As I pushed the knob forward and opened the door, we were greeted by the half-dressed form of the hunter who actually owned the place. The deep tawny skin wrapping his scrawny frame was outlined by the pale towel he had around his neck, his light grey slacks hung off his hips at an angle that said he’d just thrown them on after a shower and were not his immediate focus. The oils spilled on the floor at his feet explained the scent of lilacs, I noted this for future reference. Small gifts between hunters as thanks for assistance often kept you in good graces.

The young man looked up from the broken bottle at his feet and saw me standing there. He gave me a brief, sheepish grin and a wave.

“Hey, Bex. Was hoping to be outta here before you got back. Thanks for letting me borrow Reina.”

“Uh-huh… You look like you’re prepping for a date there, Hafreed. Thought it was some big hunt a few towns over?” I responded, keeping myself between him and Ashley.

He shook his head, “It’s only a hunt in so far as a heart is concerned. There’s a festival two towns over with that new upstart idol and my informant… and part-time girlfriend, if you must know… was super excited. Had to get tickets, man. The score of Reina for the night was a huge bonus.”

I nodded, slowly. “I’ll let you finish dressing. Maybe take a moment to get that bottle cleaned up so you don’t hurt yourself.”

“Thanks, man. Knew I could count on you. Don’t worry, I’ll have the bike back before noon. Scouts honor.” Hafreed said.

I slowly backed out and closed the door before letting out a breath. I turned to face Ashley, partly to judge her reaction to the events that had just transpired, and partly to see what she wanted to do as we waited. She looked very confused and slightly taken aback.

“Uh… how about we… um… walk? There’s a park a few blocks down if you’re interested. He’s just about to depart.” I said, leading her by the arm.

Ashley followed quietly behind me for a bit before asking the question I figured would come up sooner or later. “Who was that guy?”

I sighed, “That’s Hafreed. He’s from the southern half of the continent of Etreso. As much as he and I don’t like to interact, he’s one of the few hunters I know I can trust to not screw me over. Plus he’s the only one with a house in this town that’s stocked with what I need.”

“You let him borrow some girl named Reina-“ she started.

“Reina isn’t just some girl. She’s my motorcycle. Best ride in the world.” I cut her off.

“Oh… so you traded your motorcycle for the night’s rest in his house?” She asked.

Nodding, I guided us over toward a park bench where we could watch the parents and children play in the twilight hours of the day.

“Then… we’re leaving tomorrow on your motorcycle?” She asked, attempting to ascertain her position in the world at that moment.

I nodded again, “Provided you don’t attempt to kill me in my sleep, yeah. Then we’ll stop in at a town about a half day’s ride down the continent, and then a few days of waiting and I’ll be sending you down on a ship to Ytralia. I have an associate who, as luck would have it, can completely free you. I actually signed his name when buying you, so technically, I’m not even your real owner.”

Ashley curled in on herself for a while we sat there, her mind racing and her face echoing what was going around in her head.

“So… can I ask a request of you?” she said after some time.

“Sure, what’s bothering you, kiddo?” I said, relaxing a little.

She moved around a bit, uncomfortable asking for something I assumed, but eventually got her words in order.

“Would you mind taking me to the festival Hafreed was talking about?” she asked in a hesitant manner.

“I’ll take you to a better one.” I said, “There’s one in Felingan that’s about to kick off. I’ll even cover you for some festival wear and make-up. Call it a celebration of you being free.”

Her eyes lit up and she immediately embraced. It was like someone had given her a new reason to love life… which, in all fairness, it probably was.

I patted her back, realizing that I was slipping from the killer badass persona I like to keep up into the weaker me. That bleeding heart, the kindness for no reason, the less intimidating me…. I hated him. But he was as present as the cold side of me that I embraced with open arms, and in this moment, he was more useful in getting the girl to do what was needed.

“Let’s head back. Hafreed should be gone by now, and you can get cleaned up.” I said, slowly standing as I broke the embrace.

“Am I going to be cleaning you as well?” She asked.

I shook my head, laughing a little. She was so stuck in that mindset, forced and used by others.

She slid back a little on the small bench, “You’re not going to try washing me, are you?”

Her eyes were alight with fear, flashbacks of horrible evenings with pigs in men’s clothing touching and abusing her playing across her face.

“No, I’ll be in the next room over. Hafreed got two baths in his house, the strange guy that he is.” I said, reassuring her that I wasn’t going to try things.

“Then let’s go!” She said and started off ahead of me.