I took a seat in the inn's lobby, my shoulders weighed down by the lack of commissions posted on the requests board. Unless we intended to maintain our weapons and equipment by fixing fences and clearing sewers, our issue with coin was going to change from something to worry about to something that would cripple us. Even Magnus's ridiculous halberd lost its keenness after hacking through enough hides, and events like yesterday's battle with the inn bandits only accelerated it.
Our enchanted weapons were high enough in quality to not blunt after a few battles, but going into the start of any new day without the assurance of a perfect edge was a dangerous proposition. Still, artificers did not come cheap. We were overdue a meeting with one, but we also needed to secure enough coin for our travelling expenses too.
We needed a high paying commission. Several, preferably. And while I always doubted if Coral was a suitable place to find them, it was never intended to be more than a stopping point as we recouped from our battle with the Demon of Lust and decided on the next leg of our journey.
As things stood, our destination would either be the frontlines where the Royal Army was battling the Demon King's host to a standstill over the border crossings, or to continue filling the vacuum where the army had left and provide security to the citizens.
I frowned into my cup of water as I considered where to take my party. The burden of responsibility was heaviest when I had to decide which battles we would face, as opposed to decisions when we were already fighting. In the heat of a fight, I could rely on Iris and Magnus to look at for themselves and each other. But here, alone at the table, these were the decisions I ultimately had to make.
The Royal Army paid handsomely. Heroes and adventurers they took under their wing never failed to see a return on their time. If they saw that return. And so the cost, being what it was, was scarcely worth the reward.
At some point, it would be necessary to venture onto the carrion fields. That was the destiny of heroes. But until we were prepared, I considered it the final option. Our battle with the Demon of Lust showed that we weren't good enough. We were just lucky.
Still, Coral was no longer sufficient. This was a town for common adventurers, with commissions that reflected it. We'd need to go somewhere with more opportunity, even if it meant exponential amounts of risk. But I wouldn't take my party to the front until we were ready. And if we remained lucky, that'd be before the situation worsens enough that we'd have no choice either way.
That meant a location where the Royal Army had limited presence. Perhaps a town behind the frontlines, far enough to be overlooked, yet still subject to the Demon King's incursions. Or a city deep in the heartlands, its garrison emptied until they could no longer effectively patrol its own streets.
Or perhaps, even, a port.
I considered it.
The Freehaven of Blackrose.
It wasn't the greatest port in the kingdom, but it was the ugliest. A bastion of wealth, decadence and greed. And it would be where we could earn coin in abundance, as long as we knew where to step.
In this regard, I didn't trust myself. But I trusted my companions. Iris, in particular, with her light magic and her keen senses, would not allow us to be consumed by the shadows which sprung from the alleys of that port city. Magnus, undoubtedly, would have his own ways of sniffing out vagrants. Although in Blackrose, it might just be easier to look at the nearest stranger.
Danger. But also opportunity. The coin would set us up well. Already, the non-enchanted pieces of our arms and armour were beginning to fray. If nothing else, it would allow an opportunity to see to our equipment. I didn't want our battles to be lost before we'd even drawn a blade.
I took a sip of my water, relieved and anxious at my decision. I wanted to share my choice as soon as possible. And no sooner did I think this did I see Iris and Magnus walking down the staircase together.
My heart skipped a beat as I saw my girlfriend chatting idly with Magnus as they descended the steps together. It was by no means uncommon to not see them actively hurling insults at each other, but it was rare that they'd happen to emerge from their rooms at the same time.
In that brief moment, I pictured them meeting alone in the corridor upstairs, and wondered what expression Iris made when he saw the handsome man who'd taken her all night. The man who she'd now promised me with a smile that she would service as if she was his lover.
"Oi. I'm being serious here," grunted Magnus as he took up as much of the space on the stairs as possible. "Who cares if we get out now or in a few hours? It's an inn in the sticks, not some grand hotel. They're not going to charge us by the minute."
"It's not about cost," replied Iris, refusing to make way for the much larger man besides her. "It's about process. We've paid for our lodgings and are expected to vacate."
"Yeah, and I don't see a fucking contract. When did you want us to leave? Midnight on the dot?"
"Midday on the dot. It's stipulated in the rules of lodging."
"What? Where the fuck is the rules of lodging?"
Iris paused, then pointed directly at the giant noticeboard behind the inn counter. There were only two rules. Payment for theft or damage. And no overstaying past midday.
I winced, hoping the second rule was more a guideline than an enforceable penalty.
"Shit," said Magnus, admitting defeat using the only word in his vocabulary.
I let out a sigh.
Not hurtling insults, sure. But speaking them at above-conservation volume. It was an improvement.
The two of them spotted me, then headed towards the table I'd reserved.
Like Iris, Magnus didn't look any worse for wear. If anything, the grin he wore was even more disgusting than usual. He grabbed a tankard of something from an adventurer's hands sitting at the next table, then sat down at ours. Iris rolled her eyes in exasperation, already deducting a coin from her purse for the offended adventurer.
I doubted it was the coin, but rather her smile that swiftly hushed away any protests.
"Morning, leader," said Magnus with generous cheer. "Oh, guess it's afternoon now, isn't it?"
"Past midday, yeah," I replied, jerking my head towards the noticeboard in ready support of Iris. "If the innkeeper comes over, you're paying."
Magnus laughed. He looked over at the innkeeper, who burly as he was, was keen to keep his eyes fixed anywhere but the only adventurer here who could be rowdy first thing after waking up.
"If he comes over, I'll gladly hand him everything I have."
Iris sat down with far more grace. She glanced at the tankard that Magnus had taken, clearly working out whether the cost in convenience he'd paid was worth the fact the tankard was already half emptied.
"You have nothing to hand over," she said simply. "And you'll need to pay people to take the clothes from your back. Be grateful if the innkeeper doesn't demand an additional fee."
Magnus turned his grin towards Iris. The look in his eyes was like a powerful beast satiated after a filling meal.
"If he does, I'm not the only one forking out. Damn, it was late when I finally got to sleep. The things that kept me up all night were wild."
There was a moment of silence.
I could feel the rush of blood as images of memories I'd witnessed only an hour ago flickered in my head. Immediately, a familiar sensation made itself known as I began hardening in my pants.
Even after spending more time enjoying the sight of Iris than I ever did doing it with Iris herself, I still wasn't spent. The girl at the table was that beautiful, and that precious to me. There was no scenario where I could imagine her losing herself and not feel warmth pumping in my lower body.
Even so, there was a time and a place. But as I readied to remind Magnus of that, Iris beat me to the punch. Literally.
"Nobody in this inn deserves to know what you do at night," she said, a fist finding itself landing ineffectually on the side of Magnus's large arm. "You may keep your filth to yourself."
Magnus continued smiling at Iris, his head cocking almost innocently to the side.
"What about what I do in the morning, then?"
I blinked.
Yet again, a silence came crashing down on us.
My head blanked. But even though my thoughts failed to materialise, my member continued hardening at the implication of what was just said.
What … had Magnus done in the morning?
I thought back to him and Iris walking down the stairs together and what this could mean. And suddenly, I realised it was no coincidence.
Slowly, I turned to face my girlfriend. She was already watching me with a small smile, her eyes almost glittering in the thin veil of sunlight pouring through the inn's windows.
For the first time, I noticed the imperfect state of her straight hair, the long strands slightly askew as though flattened with a palm and not a brush. I noticed the rose tint in her cheeks and ears, almost hidden by the warm light seeping into the lobby. And I noticed the scent of cheap soap, at odds with the luxuries she steadfastly chose to carry into any inn we stayed in.
Disbelief and excitement fought like opposing waves in my heart. I couldn't believe it.
Had something happened in the short time I was downstairs?
But they'd already been together the entire night.
Was that not enough for them?
For Iris?
"What … What did you do?" I asked, my voice croaking even as I tried to keep it steady.
Magnus grinned and busied himself with his tankard, suddenly keeping his secrets. He didn't betray a look towards the beautiful girl sitting near him, but I knew it was where his satisfaction was aimed.
Instead, my girlfriend reached out her hand and tenderly cupped it around the back of mine, shaking me from my shock. The cup I was holding slouched in my grip, and I lost my breath at the sight of Iris's tender expression.
"Are we ready to leave?" she asked gently. "Did you make sure to collect all our belongings?"
For a moment, I looked at her in confusion, then slowly nodded my head.
"I have, yeah. I've made a decision about where we're going next as well."
"Good." Again, her slightly knowing smile made its way through my heart. "But you should make sure we haven't forgotten anything. We won't have an opportunity to return once we've left."
I looked into her blue eyes, filled with warmth and clarity of meaning. And then I stood up at an awkward angle, hopelessly attempting to keep the obvious from showing in the middle of the room.
"You're right. I'll make sure we have everything before we go."
Iris smiled.
And, turning her head so that Magnus wouldn't see, she gave me a little wink.
With that image in my mind, I slowly made my way back to our room. To where I knew a new memory stone was waiting.