“Well, The Divines are shining on me today. My three favorites returned to me, and all in one piece.”

  “Marigold, my dear cherub. Do you ever take a day off? The chair behind that desk must be imprinted with the shape of you. The envy of all the stools in the Greater Kingdoms.”

  “Flattery doesn’t get you extra coin.” and yet she batted her lashes at Absinthe. “My Fishy Fish. Precious, perfect, lad.” She stepped form behind the counter and knelt to cup the beast’s head and give him pets. “And Alnyx of course.”

  “Marigold.” the elf grunted in acknowledgment. “The contract’s done.”

  “Not a social visit then?” she made sure Fish was already chomping on the jerky she had snuck him before standing. “I didn’t expect you for at least a few more days, based on the original report.”

  “I demanded we hurry back. Haven’t had proper bedding in days and it’s put me in a mood.” Absinthe’s dramatic sigh had Marigold giggling.

  “Kingswood seal is already on the paperwork.” Alnyx tried to speed things along.

  “Timely and thorough. Knew I was right to hand things over to you.”

  “Only the best for the royals of the content.” Absinthe preened and leaned on the counter as Marigold went back behind it.

  “Your modesty is always unmatched.” she held her hand out for the contract that Alnyx had started to pull out. “Let’s see….Good, looks to be in order. Let’s see if they have the coin split out for you.”

  She disappeared as she knelt behind the high desk, to what had to be the safe they kept payments in, just the top of her curly hair visible. The groan said that things had very much not been split.

  “That’s what I get for letting the night shift kid do anything.” she straightened herself back out, bag of coin clinking at her side as she pulled it out. “Lemme run to the back right quick and get it counted out for you.”

  The two muttered an agreed “all right” as Marigold went through a door behind her. Alnyx leaned one hip against the desk, turned so he was facing Absinthe.

  “Are you local? The Snakehead isn’t exactly cheap.”

  “No, it isn’t.” they agreed with a laugh. “I’m based further North, around the curve of the bay. The Alabaster Square’s central School. I came down this way to assist on a more….Delicate project. My last day in town was meant to be the day you found me, actually.”

  “Fortunate.”

  “Mmhm. Some might even say there was a touch of destiny about it.” Their laugh said what they thought of destiny. “I’ve been down here more and more as of late. They may just have me temporarily base here. They think moving me would be cheaper than paying my room and tab. Until they see the scope of my closet and bookshelves.”

  “I wouldn’t have pegged you as being from that area. The people that stay close to the places the Alabaster are. They’re….”

  “Uptight and outright assholes? Sticks up their asses and their noses high enough up they’ll drown in the rain? They are, you’re absolutely right. But, one of the better cities for freaks like me.” Alnyx’s arched eyebrow made them go on. “The horns scare most people, even here. There, the University’s presence and the Embassies for some of the Species make it a little easier.”

  “Hmm.”

  “They probably wouldn’t even balk at Fish. Even though he smells like wet cabbage.” the lycine let out a whine-growl as if they understood. “Wet dog is one thing. You, my wintry friend, have transcended that.”

  Fish allowed Absinthe to touch him. Not even just a pet or a pat. A poke to the tip of the nose. And the snap and turn of the head was more…In play than in annoyance. It was all the mage got before the beast turned its back on the both of them any lay back down.

  “Here we are! Even down the middle minus all fees.” Marigold returned with two small bags this time, setting them on the counter with a plop. “The extra small coins went to Fishy.”

  “I suppose things would have been much more difficult if we didn’t have him tracking.” Absinthe picked up the bag closest to them, weighing it in their hand. “I do love a noble contract. They pay in the good stuff.”

  They fished out a square piece of platinum and tapped it against the desktop, as if having to test it was real. Alnyx took the other bag, tying it to his belt for now. His fingers stumbled over the knot when the sound of a throat clearing was clearly meant to get his attention.

  “This was fun. Minus the fact I’ll have to burn the clothes that got all that goo on them.” Absinthe smiled when their eyes met. “Look me up the next time you’re in town. Or near the Square. We’ll do this again.”

  Before Alnyx could say that he absolutely would not be doing so, they walked away. The click of their heels against the floor was what kept Alnyx’s attention on them until the door open and closed. Or at least that was what he would say.

  “Well? What did you think? He’s pretty cool, right?” Marigold bounced on her heels. “For a bookworm anyway. I knew you two would get on!”

  “Marigold.”

  “And that line? Look me up the next time you’re in town.” she poorly mimicked Absinthe’s voice. “I mean, come on.”

  “Mari-”

  “In fact, I’ve got the perf-”

  “Marigold, enough.” He didn’t like to raise his voice, but she hadn’t given him an option. “Absinthe was fine. Competent. All right?”

  “Fine? Just fine?” she frowned. “I guess I could…Find someone else for another task for you. You kinda scare the regulars with all that scowling you do.”

  “No, Marigold. I don’t need you to set me up.” he paused a little too long before adding “With a partner for contracts. The headache isn’t worth the cut in pay. I’ll be taking a break, until things normalize.”

  She huffed and crossed her arms at him. Sometimes, Alnyx forgot that she was young, even by human standards. She leaned on the counter, pile of contracts pushed over to one side so she could lean her elbow on it after a moment with her chin on her hand.

  “What are you gonna do if you aren’t working? It isn’t even cold yet.”

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “I’ll be going to the Grove. To see my clan. I am past due for a visit.”

  “Hmm. Well, bring me a present.” she narrowed her eyes at him, in an attempt to seem serious. “Or else next time, you’re going to get a job cleaning up some gross monster mess.” The laugh meant her attempt failed.

  “I will see you in a few moons, Marigold.”

  “Eight Divines keep you, Alnyx. You too, Fishy Fish.”

  He adjusted his bag before walking out, with the Lycine at his side. Yes, a few moons among his brothers and sisters would be good. And would force Marigold to find someone else to make her project.

  * * *

  Alnyx did not immediately leave town. The trip up north to The Grove would take more supplies than he normally carried, as there weren’t many settlements to replenish for fair coin. And perhaps another night or two in a proper bed was a luxury the royal coin could allow. Fish certainly didn’t seem to mind.

  The inn he usually frequented when he stayed in town was a bed-share, above a tavern that was frequented by the dockworkers and day laborers across the city. They never turned their noses up if he came in dirty, baths were cheap, and the girls that ran the kitchen had a soft spot for his furry companion. Usually, it meant spending a little less on food those nights as they slipped Fish treats. He was currently chewing on a cattle bone as the elf sat on the bed, bundling up his supplies and making sure the whole of his mental list was checked off.

  There was a decent amount of coin left. Thank the Ancestors for royals who couldn’t figure out their own problems. Combined with being willing to take guard shifts, there would be enough for a spot on a caravan down south if proper work really had fully dried up by the time he was on his way back.

  The Alabaster Square isn’t too far. Just more to the west. Barely a day’s detour. A quiet voice he tried his best to silence nudged. Because yes, It was very much on the way to The Grove with only a slight bend. But, he shook his head.

  Alnyx gave the coins another count, putting aside what he knew he’d need for that last resort caravan spot. A tip for the folks that would turn the bed down in the morning. Just enough left for a drink. Or three.

  “I’ll be back in a few hours. Stay here. Cause no trouble.”

  Fish looked up from the floor, licking his lips. He left the bone on the floor for the moment and jumped onto the bed, nestling his head right into the pillows. Alnyx chuckled and patted his haunch.

  “No trouble.” he repeated and got one bark in response. “Good boy.”

  It was already a few hours past sundown. The tavern below the bed-share started to fill up, so it took him longer to get his way though the already half drunk packed crowd. It wasn’t that it was a bad place to drink, but he kept his sleeping and his leisure separate. Besides, it was a nice night for a walk across the Merchant district.

  The stalls and shops of any respectable nature were closed down for the night or in the process of it. A few coppers and he bought out the last two meat-pies at a bakery, seeing a few dirty half-elf children staring through the window. A pat on the head and telling them to head off home, got him a smile from the woman locking up the flower shop next door that he shrugged off before he continued on his way.

  The Hatpin was originally the name of the tailor that had been the neighbor of the tavern, which was a failed haberdashery before that. Somewhere down the line, the tavern got too big, the old seamstress passed, and her grown children hadn’t picked up her trade. They were more than happy to leave Morgranto for one of the larger cities with the coin the tavern owner shelled out to buy her share of the building from them. They made a point to keep the old sign and name of the tailor shop, to honor the location’s history.

  The half-giant that provided security at the front door recognized him with a nod as he entered, which Alnyx returned. The floor was filled with people, sitting at tables, dancing to music provided by a musician with a fiddle and a singer who was mostly on key. The laughter and chatter would mostly drown it out anyway.

  “Cousin, good to see you! It’s been awhile.” Though the elf behind the bar bore the bands of a different family of the Rawanali clans, they were all cousins. And Alnyx was always glad to see when it was her behind the bar. “Your usual ale then?”

  “Pine whiskey if you have it, actually.”

  “A taste of home. Means a good payment ey? Coming up.”

  Alnyx took time to scan the crowd as he waited, taking one of the empty stools. Elves and giants. Fae and fair. The blend of patrons here always made him feel comfortable. The owner of the place made a point to keep their identity a secret to anyone that didn’t need to know, which made it easier for them to serve non-humans with no questioning.

  “Here you are.” the tankard was placed in front of him, and the other elf leaned on the bar. “I heard from Cinna that you’d made your way up to his neck of the woods not long ago. I was worried you’d lost your sense and good taste.”

  Alnyx snorted and put a pile of coins on the counter. She took fewer than she should have and tossed them into the collection tin with a clink. Before he answered, Alnyx took a long drink with a content sigh. The sweet smack of pine that accompanied the burn or the whiskey warmed him quickly.

  “For a job. Had to take along a mage that was staying there.”

  “Heard about that partner business. Residentials won’t stop bitching about it. You’d think the fool killed someone instead of making another someone. Ridiculous.”

  Alnyx raised his drink in agreement. The woman tapped her fingers on the wood of the bar in a farewell, going to serve someone else who had walked over. The routine of it settled Alnyx in a way he hadn’t realized he had been missing. How had a few days with the horned half-wylder thrown him so far from his axis? They were far from the first pretty face he had come across in this work. The variety and danger of the work drew exactly his type after all. Coupled, most importantly, with the untethered goodbyes.

  But the stranger…No. Absinthe. They latched on. Perhaps, he thought, it was the sheer competency that rarely came from Scholars. Their easy way of speaking, and the way they used deflection instead of defensiveness around bigotry. The charming grin. By the ancestor tree, it was charming.

  Alnyx knocked back the drink, to numb the thought. He held up a finger when he caught the barwoman’s eye.

  “A difficult task then.” She lingered, taking a few more of the coins in exchange for a refill. “Or is there a different sort of trouble weighing heavy on you, Cousin?”

  Alnyx scowled. He didn’t have a proper answer. Which he disliked greatly. He wrapped his fingers around the handle of the tankard and stared into it when she didn’t leave.

  “The sort of difficulty I can call upstairs for you, perhaps?” The question was asked in a lower tone, the woman leaning into his space so they wouldn’t be overheard.

  It wasn’t as if it was a secret, or if it was meant to be, it was poorly kept. The “apartments” above the tavern weren’t exactly on a normal sort of rent system. More….Hourly than by the moons. The bar staff had to approve anyone looking to rent for the evening, and kept a protective watch over their tenants. He’d watched more than one bad actor get tossed out by the half-giant. And had….Indulged himself in the past. Too expensive to make a habit of it.

  “The flowers are beautiful tonight.” she leaned back and continued, picking up a glass to pretend to clean. “All reds and golds.”

  “Mmmhm.” A code he knew. Over the top? Perhaps. “I’m not a floral man. I prefer ferns. Evergreens.”

  The silver for his drinks was replaced by the last few gold coins from the extra stash that wasn’t meant for the caravan spot. She knew he was good for it, but the song and dance is what kept people safe.

  “Tried and true, Cousin.” she patted his arm before waving one of the people over that cleared empty tankards and filled them again. The second gesture was one he didn’t recognize, but was sure it meant to mark his order.

  Alnyx left the gold next to his elbow as he took a drink. A stupid way to spend the extra coin. Worse than on the drinks. He could have put it to the side for new leathers. A good oil for his swords. Perhaps even getting the soles of his boots re-

  “Good evening, Sir. Is this seat taken?”

  The owner of the voice sat before he could answer. Mortal, round in all the placed that creatures like Alnyx were sharp. A plain, dark colored tunic and breaches would have him blending in to the crowd of patrons easily. The gathering of maidenhair leaves tucked behind one eat, pinning blond curls away from his face was the only indication he wasn’t one of them.

  “It is now.”

  He laughed, turning to face Alnyx. No one else would hear the little clink as two of the coins at the elf’s elbow found their way up the man’s sleeve. The fingers lingered, brushing against the elf’s arm.

  “I’ve seen you here before, haven’t I? I never forget a face. Especially not a handsome one.”

  Alnyx finally looked at him enough long to meet his eyes. Blue. Lovely, cornflower, blue. Made deeper by the green that framed one side of his face.

  “When I’m in town.” Alnyx moved the tankard away. And took away the coins that had been for a third round. " ‘m usually on the road.”

  “Well then, how fortunate for me.” the mortal kept his hand on Alnyx’s elbow. “In fact, I’ve only just called up for hot water for a bath. I was worried it might go to waste. But for a world-weary traveler? Perfect.”

  A charmer. More talkative than he might have liked. But beggars could hardly be choosers.