“Hi.”

“Hey,” he replied with his own grin.

She remained there and he shifted upwards in his bed and scooting backwards before patting the bed at his side.

“Join me?”

Her smile erupted in vibrancy and she quickly slithered into the bed next to him but restrained herself from getting close to him. She smiled up at him, then giggled softly before she turned away.

“This… feels strange… but wonderful. Strangely wonderful.”

His own grin grew sardonic, “Yeah. You really want to ask, don’t you?”

“Ask what?” she replied while turning to look at him, genuine confusion on her face.

Joe felt his own thoughts claw control over his face as his eyebrows knit in confusion, still certain that she was playing with him, “What I’ve decided.”

She smiled softly at that, “Of course. But… you asked for time.”

Joe’s humor quickly evaporated before her honesty and trust and he found himself deeply touched. He almost made the decision then and there, and he stared at her in obvious awe. He calmed and finally replied.

“That… thank you.”

She smiled, “I wish to be honest with you. It seems important to you.”

His humor returned with that, “It is.”

She nodded while Joe chuckled and the two fell silent, enjoying each other’s company. She shivered in the morning cold and Joe quickly took his blanket, carefully wrapping it around her shoulders before almost draping an arm over her shoulders. She noticed and the smile that she directed towards him was as brilliant as the sun and she brought a hand up to his shoulder.

“I can wait. Truly, but it is good to see that… you still have genuine feelings for me.”

Joe guffawed at that and shook his head, “I’m pretty sure we confirmed that already.”

“A girl likes to hear it often and repeatedly.”

Joe snorted, “Yup… that was beaten into me quite firmly by my mother and father.”

“Then they taught you well. I look forward to experiencing their teaching.”

Joe snorted again and smirked, “You certainly are much more comfortable.”

She paused at that, cocking her head before nodding, “I think I am.”

“Then… it is already better.”

“Hmm… a little. I’m still waiting a decision.”

“Hey… you said you would give me time?” he mock rebuked.

She simply smiled back at him with her own smirk then settled deeper into the blankets then looking up at him with some concern before nodding to his side. He paused, then nodded with some reserve and she simply leaned against his side slightly, sighing. They rested like this for a bit before Joe remembered that he’d wanted to ask the other three some more questions.

“Hey, Kilinara?”

“Yes?”

“I have a question. I need to learn about religious jobs and the priesthood, but … trying to figure it out is dangerous if I ask priests. Kukurnal and I spoke some time yesterday, but he warned me of some things I should not speak on. Kukurnal is a good friend, but speaking to him about certain things seemed… unwise. Especially about your brother and his criminal job.”

Kilniara had rested against Joe in ease until Joe brought up her brother’s criminal job and quickly tensed before she began nodding her head, “Speaking to a priest of such things… would likely be unwise.”

“I thought so as well. So, I was hoping I could find someone or some place I could ask. I believe I can go to the library, possibly, if the Matriarch allows me into the inner city to see the library, but if I cannot go, I was wondering if you, Zilnek, or Kilniara may know of a certain… place or person I could ask such questions of.”

“My brother may be able to help.”

“You do not know?”

“My brother learned of the usurer, and should know others.”

“Hmm… possibly, but I will have nothing to do with the usurer. He will be nothing more than a danger and I have no desire to place myself, or you, in his hands once again.”

Kilniara relaxed visibly by his side at that and he didn’t even realize the amount of tension she’d been holding within. Joe quickly wrapped an arm around her tightly before both quickly froze at his action. He unfroze and quickly hugged her again before slowly removing his arm.

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“Don’t worry. I will protect both you and your brother. I just need to know and the information is hard to find here.”

Kilniara quicky nodded, seeming much calmer as she looked up at him with a bright smile, “Ok.”

Joe stared back down at her, the conversation stalling as the two soon lost themselves into each other’s eyes. Kilniara continued to simply stare back up at him. The two then looked away in a bit of embarrassment and the fell silent once again, Kilniara pressing into his side comfortably, but not seeking out anything more than just presence, something Joe was willing to give even to a friend. They remained like this for a time until a soft cough interrupted their thoughts and Joe looked up to see the other two staring at him and Kilniara. Joe cleared his throat and tried to keep the red from staining his face. Zilnek and Garnedell sat there staring at them, absolutely huge grins on their faces.

Kilniara had turned away, burying her head into his shoulder to hide away from Zilnek and Garnedell. She’d pulled her arms in, protecting herself before she looked up slightly from Joe’s chest and glared through the curtain of her hair at the two boys.

“Zilnek! Why! What … How come you didn’t warn us sooner!”

Garnedell looked a bit embarrassed but was still grinning. Zilnek, on the other hand, laughed then smirked at her, “We were enjoying the show!”

Kilniara shrieked at her brother before burying herself further into his side, sliding behind him so as to hide and Joe sighed before chuckling and sitting up. He moved slowly, giving Kilniara the time to react. She scrambled up behind him, vacuuming up the blanket to cover herself.

“Well, that was a bit rude. The next time you find some girlfriends, I’ll make sure to come in and watch you two as well,” Joe replied with a bit of humor hiding his embarrassed irritation.

The two boys looked down, embarrassed at that, but Joe’s follow up laughter relieved them and the two looked up, smiling. They didn’t have anything to say at that, and soon simply stared at Joe and Kilniara with growing awkwardness before Joe snorted and waved at the boys.

“Really, guys. Let her get back to her room, alright?”

The two flushed red at that and quickly ended their joking, and Kilniara stood, blanket wrapped mostly around her and fled to the room. She didn’t need the blanket… she had a dress on… sheesh… hope I get that back soon. Joe sighed and stood, walking to the wash basin to clean up his face before waving to the boys.

“Let’s get going. We got a long day ahead of us,” Joe said as he finished cleaning himself before sitting down again. Ugh… I need to wash my clothes soon. Maybe something else I need to look into.

“Right. A couple questions. First, an easy one. We need to get our clothes washed. They’re getting disgusting. Where can we do that?”

“The public baths have some washing facilities, although you will have to wash your own clothing.”

Joe’s eyes widened at Zilnek’s reply and he stood up, ‘There’re public baths!”

“Yes?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?! I’m sick of bathing in a stupid tub.”

“Well, if you try to go… every night, the guards may begin to kick you out.”

“You can’t go every day?”

“No. Only citizens of the city may go at their appointed time.”

“Oh… when… how often can you go?”

“Kilniara and I only have a monthly allotment.”

Joe paused at this before replying, “Are there different kinds of allotments?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… how do you gain these allotments?”

“I do not...”

Kilniara interrupted her brother, “You can purchase allotments at the baths.”

“Oh. Great. Then we’ll be getting an allotment ASAP. Show me as we go to the dungeon today.”

“It is not close to the dungeon.”

“That’s fine. We’ll do it then go to the dungeon,” Joe replied before pausing for a bit, “Why didn’t you tell me there were baths?”

All three turned to look at him in confusion, saying nothing, and Joe continued explaining.

“What did you think I was doing with all this water and the baths?”

Garnedell began to awkwardly rock before looking up to Joe and speaking, “We thou… I thought you were a follower of Enki.”

“Enki? Who … what is Enki?”

“The God of the ocean and water.”

“Huh? Why… why would you think that?”

“You would always go to the river every day to perform your worship of Enki. Every day.”

Joe started laughing at that, bright and belly deep eruptions filled the room and Joe soon sat down on his bed before wiping tears from his eyes and shaking his head. His laughter coming to an end after some time. When he finally had his laughter under control again, he saw all three looking on him with some consternation and he broke out into light chuckles again.

“No. I do not worship Enki or any water god or goddess. I simply wish to bathe.”

Garnedell blurted out in surprise only to be quickly followed by Kilniara immediately and Zilnek a few seconds later due to his intelligence, “Every day!?”

Joe’s eyes rose in surprise a bit before he smiled and shrugged, “Is every day surprising?”

All three nodded with Garnedell actually stating, “Very!”

“Huh. Well, amongst my people, we all wash almost every day. It is very important for cleanliness and health. I just wish the inn had an easy way to clean ourselves here, but… well… at least there’s a bath,” Joe replied before finishing with a sigh under his breath, “Woohoo… public bathing.”

Joe quickly stood and called them to spread out, “OK. That’s for later. Spread out and start your basic form. Today, I need to have a discussion, so I don’t want to overwhelm you with conversation and trying to do the more difficult forms. You should, however, easily be able to do the couple basic forms while speaking with me no problem.

Joe continued a bit softer, “The topic for discussion. Please keep it quiet and between ourselves. You’ll understand why quickly enough, but it is important for our small group. So, I need to find information about the religious jobs and priesthood so I can get the change job skill and help out Zilnek. It will also help us later as we continue to grow, but right now I need to know where I can learn this. The temples seem to keep secrets. Kukurnal is a friend and even he pointed to secrets. So, I need to know. Where or who can I speak to about the secret type of information.”

This seemed to stun both Garnedell and Zilnek, and Kilniara quickly stepped in, explaining their morning conversation and what Joe was seeking. The two boys stood around in thought with Kilniara until Joe quickly bullied them back into their forms. It took a bit for them to start their forms, but they were soon flowing through their forms well enough. The conversation lulled as Joe took the time to offer some guidance and corrections before finally stepping back and turning to all three as they sweated through their forms.

“Right. So, any suggestions?”

Garnedell replied first, but proved to be very succinct as he shook his head, “No. I’m sorry, Joe.”

The rest remained silent for another few breaths before Zilnek started, “I may have some options. What I know is very limited, but I may know a name and a beginning.”

Joe nodded, “That seems good.”

Zilnek shook his head in reply, however, “Not really. It is only a small foot in the door. We will need to explore deeply to find anything of meaning or use.”

“And that would likely take days. Maybe even a week before we get the information?”

“At least.”