“It’s settled then, we will wait out the night here. But to be clear, Bantam, no more drinking tonight. We will keep our wits about us, just in case they decide to try something.”

“Then I’ll go get my lady from upstairs. I’ll be back in no time at all.”

Heratio watched Bantam get up and head towards the stairs, intermittently glancing at the thugs from earlier to see if they would follow him but they didn’t. Heratio lifted up his hand to signal the prostitute he talked with earlier, waving her to come and join him. No one else had approached her, so she made her way to the booth and sat down next to Heratio in the same positioning as before, snuggled up against him. Despite how close she was willing to get to him, Heratio noticed the change in her behaviour, she seemed tenser than before.

“You informed those men I was here, didn’t you?”

She looked straight ahead, keeping her face out of Heratio’s view. “Sort of. I asked about Bantam, and the person I asked told me about them and how they had paid coin for information on him. One thing led to another…”

“And you asked them for a bit of coin to tell them about me? Don’t worry, it doesn't matter now. You just did as anyone else would.”

Bantam returned with his busty maiden by his side. She was a blond-haired lady that was heavier than Heratio had expected but, fortunately for her, most of that weight went to favourable areas. Bantam was latched onto her and would look over to her with hungry eyes.

“This is Isabella. She’s my favourite,” said Bantam with excitement.

“May the gods bless our meeting,” she said while putting out her hand daintily in greeting.

“I’m sure the gods will do so. Your beauty will compel them, despite the prayer coming from a place like this,” said Heratio with a good helping of his bashful charm, while he held her hand for a moment.

Isabella giggled at the compliment.

“Careful Heratio, she’s mine. At least, for tonight she is.” Although they were already sitting against each other, Bantam pulled her closer. “So what now?”

“We just have some fun until we feel sleepy. I’ll need a room for the night,” Heratio said to Hynellia, who nodded. “How much will it be for the room and your company?”

“You’ll need another venti.”

He placed the venti on the table and she snatched it up before leaving the booth to arrange the room with one of the hostesses. It only took her a few moments, then she returned back to her place at Heratio’s side as he and Bantam led the conversation. They talked casually as if the thugs from before never existed as if the troubles that loomed above their heads didn’t exist.

After some time, when it was clear the streets outside would be completely dark, the thugs approached the booth. “Well, enjoy your evening you two,” one of them said. “Life might not be so enjoyable later.” With that, they left the booth and went out through the front door onto the city streets. From the window, Heratio could see the light of their torches being lit.

It had crossed his mind to follow them but being out on the street in that darkness put him at too much risk. Maybe that was even their plan, to lure him out there where violence would be left unchecked.

After some time passed, and the conversation died down a little, Heratio decided to turn in for the night. “That’s enough for tonight. Hynellia, let's head upstairs.”

“I’ll lead the way,” she said with a sultry voice. She put his hand in hers and tugged him forward, glancing backward with a devilish smile.

Once in the room, she threw herself backwards onto the bed, looking at Heratio like a hungry animal. Contrary to what she must have expected though, Heratio stopped himself. “Give me a moment,” he said calmly.

“Is there a problem?”

“None at all,” he said, as he checked the room.

He opened the closets and the door to the water room, checking for some hidden enemy. He didn’t expect to find anything, but he knew to not be lazy when it came to safety. He wanted to lock the door, but the door to the room didn’t have a lock. It made enough sense to Heratio, The Blue Rose didn’t want something to happen to their prostitutes and some clients could get quite rough, beyond the limits of what was acceptable. It stood to reason that it was also against their rules to wedge something against the door, so he refrained from doing that. He would just have to trust that The Blue Rose would have to intervene if anyone burst into the room in the middle of the night.

“All done. We can get started again,” Heratio said with a grin before jumping on the bed, taking a dominating position above Hynellia. Finally, he embraced her, ready to satisfy his urges that he had neglected for some time now.

In the post-coital period, his mind cleared. All his stress from the past weeks subsided and he felt he could take a moment to breathe and relax. On the voyage to the Maysian isles there were only men aboard ship and normally, coming back from a long voyage, a period of relaxation would be afforded to attendants so that they could reinvigorate themselves to their duties. But, because of Augustus’ circumstances, he had been forced to work as a bodyguard day in and day out since he got back. Add to that, the nature of his work lately had felt more intense than usual. Now, with his life on the line, it had felt overwhelming.

“Your back muscles feel so tense,” said Hynellia. She rubbed her hands into his muscles, helping him to feel even more relaxed.

“It has been a difficult past week for me.”

“You should come here more often to unwind. It’s good for the muscles.”

“Hoping to pick up a regular?”

“You were quite the stallion. Why wouldn’t I work to have you come back? I would be lucky to have you as a regular.”

“I know your game,” Heratio said with a laugh. “You flatter my ego so you can empty my pockets.”

“How about you turn onto your stomach and let me work your back. Maybe I’ll convince you to return with my elbows.”

Heratio did as she asked and she got on top of him to dig her elbow deep into his back. His muscles released themselves and he felt a different type of pleasure from the kind he felt earlier. A pleasure that came from relief.

In that state, he thought of his master and the stress that he must be feeling. Despite the trouble that the past week had been for him, he never resented Augustus for it. He was a victim of circumstance.

He remembered the first time he met Augustus. It was only a few years ago. Before that, Castor had built him up as a prodigious pupil, telling Heratio stories of his skill at games and memorization. At the time, he and Castor were becoming good friends from their time together on voyages. Castor looked at Heratio as a trusted and capable swordsman and brooched at the prospect of becoming Augustus’ personal bodyguard. It was better pay than his current work, and he didn’t have to spend all his time at sea, so he accepted quickly.

Castor led him into the room, the study of the manse, a room walled with bookshelves. Augustus sat there reading a book and looked up just long enough to glance at who entered the room and quickly returned to his book. Castor gave the introduction, without a single regard for the fact that he was interrupting someone of such higher standing. He sold Heratio in the introduction to the young master by listing out as many of Heratio’s positive attributes as he could think of.

“You’re Brenish, right?” Asked Augustus, it was the first thing he ever said to Heratio.

“Yes, Master Augustus, I am.”

“I’ve read about the fallen city of Bren. Do you remember it at all?”

“Yes, a bit.”

“Tell me about what you remember.” It was only then that Augustus looked up from his book and gave Heratio his full attention.

He was so serious back then. Meek too. Over the three years, Heratio had watched Augustus change. Watched him gain confidence over time after his father, Giovanni, elevated him to the presumed heir. He watched him slowly lighten up and join in with Castor and him when they would jest, teasing each other playfully. And he watched as he became a man, becoming a husband, then was soon after forced to deal with his father’s demise.

The more he thought about it, the more knew he could never betray Augustus. He couldn’t even leave the city to let him fend for himself. He would fight to defeat Giovannus, and Augustus in turn would fight to save him.