Finished with packing her things, Iris gave one last look at the room that had been her home for nearly a year. She would miss Helda, the crotchety telv innkeeper. The woman had been about as ornery as a hornet, but she meant well.

Always trying to look out for me.

Iris would miss the woman.

She walked downstairs with her stuff and over toward the counter. She had already eaten breakfast before heading back up and gathering her meager belongings. Now it was time to face the woman who had hosted her for so long.

Innkeeper Helda stood there with her arms crossed.

“So, you’re finally leaving,” the woman said. Her brunette hair was down, the hints of grey betraying the woman’s age even if her skin was immaculate.

Lucky genes.

Wait, is it a spell?

No. I’ve never seen her use mana.

Physical stats?

…Whatever.

“I am. This was the last straw for me, Helda. Morek could have gotten me killed,” she said.

The telv shook her head. “He means well, Iris. The man was upset all night and kept coming to check on you.”

Her anger simmered just below the surface. “He left me out there. Then they just watched.”

Helda sucked in a breath.

Iris just shrugged. “So yeah. I’m leaving. Although, I’ve decided to stay in Lehelia. Going to head north to Brightburn. See what I can figure out there. Maybe look into the whole Guilds thing.”

The woman gave her a sympathetic look and nodded. “I understand, dear. I hope you know…” She sighed. “I hope you know that I only wanted to look out for you. You’re a young woman, and you have not been handling your circumstances well. I truly wish you the best.”

The wannabe adventurer couldn’t help it. She stepped forward and embraced the woman. “Thank you, Helda.” She lowered her voice. “Free container of root tea for the road?”

Helda pushed her away and scowled at her. “I’m not that fond of you, girl. Did you not just get paid?”

“But I need that for my traveling!” Iris whined.

The telv huffed and turned around. She reached behind the counter and grabbed a sack and a small pouch. “Here. Fresh supplies, and the leftover coin. If you recall, you just paid up for the monthly room charge. It’s only been three days. I couldn't keep it after what you did." Helda let out a sigh. "And don’t go wasting it on alcohol, girl,” the woman said as she handed it all to Iris.

The terran’s eyes lit up. “You do care! Thank you, Helda.”

Helda shook her head. “Good thing you’re leavin’. Can’t have you spreading that around and ruining my reputation.”

That made Iris smile.

“Now, head to the Merchant Guild–”

“Don’t worry, Helda. I got this. I’ll go to them and find a job as an escort. Fear not!”

The woman nodded.

They spoke their goodbyes, and soon enough, Iris found herself walking toward the door.

“And don’t go chasing after pretty boys anymore. You hear?” Helda called out.

Iris just laughed as she stepped into the bright daylight.

The inn’s stableboy stood there holding onto Mocha with such dedication it was as if he were a knight defending his queen.

Her horse let out a soft nicker and nudged the boy away. The little telv’s eyes went wide, but when he noticed Iris he let the horse go. Mocha stepped up to her and nudged her in the chest.

“Hey, girl. You ready for a trip?” Iris asked.

Mocha blew some air out of her nostrils right into Iris’s face sending her red hair flying everywhere.

“Hey! Rude," she said with a chuckle. "Come on girl, let’s head to the Merchant Guild. See if they have anything for us.”

Iris placed a foot into the stirrup and pulled herself up onto the saddle. Her horse nodded her head and the two partners turned around away from the inn.

With a final glance at what had been her home, she clicked her tongue twice and they were off.

✦ ✦ ✦

The Merchant Guild wasn’t too busy, which wasn’t especially surprising seeing as how Cosdale was not a particularly large town. Still, it took a few minutes of waiting in line to be called to the counter.

A telv woman was standing with a high elf man, both staring at her expectantly as she stepped up. The woman whispered something to him and he nodded.

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“Yes, ma’am,” he whispered.

Iris glanced between the two. The woman was clearly in charge with her confident stance and the way she carried herself. The high elf, on the other hand, seemed a bit nervous and deferential.

The man’s long blonde hair was pulled into a bun while his beard of a matching color was professionally groomed. The man’s brown eyes were soft and framed by light freckles.

He was adorable.

“Good morning, Miss Iris,” he said, before wincing when the telv woman gave him a stern look.

Iris, on the other hand, was immediately thrown off.

“Y-you know who I am?” she stammered.

The man let out a pleasant, soft laugh before nodding. “Of course! Everyone knows about the woman who fought off a whole pack of beasts outside the gates. And how that same woman punched the Captain of the Town Guard,” he said with a wink.

She blinked.

“Oh.”

He smiled. “Now, what can I do for you?”

“Oh. Uhm, right.” His eyes are so pretty.

Wait. No! Bad, Iris.

She sucked in a breath and spoke quickly, forcing herself to stay on task. “I was hoping to sign up as an escort for any merchant heading to Brightburn. Is there anyone leaving this morning?”

The man nodded. “There is! However, let me see if any are looking for last-minute additions to their escort.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

He tapped a finger to his cheek as he flipped through his ledger with his other hand, however, the woman nudged him and pointed to another book that was in front of him and tapped at an entry.

He winced again. “Ah, here. Yes. Sera Timrel, merchant for Fenren Merchant Company. One of her company’s guards took ill and will be spending some time here under the care of a physician. She is paying…” His finger fell to the page and pointed at a column. “One large, two small silver. With a note that one should be expected to… fight off any drakyyds they encounter,” he said with a chuckle.

She smiled. “I should be perfectly qualified to help then. Where do I meet her?”

The man glanced at the woman supervising him, who nodded. He smiled and gave her directions and a slip of paper that would prove she had been given the job by the Guild. She paid a small service fee of a few coppers, before thanking the two and making her way out of the guild, happy to have the interaction go so smoothly.

Much simpler than dealing with Morek.

Retrieving Mocha, the two made their way to a small plaza near the entrance of the town where many traveling merchants like to set up. Being the morning, many people were out and about in town and more than a few people waved at her as she passed. It appeared that the clerk at the guild was right.

Everyone knew who she was.

Huh. Maybe adventurers can get a bit of respect around here.

With a peek down at the paper, she quickly read the description the merchant had left with the guild for any prospective guard to find her.

Iris looked up and scanned through the gathered wagons until she found one that was being loaded and matched the description. The wagon was a well-made merchant wagon of fairly standard build that had one of those big windows on the side along with a small door, then a set of double doors in the back.

In gold lettering along the side was Fenren Merchant Co. which matched the listing, so clearly, she was in the right spot.

There were two people hard at work to get the wagon ready to leave. A high elf woman in a bright tunic and trousers was passing boxes to another high elf man that stood in the back of a wagon. The man wore a set of light armor and a small short sword at his waist.

Iris hopped down from Mocha and walked toward the two. The man gestured toward her with his head and the woman paused and turned.

“Hello! Are you Miss Timrel?” Iris called out.

The woman handed the box in her hands up to the man and quickly wiped them together before turning toward her fully. “I am. May I help you? I apologize but we are packing up to leave, but I may have a few items easily accessible,” the woman said.

Iris lifted up the paper. “I’m here about your posting at the Merchant’s Guild! It said you were looking for a last-minute addition to your guard for the leg to Brightburn?”

The woman glanced at the man and reached out for the paper. Iris smiled as she handed it to her, the elf squinting as she grabbed it.

Iris smirked. That’s a cute face.

The elf woman read the bottom where the clerk had written Iris’s qualifications before sucking in a breath and looking up at her, her pretty eyes wide. “You’re the woman that fought off the drakyyds?”

Iris nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I just so happen to be heading to Brightburn, myself, and would like some company.”

“And you can use magic,” the woman stated.

Iris nodded again.

The man hopped down from the wagon and chuckled. “Well, that should make things easier.” He stepped toward her and held out a hand.

She grasped his and shook, a bit shocked at the firm grip. He must have a few levels. More physical build. Hmm. Not too bad.

“Nice to meet you,” she said.

“You as well. I am Tanith.”

Iris smiled.

Sera seemed to recover as she looked up at Iris. “Well, then. Welcome. I see you have your own horse, which is beneficial. I will take that into account and ensure it remains well-fed. We will provide your food, but you will also have to take turns cooking. You will answer to Tanith, so please follow his lead.” The man gave her a warm smile and a nod.

“Sounds good to me! When do we leave?” Iris asked.

The woman looked around, noticing that everything was packed.

“Now. Do you have any business you need to take care of before departure?”

Iris took a deep breath.

“None.”

The woman nodded.

“Then let us depart. Thank you for joining us,” the woman said.

“Of course. Thanks for having me. I can’t wait to get to know the two of you!”

Sera turned and inclined her head to Tanith before heading toward the front of the wagon.

The man watched her walk off before turning to Iris. “Don’t worry. You are obviously the better fighter between us, so if you see or know anything… speak up. I have no issues following your lead if the situation calls for it. I’m not one to get stuck on formalities. While there shouldn’t be any trouble, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. With that, I’ll be driving the wagon, so you’ll be quicker to respond to any issues. The main response to trouble is to get Sera into the wagon before we deal with anything that comes up. If it’s bandits we’ll try and pay them off. Company policy is that our lives are more important than the goods,” he explained.

She nodded. Sensible. I like him already.

Sera called out Tanith’s name and he chuckled. “She’s itching to leave. Ready to get away from any chance of another beast attack. I hear you got almost all of the drakyyds, but she is afraid of the ones that got away. We’ll talk, but for now, just ride alongside us and keep your eyes out.”

“Understood. Thanks, Tanith.”

He smiled before turning and joining Sera on the wagon.

Iris turned and walked back toward Mocha, getting settled just in time for the wagon to start moving.

She took a deep breath.

Brightburn here I come.