Altina Hishgrew

What is trust? Is it blind faith put into someone or something? Unquestioning and unwavering? If so, the master of the Emerald Guild hall held no such foolish sentiment. No. For her, trust amounted to coldly calculated balance between truths and lies based on facts and facts only. As every merchant would say, contract is life and life is a game of dare. If one cannot see through the lies of others, then one cannot live in this world. Altina took great pride in sniffing out all the lies. One could say, such trait alone earned her the title of the guild master.

“Are you sure of the source? I cannot accept that not a single, half drunken guard took notice. They may be incompetent in what they do but hardly any of them would pass upon such chance to molest someone like her. She is but a walking invitation to be abused.”

Beatrice shook her head. A whole moon and a fair amount of gold went into this enquiry. All the sources came back with the exact same reply.

“Either she used magic to enter the city, which is doubtful, or came through unknown and covert means which is even less practical since all those are tightly watched. Although, everyone confirmed that the rags she wore and the letter she presented, indeed came from the temple and the Seer herself. ”

Why would the Seer send her here? The possibilities were, endless. The wolf’s paws absentmindedly traveled to a wooden box resting at the edge of her desk. No, she promised herself, she won’t do that. Her constant snacking resulted in a fatty pouch on her belly. But the smoked meat had such tempting aroma. She stopped her hand tracing the edges of the box.

“You’ve been watching her for a while now. What do you make of her?”

The maid hesitated. She pulled out a napkin from her sleeve and cleaned her glasses. Something she never did in front of anyone. Something that calmed her.

“Karin is… a commendable employee. Not the most sociable one but I can say nothing against her work.”

Altina drummed her claws against the box. She already had some and the dinner would come soon.

“That I already know. She plows through the books like a monster, hardly making any errors. Tell me, as a person, how is she?”

Once more, Beatrice invoked the ritual of cleansing her crystal glasses. She felt incompetent to give the opinion on such matter. Especially not after what happened this morning. Their hands touched briefly as they showered next to each other and, the next moment she found herself straddling the girl in a passion she had never felt in her life. Contrary to what should happen, Karin apologized then calmly explained what took place. After they untangled their bodies, the girl continued her shower as if nothing unusual transpired between them.

“She is a charmer. A powerful one and at the same time, one that has little to no control over the enchants put on her body. An issue that should be addressed with haste. As for her unknown origins, the Woopler offers similar merchandise. If she escaped such establishment, her owners may come knocking on the guild's doors. “

Altina’s paw paused on the box lock. The aroma tormented her.

“I felt no seals of obedience on her and…”

Master of four spirit queens could not be bound by a simple slave spell. But that knowledge the wolf kept to herself.

“Regardless, it is prudent to overestimate what we don’t know. We better plan for such possibility. Also, a countermeasure for those charms should be put in place. “

Perhaps that artefact she wears on her wrist had similar function? Altina's paws slid into the box and brushed over the slice. Such magnificent texture.

“Order a copy of her bracelet. A matching set will fit her new dress.”

And perhaps allow them to put some seals over the charms she’s been spreading. They had enough trouble at hand with Vittoria romancing whatever stroke her fancy. One promiscuous employee generated enough trouble to deal with. Better not to add one more to that list.

A burst of powerful mana followed by a terrified shriek, came from the lower floors.

The master grabbed her gun from under the desk and tossed it to Beatrice. The maid had much more luck with that thing anyway. The wolf preferred her personal wand and the enchanted sabre her father gave her, which she summoned as they rushed down to the lobby where fire burned in one of the cubicles.

“Great Shamuu… “

The woman stood bent above the oaken desk with fire spewing from her arm and devilish grin marring her pale face. Remnants of the silver seal with an iron core, boiled and sizzled beneath her hand. Powerful spells guarding the place, hummed and strained under the magic pressure.

“Karin! Enough! Calm yourself!”

But calm seemed to be the last thing to occupy that twisted face as flames danced around her. Ann, one of the clerks, managed to pull the noble away before the blaze could harm them but the fire still spread, devouring all in its path.

“Karin, enough!”

She called Again, this time putting power behind her voice.

“Are you even listening to me?!”

It caught her attention and their eyes met. Altina shuddered and the skin on her back crawled. The girl’s eyes were wide open and empty. Watching but not seeing. Listening but at the same time being not exactly there. She whispered something in a language none of them ever heard before then turned and exited the room through a window that threw itself wide open just before her.

“Go, I’ll handle this.”

Beatrice already had people dousing the flames and a troop of busty maids tending to the stricken noble. A glass of very strong brandy found its way into his hand while they guided him to rest in one of the back rooms.

“All powerful Shamuu, Holder of the light, protect thy servant!”

With enchants coming to life around her the wolf jumped out to the plaza below and on to the roof she saw Karin jump over. Hardly a heartbeat separated them, but she already lost track in her pursuit. And how one would even track someone that does not radiate mana?!

“Vari!”

She called, crouching beside a smoking chimney.

“Patta-p-uth!”

The little spirit appeared in his favorite pose.

“There’s no time for that little one, find her!”

The spirit shuddered and shook its head in denial. It had enough trauma since last time and wished for no more involvement with that person.

“I know they are scary but if we won’t find her first, much more terrible things may happen. You wouldn’t want that would you?”

The gob mulled over that for a moment and disappeared after swallowing hard, resembling a person going to their death.

Soon after, hands of wind grabbed her, and they soared into the sky above Fenira.

“Be good to my love.”

Wind whispered in her ears, both a plea and a warning, then set her gently on the sand above the foaming waves. Why would the wind bring her here and, that tone…?

A face popped up among the waves. Falling and tripping, her most unusual employee crawled out of water. Pausing at the edge to remove her sloshing boots.

“Karin? What is going on? You made us worry.”

“Do you mind if I… leave for a while.”

The girl’s face again held her most common, empty expression. Something Altina came to recognize as natural for her but, oh mighty Shamuu, what power! The mana still burned around her. Burned and seethed as if being a separate entity.

“Do you mind if I come back at some point?”

Karin corrected herself after a prolonged pause. Sometimes she looked as if she trialed each of her thoughts against some invisible third party.

Although, her master had to agree, the words she spoke were heavy with deep understanding of what may happen.

“Not too soon, I hope? “

The wolf tried to lighten the mood. Calm her as much as possible before those morons from the city guard, she heard clamoring in the distance, would come and make matters worse.

“It will take a moon before it simmers down. “

She risked an estimate. Yes, a moon felt doable. With enough paid lips to spread all the necessary gossips, she could put a lid on what had happened. And for that time, it would be better for this trouble maker to vanish from the public eye.

“For unexpected expenses.”

Altina’s father always said that even a noble should carry some coin on his or her person. A lesson she felt happy to follow over all those years. She put the small fortune carefully into the girl’s palm.

“Go. I've cleaned up after Zee’s blunders, this is nothing compared to those. Come back rested because I will work your ass off for what you did. Those desks are expensive.”

Karin offered her a smile, one of the fake ones she served to her customers then turned on her heels and vanished in the distance.

The town’s guard came stomping through the sand, after a long and calculated pause at the edge of the beach. Ah, how splendid. Luck still held on her side. She put her hand in her pocket and fished out several gold coins. Her father also taught her the importance of not putting all the eggs in the same basket.

“Captain.”

She made a polite bob with her head and placed the coins in his palm. One for each of his men and several for him. The young man smiled and let her trough. Apparently, nothing worth investigating happened on this secluded beach and the reports they received, of a wild elf running amok through the city, were fabricated.

Galen Vesa

*I must say, it does feel refreshing. *

I sipped a hearty bit from a steaming jug. Hot and spiced wine never been one of my favorites, but it went quite well with the meat they served here. A good combination.

*And so far, no one had given us a second look. What a pleasant surprise. *

And a banana. Don’t forget about the banana.

*Yes dolt. You are bananas. *

I took another long sip.

Cheers to the ability to aim! And the right to burp out loud without gathering odd stares!

*And the lack of back pain… To that I can drink. *

Welcome to the dark side roomie.

I've drunk another mouthful.

There were myriads of those little things that made a difference. Things nobody cared of as long as I had something flapping between my legs. Instead there were some other things to be mindful of. Like not getting stabbed and robbed in the daylight. Thankfully the one who tried that on me, got cold feet and ran when his knife snapped after he stabbed my back.

I’ve sent a little bit of extra mana through the name to the earth queen. So far, she has proven to be the least obtrusive of the bunch and her blessing saved me from harm on more than one occasion. Hopefully the others would learn from her and stop bothering me.

*A fat chance if any. *

Erta’s voice sounded a bitt to groggy for my taste, perhaps I should pass on the rest of the wine?

*Why, no. Drink! I am enjoying myself. *

Said the drunken dragon. Eh. I put the cup down. I enjoyed having my banana but not all were daisies and rainbows. I missed my wild eyes, and some enchants put on my pillows. As it were, I had to sit still until at least part of the wine I drank would clear off my head. With the autumn rains falling outside, I had nothing better to do anyway.

Several past weeks seemed like a bad dream to me. I can’t really recall what I did since that morning. I remember getting up and going to take a bath. After that my mind went blank. I woke up in the middle of a forest, in a dress that didn’t really fit my birdie. And let’s not forget a hysteric dragon throwing a tantrum under my scalp. Erta been stuck inside me with no access to my mind for more than two weeks.

She told me I had nearly set my customer on fire.

Can’t really remember that. What more, instead of being sacked, we got a paid holiday. I asked Logic what was that all about, but she simply dismissed me with silence. Not the reaction I expected.

We got rid of the dress, or what left of it anyway. And the boots. Erta set them ablaze with such satisfaction I could not stop myself but wonder, why? They were quite beautiful. Not in the least practical but I’m sure they would fetch a nice price. She insisted on, getting rid of that abomination. I let her. Why did I care anyway?

As tradition demanded, we walked with my bum flashing to the world.

I bought myself a pair of pants a linen shirt and a gambeson in the first village we came across. The merchant tossed in a pair of used shoes for half a price and thus clothed, I left before anyone could start asking questions. I hitched myself a ride to Bigbottom on a cart for the sum of one silver and the never-ending monologue of the old and senile driver. Thankfully his goat knew which way was which and we arrived at our destination shy of the next morning.

The Bigbottom sprawled through a big valley and smelled like a bottom. An unwashed one. Perhaps the leatherworking industry and the ammonia pits had something to do with it. Don’t know. We didn’t stay long enough to learn of its history. Like many other travelers, we found a cart going away from the place, hopefully upwind, and left.

Feeling little if any need to sleep, I traveled for a while between many of the local towns and villages spread around Fenira Whenever the opportunity arise. Erta kept me fasting. No sleep and hardly any food began to eat at my mana and combined with whatever the banana spell burned, my strength stabilized. More or less. I still got some occasional nosebleeds and cramps in my back that dropped me on my knees in tears.

I can’t remember the last time I cried so much. My eyes just kept on leaking.

“You will finish that?”

A musky female voice brought me back to my table. Tall and hungry looking ferru stared at my plate and my unfinished wine. She made no other gestures.

“Be my guest.”

I pushed the cup towards her. There were people like her everywhere. Less fortunate circumstances pushing them to… now that I think of it, she did nothing strange. In this world, nothing went to waste.

She offered me some sort of military salute then unclasped her sword and set it carefully aside before settling herself across the table. A mercenary? Her used up leather armor held many patches stitched over damaged places. She sniffed at the wine with dubious interest.

“Works better with the meat. “

I offered and then waved at the serving girl. She nodded her head and a moment later one more bowl appeared on my table. The mercenary watched me with contempt. Her purple eyes shone under the dim light of the fireplace.

“I sell my sword, not my body.”

I'm not sure she said that to me or to herself to reaffirm her beliefs.

“I have need for neither. Please, allow me to honor Shamuu for my safe journey.”

A useful phrase I learned while traveling among the pilgrims. Her ears perked up at that. A catgirl huh? I wouldn’t guess. Perhaps I did have too much wine.

“I hope he does respond in kind…”

She made the customary bow and went on to devour the meal. Sucking out all the marrow and licking off all the juices. She pulverized her share and even cleaned the bones I left. Nothing went to waste.

“It does go well with the rest.”

Her faint whisper carried over the cup she held. Her eyes run away from mine. I stared too much again, didn’t I? Erta snored, lulled to sleep by what I drank. Eh.

“A pleasant company.”

I bid her farewell with a bow that ended with my forehead hitting the table and swayed to the exit. Talk about subpar quality. I feel cheated. The witch put so much thought into designing those pillows, why couldn’t she at least put some charms on this form as well.

I tripped and flopped into the mud. Thunders raced across the sky sending pea sized droplets smack against my face. My puny arms and legs called quits on me and my eyes slowly joined their company. I’ve slept in worse places than the town square. I resigned myself and let my consciousness float away. What could I do anyway?

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

I really, really should cut the habit of passing out and waking up in weird places. A pair of purple eyes stared at me from the pillow we shared. Our wet cloths were dripping on a string by the entrance.

“I used your coin to pay the night. The bed is big enough. We may share…”

I couldn’t see her face, but I didn’t have to.

“Have you done this before?”

I put my hand on her bare hip and rub my fingers through the soft fur on her back. Her body went rigid like a plank.

“No.”

She whispered after a prolonged while. I took my hand away. Banana or not, what I learned about sex is, well, sex is like tango. Unless you’re courting disaster, all partners must be willing and ready in both heart and body.

“I don’t mind the coin. Stay if you wish. I snore.”

I rolled on my back and closed my eyes. She had all the chance to walk away with my purse, but she did not. That in itself deserved a price. What more, she carried me to an inn, stripped, cleaned and kept warm. Not that the last mattered, magic wouldn’t let me freeze. Perhaps when that lizard gets up, we may think of a better idea. This body really could use some more sleep.

So I slept. Slept until a certain growling voice awoke me.

*Ah, the wine… It goes nice with the meat he said. Let us drink tonight and rest he said… And now I find him with a whore first thing in the morning! *

Somebody got sober.

*Men and their obsession with their bananas… as if you could not squander our coin in a better way. *

But I had not paid her.

*Worse still! To extort one that must sell one’s own body! You are not worth my grace you… you… *

She unloaded a train of unsavory names. Flat beak? Damp twig? Poop mushroom? That one I have not heard before. It did lose some charm in translation.

Ignoring the cacophony going on in my head, I lifted the furry foot off my face and let it hang of the side of the bed. The girl snored louder than Zee but somehow sat up wide awake the moment I stirred her. With her sword pointing at my neck. Somehow, during the night, she took over the bed and I spent the rest of the night on the floor. With her foot on my face.

I pushed the blade away and scrambled to my feet. Morning sun expose her exotic markings to my bloodshot eyes. If one would ignore all the scars and missing fur patches, she had a beautiful pelt. And after a closer inspection, was a beautiful woman. Aside… A long and ugly scar disfigured one of her breasts. It trailed up to her neck and no fur grew over that flesh.

“You always sleep with that thing?”

“Yes.”

The sword still pointed at my chest while a pillow blocked her chest from my view. I touchy subject I see.

“Must be difficult getting good sleep then.”

She shrugged her arms and sheathed her sword.

“One learns to sleep, or one dies.”

With one rake of her claws, her mane transformed from the one of bead hair into a presentable hairstyle. The effect proved charming enough to elect my sword to full attention.

“You did not use me, why? You don’t like fur? Some women say, men pay more if you shave…”

Her ears went flat and even Erta cut her yapping.

“Were you not the one who said, you sell your sword not your body?”

I could hear the leather of her scabbard rattle in her grip.

“There is no coin in that.”

Well, the books I saw said otherwise. Bodyguards, soldiers and, I’m not sure if entirely legal, assassins kept on a payroll, earned quite a bit.

My banana garnered her attention, as if she still fought with herself.

“Is that true? Would you pay if I…”

“That is a personal preference. May I ask, how much have you earned of your last contract?”

I put on my pants in the hopes it would relax her. I don’t mind paying for sex. I don’t mind having sex. I just don’t see the need of going that extra mile if it’s unnecessary. It’s pleasant. Yes, I can tell my body enjoys it and I can also guess when my partner doesn’t. Well, most of the times.

“About, this many.”

Seven fingers? Did they pay her seven coins?

“Gold?”

“No, not yellow. The more popular ones.”

Silver. They paid her seven silvers. Hardly enough to make a living. Not a price any mercenary would take. Simple guard duties started at one gold a week if no trouble came during that time. If a fight broke out, depending on scale and danger, the fighter got an additional ten to fifty coins. Or more if they worked for a famous company.

“You are bad with numbers, aren’t you?”

No answer.

“Got any name?”

*Dolt, you are not implying we take her with us?*

We can use her. You’ve been wondering how to get there safely and without exposing ourselves. She can pass on a message to the guild and bring a reply. Or just signal the answer for us from afar.

*We could use a spirit to deliver a message for us…*

No. No more spirits. Never again.

“Inra.”

The name sounded like acknowledging defeat. My mind went blank for a moment while bloody runes formed before my eyes. Wood. Stone. Copper. Inra. Another name that will drill through my heart? Why have I not left her then and there? Why did I stood and waited while she dressed?

“Food, place to sleep and I teach you about the numbers while you get us safely into Fenira. Gold if you deliver a message for me.”

Be smart and reject that offer. Please.

She bent her knee before me, her unsheathed sword raised before my eyes.

“I am yours to command.”

I turned on my heel and left, Erta growling angry in my mind. We will use her. A rumble like a thunder stopped me in the door. Inra’s ears dropped, she still knelt where I left her.

“Come, let’s eat before we move out.”

*If you intend to feed that bottomless pit, the money we have may not be enough. *

Said the lizard that got me drank yesterday. Do I need to remind you of those four mugs of wine you made me order? She sulked but did not argue.

We ate at the inn where we spent the night. I had an onion soup, Inra pulverized three silvers worth of meat and four bowls of thick broth. Picking out meat with her spoon. After loosing some internal battle, she cleaned the vegetables as well and we left nothing behind.

Traveling between villages proved easier than I expected. Spread no further than what a day of walk would permit and chained by a paved road. A walk in the park, well, a forest but unchallenging none the less.

And so, I suffered the occasional stares of my body guard. Not much of work she had. Especially when one walked toward the destination and not around it. Same could be said about troubles. One should challenge an issue and not let is fester.

Roomie, we need to talk.

I decided to challenge my issue. The walls of Fenira stood high in the distance. An hour or so at our pace and we shall reach it.

*And what may my lovely dolt want of me? *

To offer my sincere apologies? We may start from that. I did not intend to jeopardize your only chance at finding your daughter. I should react earlier before my mana went out of control, but I did not.

Erta’s annoyance abated somewhat.

Secondly, our current venture. You have been awfully silent on that. Do you have any misgivings about the idea?

*Plenty. But as it is, I also enjoy having a roof over our head. Spending a winter so far north, crawling through the bushes and sleeping in between the cracks with a body like yours is nothing I look forward to. *

Puny arms and legs scored another point.

*We are still bound by a contract. There is a chance. *

“Fifty-four?”

Inra stopped and challenged her own issues.

“You’re asking me or is that your answer?”

“I stay in the inn until the festival. The Eye of the moon is half closed. It will close and fully open before the festival. The rate is six coins every week. There are nine weeks before the festival. I will get fifty-four gold coins.”

Puzzling that out took her better part of the morning. An extraordinary improvement after only a week. By the way, a week here has six days. Most of the time.

“You’re sure? What about food? You'll feast until festival?”

“No. Contract says my employer pays that.”

So, she remembers even that? And it took me a month to master basic unwritten rules of common deals. What does that say about me…?

“Good. Keep practicing and you may get yourself a decent job.”

She stopped, her ears sagging.

“You do not believe I can make it? Tell me, why do it then. Why all the false hope?”

*Her words cut like the sword she carries. Dolt, I have warned you not to take this responsibility. *

Hush you heartless lizard. Do I need to remind you I am the one that doesn’t care?

“What I gave you is but a child's share. It may arm you against the simplest thing but there are still bigger fish in the pond. It takes years to get the experience and gold to put it in practice. Also, a known name helps. One that will open the right doors for you.”

“I may as well sell myself and throw away my sword. The only name I have is worth noting with them dead. “

Inra hasten her pace. Enough so I wouldn’t see her face. I don’t think she cried. Those that live by the sword don’t have that luxury.

I did not press for details but what she spoke of herself, her sister and few of her friends ran a mercenary company once. It worked for a while. Her friends were honest and good with numbers. Good enough with people to get a job. Good enough to make it. Unfortunately, her friends weren’t as good with their swords as they were with their numbers. Out of twenty, only she survived. Her sister died in her arms on the road to a temple. Whatever money she had, healing fees ate that.

“I can’t make any promises as my own neck depends on what we find in that city, but I shall ask someone with enough weight behind her name to recommend you to a reputable company.”

She let out a snort.

“Same chance as you hitting that tree.”

A tall pine swayed in a distance and I had a longbow slung across my shoulders. Erta made me buy it a while ago. We were standing out. Who would have thought that unarmed people traveling alone were considered suspicious? What a world to live in.

“You'll bet on it?”

“Game. But not that one. This.”

She pointed at a fat tree growing a distance away from the path and not surrounded by any bushes. Also, much closer to us. Did she think so little of me?

*Well dolt, I think I am with her on this matter. Your aim is not much better than your mana control. *

Why you…

I took off the bow, the only reasonable thing to do now. Nook an arrow and, missed.

*You did brush the bark. That is progress I say. *

We retrieved my arrow.

“You did scratch that tree so perhaps lord Shamu shall have pity on us.”

“If you say so.”

Whatever that Shamu fella is, a lot of people follow his dogmas. I felt no point in upsetting her with my ignorance.

“Aim at that stump.”

I took the arrow from her and aimed at a target much closer to us then before.

“Wrong. Elbow level with the ground. Don’t look at the arrow. Focus where you aim. Release.”

My bow sang with a pleasant twang and to my surprise the arrow lodged itself in the edge of the stump. Well, I aimed at the center but for the first time I hit something.

“Better. Now you learned what a child knows after a day with bow.”

Did I see a grin there? Right back at me, a?

*It seems even the dolt can learn something. Perhaps we should extend your lessons. *

I don’t think I wanna know where that would take me. Nope.

First thing tomorrow roomie, let us get to that city and be done with uncertainty. Logic is giving me a headache, demanding we clear that up.

*Is she? The stop dawdling and go. If we miss my daughter being there, I shall make all in my power to turn the rest of our shared existence into an utter hell for you human. *

Nah, you won’t. You like me too much.

A sudden and unexplained spike of mana went through my bones and tripped me.

*Why would I like such a clumsy dolt. *

Yeah, why would you.

I tripped again and again, earning strange look from my bodyguard as she helped me up, again.

With the pacified dragon in a brighter mood and Inra sending me troubled stares, we joined the moving river of human bodies and went with the flow. On occasions we had to meander between beasts of burden and slow going carts and sometimes patches of praying people yet the majestic walls of Fenira grew before us with each step we took.

Come to think of it, I have never seen the city from this point. Ever since arriving at the guild, I have not set my foot outside. My knowledge of Fenira consisted of my initial look I had after I left the temple and of what I learned from the books.

It had the dazzling population of over two million people with seasonal pilgrims doubling that at times. If one would count in all the slaves, that initial number might triple. Nobody in Fenira knew how many slaves there were. Not even the office that handled slave registration and taxes. Nobody cared.

The city itself occupied a mountainous cape in the norther part of the continent and had roughly the size of Manhattan. I think. Give or take some errors on my part with translating the imperial units to square miles and the accuracy of local measurements or lack of thereof.

And all of that surrounded by a three hundred feet tall and twenty feet thick, fortified wall. Just what on earth would necessitate the cost of raising such defenses?

*Dragons mostly. Mine and your kin never made good neighbors. Although I should not take all the praise, plenty of other maleficent creatures roam those lands. Most were eradicated by men some time ago although some remain. Also, let us not forget about magic and magic warfare. Such enchanted structures saved countless millions over the years. *

The glossy surface of the wall shone in a distance but the closer we went, the more it dawned on me that the wall shone not because of the material used but because something in the past melted its surface into glass and gave it almost mirror like finish. Whatever could do that to a stone and on a such large scale? I don’t think I want to know.

With sun announcing noon to us, we managed to creep through all the local farms and fields and found our place at the end of a queue awaiting admittance before one of the eleven town gates. It took less time than I thought it would. Within an hour we were staring at a guard before the entrance.

“Mercenaries?”

Inra looked at me and I answered.

“Yes.”

He gave us a quick look, comparing our faces with several portraits he held at hand. Not finding any resemblance, he made a note in his log and pointed at me.

“String off the bow, arrows bundled in a cloth. Daggers, shorts swords and arm grade artefacts as well. Swords tied at the hilt with the scabbard in a way disallowing use and carried on your back. If you are found with concealed weapons, you’ll be fined. If you are found caring unbound sword, you’ll be fined. If you get yourself in a fight within the city, you get fifty lashes and a week in the cooler. If you kill anyone, you’ll hang. Using combat magic within the city walls is punishable by death. Is all that clear?”

“Yes.”

He inspected the changes we made to our equipment, charged us a silver each of an entrance fee and let us through without a second look.

*No bribery? No extortion? No names taking? Times have changed indeed. *

You must have had an interesting childhood roomie.

She ignored the bait and in silence we climbed up through the inclined corridor in the city walls. It spat us out through an inner gate onto a walled in courtyard with minor gates leading onto the different parts of Fenira. Not all equally reputable and not all so popular. We joined a group of people heading towards city center and a market I presumed we would find there. I had some things to strike off my shopping list.