Chapter

Jack took a deep breath of the crisp evening air, enjoying the change of season as Autumn began to make its presence felt, heading roughly to where he was almost sure the night market was, before finally conceding that racing off after mad hunches was not exactly conducive to a great sense of direction. After first being prudent enough to carefully the now wider, and at present, empty lamp-lit road he was walking along and sensing neither danger nor pedestrians nearby, he took advantage of the rare moment of calm to access his interface and pull up an abbreviated version of his character sheet.

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Jack Evergreen Class Undecided Level 0

Primary Attributes

Strength 12 (Exceeds 74% of base population)

Vitality 13 (Exceeds 83% of base population)

Finesse 14 (Exceeds 90% of base populationd)

Quickness 13 (Exceeds 83% of base population)

Perception 14 (Exceeds 90% of base population

Scholarship 15 (Exceeds 95% of base population)

Willpower 13 (Exceeds 83% of base population)

Charisma 14 (Exceeds 90% of base population)

Insight. - Gold Tier

Health 10xVit+Str+(10xlevel) = 142

Stamina 10xVit+Str= 142

Mana = 150

Base Appearance 11 (Slightly above average.)

Virtues

Rapid Learner

Explosive Growth

Plane Walker

Virtues

Rapid Learner

Explosive Growth

Plane Walker

Arcane Marksman

Rank 1 Fire Affinity / Rank 1 Water Affinity / Rank 1 Blood affinity / Rank 3 Soul Weaver & Basic Witchery Sphere affinity. - Spells associated with those schools are cast as if wielder has additional ranks in underlying arts = to affinity.

Flaws

Painful Healing (This perk has been mitigated as you transcend previous limitations! You now have the Knowledgeable Healer Perk instead!)

Secret Identity (Mild) Half-elf. Upswept ears are hidden by thick hair & friendly air sprite. General appearance is otherwise within human norms.

Dark Secret (The blood of Elven Grey Witches flows through your veins. If any hostile Mind Mage discovers this, your life will be imperiled.)

Favorite Skills & Spells

Spell & Shield - Journeyman Rank 1 / Weapon & Shield - Journeyman Rank 1 (Situational awareness when fighting with shield)

Firestream (Blood Flame) - Adept Rank 3 (Potency, Full Bloodflame (no Ex cost)

Geyser - Adept Rank 1. / Tier 2 Greater Geyser - Apprentice Rank 1

Acid Spray (Tier 2) - Novice Rank 1

Ice Shield (Blood Shield) - Adept Rank 1 (Resilience, 50% increased potency, no flame penalties, no experience cost. 20 Mana reserved.)

Earth Armor (Blood Armor) - Journeyman Rank 2 (No experience cost to blood armor. 10 mana reserved per piece)

Acid Arrow - Adept Rank 3 (4 for 1)

Rune Forging - Adept Rank 4 (Blood Rune, Arcane Forger) - Rune specialization - Resilience +3 Ranks (Elite Rank 2 Perk: Pristine Synergistic Compatibility)

Lesser Healing - Adept Rank 2 (Mitigated penalties, Knowledgeable Healer: Adept perk retroactively chosen- you are now capable of forging a Greater Artifact of Healing, combined with Rune Forging Perk! - Cost: 1 Full Level's worth of Experience!)

Windfire (Tier 3 Spell) - Novice Rank 4 (Potent + Bloodflame Perks ) lacking prerequisites = 8x normal cost - 20% reduced cost)

Soul Weaver Arts

Tier 1 Snip - Journeyman Rank 2 / Pinch - Journeyman Rank 2 / Spool - Journeyman Rank 2

Tier 2 Shear - Journeyman Rank 2 / Fabricate - Journeyman Rank 1

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He couldn't help but spend a quick moment appreciating all the ways he had grown and trusting his hunch, that if he just peered a bit deeper... there! He had found it!

He flashed a satisfied grin when a myriad dizzying interlocking sigils and reference points seemed to blur into focus as a mental map of the city he was currently striding through. He was both awed by just how large this city seemed to be, and that he had an interface map at all, his winding path just the tiniest portion of a massive fog of grey. Then he chuckled to himself, nothing that he had somehow gotten completely turned around, and was nowhere near the night market he had thought he was approaching.

With a rueful shake of his head he turned right around, though the odd queasiness he felt at trying to superimpose his interface map with his actual physical surroundings as depicted by the sights, sounds, and smells all around him was considerable. Especially with infravision giving everything a warm or cool glow, and the misty etherial glow the whole city seemed to have that his Magesight couldn't help but pick up on. It was an overwhelming amount of information to process at first, and Jack could only wonder how disoriented he might have felt, if he didn't already have a 14 Perception. So he took it slow, making sure he was still some distance away from any pedestrians or trouble as he practiced integrating his senses with the map interface. Much to his relief, everything snapped into crystalline focus after just a few minutes of sedately walking one of the well-lit main thoroughfares, enjoying the crisp night breeze and the taste of mystery and wonder somehow permeating the air and bringing a smile to his lips, along with the scents of spruce and pine with just a hint of roses and jazmine from the rustling trees dividing the boulevard of this clearly well-to-do part of town, even if not so posh as the noble's quarter itself.

He took a deep breath, pleased to see such carefully tended greenery giving this neighborhood and the stately townhouses he walked beside a bit of color and life. He even offered a friendly dip of his head to the very few souls dressed in well-tailored cloaks, doublets, and capes also making their way along the quiet streets, earning nods and furrowed brows in equal measure, one gentleman going so far as to tap the sword cane held in his hand and glaring at Jack's hip.

Jack winced in apology, recalling that he risked definite trouble, carrying a migration era blade that, despite being surprisingly light and well balanced for its shape and size, was still over twice the maximum weight allowed.

He picked up his pace, his sword now secured in his pouch of holding, so he earned nothing more than a cursory frown by a passing pair of truncheon-wielding nightwatchmen as he finally caught sight of the night market, smiling at the sounds of festivities and revelry just up ahead.

"Welcome to the night market, where all that a man can fancy is up for the taking! All you need's a bit of coin and a little know-how, and I have all the knowing you need! What can I help you with this evening, guv'nor?"

Perception check made!

Jack blinked, darting around and catching sight of a young man, hardly more than a boy, really, who couldn't have been a day over 14, flashing Jack a charming gap-toothed grin. He was clearly making an effort to look presentable, with tunic, vest, and doublet all in evidence, his breeches more reminiscent of old fashioned private school uniforms than the renaissance style leggings worn by at least half the people Jack spotted going about their nightly wanderings.

Jack couldn't help smiling at the lad, dressed as he was in a colorful collage of eras that truly clashed brilliantly, for all that no one else nearby seemed to think it odd. But there was no doubt his attire had seen better days. Jack caught sight of numerous hemmed rips and restitched seems, a part of him wanting to scold the tailor or seamstress, his fingers almost itching to do a better job.

"Actually you could help me out," Jack said to the lad only a handful of years younger than himself. He held the boys eyes for a long moment, pulling out several different sized copper and the smallest of his silver coins. The boy's eyes widened at the sight. "Tell me how the value of one of these coins compares to another, and what each will buy, here in Greyspeak." Jack's smile hardened. "And the more honest I find your answer, the more likely we are to continue our relationship."

The youth nodded animatedly. "Of course, your lordship! The smallest of the coppers, a quarpen, will buy you a bowl of soup at one of the stalls here, or slops and bread at a lowdive inn.

The hapence, or half-feather, will buy you twice that, or bread and butter with your soup, and a full copper feather will get you a night's rest in a small cramped closet of a room in a lowdive, or, if you sweet talk a hostler, let you sleep comfortable-like in the hayloft of your choice, so long as you're out before the innkeep awakens." he chuckled at his own joke.

"Two copper feathers will get you a night's rest in a decent room and a slab of bread and butter and a pint of table ale for when you wake up at any decent lowdive, but of course the price goes up from there, depending on where your inn o'choice is located, how posh you want your room to be with beeswax candles, fresh bread, stew, and lamb chops and all the trimmings and maybe a bit o'company on the side." The lad chuckled at that. "That last might actually cost you a full silver talon, if you live it up like a lord, and your smallest silver coin's worth twenty copper feathers. A full sized Silver eagle is worth ten talons, or two hundred copper feathers. And a gold crown..." the lad chuckled at the very thought of such. "Why, that's wealth in its most beautiful form. A full gold crown is worth a hundred eagles, or twenty thousand copper feathers, and isn't that a mouthful!"

Jack blinked, feeling a delicious shiver as he thought about the coinage he had stored away, now when he might actually need to start making use of it in the very near future, to say nothing of an exceedingly large fragment of a certain jewel encrusted treasure box made of solid gold still safely stored within a pouch he had to fight not to grab tight in sweaty palms, trusting that his Obscuro rune would keep it just as hidden from everyone's gaze as it had since the day he had first left Hidden Grove.

Jack nodded thoughtfully. "Best I stretch my silver talon just as far as I can, then. ten nights at a lowdive, you said? Might be the way to go."

The kid flashed a pained smile. "You could, your lordship. O'course you could. But for an up-and-comer like yourself, I'd recommend a place a bit more... refined. In fact," he said, gently tugging Jack's doublet, as if to lead him away, "I can show you to a wonderful little inn, snug and cozy in a nice neighborhood not too far from here. It's great for any traveler getting his bearings, and it won't cost you more than 4 feathers a night, and that includes both a full loaf of bread and a crock of butter, as well as a bowl of soup, for breakfast and dinner both!"

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Jack grinned at the obvious pitch, tossing the kid a full copper feather. "Tell you what, we'll worry about inns later. First, how about you show me the ins and outs of this night market. Where can we grab the tastiest and cheapest fare, and if someone's looking for a decent blade or spell book," Jack deliberately laughed at the latter, "where would one go to buy it?"

The youth blinked at Jack for long moments before beaming wide. "Spell book. I haven't heard that one before. Alright then, fine sir! The name's Tim, and I'll be happy to show you all that the market has to offer!" The youth quickly led Jack to a number of stands selling puffed meat pastries, baked apples stuffed with cinnamon and nutmeg, and the tangiest ale he could remember savoring for quite some time. He moderated himself to a single pint, but didn't hesitate to treat the ravenous youth to whatever he was having, both of them ending their feast with several globi balls, or delicious pastry filled with a lightly sweetened cheese that had been fried in lard that flooded his mouth with a luscious light cheesecake flavor.

"Delicious start to our eve, guv'nor, and didn't cost us more than a few copper feathers!" He winked Jack's way. "You're a wise man, appreciating the best street food in the city, versus the overpriced fare in half the taverns calling themselves full service eateries!"

Jack chuckled, feeling as full and content as he could recall in quite some time, only now fighting back a massive yawn, finally feeling the effects of all that he had seen and experienced since being waken up far too early from Stormy's warm arms, what now seemed days ago. Still, he wanted to press on at least a bit further. Because the more he learned this night, when he was almost certain no one was sniffing his trail, the better off he would be.

With encouraging words and a few more snacks for his new friend's insatiably growling belly, he allowed Tim to show him the ins and outs of the night market, and how exactly it diverged from the daily market, with smithies and craftsmen long gone to bed so unable to take special orders, but shopkeepers and assistance seemingly up all night, eager to sell whatever they had in stock in terms of arms, armaments, apparel, and all sorts of exotic knickknacks, including one walk-in stall with any number of old tomes that the wizened shopkeeper swore held numerous lost secrets to magic, but all Jack saw in the handful he perused was what amounted to someone's library collection now being sold for coin, a haphazard affair of geography, history, law treatises, racy novels, and a fair bit of poetry as well, the latter being what the shopkeeper was beaming at with pride.

"Well of course we mean the magic of the heart, the poetry of the soul! Just read this verse here. Appreciate the rhyme and meter! You wish to woo a girl's heart? Classic poetry is the way to go!"

Jack winced, giving a polite chuckle to the increasingly desperate sounding old man. "Perhaps I will at that. Later." he then darted out of the cramped little shop, surprised it actually took a Finesse check to do so, young Tim chuckling by his side.

"So, you were serious about magical tomes? Are you going to be attending the Arcane Academy then?"

His eyes widened when Jack gave a noncommittal shrug. "It never hurts to dream," he said.

Tim sighed somewhat forlornly, before seeming to snap back into character. "It never does, sir! Never! Even if the only ones who actually manage to enter that place of living dream and fairy tale wonder are young lords and ladies born with silver spoons in their mouths and wands at their hips, or so they say. And they all buy their supplies on Magician's Row. The grand boulevard adjoining the grand campus with its beautiful wall of roses and thorns no mortal can hope to cross, but we can all look at and breathe deep of that heavenly scent."

Jack blinked and frowned at that. "So no one can attend unless they're nobility?"

Tim shrugged. "Or particularly gifted, and able to solve the riddles of the maze. But even if one should prove so gifted as to actually earn admittance into the sanctuary beyond without a lord's title to your name, all it takes is one unexpected twist into folly, and all of one's carefully built castles of hopes and dreams will crash down like heaps of sand splashed by the cold waters of the real world. Then it's a hardscrabble life for the student who dared to rise above his station, just as it is for the rest of us." He forced an awkward chuckle. "Not that I would know anything about that. The only magic I claim is my natural charm!"

Jack couldn't help chuckling at the kid's beaming grin, graceful enough to leave it at that. "Fair enough. Best bet for magical tomes and toys is Magician's Row. Now, where's the best place to find a sword?"

And in very short order, Jack was perusing a number of market stalls, some so grand and spacious they were practically shops in their own right, filled with any number of cinquedias with their wide, almost triangular triple-fullered blades, of various sizes but none more than a pound in weight, along with much thinner dirks and daggers, almost but quite of short sword length, one or two of the longest even with knuckle bow and disc guard. Weapons clearly attempting to bridge the gap between dagger and fencing blade, without carrying the price tag of the elite prizes with their own felt-lined racks behind the burly shopkeeper presently gazing at Jack a bit too intently with his cold, measuring eyes when Jack dared to peer at them seriously, intrigued by the slight graceful curve that was more an accent of a few degrees than anything else, assuring that the slender fullered sabers could still give point as well as cut.

"Okay if I check out one of the sabers?"

The shopkeeper frowned, pale blue eyes peering intently at Jack. "That depends. You got a writ of concession for a pound and a half, boy?"

Jack blinked at this, turning to a wincing Tim.

"I'm sorry, yer lordship. I thought you knew," the boy whispered.

The man snorted. "If you don't know what I'm talking about, then, no. There's no saber here for you to wave about like a fool."

Jack clenched his teeth and took a deep, calming breath. "Fair enough. Is there any blade I could look at?"

The man snorted, tilting his head. "That depends. Have you ever used a small sword, or any fencing blade at all?"

Jack swallowed back the smart retort begging to be said. "Blade and Shield," he replied instead.

The man didn't bother holding back his condescending head shake. "That will get you nowhere with a smallsword, except dead. My advice to you? Pick out the nicest cinquedia you can afford, so you don't look like an easy mark, then just be about your business. If you're smart enough not to offend the lords who rule, you might actually survive the season. But you'd best bow your head twice, with that challenging look in your eyes, since you sure as hell won't be permitted to refuse their own challenges."

Jack forced a polite smile, dipping his head. "Thank you for the advice." He then turned around and left, clamping down the hot jolt of fury he knew he had no business feeling for a man who was just doing his job, however condescending he came off. For all Jack knew, the guy had his fill dealing with rubes just like him all day, every day. And if they were anything like Jack, they sure as hell weren't buying the man's cinquedias either.

Tim flashed Jack a worried glance. "My apologies, sir. That man was a fool not to treat you better."

Jack smirked. "Or maybe I'm the fool for not knowing the ins and outs of this city, better." He turned to the worried-looking youth as they weaved their way through the still surprisingly thick foot traffic, though most of the pedestrians seemed to be weaving toward the many ale stands in the night market as much as any other sort of shop. "What's this 'writ of concession?'"

"It's a paper or mark indicating that a given lord or lady is permitted to accept duels with a weapon heavier than a single pound, yer lordship," said a clearly knowledgeable Tim. "Not something any commoner is likely to get ahold of, and hopefully they will never need it."

Jack nodded. "One more arrow in a quiver that assures that those with all the perks stay that way."

This earned a youthful sigh. "Isn't that the truth of things, sir." He then visibly brightened, as if trying to perk Jack's spirits up. "The night is still young, sir. Where would you like to head to next?"

Jack grinned. "Any chance we can find a fencing salon at this hour, or a friendly sword seller?"

The lad sighed regretfully. "I think your best bet would be swordsman's row. And that part of the city is closed, this time of night."

Jack nodded. "Fair enough." He cracked his neck. "In that case, perhaps it would be best to call it a night."

Jack peered thoughtfully at the bright-eyed lad while paying for a pair of meat skewers from a smiling vendor, handing one of them to his young companion. The skinny Tim flashed a grateful smile when he found his hands filled with food and small beer once more. "I overheard someone mentioning a spot called Silver Wand Inn. You wouldn't happen to know how to get there, would you, Tim?"

The youth blinked, pausing in his ravenous consumption of the food in hand, peering closely at Jack. "I do indeed, guv'nor. It's not the cheapest inn, but it is probably the safest in the city, and notorious, for obvious reasons. Are you sure that's where you want to go?"

Jack furrowed his brow, then nodded, as if on a whim. "Yes. If nothing else, it will be fun to wet my thirst in an entirely new part of the city. And you said it was notorious for obvious reasons?"

The boy quickly nodded, devouring the last of his food after returning the stein to the nearby drinking stall. "O'course. It's the property of the Guild, after all, and filled with adventurers!" The boy then smirked as they left the vast market in surprisingly short order. "And trust me, I would know! I'm good friends with a bunch, even if all most nobles see is a double handful of armored folk radiating earthly magics like you wouldn't believe, who look as capable of killin' ya as blinkin'." He shrugged. "All of which is technically correct, but lords who enjoy a free show, or Etherial masters who enjoy witnessing how the origins of our grand art actually got started, do enjoy stoppin' by."

Tim coughed awkwardly. "I used to stop by quite a bit myself, but I sort of had a misunderstanding with the proprietress of the house, awhile back. But let's not get into the whys and ware-fores of that, m'lord. The important thing is that the clink of coin is the sweetest sound any proprietress has ever heard, and few things mend friendships faster than a kind word and a wee bit o' silver. Am I right, m'lord?"

Jack smirked. "Wouldn't dream of putting you on the spot. So Delvers hang out there?"

The boy nodded enthusiastically. "They do indeed, m'lord. Just like the Delvers from the storybooks. Fearsome, grand, larger than life! I've even thought about joining them myself!" He cleared his throat and flushed. "But I didn't have time to ask them right proper, with Mistress Sigrid and her switch! That lady moves so fast and sneaky like, you don't even see her coming til after you gave your future wife the most respectful of kisses, and then it's all "Tim, you good-for-nothing lay-about! You leave poor Jenny alone right this instant!" He snorted. "As if Jenny wasn't the one to start the kissing and, ahem, other things."

Jack smirked at that. "I bet. How old are you again, Tim?"

The boy flashed a cheeky grin. "Same age as Jenny."

"And who's Jenny, exactly?"

Tim flushed. "She's the girl who struck my heart with a blow that cannot be healed, save by love's caress. And maybe she's Mistress Sigrid's great grandniece as well. But she looks more like her mother. Certainly acts like she's her mother."

"That might explain a few things," Jack deadpanned. "When you think about it."

Tim sighed. "All I know is that love's a maze of difficulties, and I seem to always get stuck in the thorns."

Jack chuckled ruefully. "I could tell you it gets easier, but that might be a lie."

Tim gave a world-weary sigh. "Isn't that the truth, guv'nor." His gaze then turned probing. "So, is that what you are?"

Jack blinked, turning to his young acquaintance as they ate up the ground at a fast pace, neither the occasional guard nor passerby troubling them as they made their way along the increasingly quiet city streets.

Jack blinked, finally registering the boy's question. "I'm sorry... what am I?"

"An adventurer! I mean, you're going to Silver Wand Inn. Only one sort bothers with that place, besides the nobles and high mages gazing at the Delvers like figures out of a storybook! And I can tell you're no noble, no offense, guv'nor, and I don't recognize you from the Academy, so that leaves only one possibility."

Jack smirked at the kid who was clearly very familiar with the establishment in question. "Really."

Tim nodded. "You're an adventurer... or one of those who wish to become adventurer!" The lad's eyes lit up with those words. "Daring to step foot inside living dream, to become part of the cloth from which bards and storytellers weave the grandest of tales! Rescuing maidens trapped in fairy, defeating witches with secret chests filled with wondrous treasures buried under their fireplaces, having trapped countless beautiful maidens in perpetual hedge-mazes that only the cleverest wizards and warriors can hope to overcome! And the best part of it is, anyone who survives even a single trip into the realms of Shadow and Dream comes out a genuine Delver, and can rank up and get ever more powerful, just like in the placard games the noble-bloods play in the coffee houses and all the academy kids play in the dorms! All of them rolling dice made of the bones of actual monsters, collecting cards for every power, blessing, or magical treasure their alter-ego has, actually getting prizes sponsored by the Guild, every year! But what they only play at, we can do for real, after our very first Delve."

Jack blinked. "Wait...the Guild actually sponsors the equivalent of gaming halls here?"

Tim furrowed his brow. "Taverns, coffee houses, and the one Arcane Academy league. What's a gaming hall? And yes, of course they do. Why wouldn't they?"

Jack frowned. "Wait, I thought... didn't the Guild and the Duke have some falling out, and now adventurers no longer adventure here?"

Tim gazed at Jack strangely. "What does that have to do with anything? Silver Wand is Guild property with Guild rules in effect. And we have a stable city dungeon, so of course there are adventurers here! Why do you think I come by Silver Wand Inn so often, or did, before Mistress Sigrid and I had our misunderstanding? It isn't just Jenny." His cheeks flushed. "Okay, maybe it's mostly Jenny. But I've been trying to get someone to take me with them into the dungeon since I was was kicked out of... I mean, since I first realized my path was that of the hero!"

Jack shook his head with a soft chuckle, it now making sense why Tim was so excited by the prospect of escorting him to this inn, out of the blue. Because if it had any kind of fame associated with it at all... what kid wouldn't fantasize about becoming an adventurer themselves? Even if they would eventually grow out of it, once they realized just how perilous a calling it truly was.

The road they were on soon opened onto a wide avenue with quaint cottage shops on one side of the tree-lined boulevard, and brightly painted terraced town homes on the other, looking like a particularly picturesque European town with graceful wooden paneling and stained glass windows, the hardwood door frames inlaid with silver and mother-of-pearl. Those stately town home might not catch a direct glimpse of the college proper just beyond, but they got a glorious view of the magnificent rose bushes across the wide boulevard soaring high above the picturesque cottages, like a grand wall of greenery. And each of those bushes were absolutely covered in blossoms of all colors, a veritable waterfall of lush, fragrant roses that Jack had no doubt would be absolutely striking to see in the light of day.

Jack whistled and shook his head, hoping he'd be able to stay. Because it seemed that it was located in an area just a step below the noble's quarter in terms of beauty and affluence. If nothing else, the inn was at least in a nice area of town, Jack thought. Which of course was exactly when a pair of men wearing the tabards of city guardsmen caught sight of them and quickly hurried their way, hands upon truncheons and bucklers, hard glares upon their faces.

Jack winced, glad that at least they weren't going for the arming swords also on their belts, as they were clearly unaffected by any 1 pound weight limitations to their own killing blades.

But all it took was Timothy's cheeky grin to set things right. "Evening, gents! My friend and I were just heading to Silver Wand Inn."

The nearer guardsman immediately slowed, hand now resting on his belt, no longer touching his truncheon at all. "Delver, then?"

Tim bobbed his head. "He's eager to try his luck exploring our city's greatest treasure, and even promised to bring me along!"

This earned a pair of surprised blinks, both men scowling at Jack.

"I did no such thing," he protested, glaring at the beaming youth, who airily waved his words away.

"What he means is, he's undecided. We haven't quite gotten to that stage of the evening's negotiations, yet, but I'm sure we will, after a few rounds of Sigrid's finest peach brandy."

Jack smirked at that. "What you mean is, we'll say our farewells after a pint of table beer and a coin or two by way of thank you."

Tim looked a bit put out by Jack's rebuttal, though the guardsman just laughed.

"Might as well enjoy your youth while you have it, Timothy," said the nearer guard companionably enough. "It's dangerous enough as it is, especially for those poor souls who have no choice but to brave the night."

The second guard nodded. "Didn't Master Erms offer to apprentice you as his scribe?"

Tim coughed. "Possibly. Who can say? I lose track of all the job offers I get."

The pair of guards smirked at that. "Best head home early tonight, Timothy," said the lead guard, his gaze serious once more. "People have gone missing. The streets aren't as safe as they once were."

Timothy flourished a bow, cheeky smile still in place. "That I will, lord protectors. Squire's Honor!"

This earned a pair of snorts and a casual wave as the guardsmen returned to their leisurely patrol.

Fortunately, it was only a few hundred more yards to their destination, and Jack was awed despite himself at the magnificent manor-like affair the Silver Wand Inn seemed to be, complete with miniature garden covered in seating tables, as if it could also serve as an outdoor restaurant, and several adjoining buildings connected by roofed walkways size that appeared almost as stately as the inn itself.

Timothy flourished an elegant bow, gesturing to the front door, presently closed.

"We have arrived, your lordship."

Jack grinned. "Not what comes to mind when I think of a quaint little inn, Tim, but I'll let that slide," he said, noting the cozy lights flickering in stained glass windows before making his way to the door and giving it a polite knock.

He frowned when no one answered after several moments, Timothy giving him an increasingly bemused stare.

"What?"

"Jack, it's unlocked. Just head on in."

Flushing, Jack did just that, quickly making his way inside.