The man, hearing Alice, turned to face her. “Ahh, Alice. I was going to come and see you. I hope you have been well. I missed you on your recent visit to Asterfal,” the man said, now with a smile.

Alice took in the scene before her. “I asked what’s going on?” in a deadpan tone.

“I would like to raise formal charges against this, this thing here,” he said, waving at SJ dismissively. “She tried to attack me.”

“And what reason did you give the ambassador that she believes you deserved to be attacked?”

“She has no rights to even…” the man suddenly stopped talking, his mouth suddenly opening in shock, as he looked at SJ and then back at Alice. “What did you just say?”

“Tirelle. I asked, why do you think our ambassador believes you deserve to be dealt with?”

“Ambassador!?” he spluttered.

“Yes. Ambassador.”

“What!?” The man looked again from Alice to SJ and back again, the colour draining from his cheeks and his eyes wide in alarm.

Bert still had hold of SJ’s shoulder firmly, but not to hurt.

“SJ. Could you please be so kind as to allow me to speak to Tirelle?” Alice asked.

SJ hadn’t taken her eyes off the man, seething at his comments. Turning to look at Alice, she took a deep breath and relaxed her fists, exhaling deeply. Bert removed his hand from SJ’s shoulder as she did.

“Thank you,” Alice said, smiling at SJ. “Tirelle. I think you and I need to have a talk.”

Tirelle’s face was a picture as Alice walked away to the far end of the bar, away from any other patrons. He stood in shock for a moment before turning and following her.

“Well, that was boring after all,” Dave said.

‘I can’t believe how he spoke,’ SJ thought.

“I told you before about how many feel about fae.”

‘I know, but that level of hate is atrocious.’

“I can understand how you feel. You have shown none of the behaviours of the fae. The problem is that many fae behave in a manner which damages their reputation. You are an anomaly of a fae, never mind of the system.”

SJ looked over at Alice and Tirelle. Alice looked very animated.

“Here,” Kerys said, placing a glass of honey wine on the bar.

SJ picked up the glass and drank it nearly in one, placing it back down. Wiping her mouth. “Thanks.”

Kerys gave SJ a wry smile. “I am sorry,” Kerys apologised.

“You have nothing to be sorry about,” SJ said.

“This wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been for the situation with Malaki.”

“Are you certain it’s Malaki’s doing?”

“It must be. There is no other that has ever brought ill will against the inn.”

Alice and Tirelle talked for several minutes before they both stood. Tirelle glanced briefly at SJ before he left the inn.

Alice walked over, sighing deeply as she spoke. “Sorry. Tirelle is a fool. He is a lower officiate of Asterfal. He only holds a position because of his family name, not his ability.”

“I don’t care who he is. I have done all I can since being in town to build my reputation, and he thinks he can walk in here and speak to me the way he did,” SJ said.

“Don’t worry. I will ensure that his father is made aware of his behaviour. Belldon, his father, is a leading councillor for the trade emissary. Tirelle normally only deals with minor issues, as his own father doesn’t trust him.”

“Did he tell you of the accusation against Kerys?” SJ asked.

“Yes. Kerys. I know you won’t have done anything wrong, but can I ask that you allow the investigation to take place?” Alice asked.

“Why should I even accommodate the accusation?” Kerys said.

“Tirelle wouldn’t say who had raised the complaint, but by following the process, I will request the details of who and grounds for it,” Alice said.

The political landscape of Amathera was much more complex than SJ had really considered. She had so much to learn for her role. The proposition seemed more daunting every time she thought about it.

“Have you seen Darren?” SJ asked.

“Not since we arrived back,” Alice replied, sadness filling her eyes.

“Oh!” was all SJ could respond. She was bubbling with hidden excitement, knowing what would come.

Kerys poured them both another honey wine, and they walked over to an empty table. Sitting, they caught up on what had been happening since Alice had been away and the outcome of the tax levy.

Ptolemy appeared on the small stage not long after, and his music filled the bar as more of the evening patrons arrived. Alice had excused herself to go to talk to one of the merchants she had meant to catch up with that afternoon and went over to his table. SJ saw Darren enter the inn. Spotting her, he walked straight over, looking distraught.

“I can’t find her anywhere,” he said glumly.

“Try looking over there,” SJ said, pointing to the far side of the bar where Alice sat with her back to him.

His eyes shot open, and he had a huge grin on his face that vanished as the colour drained from his cheeks.

“What’s wrong?” SJ asked.

“What if she says no?”

“Just tell him to go ask her already,” Dave huffed.

“You will never know unless you ask her,” SJ said, smiling at him.

Darren stood nervously, fidgeting as he processed what he should do. “Okay,” he replied.

SJ watched as he walked towards the stage, not where Alice was sitting.

‘What’s he doing?’ SJ thought.

“No idea. Whatever it is, if she doesn’t say yes, I think he will die of embarrassment,” Dave replied.

Darren stood now talking to Ptolemy, who was playing a tune. SJ saw Ptolemy smile, and as he finished playing, he coughed loudly.

“Friends and strangers alike. Could I have your attention for one minute, please?” Ptolemy said, his normal voice even melodic.

Several in the bar turned to look at him.

“What is it, Ptolemy?” one of the regular orcs called.

“Darren here would like to say a few words,” Ptolemy said before he stepped aside and Darren took to the small stage.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Silence fell across the bar, and SJ glanced at Alice and saw she had noticed him standing on the stage, her eyes wide.

“Dear All. I know I don’t know many of you well, if at all, and before I start, I would like to apologise for the issues I have caused Kerys and her inn since I arrived in Killic. I am glad to see that everything is back as it was, if not better. I have a song I would like to sing.”

One of the patrons shouted, “We can’t all be born idiots.” To which several laughed.

Darren's cheeks reddened with embarrassment before he coughed nervously and carried on. Reaching towards Ptolemy, he handed him his lute. Darren took the instrument and plucked the strings. SJ sat staring at Darren as he transformed from a nervous, embarrassed wreck to someone she could tell had performed on stage. Remembering what Darren had mentioned about how he had died, SJ couldn’t take her eyes off him as he played.

“This is for you, Alice,” he said as he began to play and sing All of Me by John Legend.

Silence filled the bar as Darren sang. SJ caught up in the moment, glancing at Darren and Alice. Alice’s cheeks had reddened while Darren sang with confidence and composure.

Kerys had not been in the bar when he had made his statement, just returning from the cellar, and she walked over to where SJ sat. “What does he think he is doing?” she said.

SJ turned and looked at Kerys’s hard-lined face, which was filled with animosity towards Darren. “Proposing,” SJ said with a huge grin on her face.

“WHAT?” Kerys said much louder than she meant to, getting a couple of the regulars to turn around and whisper ‘Shhh’ at her.

Kerys stood now, watching Darren perform. Darren wasn’t as proficient on the lute as Ptolemy, but the music came across well. As he struck the last chord and finished, Darren ended with the ultimate words. “Alice. Will you marry me?”

You could have heard a pin drop as silence filled the bar. Everyone was now turning to look at Alice. They all knew her. She was one of the most popular beings in the town, highly respected and trusted by many. Darren handed the lute to Ptolemy and got down on one knee, calling the short staff from his inventory, holding it towards her.

Alice held her exceedingly red cheeks in her hands, cupping her face as she stared open-mouthed at Darren and the staff he now held.

“What’s your answer, Alice?” the same orc from before called.

Silence ensued for several more moments, and tears appeared in Alice’s eyes. As they flowed down her cheeks, she said, “Yes.”

The bar exploded in hooting and cheers. Alice slowly stood and walked over to where Darren still knelt. Reaching out, she placed her hand on the staff, around Darren’s hand.

“Looks like we needn’t have worried about the quest for Darren after all,” Dave said.

SJ could feel tears on her cheeks as she sat there, grinning from ear to ear.

The next few hours disappeared in a haze. The drink flowed, and Ptolemy played again. It was not long after when Nexis arrived and joined him on the stage. Alice and Darren had come and joined SJ at her table, and well-wishers came and went as the time went on. SJ had drunk much more than she usually would. Darren got up to join Nexis and Ptolemy on the stage, singing, when SJ checked her display. It was already getting late, and she had stayed in Killic later than she had been for weeks apart from the one evening when the inn reopened fully.

“I need to head home,” SJ said to Alice.

“Thank you,” Alice said, smiling at her. Leaning over, she gave her a hug. Alice had been on the honey wine as well and the pair of them were a little tipsy.

“Say bye to Darren for me,” SJ said, standing.

“Will do,” Alice smiled.

SJ left the inn, turning and heading out of the town centre towards the cottage. The night sky was bright, with a cloudless sky and a full moon. SJ swayed slightly as she walked down the street. “That was fun,” SJ said, hiccupping.

“It was ok,” Dave replied.

“What do you mean, okay? Two of our friends just got engaged.”

“I am happy for them. I am just feeling left out. Seeing you all have so much fun and I am stuck watching it all unfold and can’t partake.”

SJ had never considered how Dave may have wished to have been a part of the evening as it unfolded. It was strange, considering they were two of the same person. SJ could experience everything first-hand while Dave was stuck watching from above.

“I never gave it a thought. Sorry, Dave.” SJ said.

“It’s not your fault,” Dave replied, sighing.

Turning the last corner, the cottage lay just ahead of her—a welcome sight. Walking to the gates, she reached to open them, stumbling slightly as she did.

“Careful,” Dave said.

SJ giggled, the fresh air having hit her now she was outside, adding to her intoxication.

Standing upright, she again reached for the gate latch as the blade penetrated her back. Half collapsing, half falling, she fell over the gate, her momentum and weight carrying her into a forward roll. The blade that had struck her digging in further as it did.

Crying in pain, she tried to understand what had just happened.

“Throwing knife,” Dave shouted. “Get up and get inside now. It’s that level 19 he is coming.”

Panic filled SJ’s foggy mind as she scrambled to her feet. Staggering forward as she did., before losing her balance and falling down face-first. She climbed to her feet again, hearing the gate open behind her. She did not look back and tried to make it to the front door so she could get inside and lock whoever was attacking her out. Fear coursed through her veins as a voice spoke behind her.

“Sorry SJ.”

The next blade that struck her caused her body to convulse as it entered her back, aligned with her heart.

Precognition triggered - 24hr cooldown.

As the cold steel of the blade penetrated her body, her knees gave way, and SJ fell forward, cracking her head on the stone step of the cottage. The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was her display flashing.

You are suffering from the effects of bleed. Health will be lost over time until healed.

.

“WAKE UP,” Dave was screaming incoherently in her mind.

SJ slowly came to. She was lying on the ground, her neck at a painful angle where her forehead had hit the stone step. Groaning, she went to move her arms, pain radiating from the points where the blades had struck her.

“Thank god. At least they left thinking you would die,” Dave said.

SJ couldn’t think straight. Slowly pushing herself to her knees, leaning heavily on her hands. Lifting one hand, she could feel the free-flowing blood from her cut head. Her display flashed precariously. She had two hit points left, ticking down and back up as she lost health and regained it.

“Your precognition and dragon blood kept you alive. You should have died from that attack, if not from the initial attack, then from the bleed effect. I do not know how it missed your heart,” Dave said.

Slowly climbing to her feet, SJ fumbled in her pocket for the cottage key before removing and entering, closing and locking the door behind her. As soon as she did, she collapsed to the floor again. As she felt her breath coming in quick gasps, she knew her lung had been punctured. The blade had entered her back at an angle through her lung and should have pierced her heart.

Looking in her inventory, she called the potion of regeneration to her hand. Her hands shaking, she pulled the stopper from the vial and drank. The effects of the potion began to work almost immediately. Her health increased rapidly, her head cleared, and she felt the cut on her forehead close rapidly, the skin feeling stretched and taught as it did. It didn’t remove the pain from the wound, and the potion effects wore off as her health reached 50%. Looking at her display, her health was still slowly ticking down and up with her dragon blood. The bleed effect was still active.

Pushing herself back to her feet, moaning loudly, she grimaced, speaking, “Did you see who it was? They said my name.”

“No. They concealed themselves again with a mask and cloak. I think I recognise the voice, though,” Dave said nervously.

“Who?” SJ hissed.

“I am not sure I should say, just in case I am wrong.”

“WHO?” SJ said with anger.

“I think it was Greb.”

“What?” SJ said, surprised and confused by the comment.

“It sounded like Greb. He has a subtle lisp on his s’s, and when he said sorry, it sounded like him.”

“Why would Greb attack me? I thought we were friends.”

“If it were him, I can only see one reason that he may have,” Dave replied.

“What reason?”

“An oath.”‎