On the fifth day of their sickness, Tyrion Veltras snapped. He summoned Jericha, his [Majordomo], Ullim, and gave them a single order.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatch over Sammial and Hethon. I am going to secure an [Alchemist].\u201d<\/p>\n
The Circle of Thorns had left a mark on House Veltras already. Over two dozen dead [Healers] and [Alchemists] in the local region had\u2026proven their commitment to this gambit. Each one, House Veltras had reached out to regarding the poison afflicting Lord Tyrion Veltras\u2019 sons.<\/p>\n
And each [Healer] and [Alchemist] had been warned. At first, the first group of them had weighed shadowy figures claiming to be the Guild of Assassins and the Circle of Thorns against the might of one of the Five Families. They had hired [Guards] or looked to existing defenses, the City Watch. Adventurers.<\/p>\n
The Circle of Thorns had delivered their heads to House Veltras\u2019 door thereafter. And no one in the region had been willing to even reply back to Jericha after that.<\/p>\n
However. Tyrion Veltras was unwilling to give up. Not just yet. The contract that the [Assassin] who had come to his keep had offered him was a fully-binding magical contract. One with few avenues for escape.<\/p>\n
So he demanded his newest warhorse saddled. Tyrion called for an escort of two hundred of the fastest [Riders]. His plan was to head straight for the highest-leveled [Alchemist] along the port-city of Keriwrel\u2014to the west and secure a cure.<\/p>\n
He had a vial of his son\u2019s blood, a description of their ailments and the preliminary work other [Healers] and [Alchemists] had done. If the Guild wanted to kill the [Alchemist] in his presence, they would have to fight past House Veltras\u2019 finest.<\/p>\n
Tyrion Veltras made it sixteen miles before Jericha called him back. He turned in his saddle and saw House Veltras\u2019 keep burning.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
—-<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAmbush, Lord Veltras. Dozens of spells struck the keep within the first volley. Indiscriminate fire. The city\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Tyrion saw smoke from the city as well. The keep was relatively undamaged. But the volley had been a warning. And the [Assassin] with the mask who lounged in the guest room applauded him as he stormed in.<\/p>\n
\u201cLord Veltras. The Circle anticipated you might try that. This was a warning. If you leave your estates, I cannot guarantee your sons will be there when you get back.\u201d<\/p>\n
She saw the [Lord] tense, his hand going to his sword. But a change had come over the [Assassin]\u2014the poison expert that had been sent here to threaten Lord Tyrion.<\/p>\n
She had already been\u2026brave? Mad? She was not one of the Guild\u2019s finest; the possibility had existed that Lord Tyrion would simply have her executed despite the warning. But neither was she of the Ranks, the expendable, numerous [Assassins] that the Guild inducted and trained.<\/p>\n
She had been wary but confident. Five days later\u2014she didn\u2019t even bother to rise as the [Lord]\u2019s eyes flashed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have attacked House Veltras\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLord Tyrion. We\u2019ve already poisoned your sons.<\/em> Do you really think the Guild will quibble if we have to burn a city down? That was a warning. My masters have instructed me to tell you that the next time our aim won\u2019t be off. If you try to ferry your sons elsewhere\u2014well, you can try. House Veltras has a fine army.\u201d<\/p>\n But not one specialized in warding two sick boys against [Assassins] for an entire journey to whatever safe haven you might find.<\/em> Tyrion Veltras\u2019 jaw clenched. He surely would have loved nothing more than to split the arrogant [Assassin] in twain. Yet she knew he wouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n He really did love his sons. And that made the [Toxins Expert]\u2014confident.<\/em> If he found no other routes, he would<\/em> sign the contract.<\/p>\n But he\u2019d try. Oh, he\u2019d try. The [Lord] spun on his heel without so much as a second word. Ullim, Jericha\u2014both stared at the [Assassin] without even trying to conceal their hatred.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll have a drink of wine, thank you. Have it sent to my rooms.\u201d<\/p>\n She was enjoying herself, a guest treated like royalty\u2014with perhaps something to be desired for friendly attitude. The [Assassin] saw Jericha clench her fist.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething you want to say?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWatch your behavior, poisoner.<\/em> When all this is over, do you really think everything will be forgiven?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Assassin] thought about this. Then she swung herself up nimbly. Jericha watched her walk over, hand hovering at her side. Jericha was probably higher-level, more experienced than even the [Assassin] in combat. Certainly, possessing more expensive artifacts. She was a nobleman\u2019s second-in-command, elite<\/em>, for whatever that word meant.<\/p>\n The [Toxin Expert] regarded Jericha and adjusted her mask. Then\u2014she stabbed Jericha.<\/p>\n Her dagger flashed from a hand and Jericha threw herself back. She was<\/em> good. And anyways, the [Assassin] hadn\u2019t gone for a killing thrust. Jericha clenched at her stomach, and her hand lifted a wand\u2014<\/p>\n The [Assassin] waited. Jericha\u2019s hand trembled as the tip of her wand glowed.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. I would watch your tongue as well. And heal yourself too, lest your master take offense. So long as the two young [Lords] are sick\u2014Lord Veltras will abide. And he will obey. So will you. Stop bothering me and leave me. Send a good vintage to my rooms.\u201d<\/p>\n She was<\/em> enjoying herself. The [Assassin] regarded the blood on her dagger as Jericha stared at her, then backed away. The door shut and the masked assassin sat back with a chuckle. She had been worried for her life at first. Not anymore. Tyrion Veltras was looking thinner; he\u2019d lost weight. The man had stopped eating.<\/p>\n He was softer than the rumors made it out to be. Or perhaps\u2014only fierce in war. She waited. Some things were inevitable. The next thing he\u2019d do was\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n House Veltras sent another request for assistance with the poisoning. Only this time\u2014they did not reach out to local [Alchemists] and [Healers], few as there were of the right level. They called for aid from the Five Families.<\/p>\n It was a sign of weakness, obviously. And one Lord Veltras had to be reluctant to give his political rivals. But if push came to shove and he couldn\u2019t leave his sons unprotected\u2014<\/p>\n The news was shocking and not depending on who you were.<\/em> And of course, it spread to even those without their sources of information. The two children of House Veltras were sick?<\/p>\n Not poisoned.<\/em> Not yet. The Five Families got a more complete picture, as did the rest of House Veltras\u2019 members. Tyrion needed a cure.<\/p>\n Now. Would he get it? There was a bit of debate. Perhaps an hour of reflection as the leaders of their houses got the message and were apprised if they weren\u2019t already. Then the answer came:<\/p>\n Of course. They were children.<\/em> Magnolia Reinhart was absent from Izril, but the other three families had [Alchemists] and [Healers] in their employ. They wouldn\u2019t shirk for fear of violence\u2026<\/p>\n Deilan El himself visited the House of El\u2019s [Alchemist], Master Menob\u2014one of the better ones even among the Five Families. After all, the House of El were artisans and a good [Alchemist] was a must.<\/p>\n The newly-instated patriarch of the El family knew his business\u2014he had been working as Maviola\u2019s assistant for a long time, after all. And this matter with Tyrion\u2014he himself was a father. Politics aside, he would have agreed.<\/p>\n However, Master Menob\u2019s shop was locked and the man had refused to answer [Message] spells. Deilan waited as his bodyguards investigated the shop and found it empty.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is<\/em> Master Menob? Time is of the essence!\u201d<\/p>\n They found Menob hiding in his laboratory. Four men had to drag the old man\u2014in his late seventies, skin purpled around his hands from some failed experiment, but a genius at creating alchemical powders\u2014out. He was shaking.<\/p>\n \u201cLord El!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaster Menob, what are you doing? I sent word two hours ago to begin investigating the antidote for\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The man was shaking his head. So violently Deilan feared he\u2019d injure himself in his old age. Menob\u2019s eyes were wide with a mortal fear.<\/p>\n \u201cLord El\u2014I cannot. Please\u2014forgive me. I cannot do this.\u201d<\/p>\n Deilan stared at him. And then he felt the first pinprick on the back of his neck. It did not take long for Menob\u2019s terror to become apparent. You see\u2014he was a grandfather. A great grandfather, actually. And the moment Tyrion had made his appeal to the other Five Families, some strangers had paid a visit to both children and grandchildren\u2019s homes. Handed two of the children cards to give to their parents with a familiar mark.<\/p>\n Menob had heard about the other [Assassins]. He might not have feared for his life\u2014but his family\u2019s? Deilan El tried to assure them they would be safe.<\/p>\n \u201cThe House of El\u2019s personal guard will watch over them day and night, Master Menob. Until the cure is done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan they watch over them for the rest of their lives? Every second, Lord El? My relatives? My friends?\u201d<\/p>\n Deilan couldn\u2019t answer that. Not right away. He had to retire and pour himself a drink. Madness.<\/em> And yet\u2014and yet\u2014<\/p>\n Lord Tyrion began to receive regrets from the other Five Families.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was<\/em> madness. The Circle of Thorns could not threaten the Five Families, even their servants. They might be made up of powerful\u2026nobles\u2026although that was unsubstantiated, but almost certainly true. Even members of the Five Families themselves, perhaps?<\/p>\n But even if they were\u2014this was like an idiot with a crossbow holding up a room full of [Knights] in armor. He might do damage, but if it came to blows, the Circle of Thorns could not stand against the wrath of Izril\u2019s greatest houses.<\/p>\n Yet\u2014Magnolia Reinhart was familiar with the tactic. She was thoroughly sick of salt and seawater, but look where she was? On the Reinhart\u2019s flag ship, the Velistrane<\/em>, surrounded by her servants rather than on land. She had been chased from her home. And, suddenly, people weren\u2019t taking the Circle of Thorns as lightly as before.<\/p>\n The Courier incident had put them on the map. Made people aware that the Assassin\u2019s Guild wasn\u2019t Magnolia\u2019s anymore. But it hadn\u2019t worried<\/em> them. Today?<\/p>\n The Circle had come within a heart\u2019s breath of killing Magnolia Reinhart. By treachery, in a surprise attack and ultimately failing\u2014yes. It had taken Tyrion Veltras himself interceding to stop them. And now look at Tyrion. He\u2019d put the target on his back. The question now was: who would be next?<\/p>\n And if they dared to poison his sons, what would they do to someone who wasn\u2019t so crucial? Ask yourself that.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like an idiot with a crossbow standing in a room full of\u2026[Knights]. Or nobles, I suppose. If he makes them all his enemies, he dies. But the first person to jump up gets a crossbow bolt in the chest, Ressa. Is that a suitably\u2026[Warrior]-like explanation?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt certainly seems distilled. What will you do?\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia pursed her lips.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat can<\/em> we do, Ressa? We\u2019re under siege.\u201d<\/p>\n She was evacuating her estates across Izril. Her staff\u2014combat-trained, extremely competent, were in danger of their lives. The Circle of Thorns was sending their lower-ranked [Assassins] in and Magnolia, rather than stick and fight, was pulling out of Izril.<\/p>\n \u201cWe could take the battle to them. If House Reinhart goes to war\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia tsked.<\/em> She knew they could fight back. After all they\u2019d done\u2014Sacra, the other deaths\u2014the Circle of Thorns deserved it. However\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cI would rather not, even now, Ressa. I realize that may sound\u2026cowardly, Reynold?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked to the side. The [Butler] stood, his face bordering on blank. Not impassive\u2014he bowed too-precisely, even for him.<\/p>\n \u201cNot at all, Lady Reinhart.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lady] regarded him and nodded. When she spoke next, it was for his benefit, not Ressa\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason is that it\u2019s escalation, Reynold. Escalation which is deserved<\/em> and will come! But I cannot journey to the Drake\u2019s cities and fight a war in the north. And\u2026if House Reinhart goes to war against the Circle of Thorns, it will be war<\/em> until one side or another is destroyed completely. Just like my grandmother faced, and they haunted her into her deathbed. Let them think I\u2019ve run.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRetreat and ambush, Lady Reinhart? I don\u2019t see anything wrong with that strategy. As a [Warrior], if you\u2019ll pardon my input.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lady] nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Reynold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about Tyrion?\u201d<\/p>\n Ressa shot Magnolia a sidelong look. The [Lady] frowned.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026They\u2019ve calculated this with more effort than anything so far. They don\u2019t want to fail after the Couriers incident and failing to kill me. If Tyrion tries to secure help from overseas\u2014whatever cure he secures, or person, won\u2019t make it out of the port-city. If you had to, Ressa, and I was perfectly safe\u2014could you fend off the Guild\u2019s best efforts?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean\u2014the Faces? It could be three Level 40+ [Assassins] coming at a vulnerable target at any moment along the trip. Even a higher-level one, or more. I\u2019m not a [Bodyguard]. I\u2019d need help. A Named Team or a Courier\u2014and a good one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Teriarch hasn\u2019t answered since that last strange message.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia sighed. Why now?<\/em> And why\u2014why were her reports indicating that the Eater Goats and Gargoyles were suddenly getting a lot more active around the High Passes?<\/p>\n Unintentionally or not, Teriarch\u2019s presence had kept the High Passes calm,<\/em> for a measure of calm, for decades! The monsters didn\u2019t act up when the biggest predator around was all too willing to incinerate anyone who woke him up from his nap. But it was almost as if\u2026<\/p>\n He\u2019d probably gotten around to securing his cave and hidden his presence. Magnolia closed her eyes. The Archmage of Izril was back, that headache\u2026<\/p>\n It was falling apart. Yet she thought of Oteslia. Hold to that. What Tyrion had to learn was that you had to fight these kinds of wars differently than an actual battle\u2026or was that wrong?<\/p>\n Secure your back, have allies you could trust in\u2026the dance of [Assassins] and watching for poison, traps, magical hexes and so on was just another plane of fighting. Magnolia searched for an answer.<\/p>\n \u201cNalthaliarstrelous\u2026is not a healer. He has contacts, but if no [Druid] in Veltras\u2019 lands has volunteered already\u2014and they are not proof against [Assassins]. If they were in his garden and we were in the mansion, I\u2019d try.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Healer of Tenbault? We have a personal connection\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lady] sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019ll refuse. Her security isn\u2019t up to the task of defeating the Guild and she herself is not\u2026mm\u2026brave enough to even dare them to risk killing Izril\u2019s finest healer. If it were me, I\u2019d demand Regis open his vault. But it\u2019s House Veltras\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ressa grimaced. And Regis Reinhart would rather let children die than aid his enemies for no gain. Well, that was harsh. He\u2019d rather dance on their graves<\/em> than help.<\/p>\n \u201cFrankly, Ressa. It\u2019s easier to break a magical contract then get a cure to Tyrion now. I haven\u2019t even the faintest clue what it is. And you\u2026? Theofore\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Head Maid] shook her head silently. The one last [Assassin] in Magnolia\u2019s direct employ was also clueless.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re experts at using poison, Magnolia. It could be any number of poisons or some mixed dosage based on the symptoms. You need a master [Healer] or [Alchemist] who knows poisons.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lady] nodded gravely.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Then I think Tyrion Veltras will sign the contract. We\u2019ll have to break the enchantment, Ressa. Either by Regis or Teriarch or one of our [Mage] allies. Either way\u2014we simply can\u2019t fight on Izril, not with every servant available preparing southern Izril.\u201d<\/p>\n Not against the kind of [Assassins] who\u2019d ambushed her. They were of a level beyond that of most of Reinhart\u2019s servants. Ressa bowed slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, milady.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia Reinhart closed her eyes. If it were a war\u2014she felt for Tyrion. If he had a heart, it was in his family. And this was no war, no enemy he could face with lance and shield.<\/p>\n \u201cGive in, Tyrion. Don\u2019t let pride break you.\u201d<\/p>\n She murmured once. He surely would. She just hoped he could survive whatever the Circle demanded of him. How had she not noticed them growing amid the weeds?<\/p>\n That was Izril for you. Gnolls and Drakes and Humans, all of whom could kill each other so efficiently they barely had time enough for one another.<\/p>\n It made her miss the Antinium Wars, even Velan the Kind, it really did. Peace was harder than war with all the idiots clawing at each other for power. Magnolia Reinhart sipped at her tea to wash the disgust off her tongue.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was a Vampire in her inn. Erin Solstice kept peering at her from the doorway that morning. Fierre seemed normal. Sitting in a hoodie-type thing, baggy clothing, sipping at some tea.<\/p>\n Not biting everyone in sight. Not sparkling either or speaking with a heavy accent. Red eyes, though, pointy canines if you watched her mouth. Oh, and she\u2019d ordered an extra-rare hamburger last night.<\/p>\n All of that could be a normal person. Erin narrowed her eyes. Except she knew.<\/em> Not that she\u2019d made\u2026preparations.<\/p>\n Like a garlic bomb, or\u2014or a jar of acidfly juice infused with garlic.<\/em> Wait\u2014did you even need the garlic? Really\u2026Erin felt like Vampires in this world had it rough. All she had to do was remove the pointy steel tips of her crossbow bolts to create\u2026a more Vampire-killy weapon?<\/p>\n Was her acid not good enough? Her ability to call fire? \u2026Wands loaded with deadly spells? Now, when you got down to it, how much more dangerous was Fierre than, say, your average angry-Klbkch? You couldn\u2019t scare Klbkch off with spare change, could you?<\/p>\n Erin decided to throw caution to the wind. She walked over.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Fierre\u2014good morning! How\u2019s it going?\u201d<\/p>\n The Vampire girl looked up. She smiled without showing her teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cOh\u2014um, hello Miss Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just Erin. How\u2019d you sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood. I mean\u2026really well. You have a Skill, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c[Twofold Rest]. Yup! More sleep, less time! Although I just wake up and snuggle in my blankets for like\u2014an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin hesitated and coughed. This might have been too personal. But Fierre laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cI do that too! There\u2019s nothing better, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?<\/em> Er\u2014well, obviously. You know, we have one of the Antinium\u2014Bird\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBird the Hunter?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Innkeeper] grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cNah, just Bird. The rest\u2019s an exaggeration. Although that is his class. Anyways, he has this \u2018Fortress of Fluff\u2019 which is like\u2014a mountain of blankets and pillows. Since the Antinium can\u2019t really lie on their backs with the shell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that so? That\u2019s\u2014hold on. You don\u2019t mind if I make a note of that, would you? [Twofold Rest] as well\u2026I\u2019ve got notes on the Skill. Is there anything special about it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm\u2026what are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin saw the Vampire produce a small journal with neatly-written pages and an enchanted quill. She began scribbling industriously.<\/p>\n \u201cJust taking some notes. It could be worth something\u2014well, the information about Bird the Hunter definitely is. Sorry\u2014you don\u2019t mind, do you? Tell me if it\u2019s confidential. You\u2019re Ryoka\u2019s friend, but you know my job is an Opener and broker, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin had<\/em> heard that, but she\u2019d forgotten what it meant. She began to panic.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoa, hold on! You can\u2019t write down what I say!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not? Is it dangerous?\u201d<\/p>\n The Vampire paused, looking worried. Erin waved her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not it! I say all kinds<\/em> of stupid stuff! Don\u2019t write down\u2026well, okay, Bird not being super dangerous\u2014that\u2019s sort of fine?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that so? I saw him shooting Wyverns through the eye at range.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre raised an eyebrow. Erin brushed that away.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s just super-talented at shooting birds. Which he thinks Wyverns are. He\u2019s nice! I\u2019ll introduce you! He\u2019s a [Singer]\u2014hey, are you writing that down?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly in case anyone\u2019s interested. Information is money.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre tried to look innocent. Erin wasn\u2019t sure if she could scowl at Fierre or not. If the Vampire had been a certain [Necromancer], Erin would already be bopping Fierre on the head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sound like Montressa and Bezale.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked for them, but they weren\u2019t up yet. They were always running about\u2014apparently setting up deals<\/em> between cities. They were sort of steamed since Pallass was blocked from entering The Wandering Inn for six more days. Mind you\u2014the door was still active and it got checked. But Erin had deployed her aura and only Saliss, Rufelt, Lasica, and Chaldion could walk through without trouble.<\/p>\n \u201cThose two?\u201d<\/p>\n The pale-skinned girl grimaced. She was apparently older than both Erin and Ryoka, but she looked<\/em> sixteen or something. Erin really wanted to know if Fierre could turn into a bat. Ryoka didn\u2019t think so, but she hadn\u2019t asked<\/em>, had she? But Erin was going to keep the secret. Definitely. She just wished Ryoka would convince Fierre to tell Erin. Because Erin could keep the secret! Absolutely.<\/p>\n \u2026What did blood taste like? Blood? Or something better?<\/p>\n \u201cSomething wrong with Montressa and Beza? Have you met them before or something?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin asked cautiously. She was still sort of awkward<\/em> around Fierre. And not just because of the secret. But the Vampire girl seemed friendly, if shy! Fierre hesitated. She looked around and grimaced before lowering her voice.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not that. It\u2019s just\u2014I know they\u2019re in my line of work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Sending [Messages] and opening letters? Oh, you mean secrets.<\/em> Ceria said that was Montressa\u2019s job. How do you know? Is it like\u2014a sixth sense or something?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin nearly said \u2018a Skill\u2019, but Fierre didn\u2019t get those. Wait\u2014should she have asked? This was too hard!<\/p>\n \u201cEr\u2014no. I asked. Their names popped up\u2014you tend to know other people in your line of work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. So they\u2019re rivals? Is that it?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre seemed a bit peeved<\/em> at them for some reason, despite them never having met. She sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like this, Erin. They\u2019re\u2026Wistram. You know, the Academy? Full of secrets? And they\u2019re both [Mages]. Du Valeross<\/em> is a royal title. I imagine they have tons of secrets and levers. I\u2019m not saying Mage Montressa didn\u2019t work hard! But she had advantages. And I had to earn my position and respect! But she could come to Reizmelt and put me out of work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.<\/em> I get it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Vampire gave her an embarrassed grin and then covered her mouth with a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, I just feel competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I understand! They\u2019re like\u2014\u2018these bigwig information people, coming and throwing their weight around compared to us humble people who had to start from the bottom? Huck-phuh!<\/em>\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Erin pretended to spit. But then she actually did. Fierre and Erin stared at a bit of spit on the table. The [Innkeeper] turned bright red.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so sorry.<\/em> Let me just clean that up\u2014I didn\u2019t mean to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre started laughing so hard she nearly fell out of her chair. Erin, flustered, started giggling too. By the time Ryoka came downstairs, they were already more at ease with each other. Erin liked Fierre. She was fun.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mrsha the Slightly Filthy had been kicked out of Ryoka\u2019s room. The Gnoll kicked Ryoka\u2019s door and grumped off. Straight into Lyonette\u2019s arms. The [Princess] scooped her up, having heard Ryoka exile Mrsha, and sniffed at her head.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it. Bath, young miss! You\u2019re filthy!\u201d<\/p>\n Mrsha the Eminently Clean wiggled in outrage! Not in the morning!<\/em> What was the point of bathing yourself when you had an entire day ahead of you? But it was too late. The tyrant carried Mrsha towards the newly-instated bath rooms.<\/p>\n 1st<\/sup> Floor, part of the new wing along with Octavia\u2019s shop. Not open to the public as of yet. Erin and Lyonette had decided they didn\u2019t need to compete with Liscor\u2019s public baths anyways, but having a private hot tub appealed to Erin. And it certainly made it a shorter trip. Lyonette was already asking Silveran to draw water for the tub.<\/p>\n Inside of her room, Ryoka listened to Lyonette arguing with Mrsha the Escape Artist as she did something she hadn\u2019t done in\u2026years?<\/p>\n She made her bed. <\/em>Ryoka adjusted sheets, flipped the blanket off the bed to shake it off, and put it back on. You tucked in the corners\u2026put the pillows\u2026Mrsha had lots of white fur. Better make sure none was on the pillow\u2026<\/p>\n Ryoka stepped back to check her work and adjusted one crease. There. It looked reasonably well-made. No clothing lying about, no dirt\u2026well, she\u2019d been in the room all of two days. But you\u2019d be amazed<\/em> how much dirt Mrsha tracked in using her garden-gateway.<\/p>\n But how was the room? Ryoka had borrowed a broom and you probably didn\u2019t want to eat your food off the floor, but it was at least decent to walk on. The City Runner checked her reflection in a personal mirror.<\/p>\n That was definitely Ryoka Griffin. Reasonably unsmelly\u2026not noticeably worse-for-wear today. But did Ryoka like Ryoka? That was always the pertinent question.<\/p>\n Self-hatred aside\u2026was there room for improvement? Ryoka felt there might be. She could\u2026dye her hair? Octavia had some magical dyes and Ryoka\u2014who had gone through a phase<\/em>\u2014was almost tempted to try it. Hair dyes on Earth took a long time, had all kinds of nasty chemicals and weren\u2019t actually that vibrant unless you really worked at it\u2014and even then, artificially.<\/p>\n Magical dyes were magic,<\/em> looked amazing, and if there were bad chemicals, they were magic<\/em> chemicals.<\/p>\n But that was definitely too much. Ryoka shook her head and headed downstairs. She opened her door\u2014and a Lamia blinked as he coiled down the hallway.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, good morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello. Sorry\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka let him pass. Hexel slithered downstairs and Ryoka couldn\u2019t help but stare after him. And that was normal these days. She saw someone else walk out of his room, scratching at his stomach.<\/p>\n Numbtongue and Ryoka Griffin locked eyes. They blinked at each other, knowing each other, but like Erin and Fierre\u2014not being completely on the same page. Ryoka had been wary of the Redfang when they\u2019d first met. Even offended him.<\/p>\n \u201cHi.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight. Good morning. Sleep well?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Bard] stared at Ryoka\u2019s slightly-nervous grin and shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I slept on a book.\u201d<\/p>\n He grumbled as he poked at his stomach. Ryoka looked down and saw\u2026an indentation on his front. Was\u2026was that some kind of problem going around the inn? Erin had complained about the exact same thing! Then Ryoka noticed that Numbtongue was in shape.<\/em><\/p>\n Those were Hawk-level abs. She blinked as the Hobgoblin walked downstairs. Then Ryoka shook her head. What was with [Warrior]-types\u2026who burned a lot of energy\u2026actually, it made perfect sense. Especially when Erin had revealed that there were [Chefs] who could make weight-loss foods.<\/p>\n But in this world, didn\u2019t it make more sense for people to idealize a chubbier form, or had they already gone through that period like Earth? Maybe it was because there were other species, some of whom might really object to that aesthetic\u2026<\/p>\n Ryoka had time for her odd speculation on the development of bodily beauty this morning. Because, as was evident from the inn, there was at last<\/em> no huge crisis. At least\u2014not an enduring one.<\/p>\n It was a relief to Erin and Ryoka, especially because both kept expecting the bathtubs to explode or Skinner 2.0 to crawl out from the sewers or something like that. Yes, Ryoka had returned to the inn.<\/p>\n She was back, but historically that led to so much\u2026flak. Trouble was common to Erin and Ryoka\u2019s general experience. From Frost Faeries to the first time they had met and gone into the dungeon to find Olesm and Ceria\u2014Ryoka and Erin had few calm days between them.<\/p>\n Good days?<\/em> Of course. But calm? Fewer of those. So the idea of \u2018calm\u2019 was actually on both Ryoka and Erin\u2019s minds today.<\/p>\n \u201cCrepes!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin announced, having bullied Imani into providing the meal today. With whipped cream, strawberries, and a host of goodies that had Mrsha racing out of the bath room, sopping wet, pursued by a furious Lyonette.<\/p>\n \u201cMorning, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka greeted Erin and the [Innkeeper] pointed to Fierre.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Ryoka, I made friends with Fierre.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Already?\u201d<\/p>\n You left Erin alone for five minutes<\/em> and she was making friends with your friends! Ryoka felt a bit\u2026well, almost annoyed at how easy it was for Erin. Inconsiderate to anti-social people like Ryoka.<\/p>\n The City Runner saw the Vampire girl munching on a crepe with strawberry jam\u2014probably reassuring to her\u2014and watching Numbtongue out of the corner of her eye. He went straight to the table, loaded up his crepe with butter and whipped cream and began munching down unapologetically.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, she\u2019s cool. And I didn\u2019t mention you-know-what<\/em>, even though it was really hard!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin gave Ryoka a wink. The City Runner gave her<\/em> a long look.<\/p>\n \u201cHow tempted were you to say something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm\u2026crepes?\u201d<\/p>\n The Wind Runner gave up and went over to the table. Erin followed her, chattering.<\/p>\n \u201cI had some ideas about today, actually. I know you have to meet with that Lady Ieka person and do all kinds of stuff with Salamani\u2014he\u2019s already in Invrisil, by the way. Guy wakes up early. <\/em>Do you think you\u2019ll have some free time, though?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. Well\u2014it shouldn\u2019t take too long. Hedault maybe, but I doubt we can even schedule time with him today. We\u2019ll sound it out. But on that note, Erin\u2026I actually wanted to ask you a favor?\u201d<\/p>\n Here it came. <\/em>Erin visibly braced.<\/p>\n \u201cSure? For what?\u201d<\/p>\n Go into the dungeon? Fight a Rock Crab barehanded? Ryoka\u2019s favors could be anything. The City Runner took a breath.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026need you to take care of Mrsha instead of letting her latch onto me around dinner, okay? I mean\u2014it might not be necessary in which case I\u2019ll let you know. But just in case.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin Solstice gave her friend a blank look.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, that\u2019s all?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. But I\u2019m serious, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka met her gaze, trying not to look embarrassed. Erin scratched her head.<\/p>\n \u201cSure can do. But why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026might be occupied.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin!<\/em> Ryoka glared at her. But the [Innkeeper] was giving her one of the blank Erin-stares that was either genuine or completely fake.<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s someone? Whoa\u2014you mean a date? Who?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka flushed. Erin was doing it on purpose this time. Sometimes you couldn\u2019t tell, but this time it was obvious, no matter how good the act was and it stung.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou know who!\u201d<\/p>\n The [Innkeeper] had to think. She shook her head slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cI do? No. Who?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRelc! Stop playing dumb, Erin. I know you don\u2019t like\u2014what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n The aggravated Runner saw Erin\u2019s face fall. Ryoka stopped growing angry abruptly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc. The goofy [Guard] of Liscor, and also an exceptionally dangerous guy with a spear. He had doubtless been busy with the Raskghar situation, but Ryoka was\u2026curious if he\u2019d stayed away because he\u2019d heard she was back or if he was just busy. She thought\u2014but Erin\u2019s face had suddenly fallen and Ryoka realized something had happened since she\u2019d been gone.<\/p>\n \u201cDid\u2026something happen to Relc?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Relc was gone. Ryoka Griffin listened to the brief account of him\u2014leaving due to the Golden Triangle situation and sagged.<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n There was nothing more to say. If you weren\u2019t there, you couldn\u2019t complain about having missed it. Erin nodded glumly.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Another city. I forget which one. You were\u2026gonna see if he was there?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka nodded absently. Erin peered at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did <\/em>like him?\u201d<\/p>\n Dead gods,<\/em> she could be sensitive or cripplingly insensitive<\/em> at times. Ryoka rubbed at her face. Or was it just her being embarrassed to talk about normal things? She spoke, haltingly.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s\u2026a nice guy. Sort of an idiot, but that made two of us. I did like him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Good. Sorry. I thought you knew. Well, I forgot.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka nodded, then shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s no big deal. It was just\u2014I was just going to take a hike with him. I kind of offered to last time. See the Floodplains. It was just a thing. Sorry for snapping at you.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin\u2019s eyes flickered.<\/p>\n \u201cWow. So you liked<\/em> him?\u201d<\/p>\n The other young woman snapped at last.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Erin. I barely know him! I just liked\u2026him. <\/em>He seemed like a nice, lonely guy to me. I was wondering how he was doing, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Innkeeper] looked guilty and backed down at once.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. I just wanted to know.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t her fault. Ryoka felt bad about not knowing, so she was being snappy. She shook her head, mumbling an apology. But she did wonder about Erin.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t you feel alone some days? <\/em>But perhaps Mrsha, the inn, her friends and family were enough for Erin. Ryoka envied that, if it were true.<\/p>\n \u201cHave you heard from Relc?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shook her head sadly.<\/p>\n \u201cI sent him a [Message], but I never got an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see. I hope he\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe too.\u201d<\/p>\n That was all there was to say. Ryoka went to get a crepe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Crepes were crepes, and Erin could only hype them up so much. Honestly, Ryoka enjoyed them. Fierre enjoyed them more, having probably not had them before\u2014and Mrsha was a kid, so she enjoyed them most.<\/em> But was Ryoka supposed to do a dance every time she ate a crepe?<\/p>\n Well, it was entertaining to watch Mrsha do one. And this time\u2014there were two other little dancing kids who joined her. Ryoka had to rub her eyes and wonder if Mrsha\u2019d multiplied.<\/p>\n She had never met Ekirra and Visma before. And the little Gnoll and Drake had come for breakfast.<\/p>\n \u201cCrepes, crepes!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin joined them for a little bit. She\u2019d invited Ekirra\u2019s older sister and Visma\u2019s older brother, who had to bring them, to have food. Ryoka saw Ekirra put a crepe on his head and Mrsha nearly fell over laughing.<\/p>\n They were such\u2026kids. And Erin was the worst one. Ekirra and Visma stared at Ryoka as they took a seat at the table where the breakfast was happening.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd these are your friends? Hi. I\u2019m Ryoka.\u201d<\/p>\n The two children stared as Mrsha said something complicated in sign language. She\u2019d been teaching Ryoka, but whatever it was made them nod. Ekirra began licking at his plate until his sister made him use utensils.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you Mrsha\u2019s\u2026mom? I thought that was Miss Lyonette.\u201d<\/p>\n Visma saw Ryoka cough on a bite. Lyonette shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka is Mrsha\u2019s\u2026she\u2019s Mrsha\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAunt.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Erin brightly replied. Visma went \u2018oh\u2019, ignorant of the consternation she\u2019d put among the adults. Ekirra licked syrup off his arm fur and stared at Ryoka as she ate.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy are you missing two fingers?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEkirra!\u201d<\/p>\n His sister smacked him on the head. Hard. Ekirra howled and started sniveling, which made his sister, in her very early teens, flustered and embarrassed and tried to shut him up\u2014until Erin gave him a cup of blue fruit juice.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s very nice to meet you two. Er\u2026Visma, is it? I think that\u2019s my fork\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy fork.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake hissed<\/em> at Ryoka. She\u2019d purloined the fork when Ryoka wasn\u2019t looking. Her brother growled.<\/p>\n \u201cVisma!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n They began wrestling for the fork and Visma held onto it with the force of kleptomania. Ryoka ended up getting another fork from the kitchen.<\/p>\n Kids. She was reminded why she used to dislike them. Visma and Ekirra were more\u2026childish than Mrsha. Although Mrsha could be just as silly.<\/p>\n Their presence was a good thing, though. It meant their families felt the inn was safe enough to send them. And they were clearly good for Mrsha. She hung out with them, giggling at inane things, running into the garden straight after to play with her enchanted ball\u2026<\/p>\n Her enchanted ball?<\/em> Ryoka stared. And she realized\u2014she\u2019d missed Mrsha\u2019s birthday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Numbtongue was highly interested in the guests this time around. He knew Ryoka Griffin of course. She wasn\u2019t his favorite Human\u2014but she seemed decent and at least in better shape than Erin, who couldn\u2019t run for a mile without asking to stop.<\/p>\n \u2026Although she certainly seemed to always be in some kind of emotional distress. Erin was reassuring her as she clutched at her head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a great birth\u2014we had a fun birthday! With only a few hiccups, Ryoka! Don\u2019t worry! Mrsha got enough presents already! Like\u2014way too many. Selys, all the adventurers\u2026it\u2019s sort of good you didn\u2019t give her one. Look, we can make her something special and call it a late-birthday, howsabout that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat day is it? How long did I miss it by? How old is<\/em> she, Erin?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese are all good questions, Ryoka. With good answers. We think<\/em> it\u2019s\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The Hobgoblin watched Ryoka idly. He wondered where the Courier had gone. Couriers\u2014tough. Redfangs knew of them since they had clashed with Humans.<\/p>\n You didn\u2019t fight Couriers. Let them run off. They were trickier than adventurers because their entire thing was to get away<\/em> from monsters. Not that Numbtongue was going to ambush Salamani. It was just a thought.<\/p>\n No, if there was someone he was really<\/em> interested in\u2014the Hobgoblin snuck another glance at her.<\/p>\n Fierre was staring nervously at Mrsha and her friends, who were throwing around the silver ball Numbtongue had gifted Mrsha. He had no idea why. Nor why Fierre was so\u2026<\/p>\n Appealing? Well, attractive<\/em> was the right word. Not that Numbtongue was necessarily attracted to her! It was just\u2014he\u2019d never met anyone with such fine Goblin features.<\/p>\n Red eyes, pointed teeth\u2014Numbtongue was fascinated. Had he just never met Humans who looked like that?<\/p>\n He was fascinated. But\u2014the Hobgoblin was also aware he was a Goblin so he didn\u2019t want to alarm Fierre. He watched as she ate more strawberry jam. Numbtongue\u2026<\/p>\n \u2026Was sort of bored today.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Three newly-rich people had crises that day. And they were all somewhat<\/em> related to each other in the grand scheme of things. For instance, Ryoka actually did return to the Earth-rooms with Erin where she\u2019d dealt with a discipline issue with Troy and Leon\u2014they weren\u2019t showing their faces today.<\/p>\n Kevin and Joseph had also volunteered to bounce their heads all the way down Pallass\u2019 grand staircase if they went to Grimalkin again. They were rising in Ryoka\u2019s esteem.<\/p>\n This time, however, she found an unexpected guest in the room filled with Earth facts and memorabilia. Selys Shivertail was sitting in front of a laptop, watching a movie.<\/p>\n Ryoka threw<\/em> Erin into the [Garden of Sanctuary]\u2019s pond when the [Innkeeper] had the audacity to look at Selys and go \u2018what? Oh, I forgot to tell you.<\/em>\u2019 The City Runner was all prepared to give Selys a more involved talk about the dangers of spreading information about Earth\u2026but she relented when she saw Selys.<\/p>\n The Drake was a bit\u2026drawn.<\/em> She didn\u2019t look like she\u2019d slept, and she was mumbling to herself as she rocked back and forth in front of the laptop, wrapped up in a blanket.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything is so small.<\/em> We can build higher. Higher\u2014this place is so crude. I should invest in glass. Glass is the future.\u201d<\/p>\n She was staring at some of Kevin\u2019s pictures of Earth. Ryoka and Erin checked her worriedly.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Selys\u2026Ryoka\u2019s here.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake jerked and looked up at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother one? Oh, right. Right\u2026are you from one of those countries? Where?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEr\u2026I\u2019m from America, same as Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou look different.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHer parents are Japanese<\/em>, Selys. Are you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake stood up and stared at the world map. She traced Japan to America.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so far. No, wait\u2014it\u2019s a round world. Round!<\/em> There\u2019s no end to the world. And\u2014and\u2014you can fly in giant metal Dragons all over.<\/em> Right, nothing strange about that!\u201d<\/p>\n She laughed hysterically. Ryoka saw Erin bite her lip. Selys Shivertail was the first person Ryoka had met who had well\u2026an appropriate reaction for someone being told another world actually existed.<\/em><\/p>\n She was no Grimalkin, or Pisces, or even Krshia\u2014who might not understand everything, come to that\u2014or Teriarch or Ivolethe. Selys was shaking so bad Erin had to ask if she\u2019d had breakfast. When Selys asked if it was morning, Erin went to get her some food.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s been watching movies nonstop. I think she thinks they\u2019re real. I tried to explain, but she\u2019s uh, freaked out by everything. Maviola\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Galina whispered to Ryoka when Erin was gone. And that brought up another person of note.<\/p>\n Maviola El.<\/em> It was going to happen. Ryoka hadn\u2019t been able to talk to the [Lady Firestarter] yet, but she was at the top of the list. Only\u2014she hadn\u2019t come into the inn. But Erin promised that it was actually<\/em> Maviola El and Fierre confirmed it.<\/p>\n \u201cI have some notes. I can\u2019t believe it, but I heard about Maviola El downing a Potion of Youth and riding off, Ryoka. It was the talk of Izril a month back! I\u2026can\u2019t believe she\u2019s still alive, honestly. Either she has a lot of Potions of Youth or they last longer than I thought!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait, alive?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka hadn\u2019t heard about Maviola\u2019s swansong. But it immediately spoke to her. And made her worried.<\/p>\n \u201cShe might not even make it to the Summer Solstice, even if she decides it\u2019s worth attending!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm\u2026she\u2019s got a good chance of making it. And she promised to come. There\u2019s like\u2026a good chance of her making it, actually. With uh\u2026stuff\u2026happening.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin coughed into a fist. Ryoka and Fierre stared<\/em> at her.<\/p>\n \u201cErin. Have you managed to stop time itself?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot me.<\/em> It wasn\u2019t my fault! Well, I just helped\u2014I\u2019ll tell you about it later, Ryoka.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Innkeeper] had stopped to eye Fierre, who\u2019d guiltily put away her notebook. But if Erin<\/em> was being circumspect\u2026<\/p>\n Ryoka\u2019s mind was awhirl. It could happen! Only\u2014Magnolia Reinhart was the second complicating factor. Still, that was possibly two! And since Ryoka was reminded of the oncoming solstice, she went to Invrisil.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Magnolia Reinhart\u2019s mansion stood deserted, the gates locked. Ryoka called out several times. She saw nothing\u2014not even the patrolling Golems. The ominous storm cloud was still present though, and the glowing animals moving across the mansion\u2019s walls made Ryoka sure she was not about to try climbing that gate.<\/p>\n She knew the storm cloud was armed and she had no desire to be fried. So she kept shouting, hoping for a response and feeling it was futile. After a while, someone did<\/em> come out, though.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone\u2019s gone. Get lost.\u201d<\/p>\n An old man in some ratty, nature-covered robes stared at Ryoka. She stared back at the [Druid].<\/p>\n \u201cAre you\u2026N\u2014Lady Magnolia\u2019s [Gardener]? I need to speak with Lady Reinhart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s not here.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Druid] turned away. Ryoka called out desperately.<\/p>\n \u201cIs there anyone I can talk to?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Well, he was no help. Ryoka paced back and forth for another twenty minutes\u2014then wondered if the empty mansion might be connected to a real and pressing threat from the Circle of Thorns. After that, Ryoka felt like dozens of eyes were watching her so she made tracks fast<\/em> towards Invrisil. She\u2019d send a [Message] and hopefully Magnolia would reply. Or\u2026would Teriarch help? Ryoka thought about visiting his cave.<\/p>\n After Ieka, maybe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lady Ieka Imarris had been a flurry of motion for the last fifteen minutes. It was about presentation<\/em>. Not that she wasn\u2019t exceptionally<\/em> grateful in her own right and impressed to boot! But she had ulterior motives for deciding to receive Ryoka Griffin in style.<\/p>\n \u2026Something was wrong, though. The [Lady] of House Imarris frowned as she received a report from one of her\u2014contacts.<\/p>\n Not her House\u2019s personal bodyguard, but a different source. The fellow was nondescript and his tone was a bit pressing<\/em> for her tastes.<\/p>\n But then, Ieka might be a powerful [Lady], but her ranking in the Circle of Thorns was supposed to be a completely different matter. In practice it wasn\u2019t, of course; people were aware of who she was, and either relished their power over her, or bore it in mind.<\/p>\n This fellow was of the former, despite being lower-ranked. He was a bit too presumptuous. Ieka opened and closed her hand-fan as she listened.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026asked to meet Magnolia Reinhart by name. And she has just sent a [Message] via the Mage\u2019s Guild.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe contents of which are\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n The man hesitated. He probably wasn\u2019t even one of the [Assassins] who was watching the mansion.<\/p>\n \u201cHer message referred to a \u2018meeting\u2019 and \u2018promises made to old friends\u2019, but it was clearly coded.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. So you have no idea why Miss Griffin visited the mansion, and you just came here to complain<\/em> that I had hired the same Runner without proof she was conspiring in some way against me, or had any idea of my allegiance?\u201d<\/p>\n The agent flushed as Ieka laid in as much sarcasm as possible into her voice. It honestly should have been a Skill.<\/p>\n \u201cShe has an established connection with Lady Reinhart, who has interest in this City Runner\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs do we all.<\/em> Any competent Runner is worth cultivating and Miss Griffin woke<\/em> the Archmage of Izril. If you have anything substantial, I will of course entertain it. You may go. I have to meet with Miss Griffin now, anyways, and it would not do for you to be here, hm?\u201d<\/p>\n Faced with that overt dismissal, there was nothing for the jumped-up toady to do but bow and leave, flashing disrespect all the while. Ieka scowled at his back. She had been tempted the entire time to blast him with [Acid Spray].<\/p>\n But then\u2014one of her [Maids] announced that Ryoka Griffin was here. Lady Ieka smiled. She adjusted the bag of holding which was prepared to spill out a very<\/em> handsome fee, went over a few casual phrases, adjusted her poise\u2014and called for Ryoka to be sent in.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, Miss Griffin. I owe you a great debt. Come in<\/em> and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka Griffin and Salamani entered Ieka\u2019s room, both bowing. The [Lady]\u2019s face went slack. Then she suppressed the largest scowl she\u2019d had since finding out what the Circle was planning to do to Tyrion Veltras\u2019 children.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014and Courier Salamani. Welcome.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLady Imarris.\u201d<\/p>\n The Mage Runner gave her a polite bow and his own neutral smile. Ieka was suddenly reminded that she had sent him<\/em> to wake the Archmage of Izril and that he had apparently nearly been slaughtered by the same defenses Ryoka Griffin had somehow managed to overcome.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t do to be rude to Couriers, though, so Ieka put her best face on it.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Griffin, I, no, Izril, is in your debt. I must confess\u2014although I hired you to do just what you have<\/em> done, I hoped only that you would survive or bring news that Archmage Valeterisa was alive. That you have woken her is deserving of the largest of rewards.\u201d<\/p>\n She still went off her pre-written notes, though. Ryoka Griffin looked incredibly awkward as she bowed\u2014she was barefoot! Imagine running on rocks!<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m exceptionally grateful for your praise, Lady Imarris. It was luck\u2014and I didn\u2019t do it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n To be precise, you did it with some strange girl from Reizmelt, and a significant amount of wind magic despite not being a [Mage]. And my aunt mentioned <\/em>that and barely even mentioned meeting Salamani.<\/em><\/p>\n Ieka kept that on the inside. She nodded graciously and laughed behind her fan.<\/p>\n \u201cSo humble! I am indebted to you\u2014and to you, Courier Salamani, for assisting with the delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs I said, Lady Imarris, I cede all credit to Miss Griffin.\u201d<\/p>\n The Courier was being very<\/em> polite. And giving Ryoka all the credit? If he weren\u2019t in the way, Ieka would have applauded him. Since he was\u2014she made a gesture and cast [Faraway Voice].<\/p>\n \u201cHave a sum of three hundred gold coins brought out for Courier Salamani.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n It was a steep<\/em>, steep thing to give him, but you had to tip a Courier especially since Ieka was certain he\u2019d done a lot of the work. How had<\/em> Ryoka Griffin got past Valeterisa\u2019s defenses? Ieka had tried\u2014once, right in the third year of Valeterisa\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n She\u2019d known about the fake mansion, but she\u2019d barely gotten past the room of mirrors with her life. Ieka had promptly fled. She\u2019d lost three people and half had been wounded and that was the first<\/em> room.<\/p>\n Miraculous. Ieka was genuinely curious and she pressed the two, but Ryoka Griffin was surprisingly evasive.<\/p>\n \u201cMagical secrets, Lady Imarris. I was able to break out of the cells in a way Archmage Valeterisa didn\u2019t expect.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you can\u2019t tell me? Ah\u2014Runner\u2019s secrets, I suppose?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s\u2026I\u2019m very sorry, Lady Imarris. But it is one of the secrets that keeps me alive.\u201d<\/p>\n A very fitting answer which Ieka could understand. But she had to wonder. How in the name of Rhir\u2019s hells did you break out of a prison made by an <\/em>Archmage? Even if Valeterisa claimed she wasn\u2019t even a tenth of the [Archmages] of old?<\/p>\n She was growing more and more interested in Ryoka, and not just because of the Runner\u2019s looks! But there was only too long she could drag out the conversation. Ryoka Griffin was clearly nervous as Ieka presented her with her reward. And as it turned out\u2014the second newly-rich person in distress was Ryoka Griffin herself.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is for me? But the delivery wasn\u2019t nearly\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman choked on her words as the pile<\/em> of gold pieces threatened to cave in the ornamental table. Ieka was quite pleased by the reaction. Even Salamani looked impressed.<\/p>\n Ieka was hardly poor, but it was a large sum even for her. She fanned herself idly as she watched Ryoka recover.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is only for the look of it, you understand. I could hardly present all the coins at once\u2014far too much for any bag of holding. The Merchant\u2019s Guild will present you with the full sum.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Lady Imarris\u2014we didn\u2019t agree on this amount! I had another request for waking the Archmage\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n What was<\/em> with this young woman? She was astonishingly modest in the face of a personal fortune! Ieka snapped her fan closed briskly.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you shall have it! However, Miss Griffin, did you really think I was the only person interested in waking the Archmage of Izril? This is a collective bounty, shall we say. And I will ensure the Runner\u2019s Guild accepts your candidacy for Courier!\u201d<\/p>\n She expected Ryoka Griffin to leap for joy at that. Or at least be impressed. But\u2014it was perhaps well that Salamani were here because Ieka\u2019s expectations had been lowered. Ryoka bit her lip.<\/p>\n \u201cI ah, believe I\u2019ve already been tested, Lady Imarris. And failed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFailed?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lady] snapped. By which idiot? Then Salamani coughed into his fist.<\/p>\n \u201cMihaela Godfrey herself met with Miss Griffin, Lady Imarris.\u201d<\/p>\n The Guildmistress of First Landing? Ieka hesitated and sat back. Er\u2014there wasn\u2019t much even she could do about that. Damn that old monster. Obstinate as a mountain and she ran the Guild in First Landing with an iron\u2026foot. Which Ieka approved of except when it got in her way.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Ryoka\u2014may I call you Ryoka? It\u2019s far easier.\u201d<\/p>\n Ieka paused for Ryoka\u2019s nod and went on.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka, I have every intention of acceding to your other request. If you wish me to take part in a\u2026party<\/em>, I shall! At your time and place of choosing. And I shall prevail on the Five Families to join me, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t know if she could actually get the others. Ulva Terland for instance\u2026highly doubtful. She was paranoid ever since her sister had been killed by the Goblin King, practically a recluse. The others? Tyrion Veltras wasn\u2019t going to be sociable and Magnolia Reinhart had fled, but maybe the other two\u2014<\/p>\n Ryoka Griffin bowed, looking relieved\u2014even anxious. What was<\/em> this party she was so desperate to throw? It hardly seemed like a vanity project. Some great favor? Ieka hoped it wasn\u2019t for a lover.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Lady Imarris! It\u2019s\u2026an important event for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Ieka smiled, and that was genuine.<\/p>\n \u201cIn that case, I shall be there and I hope we may speak more informally. On that note, I shall ask you to return again so we may coordinate this event?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014I\u2019d be exceptionally grateful if you would spare me the time, Lady Imarris.\u201d<\/p>\n Salamani eyed Ieka, but she ignored him.<\/p>\n \u201cWonderful.<\/em> Of course I should have the time for the Wind Runner, who woke the Archmage of Izril!\u201d<\/p>\n And then you won\u2019t have a damned Courier with you. <\/em>Ieka let a [Maid] remove the gold and offer to transfer it into Ryoka\u2019s bag of holding\u2014or her account at the Merchant\u2019s Guild. She was the gracious [Lady] as Ryoka bade farewell with a promise to help her with her project. Only when she was gone did Ieka toss her fan at the wall and sigh.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn that Salamani.\u201d<\/p>\n Ieka sighed and ran her fingers across the pendant she had put on just for the meeting. Her personal<\/em> interests aside\u2014Miss Ryoka Griffin had just become an important Runner in truth, as she\u2019d said to the agent of the Circle of Thorns.<\/p>\n Her aunt was interested in Ryoka Griffin, which was enough. But had she checked\u2026? Ieka shook her head, almost too shook for words.<\/p>\n \u201cShe has no levels.<\/em> Either it\u2019s a Skill or magic or\u2014but I would notice.\u201d<\/p>\n Another, less-capable person using an artifact or spell might not have gotten that nuance. But Ieka could tell when her spell was being blocked. It hadn\u2019t been. The [Mage Lady] stared after Ryoka Griffin and felt as if she\u2019d been speaking to a ghost.<\/p>\n \u201cShe had no levels.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Troubles with money? Or troubles of people with money\u2026that the money itself couldn\u2019t immediately solve?<\/p>\n The third person who had come into an amount of wealth very recently and was disturbed by it was\u2026<\/p>\n Cetris Duiland.<\/em> A name so unremarkable that most people, even in his city, had no idea who it was.<\/p>\n He was [Mayor] of Celum for his sins. And if they had<\/em> been his sins, he must have done something truly terrible to have earned the Bloodfeast Raider\u2019s attack on his city. Or nothing at all.<\/p>\n Cetris had seen his city through a seeming windfall in Octavia Cotton\u2019s inventions. That horrible business with the [Alchemist] gangs\u2014a Hobgoblin<\/em> in his city, and an Antinium! A freak avalanche in the winter, and so on\u2014<\/p>\n But the Raider\u2019s attack had been beyond all of that. All the things Cetris had thought were the \u2018worst thing to ever happen to Celum\u2019 like that [Innkeeper] moving her door out of his city?<\/p>\n He had experienced true devastation with his city and Cetris had thought it was the end of Celum. Certainly, people had fled the city and he himself had been looking for a future in which it all seemed bleak.<\/p>\n Then\u2014a miracle. It had just been an innocuous line. A throwaway moment in an event.<\/em> But Jasi Redigal, a former inhabitant of Celum and another one of the people who\u2019d gotten away to bigger and better things had mentioned Celum.<\/p>\n Raising funds for a city devastated by the Bloodfeast Raiders. <\/em>But she\u2019d said it on Wistram\u2019s television network. And so something spontaneous\u2014something people from Earth might have recognized for how naturally it came to be\u2014a miracle occurred.<\/p>\n Money began pouring into Celum\u2019s coffers. At first, Cetris hadn\u2019t even noticed. Then\u2014the Merchant\u2019s Guild had asked if this was real. He\u2019d investigated and gold had appeared like\u2014like magic.<\/em><\/p>\n Not credit. Not a loan. Gold, sent by other nations. So much of it that it didn\u2019t seem real. It was just a number on paper! That was what Cetris believed. He was having a dream and when he asked for the gold, it would vanish.<\/p>\n \u2026Yet the Guildmaster of the Merchant\u2019s Guild had told him that if he wanted a pile of gold, they could do a pile of gold but they\u2019d have to send for other cities to even have it delivered and wasn\u2019t that dangerous with [Thieves] and desperate folk?<\/p>\n It was real. Cetris\u2019 new fear, the one on his thoughts as he paced back and forth in front of the magic door was\u2014<\/p>\n Was anyone going to ask for it back? Did he owe someone something?<\/em> Because Cetris intended to spend the gold.<\/p>\n \u201cIs\u2014does it usually take so long to open to, er, the inn?\u201d<\/p>\n He inquired of the [Guards] standing to attention. They looked at each other.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s usually checked every ten minutes, [Mayor]. It\u2019s only been two minutes since the last opening.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, of course, of course. Felt like an hour, there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs everything\u2026alright, Mayor?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Guardsman] eyed the [Mayor] with some concern. On the outside, it looked as if Cetris was badly ill. Sweating but pale-faced, pacing back and forth\u2026the others were keeping their distance in case he was sick.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything\u2019s fine! Grand, really. Just grand. I ah\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The [Guards] waited, but Cetris just trailed off. So much gold.<\/em> He\u2019d asked for a list of people who\u2019d sent it in\u2014sometimes you couldn\u2019t get that information, but they\u2019d wanted it known. Wanted other people to know, in fact.<\/p>\n Countless nations. Even ones he hadn\u2019t heard of! Some he had. Ailendamus, Nerrhavia\u2019s Fallen, the Forgotten Wing Company\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n Individuals from the north too! Magnolia Reinhart had sent relief already, but other nobles had contributed to the cause. Cetris was beside himself. This\u2014this could save Celum! He just needed [Builders], material!<\/p>\n And an assurance no one was going to demand the gold. Much had been said of Cetris Duiland. Lots of unkind words\u2014some by the very [Innkeeper] he was hoping to meet, as well as the Players. But there was something to speak of Cetris\u2019 good character too. And it was this:<\/p>\n When the door opened to Liscor and the [Mayor] rushed in and found Erin Solstice consulting with Imani about not<\/em> adding garlic to any meals in the foreseeable future, don\u2019t ask why, <\/em>he shook her hand and thanked her profusely before she had any idea what was going on.<\/p>\n \u201cDonations? What? Whaaaat?<\/em> Jasi did that? I don\u2019t r\u2014oh, right!<\/em> People were donating?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a miracle, Miss Solstice! A miracle! Celum is saved!<\/em> Only\u2014they