“She isn’t a member?” the man asked with a furrowed brow.
“She’s a Walker, but things happened and we didn’t get a chance to register her before we got here.”
“We’ll be happy to help. Miss, place your dominant hand on the tablet.”
“It feels weird,” Stern told her as Cyra moved forward.
Cyra exhaled slowly, then pushed her right hand onto the tablet. She shuddered and pulled her hand away. “That was unpleasant.”
“Most Walkers say so,” the man said as he looked at the tablet. “Healing? Rare. You’ll get a number of offers from crews to join them.”
The word “healing” got the attention of one of the other people in the room. His furred ears twitched and the man glanced in their direction. Seeing Stern looking his way, his lips thinned.
Stern’s mood dropped as the man sneered at him. Pushing him from his mind, Stern gave his attention back to Cyra.
“I’m sure I will, but I have a crew,” Cyra said with a smile. “Thank you.”
“Yes. I’m sure some others will be wanting to join you as you advance to the next tier of dungeons. Was there anything else we can do for you?”
“No,” Stern said bluntly. “If you’ll excuse us?”
The balding man blinked, then nodded. “Of course, Walker.”
Cyra followed Stern out, but touched his arm once they were outside. “Stern?”
He stopped and blew out a breath. “Sorry. The mood in the room was not helping me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Where to next?” she asked quickly, hoping to help get his mind off it.
“General store. Good folks run it, and you’ll get to meet Sugar.”
“Sugar?”
Pawly hissed and sat down.
“A hound,” Stern said, rolling his eyes at Pawly. “You want to go?”
Pawly waved a paw.
“Go home. I’ll call you back later.”
Pawly faded away.
“Why did she want to leave?”
“Well, the first time we visited the store, she had an incident with Sugar…” Stern explained what happened as they walked.
~*~*~
Entering the general goods store, Stern felt the sadness inside and he exhaled sadly. “Matt, how are you?”
The old man behind the counter looked up with a long face. “Stern? Didn’t expect to see you again.”
“Life happened,” Stern said, looking around. “Sugar?”
Matt swallowed, his grief raw and fresh. “Passed last night.”
Stern lowered his head. “May the Goddess grant her a blessed life.”
Matt nodded somberly, then saw Cyra standing behind Stern. He tried to smile, but failed. “Miss, how can we help you?”
“I’m with him. He’d been telling me about Sugar on the way here.”
Matt swallowed again. “She was a good girl… but you didn’t come here just to see her, I’m sure.”
“We have some things to sell,” Stern said. “How’s Norma handling it?”
“As good as I am. She’s visiting family today. Wanted away from the shop. She’ll be sad to have missed you again.”
“I’ll be in town for a few weeks, at least,” Stern said. “I’ll try to stop by.”
“She’d like that,” Matt said, doing his best to pull himself together. “Okay, what do you have?”
~*~*~
Stern grinned as he opened the door to the shop for Cyra. The chime announced them and Cyra went in, giving the proprietor a smile as she went up to the counter.
“Morning,” Cyra said.
“Morning… Stern?” Trish greeted Cyra, but spotted who was behind her.
“Trish, how are you?”
“Good. I didn’t expect to see you again.”
“Well, I needed to upgrade my armor and my fellow crew member needs some armor made.”
Trish’s eyes went back to Cyra, appraising the lykian. “Crew member? Hmm... did he ask you or did you ask him?”
Cyra blinked and touched one of her ears, but stopped herself from grabbing it. “He pulled me from the dungeon.”
Trish’s eyes widened slightly and she looked back at Stern. “Rebirth?”
“Yes. Her grandmother asked me to save her,” Stern said.
“There’s a story or two there.” Trish looked back at Cyra. “Has he treated you right?”
Cyra smiled. “Stern is ever the gentleman. He’s shown me how to run, and Pawly’s helped keep us safe.”
Trish grinned and looked around. “Where is the terror?”
Stern chuckled and summoned Pawly. Pawly looked around, then leapt onto the counter, flopping onto her side between the women.
“Hey, you,” Trish grinned widely as she began to pet Pawly. “You been helping these two?”
A chuff was Pawly’s only reply, besides a slow twist that displayed her belly.
“Ah, the trap is exposed,” Trish laughed. “Not right now. I have business to hear about, first.”
“I was hoping you could do brigandine for mine and make a set for Cyra.”
“That’d take a while,” Trish said slowly. “A few months, at the very least, as I still have other orders I’m working on. Are you sure you want a full brigandine? I can make you a modified set.”
“How so?”
“Putting strike plates into key locations. It would make it far lighter than a full brigandine, too.”
“Body armor,” Stern snorted. Seeing both women looking at him, he shook his head. “Something my father said. Still just as long to make it?”
“A little less, but close to that. The cost would be far lower than the whole armor, though.”
“Two silver?” Stern asked.
“For you and my favorite terror,” Trish said as her hand suddenly darted to Pawly’s belly and gave it a rub.
Pawly meowed and bit down on Trish, kicking at her wrist. Trish let her, and Cyra gasped in horror.
“It’s fine,” Trish told Cyra. “I have Iron Skin. She isn’t hurting me.”
Pawly extracted herself, sitting up and grooming her belly.
“Two silvers, it is,” Stern chuckled as he fished out the coins and set them on the counter. “Do you want to measure her? You’ll want to make them a little loose for now, as she’s going to be training while we wait. I bet Cyra will put some muscle on while we’re here.”
“She couldn’t put on less,” Trish said, giving Cyra a long look. “Hmm... Come with me, Cyra.”
The two women went into the back room and Stern went up to the counter to pet Pawly. “Glad to see her?”
Pawly chuffed and rubbed into his hand.
“Sugar passed,” Stern said a moment later.
Pawly stopped moving and looked up at him. She gave a mournful meow.
“Yeah, me, too. Glad to know you didn’t actually hate her.”
Pawly flopped down and rolled onto her back.
Stern chuckled and started to rub her belly lightly. “Thanks for never making me bleed for this. It always makes me feel better.”
The two women returned before too long, both of them smiling. Stern felt happiness only, and he was glad that they got along.
“I’m taking you both to dinner,” Trish said. “The Floundering Fish good for you?”
Stern thought of Barbara there and nodded. “Sure. Pawly likes the fish there.”
“See you there just after sundown,” Trish said. “Leave the armor.”
“I’ll bring it by tomorrow,” Stern said. “I was planning on running the dungeon tomorrow morning.”
“Ah, okay. See you tonight,” Trish said, then grinned at Pawly. “There’ll be fish for you tonight.”
Pawly chuffed and bumped Trish’s hand with her head.
“Have to find a place to stay for the next few months,” Stern said. “We’ll see you there.” He started to turn away, then shook his head and pulled the large bunnicorn skull from the top of his pack. “Almost forgot. Can you make this into a helmet?”
“Yeah, and if they can make it special, please have them do it.”
“He knows how to put at least one enchantment slot on a piece. You want it as tricked out as possible?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll pass it along and see what he says about the price.”
“Works for me. See you later.”
With their goodbyes said, they left Trish to her business.
~*~*~
Cyra looked at the four-story building with interest. “This isn’t an inn?”
“Not an inn, but a place to stay,” Stern said, leading her and Pawly inside.
“Stern?” Jensen half-asked in surprise.
“Jensen, it’s good to see you,” Stern grinned. “Surprised?”
“To put it mildly. What can I do for you?”
“I need a place to rack out for a couple of months.”
Jensen glanced at Cyra before looking down to Pawly and grinning. “Hey, you. He been treating you well?”
Pawly meowed, jumping onto the desk and flopping onto her side for petting.
“Are there rooms?” Stern asked.
Jensen shook his head. “No. However, I do have a double suite, if that works.”
Stern considered it, then looked at Cyra. “A single common room with two separate bedrooms. What do—?”
“That’s fine,” Cyra said, not letting him finish.
“Guess we’ll take it,” Stern said to Jensen.
“Works for me. That sells out the rooms for this semester. Two or three months?”
“Call it two, though, it might go to three.”
“How about two and a half? You know I can’t give back, but if you stay, it’ll mean a discount.”
Stern thought about it, then nodded. “Done.” He placed a couple of coins on the counter. “There you go.”
Cyra got the glint of silver and looked down at the floor, thinking about all Stern was doing for her.
“Top floor, last room,” Jensen said, pulling out two keys and handing them over. He gave Cyra a warm smile. “I’m Jensen Melac, Miss…?”
“Cyra Walot,” Cyra replied with a timid smile.
“I hope you enjoy the place. If you need anything, either my sister or I will be here to help. Just let us know.”
“I will. Thank you,” Cyra replied.
“Let’s go unpack and get our things settled before dinner.”
“Okay.”
Jensen watched them go and smiled.
Chapter Thirty
As they approached the Floundering Fish, Stern took a deep breath before leading Pawly and Cyra inside. The tavern was busy, the hubbub from all the conversations in the room making it loud.
The woman at the front of the room smiled briefly before it faded, then grew wide. “Stern, it’s so good to see you again.”
“Barbara, good to see you. We were supposed to meet Trish Moxxy here.”
Barbara’s smile dimmed slightly. “Oh? You’re who she was waiting for? Follow me.”
Stern motioned Cyra to follow Barbara as he took up the rear. Barbara’s feelings were sharp and Stern felt bad for her, but he wasn’t interested in anyone who wouldn’t run even the lowest of dungeons.
Trish looked up from the table she was sitting at and grinned. “There they are. Thanks,” she directed at Barbara.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” Barbara asked Stern.
Stern saw the dark ale Trish was drinking and glanced over at Cyra. “A white wine, as we’ll likely be having fish?”
“If you think that’s best,” Cyra replied.
“We do have the fish Pawly loves,” Barbara grinned, placing her hand on Stern’s shoulder briefly. “I’ll go get your drinks. Be right back.”
Cyra watched Barbara go with a frown, but Trish smirked. “Really, Stern?” Trish asked. “Didn’t think she’d be your type.”
“She isn’t,” Stern shrugged. “Turned her down before, but some people will always hope.”
“Oh? And what is your type?” Trish asked.
“Walkers,” Stern replied. “Strong-willed women who won’t run screaming from danger.” He smirked back at Trish. “Maybe someone who can handle my cat.”
Trish laughed. “Well, you never came back after your first run. Maybe you missed your shot?”
“More the fool, me,” Stern said.
Cyra sat there, watching them. Her expression was neutral as she did her best to keep her emotions in check. She reached over and gave Pawly a chin scratch.
Trish glanced at Cyra, her eyes sparkling. “So, tell me the story. How did you save Cyra?”
“Your drinks,” Barbara said, coming back with two glasses and an open bottle. “Did you decide what you’d like for dinner? I can tell you about what else we have if you don’t want fish.”
“Fish all around,” Trish said as she placed a silver coin on the table. “Bring drinks as needed, too. I’ll get the change afterward.”
Barbara took the coin. “Sure. I’ll go let the cook know.”
When she left, Trish turned back to Stern. “Now spill.”
“It’s not an exciting story,” Stern said as he poured wine for Cyra and himself. “Cyra’s grandmother was asking Walkers to retrieve her shards. I accepted, and she was reborn.”
Cyra stared at him. “You’re leaving a lot out.”
“Is he, now?” Trish asked. “Maybe you should fill in the blanks.”
“I only know secondhand,” Cyra said softly, taking a sip of the wine. “No one wanted to help retrieve my shards, as my grandmother couldn’t pay to compensate them for giving up their dungeon points.”
“Interesting...” Trish said, giving Stern an appraising look. “So you did it alone?”
“No,” Stern exhaled. “I pulled half of the shards out, and another group pulled the other two. I went to the temple with her grandmother to get the rebirth started.”
“He paid another crew to pull the other two shards out,” Cyra said. “Paid out of his own pocket… for me.”
“Did he? Just managed to forget that tidbit, did you, Stern?”
Stern took a long drink of his wine and refilled his glass. “Fine, I’ll explain it. I did it because her grandmother was clearly distraught and no one would listen to her. That wasn’t all, though— she’d gone into the dungeon with five others.”
Trish’s playful mood dropped away at that news and she leaned forward. “A full crew and they didn’t bring her out?”
“Yes. There’s a reason for that, but I didn’t find out until later,” Stern said. “Just sit back and let me explain.”
Picking up her mug, Trish sat back, her face serious. “Go ahead.”
Stern began to explain and, when he made it to his first encounter with Skippy, Trish snarled and slammed her mug into the table. The wooden tankard cracked and the little bit of ale left in it went sloshing out of the side.
“That pompous ass!” Trish spat.
The room had gone mostly quiet and all heads turned in their direction. Barbara rushed over to them. “Is everything okay?”
Trish looked over the room, then back at Barbara. “Sorry. A new mug, please, and deduct the cost of the one I broke from my tab.”
Barbara touched Stern’s shoulder, not reaching for the broken mug right away. “I can do that if everything is okay here.”
“I was relaying a story and it didn’t sit with Trish well,” Stern told her. “We’re all fine.”
After another second, Barbara nodded. She picked up a rag to wipe up the spill, then took the broken mug away from the table. Stern went back to explaining the rest of the first incident and how he paid the Sharp Ears crew to get the other shards.
Barbara brought over a new mug and a second bottle of wine, letting them know the fish would be out soon. She lingered a moment longer, but seeing that she wasn’t n
eeded, she wandered off when another table called for her.
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