The Wolf's Den was the biggest and busiest tavern in Lyca. I built it from the ground up with my best friend Lyon about six years ago and it doubled as a place to gather information on marks and other jobs. As soon as I walked through the giant dark oak doors I was greeted with a firm slap on the back.
"Finally made it back!" I looked at the hazel green eyes and cocky smirk of Lyon. "Job must have gone well."
I playfully shoved him. "And what if I said it went horribly?"
"I'd know you were lying."
"I hate to break to you but I always beat you in cards so I know you can't tell when I'm lying."
"Your shadow came back so I knew you were fine," he smiled and pointed into the crowd of people at a large black figure laying in front of the fireplace next to the bar.
I knelt next to the big furry lump and scratched behind it's ears. "I should have known you followed me. I don't need a babysitter you know."
The lump opened it's golden eyes, stared at me, and huffed before stretching out to its full, giant length. Shade was a full blooded Eyrisian wolf and was at least three feet tall on all fours. If he stood on his hind legs then he was a little over seven feet tall. Eyrisian wolves were rare, even in Lyca where they had the highest population in the wild, and as far as I knew I was the only person with one as a companion. The king used dogs that were cross bred with them to make his hounds bigger but even they paled in comparison to the size, strength, and intelligence that Shade held.
"Why don't you check on the guests?" I gently tapped his wet nose. "Quit being so lazy huh, you'll get fat."
Shade groaned as he got up and made his way around the tavern where I knew he would eventually find someone to give him attention. I shuffled over to the bar and buried my face in my arms.
"Well look who's back," a soft thud by my head made me look up. My bartender, Kari, had set a down a mug of her famous ale by my head. "And I bet you didn't take a single crown from Lily did you?"
"She was left the tavern, I let her keep it to clean the place up. If she really worked on it then she could actually give us some business competition," I shrugged and took a long swig of my drink. "Besides she's a friend. It would be wrong of me to take her money. Money I know she worked hard for."
"Uh huh, and what about that kid from Cas? You took out his drunk, abusive father and didn't take anything from them either."
"He was a kid! Plus he needed that money to get his mother the medical attention she needed."
"The saleswoman in Serene who hired you to protect her goods from bandits?"
"That was a civil service. Those bandits were causing a lot of issues for traveling merchants of all kinds."
"The family in Irit who hired you and Lyon to clear out the Soulless around their farm?"
"Hey they paid us!"
"In potatoes! I'm still making dishes out of them and you took that contract four months ago!"
"What point are you trying to get at?" I grumbled over my mug.
"You can't keep denying payments from people. I can understand friends and I can understand discounts but at the end of the day this is a job. Your job."
I groaned in annoyance. "Fine! Goddess you're so annoying when you pull out the lectures."
"Someone has to keep our financials in order. If I left it to you or Lyon then The Den would be bankrupt."
I opened my mouth to argue but paused as I felt eyes on me. Glancing down the bar I saw a young woman watching me. She smiled as our eyes met and I returned the gesture half heartedly, realizing I recognized her.
Kari leaned over the counter and smirked. "She's been staring at you since you walked in. Why don't you go say hello."
"Because I'm not interested."
"And why not? She's attractive, you're attractive, why not go be attractive together?"
"Because her attraction can be bought in the Slums for pretty cheap. I have standards you know."
Kari groaned. "At this point I'm willing to sell you to her. It's been way too long Sapphyre, you're starting to get cranky."
"I'm cranky because my town is full of lowlifes and Soulless," I grumbled as I finished my drink and slid the empty mug to her. "My private life has nothing to do with it."
She shrugged and poured me another round. "Say what you want but I still think it would loosen the tension in your shoulders," she reached over the counter and poked the tip of my nose, a playful habit she knew I hated.
"Hey Sapphyre, someone here wants to see you!" Lyon called from behind me
"I'm off duty!"
"You're never off duty," I felt a light punch on my shoulder. "Plus they were incredibly persuasive."
I sighed and turned around only finding myself looking down into the grey eyes of Jayde. He smiled up at me. "So your name's Sapphyre?"