"You know? This is great. I can get drunk on a few weak beers and my ability ensures I can still walk straight," Chess mused as she fell sideways into the booth and slid over with a new mug, to make room for Amber.

Amber eyed her sideways and pointedly slid the bowl of stew in front of her. "Eat."

Chess smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.

"Should I be worried?" Amber muttered to herself before addressing her own bowl.

"My singing gets better the drunker I get." Chess waved her off. "Besides, after the month I've had, I need to cut loose. That and I think we're safe here now."

"That remains to be seen, but Gia and I should be able to indulge you," Amber countered.

Chess stuck her tongue out at Amber before looking up over her shoulder at the looming bear-kin woman's back. "You could sit if you'd like. You're taking this very seriously for a casual contract."

Gia shook her head once before returning to her scanning of the room. "A deal is a deal, and I take my contracts seriously no matter the contents. Ah, I believe master Jax is about to join you."

Chess turned back around and sure enough, the solid-looking dwarf was approaching with a heavy bowl and wedge of thick bread of his own.

"Have you considered enrollment in the University?" Jax asked as he settled into the seat across from the pair. "I can get you a spot and handle the fees as part of our deal. It might be a better foundation than my attempting to train you myself. Dwarves fight a lot differently than elves, and I know there are a few on staff."

The girls shared a look. "Well, we did, but we're thinking of leaving town as soon as possible. For reasons," Chess muttered into a spoonful of stew.

"It might be a good idea for Ashley. She's the right age," Amber suggested and Chess gave her an incredulous look. "Hear me out…"

"No…no, it's fine. We'll talk about it later." Chess waved her off.

Jax gave them an inscrutable look. "Reasons?"

"Politics," Chess said dryly.

"Ah, I see. Did you have a destination in mind? The Heel isn't the only place with a decent university. In fact, it's not even in the top 5 for this kingdom."

"Not yet. We planned to research that in the next couple days."

"Could I propose an option? If I'm to be your trainer for the near future." Jax asked. "Also, I'll need at least a week to find a replacement for my job here."

Replacement? Chess wondered. "I don't see why not."

"Rockpeak."

Amber scowled behind her spoon-filled fist.

"Rockpeak?" Chess prompted.

"A nearby dragon-ruled city, I believe. Somewhere on the other side of Canfree's dutchy," Amber explained.

"Is that a good idea? You said dragons are fickle and bloodthirsty. I don't want to be eaten by dragons." Chess squinted at her drink before taking a sip.

"Dragons don't as a rule eat elves unless they're desperate. They prefer hooved animals like the rest of us." Jax rolled his eyes.

"That's surprisingly reassuring." Chess smiled.

"Oh, they'll happily kill you for little reason. Just not likely to eat you afterward. Apparently, there is little meat on an elf and your bones are much like eating a fish without properly fileting it first. Get caught in the back of the throat and all that. Saw a dragon choke to death on an elf once."

"Really?" Chess perked up for a story.

"Sorta, we were able to cripple her wings while she was trying to clear an elven caster from her throat. Once she was grounded she died easily enough."

"And you ruined it." Chess mock gagged and took another long pull from her stein.

Jax waved his mug broadly before him. "I would like to point out that dragon meat is quite delicious, and can provide a significant boost to permanent mana stores in your body. Especially the heart."

"Well, that's an interesting aside. Aren't they sapient?"

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"Turnabout is only fair." Jax grinned and took a slurping spoonful of his soup.

"Turnabout? I thought you just said they don't eat people," Chess asked.

"No, I said 'elves.' They have a particular fondness for my kind." Jax chuckled and patted his rotund belly. "Plenty of heavy flesh on a dwarf."

Chess looked at him funny. "I'm not sure you should be proud of that?"

Jax coughed and took another drink. "I think we've gotten off-topic. Rockpeak?" Chess nodded alongside Amber. "They have the best monster hunting academy in 11,112 kilometers."

"And man-eating dragons," Chess added.

"The small clan of silvers at Rockpeak are fair enough for dragons. Pay their taxes and they'll leave you alone."

Chess looked at Amber who shrugged and said. "It's well out of reach of the local issues we've found ourselves in."

"You would be coming?" Chess asked Jax.

"That's the deal. I have an open invitation to teach there. I could easily make your enrollment part of my contract," Jax smiled.

This guy is hiding something. How is he broke? Chess matched his smile. "Teach what?"

"Small squad tactics for the killing or capturing of large beasts."

"Oh, that's not what I expected," Amber said.

"Like feeding them elves to choke on?" Chess smirked and held her mug out toward him.

"Exactly." Jax laughed and clinked his mug with hers. His face quickly sobered and he grew quiet, turning to address his stew.

Chess and Amber followed suit giving him time.

When Chess was mopping the last of dregs from her bowl with the heel of her bread Jax spoke again. "I should get back to work. Come back tomorrow so we can discuss your rewards for the heads."

He slid a thick bronze disk and a folded paper across to Chess before standing.

Jax straightened his spine and then gave them both a short bow. "Thanks for bringing my brother home, both of you," he said. Then more quietly to himself, "Now I can finally go home."

Chess felt a sharp pang knowing she'd negotiated for him to stay away for a time.

"You're welcome," Amber said formally and Chess nodded her agreement.

He turned and left and the girls stood. They navigated back through the room and no one bothered them as they made for the door. Everyone still seemed intent on the man with the ledgers or their beers.

The place had been significantly muted since the revealing of their grim cargo.

Chess glanced at the token and paper in her hand.

"Store that, we have things to do," Amber suggested.

Chess nodded and summoned her vault.

When she was exiting, one of the desk guards turned from Amber and moved back to his post.

Chess raised an eyebrow at her companion.

"Down payment," Amber said.

"Every head belonged to people who went missing in the last two years," Amber explained when they stepped out into the street and the doors had closed behind them.

"Shit," Chess said, running a hand through her hair. She took a deep breath. "Well? Where to next?"

"Shopping. We need to speak to a pyth broker and see a tailor before the auction. Tailor first so they have time to prepare before the auction," Amber seemed to perk up and shook the large bag of coins in her hand for emphasis.

Chess sighed. "Sure. Why not? But give me that. You really shouldn't be waving it in the street. And I thought you were the responsible one."

Amber pouted but handed it over.

Chess smiled like the cat who caught the canary before storing it and then addressing Gia. "Know a good dressmaker?"

"Of course," the bear-kin woman smiled and pointed at a large white marble shop across the street.

The building looked to be split between two shops. On the left, the name read Torgoots Linen Armors and Doublets and had crossbar stands holding stiff-looking jackets and pants in its glass windows.

On the clothing side, over a dozen living and breathing men and women stood in the windows wearing an assortment of different clothing that Chess, with her limited knowledge of such things, ranged from something quite ancient to some sleek almost modern styles. As far as earth style goes. Though everything looked a little bit off to her inexperienced eye.

"Of course, it's across the street," Chess muttered.

Now that she'd been drawn to the detail she noticed the clothing of the people passing in the street. Outside a few dozen people who wore heavy armor like her and her companions, styles varied widely. Many of the beast-kin residents wore little more than a loincloth or short skirt and an array of belts and pouches. Those with skin to cover wore a colorful array of clothes. Most of both sexes wore pants and loose shirts. Especially if they looked to be working. Outside that, it ran the gamut of simple and colorful to intricate and drab with everything in between. If she had to sum it up. Practical for the task fits the general style.

A lanky human boy in a green and blue striped shirt and black pants was passing by on the road followed by a gargantuan monstrosity of chalk-white bone and gray sinew. Chess found herself brought up short by the sight. Gaping in incredulity at the people giving it a wide berth for a moment before a sharp voice behind her broke it.

"Claris Standwrite!" The voice near Chess's ear made her jump. "Put that thing away! There are children about! Don't make me whip your ass in front of all these people. Or do I need to fetch your mother?" The cat-kin guard from the guild stomped out to the boy who suddenly looked very contrite.

"But master Gyula, she's at work! I never get to take Rolly out!" the boy said in the pleading voice of young teenagers everywhere.

"Don't 'but' me. Storage now!"

The boy turned red for a moment before grinding out a petulant, "Fine."

Beside her, both Amber and Gia chuckled before steering her away from the spectacle and across the street.

Chess shook her head as a bell tinkled with their entrance.

"Remember what I said," Amber whispered in Chess's ear as they entered.

Chess nodded.

"Welcome to Anita’s Clothing and Underwear Emporium," a short bald man greeted them when they entered, giving Chess a short fast bow and a welcoming smile when he straightened.

“Underwear?” Chess snorted.