Abad and Keila weaved their way through the busy streets of Farnfass toward the Green Lady Inn. The streets were still crowded, though they were clearing out as darkness fell on the city. The last calls of merchants closing shop filled the air, and hawkers desperately tried to wave down anyone they could find to peddle their wares to before the day was done.


    Soon, the pair turned down a road, and the Green Lady was in sight. A familiar group was standing out front, and a very irritated dwarf paladin was arguing with an equally irritated dwarf woman. His shouts boomed down the street as the woman waved a lethal-looking rolling pin at him. Firtz was gesturing wildly with his meaty hands as she dug a bony finger into his chest, all while Kjormur was desperately attempting to placate the pair. Across the street, the elves all sat back chuckling at the scene.


    "What do ye mean I cannae bring my axe int'' th'' ''n? It''s nae a crime!" As they approached, Abad realized he''d never heard Firtz'' dwarven accept slip out so much. He''d always done a good job of masking it.


    "''Sgottae sty ohn teh rack ootside!" The woman snapped, gesturing towards a large metal locker. Through its open doors, several large weapons could be seen within.


    "It''s gonna get stolen ya daft wench! Do ye wanna pay fir tha?"


    "Hoo''m I sposed ta do tha! Look''t mae!" She screamed, her accent thick. She shook her rolling pin before continuing. "Thas nowt buht bonnes and fat on mee! Ne a coinne aboot!"


    "Aye!" He growled. "An'' it''ll stay tha weh ifin ye dun ge'' ouh mah weh!" He pushed past her toward the front door, but she grabbed his collar and wrenched him back into the street like a stray dog before he could enter. As Abad reached them, he could see several patrons watching the show in amusement through the windows.


    Firtz tried to push past her again, but the woman grabbed his shirt collar and yanked him back out, practically taking him off his feet as she did. "Ya bloody boot! Cahn I help ye wi'' summat?" She glared at Firtz, whose face was fully red by then. He was huffing and puffing, and his hands were visibly shaking with anger.


    Abad spoke. "Friends, I''m sure your weapons will be fine. The weapons get locked up in a box at night, and they tag them with sort of tracking magic. Surely we don''t need to cause such a scene? Let''s head inside and have a pint." He held up his bag of crystals. "On me." He cursed himself again. He wasn''t used to being poor.


    Firtz spun around, fists raised, ready to put down whoever was speaking to him. Only when he noticed Abad did he deflate a little. Abad noticed Shani prod A-Nis with her elbow when she saw them, a big smile on her face. A-Nis handed her a small pouch.


    "You daft bastarhd! Ye think I planned to start a fight! That bi—"


    With a resounding crack, the dwarf woman smacked him across the face, ending the ill-considered words before they could leave his lips. The dwarves started screaming again, but a moment later, she ripped the axe off his back and threw it in the locker, slammed it shut, and brushed her hands on her apron. Only then did she seem to cool off.


    She turned, gave a curtsey, and said softly and in perfect common, "Lovely to see you again Miss Keila. It''s always a pleasure." Her eyes met Abad''s. "And with that handsome elf of yours no less. You''re a lucky man, elf. Don''t break her heart, else I''ll give you the what for." She shook her rolling pin at Abad.


    "It''s nothing like that, Braghda. He''s just a good friend, one who''s leaving soon. We wanted to meet with our friends before he left." Her words were light, but he could hear the sadness in them.


    "Sure lass, sure." She glared at Firtz. "Can''t speak to your choice of friends, but you''re a good one. I''ll ensure you get the night''s finest." She smiled, excused herself, and entered the building.


    "Bah, they''ll steal it, sure as goblins are green. Weapons don'' groh on trees ye know!" He shouted at the door, which slammed shut.


    With the conflict resolved, the elves stepped up. "You seem ready to go, Abad." Shani pointed at his pack. "We didn''t know if you''d actually end up doing it. Hard to leave a sure thing at home for an empty road and a cold bedroll."


    Keila''s arm tightened on his. "It''s not like—"


    Shani''s eyes met hers, and something passed between them. Keila''s words fell away.


    "The boy''s got adventure in ''im. And like I always say, time apart builds the fire. I got a lady back—"


    "He knows, Firtz." A-Nis brushed past him. "You told him five times when we were on the road. You don''t have to say it again, you bloody boot." A-Nis prodded at him using Braghda''s words. "I like that one. I''m keeping it." She smiled.


    Deflated, he mumbled, "Well, it''s true..."


    "Should we eat, or are we going to stand here all night? Because I''m fine with eating alone if you all want to enjoy the night air." En-In made for the door.


    "Bah, let''s git." Firtz marched past, following En-In''s lead. "I''m gettin'' an ale afore tha'' wench gets work''d up ''gin an'' tries te poison me."


    Abad laughed and followed. They entered the establishment and were met with the sights and sounds of good food and live music. Abad turned and smiled at his companion, who flashed him a wide grin back. They hadn''t expected two rounds of good music. Weaving their way through the tables, they found a long one next to the fire. Several patrons shouted greetings to the party and even more called out to Keila.


    The innkeeper, a plump, round man, bustled up and greeted everyone with a broad smile on his face. "Ah, the famous adventurers return! Welcome welcome!" The man''s eyes flicked over to Abad and then fixed on Keila. "Oh! And Miss Keila! Welcome back. And with your elf friend no less. Always a pleasure." He nodded.


    "For us as well. The usual, please, Rodhan."


    The innkeeper took everyone else''s orders, then yelled, "Coming right up!" and waddled away, the wide smile never leaving his face.


    The tavern was bustling with life. As he''d noticed when he stayed there weeks before, most of the patrons were wealthier, with the yellows and reds and blues of wealth separating them from the muted colors of the common people. Several men, likely merchants, smoked pipes and talked at a round table in the far corner of the room, and several obvious business deals were taking place throughout the space. In a nearby corner was a pair of musicians strumming a lyre and a wooden flute, weaving a melodic song that brought to his mind open skies and deep, sun-lit watersUnlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Conversation bubbled up at their table, everyone chatting about one thing or another. A-Nis began explaining her role as a ranger to Keila, whose eyes sparkled as she listened to the intricacies of different bow techniques. Firtz had already downed a pint and was arguing with Kjormur about something in dwarven, and Shani butted into A-Nis'' conversation and began bragging about how she studied with a great master in the north, which caused Keila''s eyes to sparkle even more. A-Nis sulked as she realized she was being outdone.


    Taking it all in, he realized something.


    As he sat and listened to the music and the conversation, he realized this is what he''d missed since waking up. Even the bastard he''d been had loved good company and pleasant music. He''d lived for it. And while his current incarnation was less fond of chaos, he was happy to know he still enjoyed a good story, a fine meal, and pleasant company. Seeing all these smiling faces made him yearn for something more, but he couldn''t quite place was it was. His hand found itself in his pocket, and he began fumbling with the soul stone that held Angra''s spirit. It was warm and soothing to the touch, as always.


    Angra... He''d find a way to bring her back. Then they''d explore the world together once she was whole again. He wouldn''t feel complete until she was back by his side, or perched on his shoulder more like. His heart ached as he thought of her.


    Some voices rang out in the din, and Keila squeezed his hand and excused herself. He watched as she walked across the room, greeting a dozen people on her way to speak with the men who''d called to her. He marveled at how she effortlessly managed the competing interests before her. She could give him a run for his money, and she didn''t even need magic to do it.


    "She''s nice," En-In said in an off-hand fashion as he twirled a stick in her fingers. "Too bad you aren''t staying longer, eh?"


    "We knew this was coming." Abad sighed. "At least Faye is setting her up with some new prospects. Life will carry us in different directions soon enough, and all that will be left will be a good memory."


    "With someone in your situation, I would guess you have many such memories." Abad turned to consider the half-elf. They''d not had much time to get to know one another. In truth, he hadn''t thought much of him until this moment.


    "What do you mean?" Abad asked the brown-haired man. "What do you think my situation is?"


    "You''ll outlive us all," the man said flatly. "You''ll be around forever, as long as you don''t get killed, and you''ll meet thousands upon thousands of people in your time in this world." He shrugged. "I used to think that would be enviable, seeing the world like that. I''m a bit of a historian and used to dream of seeing more than my time. But then I lived longer than my little life at that point, and I''ve already lost many. Now I''m not so sure." His hazel eyes gazed through Abad. "And after meeting a real immortal, two no less, I''m even less sure. People don''t seem made to experience the world like that. Faye seems tired, and you seem destined to go from place to place until you burn yourself out like an oil lamp with no fuel. We mortals take life''s gifts because our time here is limited. You don''t have that limitation. In time, I wonder if there will be anything left to keep you here, or will it only be you and Faye in an empty world?" He wondered aloud.


    The young man was perceptive and more eloquent than he''d expected. "And what would you do, if you were in my shoes?"


    En-in laughed and looked at the ceiling. "Probably throw myself off a bridge. Or maybe climb to the top of one of the towers, leap, and let the wind carry me away like dust. At least that would be a novel experience."


    Abad couldn''t hold back the laugh. "You''re dark."


    "I''ve been called worse."


    Abad laughed again. "I feel like there''s much to do until I find the nearest tower."


    En-In smiled. "That''s the difference between us. I''m only in it for the thrill. You want meaning." He shook his head, took a drink, and added, "Don''t ask me what that could be though." He looked toward Keila. "If I were you and there weren''t a bridge nearby, I''d settle down with a woman and live a life. Then I''d do it again, and again. If my time was endless, why not? Sounds like a fun game, trying a flavor of everything. Don''t you feel that way?"


    He didn''t. Not now. "I tried, once. But no, I don''t think that would be enough for me. " He drained his tankard and yelled for another. The portly man nodded to him.


    "Then you''re already one up on me. Maybe someday I''ll find my thing, or my person. Or maybe I''m destined to live my life with no direction or drive, a slave to the whims of others. Maybe I''ll settle down, and all this adventuring will fade behind me like the rising mist of a forest. Until then, I''ll keep wandering. It''s all I can do, really. It keeps me entertained." He smiled.


    "Will you keep traveling with this crew?" Abad gestured to the group. "You seem to like them."


    "They tolerate me. That''s enough. I''ll stay with them as long as it feels right to." His eyes drifted to A-Nis. His eyes glowed at the sight of the ranger. "A few years perhaps, or a few decades, or until the sun burns itself out if the theories are true. I think I''m where I should be right now."


    Their drinks came. Abad clinked mugs with En-In. "That''s enough of a reason, I think. There are far worse ones."


    Suddenly, Firtz broke away from his argument with Kjomur and looked to Abad. "Where''d ya find the lass?" He took a pull of his ale.


    "That''s the woman Shani sent to pick me up on the road."


    The dwarf''s eyes went wide. "Ah, I thought I recognized her!" He threw his beer back. "Bah, I said it too. I said that you were a good one I did. Deserved a second chance. They all argued with me, but I had my way in the end."


    A-Nis rolled her eyes. "You said you''d kill him if you saw him again for two straight weeks."


    "I did no such thing, you damn string bean." His face grew red.


    "Uncle..." Kjormur softly chided the drunk dwarf.


    "Yeah, well... maybe it took a minute or two... but we''re all here now. Cheers!" The dwarf downed his pint in one go.


    "Cheers." Abad took a sip of his drink.


    "And to think, we''d be traveling with a tainted bastard like him. Good in a fight, I''ll give you that. Never seen someone make that much fire before!" Kjormur tried to drink his drink, but it was already empty. He lifted his glass and called for Rodhan.


    "Tainted? Who''s that?" Keila had walked back to the table with a refreshed drink for both herself and Abad.


    Firtz hiccuped. "The damn man ye''ve been sitting next—" A smack from A-Nis shut him up.


    Keila sat down next to Abad. "This guy?" She wrapped her arms around his chest. Her breath smelled of cloves and liquor, and her words had grown slurred. "Seems nice enough to me." She squeezed him tight. "I kind of like him."


    "Oh, careful lassie. He''ll burn ye up! Ye should''ve seen him. Twenty, no thirty trolls all fell like grains of sand against him. Boom, boom, boom!" He slapped the table for effect. "One by one, he took them down, burned ''em away like they were nothing. And we three," he gestured at A-Nis and Shani, "we stood no chance against the trolls or the flames. If it weren''t for him, we''d be troll food!"


    "Uncle..."


    "Not now lad, I''m telling a story."


    "But Uncle."


    "Not now, Kjormur. I''m talking the elf up." He turned and raised his hands. "And then—" His words were cut off as their food arrived. Every member of the group received a feast from the Braghda, who was standing in the kitchen doorway with a proud smile on her face. The food filled the table from one end to the other. Piles of hot meat steamed on platters covered with fresh bread and vegetables. A moment later, only the sounds of forks on plates filled the air.


    After that, the hours rolled by. Everyone ate, drank, and sang along with the music. Stories were told and jokes shared, and eventually, the party began to filter out, back toward wherever they were staying. Before long, only Keila and Abad were left. They held one another, listening to the music. As the music came to an end, Keila nodded toward the stairs.


    "I got us a room..." Her blue eyes met his.


    He took her hand in his and walked her upstairs. They both stumbled as they climbed the narrow steps. A few minutes later, they were outside the same room they''d stayed in before. She opened the door and guided him inside. When he shut the door behind him, she pressed her body to his.


    "Show me."


    "What?" her blue eyes bored into his. He understood her meaning. He took a deep breath and let his [Mask of Many Faces] fade. He felt nervous as she looked at him, her eyes searching his face. She ran her fingers up his cheeks and to his horns, softly brushing her fingertips along them. He set his jaw and waited as she inspected him. The real him.


    A soft smile spread across her face. "That''s the man that saved me..." She pressed her lips to his. "I like this you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips again. "Want to make one last memory before you go? I promise this one''ll be the best one yet."


    He didnt respond with words.