“What am I doing here?”

It was a redundant question, so it was a good thing Rani wasn’t asking it about ‘here’ in general, but about one of Leonhold’s local taverns. People usually went to places like them after a job well done, Rani understood. They’d never really seen the point.

“You’ve certainly gotten a good head-start,” Constance had said with a happy nod. “Now, what do you need back here?”

“Need?” Rani said, setting down their pack. “Nothing. I think that’s all I can do for today, so I came back.” They’d cocked their head. “Is that a problem?”

Constance pursed her lips. “N-o,” she said carefully, “but it’s not even close to dinnertime yet. What are you planning to do the rest of the day? Nothing?”

Rani shrugged, beginning to take off their boots. “Practice with the Vanguard for a bit, probably. I put it back in the woods before I came here. Should I be doing anything else?”

“I wouldn’t say should,” Constance said, raising one eyebrow. “But after a day on their feet, and even using a Runic Knight, some people might want to relax a bit.”

“Do I not seem relaxed?”

A look at her face had told them they weren’t winning this argument, if they chose to make it one. Fair enough. It hadn’t escaped them that they were being shoed out, but even women who weren’t witches often wanted some privacy.

Rani appreciated it too, but they weren’t going to find it here tonight: they didn’t know how many taverns Leonhold had, but this seemed like a popular one. Actually getting to the counter would mean a tight squeeze or a few elbows thrown. Before they could think of leaving, more people suddenly packed in behind them.

Fine. Rani shifted to one side, sidling against the wall until they found the first open seat. There were a few on this table that weren’t being used, actually. The sole occupant looked up as they sat down.

“Oh, it’s you,” Richard muttered. “From the dwarf’s yesterday, right?”

His face was flushed, and he was still wearing his watch uniform, which probably went toward explaining why he was sitting along.

“Just got off for the evening a little while ago,” he said, noticing Rani sizing him up. “So if you’re going to break the law, don’t be too obvious about it, alright?”

Rani nodded. “Had a rough day?”

Richard waved his free hand in a way that managed to say a thousand words. “Fistfights, arguments, and I’m in a mood bad enough I don’t want to say just how bad to a lady. Things been any better than you?” he added after taking a swig from his tankard. “Not been involved in any other robberies, I hope.”

“I haven’t stopped any.”

The young watchmen sputtered, nearly spitting out his next mouthful of beer. “Good one. If that wasn’t a joke, don’t tell me.”

At that point a waitress arrived, looking like she’d shoved her way through the crowd. “Another one, Richard? Or for you, Sir?”

Before Richard could answer, Rani retrieved one of the coins from Clive’s payment and slid it across the table. “Is that enough for both of us?”

It seemed to be judging by her expression, but the watchman grimaced. “We don’t make as much as you lot, but the watch gets a fair wage.” He dropped a few smaller coins in front of the waitress. “I will have another, thank you.”

Rani shrugged. “Alright, just the one, then. Keep the change.”

Richard whistled as the waitress scurried away happily. “Doing pretty well for yourself, eh. Let me guess: you’re working for Clive now, right?”

“Good guess,” Rani replied. “Do you know him?”

The face he made said enough before he’d even answered. “No, people like him never end up meeting the watch much. I’m glad for it, though,” he said with a harsh sniff. “Only friend a fellow like that has is his pocketbook.”

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A slightly guilty expression then came over Richard’s face. “Not that that’s any of your fault, I mean,” he said hastily. “But it’s plain enough to you what he’s doing, right? Winning this is just a, a prize to him. And I b-bet he hasn’t won anything in his life without paying for it first!”

“Have you been here long?” Rani asked mildly.

“About an hour,” Richard muttered. “Just needed a place to, think alone. Tough luck, I s’pose,” he added, waving a hand at the crowd.

Rani nodded. “Anything on your mind?” They didn’t know if chatting with him was really a good idea, but it wasn’t like they were going to blurt out who they were.

“Ah, nothing much. Just worried about the Royale.” Richard shook his head. “Not sure how - well we’re going to keep things peaceful until Saturday, that’s all.”

A good save. Not that Rani knowing he was competing would be such a disaster even if they hadn’t already, but at least he knew to try to keep information secret. “Has anything else noteworthy happened after yesterday?”

“Ah ah, can’t be telling a citizen that,” Richard replied, shaking his head. “Not that I know, anyway. Royce is in a bad mood, but,” he let out a little burp, “that’s pretty normal.”

The watchman frowned. “Why do you ask, anyway? If you’re worried about some scheme of Clive’s getting you locked up, don’t be,” he added, not unkindly. “He might be a snake, but he’s not going to do anything that might get the event cancelled. Where’s the money in that, eh?” He drained the rest of his mug.

So there was something between those ears besides reaction speed. Good to know. Before they could exchange any more non-small talk, the waitress returned with their drinks. Murmuring a thank you, Rani took their mug and took a sip. It tasted fine enough, thought they weren’t much of a beer person.

They noticed Richard was looking at them in a particular way now. Intently, but trying to hide it. Poorly. “So, you look like you’re from out east,” he finally blurted out. “What’s that like? Is there really sand as far as the eye can see, and fighting all the time?”

Rani was used to being looked at differently than other people and it had been no different in Lavenia, but in a way they hadn’t quite been able to pinpoint until now. Richard’s expression was like he was watching some rare animal, the kind you’d usually see behind a window. It wasn’t worse than how they were viewed in the city, but it wasn’t better, either.

“That isn’t wrong, but you know how stories can exaggerate,” Rani said after a moment’s consideration. Better to not let any tall tales spread about them if they could help it. “It’s definitely a lot less peaceful than here, though,” they added. That seemed safe enough, and it was even true of their real home.

“Absolutely,” Richard said, a surge of pride in his voice. “There’s other countries where humans live, but this is the only one where they’re totally free. I came here as a lad, and I’ve been grateful for it ever since.”

So he hadn’t left Lavenia for that long, but still knew it was better than anywhere else? That was patriotism for you. “You come here with your family?”

Just for a moment Richard’s face said it all, none of it good. “Basically,” he murmured, before taking a thick drink. “They’ve never said much about where we lived before, though. Must have been awful boring.”

“Anywhere can be, if you live there long enough,” Rani said with a nod. If he didn’t think it was any of their business, they were happy to keep it that way. Being his bodyguard was one thing, but they hadn’t signed up to play therapist.

That didn’t kill the mood, but only because it hadn’t been healthy to begin with. Rani finished the rest of their beer quickly enough. It didn’t make them want another, but maybe being in the right mood helped. “I’ll be taking off now,” they said, getting up. “Thank you for the company.”

“Mmm,” Richard mumbled vaguely.

The tavern had cleared out a bit now. Rani drew near the door, paused, and then gave a sigh before looking for their waitress. She wasn’t hard to find, and scurried over at their beckoning.

“Sorry to ask, but could you make sure he gets home alright?” Rani asked, nodding at their table. “I’d hate for something to happen to a member of the watch.”

She actually laughed. “Oh, believe me, we’re well used to dealing with that bunch here. We have ways of sobering them up, and Richard’s actually the easiest one to deal with. Only comes in every so often.”

“I see. Does he,” Rani paused, “well, usually go this hard when he does?”

The waitress laughed again. “That’s his third in as many hours. He’s never been able to handle alcohol well. Take care, Miss!”

---

Was that enough to be called an evening of fun? Hopefully, because Rani would be happy to sit down and be able to concentrate on their next move. If Constance still wasn’t done, they could go find a tree somewhere.

“I’m back, Constance,” they called as they entered. The door wasn’t locked, but that wasn’t unusual considering there was nothing to lock it with. What would a bit of iron do that magic couldn’t?

The silence that answered back, though, made them stop in the doorway, hand briefly searching for a sidearm they didn’t have. As small as her cabin was, there was no way Constance could have failed to hear them. Unless she couldn’t answer.

Rani crept across the entranceway, masking their movements with care that came easy. On occasions you were outside your Vanguard, the best defense was making sure you weren’t seen. Passing a sitting room on their left, they came to Constance’s bedroom door.

They should have heard the woman by now. Rani reached for the knob, and was surprised to find their hand hesitating on the way. They’d felt this way before, but before venturing into a cave in their territory, or gearing up to clear out one of their nests. If they trusted their instincts, whatever was on the other side right now was just as deadly.

Rani grabbed the knob and flung the door open.