Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Jigsaw ❯ Cognito ( Chapter 7 )

CHAPTER SEVEN

“If, to comprehend the purpose of a task being asked of you, it is required to understand history that happened over five hundred years ago, it is often best to decline.”

-Squeejunk of the Big Purple Punch Bowl, A Few Lessons on Life and the Consequences of Having a Stupid Name

The clatter of a kitchen in use surrounded them as Kao looked at the sunlight coming in through the open window, spotted with settling dust, as if the words he were looking for were contained there. He'd removed his satchel from his shoulder and had it placed protectively under his chair. If Tione was interested in what Aleric carried, then the itch to know what kind of belongings a demon carried with it was excruciating. “Gods… where should I begin?”

Lime shuffled moved behind him to reach for a pot. “Well, dunking bread into the soup is customary, so I suppose you don't really start with either of them,” she mused.

Kao glanced back. “I'm almost positive you wouldn't have heard of this. Anyway,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I like to keep things to the point, so that's what you'll get. Back in feudal times one of the biggest cities in the land was a place called Silver City—you've heard it mentioned, I'm sure, right? The people who lived there—they usually were called Silvers—had some impressive technology, far ahead of where anyone else was. Generally they liked to keep to themselves, and that worked fine for a time.

Kao leaned over the table, speaking over the rattle of pottery. “But gradually their borders and population swelled and they couldn't sustain themselves any more. For the first time they opened their borders to outsiders and began marketing the amazing machines that they had built that, unlike magic, anyone could use. And that was good—real good, until Silver City's land started turning gray. The magic in the area was deteriorating, and areas where the Silvers' machines were in widespread use were beginning to follow suit. Wherever people preferred to not use magic, the ability to do so disappeared. Quickly, everyone abandoned them, and the Silvers were left alone again.

“But the Silvers still needed outside help to sustain themselves. Attacks broke out on both sides until it was clear peace needed to be made. It was agreed that Silver City could integrate itself with the rest of Jigsaw only if they renounced their machinery… entirely. But there was a problem: Some people had used it to heal themselves or compensate for injuries, bearing metal legs, arms, eyes or other features over wounds too old to be healed by magic. Neither side moving an inch, war broke out, and the Silvers began to invade the rest of Jigsaw with what legend says were war machines called Dudradi that were larger than dragons. More than anything else they had a vendetta against magic… and magical creatures.”

Aleric was leaning on the table in anticipation of the story's resolution. “And I thought Tione had a light trigger.” He deftly ducked under a swinging fist.

Kao coughed, commanding their continued attention. The smell of potatoes and thick broth filled the kitchen, though, and to Tione, who hadn't eaten since the morning before, there was little room for thoughts not involving the consumption of as much of it as she could.

“Fortunately, the Silvers were banished from this world to another plane by a small group of adventures led by an elven girl named Tione, later granted the epithet `Tione the Tumultuous' for her temper and resolute attitude. Following this, she became known as a great hero, founding the city of Sela which became the capital of the new monarchy. She also put forth the initial plans for the forming of the Sela Academy.” Kao nodded to the prince. “Geddon's her great-grandson. And, there you go.”

Tione leaned back in the chair, suddenly falling back a bit on an uneven leg and catching herself. “Wait, wait. I think I get it. We're… the descendants of those heroes? And the Silvers are somehow coming back? You don't mean to say that it's our job…” she gestured to the odd group that she'd gathered in the past two days. “Us!”

Kao leaned his cheek in his palm, a touch of exasperation on his own dark complexion. “Yeah, it seems so… I snuck into a couple private libraries to learn all of this. Turns out the Silvers returned again about fifty years ago and were defeated again by our families. The events I told you about are relatively obscure knowledge—people have always cared more about Jigsaw's two wars with Threed. And the second time it happened it was taken care of so quickly, no one even noticed.”

In her heart, Tione was angry at Elin for having hidden this. Tione had grown up bored and lonely, barely resigned to a life that would likely never see excitement surpassing an uproar at the local tavern. Having been thrust so unprepared into something frightening and new, grateful as she was for it, was bittersweet. Elin would have been part of that second effort to repel the Silvers—what kind of adventures would never be told now that she was gone?

Lime approached the table holding cracked wooden bowls, their contents exuding a tempting smell of soup and thick tendrils of steam. She frowned slightly. “Hmm… is that really all true?” she carefully ventured. She first offered a bowl to Stupid, who sat down in front of the bowl placed on the floor and fluidly watched the girl for a few moments as if she might return to take it away, before beginning to lap at the soup.

Kao accepted the food with a grateful nod. “Far as I know.”

With frustration evident in the breaking of her stiff piece of bread, Tione snapped, “Kao! I don't think this kind of thing should be general knowledge!”

The demon leaned forward over his meal. “Demons might do all kinds of nastiness, but being dishonest is the one thing we commit ourselves against.”

“Yeah. Yeah. Very noble.” Aleric was already gathering the remainder of the soup at the bottom of his bowl with the last of his bread. “What do we do now?”

Tione shoved aside her bowl for a moment, thanking Lime once again, who was preoccupied with her own meal. Again, the book came out and was opened to Elin's old list.

Kao blinked at it. “Well, that's useful. We'll need to find Xerei; he'll be in Sela. With a rule in place to keep magicians in, you'd have to threaten him with death to get him to break it. Gods, I haven't seen him in… around thirty years?” he murmured. “Do we have things to catch up on…”

“What about Bryce Kyndrel?”

Kao shook his head. “No clue who that is.”

“Bright Blue?” she attempted.

Kao lowered his black brows in concentration. “It rings a very ominous bell, but I'm not sure.” He scratched one of his ears. “Ahh, I should know this.”

Lime gasped, setting her knife down with a bit of potato still on the end. “Why, that's the father of Snow White!” She squealed blissfully. “You'll get to meet Snow White? Maybe Prince Charming, if you're lucky—yes, she was lucky to get to him, but they do say she's the most beautiful girl in the kingdom!” She leaned over the table at Tione with a jealous frown. “Oh, how I envy you!”

Shani coughed softly. “Prince Charming may be a celebrity in the kingdom of Byrin, but here, Geddon is our `Prince Charming!' At any rate, that solves that.”

“Well…” Lime said. “Could I possibly ask that you stay to compete in the Heroes' Contest? I might not ask normally, but given what's at stake…”

That brute Horme wanted Lime, but she, as Tione perceived it, had been resisting for some time, and it now came down to if Lime could find anyone to beat him in the contest. It was actually not uncommon to let important decisions rest in the hands of a third party. However, some communities in central Jigsaw had outlawed the use of contests to settle disputes, particularly after the rather obese duke of Zorn challenged a visiting lord from Two Tomes to a drinking contest to determine the rightful owner of the last piece of pie and a skirmish broke out in the dining hall that resulted in a dead chef, twelve broken tables, forty-one shattered chairs, several traumatized nobles and a ruined pie.

Aleric shook his head passionately. “No, no! The world -no, the cosmos— can wait, Lime! I can't stand by and let this offense go unnoticed. You need not worry!”

A happy blush crossed Lime's cheeks. “This is wonderful! Of course, the two hundred gold piece prize would be yours, in return for going out of your way.”

Tione's jaw dropped. That was more money than she could comprehend. They'd need plenty of money to cover travel expenses anyway. “That's not important, Lime!” Tione assured her. “We'll be sure to win the contest for you!”

Shani began helping Lime to gather the bowls from around the table. “That's a fantastic idea, but people come from other kingdoms just to compete here. How are we going to beat them all?”

Lime came back over to the table in a carefree shuffle. “For now, why don't we go get you registered for the contest? You can't compete if you're not on the list!”

* * * * *

“The contest is simple,” Lime said, guiding them down the street. “The teams start out from Temple Square in front of the temple of Merid. The team that brings back the statue of Merid from the shrine out of town is the winner.”

Tione was barely listening. This was as good a time as any to study her book as closely as possible, and perhaps get some help from Shani as soon as they found an inn to spend the next couple nights. She'd been lucky during the few conflicts she'd found herself in. Fortunately, she had recognized a learnable pattern in the incantations for similar techniques that Shani was impressed she'd noticed so soon. She wouldn't allow herself to enter the Heroes' Contest without being of some use.

The Temple Square was especially bustling under the late afternoon sun. There were some groups who appeared to be camped out in the grass, possibly vying for a good view of the starting line, reciting anecdotes of their favorite heroes, gesturing triumphantly. Others sold merchandise to tourists from wooden kiosks or simple straw mats laid out on the rough tiles of the square.

Geddon picked up from the grungy counter of a shop stall an iron cup adorned with tacky glass gems, reading the inscription. “Cognito—Heroes' Contest 3223.”

The man in the dirty gray tunic looked up from his state of almost-sleep. “Those are last year's,” he grumbled. “Half off.”

Kao looked levelly at the junk. “I find the `I watched a promising young hero get his brains splattered over the inside of his helmet at the Heroes' Contest and all I got was this lousy tunic' much more tasteful. It's unabashed bloodsport combined with social commentary.”

Tione grasped the end of one of Kao's pointy ears. “Come on, Demon Boy. Time to sign up.”

Kao reeled back from the stall as if one of the cheap souvenirs had tried to spit venom at him. “Ah! Okay, okay.” He turned from the kiosk to follow Lime to another. “Never grab my ears,” he added. Aleric paid a silver piece for a lucky grabbit's foot Stupid had eaten half of, and followed, bits of green fluff sticking to the puppy's muzzle.

The crowd around the stall to watch the arrival of the heroes was significant, but the line itself wasn't long. Soon a girl in absurdly full and perfect blonde hair with a name tag reading “Indreya” and not much else over her large bust greeted them. “Well, aren't all of you heroic looking? You all look like you could fight a dragon! Maybe ten!” She winked obviously at Aleric. “Now, what do you say? Why not join the Heroes' Contest? You all look like winners to me!” she sang out passionately.

Tione leaned on the stall into the shade. “Well, we're not here for the scenery, Wonderboobs.”

Indreya seemed to deflate slightly. “Well… um… which one of you is the leader?”

The five looked amongst themselves. Geddon was a prince; Kao was essentially demon nobility, and Aleric had charisma…

“Perhaps Tione should be,” Shani piped up, crossing his arms over his red tunic. “She's the one who brought us together, right?”

Everyone regarded the boy, and then Tione, who blushed. “I'm just a girl from Sheste… with a spoon.”

Kao laid an arm on her shoulder and looked at her sincerely through his yellow eyes. “Hey… I'm a hundred fifteen, and I've been a lot of places and met a lot of people. But I've not met many with the kind of natural leadership you've got.”

Geddon nodded. “She seems a natural choice. And after all, it is just for this event.”

Well, what better vote of confidence than one from a prince? Tione sloppily signed the parchment, leaving a few , even using Aleric's team name of “Confused.”

Indreya looked over the sheet. “`Confused.' That's… abstract. Anyway, thanks for registering.” She waved them away dismissively, but then stopped. “Ma'am?” she asked, pointing to her own forehead. “You have something on your face.”

Again? Tione growled and immediately the poor kiosk girl shrunk back to the cheap tapestry depicting a hero slaying a dragon hanging at the back of the stall, her hands at her lap. Aleric laid a hand on Tione's shoulder, Stupid doing the same with its paw.

“Tione,” he said with a chuckle. “Don't go nuts, okay? Not before the contest, anyway.”

Aleric's face was one of innocent shock when Tione whirled around. “I'll show you nuts—” Before she could elaborate on that statement, she saw Kao trying to glance nonchalantly over his shoulder, looking a bit nervous. Anything that could put a demon on edge had to be freaky, she decided. “Kao, what the hells is it?”

With a startled twitch Kao turned to Tione. “I feel intense feelings of anger and hate coming from somewhere. I'm not sure where…” His eyes darted to one side as if he'd seen something flash in the corner of his eyes. “Hmph. Whoever it is, they're good. I'm having a hard time telling exactly where it's coming from!”

Shani gestured to the entire square with a sweep of his small hands. Everyone else seemed completely oblivious to any kind of danger. Children played and fought over toys, people gossiped, fidgeted, laughed, schemed, pointed, and lounged in the shadow of the towering temple of Merid. The temple itself was set at the top of long, wide stone stairs guarded at either side by black, slick statues of lions—one of which roared warningly and the other lounged on its haunches. The thin tendrils of bright green vines crept and curled out of cracks in the stone floor up the pillars and walls at its entrance, where a set of heavy wooden doors were seldom closed for more then a couple seconds before a worshipper or tourist opened them again. There was truly the feeling of something exciting in the air—an experience that Sheste had always been devoid of. “Well, I don't think anyone will bother attacking us here. Heroes everywhere. They'd have to be ungodly powerful or insane with rage.”

“From the emotions I'm sensing, the latter may be an understatement,” Kao pointed out. “But, all right.” He waved his hand dismissively. “No point in standing here worrying about it, eh?”

Tione found herself tugging nervously on the tag Warel gave her to wear. It wouldn't be the first time someone had wanted to end their lives, if they truly were the subjects of this malice. Suddenly the streets leading to the square seemed to contract apprehensively and the buildings lining them to tower over the square to glare down like gargoyles. “Maybe…” she murmured, “we should find an inn to stay in. Now might be a good time.”

With a sage nod, Shani leaned back, a fist on his hip. “Yes… this crowded square in broad daylight is far too dangerous.”

Geddon ruffled the boy's hair. “Hush, Shani. I agree. We will need to find somewhere eventually, and with this event being held we should search now, before the inns become full. We can deliberate on our next course of action there.”

Shani's skepticism seemed to get stuffed into his pockets along with his hands as he blushed slightly. “Er... Prince Geddon has a good point,” he nodded firmly.

Lime clasped her hands together. “Oh, I know of the perfect place—why don't you all follow me?” She looked about her like a small animal searching for something it had buried. “I think it's—yes. Yes, this way.”

She led them across the expansive square. Shani slowed and turned his gaze as they passed a plain gray stone pillar with the handle of a spoon sticking modestly up from it. Tione was more interested in the heroes they passed—towering men in shining steel armor leaning on giant swords inscribed with runes, magicians in dark, flowing robes speaking in hushed tones to their familiars, shy-looking girls in thick cleric's robes blushing over wooden staves, or willowy, elegant elven archers stringing their bows. It was all a little too much as she'd imagined.

One pampered man decked out in resplendent chain armor and half plate picked up the lance he was polishing and trotted over to her. “Hey! Say, you there!”

Upon reaching Tione, it was even more apparent how well built he was. He smelled of a heavy cologne, and his chain armor jingled insistently as he took long steps toward her, as if to run would be undignified. “You! In the dress!” He finally caught up to her. “You…” he gestured to the group she was following. “You're in the contest?”

Tione nodded. “Yeah, why?”

He laughed, amused. “Oh, nothing, I suppose! It's just that the contest doesn't get many hero groups of the `motley misfits' variety. I mean, they're endearing to pass on the road and I suppose they have their uses, but a contest with rigid rules… well, you even appear to have a demon with you! I mean—”

The man reeled back slightly when Tione straightened to glare into his blue-gray eyes just a few inches from her, struggling to do so while she walked. “Listen, `Edmund!' I didn't come from Sheste, scare away a witch with a spoon, tell off an evil god and almost get eaten by a dragon to be told I'm not hero material!”

A coaxing hand at the back of the head from Aleric urged Tione on. “Come on, Tione. These guys aren't worth the runes on their swords and they've got about as much substance as cabbage broth.”

Tione forgot about the hero, who soon gave up on her and returned to his own party, chuckling. “When did you start talking like that?” she asked, impressed. She idly let her hand run across the top of the cool wrought iron bars that fenced off the narrow cobbled path.

Aleric relaxed his hand, letting it fall to his side. “It's just…” He sighed. “I dunno, they're not real heroes. Really real ones.”

Tione raised an eyebrow. “And we are?”

“No, no—I mean, we could be! We will be. I mean, heroes like Dartan of the Flaming Flamberge, or Uwan the Dashing-Yet-Modest, who saved a child from a nest of rabid dongons and bestowed the credit for the deed on his mother for having raised him honorably. Or…”

Lime led them further down the uneven cobbled path and through a line of tall, thin trees that stood almost as densely as a wall on either side of them. What space wasn't occupied by the trees' foliage was almost completely covered by vines that hugged the trees and dangled from branches, almost as if they had been somehow told to grow in a way that would obscure what lay beyond. The vines, which grew almost so thick it reminded Tione of hair, were covered in tiny yellow cone-shaped flowers.

“I get it, Aleric,” Tione said, plucking one of the tiny flowers as they passed under an iron arch that descended elegantly to meet the fence she'd been fidgeting with as they walked. Decorated with more lions, tiny vines curled around the thin black iron as if having recently decided that simply blocking the sides of the path was not enough. Beyond the arch was another plaza, decorated with well-tended flower beds, fountains and statues of heroic-looking figures. From every side of the square, paths of smooth bleached stone led toward the center where a sword jutted awkwardly from a simple stone pillar. They weren't completely alone—a few people sat on stone benches or enjoyed the flowers. Mostly old people, Tione observed, but there were a few children with their parents.

Aleric's steps echoed across the court as he ran to the pillar. The sword projected a long, thin shadow over the smooth stone in the faltering daylight. The shadow met Aleric's as he slowed his pace to a trot as he neared the imprisoned sword.

With a sigh, Tione followed him. “I don't think he's gonna leave until he checks it out,” she said to everyone.

“I won't pass up this chance!” Aleric called over his shoulder. He turned to the inscription on the pillar as everyone gathered behind him, straining to read the words. “'For a man to draw the sword, he must first lay down his own.' Huh…” He glanced surreptitiously at the sword hanging at his waist. Tione knew what he was thinking.

Kao leaned over Aleric, who had gotten down on one knee to examine the pillar. “I suppose there's a chance no one's tried just laying their sword down on the ground before,” he chuckled.

The same creeping feeling of vulnerability washed over Tione again when she leaned down next to Kao. “Come on, Aleric. That inn's calling us! I've never stayed at an inn before—I'm actually kind of excited!”

Aleric returned a smile over his shoulder and chuckled. “All right, all right, Tione.” Before he stood up he scratched the top of Tione's head like that of a pet. “Let's go, then.” He picked up Stupid, who was pawing at the first part of the inscription on the side of the pillar.

The rest of the journey to the inn was uneventful and before much longer they'd arrived at a small building at the end of a dark, narrow street. The sun had just set and the shadows had gone from their lengthened state to completely overwhelming the town in cool shade. A bit of pink and orange still lingered on the horizon over the trees, glimmering like an unreachable gem.

“Hey, I know this place!” Aleric grinned with pride. “Hey, this is a great place. Wonder if Paskin is still here.”

Tione read the wooden sign that hung over the door. “The Cloak N' Dagger Inn,” she said. “Well, that sounds promising enough.” Warm, flickering firelight shone through crude stained glass on the first floor, and Tione could hear a fiddle being played and a drum being beaten over laughter and boisterous yelling. Upstairs, some windows were dark, and others were lit by weak candlelight, but one was lit by what was plainly a strong magical light—there was at least one magician staying there. It was all so exciting, but Tione suddenly realized how exhausted she was. No matter what the condition of the bed, she would be happy to collapse into it.

“This is the place,” Lime smiled, her hands crossed over her lap. “I'm sure you'll be able to get plenty of rest here! Don't worry about the noise downstairs—I hear the rooms on the second floor have a soundproofing spell on them.”

Lime bade goodbye to everyone and bid them good luck in preparing for the contest, finally slipping off down the street under the light of the magic torches.

Watching her leave vigilantly, Geddon murmured, “It would be best if we all got one room to sleep in… together. If something happens, we'll be together.”

“Cheaper, too,” Shani added.

Kao looked up at the upper floors lit up under the dark sky, and sighed. “I think… I'll get my own room,” he finally said.

Aleric's gaze followed the demon's up the inn's sturdy stone walls, changing to wattle and daub and wooden framework on the upper two floors. “What? Why?” he asked disappointedly.

Turning, Kao smiled spuriously. “Nothing you should worry about. Don't worry, I can pay for it myself.”

A small frown, and then a relaxed smile crossed Aleric's face in rapid succession. “All right, then. No worries. Let's get inside then.” He drew his sword.

“Hey, hey!” Tione interjected. “What are you doing?”

Aleric struck the door frame in front of them with his blade. It hit the corner of the worn, dark wood, carving out a few splinters. Now Tione noticed that the frame was covered on each side and the top with all kinds of marks from blades of many sizes, from little pokes from daggers to large slices from halberds or scimitars. Some of the older marks were worn around the edges and had moss growing in them. “It's customary here. When you check in, you mark the door frame.”

Looking at the pocket that held her very blunt weapon, Tione pouted. But Aleric was beckoning the group inside into the warm glow of the inn. After an extemporaneous dive into her pocket to retrieve her spoon, she knocked it against the door frame as the passed over the threshold. Instead of the sharp tap she was expecting, there came the sound of wood splintering as if a war horse had kicked the side of the building. Before Tione could back out of the doorway to see what had happened, everyone behind her gasped.

Wincing, Tione saw that now a fist-sized piece of wood was missing from the door frame, and the wood that had originally been there was in splinters on the ground.

“Someone's got a bit of natural talent,” Shani remarked. “Where was that when that ball of fangs and claws was taking chunks out of your boyfriend there?”

Tione looked through the door. Aleric was leaned over the old, worn counter chatting amiably to the older bearded man behind it with a nostalgic smile. “He's not—” A guy and girl who start on a quest, huh? “Never mind…” She got the feeling the more she tried to deny it the more inevitable it would become.

With a perfunctory clearing of his throat, Geddon murmured, “Perhaps we should go inside before we cause any more damage.”

Inside the inn was a single expansive foyer set up like a tavern, lit by torches on the walls and glowing, flickering fire dancing in an old stone fireplace. The hearth had been damaged by impacts, having several chunks of stone missing. There was even a scorch mark made presumably by a magical blast. Must've been some brawl. The wood being burned must have been special, for the air was filled with a warm, spicy scent, like from incense. The floor was clean except for the spots that would take a whole second to get at by moving a chair or table, and the furniture and shelves were polished aside from a few corners and crannies, which seemed to have escaped the cleaner's attention for, judging from the layer of dust, at least a few months. Most of the room was occupied by tenants who appeared to be warriors and heroes, decidedly occupying a lower rung than the primped and perfect ones who loitered back at the Temple Square, closer to the travelers who would pass through Sheste on occasion. They drank, laughed, and brandished their weapons proudly. And, Tione noticed, many of them were now paying attention to her and her friends.

“But yeah, yeah,” Aleric was saying to the man behind the counter, who seemed to be both listening and muttering orders to the overwhelmed serving girl who shuffled from table to table. “Completely hooked on me. All the way from Sheste, right? She's—” he performed a perfect double take at Tione, spoon brandished, in the doorway. “… gonna kill me.”

“Not in here,” the man grumbled. “I just cleaned this morning.” He looked up. “You all together?”

Tione leaned on the counter, giving Aleric a soft smack at the back of the head. “Yeah, but the demon wants his own room.” She nodded back at Kao.

The man regarded Kao with about as much apprehension as one would a jar that was balanced precariously on the edge of a table. “Why?”

Kao put a fist on his hip. “Hmph. None of your business, okay?”

Pulling out the record book and scrawling a few incomprehensible notes into it, the owner sighed. “All right. You'd better watch yourself, though.” He suddenly chuckled. “With all the heroes around, you know. Better behave yourself!”

Kao wiped some dust off the end of his cape. “Listen, just come out and say that if I try anything I'll get my ass kicked. Don't worry, I'll be good,” he said disdainfully.

The owner took Kao's word in confidence and told them where their rooms were.

Aleric slapped the counter. “Hey, thanks, Paskin. Don't let the bedbugs bite, huh?”

Paskin tossed away the record book into its slot under the desk and rubbed his eyes. “Don't worry. I would need to be in bed for that,” he muttered.

On the way to the flight of stairs that would take them to their rooms, Aleric lowered his voice and asked, “Hey, Geddon. Aren't you scared someone might… you know, recognize you around here?”

The rowdy occupants of the room had, for the most part, forgotten their arrival, though Kao got a few stares, understandably. “I do not think so,” Geddon answered. “Aside from a few nobles, individuals who would recognize me would perforce be someone who should be in Sela as well, and as such would have no right to accuse. In addition, I'm not wearing the outfit I usually wear to conference, and I've only just begun wearing my hair in a ponytail for the purpose of our adventure. I highly doubt even those who have met with me a couple of times before would be sure of my identity.”

The stairs creaked welcomingly. Now level with the old rafters at the ceiling of the first floor, it was apparent that people weren't the only inhabitants of the Cloak N' Dagger. A creature resembling a black-furred rat but far larger and threatening huddled in a corner where a gap in the wall's construction allowed it shelter.

“A grat,” Aleric pointed out. “Those little things are what makes a humble inn like this so great. It's all about the atmosphere.”

“Especially when one falls in your soup,” Tione added.

“Now you're getting it!... Hey, here's our room! Now here's a real inn room, Tione, you're gonna love this!" Aleric gingerly opened the door, peering into a room lit with crystal blue moonlight.

Kao walked past them with a short wave. "Doubtlessly," he agreed soberly as he retreated to his room. "Good night, all." As an afterthought, he winked cheerily. "Don't have too much fun in there without me, all right?"

The question as to why Kao would want his own room was raised again as he closed the door behind him, locking it with a sharp click. Well, Kao had said that demons value honesty; she'd have to ask him when she got the chance. It was probably nothing anyway.

The inside of their own large room was set up for a large group; there were actually six beds aligned in an orderly military style with a small round table in the corner covered with a discolored white cloth, colored a subdued cerulean by the moonlight flowing in from the large window at the back of the room. Well-used sheets covered the beds and mismatched blankets were folded sloppily onto each one. Tione claimed the nearest one. The bed was a bit firm for her tastes—probably overstuffed to compensate for having been used so much—but comfortable nonetheless. She dared not lay down yet; she'd probably pass out in no time. “So, we're in the Heroes' Contest. How do we possibly hope to stand a chance against the kind of people we saw back in the square?”

Geddon seemed ready to speak, but a familiar sound interrupted him. Aleric was spread out on his own bed near Tione's, snoring loudly, having fallen fast asleep. Finding no reason not to do so, Tione, Geddon and Shani decided to follow suit.