The ma as a messenger returned. He was carrying the familiar bastard sword and goblin staff in each hand. He looked hesitant to give the ons to the goblins, but relented after seeing the rows of on racks. They held a rge assortment of ons, such as swords, axes, maces, spears, and various exotic ons. His hands were shaking as he hahe bastard sword and staff to Dink, who was grinning in amusement.

  “Your diligent service has been noted,” Dink said with a dramatic bow, flipping the man a copper piece.

  The man caught the ued awkwardly against his chest. He held it out in his palm to stare at it with a stunned expression.

  "Murkuk, here's your bangstick!" Dink called out, tossing the goblin staff to Murkuk.

  Murkuk leered at the armoured escort with a murderous expression. Dink could sense his hostility through their bond. He used the ft of the bastard sword to swat the back of the goblin mage’s head.

  “Behave,” Dink admonished.

  Murkuk looked at him obediently while tentatively rubbing the back of his head. Dink impishly grinned as he attached a scabbard to his torso. He sheathed the bastard sword across his back. The sheath en design that left the bde exposed. The hilt jutted indiscreetly above shoulder as he began to walk through the armoury to the staircase leading up.

  It’s time for the Sword Saint to greet the masses once again. After turies of pying lowkey, I’m back.

  Dink sauntered up the staircase with an eager grin as he rested his hands interlocked behind his head. Lady Estra and Murkuk followed closely behind. The well-dressed goblin mage kept a wary gaze on the nervous men in case they did something rash.

  Once Dink reached the top of the stairs, the majority of the crowd had already been evacuated by Master Chaplin. Dink could see him overseeing a group of guards to disperse the crowd while he politely ushered them to hurry while leaving. He looked back when he heard their arrival. His face became pale as he increased his urgency, pg his hand amicably on the shoulder of an elderly gentleman dawdling at the back of the crowd. After the crowd left, his shoulders slumped in relief at the crisis averted. Dink gri the se as he tioward the arena plex exit.

  “Very good work clearing the path for me, Master Chaplin. I must return for a visit one day,” Dink said jovially.

  “Oh. Yes, of course. I aim to be of service. I’ll always be here, so there’s o rush bay time soon,” Master Chaplin

  “But I enjoy your pany so much,” Dink said while fingering the hilt of his bastard sword at his shoulder.

  There was the familiar itana being elled as the purple runes on Master Chaplin’s bck robes lit up. Dink ughed as he released the sword, g a hand on Master Chaplin’s arm.

  “Don’t be so tense. I’m only pying with you, rex,” Dink said with a ugh, giving his arm a pyful shake.

  “Please leave, now,” Master Chaplin said tensely with sweat-beaded brows.

  “I know when I’ve overstayed my wele, let’s go,” Dink said spiritedly.

  He walked through the arena gates into the city before suddenly turning back, looking into Master Chaplin’s eyes. His hooded face gave his eyes an ominous cast as he spoke one final time.

  “Mark my words. I will return. When I do, it’s best that you be far from here, lest I decide to return the hospitality shown to me,” Dink warned.

  Outside, the horizon had bee dark as the su. It was a cloudy night with only one of the p’s three moons visible in the sky. Stars were hidden by the pollutioed by the bustling city. The crowd had dispersed down the main boulevard to enter rowdy taverns, or return home to retire. Wind blew the st of raw sewerage, causing Dink’s o wrinkle in disgust as the arena gates smmed closed behind him.

  Fairy lights flickered ience, lining the main streets of Chiset with illumination. They hovered above the tre of the cobblestone road. Dink watched as they appeared in sequeil they disappeared around a curve in the road. The buildings were made of stoh graceful wooden support beams and ste tile rooftops. Smoke trailed into the night sky from the eys of the taverns lining the street. He watched a tabby cat down a nearby alley agilely climb a wall, leaping to a neighb building to climb inside a ntern lit window left ajar for it.

  The trio began to walk as Murkuk looked around in wohe taverns open for business had ethereal signs formed from light floating outside their doors. They arrived at a busy interse filled with te arrivals from the city gates and drunks stumbling home to their wives. Dink looked up, the street names began to magically tra the air as he watched. He didn’t reise any of them as Lady Estra purposefully led them down a side street.

  He heard the hoot of an owl, followed by the squeak of its prey. He peered through the darkness in the dire of fpping wings to see the owl flying with a rodent clutched in its cws. His vision allowed him to see clearly on the cloudy night after they finished adjusting.

  Lady Estra led the goblins through winding back streets and alleyways to avoid suspi until they emerged outside an opulent building on a main road. Horse drawn carriages taining the wealthy. They ehrough rge oral doors on the main street while their drivers led the carriages into the stabling area behind the building. Less savoury folk ehrough a side entrance down a neighb alley on foot.

  The people entering were of different status’ from an assortment of races. Ranging from human, to elf, to beastfolk. They were all dressed in various fashions and designs. Outside the building, h in front of the sed floor, there was a rger-than-life illusion. It was a glowing-piion of a seductive high-elven maiden from the waist up, c her impressive chest with a coy expression.

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