The 'pizza' the stranger offered in substitution for his freedom was a piece of stale bread stuffed with oil and tomatoes. The stranger and the chef looked like they argued for a moment, then the chef reluctantly covered the bread in some goat cheese. He turned back to Nev and me watching from the shop doorway, throwing us both a thumbs up.

"Well, how is it? Pretty good pizza, right?"

The 'pizza' was awful. Whole tomatoes made the bread squishy and caused it to waste away in my hands. No sugar was added, so the bulk remained acidic and the dough didn't quite hit right. The worst part, by far, was the choice of cheese. Goat cheese doesn't melt easily, so the heated mass just sat atop my pile of disappointment.

"It's great..." I replied, not trying to upset this excited stranger or the chef that just prepared the food.

Nev shot me a questioning stare, to which I simply shook my head.

"You guys have some time to talk?" The stranger asked.

I shared a look with Nev and, unable to come up with a valid excuse, obliged the stranger following him to a streetlit bench.

"Let me put my cards on the table." The stranger said, taking a bite of his 'pizza' and not even flinching at the horrid taste. "I know you're going to the city of Dulcrois. I think you should take me with you."

"So you were spying on us," Nev said.

"Not spying, perse, just actively listening."

"So eavesdropping?" I corrected.

"No, well, yes. Yes, but based on my eavesdrop-spyin-active listening, I think we have much in common."

"What do you think you know about us?"

"Well, I know you," he said, pointing towards me. "Have a bounty on your head from burning down half of some city. And you-"

"Know exactly when to kill someone for learning the wrong things."

"-Are as observant as you are beautiful." He shot Nev a wink, though I think it made them want to kill him even more.

"So with your firepower, their cunning, and my extreme intellect, nothing could keep us from getting through the gates of Dulcrois."

"I think we're good on traveling companions," I replied.

"Who would try to keep us out of Dulcrois' gates?" Nev questioned.

"Maybe the city itself. What are you bringing to offer?"

"Offer?" "Offer?"

"Oooooh, see, another reason to bring your good friend Berthold along. Dulcrois is the city of enlightenment. Beneath those city's streets, secrets have been lost since the great Builders stacked the elements together. They say a person can learn a dozen lifetimes worth of knowledge in a single day walking its streets. So they're not just gonna let every shlub with some dreams and a pocket full of gambled coins in through the city gates."

"How much will it cost to get in?"

"Nothing! Or everything. Depends on how you look at it, I suppose."

I looked at Nev and was grateful they were just as lost as I was.

"Okay, let me walk you there. Other cities use Neer, Phors, Waik, all currency based on gold and other precious gems. But Dulcrois isn't like other cities. Who needs gold when you can create some out of nothing? Food when you can craft perfect growing conditions? Tell me, who needs an army when you can make a man's head implode with a simple spell?"

Berthold took another substantial bite out of his food, which fell apart in his hands.

"We need to offer them knowledge," Nev said simply.

"This one's quick, eh?" Berthold said.

"That still doesn't explain why we need you," I replied, starting to develop a distaste for our new companion.

"It's pretty simple! We pool our offerings, make it seem like we're bringing more to the table, BOOM!" He slammed his hand on the table, catching the attention of a passerby. "We're through the gates, no problem."

"I don't have any books or magical items, and I don't think Nev does either. So I don't know how good of options we'd be for companions."

"It's not always about things. I've never seen your kind of magic before, deconstruction and reconstitution? It's some pretty unique stuff. I'm still surprised you're using it as a parlor trick to steal from drunks."

"I said the same thing," Nev replied.

"Plant manipulation isn't anything to scoff at either. Add some secrets up my sleeve, and we'll be through those gates in a breeze. They may want to run some tests, but what are a few questions within the scope of unlimited power?"

"I don't like the sound of those tests." I objected.

"Well, if you think of other options, I'm all ears."

"What do you have to offer?" Nev asked.

"I said I'm all ears," he pulled back his cowl and flashed the side of his head, showing three ears all settled on the same point. "Didn't I?"

As he turned back, the ears reformed into a single one, but he had another set of eyes right above his brow.

"Oh gross," I replied.

"So, deal?" He asked, outstretching his arm.

Unfolding below his forearm but connected by the elbow, a hand outstretched toward Nev.

"Oh, I think I'm gonna be sick," I said.

"What? I do the same exact thing with plants?"

We both reached out and reluctantly shook the stranger's hand. As much as I hated to admit it, this creep knew more about the city than we did. Keeping this freak around seemed like the smartest move, at least until we got through the gates of Dulcrois.