“Service! Service!”

Fenn turned to see where the shout had come from. At the side of the road a woman carrying a child was waving at them.

“Service!”

Fenn looked at her two companions. All three had their hoods up and were carrying large packs. Fenn, Imtha, and Ayana tried to work out if they were stopping or not.

“We’re already late,” Imtha said. “Leave the human be.”

“Hardly late,” Ayana replied, “we’re supposed to help people.”

Fenn looked around to survey the space around them. The woman was coming closer and still shouting. Nobody else was paying much mind to them.

“Service! Acolytes, service!”

“Let’s just be done quickly,” Fenn said. “It’s likely nothing. A moment's delay for a fever or a silly blessing.”

Imtha sighed. “Two to one. But I don’t like it.”

Relax? For once? Maybe?

The woman arrived in front of them. She was holding a baby and pulling another child along by the hand.

“Service. Please. My daughter is sick. We can’t afford a doctor.”

The woman pushed her older child forward. The girl had rashes and sores on her face.

Ayana put down her pack, dropped to a knee, and pulled her hood back. She had purple skin and her eyes were black voids. Her horns started from her forehead and stayed close to her head as they went back. Black hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She smiled at the young girl.

“Hi, little one. I’m Ayana’Muro. I’ll help you.”

The girl recoiled away at the sight of her and the baby started crying. The mother pushed her forward.

Saw that coming.

“It’s okay, love. These ones won’t hurt you. She’ll make you better. Go on.”

The little girl didn’t budge. Ayana pulled up the pouch of dust she carried at her hip.

“See? Just a pinch of this and you’ll be okay. It won’t hurt at all.”

The little girl kept shaking her head. Ayana sighed and her shoulders slumped. She pulled her hood back up over her head, far enough down that her face was mostly covered. Taking a pinch of dust out from her pouch, she rubbed it against a rune on her right forearm. It glowed red and the energy began flowing down to Ayana’s hand. She held it out.

“An Acolyte serves. Just take my hand and be healed.”

The mother nudged the child forward a few more times. The girl stepped forward and slowly took Ayana’s hand. The red energy flowed over to her and began to wash over her from her arm. Her face cleared up immediately.

The woman started hugging and kissing her daughter's freshly healed face. Imtha nudged Ayana.

“Come on, we’ve lost enough time. Let’s get to North Finger.”

“Service is what we’re supposed to be doing,” Fenn said.

Imtha didn’t respond and turned to keep going down the road. Ayana got up, grabbed her pack, and the three set out walking again. A few minutes later on their path the dynamic of the neighbourhood shifted. The buildings changed from multiple floors of strong lumber to huts little better than sheds. The cobblestones on the road ended and it became a dirt path. All of the faces changed from a mix of humans and elves into only Alloci. A group ran up to them. Young guys, short hair, tall horns.

Imtha is going to love these guys.

“You’re here! Where to today? Let’s get those.”

The girls gladly handed over their packs to the men and pulled their hoods off. Fenn stretched her shoulders as the weight came off.

Glad to be rid of that.

“Bollin’s Market,” Imtha said. “We have lots today. More than usual. Spread the word around.”

One of the men ran off and started shouting about the food to be served. After another minute the group arrived at a clearing with market stalls of all types. Four large tables sat in the centre with runes carved into them. The men began to unload the packs, laying out pans and platters and setting out large bags. The attention of the crowd shifted and people started to gather in a large ring around the centre tables.

Fenn pulled open one of the bags and spread some brown pellets over one of the tables. A sprinkle of dust later, the pellets grew into loaves of bread. Ayana started a similar process with some pots, drawing out soup from seemingly nowhere. Alloci, many in tattered clothing, started to file in with bowls in hand.

Imtha looked over at Fenn and Ayana. “This is where we already should have been.”

Give it a break already.

The men started helping Fenn and Ayana distribute food as they kept a steady flow of bread and soup coming off the altars. A line formed near Imtha as she began using her runes for healing spells. She hugged each child as they got better. Some men showed up with broken bones that had been poorly set. One young man hung nearby trying to get a word in with Imtha as she was working.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Fenn, look,” Ayana called over. “It looks like Ragan’Gasta is still trying to get Imtha’s attention.”

Fenn looked at the two of them and saw Imtha’s smile steadily growing as she relaxed.

He definitely has her attention.

“Beg a pardon, acolytes.” a voice came from behind them.

Both of them turned and saw blueish purple Alloci looking at them. Fenn saw his tail flipping around at his legs.

What has him so nervous?

Fenn looked at him again as he stepped closer to them. He was tall and broad with prominent horns. His face wasn’t overly confident but the flitting tail gave it away.

Why am I feeling so nervous?

“I.. uh… I’m Oben’Forga. I’m looking for Fenn.”

Ayana pointed over. “That’s her. You’ve made it to harbour.”

Oben took a deep breath.

“Forga’Lira said I should come find you. I know you came to the city for the Coven and I know this sounds weird but she said that you haven’t made your final vows so you might want to see more of the city before you decide. I could show you around. If you like, that is. I mean, there are a lot of good things here. Good people and good families. And you wouldn’t be stuck in North Finger at all, right? Not Fenn’Taeram. I mean you have options to live however you want and…”

Fenn’Taeram. There it is. That’s what he’s about. Time to let him down easy.

“I’m sorry, Oben,” she cut him off. “I think Forga’Lira has the wrong impression. An acolyte serves. That’s why I’m here.”

Fenn could see the wind come out of his sails.

“I mean… There’s always an option…” he said.

“I’m fine. Thank you, Oben. I’m sure you’ll match just fine.” Fenn replied.

Oben looked defeated and walked away.

Ayana laughed. “Shot and sunk. Ouch. What will happen to all the bachelors in North Finger when the amazing Fenn’Taeram takes her final vows and is off the market?”

Fenn shrugged. “They try to get me to give up my vows? Or I just crawl in a hole and die? Either is fine really.”

“Well at least Imtha is having a good time,” Ayana said while pointing over.

Ragan’Gasta has progressed to having a hand on her shoulder while she worked and Imtha was taking long breaks to laugh and joke between healings.

Ayana laughed. “What are the odds she cracks and decides to move back to North Finger?”

“Not in a million seasons,” Fenn replied. “The whole reason she joined the Coven was to get out of North Finger. Imtha just likes to flirt. She’d never come back here if it wasn’t assigned.”

“Good luck with that then,” Ayana said with a laugh. “North Finger is always the assignment. This whole community would collapse without us.”

They were interrupted by one of their helpers knocking on a table.

“If it’s alright with you girls, we still have mouths to feed.”

“Right,” they both said and returned to the altars for more bread and soup.

The work in the soup kitchen became one hour, then two, then three. The stream of people seeking food eventually slowed down as the fourth hour began. Things wound down and soon the three were packing everything back into much lighter bags. After a short chat, more flirting, and a passionate goodbye from Ragan’Gasta, the three girls started their path back to High Tower.

“Straight back?” Imtha asked. “Still two hours easily until the dusk rituals begin. We have time to go the long way.”

“How long? Fenn doesn’t want to end up in Copper Bottom again?” Ayana said with a laugh.

“Very funny, Ayana,” Fenn replied. “What do you have in mind, Imtha? You’re from here.”

“And I’m glad to be leaving here,” she replied. “There isn’t much to do. But further up North Finger, back into the mixed neighbourhood, is a coffee house that’s friendly.”

All three stopped to check the pouches of dust hanging near their belts. Each weighed the amount they had left after casting spells all day.

“I have some spare,” Ayana said, “So I can probably get us something. Coffee for sure but I doubt any treats.”

“Good. I’m all but spent,” Fenn added.

“Lot’s here,” Imtha said.

“Settled then,” Ayana said. “We’ll try for coffee.”

After a few blocks the trio had transitioned back into cobblestone roads and reliable buildings. Just as quickly, hoods came back on to hide their features. They passed without conversation through a few blocks and streets until coming to a shop. The sign on the outside showed an anchor and a flute crossed. A big green circle with a yellow line through it was painted beside the door.

“See?” Imtha said as she tapped the painted circle. “Coven friendly.”

The door tripped a bell as the three walked in. The owner of the coffee house came over to them straight away.

“What service?” Imtha asked.

“No luck, girls,” the owner replied, “Acolytes came through and did every spell I could need. Nothing to trade here really.”

Well there’s that then. No service no coffee.

Ayana grabbed a money purse and pulled out two silver coins. “How about these? We can pay extra.”

The owner frowned and shook his head. “I got fined last month for trying to use coven coins in the market. Can’t do it. You can try the crowd though.”

Why does the Coven even make their own coins if everyone is forbidden to use them?

“The crowd will come through,” Ayana said, “always does.” She knocked on the counter to get everyone’s attention and raised her voice. “What service? What service?”

All the patrons looked around at each other. Fenn could see them all weigh if they wanted to buy them coffees in exchange for a spell.

Someone? Anyone?

An elf near the back stood up. “Service,” he said flatly.

“An acolyte serves,” Imtha said as she bounded over to him. “What service?”

“I’m sailing out tomorrow on a trade run,” he said. “A blessing for the ship and I’ll get your coffees.”

“Happily,” Imtha replied. “I’ll be out just after dawn.”

The elf looked over to the shopkeeper and gestured for coffee to go around. The shopkeeper put a kettle over the fire and started sorting out cups. Imtha stayed with the elf to get more details while Fenn and Ayana found a spot to sit.

“How does Imtha always have dust and time to spare?” Ayana asked.

She’s the cheapest Alloci ever to set foot in the Coven.

“She grew up in North Finger,” Fenn replied. “She’s used to having nothing and making it last.”

Imtha made it back to their table just as the coffees arrived. “So, Fenn, the rumour going around is that the Navy officer who saved your bacon is pretty cute.”

Jaali must have said that. Here we go again.