Emily firmly closed the heavy wooden door to the inn, instantly muffling the sounds of the bustling street outside. The warmth in the room was stifling compared to the roads, but it came with a sense of quiet calm, though there were a fair number of patrons there.

A massive fireplace was situated at the far end of the room near an empty stage, but it was unlit. Closer to them were several tables affixed to the floor with more than a dozen people shoveling breakfasts down their gullets. To one side was an empty bar, and past that, a large set of stairs leading down to another level.

Alex made a beeline for a woman wearing a brown apron, she’d been talking to another patron but Alex didn’t hesitate.

“Pardon the intrusion on your home ma’am but we have injured and were hoping to procure a room or two from you.”

The woman before him was rotund, a testament to years of hard work and hearty meals. Her hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, and her face bore the gentle creases of many smiles.

“Well then we’d best get you situated, Jesse, I’ll have those clean sheets sent down to ya.”

The handsome patron nodded to her as he stepped toward the stairs, in turn, the large woman made a ‘come here’ motion at one of the distant tables in the room.

A young man no older than ten shoved a large slice of meat into his mouth before dashing toward them, the plate forgotten.

“Right, I’m Hester and that’s mi boy Tulie, he’s gonna get ya to your rooms while one of you stays to settle up with me. It's an oval for two rooms, and I won’t argue pricing, we’re worth it.”

Alex nodded and turned to look at the kid who had just arrived.

Hester scowled.

“What I’d say about leaving ye plate lying around? Never mind that now boy, take these three down to level three, the last two rooms on either side of the hallway.”

Tulie nodded quickly, his eyes glancing back the way he’d come.

“Yes Ma’am, you can all follow me”

Alex was about to pass Ashe to Emily when she waved him off.

“You get him there it's faster, plus this place is interesting I'm not ready to hole up in a room just yet.”

Emily was being honest and she felt confident Alex wouldn’t slip away at this point they both had too many questions.

Alex shrugged and the four of them made their way toward the stairs.

“Alright lil lady, let’s sort our funds at the bar, you look like you could use a drink.”

Emily smiled at the woman.

“Sure, though I’m not sure what’s good.”

Hester walked around to the other side of the bar and a new light entered her eye.

“Oh, but that's mi specialty, best Alewife on the whole level.”

Emily hung on up that word.

“Level?”

“Ah, fist time in Tagrin’s keep? The whole city’s split up into levels, you’re on the base level. There’s a couple up and down, but none of that's interesting right now.”

Emily sat on a comfy stool as Hester began pouring a ruby liquid into a solid-looking mug. Floam rose to the rim as she slammed it down next to Emily.

“No, da real interesting stuff is the time you lot chose to get here. Arriving in the morning usually means yous traveled by night, and one has to be stupid, desperate, or trained to travel by moonlight. Plus your injured companion, I can only think you lot are Frontier Explorers”

She lowered her voice on the last part so that only the two of them could make it out.

Explorer rang a bell, that was Alex's title, but it seemed different from what she was referring to.

Emily took a whiff of the concoction and was pleasantly surprised to find it smelled heavily of oranges. A sip confirmed a sweet blood orange flavor causing a subtle warmth to spread to her outer limbs. Glancing up Emily smiled apreciatedly at the woman, she felt a tug to spill her guts to this friendly face, but Emily realized the emotion was foreign so she brushed it aside.

“No Ma’am, just desperate, but I’d love to hear more about these Frontier Explorers you speak of”

Hester seemed surprised for a moment but swept the look away quickly.

“Oh, my apologies, I thought… Well if you’ve not heard of them, then you’re in for a treat. They’re the greatest bunch of heroes on this side of the gray sands they are.

The citrus drink soured in Emily’s mouth at the use of ‘Heroes’, even though she was confident Hester was not using it in the same context it still caused her brow to twitch. However, the woman didn’t seem to notice Emily’s mood shift and continued.

Their kind likes to explore the wilds in hopes of discovering more and even helps people when they are able.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

This caught Emily’s attention. The helping people didn’t appeal to her, but exploration had certainly been fun, even if she had almost died a couple of times.

“Oh and how does one become one of these Frontier Explorers?”

Hester seemed only too happy to share.

“Well like any group title, you’d have to get it from one of their senior members by working your way up the ranks. I know there’s a place they gather I could tell you if you were looking for a meeting?”

Emily held up her hand.

“Hard pass on that Hester but I appreciate it”

Emily had way too much going on right now to get caught up in something like that.

“Instead, I’d love to know, how people around here go about making a bit of coin.”

Luckily right now, Emily’s funds were sorted, but they wouldn’t last forever so she wanted to be able to procure more when the need arose.

“Oh, sure… Um well, usually one of the most profitable gigs around here is working for the hand. Depending on what services you can offer them you could get paid decently well. Of course, the farms are always looking for more volunteers. I’ve heard the title is not hard to get and they pay you a living wage.”

Emily nodded, she’d certainly give Hester points for adaptability. They spoke for the next couple of minutes about possible jobs, but none interested her. It was fun to learn that the keep did all its farming underground, though how they managed that Emily wasn't sure.

Eventually, Emily said her goodbyes and paid the woman an oval and a single round. Hester in turn gave Emily two plates of food for them which Emile took happily.

Tulie had returned long ago and he led Emily to the rooms. When she went down the stairs she felt she was stepping deeper into the earth, but for a city built like this one, she supposed it was to be expected.

The passages down here were winding at best, Tulie seemed to have a good handle on the maze-like corridors, But Emily thought she would be able to navigate to the surface should she need to.

When they stopped on a third flight of stairs, Tulie led Emily down a narrow passage. Doors appeared on either side and finally, they got to the end of the hallway.

There she saw that one of the doors was already open. Heading towards it, Emily peeked through the threshold. The room was a small grey-stone affair with a wooden bedframe tucked into one corner. A desk with a mirror and metal basin rested in the other, alongside a small fireplace.

The bed was occupied by Ashe who was panting as a fever griped her, but Emily was curious to see the stones near her neck had receded. Zeth sat at her bedside one hand on her forehead the other holding an unrefined piece of quarts. He seemed to be in extreme concentration and now and then the gemstone would flash a deep green as though something were escaping it.

Tulie spoke up beside her, in not more than a whisper.

“Miss, the washrooms are on floor five, simply head back the way we came and down the stairs. You can't miss it.”

She doubted that very much, but thanked him anyway. After which he scampered off the way they'd come.

Emily looked back into the room and saw the quiet atmosphere was better left undisturbed, so she turned to the other room on the opposite end and knocked.

Only a few seconds passed before the door to the room opened, but to Emily felt like it may as well have been a lifetime.

When Alex opened the door, Emily could see he’d shed several layers of his travel clothes. Leaving a pair of trousers and a simple vest on, which was open in the front. She could see he’d already lit the fireplace and had laid out all his drenched clothes in front of it.

They both stood there for an unknown amount of time, neither saying anything before Emily sighed.

“You’d better let me in, we have a lot to discuss and I’d rather do it now than later.”

Alex did his usual frown but stepped aside anyway.

When she entered Alex shut the door behind her as she placed the plates of food near the fire.

“Zath said Ashe will be okay but she’ll need rest…” Alex said.

Emily grunted as she began stripping her layers as well, hanging them on the simple chair that furnished the room.

“She saw some things she shouldn't have, I’ll need to make sure she won’t go spilling those secrets.”

Alex nodded.

“Thought as much, why didn’t you kill her”

Emily's brow twitched.

“Because contrary to what you think, I kill when they deserve it, that’s it. And she doesn’t yet, she helped me, even when she was scared so I’ll do at least this much. If it becomes necessary, I’ll silence her, but only then.”

Alex shrugged like he didn’t mind either way, but this was her problem so why should he?

“Sure, just keep an eye on her. Now back on topic, that guard called you 'clipped', so I have to know, is your bridge broken?”

Shaking her head, Emily could feel the warmth radiating from the fire. Alex had his shoes off and Emily could see the floors were made of red stone. She knew what she was about to say could weaken her position but it was necessary.

“No, my bridge is not broken, it just doesn’t have a color, but where I come from, bridges do not exist.”

Alex searched her face for a time but when he got no hint of a lie he frowned and turned to look into the fire behind her.

“So you are from one of the other planes…You said you were Innocent, kids use this title until they can change it at their first sleeping. Were you lying when you said the blood magic was your natural ability?”

Emily pursed her lips.

“No, I didn’t lie about that.”

“So then, what rank are you?”

“Nine as far as I understand, though that was before the burrows, so possibly rank ten tonight?”

Alex sat down on the bed, bringing a hand up to his chin.

“If you do have your first sleeping tonight, don’t pick anything yet, just try to remember what you get. Having a clear bridge will lock you out of a lot of options but still, you should let me know.”

“Why?”Emily asked, genuinely curious as to why he was suddenly helping her.

Alex refocused on her with a serious expression.

“Because if we are going to be traveling together, then the stronger you are the better.”

Emily squinted at the indecisive man.

“Oh and what happened to ‘when we reach the keep we’re done’?”

“After what you told me, do you think I could turn down Eva’s last request!?

Alex stopped himself and took a breath.

“Look, her title was Spirit bearer, it’s rare, the moment they discovered her bridge was yellow they made it their mission to get her that title. You are the last soul she managed to call. If I don’t help you, it would be like ignoring her last wishes.”

Emily stared down at the man, if only he knew what she’d really traded this body for. Both of these people were so willing the sacrifice themselves for each other. The whole story almost hurt to listen to, but Emily refused to be swayed by it. She had to survive too, so for now, she’d let him think whatever he wanted.

“Mmm, that was the previous offer, now I want something more to go with you.”

Alex's face flashed with annoyance.

“Nice try, but I’m only offering one thing. I'm making this journey one way or another, if you’re looking to carry out her last wishes, then I will take you along, but on my terms.”

Emily huffed letting her shoulders droop.

“You didn’t even listen to what I had to say. I just wanted to know what's pushing you so hard.”

Alex paused like he’d expected more.

“I have some things to do there.”

Emily sent him the driest glare she could manage.

“Well, no fucking duh. But taking the seasons into account, we can’t have much time before the middle of winter so is the place you needed to go near here? Will we make it in time?”

Alex paused now, a dumbfounded look on his face.

“Emily… the mid-winter festival passed just under a month ago, the next will only come around in eleven months, or more accurately, next year. If we’re lucky the journey we have to make will take more than half that time.”