It was several days of small talk, card games, and mind numbing boredom. Broken up by the occasional training activity that Allison would come up with that had them running alongside the carriage. Farmland turned to fields, fields to forests, forests to fields, and fields back to farmlands as they approached Elminia. Jeremiah was idly touching a spot of paint on the carriage door that had a different texture than the rest of the paint, which he found immensely fascinating. But when he inspected the pad of his finger there was a thin layer of black soot.

“Elminia is a little…industrious.” said Allison, noticing his confusion.

Jeremiah looked to the looming stormclouds with new realization. Crawling over the horizon he found it to be an atmosphere of dark black smoke. A palace appeared next, a single immense tower rising up into the smog, wearing it like a thick woolen scarf. Soon the city proper began to appear around them, no monolithic wall to separate it from the country like in Dramir. Starting from sprouts of huts that grew taller and denser until they formed great walls composed of homes and businesses on either side of them, looming or tipping at slight, lazy angles.

Industrious sold the ambition of the city short. The streets were packed with carriages and carts. Dramir hummed with a vibrant life, energetic and youthful. In Elminia it felt more pervasive, like bees in a hive.

"This place is kind of overwhelming," said Jeremiah. He didnt know if that was the right word, but it was certainly how he felt.

"Oh yes! Elminia is extremely resource rich, between coal, oil, and ore. It's like a great kiln!" said Delilah admiringly. She was beaming at the sights around them, so much that they could be called sights.

"Elminia is a chewing mouth," Bruno whispered to Jeremiah.

"Bad food, worse people, great bars, excellent metal," said Allison, "oh, and huge guard corp! Incredibly well funded, it's like an army!"

It was a place in a hurry, but Jeremiah followed Delilah's gaze and found himself looking at a dizzying array of signages for a plethora of businesses. This one street held more to see than he could manage in a year's worth of tourism.

“It’s gotten bigger since I was last here,” said Bruno, his eyes darting from sight to sight.

“Never stops growing,” said Delilah, “the empress has been notable in her policies of unregulated expansion and construction.”

Indeed the great tower that stood from the center of the city was like a harpoon that had pierced the earth, and its blood was two story tenement houses.

“We’re getting close,” said Delilah. She leaned out the window and yelled up to the driver, “Driver, we’re headed to the corner of Museus Boulevard and Tornn Avenue.” As she sat back down Bruno glared at her and gave Delilah a nudge with his elbow. “What? Oh, umm, please and thank you driver,” she added out the window. Notably she had forgotten his name, though Jeremiah wasn’t exactly sure he remembered it either.

“Bruno, run ahead and make sure this isn’t an ambush, yeah?” asked Allison. Bruno was out of the carriage and vanished into the crowd before she could even finish the request.

“You’re sure this is a good contact?” Jeremiah asked Delilah.

She looked him square in the eye and nodded, “Absolutely. Or, if it’s a trap, it’s overly elaborate and they deserve to get killed by us.”

The cart turned down another street, identical to many of the others. There was something strange about the monotony of it. Nosirin, where Vivica had first attacked, had a monotonous design as well. But it was different, Nosirin was a stone cubes and hard edges, a city created within the iron grip of a king that brooked no frivolity. Elminia’s streets seemed to just settle into a state that was just shy of collapse.

Bruno leapt back into the cart, startling them. “No ambush I can detect, I think we’re in the clear.”

The carriage came to a halt after a few minutes more of driving, settling just before the intersection of the two streets.

“Here’s we is ma’am,” said the driver.

“Thank you, erm, Mister…driver,” said Delilah. They grabbed what few belongings weren’t in Delilah’s Giant’s Bag and exited the carriage. With a final wave to Bruno, the carriage and driver disappeared into the streets of Elminia, becoming just another part of the noise.

“What now?” asked Allison.

“Now, we wait till someone-oh!” a stranger had hooked his arm in hers and pulled her alongside him, like a couple out for a casual stroll. He hadn’t managed two steps before Bruno had draped an fraternal arm across the man’s shoulders, a friend joining the couple on their walk. Allison and Jeremiah, slower to react, had to press their way through the jostling crowd to catch up and Delilah in their sights. They finally got close enough to travel in the wake of Delilah, Bruno, and their new friend.

The new friend was a human man, dressed in finery like a respectable gentleman. He was loudly talking about coal shipments, or something like it, it was hard to hear him amidst the noise of the city. Bruno joked and bantered with the man, while Delilah was pulled along awkward and stiff. Jeremiah saw a brief glimmer of metal underneath Bruno’s hand, likely a blade positioned to slip into the man’s neck at a moment’s notice.

“How come none of us are that slick?” he asked Allison.

Allison’s look of concentration broke into a genuine laugh, “Because it’s not our job. Can you imagine two Brunos? It’d be awful!”

Jeremiah tried to imagine, “They would just stay up all night waiting for one to leave so the other could follow them,” he suggested.

Allison snickered and bumped him with her shoulder, “Focus, this might still be a trap.”

“They’d just stalk each other in circles around the house. It’d be like a dog chasing its tail!” said Jeremiah. Allison bumped him harder and shushed him, but couldn’t hide a hiccup of a laugh.

Finally the man altered course and diverted them into a hat shop. “Here we are!” he said. There was an old gnome at the counter, fastidiously sewing a patch onto a cap. The gnome didn’t acknowledge their entry.

“Hello friend haberdasher!” said their contact, still tightly arm in arm with Delilah and inches from death.

“Hullo,” said the haberdasher.

“I’m in the market for your finest bonet, with matching satin wings and a tulip,” the contact declared with gusto.

The gnome sighed and put down the cap he was working on. He finally regarded them, his spectacles widening his eyes to monstrous discs that took over his face like the eyes of a fly. Jeremiah could see the clouds settling around the edges of those eyes, as the gnome peered at them through the fog. “Got nothing like that, not with tulips,” said the gnome with a voice like a grinding stone.

The contact froze for a moment, then continued. “Too true sir, too true! Mayhaps with a rose is what I meant to say,”

“Gods, they sent an amateur,” Bruno mumbled.

The gnome harrumphed and waved them on. They crossed behind the counter and into the back rooms. Jeremiah noted as they passed that there was a small crossbow under the counter at the gnome’s lap, bolt set and ready to fire.

A false wall was removed, a secret stair uncovered, and they were traversing beneath the city in a dark tunnel.

“Does every city have these?” asked Jeremiah.

“Yes,” said Bruno over his shoulder.

“Off,” commanded Delilah, shaking the man off his arm. As soon as Delilah was released Bruno spun the man in front of them, drawing his bow and nocking an arrow in the time it took the man to steady himself.

“Okay! Okay! Stop!” the man said, twisting in on himself and waving his hands at the arrow.

“Where are you taking us?” Delilah asked.

“To the end of this tunnel, that’s all I know!” said the man.

“And what’s waiting for us at the end of the tunnel?” Delilah asked again.

“A door I’m not allowed through, I don’t know where it goes! Stooop!” Bruno kept tightening the string on the bow like he was about to fire. Their contact recoiled and whined every time.

‘Ugh, fine whatever. Let’s just go,” said Delilah, moving ahead of them.

Bruno kept him at arrowpoint the entire way. The tunnel's only light came from the occasional slits of sunlight that made their way through tiny metal grates over their heads.

"These must be sewer tunnels, fancy," thought Jeremiah. Sewers were a big city luxury, though he wasnt sure if Dramir had them. They must, right? They had everything else.

The door at the end of the tunnel was minuscule, practically a cupboard. Their guide gave a series of complex knocks, there was a metallic clicking, and the door slowly opened. It revealed a pair of fully armored elven men, the silvery metal of their armor gilded with looping golden embellishments. Each had a spear leveled at the open doorway, but the guide seemed unconcerned.

“Code,” said one of the guards. The tension in his body was evident, the spears were not leveled idly.

The guide sighed and closed his eyes, his face a mask of concentration, “Six, six, six, six, six, five, five, five, five, five, five, three, three, two, two, two, and that’s it. And you say that’s it.”

The guards lifted their spears, and stepped aside. The guide gave Delilah a curt nod and left them to their mystery door and heavily armed escorts. Jeremiah stepped through the door and found himself in a hallway that was nothing at all like where they had been. In fact, it reminded him much more of the palace of Dramir.

“Ah shit,” he heard Allison say as she emerged from the door.

“Are we…” Delilah looked around, trailing off as she took in the mosaic marble floors, immense vases holding trees that crawled across the ceilings to make a canopy, and portraits depicting royal and noble figures of elven descent. “Oh my gods we are!”

“Counselor Fortune,” stated one of the guards, “You and your entourage are to follow us. You are to follow us at all times. Open no doors, do not attempt to separate from us. If any of you, any ONE of you,” the guard eyed Bruno while saying this, “disobeys any order from either of us, all of your lives will be taken immediately. Am I understood?”

Delilah nodded dutifully, “Yes sir. Can I ask where we’re going?”

One guard indicated for her to follow, the other trailed behind them. The lead guard answered over his shoulder, “You are to meet with Empress Aubrianna. You will be respectful in the presence of the Empress. You will kneel in the presence of the Empress until given permission to stand.”

“What if I have an itc-OW!” Bruno hadn’t managed to finish his remark before the point of the spear of the guard behind him pressed between his shoulder blades. The lead guard spun on his heel and forced his spear into Delilah’s hands, pushing her, Allison, and Jeremiah out of the way. Bruno had been giving the guard behind him a dirty look, but when he turned back the lead guard was right in front of him. The guard’s hands wrapped around Bruno’s neck in a flash, squeezing so tightly Bruno’s eyes bulged. Bruno grabbed at the guard’s hands, attempting to wrench them off, then spasmed as the spear point pressed again into his back.

The guard strangled Bruno with complete dispassion, his expression no different than when he was leading them to a meeting, “Please do not make any jests during this meeting. Nor sarcastic remarks. The Empress is quite busy and we request that you respect her time,” he said to Bruno.

Allison had stepped to break them up, but Delilah grabbed her arm, stopping her. Bruno’s face was turning a blotchy red from the vice-like grip of the guard’s squeezing hands, his attempts to relieve the pressure becoming weaker until his eyes fluttered. Only then did the guard release him to sputter and gag on the floor.

“Your cooperation is assumed, and appreciated. Come along,” said the guard. Bruno’s neck was already bruised with outlines of the guard’s fingers.

As they followed, Delilah tended to Bruno’s bleary staggering by striking him on the shoulder repeatedly. “What is wrong with you?! We are about to meet Empress Aubrianna! She’s an elector for the crown of Dramir! She voted for King Hector! She’s going to vote for me one day!” each fact was pointed with another strike.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Ok hon, ok, dial it back now,” said Allison, stepping between Delilah and Bruno.

“Anyone but me not thrilled about this revelation?” Jeremiah asked. He was noticing the lack of people in the palace, not a servant or attendant in sight save these two, very aggressive, guards. It all seemed quite ominous.

“Not thrilled,” said Allison. Her face was grave, she looked like she was walking to her own execution.

“No! Shush! Everyone listen, regardless of what’s about to happen, this is a chance for me to make a good impression with the Empress! We can’t just flirt with her and get special treatment like Allison does,”

“How. How are you still teasing me while you’re having a panic attack?” said Allison.

“Practice. Everyone on your best behavior!”

For every step they took Delilah took more in different directions, lacking the space to nervously pace properly. They were brought to an unassuming door where their two escorts flanked the door, transforming from guides to sentinels.

“Through this door Empress Aubrianna awaits. You may take time to compose yourselves. Past this door your lives are in the utmost jeopardy. You have never been - look at me - you have never been closer to death than when you enter this room. I hope you understand,” said the sentinel with bland conviction.

Jeremiah sincerely doubted that, considering they had each been at death’s door more than once. But for Delilah, if for anything, he’d simply smile and nod his way through this if needed.

The guard waited for Delilah to cease her erratic movements then, with a single passionless glance at Bruno, opened the door for them.

Given the splendor of the halls, a less ostentatious room would not have been surprising. In fact it may have even been a relief. But what Jeremiah did not expect was the room to be little more than a stone cube. The walls were bereft of adornments, and the cold stone leached the heat from their bodies. The only defining feature was a series of steps, as wide as the room, that led only to a raised platform.

The sun rose on the radiant splendor that was the Empress, and set on the dark figure that stood beside her. Taking a knee in respect, Jeremiah could still not help but looking at her. She stood in a brilliant white gown of office, high collared and flared on the hem. She was beautiful in the manner of a sculptor's masterpiece, perfectly still and looking down upon those that came to view her with a magnanimous air. Atop her head was a wicked looking crown, spears of gold reaching toward the ceiling like a precious stalactites. It was adorned with immense gemstones, and evoked a sense of danger or violence. Jeremiah was immediately aware of who was in charge.

Beside her was another elven woman, but this one made no suggestions of violence, she promised it. She wore no gown befitting to stand next to a royal, but black leather armor with hundreds of silver rivets. Jeremiah could see the handles of dozens of small knives protruding from different spots and, like stars, the longer he looked the more he could see. Her bright red hair made her look like a burning black torch, and when Jeremiah met her gaze entirely by accident, it was like looking into the eyes of a predator.

“Woah,” he heard Bruno softly croak. Jeremiah glanced at Bruno and saw he was making no illusions about his opinion on the other woman’s appearance.

“You may rise,” said the Empress. Her voice was clear as a bell.

They stood together, but it was still hard for Jeremiah to look at the Empress. It seemed disrespectful to look right at her, and given the previous threat, he trusted that instinct.

“I have brought you before me to request your aid,” announced the Empress, “I have heard the tale of your endeavor in Dramir, and many more besides. It is these stories that inspire my confidence that you will accept my request, and succeed in its completion.” The way she spoke hurt Jeremiah’s ears, she was way too loud, like she was used to being in a larger room.

Delilah immediately filled the silence, “We are humbled to have earned your trust solely through word of our deeds. We are also so honored to be received by you. Pray though, Empress Aubrianna, we do not know the purpose for which we are summoned.” Delilah had smothered even the slightest hint of nerves, Jeremiah was proud of her.

“I have brought you here, Lady Fortune, in order to…what?” The woman beside the Empress had given her a small bump with her arm. They parlayed in a rapid series of facial expressions and head nods before the Empress continued as if nothing had happened. “I have brought you here, Lady Fortune, because I have been made aware you are victims of a conspiracy. I wish to provide an opportunity for you to dissolve this conspiracy.” The Empress had lowered the volume of her voice.

“With due respect, Empress, may we have the pleasure of an introduction to your attendant?” said Bruno. Bruno’s voice scratched, but he admirably recruited his ‘make fun of the nobility’ voice into the role of an ‘address the nobility’ voice.

Another shared look between Empress and attendant. “I am Ka, royal spymaster of Empress Aubrianna,” said the woman. She had addressed Bruno directly, and the two of them were now staring unabashedly at each other. It took no small amount of willpower for Jeremiah not to roll his eyes at them.

“Oh no…” Allison sighed. Delilah stiffened, but didn’t falter.

“A pleasure and privilege to meet you Spymaster Ka,” said Delilah.

“Likewise,” said Ka. She didn’t look away from Bruno, and Bruno didn’t look away from her.

Empress Aubrianna closed her eyes and sighed at her Spymaster’s breach of decorum. “Spymaster Ka, would you please…you know what? Never mind, Let us just speak freely, you already made it weird.”

“I did not,” said Ka quietly.

The Empress declared they could speak freely, but her presence still had an overbearing authority that made it difficult for Jeremiah to work up the nerve to speak.

“This is a black-op, isn’t it Empress?” said Allison abruptly. This utterance caused Ka to break the staring contest with Bruno and reexamine Allison.

“You have some experience with this term Captain Allday?” said Ka.

“I do,” was all Allison said.

“What’s a black-op?” Jeremiah asked. The urge to know something had finally freed him of the Empress’s paralysis.

“It means a job we do for the Empress, that the Empress and her court will deny they requested us do,” said Allison. Her posture had slowly shifted to being at military attention.

“Like, it’s a secret mission?” asked Jeremiah.

Allison shook her head, “Worse, they’ll pretend this never happened. Anything we do is our own decision. It means they want us to do something horrific,” Allison’s voice had the slightest hint of disdain that made Delilah laugh nervously.

“What Captain Allday means is that we’d like further information about your request. And, maybe, telling us exactly how you’d help us with our predicament?”

Empress Aubrianna held her gaze on Allison a moment longer before answering Delilah, “Lady Fortune,” Jeremiah noticed Delilah shiver a little, “Our city has seen a series of murders. These murders have been increasing in frequency, and are notable in their brutality and method of execution.”

“A serial killer?” asked Delilah.

“No, a cult,” said Ka, “we’ve caught many of the murderers, but they’re low level thugs that are only making money or vying for admission to the higher rungs. None of them can tell me anything about who is hiring them, or the purpose of the murders.” Ka looked at the ground, brow furrowing as she spoke, like there was another angle she hadn’t yet considered till just now.

“Targets are random?” asked Bruno.

Ka shrugged, “Seemingly. My people haven’t had any luck infiltrating, or being offered the jobs themselves. Likely they’re all known elements. Reward offers have had no legitimate takers, so scrutiny on who the jobs are offered to must be extreme.” She spoke directly to Bruno now, exclusively to Bruno.

“True believers,” Bruno nodded at her.

She nodded back, “Definitely.”

“So you want us to?” Delilah said, letting the question hang.

“Fix it,” Allison answered her, “they can’t tell us what to do, they just want us to fix it.” She was trying, but the disdain was still there.

“Captain Allday is correct, if curt. Captain Allday, you will not presume to answer questions asked of me, is that understood?” said Empress Aubrianna, the edge of stern authority had flared back into her voice.

“Yes, Empress,” said Allison dutifully.

“What’s the method of murder?” Jeremiah asked. The conversation was happening around him, but he felt a need to be involved somehow.

“Appears to be ritual stabbing, roughly,” Ka answered.

“A rough stabbing? Or like, mostly a stabbing?” Jeremiah asked.

Ka’s face twisted in a bemused smile. She looked Jeremiah up and down with a flick of her eyes, “I mean each murder was committed by a very particular series of knife blows, with a very particular kind of knife. But, given the variety of perpetrators, results are sporadic.”

“Resources?” asked Bruno.

“Can’t give you much. Bag of gold, a decent safehouse, and the promise of an incompetent prosecutor if things go south,” said Ka with a shrug.

“Wait, prosecutor?” said Delilah. She looked back and forth between the Empress and Ka, but she apparently saw nothing that gave her comfort and looked to Allison.

“They don’t acknowledge that they asked us to do this. So they can’t grant us any favors. If we do something illegal, or are accused of doing something illegal, we’re liable. Just like anyone else,” Allison’s answer was stoic.

“Not that you need to do anything illegal,” Empress Aubrianna corrected, “but Captain Allday is correct. Any preferential treatment or pardons implicates us. Should your work produce results, any and all crimes or debts incurred will be pardoned without exception.”

“Somehow that sounds worse,” said Jeremiah. The idea of an Empress condoning immoral actions, in that way, churned his stomach.

Ka rolled her eyes, “We can happily imprison or execute you for whatever you desire, if that’s your preference.”

“In exchange, the conspiracy against you and your party will be resolved,” said Empress Aubrianna.

“Just…resolved? Empress?” asked Delilah.

“Ended,” Empress Aubrianna clarified.

Delilah looked at Jeremiah, concern written all over her face. Though Jeremiah wasn’t sure what she was looking at him for. Was he supposed to be thinking the same thing as her, and she was looking for confirmation? Or…he just didn’t know.

“Empress, it just sounds like you’re going to have a bunch of people killed,” Jeremiah guessed.

Empress Aubrianna and Ka exchanged a look of confusion, “Yes?” said Empress Aubrianna. Ka nodded. “Yes.” Aubrianna said again.

“It’s just, we would probably rather you not do that. RIght?” Jeremiah checked with his friends. Bruno shrugged, Allison shrugged, Delilah shook her head ‘no’ emphatically.

“Spymaster Ka, can the troubles of Lady Fortune be resolved in a more diplomatic manner?” Aubrianna asked.

“Less straightforward, but yes.”

“I hope that satisfies you Mister…” Empress Aubrianna paused, looking at Jeremiah with an inquisitive tilt of her head, so much as the crown would allow. “You are Jeremiah Thorn, the Necromancer, yes?”

“I was Empress, yes.”

“Was?”

“I have since given up Necromancy, after the happenings in Dramir.” Jeremiah knew the question coming next, which was comforting, he’d had this conversation many times in the last year.

“So what I’ve heard is true. But what I’ve not heard yet, is why?” Aubrianna asked him. Her eyes squinted in study of him, like maybe she could see the answer if she just looked hard enough.

“Too much power for someone like me, Empress. I made mistakes that cost people their lives, and involved me in decisions that were greater than I could responsibly handle. It was a power I was not ready for, nor one I might ever be ready for. The stakes were too high, the consequences too costly, and the mistakes weighed too heavily on my heart,” Jeremiah said with speed and conviction. It had taken him a long time to put into words exactly why he had given up the craft, and longer still to become comfortable saying them.

“I see,” said Aubrianna. Another silent conversation between her and Ka, this one going on for longer and with more head nods and flickering eyes. Empress Aubrianna turned back to Jeremiah, “Mr. Thorn, I wonder if you might join me for a brief foray into the gardens once our business is at an end?”

“I think it best I keep my friends with me if we’re going to be discussing this black-op thing,” said Jeremiah. He certainly did not want to get roped into something even more dangerous, he suspected Empress Aubrianna might be difficult for him to say no to, especially without his friends supporting him.

“My interest is entirely personal, Mr. Thorn.” The smile she gave him, soft, perfect, and mischievous, curled his toes and stood his hairs on end.

“Oh shit” Jeremiah nearly said, but managed to choke it into just a thought.

“I would be okay with that,” he said, glancing at the floor. He could feel, more than see, some sort of shifting or shuffling from his friends. The extremely personal nature of the Empress’s request, asked with brazen openness, had pumped a tension into the air that everyone was eager to discuss.

“The terms are set,” said Ka, “Destroy or reveal this cult and its leaders, and your conspirators will be dealt with in a non-lethal manner. You will be given a single use password with which to contact us, speak it to a palace guard and you will be retrieved. Only use it when you have information we can act on, or the cult is destroyed. Your agreement to this quest is not necessary. Are there any questions?”

“The gold?” asked Bruno.

“Already at the safehouse, an apartment across from The Rambling Inn, any coach can take you there. You’ll need to pick the door lock to gain entry, a set of keys are inside. Unless you’ll need help with the lock?” Ka said to Bruno. Bruno didn’t answer, they just started staring at each other again.

“If our acceptance of the task is not required, then I think we are ready to take our leave,” said Delilah quickly.

“The guard’s will bring you back to the tunnel from which you entered. Mr. Thorn will be returned to you once we’ve had some time to talk,” said Aubrianna.

That smile again, “This is what fish feel like when they see worms on hooks,” thought Jeremiah.

“When you’re ready, Mr. Thorn,” said Empress Aubrianna. She turned away and left with Spymaster Ka, their door left slightly ajar as an invitation to follow.

Jeremiah watched her leave, and snapped his eyes to the ground when Ka grinned at him over her shoulder.

Suddenly he was surrounded. Bruno, Allison, and Delilah, were all around him and hissing at him simultaneously,

“You need to tell me everything.”

“Don’t agree to anything she asks!”

“Offer your arm, but don’t take her arm,”

“No! Don’t even touch her!”

“Can you put in a good word for me?”

“Yeah me too,”

“Shut up! Just smile and nod, and agree with everything she says.”

“Don’t you dare kiss her!”

“What?”

“What?”

The torrent of voices, even if only three, was enough that Jeremiah couldn’t tell who was saying what.

“Enough! Off! Back up now, come on!” Jeremiah stepped out of their triangle of interrogation. “She probably just wants to ask me about raising some dead guy, that’s generally what people want to talk with me about.”

Delilah crossed her arms and scowled at him, “Except you already told her you don’t do that anymore.”

“Right, right I forgot about that,” said Jeremiah. He rubbed the back of his neck to elate the growing heat of embarrassment.

“Just keep it professional,” said Allison.

“No! No, absolutely not!” declared Bruno, stepping in front of Jeremiah to form a barrier between himself and Delilah and Allison. “Jay, don’t you listen to these she-devils. You haven’t had the time to so much as glance at a woman since you came to us. So if some Empress wants you to ‘explore her garden’-”

“Ew,” said Allison and Delilah.

Bruno continued, “then you go have yourself some fun. We’ll give you an hour, past that and you can meet us at the safe house. Now, I better see some swagger in your step as you walk, cause that tall drink of wine asked you, in front of everyone, to come attend to her personal needs. If that’s not worth some cockiness I don’t know what is!” He slapped Jeremiah on the back for emphasis, and pushed him toward the open door.

The sting of the back slap gave Jeremiah a boost of confidence. “Can’t let Allison have all the fun right?” he said as he made his way up the stairs.

Bruno barked a laugh after him, “Attaboy Jay!”