At the West Gate, five before nine, Riley appearing on the horizon.

　　"Hey Evie." Waving my arm, causing her pace to quicken.

　　"Lucy," she said, hugging with all her might, "its so good to see you."

　　"Yeah its," my voice catching, "its really great to see you."

　　"Did you get shorter?" Her shit eating grin making me momentarily regret my statement. "But seriously, I came here both days earlier in the cycle and you weren`t here. I was getting really worried."

　　"We`ve all got day five off, otherwise I`m two and four."

　　"And I`ve got one and three," she said, quietly, then perking up. "Wait, so you and Kate are off on four, and Jack said he was off then, too. I`ll submit a request to see if I can get a permanent day change. It shouldn`t be problem, there are a lot of people coming in and getting situated. Probably only paperwork, and hopefully I`ll be able to slide it right through."

　　"Lucy, Evie," Wolfe coming down the road, greeting us and then grouping up.

　　"So what`s on the agenda for the morning," said Riley, "I`m meeting Jack late afternoon but until then I`m all yours."

　　"I was thinking about heading outside the gates. Manticores."

　　"Oh no." Wolfe shaking her head. "I don`t think so. Not after yesterday. Evie`s not getting off that easy."

　　"What`d you do yesterday?" said Riley.

　　"Oh, you`ll see," said Wolfe.

　　***

　　"We`re going straight to the bathhouse and cleaning ourselves and these filthy clothes. Right now," said Riley, trying to sound upset, but too visibly relieved at being above ground for it to be believable.

　　Wolfe laughing at her pronouncement.

　　"I will say," said Riley, "I`m glad we get to deal with stuff like that and not something you`d feel sorry for. Putting those things down, we`re doing the world a service."

　　Getting to the bathhouse, handing over our clothes and then going for a soak.

　　"So Kate, how are you sleeping?"

　　Wolfe looking at me, but not replying.

　　"She`s probably sleeping like a baby," said Riley, then turning to Wolfe. "That spell you used a couple times down there, that deceptively innocent white pulse, is absolutely brutal. The only stuff I`ve gotten recently is to help me talk loud, and for dealing with undead and demons. Well, one doubles as water conjuring. Pure water."

　　"Drinkable?"

　　"Yeah," she said, glancing around, "I`ll show you, no one in here is probably going to mind." Cupping her hands and whispering a soft chant, a bowling ball sized globule of water appearing above her hands, floating in the air. "Take a sip."

　　Wolfe leaning over and taking a drink. Leaning over and doing the same. Ice cold, straight from a mountain stream. Pure, she had said. Tastes like it. This must be- Riley, with a giggle, throwing the icy water in my face.

　　"You bitch." Dunking my head under the warm water and then countering, starting a splash fight. Earning looks of disapproval from the other people in the bath. Getting out and then changing back into our newly cleaned clothes.

　　"So, for lunch," said Wolfe, "Red Lion?"

　　"Nah, getting tired of that place."

　　"How about that place we went to a couple times last cycle?" said Riley. "That was really good."

　　"Oh, the place with the curry? Yeah that`d be good. Oh, that actually reminds me. Evie, Kate has already declined, but I was wondering if you`d be interested in going on an expedition into the desert."

　　"The desert?" A leery expression.

　　Nodding.

　　"Hell no. Lucy, I love you, but the last thing I want to do is go playing around in the sand."

　　"Kate, that level of honesty is something we should both aspire to."

　　"No kidding," said Wolfe, sounding impressed.

　　Riley glancing back and forth, trying to figure out if we were making fun of her, but then shrugging it off.

　　Sitting at the restaurant at an outdoor table, food having just been delivered in front of us. Pint in front of me and Riley, tea for Wolfe.

　　"Kate, its well past noon, you`re making me feel bad."

　　"There`s no point," she said. "I knew something was going on, but everything clicked last night. Had a drink at dinner, and then Matt and I shared a bottle of wine on the balcony where we`re staying. Turns out I can`t get drunk. Always on regeneration means I`m basically immune to it."

　　"That`s miserable, my condolences. If you`re interested there are alternatives."

　　"Not that worried about it at the moment."

　　"Just so you know."

　　"Alright," she said, simply, then starting on her food.

　　"So this thing you`re going to the desert for," said Riley, "why are you doing it."

　　"Its some caravan route, there`s a big group heading out this time around. The spices in this curry are from out there."

　　"For the curry? Wait, who are you going out there with?

　　"Ishtar."

　　"Ishtar?" The name coated in scorn. "You should reconsider. Several days ago some of us at the temple got an invite from House Ishtar to visit their shrine."

　　"I was there the other day. I`ve seen their thing."

　　"If you think you know what you`re getting yourself into. No, hold on, neither of you can hear them, can you? Their voices." Shaking my head, Wolfe shaking hers. "The ritual I attended at Ishtar was rather, um, uninhibited. I bailed out partway."

　　"Its not worse than a number of the others." Earning a skeptical look at that. "So which one are you going to choose?"

　　"Still shopping around." Taking a drink and gesturing with her now nearly empty mug. "A couple of the ones I`ve talked to at the temple seem alright, I guess. Wyrmsblood volunteered to escort us into the mountains to see some holy sites next cycle."

　　"Pick something that`s not too annoying. Ishtar`s patron might have issues, but I can`t imagine its terribly demanding."

　　"Not demanding?" Finishing her mug and putting it down. "She didn`t outright demand it, but the ritual made it abundantly clear what she expects from her followers. And in public, nonetheless, for voyeuristic pleasure." Studying the bottom of her empty mug before meeting my eyes. "But I guess you`re not necessarily wrong, they all seem to require something. Promise me that you`ll be careful if you`re going with them."

　　"I will. I promise."

　　"How long are you going to be out there, anyway?"

　　"Three cycles. Back the fourth."

　　"That`s a long time." Riley trailing off. "You are planning on coming back, right?"

　　That had been my backup plan. Skip town entirely, maybe keep heading west, start over completely somewhere else. Other side of the desert, past that. Avoid the sword hanging over my head entirely, get as far away as possible. Away from Shaker, away from everyone here, and comfortably outside the Marquis`s reach.

　　"Without a doubt."

　　"Good. I want you to bring me a souvenir."This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

　　"Evie, you`re really something, you know that?"

　　"Its to make sure you come back."

　　"You want me to bring you a pile of sand?"

　　"I mean," she said, flustered, "you`re not just going to be trudging around in the desert, right? What in the hell are you thinking?"

　　"No. We`re going to this place, Tasnanca. Whatever that is. Ishtar hasn`t been very forthcoming. Either an outpost or a city. Initially I assumed it was a merchant outpost, but now I`m thinking its bigger than that. The only reason I even know the name is because of these," pulling out one of the disjuncted pebbles, "and, oh Kate, your cut from yesterday." Handing over just under four gold.

　　"Were you guys out all day?" said Riley.

　　"Nope. Apparently those ugly things down there are worth quite a bunch. And today, with all three of us, disjuncting only those things and skinning the newts, we may have done very well."

　　***

　　The bell on the door at Ink`s Charms jingling at our entrance. Walking up to the desk.

　　"Hey lady, welcome back," said the child, sitting on the stool, behind the counter, "I`ll get my Mom." Hopping off his chair and walking to the side room. "Moooom."

　　Ink coming in a couple minutes later, an envelope in hand.

　　"I really appreciate you doing me this favor," she said, "its a delivery for my brother. He left the Empire several years back chasing after some painted skank. Last I heard he`s running a shop like this one out there. Its a family occupation, you might say."

　　"Yeah, what are you sending him?"

　　"He may be something of a black sheep, at the moment, to the rest of the clan, but he`s still my brother. So, a letter, and you."

　　"Me? What do you mean?"

　　"Family helps family. When you come in I`m sure you`re going to have a number of those." Pointing to the pouch of stones in my hand. "He can help you turn them into something a little more worthwhile to you. And this is for you, for the trip," holding out a simple chain necklace, "it`ll keep you from feeling the heat. Well, at least not quite so much. And the cold, too. Regulates your temperature, somewhat."

　　"That`s a bit much for a letter."

　　"This thing? A customer ordered it sometime back and never showed to pick it up. Better given to you, I figure."

　　"You made that?" said Riley, breaking in.

　　"Yes. That`s what I do," said ink, "and your friend here has been extremely helpful for my work. So if that necklace helps her, it helps me. And my brother gets a letter. I probably come out the most ahead in the whole exchange."

　　"If you say so. I graciously accept. Now as far as these." Opening the pouch, carefully pouring them onto the counter, sixteen of the black stones.

　　"More of these," she said, picking one up. "These are interesting. Based on the properties, I`d imagine you got them from down below. Or the graveyard. At least near the graveyard, they don`t have quite enough necrotic energy to be from there directly. Speaking of which, when you get back, you should make some trips into there."

　　"I`ll have to negotiate something with Wrymsblood, they`re not going to appreciate me wandering into their turf, unannounced."

　　"I might be able to help. We`ll come up with something. Now, as far as payment, one oh five each, and here is another bank note."

　　Riley giving an astonished gasp, Wolfe getting a huge smile on her face.

　　***

　　Standing in the bank lobby, today`s cut in hand, just under eight gold.

　　"A fine, whaddya mean I`ve got a fine?" said Riley, getting a little heated with the teller from the sound of it.

　　"Surely you remember, it was only a couple days ago," said the teller. "Assault with a deadly weapon on one of your compatriots, on the streets of the guild district. The fine is three hundred silver."

　　"You`re talking about," said Riley, flicking her hair, "that guy deserved it."

　　"Ms. Riley," said the teller, "that sort of behavior is not acceptable within city limits. Additionally, there is the matter of your unpaid citizenship fees, five hundred silver. Because of your status we are granting leniency for the next few months, but those need to be paid by the end of the year."

　　"Yeah, yeah, take my blood," said Riley. "I`ll deposit four and keep the rest."

　　"Certainly," said the teller. "The current balance of your account is seven hundred eighty two silver. Thank you for banking with us."

　　"Can you believe these people?" said Riley, coming over, fuming.

　　"Par for the course, don`t let it bother you."

　　Wolfe coming over from her teller, an upset look on her face, as well.

　　"They get you, too?" said Riley.

　　"Yeah, they said I had a fine," said Wolfe.

　　"What`d they pop you with?"

　　"Loitering. There`s this really nice spot by the docks that I`ve sat at a couple times. There`s a bench there and everything. I found it when I was delivering packages, it`s right by the harbor master`s office. When Matt left this morning I couldn`t get back to sleep, so I got up early and watched the sun come up. Its a great shot of the bay, you can see them loading and unloading the ships. The fine was twenty five silver."

　　"Loitering? I didn`t even know that was a charge. Don`t worry about it, twenty five is nothing. These vultures`ll do anything they can to squeeze it out of you."

　　"I guess," she said, still downcast, and then considering. "Wait, what did they get you with?"

　　"Five counts of assault, one with a deadly weapon."

　　"That sounds like you," said Riley, smiling, patting me on the back.

　　"Assault?" said Wolfe. "Five counts? And a deadly weapon. They`re going to put you in jail."

　　"Over that? Nah. That`s piddly stuff. All they care about is getting their money. You start racking up assault charges, I guarantee you`ll never see a loitering charge ever again. They`re not going to bother making up stuff like that."

　　"That`s because the only place I`ll be loitering is jail."

　　"Kate, you`re worrying about something you shouldn`t be. Seriously, don`t let those fucks stop you from sitting there."

　　"I guess," she said, sighing. Then another consideration, looking at Riley. "You seem very nonchalant, what was your charge?"

　　"Assault with a deadly weapon," she said, shrugging.

　　"A couple of hardened criminals," said Wolfe, looking from Riley to me and back, "that`s who I`m hanging around."

　　"At least we`re not loitering. That`s public property, miss, only fit to be sat on by the gulls." Wolfe about to respond, Riley giving a snort of laughter. "You`re worrying too much. You see us in irons? You see us being hauled away? These fines are a predictable cost of living, so accept it, choose to live."

　　Wolfe looking back and forth from my smiling face to Riley`s smiling face, and then letting out a huge sigh. "Okay," she said, eyes less downcast. "I`ll try."

　　Heading out of the bank and into the midday sun. Less hot than it had been before wearing the chain. Turning to them both.

　　"I`m going to say goodbye, at least for the next few cycles. I need to put in clothing orders and start getting all my supplies."

　　"There`s no way I can talk you out of it?" said Riley, not happy after seeing me shake my head. "I guess not, you are taking that letter." Pulling me in for a hug. "Please be careful."

　　"Kate?"

　　A frown starting to grow on her face, then squeezing the daylights out of me.

　　"I didn`t think I was going to miss you so much," she said. "You told me you were leaving yesterday, but now its really hitting home. Please make sure you come back."

　　"I`ll be back even if I have to crawl across the desert to get here."

　　"I hope you don`t have to go that far," she said, with a small laugh.

　　"Yeah, me too."

　　"Hey, one last thing," she said, brightening, "been driving me crazy all day. Where`d you get that weapon?"

　　"Snazzy, right? Pawnshop. Its different inside than what you think. And not cheap."

　　"How much?"

　　"Eleven hundred." Making a face. "But so worth it. Take a look, they`ve got all sorts of stuff in there. It can`t hurt to check it out."

　　"I will," she said, waving and walking in one direction. "Good luck."

　　"Don`t forget to bring me something nice," said Riley, with a grin, walking in another.

　　"Thank you, and will do. I`ll see you at the West Gate in four cycles, nine in the morning," waving to both, and then heading in mine.

　　***

　　"Shoes for the desert?" said the cobbler, stroking his mustache. "Probably need lighter tread than your current pair, and more breathable. Similar height. How about in a light brown?"

　　"Sounds fine, I`ll be here to pick them up at seven in the morning, three days from now."

　　"More than enough time," he said. "They`ll be ready."

　　Handing over the money and then going to the clothing store.

　　"Desert gear?" said the woman. "Yeah, I can do that."

　　"Okay. For color, something to blend in, a lighter brown. I need a bandanna, a shirt, similar to what I`m wearing, the pockets on this shirt are invaluable, and then pants and a cloak. This current set is really comfortable, hopefully something as good as this."

　　"It should be even more comfortable, I won`t need to treat the material to be as waterproof. What`s your budget? You seem to be moving back up in the world."

　　"For this I was thinking no more than three, including two more sets of underclothes and socks. Oh, and gloves. I need gloves today, and a couple pieces of spider`s silk and a higher quality needle. I guess with that I`ll say four. Then I need to upgrade this pack, this thing has gone beyond its limit." The strap was almost frayed through, the pack itself worn from tough love and, on more than one occasion, had been completely waterlogged.

　　"Style?" she asked.

　　"Functional. But don`t make it ugly. I`ve got to walk around wearing it."

　　"Okay," she laughed, "I`ll see what I can do. For six I`ll deal with your pack situation, and the clothing. It`ll be sturdy and light. And not ugly."

　　"Deal." Shaking on it and handing over six gold coins.

　　"You will not regret it," she said, "the material is divine." Walking toward the exit, and then her voice calling out again, "Ms. Macarthy," turning back, seeing her approaching form. "I just wanted to say that you look much better."

　　"What are you talking about?"

　　"Well," she said, hesitating, second guessing her decision, "the very first time you walked into my shop, you were a bit of a fright. I can still see it, a little. Sort of a aura, now," her eyes looking slightly around me, "but barely anything. You seem to be doing much better, and I`m glad to see it."