“What’s my type?” I scratched my cheek. “I don’t know, I guess I like a woman with strength. A chick that could really just kick my ass.”

  “Hey, I can see the vision,” Daniel replied with a laugh. He gestured toward the seat next to Louise. “Take a seat kid, let me tell you my type of woman.”

  I glanced at Louise, who fumbled with her fingers as she stared daggers into the table.

  I took my seat next to Louise and she flinched. She gave me three quick glances before tightening her cloak around herself.

  Daniel rested both his elbows on the table and leaned forward.

  “I like the stoic type. A bad bitch with a mean glare and an uncaring attitude, ya get me? I want her to look down on me like I’m the scum of the earth, like she couldn’t be bothered with my mere existence.”

  He looked to his right and left quickly, like he was spilling state secrets. “Kalie is perfect, but she never bites. So I’m stuck with grandma over here.” He gestured with a thumb at the elf.

  The elven woman reached under the table and gripped something tightly. Daniel gasped in horror, his face red as he gripped the table.

  “Vis, not the family jewels.”

  The elf, Vis, gave him a cold glare. “If you value them as much as you say you do, you’ll stop talking.”

  “Yes ma’am.” He squeaked.

  I opened my mouth to say something but quickly realized I had no words. I mean how do you even respond to that?

  She released them and focused her gaze on me. “Despite this fool’s bravado, I am the head of this party. I’m Visalia, daughter of Vanah, but you can call me Vis.”

  “Vis,” I repeated. “Hey I have a question, I thought elves hated humans. Why are you working with them?” And sleeping with one of Daniel is anything to go by.

  Vis sighed. “I used to hate them, but I grew to hate my people more. They’re stuck in their ways and are suffering because of it. I choose freedom over suffering, even if that freedom comes with this idiot.”

  Daniel chuckled as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I love you too, Vis.”

  She scoffed and crossed her arms.

  That just leaves Louise.

  Louise had sunken deep into her seat. It was like she was trying to hide from the world. I couldn’t blame her, from her perspective, this must be a literal nightmare.

  She’s far from home, on a continent where one wrong move could leave her with a carved out chest. She has two friends, one a stoic elf and the other a typical smooth talker.

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  I doubt she actually talks to either of them.

  I know if this were me I’d want someone to vent about my frustration. Kalie was that for me, so I should extend the offer to Louise.

  I cleared my throat.

  “Louise.”

  Louise's eyes locked onto mine and widened. I tensed with a forced smile.

  Okay, that was terrifying, but I won’t let it stop me.

  “How did you become a mercenary? If you don’t mind me asking.” I forced myself to lean closer.

  Louise stared into my eyes for a moment. She then averted her gaze as she fumbled with her fingers.

  “Well i-it’s quite simple actually. The red queen, k-killed my parents. She wanted me dead too.”

  She continued.

  “But… Sebastian saved me. O-or I thought that’s what he was doing. But he brought me here, and tried to sell me to some d-demon.”

  Her voice softened.

  “He was killed before anything happened to me. Daniel found me and took me in after that. H-he’s been nice, so far, I guess. I don’t know.”

  Geez, this girl has been through a lot. And to think, Daniel was the one who saved her?

  Who would’ve guessed that?

  I sighed. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I was stripped from my family and brought here too.”

  Louise perked up ever so slightly. “You mean, you were kidnapped too?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, but luckily I found Kalie before anything happened. Who knows where I would’ve ended up otherwise.”

  Louise took a long breath. “R-right, I can’t stop thinking about what would’ve happened had Daniel not found me. It keeps me up at night.”

  Daniel cleared his throat. “Come on guys, you can share your trauma some other time. For now, let’s just enjoy some booze and food.”

  Daniel stood to his feet. “I know just the place.”

  — — —

  Daniel has taken us to a little hole in the wall that served some kind of glazed meat. It wasn’t special but it was delicious.

  After that, I returned home with Kalie, and in the morning she and I had prepared two, large wagons pulled by ground crawlers. Basically massive, six-legged beasts with skin hard as rocks.

  The wagons carried large cages that held the war hounds inside them. While we waited on vis and her party, I played with Gargon and his boys.

  “Who’s a good boy, oh it’s you Gargon, it’s you!” I spoke in a baby voice as I poked out my lips and scratched behind his ears.

  “Daddy’s big boy.”

  I rubbed my face in his fur, which was both soft and clean because of yours truly. He was like a giant, muscular pillow.

  “Hey, dog lover.”

  I whipped around to see Daniel and his crew. Daniel had a large backpack on him, along with two swords on his hips.

  Vis also had a large bag and a bow.

  And Louise.

  She was just there.

  Hiding in her cloak.

  I cleared my throat and dusted myself off. “Ah, you’re early. Kalie will be out soon.”

  Daniel had a wide grin as he crossed his arms. “Right, right. I’m just wondering as to who Daddy's big boy could be referring to? I mean, I didn’t peg you as the type.”

  I crossed my arms and leaned against the wagon. “I’m many things.” That was my attempt at sounding cool, but the blush creeping up my cheeks wasn’t doing me any favors.

  Vis shook her head as she climbed into the lead wagon. “Well, whatever the case may be, it’s good you can keep them docile. The last thing we need is them running off.”

  Daniel uncrossed his arms and climbed onto the second wagon. “I gotta agree with grandma, kid. As funny as it is, you might make the journey just a little more bearable.”

  Just then Kalie emerged from the guild with a few scrolls. “Good, you’re here,” She said dryly. She approached Vis and dropped off the scrolls in her lap.

  “This is the receipt and acceptance letter. And here’s the delivery address and route to take.”

  Vis briefly looked over the scrolls before she loaded them into her satchel. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Kalie turned and approached me. “Lafayette.”

  “Yes?”

  She placed her hands on my shoulders. “You are not to play the hero, okay? Listen to Visalia, stay close to the hounds, and get paid.”

  I gave her a firm nod.

  She sighed softly, before pinching my cheek. “Mhm.” I pouted, before I eventually grinned and hugged her.

  She squeezed me back.

  Daniel’s jaw dropped. “Hey! That’s not fair! I want a hug too.”

  Kalie ignored him and placed her face in my hair. “If I hear you’ve done anything stupid I’ll have you in that basement for the rest of your time here, you know that?”

  I nodded.

  She patted my back and stepped away. I watched her as she turned around and returned to the guild.

  She stopped before the door of the guild and turned around one last time.

  She didn’t say anything. Just gave a long meaningful look before she walked inside.

  Daniel sighed deeply. “Louise, Lafayette, you guys pick a wagon to ride on so we can go.”

  Louise climbed into the wagon with Daniel, so I guess I got Vis. I climbed onto the bench and sat next to her.

  The scent of lavender was strong.

  She grabbed her reins and snapped them against the ground crawler. The beast let out a long groan before it pulled forward.

  We rolled through the city, past the walls, and back into the wild. I was greeted with the vast fields of black grass again, but this time, it wasn’t alien.

  It was familiar.

  “Hopefully we reach the outpost before nightfall,” Vis said to herself after a while.

  “Because of the nightcrawlers?”

  She shook her head. “Not necessarily, I just want to sleep in a bed tonight. Well, that and… nevermind.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “What is it?”

  Don’t hold out on me, elf lady.

  She sighed. “It’s easier on my back when I have sex in bed. The ground makes it rather painful sometimes.”

  Urk–

  “HAHAHAHA,” The dragon in my head howled. “You fool, you never learn, do you?”