Header image: https://i.imgur.com/tjMn2P8.gif

What was going to happen next?

Although business had been slow, the Hero's Welcome had been our only source of income. Would we have to work separate jobs? Sell off the house, work as servants in someone else's?

Would I have to go back to...

I opened my mouth to ask Lia what she thought, but one look at how close she was from pouncing on Verona, and I knew what she had in mind.

I nervously stepped between the two of them, not sure how much good it would even do. But I had to try. While the half-elf didn't look nearly as intimidating as the giant man had been, attacking a hero always had consequences. Most of which were painful, and often permanent.

I wasn't sure if Verona would be the type, but her friends wouldn't hesitate.

Verona put her hands up.

"We're not that kind of party!" she insisted. "No pillaging, no plundering, we make sure it's all very lawful and good. Or at least lawful."

"Does this look lawful to you?" Lia spat, her words dripping with venom.

"Chad's an idiot, but he's not a bad guy," Verona replied defensively. "He...wouldn't do this unless he had a good reason."

(Was it just me, or had she muttered "Probably"?)

Lia's expression told me she didn't think there was a good enough reason in the world.

"Besides, we can't be sure that this was him," Verona continued, raising a hand to stop Lia from interrupting. "But whatever it was, I promise that my people can help."

I'd expected Lia to have a scathing reply, but when I looked back at her, she was staring at the floor.

"You would do that?" she asked thoughtfully.

"It's what we do," Verona said, in a way that was probably meant to sound humble.

("We'll discuss compensation later," she added, in tones Lia couldn't hear.)

I blinked, and wordlessly cast an arm around the wreckage of our store in response.

Verona shrugged almost imperceptibly. ("Later.")

I glanced at my sister anxiously. If she'd noticed the exchange, she hadn't reacted.

"Alright," Lia said, dusting herself off, and standing up. ""Where do we start?"

"We start tomorrow morning," Verona replied. "At this time of night, we won't be able to see anything."

"Bull," Lia countered, scowling. "Your kind can see in the dark."

"That's true enough," Verona conceded, "But yours can't."

Lia bit her lip in frustration. "The trail will have gone cold by then," she insisted, looking at me for support.

I quickly nodded, and Verona sighed.

"I'm a Ranger, darling. There isn't anything I can't track down, at least not after just one night," Verona said matter-of-factly.

Lia crossed her arms, and stared. "This is our store," she said stubbornly. "It's all we've got left."

Funny that she only started caring about it now, I thought to myself.

"I understand this place must mean a lot to you," Verona said calmly. "Just...just give me this night to talk to my party alone," she said.

"Chad'll be there too," she added, glaring at Lia. "Seeing how you're acting, I'm certain there'd be a fight if you came along."

Lia glowered. "How can we be sure you'll come back?"

"How can you be- I'm the one who offered-"Verona threw her hands up. "Fine!" She said, exasperated. "Here." She unclasped the ivory pendant that was hanging around her neck, and tossed it towards Lia. Surprised, she caught it.

"So you're sure I won't leave or trick you, you can have that until we get your goods back," Verona growled. "That pendant is very important to me. Take very good care of it."

With this said, she walked out of the room in a huff, her raven black hair streaming behind her.

Lia looked at me silently, the pendant clutched in her hand.

("A word?" Verona asked outside.)

The street was quieter than it usually was. Our neighbours must have heard the commotion and decided staying inside was the safer decision.

"You called?" I said.

"Indeed," Verona said, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Your partner's a handful, isn't she?"

I looked behind me. Lia had already gone upstairs, the lantern lit and shining out the windows. I could hear her stomping around, still angry.

"She is what she is," I echoed. Verona smirked.

"We'll deal with her tomorrow," she said.

I nodded, unsure of what she'd meant by that.

"What's your name?" Verona suddenly asked.

"It's Lang," I said, surprised.

"Just 'Lang'?" Verona asked, raising an eyebrow.

"As far as it matters," I replied in what I hoped was a casual tone.

"No titles, no affiliations?" she probed, ignoring the evasion. "No lands, no houses?"

I pointed up at the Hero's Welcome. "You're looking at it," I said, shrugging.

Her eyes narrowed. "Exactly what is a young man of elven lineage doing, running a dinky little shop in the middle of nowhere?"

I jerked back like I'd been slapped. "You don't know me," I said hotly. "And I am not an elf."

Verona dangled my hat in front of me. I hadn't even felt her touch it. Scandalized, I covered my ears with my hands.

"Give that back!" I hissed.

"Not until you explain what's going on," Verona answered coldly. "Something's going on in this town, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it."

"Nothing is going on," I insisted. "Nothing ever is. Look, I'll tell you how I turned out like this, but you have to promise to leave me and my sister alone after all of this, okay?"

Verona's eyebrows shot up when I said "sister", but she nodded, and handed me my hat back.

"I'll talk," I said, shoving my hat back on. "But not here. Your kind can sneak around, right? Let's go somewhere quiet."

The woman in white raised one end of her cloak, and motioned the young man inside. He cautiously stepped forward, letting it drape over him.

Without so much as a rustle or a flash, the two disappeared. Along the street, lights turned on, and heads started peering out their windows, but in the Hero's Welcome, the lights turned off.