Today the forge is closed, leaving me with nothing but free time. I would have never thought blacksmiths to get a break, but the drunkard needs a day to get wasted, and another to deal with the aftermath. I wonder if Bannis has a family, or if he knows of this inn a little more... intimately.

  The thought only really crossed my mind because I am so irreparably bored. Full glad I was to have Marilleth, at least.

  “Marie, is there anything to do around here? You’ve been out exploring...”

  She turned to me, still running a flimsy wooden comb through her hair.

  “What do you mean by to do? If you mean get drowned in debauchery, then there’s inns and bath-houses for miles. Though I’m sure you’ve heard all about those from Bannis already.”

  A light chuckle escaped me, “yeah, the man can probably name every bar in the city.”

  Marie put the comb down, cocking her head at me with her hands on her hips. Her cold stare cut through me, as if waiting on something.

  “I haven’t forgotten your question. I just...” I put my hand up to my chin as I leaned forward.

  “You don’t know how to have fun, do you?”

  “Nope. Were I in the Kastvassen manor, maybe I’d have a clue. I was focused so much on helping people and training myself back in Fuulen.”

  Marie walked up to the window, brooding as if she wasn’t staring at the brick wall of the neighboring alehouse. Her arms then crossed behind her back, her left hand gently clasping her right wrist.

  “If only we had a place to make bread together.” I added, a promise I would not soon forget.

  We didn't get the chance due to my injuries and the snowstorm, and I regret missing the opportunity. Perhaps if someone had been a little less... fiery, then I would have only walked away with a week of recovery.

  Marie turned over to me.

  “Leonn, we’re going to the market today. There are some things you ought to see. Besides, you’ll probably do anything to get out of here right now. These walls are so damn thin...”

  I practically sprinted across the room to grab my boots. Anything to get me away from this place for a bit.

  I had never seen a place busier in my life. Each market stall echoed with the sound of desperate grifters, stubborn hagglers, and everything in between. The smell of sweat, the heat of strangers’ breath, the way they press up against me with not a care for my existence, it was all overwhelming. Way too crowded.

  Marie dragged me out of the hive, and into an open corner.

  “There’s food over on that side, merchants with pottery and glassware in the back, some weavers and cobblers over in that direction. Seriously, this place is impressive.”

  The loud buzz of the crowd still rang heavy in my ear, but I had to agree. Marie pointed in the direction of one stall, red and white draped over a wood frame to block out the heat.

  Some men stood there, pointing, one grasped at another’s collar.

  “See, this is what I meant by rotting the other day. These stalls cost a hefty sum to rent, and most of them are owned by renowned companies in the city. They demand coin, and when you don’t pay...”

  She gestured with her hand as the mercenaries shook him down and took some of his merchandise.

  “They take and resell what little these small fries even have.”

  I sighed, “Its deplorable. Clearly they want to set the prices high so they can resell the seized goods.”

  Marie nodded, “the people here have a keen sense for money. The trade capital of Arnier is disgusting under all the gold plating.”

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  We moved on. The humidity increased drastically as the masts of ships towered over the city, blocking out most of the light. What light was left found no use atop the shingled heads of the decrepit buildings.

  “Most of the dockworkers live right here in the wharf, from what I can tell. Overworked, underpaid, and most of all...”

  A wooden crane was moving in the distance, operated by a rock-caked humanoid pulling at ropes.

  “Most of their work actually depends on these elementals. I don’t know much, but from what I’ve heard about that rat of Bannis’, I’d suspect these are worth a fortune. Not just anyone is going to be able to use these without paying.”

  Anyone who owns an elemental pays a tax to the Kastvassen house for “licensing.” Recently, they have been raising the tax, once again for reasons I do not know, and the price is passed on to the dockworkers here.

  I turned to a streetlamp — lit up despite it being midday — and a small fire spirit stared at me from inside. It did not take a similar curiosity to Marie, or even to any of the workers. Maybe spirits just like me. Rahmo does. Maybe there was something in me that they saw?

  Rounding the corner in a dead sprint, a small woman with a thin green greatcoat sped past us. I turned to observe them as they continued running. Returning my gaze forward, I was met with the unsightly snarls of two mercenaries. They bore the crest of the Kastvassen house on an arm-band.

  Marie spoke up, “Oh, Leonn these are some of the tax collectors. They must have been after that-...”

  The first of them eyed Marie up and down.

  “Green coat, dark hair, don’t you try to blend in. Pay up or we’ll bring you to the longhouse.”

  Marie protested, “the woman who just ran by us had brown hair, and she was wearing a greatcoat, not a cloak like mine.”

  Without warning, they swung at her with closed fists. I caught one of them in my hand as she dodged the other.

  “I tried. Let’s beat them senseless, Leonn.”

  I pulled the stray hand in as I threw my own into the mix. A gauntlet met my ribs with an unpleasant crack as I made contact with his face. Marie landed the heel of her boot directly into the first merc’s brigandine, sending him tumbling to the ground. Then, another mighty kick flew down into his chest as an axe to wood. The gauntlets made their way to my temple, sending my vision blurred, and me to the ground.

  Two figures hovered above me. One was clad in her familiar green cloak, but the other... a similarly colored coat.

  “Are you alright? I saw you take a rather unsightly blow to the head. Trauma like that can leave you reeling.”

  Marie chimed in, “I am honestly surprised he didn’t shrug it off. He’s caught a smith’s handcart just a few days ago.”

  A giggle emanated from the stranger. “Look, Leonn, was it? I am going to disinfect this so it doesn’t cause you any blight. It might sting.”

  The blurry mess had finally refocused itself. The woman had brown hair and eyes. I have no idea how the dimwit mercenaries managed to mistake this person for Marie at all. A cork came off of a vial with a satisfying pop, and the contents it held found themselves on the side of my head. Both Marie and the stranger looked on in horror.

  “I know you’re a herbalist, but...”

  “No that is definitely not normal. Skin doesn’t just do that.”

  Her eyes widened instead of shying away from whatever was so off-putting. I could feel the water pulling itself into my skin, its flow stimulating my body to heal.

  The herbalist grasped my head on either side before leaning in extremely close. She then abruptly turned my head to the side to closer study the wound. I assume it was healing itself again, something I had dared not to appraise Marilleth of.

  “My name is Agnes.” She declared, studying my entire body without so much as a word of agreement from me. Marilleth had this look on her face I can’t quite describe.

  I got to my feet, denying this mad alchemist another second. Regardless, she continued to lean in, invading what little personal space I had.

  “Aren’t you the fool that blew past us earlier? You brought those mercenaries our way.”

  She nodded, “and I feel really terrible about you two getting caught up in my mess. I agree, I’m sorry, moving on...”

  Marie joined in on my scrutiny, “and what exactly constitutes two debt collectors on your tail?”

  After a sigh, Agnes began to answer, eyes darting in every direction

  “As you know... I specialize in herbal medicine. While it is amazing what nature can do, it’s extremely expensive. Now though? Completely impossible with the taxes going around.”

  She looked at me again, sending a shiver down my spine.

  “However... if I were able to unlock the secret behind your weird and mysterious reaction to my tonic, then I could revolutionize medicine!”

  She sidestepped around me, presumably looking for anything else amiss about me.

  Marie snapped at her, “He’s not just some alchemy exhibit! Don’t you ogle him like that.”

  “Oh, but you’d like that, wouldn’t you, Leonn?” Agnes commented.

  “I mean honestly, I don’t really care. I’m also looking for answers myself. Maybe we can work something out?"