief]. So you two are jerks who beat people up and then steal everything they own?\u201d<\/p>\n She expected them to bridle at that, but the two just smiled. Wilovan touched a furry hand to his cap in a kind of salute.<\/p>\n \u201cHigh-level, so a bit more than that, but we did start there. And I regret to say there was a time I roughed up any sort, Miss Solstice. But we\u2019re part of the Brothers of Serendipitous Meetings, and we follow a\u2026code. If we prey on those with coin\u2014it isn\u2019t those down on their luck. Never children, never decent sorts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh.\u201d<\/p>\n They were Robin Hoods of this world. But when Erin made the comparison without the name, the two chuckled.<\/p>\n \u201cHardly, hardly, Miss Solstice. We don\u2019t \u2018give to the poor\u2019 save by way of spending large at a favorite restaurant or such. We\u2019re simply honestly dishonest folk in that we pick our targets with more care than say\u2014another gang.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd\u2026why do you have a code of conduct at all? Are you honorable<\/em> guys?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin saw Wilovan blink slowly at her. He had that unflappable refusal to get angry or riled that Erin had seen in, well, only a few people.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there\u2019s an [Honorable Thief], it isn\u2019t one Ratici and I would bump elbows with, Miss Erin. Say rather we do what we do with the modicum of integrity we have\u2014simply to live with ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n They were honest about their dishonesty. Erin sat back.<\/p>\n \u201cSo why are you here? <\/em>Someone hired you two to protect me? Who?\u201d<\/p>\n The two exchanged a glance.<\/p>\n \u201cA client.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid that\u2019s confidential, Miss Solstice. You may have noticed us around\u2014we accepted the contract just a bit ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin had noticed them for a while. She scowled.<\/p>\n \u201cBut who?<\/em> Ilvriss? See here\u2014you can\u2019t just sit in my inn and, er\u2014guard me.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The duo sighed even as Erin realized she hadn\u2019t phrased that quite<\/em> right. Wilovan looked at Ratici. The [Thief] glared at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wouldn\u2019t be having this conversation if you hadn\u2019t picked us up, Miss. You must be over Level 40. I could sleep cheek-to-jowl with that Level 30 Drake [Innkeeper] in his bed and he\u2019d never notice me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeslas? Ew. Why would you want to?\u201d<\/p>\n Wilovan\u2019s lips quirked. He nodded at the Brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cMy friend Ratici is free to entertain himself as he will on his time off, Miss Erin. Not that he\u2019s generally so rude. But the fact remains\u2014we wished<\/em> to be unnoticed guests, but it seems our client was rather perspicacious <\/em>as it were.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin really<\/em> wished Pisces were here. Even Ratici\u2019s lips moved.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that then, Wilovan? Wait. I think I know. Perspi\u2026sweaty?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot at all, Ratici. Fine word. Read it in a book with a lovely woman just the other month. It means a discerning fellow. One with a lot of insight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh.\u201d<\/p>\n The two had the same rhythm as Relc and Klbkch. Perhaps that was why Erin smiled despite wanting to be mad. The problem was\u2014she had met these two and been amused by their colorful interplay before. They seemed friendly. And Numbtongue liked them.<\/p>\n Even so. They were [Thief] and [Thug]. Erin narrowed her eyes as she had a thought.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on. How long have you two been protecting me? I remember you being here for a while.<\/em> What else have you two done?\u201d<\/p>\n They eyed each other. Erin folded her arms. Wilovan coughed into a paw.<\/p>\n \u201cIs this necessary, Miss Solstice?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt sure is if you want to stay here another second! I\u2019m not having strange criminals under my roof!\u201d<\/p>\n Ratici gave Erin a long look.<\/p>\n \u201cAs opposed to known criminals?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know a jerk who sniffs a lot. He tried to rob me once. That\u2019s\u2014that\u2019s not the point! I\u2019m in charge here! Well?\u201d<\/p>\n The two sighed. Wilovan snapped his fingers.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. There was that nastiness with that Bearclaw personality. One of the small-timers from down south. Messed about your friend. Terrible thing, that. Apologies, but we weren\u2019t able to stop that.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc.<\/em> Erin\u2019s stomach tightened up.<\/p>\n \u201cYou let it happen?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe seemed like a good sort to defend himself. Mind you\u2014we were already taking liberties<\/em> if you don\u2019t mind me saying so. Our client\u2019s orders don\u2019t pertain to anyone but you, Miss Solstice. But we ah, had to adjust our criteria. A few unscrupulous sorts were going to kidnap the little Gnoll child. We persuaded them not to.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin did remember that Bearclaw\u2019s gang had been found unconscious. She hadn\u2019t delved into it, with Relc being beaten up and his apartment burned by the Golden Triangle mob. She looked at Wilovan.<\/p>\n \u201cYou two did that?\u201d<\/p>\n They winked as one.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Brothers don\u2019t stand for kidnapping or anything that\u2019d hurt a child. Cute little girl. Could use some pants, but then, we were all young once.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin sat back. She had no idea! And she wouldn\u2019t have if they hadn\u2019t been obvious. She hadn\u2019t even sensed Ratici and Wilovan except that the other five Brothers had made them noticeable.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you were in my inn to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChase off any of the rough fellows who came calling yesterday. Since that fine Named Adventurer isn\u2019t here, we thought a bit of emergency help wouldn\u2019t be amiss. Mind you\u2014we\u2019d have let the Antinium take the first swings. No offense, but we\u2019re not here to risk our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n But they were<\/em> here to help. And who had hired them? Erin had a list of\u2026well, she could imagine Ilvriss, maybe<\/em> Magnolia or\u2026<\/p>\n There were a few others. Erin narrowed her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long are you two going to guard me for? Can you tell me who hired you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be a secret on both counts, Miss Solstice. We\u2019re already compromised\u2014we should remit some of the fee to the client, Ratici.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDamn. Pardon my language, Miss Solstice. Won\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake looked embarrassed. Erin sighed.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Call me Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman smiled a bit. Then Erin narrowed her eyes again as she had a sudden realization.<\/p>\n \u201cHold up. Invrisil. The mob\u2026you two were there as well! You protected me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd this<\/em> is why we don\u2019t take these sorts of jobs, no matter how good the pay is, Wilovan.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake leaned over and muttered. Wilovan whispered back.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re being quite rude, Ratici. I hate to remind you in front of Miss Erin like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTerribly sorry, Miss. It\u2019s been a fraught day.\u201d<\/p>\n They both tipped their hats again.<\/p>\n Double damn.<\/em> She was beginning to like them. Erin folded her arms.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you two won\u2019t tell me who\u2019s hiring you. But you did<\/em> say you\u2019re under orders to protect me?\u201d<\/p>\n The two winced. Erin rubbed her hands together.<\/p>\n \u201cSo if I punched a Rock Crab\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d be amazed anyone would risk that, bodyguards or not. We can\u2019t be everywhere and we don\u2019t work miracles, Miss Solstice. Quite the opposite. And until now we thought your inn was safe at night.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin\u2019s face fell.<\/p>\n \u201cSo did I.\u201d<\/p>\n Reality was Raskghar and this messy situation. Honestly, the Gentlemen Callers were the bright<\/em> spot in Erin\u2019s day. She looked at the Brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cSo those guys are like underlings?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLower-ranking members. Decent sorts. Inherently trustworthy with anything but money, Miss. They\u2019d rob you blind if you weren\u2019t under protection, but make sure you got home in one piece. Can\u2019t say that\u2019s fair, but it\u2019s how we work. Wave at the [Innkeeper], lads!\u201d<\/p>\n All five instantly stopped having pizza and gave Erin a tip of the hat instead. She looked at Ratici. Now what was she going to do with them?<\/p>\n As happenstance would have it, Erin never got to answer that question. Because\u2014the Gentlemen Callers were not actually applicable to her problems.<\/em> They could have stopped the Raskghar cold. Would have\u2014if Saliss hadn\u2019t been there. Erin sensed that. They were two of the most high-level guests she had, right up there with Grimalkin. Not like Saliss, who was at the top or Grand Mage Eldavin, but\u2026<\/p>\n But the problem was different. Erin heard a howl<\/em> from the [Garden of Sanctuary]. She was out of her seat in a second.<\/p>\n Ratici beat her to the door. The fellow smacked<\/em> into the open doorway and bounced off. Wilovan stepped back and held the door to let Erin through. He\u2019d taken in the scene in a moment.<\/p>\n The children, of which there were eleven, were in the Garden, all crying. Some louder than others. Erin saw Mrsha standing with Ekirra. Visma was lying on the ground, howling<\/em> as she held the silver ball. Her dress was muddy\u2014Mrsha had pushed her along the pond-area\u2019s banks.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d<\/p>\n Apparently, there had been a squabble. Visma had refused to give the ball back after breakfast when Mrsha wanted to play, and Mrsha, usually caring and generous with her gifts, had demanded it back. She\u2019d pushed Visma, the Drake girl had begun crying, and so had everyone else.<\/p>\n Erin felt like crying, a bit, as she saw Mrsha\u2019s tear-stained face and snotty nose. The little Gnoll toddled over to her on two legs and hugged at Erin\u2019s leg.<\/p>\n She was shaking.<\/em> It wasn\u2019t the fight that had started the crying. Erin bent down as the adults rushed over.<\/p>\n \u201cHere, here. It\u2019s okay, Mrsha. It\u2019s going to be okay. I\u2019m sure Visma forgives you. See? She\u2019s alright. You just have to say sorry. You\u2019re Mrsha the Big and Brave, aren\u2019t you? It\u2019s alright\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Mrsha sniffed as Lyonette halted. She looked at Visma, and then buried her face in Erin\u2019s shirt. She was still trembling.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Mrsha? Everyone\u2019s okay, see?\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll shook her head. She looked up and her trembling paws formed one word. A biting claw descending on a heart made out of her paws.<\/p>\n Raskghar.<\/em><\/p>\n Erin stopped for a second. Of course. They hadn\u2019t gone away. They were in Liscor. They had bypassed the walls, invaded the heart of the city. Who cared if a few metal bars stood in their way? They were there.<\/em><\/p>\n No wonder she was terrified. Gently, Erin held Mrsha. Lyonette reached out, but Erin held Mrsha for a moment. Hugging her tight.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Mrsha. You\u2019re safe here. No one\u2019s ever going to hurt you, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n A lie that Erin knew she couldn\u2019t keep. But that was how you were supposed to lie to children. Especially your children. And Mrsha\u2014if only she could believe that. Erin held her and looked to the open door, around at the frightened faces.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be alright. Okay? It\u2019s going to be alright. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n She transferred Mrsha to Lyonette after the crying slowed and a few minutes had passed. Then Erin walked slowly towards the door.<\/p>\n \u201cHandkerchief, Miss Erin?\u201d<\/p>\n Wilovan handed it to Erin for her wet front. She blinked at it and shook her head. Then she checked her waist.<\/p>\n \u201cYou two\u2026if you\u2019re here to protect me, we can talk about it later. I have somewhere to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Slowly, she walked past the Gentlemen Callers. They exchanged a glance as Erin walked into the city. Her knife was at her side. It weighed so little. But it was sharper than last time. Erin had prepared her inn, herself for this kind of day.<\/p>\n Never again. She walked into the city as the real troubles began.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Evil sat in Liscor. Monsters. Things<\/em> from the dungeon and the ancient past. If those in Erin Solstice\u2019s inn had little sleep\u2014at least they had the [Garden of Sanctuary].<\/p>\n Those living in the city, let alone close to the prison had even less. To be fair\u2014some hadn\u2019t bothered to even try.<\/p>\n It would be wrong to call the group of mostly-Gnolls and some Drakes \u2018demonstrators\u2019. Demonstrators implied they had something to demonstrate and were at least vocal about the subject.<\/p>\n This crowd was quiet. And armed. They said little. But if the line of [Guards] around the prison\u2019s entrance were to open\u2014Watch Captain Zevara was certain that the prisoners would be dead within five minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cPrisoners.\u201d<\/p>\n She repeated the word so it lodged in her own head. That was how she had to think of them. Inmates, prisoners\u2026as the law prescribed them. She could hear what other people were saying just fine, thank you very much.<\/p>\n Monsters. <\/em>The Gnoll\u2019s forsaken ancestors from ages past. Nightmares which deserved neither mercy nor pity.<\/p>\n But they had surrendered.<\/em> So\u2014treat them like prisoners of war? Criminals each with a part in aiding and abetting murder at the very least?<\/p>\n The Watch Captain wished tea was stronger. Or stamina potions lasted longer. She stood in her office.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have the cells for them. Barely. We have to fit multiple to a cell, even in cases where the solitary confinement won\u2019t do. Also\u2014the issue is that we can\u2019t use some of the older cells. On advice, I\u2019ve moved Raskghar only to cells we\u2019re sure can hold them since none can use Skills.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn whose<\/em> advice, Watch Captain?\u201d<\/p>\n The Council was listening. And unlike previous Liscors, this Council seemed prepared to act. Unfortunately\u2014Zevara was at a loss to tell them what she thought should be done.<\/p>\n Not <\/em>kill all the Raskghar was a good step. But sentencing? Containment? There was going to be trouble soon with the Gnolls who wanted vengeance and everyone knew it.<\/p>\n But the Council had two problems today. The guests from Hectval had arrived unannounced. Getting them situated had been easier with the Raskghar situation, but they\u2019d still been all ruffled scales until they were placed at the Tailless Thief. Not her problem, anyways.<\/p>\n Zevara stood straight and looked past Lism\u2019s shoulder as she always did when she had news that she didn\u2019t want to actually convey. They were all here, including Jeiss, who was in the position of having to be a superior to his boss. There should probably have been a law against that or something.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026the advice comes from prisoner Calruz of Hammerad, Councilmember Lism.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWatch Captain! That Minotaur is responsible for\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe is the only known expert in the world on their capabilities, sir.<\/em> It was my decision to stand by his advice, which only goes as far as whether the Raskghar could bend the steel bars of their cells. Which they could on some of the iron ones. Sir.<\/em> I take full responsibility for the decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Lism\u2019s outraged mouth clicked shut.<\/p>\n \u201cIs the Minotaur still under confinement?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYessir. In the magical cell.\u201d<\/p>\n But he was not the issue.<\/em> Or rather\u2026it was a good thing the cell was there. As the old saying went, not to protect Calruz from the Raskghar. Quite the opposite.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The [Guards] in the jail proper watched as the Minotaur and the Raskghar sat in a staring contest. Neither side moved or blinked. Calruz\u2019s eyes were burning.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t do that, Minotaur.\u201d<\/p>\n Drakes and Humans in the City Watch here only, by the Watch Captain\u2019s orders. One of the Humans looked wary\u2014but he had no bones in the matter, having been hired two months ago. The Drakes eyed the Raskghar with a lot more wariness than Calruz.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me out. And I\u2019ll put an end to my dishonor myself. You won\u2019t have to guard either of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Two hundred sick Raskghar versus a one-armed Minotaur? But then\u2026if you\u2019d seen Calruz fighting, you might wonder\u2026<\/p>\n Even so, none of the [Guards] moved. And it was a strange thing. Beyond<\/em> strange. But look what time and relativity did.<\/p>\n Here was the Minotaur responsible for so much death. And here were the Raskghar who were arguably just as responsible. But one had been prisoner for months. He was repentant\u2014the same Minotaur who\u2019d charged into the inn full of Crelers and routinely cleared monster nests with a rusted axe, hauled heavy stones all day\u2026<\/p>\n The [Guards] did not like Calruz. But they weren\u2019t the Gnolls who hated<\/em> him and never got assigned to prison duty. He was familiar to them. And what\u2019s more\u2014an [Honorbound Prisoner]. They had [Appraisal] artifacts and Skills. They could read.<\/p>\n Compare that to the Raskghar. More\u2026bestial than Gnolls. Larger, more primitive, some called them. Certainly with smaller head relative to body size, a more\u2026<\/p>\n Earth Humans would have compared it to their version of Neanderthals versus Humans of their era. The Raskghar were coughing, weakened despite treatment\u2014<\/p>\n But they snarled and sniffed the air and snapped<\/em> at each other in their own language. The Watch was far warier of them than Calruz.<\/p>\n \u201cMinotaur. You sure the bars can hold?\u201d<\/p>\n One of the Drakes broke the silence to eye the Raskghar standing too close<\/em> to one of the cell\u2019s fronts. A [Guard] moved them back with a shout and a prod of the spear\u2019s butt.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can bend iron. Not steel. I\u2019m sure that one couldn\u2019t. Tell that Human to stop that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re too fast. They\u2019ll grab the spear and yank her through the bars.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Guardswoman] stopped. The others looked at Calruz. One of the Drakes coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean\u2026into the bars?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n The Watch slowly moved back from the cells. Calruz looked at the overcrowded prison.<\/p>\n \u201cHypothetically\u2026if they were able to break the cells\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake glanced at Calruz. The Minotaur\u2019s eyes flickered.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d have explosive and Tripvine type weapons ready to throw. No one walks next to the cells armed with those. They can hear you\u2014don\u2019t go near for any reason unless you make them manacle themselves. Don\u2019t give them anything to throw. I\u2019d put [Archers] behind a magical barricade there. If they come out\u2014abandon the cells. Throw potions and spells in and cast a cloud spell until we\u2019re all dead.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake glanced at the silent Raskghar. They had heard that.<\/em> He looked at the others.<\/p>\n Oh, how things changed. Slowly, he nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cMove back.<\/em> One patrol moves across the prison if need be; no more. Get the reinforced manacles; set of eight. Tell the Watch Captain we\u2019re fortifying the entrance. I want fifteen potions from our armory with a blast-factor and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n That was something. The Minotaur\u2019s status was changed. But the proof of his failures lay in front of him. The whispering was starting again. He closed his eyes.<\/p>\n Never again.<\/em> [Death Before Dishonor]. He clung to it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Someone\u2019s got to entertain them! Despite this\u2014this crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe can decide the Raskghar issue now,<\/em> Lism! Just call for a [Headsman] or let the Gnolls do it ourselves!\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia snarled. Lism nearly\u2014nearly<\/em> snapped back.<\/p>\n But it was not a time for rage, but quick thinking. And since Krshia was the one beyond reason for once\u2014he remained calm. Strange, how that worked when Lism was almost always ready to yell first.<\/p>\n But it was seeing her so furious and\u2014worried\u2014that made Lism hold up his claws placatingly.<\/p>\n \u201cWatch Captain Zevara has them under lock and key.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor how long? There is only one way to deal with Raskghar.\u201d<\/p>\n That came from Elirr. The Gnoll was hunched over in his seat, looking\u2014well, ragged. Lism and everyone else in the Council\u2019s room eyed him with concern. Even Tismel and Zalaiss.<\/p>\n \u201cElirr, you really needn\u2019t be here. You could rest\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Alonna began, but the [Beast Trainer]\u2019s haunted gaze silenced that train of thought. And Lism understood that too, he really did.<\/p>\n Elirr\u2014nearly eaten alive<\/em> by those damn things, sacrificed and forced to live in a cage? The Drake shifted nervously.<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. The issue of what to do<\/em> with the Raskghar\u2014we certainly have few options. However, killing all of them sounds a bit\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Well, rational <\/em>if you listened to the stories. Lism wasn\u2019t in disfavor himself. But the objector in the room also happened to be Watch Captain Zevara. She folded her arms.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is an entire people, Councilman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are Raskghar.<\/em> Not people!\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake\u2019s face didn\u2019t move. Lism tapped a claw on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cWatch Captain, this is not the Minotaur situation all over again. We have no doubt that the Raskghar killed Gnolls\u2014that their\u2014their basic nature<\/em> revolves around the murder of Gnolls.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYessir. However\u2014that\u2019s painting all of them with the same brush. Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Lism\u2019s tail unhappily struck the carpets. He leaned forwards as Krshia made an inarticulate sound.<\/p>\n \u201cThey fed on our people in the darkness when we were hiding! They are monsters and if they are not slain\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you propose, then, Watch Captain? Do you suggest that we don\u2019t<\/em> hold the Raskghar accountable for their crimes? Hold them indefinitely in a prison which\u2014you have intimated\u2014isn\u2019t large or sure enough for them?\u201d<\/p>\n The Council fell silent once more. Jeiss was watching Zevara nervously. Her eyes flicked to him.<\/p>\n \u201cGive me time, Councilmembers. I can expand the jail. And I certainly don\u2019t intend to hold the Raskghar to anything less<\/em> than another criminal. But I will not have people\u2014Gnolls\u2014march in there and execute them before they have a chance to be tried\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTried\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014and duly sentenced under the law. Which is me!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara slammed a fist down and Krshia blinked. The Council fell silent as Zevara straightened and took a deep breath.<\/p>\n \u201cMy first duty is to the security of Liscor, Councilmembers. And as Watch Captain, I need to make sure no other Raskghar are coming from the dungeon! If this Nokha lives\u2014I want to find her. With respect, the issue of the Raskghar can wait until the threat<\/em> of the Raskghar is dealt with.\u201d<\/p>\n Lism looked around. No one was happy with that, but Zevara had reminded them that she was<\/em> Watch Captain. Unless they wanted to remove her, she didn\u2019t have to be here, especially in a crisis.<\/p>\n \u201cSee to the security of the prison, Watch Captain. We\u2019ll discuss the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n The female Drake saluted and marched out of the room. An unpleasant silence fell afterwards.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have to die.\u201d<\/p>\n Lism heard one of the Gnolls mutter that, but when he turned his head he couldn\u2019t tell which one. Krshia was practically shaking in her chair\u2014her paws gripped the table so hard he feared she\u2019d crack the wood.<\/p>\n Elirr was just sitting. Alonna and Jeiss were whispering about security\u2014and that was half<\/em> of their problems.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Councilmembers? The delegation from Hectval is breakfasting. They\u2019re wondering if\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Liscor\u2019s Council