As the wagon pulled up to the gate of Shulan, Ravyn tensed. Bittersweet emotions filled her chest as painful memories rose to the surface. Shulan was where she shared her greatest triumphs and her biggest blunders. She’d lost count of all the incredible moments spent here. Yet, somehow, it took less than a dozen bad ones to have her running for the hills. Literally.
A loud voice in her head said it would be an excellent time for a drink. She agreed. Nothing sounded better than unwinding after their journey. Too many memories in this place.
Just one drink. Then she could think properly. Take the tension off. Relax.
One drink. Just one.
No. We have things to do, Ravyn thought, combating her inner demons. As tempting as the inn appeared, she knew full well that it wouldn’t stop at just one drink. The past grew more powerful, more visceral with every serving, and she would tumble down the hole in her mind where all of her fuck ups resided.
After her night with the remaining bottle of wine back in Magni’s castle, Ravyn knew something would need to change. Her experiences with Matt were changing her, whether she liked it or not. Drinking bottle after bottle was how she ran away from her problems, and she knew it. Her devotion to Finn and the guilt she carried were holding her back.
Something had to change. The running had to stop.
She just hadn’t expected it would require her to part with Matt.
“We’re here!” said the coach. The horse neighed, and the wagon stopped a stone’s throw away from the gate. Ravyn and the others exited through the back, and the coach quickly snapped her fingers. “Ahem. My fee.”
Does no one have any fucking patience nowadays?
Ravyn turned away, rolling her eyes. “Sure, just a second.” She jumped out and rounded the wagon, plucking thirty Bells from her [Cat Pack] and putting them into the coach’s hand.
“Much obliged,” the coach said, pocketing the coins.
“Whoa,” Tristan said, coming to Ravyn’s side. “This is Shulan?”
“Yes.” She crossed her arms.
“It looks even grander than I imagined. The pictures don’t do it justice.”
“It’s all a guise. Pull people in, shove them back out Bell-less.”
“Were you serious when you said we should stay in [Combat Mode]?” asked Destiny as she stood beside Tristan. Lara followed, poking her head between their brushing shoulders.
“Mou ii.” Ravyn shook her head. “Yes, I was serious. If you want to get robbed by kittens in broad daylight, then be my guest.”
“That’s troubling,” Tristan murmured, cupping his chin in thought. “Where to, Ravyn?”
“We should visit the Guild Hall first. See where the cunt’s treasurer is.”
“Cunt’s treasurer, cunt’s treasurer, squawwwk!” Ball cried as he fluttered down to Ravyn’s shoulder. He’d spent the majority of their ride making circles above the cart, keeping a lookout for anything suspicious. For that alone, the coach should’ve given them a discount.
Ravyn started up the hill toward the gate while the remnants of her new Party jogged to catch up.
A guard with short violet hair blocked Ravyn’s way inside. “State your business.”
Cleaning up a jackass’s mess. “Cailu sent us. We’re heading to the Guild Hall.”
The guard peered over Ravyn’s shoulder, spying Tristan, Lara, and Destiny close behind. “That’s not the new, er, man, then?”
“No. Tristan’s from Shi Island.” Ravyn jerked a thumb toward Tristan. “Now, can we please go through?”
“Very well, then.” The guard frowned and stepped aside. “Enjoy your time in Shulan.”
“Thank you very much,” Tristan said with a warm smile and a bow.
Catgirls dressed in form-fitting silks stood on the sides of the cobblestone streets, peddling their cheap jewelry. A pair of kittens were running down a side street, and a shopkeep was screaming at the top of her lungs for them to stop.
Ravyn breathed a sigh. Welcome home.
“Is something the matter, Ravyn?” Destiny asked, resting her hand on Ravyn’s shoulder.
“Nothing.” Ravyn brushed Destiny’s hand away and proceeded through. “Come on.”
The journey to the Guild Hall was more irritating than Ravyn had predicted. If Tristan wasn’t being stopped every five feet, then saleswomen were picking at her new combat dress and suggesting ways to improve it. Offers of a good time at the inn and enthusiastic jewelers filled the air. Some were bashful about it, others stouthearted. Ravyn hissed at the latter.
“There,” Ravyn breathed, pointing to a wide building with pointed arches and scarlet pillars littered with Quest fliers. No doubt they were offering pittances for the work involved. “Let’s get the fuck inside before another crowd gathers around us.”
“Please,” the sisters whined.
“Sorry for the trouble, Rayvn,” said Tristan.
“You owe me a drink,” Ravyn grumbled, ascending the stairs.
After nearly losing her footing, Ravyn cursed under her breath and pushed on the right-side door. Her jewelry jingled with every step, and she rocked her lower jaw side to side while visions of Cailu burning in a brilliant blaze filled her thoughts.
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Rise above it. Rise. Above. It.
The Guild Hall was quiet despite the wild number of Quests available outside. Ravyn noted two pairs of catgirls in opposing corners. Their voices barely rose above a whisper. She breathed deep, then beckoned the others inside.
“Is that a man?” In seconds, a girl in black robes with gold trimmings was next to Tristan. She snaked her arms around his bicep while another girl took to his other side, mirroring her.
“It is!” said the other girl. “He’s so cute!”
“Can I join your Party?” asked the first girl. She bore short gray hair and ruby-colored eyes. She was nearly a head smaller than Tristan with modest features. “My name’s Airy!”
“I’m Yuna!” said the brunette. Her hair was tied in a braid that draped over her shoulder. She wore leathers similar to the ones Keke wore on their first visit to San Island. Her emerald eyes sparkled as if she’d just found gold. “We can join you!”
“S-Sorry,” Tristan stammered. “I—”
“There’s no room.” Ravyn delivered the three-word sentence with the best ‘fuck off’ tone she could muster. “Leave us alone.”
“Get out of here, squawwwk!” Ball screeched.
“I see four of you,” said Yuna, her brow raised.
Oh! We got a brave one! So insistent, so full of herself. Adorable.
“But, Yuna. That’d mean I’d be by myself,” mumbled Airy.
“You’d be okay! There’s plenty of catgirls looking for Parties!” said Yuna. “You know how desperate I’ve been to get into a man’s Party.
Tristan opened his mouth to speak, but Ravyn was quicker. “Our fifth is at the tavern. Not that it’s any of your business.”
Yuna ignored her. “You want me to be happy, right?”
“Well, y-yes. But I asked him first,” Airy murmured.
“Airy, we—”
“Mou ii!” bellowed Ravyn. A ball of flame came to life in her hand. “Get! Get! Get the fuck out of here! We don’t want either of you!”
Airy and Yuna released Tristan from their grasp and barreled out the front door, tripping down the steps. “Don’t you come back!”
“Get lost, get lost! Squawwwk!”
The door shut behind them.
“I admire the strict tone you set with them, Ravyn.” Destiny narrowed her eyes and flexed one arm. “They were extremely rude and inconsiderate.”
“The way Yuna talked about Airy concerned me,” said Lara, her gaze on the doors. “Wind cared little for them.”
Tristan sighed. “Did you really have to be so aggressive?”
“Yes!” Ravyn, Destiny, and Lara said in unison.
“They deserve each other,” muttered Ravyn. “Come on. Let’s see if the receptionist knows where the cunt’s treasurer is.”
While Tristan trailed behind, Ravyn led the pack with Destiny and Lara at her sides. The remaining girls in the hall glanced in Tristan’s direction, but after the last display, Ravyn figured they wouldn’t be a problem.
“Does trouble follow you everywhere you go?” the receptionist asked as Ravyn approached. Long golden-blonde hair fell around her shoulders in waves. She stared at Ravyn with eyes of scarlet; sharp and focused. As she always was. “The Guild Hall is struggling enough without you, Ravyn.”
“Don’t be like that, Cecilia. I’m here on Cailu business,” Ravyn replied easily.
The blonde catgirl tilted her head to one side, her expression still aggravated.
“Have I caught your attention?” Ravyn prodded.
Cecilia frowned. “I thought you hated him. ‘Cailu the cunt,’ was it? What are you doing his job for?”
“Long story.” Ravyn glanced from side to side. “Do you know who his treasurer is?”
“Melody. She works in the Shulan Arch Tower.”
“Wonderful. That’s all we needed.”
“Hold on,” said Tristan, catching Ravyn by the arm as she turned to leave. “Can I ask her a few questions?”
Ravyn frowned. “What for? We got what we needed.” She shook his grip away.
“It’s important. I promise.” Tristan stepped forward and put his hands on the counter. “You said the Guild Hall is struggling. Why?”
Cecilia studied him from top to bottom. “And you are… ?”
“Tristan. Nice to meet you.” Tristan flashed that disarming smile he was so damn good at.
Cecilia’s expression softened. “Well, Tristan, when catgirls register Quests with us, we take a cut of the Bells offered as a reward,” she explained. “The issue right now is that no one wants to take the Quests.”
“Why not?”
Cecilia’s eyes wandered. “I’m not sure what I’m allowed to say.”
“Because the Bell rewards are garbage. They barely pay for a single meal in most cases,” Ravyn snapped. She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. She hated to admit what she was about to say. “I worked here for a short time when I left home. No one wants to offer good money for Quests.”
“Well, there must be a reason for that,” Tristan insisted. “Can we please stay here and ask Cecilia a few more questions?”
Ravyn blinked. It wasn’t like she could say no. But damn, if she wasn’t starting to feel claustrophobic. “Well, it’s why we’re here, so go right ahead. I’ll be outside.” She was at her limit. The scents, sights, and smells of the Guild Hall awoke a myriad of memories that she wasn’t prepared to deal with. When she’d first offered to help, she thought she was ready to return. But a hundred thoughts of what-ifs and could-haves bombarded her.
Yomi’s bright smile swept over her.
Finn’s soft touch pricked her skin.
Matt’s kind words—
Fuck! Get out of my head!
Ravyn practically shoved her way between the twins and stormed outside, seeking shelter behind the pillar on her left. Ball leaped from her shoulder, landing a few feet in front of her. She leaned her back against the structure, slowly sliding down until she sat on the stones. Cocking her head back, she breathed through her nostrils and out through her mouth while the damp rocks stained her dress.
“Ravyn,” said Ball.
“I know, Bally. I know. I’m trying.”
The bird turned its head to its left, then to its right. They were alone.
“I’m proud of you,” said Ball. “You’re facing your fears.”
“It’s just that… I can still picture the day Yomi and I first met.” Ravyn scoffed, pulling her knees close and burying her face. “Like it was yesterday.” She smiled. “She was so timid. I pushed her into joining my Party. Mom said I needed a healer.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry, Bally. Seeing the Guild Hall just brought back a lot of memories. Good ones, mostly. I think that’s the problem.”
“We should be happy we had them, Ravyn. You deserve to be happy.”
“I don’t know about that,” Ravyn laughed. “If I hadn’t… then Finn…”
Ball shook his head. “They’re coming.”
Ravyn wiped a stray tear from her eye and shot to her feet just as the Guild Hall doors opened. Destiny and Lara wore bright expressions while Tristan talked about how he struggled in a place called San Francisco. Lara’s frown deepened with every word while Destiny continued to assault him with questions.
Ball flew up to Ravyn’s shoulder while she plucked a cookie from her [Cat Pack]. He devoured the cookie, leaving crumbs all over the stones.
She needed to be at her best. This wasn’t just about San Island or the men. Their efforts here could change Nyarlea. For now, she needed to set aside her personal feelings and focus. There were other people depending on her.
I won’t make the same mistake again, Finn. I promise.
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