“Is he dead?” Lund’s voice sounded like it was in Isa’s ear, but then she realized that he was kneeling beside her.

“Yeah,” Mery said. “What a blessed mess was this. Help me move him, Lund. He’s on Isa.”

Suddenly the man’s legs were gone, and Isa sat up on her elbows. The room was a wreck. Piano bench overturned, curtains lopsided, blood -- well, there was blood everywhere.

Isa tried to stand, but she used her right hand without thinking and screamed in pain as the broken bones grated against each other. Before Isa could do anything else, arms wrapped around her and held her.

“Morning dew,” Mery whispered in her ear, and just like that, Isa felt completely well. Similar to how the healing potion had made her feel but better. Isa didn’t feel the warmth spread to her limbs; this was more like stepping out of a hot shower.

She held her right hand up and flexed it. She couldn’t help but laugh. “A girl could get used to a feeling like this,” she said.

“Don’t go picking fights with bandit captains just soes I have to come put my arms around you.” Mery gave Isa’s ear a quick kiss. “I only have so many spells, you know. Now up we go, so I can thank you both proper.”

Lund had righted the piano bench and sat down. He had several cuts on his face, and Isa could see where his jacket was slashed from the fight.

“How are ya?” Mery asked him as she stood.

“Eh, been better. I am out of practice; I’ll tell you that.”

“Do you need the healing word, though? How bad is it?” Mery took a step toward him.

He held up another vial. “I can use this.” He gave it a shake.

“That’s 50 gold there. Let me.” Mery said, but Lund shook his head. “This is one of Anne Merchant’s discount potions. It’s already past its expiry, and well, if it doesn’t work you can do your magic trick. Besides, you need to save some for yourself. You look like shit.”

They both laughed, and Lund used his thumb to pop the cork from the potion vial. He tossed it down and grimaced. “Where’s she get these anyway? That tasted like pine needles and hard boiled eggs.”

Isa stood up and retrieved her rapier from where she’d dropped it by the piano.

“How did you find me?” Mery asked. “Thank you both. I can never repay it, but thank you all the same.”

“I had a quest to--” Isa felt for her notebook and pulled it out. The movement made her think about her broken hand. She flexed it twice, marvelling that she could move all of her fingers, make a fist, turn it front to back. “Magic. I’ll never….”

“A quest?” Mery’s voice broke Isa’s train of thought.

“Yeah,” said Lund. “She showed me her quest log. How’d you do that? Is that a bard thing? Gotta be a bard thing.”

“Is what a bard thing? Getting fooled by a devilish smile?” Mery kicked the dead man’s boot. “Thinking you might have a fun tumble with a long haired rogue who,” she kicked his side, “slips you a sleeping potion?” She gave the dead man 2 more kicks. “Is that what you mean? Because that’s me, alright.”

“I meant the quest. Giving Isa the quest. Is it like message or something? How’d it travel so far?”

“There is no ‘quest’ spell, Lund!” Mery strode over to Isa. “What’s he on about? Lemme see.”

Isa turned her notebook so that Mery could see the quest log. Although the words had a line through them, it was easy enough to read.

“Rescue,” Mery read aloud. “Assist Mery Braydon in escaping within 24 hours. Giver: Mery Braydon. Reward: question mark.” Mery looked up from the notebook. “‘Giver Mery Braydon.’ I didn’t - I never - I mean, you hope that someone will notice you’re missing, right? You hope that, but you don’t know. You can’t know. And you can’t know that they’d be in time. Hamma, Mister Blue there,” Mery nodded at the dead man, “I think he was waiting on orders, but I think I was on the dead path, heading to the angels, like.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

She handed the notebook back to Isa. “One thing’s right - I don’t know how to reward you. You saved my life. However you knew, you saved me, and I shan’t forget it.” Mery rubbed her face with her hands. “I’m starving. Have you eaten? We should eat and look for treasures, eh?” She rubbed her hands together. “This fucker talked a good game. Let’s see if he was lying about that, too.”

“So you were gonna….” Isa’s voice trailed off as she looked from Mery to the dead man.

Mery shrugged. “Men, women, a tumble’s a tumble, innit? Sometimes I like ‘em stiff, and sometimes I like ‘em soft.” She grinned. “Everyone thinks I’m nuts, but they’re the crazy ones cutting themselves off from half the fun.”

“I could eat,” Lund said. He reached over and yanked on the already crooked curtain. He used the material to wipe down his blade and then put it in its sheath.

Mery seemed to be studying Isa.

“What?” Isa spread her arms out.

“You’re a bit bloodier than I’d expect, even given the fight we’ve had.”

“Oh yeah, I--”

“Isa handled herself well downstairs,” said Lund. “But things did get a little bloody for a bit.”

“Yeah, my blood.” Isa looked down at her leather tunic and her torn pants.

“And your face, love,” said Mery. “Let’s get you cleaned up a bit, eh, Isa? Can’t speak for the accommodations at this inn, but I bet we can find a cloth and some water.” Mery held out her hand.

Lund slapped his hands on his thighs and said, “Kitchen’s downstairs. I’ll see what I can find for food.”

“Soup would be really good,” Isa said.

“Soup? No one chooses to eat soup,” Mery said with a grimace. “Maybe sick people. Old people. Are ya sick? Are ya old? No! You’re a warrior. We need meat. Lund! Meat!”

From the stairs they heard Lund say, “This isn’t a restaurant. You’re hungry, come downstairs.”

Mery grinned at Isa. “Treasure before tankards, that’s what I always say.”

“You always say that?”

“Far as you know.” Mery laughed.

“Is that a rogue thing,” said Isa. “Looking for loot?”

“Rogues, bards, fighters. Everyone loves treasure, Isa.” She rubbed her hands together. “First, we get you cleaned up, and then we’ll see about rewarding you proper for completing your quest.”

Spoiler: Isa's Character Sheet:

Name: Isa Chamberlin

Race: Human

Height & Weight: 5ft 6inches / 120 lbs

Class: Fighter Level: 3

Alignment: Good

Background: Stranger in a Strange Land

Hit Points: 20 AC: 13

Current Hit Points: 20

Combat: +4 to Hit

Weapons: Rapier (left hand) 1d8 +2 (piercing) / Quarterstaff (right hand) 1d6 +2 (bludgeoning)

Coin: 21gp, 10sp, 22cp

STR

11

0

DEX

14

+2

CON

11

0

INT

13

+1

WIS

13

+1

CHA

12

+1

Saving Throws: Str and Con +2

4

Acrobatics* (Dex)

1

Medicine (Wis)

1

Animal Handling (Wis)

1

Nature (Int)

1

Arcana (Int)

3

Perception* (Wis)

0

Athletics (Str)

1

Performance (Cha)

1

Deception (Cha)

1

Persuasion (Cha)

3

History* (Int)

1

Religion (Int)

3

Insight* (Wis)

2

Sleight of Hand (Dex)

1

Intimidation (Cha)

2

Stealth (Dex)

1

Investigation (Int)

1

Survival (Wis)

Special Attack: Two weapon fighting. When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.

Class Features:

USED Second Wind - On your turn, you can use a Bonus Action to regain hit points equal to 5 + your fighter level. Short or Long Rest before you can use it again.

USED Action Surge - On your turn, you can take one additional action on top of your regular action and a possible Bonus Action. You must finish a short or Long Rest before using it again.

Martial Archetype: Surgical Fighter

3rd level - Clinical Eye: Spend 1 combat turn studying your enemy and learn one of the following: if the enemy is equal to or stronger than you in strength, dexterity, or constitution. Can spend up to 3 turns to discern all 3. Can be used outside of combat as a free action - spend 1 minute to learn all three.