“I don’t think I have ever been so happy to see a town in my life,” Margaret said, as they passed the inn.

The group rode toward the town hall and dismounted in front of the wooden steps. The mayor came walking in their direction, looking more positive than he had the last time they’d seen him.

“Are they dead?” he asked immediately.

“No sir,” Jakni said. “Most of our group was wiped out by a horde in the forest.”

The mayor’s face fell instantly.

“How many were killed?” he asked.

“Twenty-seven,” Jakni provided.

“What about your niece?”

“Thomas and Margaret snuck into the lair, and were able to rescue her,” Jakni said, motioning toward the two.

“Do you have an idea of how many kobolds you managed to kill?”

“At least two hundred.”

“Not enough,” the mayor groaned.

“We did the best we could,” Frank said, stepping forward.

“You didn’t have enough people to make a difference. It would help if the king would send some soldiers out this way, but he’s too busy focusing on the elves.”

The mayor shook himself out of his despondency.

“Still, you five did help. A deal is a deal. The inn has been repaired, and you are now the sole owners,” he said, handing Marc a heavy key.

“Thank you, sir,” Frank said, gripping the mayor’s left forearm.

“Never let it be said that I do not keep promises,” the mayor said, gripping Frank’s forearm in return.

“If you ever need our help, let us know, and we will be there to help,” Marc told him.

“Thank you, sir. I will keep that in mind,” the mayor smiled slightly.

The group turned around and remounted their horses.

“By the way, the horses do not go with the inn. If you’d please return them to the stables, I’d appreciate it,” the mayor called.

“We will do that,” Frank replied.

“Well, this is our last ride Collin,” Thomas sighed. “Let’s make it a good one.”

“I can give you the money to buy him,” Margaret said quietly.

“Really?! How?!”

“I got some money from the kobolds. I’ll buy the horse and whatever you need with him.”

“Thank you so much,” Thomas grinned.

“That money should be split evenly,” Frank said. “We’ll have to see what Marc says.”

They reached the stables a few minutes later, and the group dismounted. A stablehand rushed out and took the first horse to the stalls as Thomas walked up to Marc.

“Margaret has a chest of coins. Can I use some to buy Collin?” he asked.

Marc thought for a second.

“Honestly, we should split the money first, and then you should come back for Collin. But you risked your life by going into the kobold lair. I doubt anyone would begrudge you a few extra coins.”

“Thank you!” Thomas beamed, rushing to where the stable master was supervising the horses.

He tugged lightly on the man’s sleeve to get his attention.

“What do you want?” the man snapped.

“I want to buy a horse.”

“I’m a little busy here.”

“Please, sir. It’s the black one with no saddle.”

“Collin? Why the hell do you want that devil?”

“He’s actually a real sweetie,” Thomas said.

“Fifty gold and he’s yours. Just don’t come crying to me when he kills you.”

Margaret began handing Thomas several gold coins, and he counted out fifty, placing them into the man’s hand.

“That price doesn’t include a saddle,” the man added, after a moment’s thought.

“You should have mentioned that before you took the gold,” Margaret said.

“It’s fine Margaret. I don’t use a saddle anyways,” Thomas soothed her.

“You’re a moron if you’re riding that beast bareback,” the stable master spat on the ground.

“It’s worked for me so far,” Thomas shrugged.

“Ma’am, I know it isn’t my place to ask, but would you mind buying my Sanor as well? I don’t have any money, but I could repay you some other way,” Cata said.

“I’ll buy him for you,” Thomas said. “It will come from my share.”

“That one is 150 gold,” the stable master said. “Two hundred if you want the equipment as well.”

“I’m good without a saddle,” Cata replied.

Margaret handed over the money, and Cata hurried to his horse. He expertly removed the tack and handed it all to the stable hand, who grumbled at having to deal with the equipment.

”Thank you so much,” Cata said, shaking Thomas’ hand.

“No problem,” Thomas smiled.

An hour later, the six of them were standing in front of the inn.

“It’s about time you got here,” someone said, walking toward the group.

Marc recognized Jim Canar from the night they arrived in the town.

“We’re not open yet,” he said.

“Aw, just one drink. Please?” Jim begged.

“Fine,” Margaret sighed. “Just one ale though. You’re not making off with our best wine again.”

“The stuff didn’t last anyway,” Jim said under his breath.

Marc unlocked the inn door, as Thomas and Cata went around the corner, heading for a stable behind the inn, followed by Garyn. Together, they spent the next forty minutes making sure the stalls were clean, and feeding their horses, after rubbing the animals down.

“Thank you so much for buying Sanor for me,” Cata said as they brushed the horses. “I will repay you.”

“There’s no need. I could tell you really like her. She’s a good horse,” Thomas said.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Cata sighed. “I heard you and Frank talking to Jakni and I don’t have any idea what I can do for an apprenticeship.”

“You have a free place to stay for as long as you need it,” Thomas told him.

“Thank you. But if I can’t pay my way, then I’m not going to take advantage of your generosity. Besides, the mayor said elves are frowned upon in the Confederation at the moment.”

“That isn’t stopping me and Frank from living here,” Thomas shrugged,

“The two of you are local heroes from what I can tell. The town isn’t going to run you out of here. They don’t know me at all.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t let them chase you out of town. But some of them might come after you. Can you use a weapon?”

“No. My parents never taught me. They said I was too young. Then the kobolds took me, and it wasn’t like they were going to train me in the art of war.”

“I can teach you to hunt with a bow. Then you’d be a necessity in town, and you’d be able to defend yourself.”

“Thank you. I’d like that very much.”

They finished their work, and locked the horses up for the night, before heading back to the inn.

“So, how’d you find the wolf? He seems pretty special,” Cata noted.

Thomas thought hard, willing a memory, an idea, anything to come to his mind.

“I found him stuck in a bear trap in the forest. He looked like he was in a lot of pain, but I couldn’t bring myself to kill him and end his misery. So I removed him from the trap and spent the next few months nursing him back to health. But when I tried to let him go, he refused to leave. I’m telling you, this is one of the most stubborn wolves you will ever meet,” Thomas smiled.

As he told the story, he felt certain that this was exactly how it had happened. He could actually remember the bear trap and the cries of a small wolf pup in pain.

They stepped into the inn, to find Marc, Margaret, Logan, and Frank sitting around a table covered in gold. Jim was nowhere to be seen.

“Hey, we calculated a hundred gold per person, including Cata,” Margaret told the newcomers. “Thomas, we took thirty from your amount to even things up from the horses.

Cata’s jaw dropped.

“Y-you’re giving me a share?” he asked, stunned.

“Of course,” Margaret said, counting out a hundred gold coins, and placing them in a small box.

She handed the box to Cata, and he stared at the box in awe.

Margaret then counted out a hundred coins and placed them in another box that she handed to Logan. Repeating the procedure, she handed a box to Thomas, Marc, and Frank, before scraping the last of the money into a box she kept for herself.

“You are all so nice,” Cata said, placing his box on the table.

“Once I get some wood, I’ll make you a bow. Maybe we can go out tomorrow and find some yew,” Thomas said.

“I’ll go with,” Frank added.

“Margaret and I will go with you guys so we can see about getting some wood for some actual beds,” Marc said.

“I’ll just go hang out by the cemetery, and work on my spells,” Logan shrugged.

The group stared at him.

“What? It’s a peaceful place to work,” Logan said defensively.

“Just don’t go robbing the graves,” Marc said finally.

“Of course I’m not going to rob the graves!” Logan objected.

“I can start collecting leather to make some armour,” Frank said.

“If we’re going to be building all of these things, we are going to need a workshop,” Margaret said. “We could probably add one onto the back of the inn.”

“I’ll talk to the mayor tomorrow, and see what he says,” Marc suggested.

“Well, before we start anything, I think we should get this place up and running. Reprice everything, and make an inventory of everything,” Margaret said.

“I haven’t sampled the fares yet anyways,” Thomas said.

“You’re too young,” Margaret said sternly.

“He’s like 110 years old Margaret,” Marc said. “I think he can handle it.”

“Right. I was thinking… nevermind,” Margaret trailed, glancing at Cata.

“I’m thirty, actually, but who’s counting?” Thomas shrugged.

Cata perked up slightly at the mention of Thomas’ age.

Frank grabbed a bottle labelled Absinthe, Elven, and Margaret snatched it from his hands.

“Wow! Calm down!” Frank yelped.

“You idiot. This is not to be opened,” Margaret snapped.

“Um, it’s just wine.”

“No, this is absinthe. This bottle is worth at least 25 gold alone.”

“Shit!” Frank gulped.

“This is why you’re the entertainment, not the barkeep,” Marc laughed.

Margaret carefully set the bottle back on the top shelf and pulled out several mugs. She filled them from a cask with a strange rune on it, then passed them around, skipping Cata.

Thomas raised an eyebrow, and Margaret stared at him.

“What?” she demanded.

“Nothing,” Thomas shrugged, before heading to get another mug. He filled it from the same cask and handed it to Cata.

“Are you sure-”

“Margaret, he’s been through all kinds of shit,” Thomas said.

“Just go light on it,” Marc added.

“Thank you,” Cata smiled warmly.

“To being alive,” Frank called, raising his mug.

“To life,” the others echoed, and they all took a drink.

The stuff was spicy, and it burned as it went down Thomas’ throat, making him splutter. Beside him, Cata had the same result, though everyone else seemed to handle their own easily enough.

“I think there’s a small brewery under the inn. I can work on making some new brews,” Margaret said, setting her mug down.

Thomas sipped at his drink, trying to get used to the taste. He didn’t really like it, but he continued drinking, not wanting to waste it.

“What is this?” Marc asked.

“It’s either mead or dwarven stout,” Margaret replied.

Marc spit a mouthful back in his mug.

“What the hell?!” he yelped.

“Well, that explains my buzz,” Frank said, putting his mug down.

The mug was only a quarter full, and Frank was swaying slightly.

“Dude, I think you’re a little more than buzzed,” Margaret laughed.

Frank chugged the last of his drink and grabbed Thomas’ hand.

“Come on. Let’s go to bed…” he slurred,

“Frank!” Thomas protested as he was pulled to his feet.

Frank dragged him towards the stairs, and Thomas called, ”I’ll be back.”

“Oh, take your time,” Marc waved.

Frank dragged Thomas up the stairs, and into their room. Thomas closed the door and turned to face the bard.

“Frank, you’re drunk,” he said.

“So?” Frank grinned, unbuckling his armour.

“So, I am not doing whatever you have planned, because I know you will regret it tomorrow.”

“Oh, come on Tommy,” Frank giggled.

“Look, just lie down,” Thomas said.

“Ooh! Bossy!” Frank laughed.

He got on the mat in the corner, and Thomas rolled him over, before pulling off the leather breastplate and leaving a plain wool shirt behind. Digging his fists into Frank’s back, Thomas began massaging the elf, and Frank soon knocked out.

Thomas stood up and quietly stepped into the hallway.

“Was it fun?” Logan sneered, leaning against another door.

“Was what fun?”

“Raping a drunk man.”

“All I did was put him to sleep,” Thomas said. “And I don’t want to talk about this with the resident homophobe.”

He began walking toward the stairs, and Logan called, “Don’t think we don’t know why you are taking Cata under your wing!”

Thomas grimaced but continued walking.

Cata was sitting on the floor by the stairs, gently stroking Garyn.

“How’s Frank?” he asked.

“He’s asleep. Are you doing okay?”

“I gave the rest of mine to Margaret. I think Marc finished yours. It didn’t taste that good.”

Thomas glanced into the barroom and saw Marc lying on top of Margaret, half-naked. Both were snoring loudly.

“Why don’t we get going before things get crazier down here.”

“Lead the way,” Cata shrugged.

He and Garyn stood up and followed Thomas up the staircase. Thomas led Cata to a room at the end of the hall and then headed back to his own room, calling for Garyn to follow him.

Frank groaned lightly as the door opened.

“Come on buddy. You can’t sleep in your armour,” Thomas said quietly.

He began unbuckling straps and pulled the greaves off Frank’s legs. Frank was left wearing a cheap suit of cloth, and he began shivering in the cool air.

Digging through Frank’s bag, Thomas found a blanket, and he placed it over the elf to keep him warm.

Thomas wasted no time leaving the room, taking his bag with him. He headed to the room beside Cata’s and curled up beside Garyn. He soon fell asleep, soothed by the warmth of his animal companion.