“WE GOT ONE!” I exclaimed as I watched a familiar trio walk down the street with an extra person in tow.

“Carmen, Midnight, places!”

“House, I understand that you’re excited, but there’s no need to shout,” Midnight said patiently.

“I think it’s cute that Mr. House is excited,” Carmen chuckled, “although I agree with Midnight, we are right here.”

“Sorry, sorry just want to make a good impression,” I said more quietly.

“It’s fine Mr. House,” said Carmen reassuringly as she hopped up into her booth, “but we only have one job, it’s going to be hard to mess up.”

“Indeed, have some faith in us, House,” Midnight chimed in.

“Ah bless you both,” I muttered to myself and thanked whoever was listening for sending me competent scions.

“So what have you heard from Spreen?” Duke asked as he got in hearing range of my cats.

“Oh you know, possible easy way to make some coin from a potentially dangerous magical person, the usual,” Said the new human who seemed to have the limbs and grace of a daddy long leg spider.

“Oh yeah, Spreen mentioned that she was going to tell people that I was a wizard,” I thought as the four of them walked up.

“The usual?” asked Jasper, “how often does Spreen come across information like this?”

“More often than you would think,” explained the human in a raspy voice that seemed to draw out every word just a little longer than he needed to, “I’m beginning to think she might not like me very much.”

“You can say that again, Roach,” Jasper said.

“I’m surprised you haven’t been cursed by now,” Zee said.

“Oh I have, twice in fact,” Roach mentioned casually.

“Twice?” Zee exclaimed.

“I got better though,” Roach said, “Spreen had someone come and de-curse me and everything.”

“Maybe we should have let someone else know besides Spreen,” Jasper muttered to Duke.

“Well it’s too late now,” Duke said, shaking his head, “besides we’ve been in twice and haven’t gotten cursed yet.”

“Well if anyone knows what it’s like to be cursed, it would be you,” Jasper said, “and Roach of course.”

“Of course,” agreed Roach.

“Well this is the place,” said Duke as the four of them reached the warehouse door, “last chance to turn back.”

“Kinda interested in seeing a what a wizard is using a warehouse for,” Roach admitted, “not to mention Spreen wouldn’t pay me if I didn’t go in.”

“Fair enough,” said Duke and opened my door.

“Huh, not much has changed since the last time,” Jasper commented.

“Well don’t let your guard down,” Duke said cautiously.

“Oh give it a rest, Duke,” Jasper groaned, “Zee’s had 'that' cat next to him while he’s sleeping. If it was going to do anything, it would have done it already.”

“Well I’m going to go ahead and take a look around,” said Roach as the air became more tense.

“I’m still against you holding on to that thing,” Duke said with a deadpan expression, completely ignoring Roach.

“Why didn’t you bring the cat back?” asked Jasper.

Zee adopted a sheepish look.

“You know, he was sleeping so soundly,” he began lamely.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Zee, what if the, uh- wizard was expecting the cat back eventually?” asked Duke.

“Yeah weren’t you going on and on about spirits and fey whenever we first found this place?” asked Jasper.

“I don’t know, I’ve just felt like good things have been happening whenever I have him around,” explained Zee.

“Like what?” Duke asked.

“Well I found a new wand that was in really good shape at a really affordable price the other day,” Zee said defensively.

“So the [Bend Luck] ability can be loaned out to other people,” I mused.

Things seemed to be winding up into another argument again, so I decided to shift my focus to the new person who was wandering around.

“Well hello lovely,” said Roach as he approached Midnight and the trading post.

“You’re lucky I’m under strict orders not to claw anyone,” Midnight thought even though Roach couldn’t hear him.

“What do we have here?” Roach mused as he looked at the sign, “hmm oh wow you’re paying out this much for any kind of wood?”

“Yeah I’m definitely over market rate with the reactions I’ve been getting,” I thought.

“Might not be a bad thing,” Midnight added, “more of these people will want to come by and it’s not like you’re building anything with the gold.”

I made a mental note to try something later and agreed with Midnight.

“FINE I’LL BRING THE CAT BACK TOMORROW!” shouted Zee.

“Well things seem to be winding down on that end,” I thought.

My original plan to use the cat to spy on the three of them hadn’t bore much fruit. Most of the conversations had been benign day-to-day things or full on arguments about me. Listening to that was either boring or awkward and anyone can only take so much of that for so long.

Besides they usually went back to normal surprisingly quick after an argument.

“Hey Roach, feel like trying your luck at Blind Hydra?” Jasper asked.

“Oh no thank you,” said Roach, “gambling isn’t for me, too risky.”

Zee and Jasper shared a silent look.

“Suit yourself,” Jasper shrugged and sauntered over to Carmen’s table.

“So what do you think of this place so far?” asked Zee.

“Not bad, not bad,” replied Roach, “haven’t been punched, stabbed, maimed, cursed, or kicked out for no reason, so it’s better than most other places I’ve been in.”

“Doesn’t matter. This place has the potential to be really dangerous,” Duke interjected.

“Yeah, but so do any of the bars that’ll let people like us in the front door,” Roach replied.

“Thank you!” exclaimed Jasper from across the room.

“Anyways,” Duke continued, “if you need someone to make sure you stay safe, the three of us are always available.”

“Oh, trying to hustle your way in on anything I bring in? What’s your cut?” asked Roach with a sly grin.

“No I - I just wanted to make sure anyone coming here is safe,” Duke stammered.

“HA! Just twisting your knickers, Duke,” Roach exclaimed as he slapped Duke on the back in a friendly manner.

Duke sighed and slumped over.

“In all seriousness Duke, if you keep offering to escort people to this wizard, people will start to wonder if you’re finally getting back into the business of monster slaying and dungeon delving,” Roach said with a calm expression.

Duke pinched the bridge of his nose before responding.

“Yeah, I can see how people will start to think that. Next I’m going to be renewing my oath and signing back up at the slayer’s guild.”

“Well you certainly have a knack for it,” Roach said reassuringly, “-sides if anyone deserves to get out of the docks, it’s you. We’d still all be at each other’s throats trying to scab for work if you hadn’t have knocked some sense into everyone. Barely go hungry anymore.”

“I didn’t ‘knock sense’ into anyone,” Duke corrected.

“Eh, Boar’s got a few knots on his skull that say otherwise,” Roach said with a wink.

“Boar was desperate, everyone was,” Duke argued, “you can take anyone and put them in that situation and they’d act the same.”

“Everyone except you,” Roach pointed out.

“I’m not-” Duke started before getting interrupted by Roach.

“Well I’m off, going to tell Spreen that this place is on the level.” he said before waving to the usual three and walking out the door.

“Well glad I’m good enough for Roach,” I thought sarcastically.

“Seems like an interesting person at least,” Carmen said as she lifted up a cup.

“WHOO JACKPOT!” Jasper exclaimed as Carmen levitated coins out from under the table.

“Thanks for the mana, Jasper,” I thought as I got a notification from the game menu.

“Come on let’s get out of here,” Zee said, “your eyes are starting to bug out of your head from keeping up with that cat.”

“Bet you’ll change your tune when I’m paying for dinner,” Jasper retorted while rolling a gold coin across his knuckles.

“Oh great and wise Jasper, let us make haste so that we may partake in the finest greasy meal that our accommodations have to offer,” Zee chuckled as he offered a deep mock bow.

“Very good, let us make haste,” Jasper replied with an exaggerated posh accent before the two of them began laughing and exited through the door.

Duke gave a glance back into the warehouse with a pensive look instead of his usual glare and followed the two of them.