My next morning started early. As a matter of fact I couldn't have slept all that much but I didn't mind. Quite the opposite. For the first time in a while I felt rested and relaxed again. The town hadn't quieted down all that much during the night either but now that the sun was rising it became much more lively again. It showed that the gates were never truly closed. As I risked a glance out one of the narrow windows I could see merchants and especially many small restaurants already setting up their stalls along the road below. When we had been here last mother had told me that only very few people here cooked their own meals. Instead they ate them together with their neighbors or coworkers at these food stalls. It had seemed quite strange back then but now I could see the appeal.

All those people milling about and their cheerful chatter, all that life, lifted my spirits even further. Then I remembered why we were heading to the capital and my mood darkened a little. I was determined not to let it get to me though. If what I had gathered so far on our trip there was a war to be won and we still had to rebuild our home but when everything was said and done things would be better than before. It would be my responsibility and I would see to it! I might not be able to make Caer'zoth lively like this town, not right away anyway, but it would grow and prosper again. We would spill all the blood that needed spilling, preferably not our own, and we would cry all the tears we had to but in the end there would be children's laughter and cheerful banter on our streets again. Eventually. Just like here.

I turned away from the window and took a casual sniff at myself. I really needed another bath. Might enjoy it as well. At least they didn't charge their guests extra for the use of the bath here. I only glanced at my gear, especially the glaive, briefly, to make sure everything was in order before leaving for the bath. I didn't loiter around there all that long either. I might have been just a bit early after all, as only a single bath attendant was present and I might just have roused her from a nap as I entered. I felt a little bad for her, but that only lasted until I had washed up and was soaking again in the pleasantly warm water. I didn't dare to close my eyes as I sat there in the water. I might have just fallen asleep if I had. Instead I got out again before the temptation got too strong.

I dried off and headed back to my room. As I entered a little surprise was waiting for me there. The bed had been made, the sheets changed as a whole as far as I could tell, and sitting on the foot end was my freshly washed, dried and folded tunic. I sniffed it, enjoying the smell of fresh laundry for a moment before putting it on. They even mended a few of spots where it had suffered some wear and tear! Somehow I felt like an entirely new person wearing it. Maybe I should get a new tunic or maybe even a real dress on the way back home though. Just in case. Once the king's treasury received its dues from our spoils of war we certainly should have more than enough coin to splurge a little.

Just then a knock at the door pulled me back into the here and now. “Ready to get some breakfast?” Kaele peeked in through the door. Quu'za was there as well, waiting in the hall behind my sister. The mention of breakfast must have excited her as she continually shifted her weight from one leg to the other as if she was about to run ahead of us. It might just be the truth. After all I had experienced first hand already just how much she enjoyed running wild. Before I could answer my sister's question about breakfast though a frown crossed her face and she stepped into my room. Without pause and just a few purposeful steps she crossed it to tug on the hem of my tunic. The frown was now firmly in place. “Isn't that thing getting a little short? Did you have another growth spurt?”

I blinked in surprise. Where was that coming from? I tugged at the hem of the garment myself. “Maybe?” That just wasn't something I was really paying much attention to. I had always been tall. Very much so. That was just the way things were. We probably just had been too busy with all kinds of unpleasant other things lately to notice. Then another thought occurred to me. Without any further comments I picked my scale male off its stand and donned it after checking that it wasn't dirty and wouldn't stain my freshly washed tunic. I didn't properly fasten it in place as I had no intention to wear it today. I only donned it to check how it fit and it fit just fine. I shrugged and put it back on its stand. “Maybe. Can't be too recent a development though.”

My sister nodded. “We probably were just too busy to notice.” Quu'za sniggered in the background. She was still standing in the doorway, waiting for us. Kaele grabbed my hand to tug me along once I had my armor properly on its stand again. “Come on. Lets go and eat.” I didn't protest as she pulled me along. I had a feeling that these lighthearted moments might be in short supply before long and I was determined to enjoy them every chance I got. As we left the room she turned towards our harpy companion. “They have an all you can eat buffet for breakfast here. You'll love it! Believe me!”

The harpy perked up even more at that comment. She really was enjoying this and I couldn't fault her for it. Quite to the contrary. As I thought back to our first stay here and how we, my sister and me, had been staring at the buffet totally dumbstruck at first back then before digging in as if there was no tomorrow, I couldn't help but smile myself. I resolved myself to reign our companion in though should she react in a similar way to save her from a day of tummy ache. There was such a thing as too much of a good thing after all. I could tell from my own experience. She didn't need to learn that lesson the hard way herself. The forlorn look on Kaele's face suggested that she must have been lost in memories as well for a moment.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

I took it upon myself to lead our little group into the common room of the inn where the guests were already gathering for their morning meal. We obviously weren't the first. Still, we didn't have any trouble finding a free table for ourselves. I had to actually guide our harpy friend there with a hand on her shoulder as she had trouble taking her eyes off all the delicious food arranged for the guests. There was, of course, mashed ashroot. There could be no breakfast without it after all. It didn't stop there though. The numerous spices to go with the mashed ashroot alone boggled the mind. And beyond that there was fresh bread. Oh what a heavenly smell! And of course there were several kinds of simmered meat which added even more to the tempting aroma filling the room. And those were only the things displayed most prominently!

I asked the others what they wanted and set out to fill bowls with the foodstuffs they ordered before getting something for myself. Quu'za looked a little disappointed that I hadn't piled her bowl sky high with the things she wanted at first but that changed quickly when I mentioned the prospects of getting a second helping. Before long she was happily munching on a piece of bread she had topped with cream cheese and veritable mix of various herbs. Kaele on the other hand demonstrated her sweet tooth as she minded a bowl that quite possibly contained about as much honey as mashed ashroot. I in turn salted my bowl of mashed ashroot and added some spices as well as some thinly sliced, steamed ham.

I enjoyed watching the others eat for a little while before I started myself. I took my time as well, to properly enjoy the delicious food. In between two bites I addressed the others. “Well, what are our plans for today? Anything you two want to get done?”

Kaele gave the question some thought. Thus it was Quu'za who answered first. “We have to visit the lord's mansion to hand in the ogre teeth and collect our reward.” Apparently that was all she had to say as she quickly resumed eating.

I looked at my sister and she just shrugged. Then I turned back to our harpy friend. “Our reward? Are you sure? You probably could use the money. Your people have suffered greatly at the hands of the ogres after all.”

She shook her head and swallowed hard before answering. “No, no. We really have to share it. You killed three of the monsters after all and we only one. It wouldn't be right otherwise.”

At that point Kaele chimed in. “Good. That will be the first thing on our agenda. That way we will have some coin to get you a new tunic as well. And while we are there we can let them know where we reside so they can pass along the news when our caravan arrives.”

I looked back at the harpy and she nodded, still happily eating. Well that was settled then. “Good.” With that off my mind I resumed eating as well.