Whatever fruit this drink was made of didn’t matter. It deserved its high price.

Glancing at the nearby board, painted with prices for several different styles of drinks… I wondered how hard it was to make them.

Did they just gather up the fruit, crush and juice it? Did they pickle the fruit first? Did they have to use milk or sugar?

If it was easy, maybe I’d be able to make it too.

Would they even tell me if I asked?

Sipping the remainder of my drink slowly, I tried to imagine what Vim would say if he came back to find me broke… with not a single coin left.

How many could I buy with what he had given me? Thirty? Thirty two?

Trying to do the math in my head, I realized how silly the idea was.

Buying thirty drinks all for myself… ridiculous.

Gulping down the delicious drink, I couldn’t help but find it not ridiculous at all.

Maybe one more…

Glancing around the pillar I sat next to, as to look at the nearby Office of Business, I gulped down the last of the drink in my cup. The building was fancy. There were archways, pillars, and shutters made of fancy green wood. It was several floors high, and had its own garden… littered with colorful flowers and bushy trees cut into shapes to represent animals.

Honestly it looked a little ridiculous. Yet at the same time it was obvious why it looked like it did.

That place was where nobles did business. Or something like it. So it had been made to represent the wealth one could find within.

Vim had looked a little silly as he walked into it… since his clothing wasn’t anywhere near as fancy or new enough to not look odd amongst those flowers and bushes. Vim was still in that building. He had asked me to stay here, but hadn’t necessarily said why. Granted, that man had reasons for everything he did… but sometimes I felt as if he acted more so on whims and instinct than anything else.

But maybe it was a valid reason. That was the office for business. A place for nobles.

I’d probably only arouse suspicion if I entered it…

Tapping the wooden cup in my hand, I groaned at the sound my nail made as I did so.

“One more,” I agreed with my desire, and hopped off my chair. Entering the small shop to order another, I made sure to keep an ear out for anything strange coming from that large building, and Vim as well.

“Another?” the pretty woman who was cleaning the counter asked me as I entered the small shop.

“I’d like to try the… red one,” I said, pointing to the board with prices. The third from the top was written in red ink.

“Red berries. One moment,” she said with a happy giggle, and then hurried to the backrooms.

Walking up to the counter, I patiently waited with glee. Maybe Vim would take long enough for me to try all the flavors.

Thirty five was silly, but what about one of each available flavor? There were only seven main ones, after all.

“Here you go,” the pretty attendant offered me a new cup. Its contents smelled like a rose.

Putting the empty cup of the previous drink I had just enjoyed onto the counter alongside the four renk coins, I smiled in thanks.

“It’s his fault you know,” I said to her as I tasted the new flavor.

“It is!” she agreed it was Vim’s fault as she collected the coins and the empty cup.

For a small moment I dedicated my whole being into savoring the tasty drink. There was a hint of honey in it, somehow… and…

“Do you put honey in it?” I asked her. It was obvious they did, I could taste it… I’d wonder if the fruit itself, the red berries, tasted like honey but I could taste them too. They were slightly sour, but in a good way.

“We do. Just a tad though,” she said as she went back to cleaning the counter she had been working on before I interrupted her.

Nodding, I went back outside of the small shop. To sit at the table under the umbrella canopy, near the pillar of lamps.

Peering down the street, I watched a pair of guards walking along the garden of the Lord’s Office building. I’d seen them circle it a few times already since Vim went in.

Sighing, I wondered how long it’d be still. It had been almost…

Looking up at the sky, to see where the sun had moved to… I was a little surprised to see how far it had gone already.

That long?

“Well hello Miss.”

Forcing my ears not to move, I went still as I slowly turned my head.

Two men… no, two younger men, were standing on other side of the small fence that enclosed this shop’s eating area.

“What is it?” I asked them. Were they nobles? They were dressed well, and a little scrawny… although not too old, they should already be a little taller. A little stouter.

A little dirtier.

“Mind if we join you Miss?” the one on the left asked, giving me a smile as he extended his hand in offer.

I blinked at them as I tried to understand what they…

Oh…

Realizing what those stupid looking smiles meant, I decided to look away from them.

Returning to my drink, and staring at the Lord’s Office, I ignored the two men as they coughed and mumbled to each other.

“Get going Johnny! She’s married!” the pretty shop attendant stepped out of the building and shouted at the boys.

The two jumped in shock, and then darted off. Jogging away as they blamed each other for getting yelled at.

Watching them go, I smiled softly as they ran away. They were still boys. Still young. Not much older than Lomi.

“Sorry about them. I know his mother, I’ll make sure she gives him a scolding,” the woman said while smiling with a light blush.

I nodded, since I wasn’t sure if I should say anything about it.

“His fault, right?” she then said.

Pausing in my drinking, I laughed and nodded. “Indeed!”

She giggled as she went back into the shop, and I wondered if it was indeed her store…

Glancing up at the sign hanging on two metal spikes, I hoped it was. It wasn’t big. It shared the building with another store next to it, one that was closed. Some kind of bakery. Yet it was a pretty building, although most buildings around here were fancy.

There was actually only one that wasn’t pretty. The ugliest one in fact was…

Looking behind me, at the building across the street… I wondered why the dark, lopsided looking building hadn’t been rebuilt.

It looked old and decrepit, yet people were coming and going from it. It looked very out of place here in the noble’s district, where everything was clean… Especially since nearly every building had its own sitting area in front of it. Some even had small gardens.

While I studied the ugly building, a pair of women approached the store. They ignored me as they entered, while they talked about some animal one of their husband’s had captured recently.

My ears perked as I listened into their conversation. They both ordered drinks, and sat down inside the building to talk.

“I swear it does nothing but whine all day. The barn is two buildings away, yet I still hear it all night!” one of the women complained.

“It’ll stop in month or so. It has to be weaned Gloria... I told you,” the other said.

Ah… they were talking about a cow, or something like it.

Nory had always wanted one.

I nursed my own drink as I patiently waited for Vim. Time passed slowly, but every so often I was able to listen into the passing conversations. Of nobles. Of servants… of the guards…

Most talked of the weather. How it was still cold, even though it hadn’t snowed lately. Some talked of the upcoming change to the taxes at the docks. It started in a few months. Most didn’t like it… Nobles and workers alike.

After another hour, I got another drink from the pretty woman. This time though it had gotten a little busy, so she didn’t get to tease me about Vim’s late return. Most of the seats inside had been filled. Surprisingly, mostly by younger kids.

Returning to my seat, I sighed and hoped it’d not be much longer.

Surely nothing had happened, right?

But I knew that was a foolish worry.

Vim was strong. And not just in the general sense.

Something told me that man could face every human here, one after the other, and walk away without a single wound.

For a small moment I went over the memories of the scene from the other night. At the river. Where those men had charged us.

They had not been armored. Most had been outright naked… but…

But they had been genuine in their efforts to kill us. Their weapons had been real.

Vim had slain them effortlessly.

I could still remember the look he had on his face, as he swung that sword.

It hadn’t been...

Stolen novel; please report.

“Is it tasty?”

Blinking, I looked down to my right and found a young boy smiling up at me.

He was missing most his teeth, and was dressed similarly to the other children I had seen lately.

“It is,” I admitted.

“That’s my favorite,” he agreed.

“I like it too,” I said. I wasn’t going to mention that the red berries with honey had been better.

“Mark come on!” a woman shouted. He turned, saw his mother waving at him, and ran off.

Watching him go, I wondered why humans were always so…

Why were some so… peaceful? So honest?

It made it so hard to hate the ones that needed to be hated.

While looking around, I noticed that most of the shop had emptied again. There was only one other table occupied, and it was the one behind me. Near the door to the shop.

A young man and woman sat at it. She was giggling, and was red in the ears.

Studying them, I wondered how human’s mated so early. Those two were probably the same age as the boys who had just tried to flirt with me.

Though granted, outwardly I probably looked just as old as they.

In my eyes they weren’t much older than Lomi. If not the same age in honesty.

The idea of partnering with someone that young was…

Walking out of the shop, the pretty shopkeeper carried another drink out to me.

“Oh?” I watched her put it down in front of me, and then she slid easily into the only other chair at my table.

“As an apology,” she said.

“For what?” I asked as I reached for the drink. It was the last flavor on the list. The liquid within was a light blue. And…

Was that ice inside?

“For your husband,” she said with a smirk.

Frowning, it took me a moment to realize that she meant Vim.

Yes… she, and others, seemed to always think we were married.

“Now I can’t get him to buy it for me when he gets back,” I said with a sigh as I went to taking a drink.

She giggled, finding no harm in my words.

I focused on the new drink… mostly because I wasn’t sure what to say to her.

What had she wanted? Or was this just the familiarity of humans. To sit and rest for a moment with a random customer she didn’t know, and would likely never see again.

For a small moment the idea of owning such a small shop came into mind.

Spending days… years… decades… watching people come and go.

New faces every day. New people. New friends.

“It’s a wonderful shop,” I said to her.

She blinked a few times and then gave me a huge smile. “Thank you!”

Suddenly the woman I had found pretty became stunningly beautiful.

Sitting in awe at the sight, I wondered how often I encountered someone with such beauty.

The last I could think of had been Porka. And before her…

I couldn’t remember any before her. Nory had been beautiful, but not outwardly. Her personality is what I had found to be gorgeous.

“Do you run it alone?” I asked her.

“No. My brother and his wife help me,” she said.

No husband?

“He died. A long time ago,” she said gently.

Woops. She had read my expression. I really should be more careful… “Sorry,” I said.

She giggled, waving my apology away. “It’s quite alright! I’ve plenty of suitors to have my fun with, so I’m okay,” she said.

It was my turn to giggle at her strangely wry smirk. “All’s well then!” I said.

She nodded. “It is! It’s all his stupid fault for going to war after all!” she said, laughing alongside me.

As she laughed, I realized how sad that laugh was.

Even if she really did find it funny… she still found it painful to say it aloud.

“Is it hard? Finding a new husband?” I asked her.

Her smile soften a little as she leaned forward, resting her head on her hand. “It is,” she said.

For a small moment I thought of Nory. Although our relationship hadn’t been like that… it had still been special.

The idea of replacing her was an almost impossibility… yet wasn’t that in fact what I had set out to do?

To find others to fill the void in my heart?

Yet now all I’ve done is make more voids. More holes. More sadness.

“It’s not that sad, young lady. I’m alright,” she suddenly said.

“Ah…” I nodded, afraid to mention I hadn’t been saddened over her situation but my own.

“You are lucky though, I’m jealous,” she then said as she sighed.

“I am?” I asked. Jealous of what? My cup was almost empty; there was nothing to be jealous of.

“He cherishes you. That’s rare,” she said, looking at me with envy.

He… she meant Vim.

What had she seen?

I quickly thought of the conversation between Vim and I when he had left me here. It had been a short one, since we had spoken mostly about all this before getting here.

He had asked me to wait. Gave me coins. Said I could shop around here, as long as I stayed nearby.

Nothing he had said or done should have been seen as… Him cherishing me. If anything, when I replayed the memories in my mind I saw not a husband fawning over his wife, but an old man grumbling to a grandchild.

“I… I’m not sure,” I said to her, honestly.

Unless, of course, she had somehow heard or witnessed Vim’s strange protectiveness. His steadfastness.

A part of me felt like he would protect me. From anything… but…

Wasn’t that his job? Wasn’t that what he had vowed to do?

If he saw it as a simple task… a duty, that he endured…

Then was any of that really genuine care? Did he really do it because he wanted to? Wasn't it just because he simply had to?

“Must be nice…” the woman said gently as she watched me process her words.

Unsure of what to say, I decided to just nod at her.

I couldn’t tell her she was misunderstanding everything… since that would not only seem strange, but also ruin that wonderful smile on her face.

“Well, make sure you get him to buy another before you leave!” she said as she hopped off the chair, and headed back into the shop.

“Thank you!” I said to her. For the free drink. For the sight of her smile.

She waved as she left.

“Making friends I see.”

My hat almost fell off as I spun my head, finding Vim.

“Ah…” I started to stand, but he gestured for me to stay seated. He sighed as he went to sitting in the chair that the shopkeeper had just been in.

“Welcome back,” I said, a little embarrassed.

Was that why she was smiling like that? She had seen Vim? Why hadn’t I seen or heard him…? Why hadn’t she said anything?

“Mhm,” he grumbled as he got comfortable, and then reached out to check the contents of my cup.

A little unwillingly, I was a little offended as he took it from me. There were only a few sips left!

Vim quickly drank the rest of the cup, and I groaned as he did.

“Jerk,” I whispered.

“Hm. Too much honey,” he complained.

“If you don’t like it, why’d you steal it?” I asked him.

“Because you seemed to like it,” he said, as he then went to check the other cup. It too must have had a little left in it, for he drank that as well.

Sighing, I watched as he licked his lips and studied the taste of that drink. “That one’s a little better,” he said.

“Well?” I asked him.

He raised an eyebrow at me, and then nodded. “It was taxes,” he said plainly.

Closing my eyes, I lowered my head and felt the whole world get a few degrees warmer.

“Lughes hadn’t paid any taxes for six years. The Commissionaire sent his people to collect for the Lord of Ruvindale. What we saw was probably the simple results. The consequences. Chances are the timing was bad… Amber died. You left. They came in, and Lughes and the rest… panicked. Fearing the worst,” he said lowly.

The two flirts behind us were giggling at each other, so they obviously weren’t listening in… but it was a little surprising to hear Vim speak so openly. Seemed Vim was being a little willing to be risky today.

Though… maybe he was just being kind to me.

"Did... did they tell you what happened to them? Lughes and Crane?" I asked, peering at him between barely open eyes.

"They were supposed to take Lughes into custody. Crane was seen as just an employee, so wasn't prosecuted and was allowed to leave upon the siezure of the building. Lughes wasn't detained," Vim said softly.

"Wasn't detained? So... He got away?" I asked, hopeful.

Vim's hard gaze was my answer.

My tail and ears twitched as I felt my toes scrunch up in my shoes. For a small moment the whole world became...

"We don't know for sure yet, Renn. For now we'll just assume they all got away," Vim then said.

I tried to nod, but was only able to tilt my head. Taking a deep breath, I was a little proud of myself for keeping the tears in.

“So… it’s not my fault…?” I asked after a few moments.

He shook his head, and then stood from his seat.

I was about to stand up with him, but he stopped me. I barely saw his outstretched hand through blurry eyes as he raised the two empty cups with his other hand. “Just getting more,” he said.

“Ah… okay,” I nodded, and looked away.

“Here,” he put something in front of me, and I reached out to find a cloth.

Smiling at him, I used the little cloth to wipe my eyes.

I wasn’t full on sobbing, or crying, but I couldn’t help the tears welling up.

What a relief.

Though…

Sniffing, I took a deep breath as I heard Vim order another pair of drinks. The pretty woman teased him, telling him of all the men trying to take me home while he was gone.

Smiling at her, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Somehow her little joke kept the true tears at bay.

Vim returned, putting a cup down in front of me. “This one’s the best,” he said.

Blinking wet eyes, I was surprised to find the red berry drink.

“It is,” I agreed.

While he sat down, I took a small sip.

“It’s very likely that the Primdoll family was the noble family who alerted the tax office of Lughes’ lack of payment… but even if they had been, it’s not something you could have caused or did. So, as I told you, hold your head high Renn,” he said.

“Mhm,” I nodded, unable to say anything else.

“The paintings being taken as payment for taxes makes sense. It would also explain the lack of them alerting the church as well. Either whoever took them hasn’t really examined the paintings yet, or are afraid the church will take them for themselves. Leaving them with nothing of worth,” Vim said.

“Nothing of worth?” I asked.

“If the church seizes them, even if they’re nobles, they’ll get no money for them. No payment,” he explained.

“Oh. That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” I asked.

He nodded. “It is. Human greed can always be relied on.”

I wasn’t sure about that, but I was glad to see the relief in his eyes.

Odds were the reason he was so willing to speak of this here, where usually he’d not be willing to do since there were people around… was because of the simple reason he was happy. Excited. Relieved.

He wanted to share the good news.

Or well, as good of news as it can be.

“So… what now? Did you find out where the paintings are?” I asked.

“No. Only that the Commissionaire ordered them taken. Odds are he utilized a noble’s personnel. Maybe their knights or something,” he said.

“What is a Commissionaire?” I asked.

“A low rank noble who works for the Lord of the city. Usually appointed by charity,” he said.

“Charity…?” I asked.

Vim nodded as he swirled the liquid in his cup, by the sound of it there wasn’t much left in it. He took deep gulps. “It’s one of those positions the nobles take not for pay or glory, but duty. It lets them feel special, and earn credentials amongst the other nobles and churchmen,” he said.

“Ah…” I wasn’t entirely sure how that worked, but it made sense. “That’s why he doesn’t have them himself,” I said.

He nodded. “Odds are he picked a noble at random. But I have a few ideas on where to start our search.”

“Primdoll,” I said with a nod.

Vim was silent for a moment… then a small smile appeared on his face. “They’re our second stop,” he said.

“Second?”

Vim held out his cup. At first I wasn’t sure what he wanted, but then I realized. Pushing my own cup forward, I happily toasted with him. Yes! This was a great moment, and should be celebrated!

“Uh… no… I was offering you the last of it,” he said with an odd look.

“Huh? Oh…” A little embarrassed, I grumbled and took his cup. Sure enough there was another gulp or two left.

Staring at it as I was about to drink it down… I saw something out of the corner of my eye.

Turning a little, I flinched at the huge smirk on the shopkeeper. She was smiling at me through the window, and giggled at me.

Quickly gulping down the remainder of Vim’s drink, I did my best to ignore her as we left the store.

She was too kind and pretty to hate… and it wasn’t fair!

Even still, I waved goodbye to her all the same.

Her jealous smile as she waved back earned a spot in my long memories.