Anna picked up a chipwreck, holding it gingerly between two fingertips. She stared at it like an Alchemist might stare at a rare plant. She looked to have no idea what to do with it.

“Just pop the whole thing in your mouth,” Zack said. “Nothing more to it.”

Anna took the daintiest bite of the tip of the chipwreck, then chewed. Her eyes widened, after which she shoved the whole seared potato wedge into her mouth. The delighted little moan she offered made Zack grin appreciatively.

Anna glanced his way as she reached for another chipwreck. “That’s good.”

“You aren’t kidding,” Zack said.

Alan audibly slurped his soup, probably to get Zack’s attention. Zack ignored him and kept his eyes on Anna, who obviously knew he was still watching her. Just as obviously, she didn’t seem to mind. He grabbed his mug and took a long sip of apple mead without taking his eyes off her.

“Hey, Zack?” Alan asked. “One more question.”

Zack had ogled Anna quite enough. He didn’t want to come off as desperate. He set down his mug and looked to Alan, then popped another chipwreck in his mouth. “Yeah?”

“Are you a member of the Shadowers Guild?”

Zack almost choked on his chipwreck, which had likely been Alan’s intent. Had this idiot really asked that out loud? Alan really had no idea how things worked in Landers.

Anna slapped her brother’s arm. “Alan!”

“It’s a fair question,” Alan said. “And it’s not like he’d tell us the truth.”

Zack thumped his suddenly aching chest, took a deep drink of his mead, and set the mug aside. “Here’s some free advice, Alan Ironstar. You want to avoid getting tossed out of town? Don’t ever ask that question anywhere anyone else can hear you, especially in an open tavern.”

“Yet you haven’t answered it,” Alan said evenly.

Zack would very well have liked to answer Alan’s question in the affirmative, but no one from the Shadowers Guild had made contact him with him yet. He wanted them too—he desperately wanted a member of the elusive Shadowers Guild to invite him to join them, so he could enjoy the dangerous and exciting life he’d craved from when he was little—but he’d need to impress them first.

The first step was reached Level 8 before he turned 17. Few Adventurers his age managed that, and those that did often caught the attention of the Blazers. Zack had no intention of joining the Blazers Guild—they were bound my too many pesky morals, and province law—but the Shadowers Guild? They might notice him as well, and they offered a journey unlike any even a Blazer could find.

“You said your reasons for being here aren’t my business,” Zack said evenly. “The answer to that questions isn’t yours, unless you intend to make our meal uncomfortable.”

“Not at all,” Alan said easily, with a bit of a triumphant smirk at his sister. “I was simply curious.” He looked like he’d already drawn his own conclusions, and Zack wasn’t about to disabuse him.

Anna sighed and rubbed her temples with both hands, then looked to Zack. “Please forgive my brother, yet again, for making this awkward. He’s overly protective.”

“And you’re far too trusting,” Alan reminded her. “But you’ve heard that before.”

The doors to the tavern burst open with a loud crash, loud enough that Anna jumped in her seat. She was halfway off her bench before she saw who’d burst in—Barry Dewcrest, one of Wolfpine’s two Alchemists. He wasted no time in heading for the bar. Someone, it seemed, needed a drink.

Sadie glared daggers at Barry from behind the bar. “You disrespect my doors like that again, Dewcrest, you’ll be selling your potions outside town.”

Barry visibly blanched, then raised both hands. “Woah, uh ... sorry there, Sadie. Got so excited for your cooking I forgot to knock.”

“Sit down,” Sadie ordered. “And you better eat.”

Zack also didn’t miss how Alan had instinctively reached for his [Iron Mace] when the tavern door burst open. He was expecting trouble. So who, exactly, were they running from?

Alan and Anna were obviously worried about someone, and given the Pantheon’s Law of Consent protected most everyone from assault, that was odd. The only people who could be assaulted freely were those who broke laws in town—who could be assaulted by the Town Guards—or those who broke the laws of the Church of Celes, like Deathcasters.

They could be assaulted by anyone working for the church.

Anna finished another chipwreck and glanced Zack’s way. “Sadie has a way with people.”

“Her husband’s a Town Guard,” Zack said.

“Oh,” Alan said, as he offered Sadie a freshly cautious glance. “No wonder.”

Zack’s realization that Alan was wary of authority allowed him to feel a brief hint of kinship with the man. Not a lot, and not enough to make up for all the condescension in the mine. But a little. He chewed his meat roll, then tried another tack.

“Forget history. It’s boring. What kept you two last night?”

“Hunting,” Anna said evenly. “Though I hear we both missed some excitement.”

This was a chance to boast about Glenn and Becka, his good friends, and Zack never missed an opportunity to boast about his friends. “Not much,” he agreed. “Just a nine-year-old girl who almost got eaten by a Moss Beast. My friends took care of it, though one lost most of her clothes.”

“Was that the highlight?” Alan asked.

“They got the girl back from a high Level Moss Beast and a swarm of Grass Sprites, all without choosing a Class. You stay in this town long enough, you’ll hear about Glenn Redwood and Rebecka Coldbreaker. Even the Blazers heard, which is why one of them is headed here.”

Zack didn’t miss how both Anna and Alan’s postures visibly changed. Both tried to hide it, and Anna almost did, but Alan was a dead giveaway. Neither liked the news Zack just delivered.

Zack leaned close and lowered his voice. “You two got some problem with the Blazers?”

Anna ignored her chipwrecks. “That’s simply terrible to hear. About the Moss Beast.”

Zack had a moment to make his decision and made it. His loyalties weren’t with the Blazers. His loyalties were somewhere else entirely.

“The Blazer rep arrives tomorrow morning,” he said evenly. “They’ll be coming in from the south gate, which is the only gate. Chances are Mayor Tightass will give them the tour for at least the morning, a fate I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Best time to slip out without running into the Blazer would be mid-morning, I think. Little chance of running into the Blazer then.”

“What gave you the impression we needed advice?” Alan asked.

Anna gripped Alan’s arm, and Zack didn’t miss how white his skin turned as she squeezed. A moment later, she turned to Zack and smiled. “You’re proving to be quite useful.”

“You have no idea,” Zack said evenly.

Anna reached out to clasp his hand with hers. Her grip wasn’t gentle this time. It was a strong, firm grip, and she felt like she meant it.

Zack took a moment to enjoy the contact. He’d earned it. Then he relaxed, patted her hand with his other one, and pulled his hand away.

It wasn’t like Anna was inviting him to bed. She was simply thanking him, quite genuinely, for the advice. For information like this, he wouldn’t expect anything more. Sometimes, those who thought the laws of Landers were a bit too strict needed to watch out for each other.

“Soup’s getting cold,” Alan announced. “I’m eating it.”

After that, further conversation felt awkward, so Zack attacked his food with gusto. Anna did the same, surprisingly enough. Yet Alan insisted on spooning up his soup instead of slurping it.

So Anna and Alan were crosswise with the Blazers. Zack was almost jealous of them. He hadn’t done anything nearly dangerous enough to warrant that.

“Would you like to go hunting with me tomorrow?” Anna asked.

Zack shrugged. “Normally I’d take you up on that, but I had a Party. Great folks, but they only slowed me down. I work better alone.”

“Then could I trouble you for a tour?”

Zack cocked an eyebrow of her. “Of what?”

“I’ll tell you tomorrow,” she said. “Meet me outside town about the time you discussed.”

Zack glanced at Alan. “What’s the tour?”

Alan shrugged. “Don’t ask me. This is an Anna thing.”

“I’ll do it,” Zack said immediately, once he realized it was going to be just him and Anna. “Provided you can spare some coin? I don’t work for free.”

“Another meal or two should do it,” Anna agreed. “On me.”

She offered Alan a glance, and instead of looking annoyed, her brother just sighed. What was going on between them? Yet when Anna looked at Zack again, her smile held real meaning.

“I’ll buy you supper the night after you provide my tour,” she said. “And drinks. And since Alan’s going to be busy tomorrow night, I’ll handle both.”

“I suppose I’ll be doing something,” Alan agreed grumpily.

This was sounding better by the moment. “You’ve got yourself a guide, gorgeous.”

“But you’ll call me Anna,” she added.

“And I’ll call you Anna,” Zack agreed.

Alan lifted his soup and finally, finally, slurped the last. He thumped it down, then tossed more coins on the table. Enough to pay for both their meals and mead.

“Good soup,” Alan said. “I’m ready for bed.”

“As am I,” Anna agreed. “We had a long day. So tomorrow, Zack?”

Zack nodded. “Tomorrow it is.”

Anna rose. Alan did too. As the man tried to walk away, Zack rose as well and offered his hand to Alan. Alan eyed it as if he thought it was some sort of trick.

“Thank you for the meal,” Zack said. “If you need more advice, I’m here. For both of you.”

After a moment, Alan took Zack’s hand and shook it firmly. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Anna smiled Zack’s way before walking off with her brother. It was obvious they were done for the night, but still. The meal had been pleasant, and Anna seemed genuinely interested in spending more time together. A private tour of Grassea was sounding better and better.

For now, Zack had best get home. Sleep would do him good. He’d just started toward the door of the tavern when a gorgeous dark-haired woman in [Gloamshroud Leather] appeared before his eyes.