Explaining everything to Folly takes a while. Mostly because he keeps asking the same damn questions in different ways, as if it’ll magically change the answers.

  By the time Cari starts falling asleep on my shoulder, I just cut him off and walk out. He protests, of course, but the fight leaves him when he sees how much Cari is leaning on me.

  He isn’t happy, but he lets us go.

  I get us back to her room and decide that it’s best to let her get a power nap in after everything that’s happened. It’s still morning, but as exhausted as she is, it wouldn’t hurt.

  Of course, the moment I lay her down, she pulls me down with her. She doesn’t talk for a while, just hugs me close enough that I can feel her heartbeat race against my chest.

  Then her voice, muffled against my chest, finally breaks the silence.

  “Thank you.”

  Her words are soft, quiet with exhaustion. I just hum in reply.

  She squeezes me a little harder, then pulls back.

  “So, what now?”

  “Ugh, you too?!” I groan.

  She giggles, and everything is normal again for a moment. So I take it to direct her to something that actually matters for us right now. I scamper out of bed for a moment despite her struggles to keep me there and grab the dagger from her discarded bag.

  When I return to her side, I hold it between us with a grin.

  “Check this out,” I say, then use Relic Whisperer on it again and share the information with her.

  She blinks, then her face explodes with emotion.

  “Wait, what?!”

  “I know, right?” I squeal.

  She stares at it with a mix of horror and shock before saying “We can’t tell anyone about this.”

  “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing,” I nod. “Almost as crazy as my earrings.”

  “What do you mean ‘almost’?” she asks, her face shifting into a look of confusion.

  “Oh… right. Did I not tell you about my earrings?” I ask, flicking my ear just right to make the metal tinkle distractingly.

  As expected, her eyes are drawn to them. They narrow suspiciously.

  “No, you didn’t. Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask you about them. When did you start wearing earrings?” she asks, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

  “Eh… probably better I just show you,” I say.

  With a thought, I pull up the information for my earrings and share it with her, just like I had with the dagger. Her eyes flicker back and forth as she goes through the new information, then she just glares at me.

  “What?”

  For a second, she looks ready to bite my head off. Then she shuts her eyes and breathes, slow and steady. I recognize the routine. I’ve been on the receiving end of it enough to know it’s her ‘don’t throttle the idiot you love’ meditation.

  After a moment, she opens her eyes with a heavy sigh and says, “Just store the dagger in your bangle. We can sell it when we get to the capitol or something.”

  Honestly, I’d been tempted to store it when I first used Relic Whisperer on it, but I’d already placed it in her hand by that point. It would have been awkward. With a thought, it vanishes, safely tucked away within the Starlight Bangle.

  Then I shuffle and shift my way closer to her, ignoring her glare as I ham it up as much as I can before snatching her into a tight embrace. She lays there stiffly, refusing to return it.

  So I wrap my tail around her waist and give it a little wiggle.

  Finally, she lets out a subdued giggle. She strangles it quickly, struggling to keep up the pretense of being annoyed.

  But she gave me my opening. With a triumphant grin, I pull back just enough to bow my head so my ears are pointing at her face, then start furiously batting her with them, twitching this way and that with enthusiasm, the earrings on both tinkling prettily.

  She breaks.

  “Okay, okay! Enough! Gods, you’re silly,” she says through a laugh. She returns my embrace for a moment before turning around and hugging my tail to her chest, making herself the little spoon in our cuddle session.

  “For someone so cute, you sure are sassy,” I say.

  “Shut up. It’s nap time, and personal heaters can’t talk,” she snaps back.

  I tug her close, wrapping myself around her and nuzzling the top of her head. The familiar scent of cloves and honey fills my mind with a calm I hadn’t felt in a long time, and I can’t stop the smile it brings.

  When I start quietly purring, she seems to melt into the bed, as if her body still held a tension even while relaxed. In no time at all, her breathing slows and her grip on my tail loosens ever so slightly.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  I know there’s still a lot I’ll have to do in order to go to the capitol without regrets, but with everything that I’ve done so far… well, it all feels so small.

  Someone knocks on the door, a harsh, firm knuckles on wood sound echoing through the room. Cari jerks awake from her dozing, then moans with disappointment.

  “Gods damn it all,” I growl before uncurling myself from her.

  I stomp over to the door and fling it open. Folly stands there, looking almost as exhausted as Cari. I don’t even have to lean on Charisma to give him my meanest scowl. He doesn’t flinch, though.

  “The Council has called for us to return for a private meeting,” he says flatly.

  Cari groans pitiably from the bed, her back still to the door. I just sigh with disappointment and rub my temples. I turn back towards Cari and make my way over. She doesn’t seem to want to move, but she hears me approaching.

  “Noooo,” she whines, scooting further into the blankets.

  “Yeah, yeah. Let’s just get it over with. I’ll carry you if you want,” I offer while pulling the blankets away.

  “Yes, please,” she sighs.

  When I pick her up in a princess carry, she squeaks.

  It doesn’t take much longer to get moving after that. She doesn’t let me carry her for long, though, forcing me to put her down before we even leave her apartment. Folly, for his part, just gives us a weary look the entire time, seemingly not up to entertaining our antics after everything.

  I’m not surprised to see Kiki and Orin with their parties waiting for us outside. This time, there’s no carriage to take us to and from the Council Hall. Instead, Folly uses his magic to speed everyone along.

  When we arrive, we’re escorted by several heavily armed and armored guards to a more private meeting room tucked away through a confusing maze of hallways. In the center is a long table with nearly two dozen chairs around it, with the three living Councilors seated at the far end.

  They’re practically surrounded by guards this time, most of which are close to or right at Tier One. They all stand at rigid attention, eyes forward and staring into nothing. They seem especially wary of me, a few of them sending glances my way.

  I suppose that’s fair after everything that went down earlier today.

  Scruffy is seated nearby, and I catch his eye. He gives me a grim look, as if trying to warn me of something. Suddenly, I feel like this is about to be another massive headache. The older female councilor signals to two guards by the door, and they approach our small gathering with wooden trays in hand.

  Each tray has a few small pouches, and pinned to each of those is a small silver badge. Each one has a shield etched into it, with the symbol of our nation carved onto its surface. It seems pretty obvious in its symbolism, the idea of defending our nation coming to mind first and foremost.

  The older female councilor speaks up now, much quieter this time now that we’re in a smaller space where she doesn’t have to project.

  “It is our honor to bestow upon each and every one of you the Silver Ward badge. Please accept them, as well as a small financial reward as thanks for your assistance in protecting the city of Bephis.”

  She continues on for a bit, waxing on about how great it is for the city to have such responsible people and other such fluffy nonsense. By the time she’s done, we’ve all accepted our badges. Even Cari gets one, probably thanks to her intervention with the Rogue earlier today.

  I don’t care much for the badges, but the five gold coins in the bag brings a smile to my face. Cari is also beaming, though for her part its because of the badge. She pins it to her chest and stares at it, eyes sparkling with delight.

  “Thank you all, again, for your acts of bravery. Under normal circumstances, we would make a greater celebration of this, but with recent events we are pressed for time,” the councilwoman continues. “Guildmaster Folly, Emilia Ward, and Cari Ward, please step forward. Everyone else, please depart so we may speak privately.”

  Oh, great.

  Orin and Kiki look at Folly questioningly, but he just nods and waves them away before moving to take a seat at the end of the table opposite the councilors. I decide to join him, tugging Cari along beside me.

  When the door closes behind the last Delver to leave, a new voice breaks the silence. It’s deep and sonorous, as if weathered by ages.

  “Guildmaster Folly, Emilia Ward, Cari Ward—thank you,” the councilman says.

  It’s the level 58 Fighter who speaks, giving each of us a surprisingly grateful look despite his rough appearance.

  “Thanks to you two,” he continues, nodding towards Cari and I, “we now have a lead. And without your timely intervention, we wouldn’t be able to interrogate the assassin. We have put Captain Tolsted in charge of the investigation, as it’s thanks to his efforts that we’ve gotten this far as it is.”

  Scruffy gives him a nod, his face dark with determination.

  “I would like you two to work with him to aid in the investigations going forward, and—”

  “No,” I interrupt.

  His entire face seems to twitch, frustration peeking through the facade of professionalism for a brief moment before returning to his stern mask. Next to him, the Merchant councilman, isn’t so calm.

  “It’s not a request. It’s an order from your Council. You will aid in the investigation,” he snarls, face red with anger.

  Before I can retort, Cari speaks up. “As Delvers, we can only be compelled by the orders of the Large Council of Theola. You have no right to command us.”

  His face contorts with rage, but the councilwoman beside him holds her hand out in front of him, stopping him before he can explode again.

  “Captain Tolsted informed us of your reticence to involve yourself further with this investigation. It’s understandable, even. Still, we must at least make the request for you to aid us given how critical your involvement has been thus far,” she says.

  “Lady Vern! You cannot seriously intend to just let them go with everything they know!” the Merchant protests.

  “We have no right to hold them if they do not wish to help,” she says in a matter-of-fact tone.

  At her rebuke, he looks like he’s about to burst a blood vessel. He doesn’t speak up again, though.

  “We will, of course, offer ample compensation for your troubles. So? What say you?” she asks.

  “We refuse,” I say immediately, and Cari nods at my side, agreeing.

  “I see,” she says. Despite her professional demeanor, her brows furrow ever so slightly. “Then on behalf of the city of Bephis, and the Republic of Tyrania as a whole, we thank you for your assistance thus far. We will look into issuing rewards appropriate for your efforts. You may go now. Guildmaster Folly, please remain.”

  I don’t hesitate, quickly getting up and turning to leave. Cari, as professional as ever, actually bows towards the Councilors before letting me drag her along.

  She’s still exhausted though, so when I grab her hand and tug her along the moment she straightens up, she takes my guidance in stride with minimal resistance. The guards nearest the door open it for us, one stepping out ahead to guide us.

  Just as I’m about to step out, I pause and turn to the councilwoman. She meets my serious gaze with a quirked brow.

  “I don’t know what you’ll give Cari,” I say, “but if you get Captain Tolsted's arm restored, you can consider my reward taken care of.”

  She blinks. Then a small smile graces her lips, and she nods.

  “Very well. I’ll see to it.”

  I nod back, ignoring the stoic glare Scruffy sends my way. Then we’re out in the hallway, the door clicking shut behind us as a guard leads the way out.

  Finally, my debt to Scruffy is cleared.

  I’m sure he probably doesn’t think there is any debt to begin with, but I do. Now, I can let it go knowing that he’ll be taken care of. Even if it takes a bit.

  I can’t imagine there’s a lot of High Priests left after the Gods did their take-backsies.

  I end up giving Cari a piggy-back ride halfway to the Guild when she stumbles, and she offers up little complaint when I take us to Tails and Temptations instead of her apartment.

  She could do with another spa day. She’ll love it, tired as she is.

  Maybe a massage first, so she can nap on the table…