Dear Mich,

  I wish I was writing you on better terms, however this is about guild business so we’ll have to save the pleasantries for later. I’m sending you this to inquire about the insurance claim of one of my constituents. I am fully aware that we are somewhat off the beaten track, which can delay delivery of goods. However, a letter weighs next to nothing and the cost it would incur to overnight it is minimal. To demonstrate, I have overnighted this letter to you and enclosed enough money to return not only a reply explaining the delay, but the actual approval for construction as well. I am fully aware of the sort of red tape that exists once you start climbing the ladder of any organization (gods know it’s why I retired out here) but this is a person's livelihood we’re talking about. I’m not asking you to break the rules, just remove a few sticks that may have found themselves lodged up peoples asses.

  Your Friend and Colleague

  Paul Swiftly

  Sleep illuded Joe for much of the night. When he did finally manage to coax it into bed with him it was as restless as he was, tossing and turning the whole night. Joe woke surrounded by the smell of coal smoke and flowers. It was an odd combination in most cases, but to Jo it was the smell of home. He tightened his arms, getting a coo out of the still sleeping Moira. Burying his face into the mass of hair on the back of Moira’s head got a chuckle from his blacksmith love.

  “Feeling a bit clingy this morning are we?” She muttered sleepily.

  “Just when I’m with you,” Joe's response was somewhat muffled as he still hadn’t removed his face from her hair. “What do you think about leaving the shop closed today? Gretta can watch the girls and we can stay in bed…”

  With a grunt and a wiggle Moira rotated in Joe’s grip, ending up with her head on his chest and his hands on her backside. He gave it a squeeze that made her hum into his chest. “As wonderful as that would be,” Moira murmured as she sprinkled his neck in little kisses, “someone has to pay the bills around here.”

  “Yeah, Gretta.” Joe kissed her nose, “that’s what employees do right? They do the work for you.”

  “And how do you expect her to watch the girls if she’s running the store?” Moira sidled closer, tucking her head up under Joe’s chin.

  “We could just have them help her. They’ve been freeloading for far too long.” Joe gave Moira’s backside another firm squeeze. “You know, no one else is awake yet, we could-” He was interrupted by the sound of movement from Sarah’s room next door. “By all the gods,” Joe grumbled as underneath him Moira stifled a snigger.

  “Sorry handsome,” she purred, kissing his neck a few times. “But it sounds like the girls are up.” As if to underline the point they heard Sarah’s muffled voice through the wall.

  “Mooooom! Can we make flip’ems for Crystal?”

  “‘For Crystal’” Joe muttered, “and not at all because she loves them. Especially if we let her use the stove.”

  Moira groaned into him, not having moved one iota despite the pleas of her daughter. “I don’t have the energy to let her do that today.” she whined into him.

  Joe kissed the top of her head.“Well then why don’t we let her show Crystal how to make the batter and I will do the cooking?”

  “Moooom!”

  “I’m gonna bury you in a box if you shout again!” Despite having to come through two walls, Gretta’s grumbled comment was perfectly audible to the pair of them. Joe could almost hear the silence that filled Sarah’s room in the wake of that proclamation. What was slightly louder however, was the stealthy sound of a door being opened as quietly as possible, followed by the patter of two pairs of little feet. Their door opened a moment later to admit two heads, one red and the other blue.

  “Papi, Fipms” Crystal stated, doing her best to pronounce the new word.

  “Well,” Joe chuckled as he let go of Moira and got up, “how can I argue with that?”

  “You start, I’ll be out in a minute.” Moira murmured, burying herself deeper into the blankets. By the way his blacksmith love nestled into the warm spot he’d left behind, Joe was sure it would take more than a minute for her to get up. Ah well, nothing to do except stop procrastinating.

  “Come on you two, let's get started on breakfast.” Joe shooed the pair out with a wave of his hand, closing the door quietly behind him. By the time the door clicked into its frame MOira was already lightly snoring again.

  Teaching self reliance is one of the most important jobs of parenting, and the earlier one gets started the better. Joe had to continually remind himself of this fact as it took what felt like six times as long to complete the task with the girls ‘help’ as it would have if they had simply not gotten in the way.

  “Crystal honey, don’t mix that with your hands you’re getting batter everywhere. Sarah I don’t need another pan,” Joe had to pause and wait for the sound of falling metalware to subside. “I know you’re sorry, but can you pick those up? Yes I know they are heavy but you can- Crystal! No! Do not taste that, it hasn’t been cooked yet and you could get sick…”

  When Moira did finally emerge from the bedroom she took one look at Joe and pointed back the way she’d come. “Break time. Go take a breather, I’ve got it from here.”

  “Thank you,” Joe whispered, stealing a kiss as he passed.

  “Are the flip’ems done yet?’ Gretta yawned as she opened the door to her room. The orc had had the most trouble adapting to the presence of a man in the house, oftentimes forgetting JOe was there and coming out into the main living space in nothing but her underclothes. This had gone on for so long now that instead of doing anything to fix it, Gretta had simply stopped caring. Today however she’d at least remembered to throw a loose fitting shirt on before emerging from her room, a fact Joe greatly appreciated. He gave her a quick greeting before disappearing back into Moira and his bedroom to lay back down.

  <><><>

  Consciousness was abruptly returned to Joe when the door to the bedroom burst open admitting two very excited children.

  “Papa! Flip’ems are ready!”

  “Flipms!”

  Sarah managed to make it to the bed with practiced ease, leaping from almost halfway across the room. Crystal however, struggled to make the ascent up the bed. Her much shorter stature making it difficult to get her legs high enough to get on.

  “Help” she said, pounding the bed and giving Joe a glare. With a grunt, Joe scooped the toddler sized monster onto the bed where she proceeded to bury herself under the blankets. “Flipms”

  “Well yeah, but you’re gonna have to get out from under there to have any.” Joe lifted up the comforter to look in on Crystal.

  “No”

  “Yes”

  The little core beast wiggled deeper into the covers. “No”

  “Crystal,” Joe infused the name with as much authority as he could muster. Crystal didn’t move, but JOe could see the resolve of the little girl weaken. “Do I need to count to three?” Crystal wiggled lower, but shook her head. “Then please come out here.” That finally broke through, and Crystal slipped out into Joe’s arms.

  Breakfast was a pleasantly domestic affair. Sarah and Gretta spent their time doting on Crystal, helping the little cub cut up her flip’ems and smear a variety of fruit preserves on the pieces. With the girls distracted, Moira and Joe had a chance to enjoy their meal while engaged in a meaningless yet enjoyable conversation. They were halfway through the meal when there was a knock at the door.

  Immediately the mood snapped from heart warming to frigid. Joe and Moira shared a glance before they passed it to Gretta. The knock came again and Sarah hopped off her seat.

  “I can get it.” She said, scurrying to the door. JOe stood to try and intercept her, but she was at the door and opening it before he’d gotten his chair out from under him.

  Sarah flung the door open and squealed, “It’s Dada Minsk!” ‘Dada Minsk’ had been the compromise the little cat girl had finally settled on between calling Minsk “Dad’ and “Daddy’. She had explained it, in a very matter of fact tone, that since Joe was ‘Papa’ then Minsk could be “Dada’. Joe could tell from the c’tahl’s face that he hadn’t liked the name, which meant that Joe approved of it immediately.

  The big catfolk stood foursquare in the door, his face oscillating between trying to look intimidating for the adults and benign for his child. He eventually settled on a half scowl that wasn’t impressing anyone.

  “Moira,” he gave his former lover a perfunctory nod before moving on, “and Joe. I’m actually here to talk to you.”

  Joe was unpleasantly surprised by this development, but since he was already standing he went over. “Morning Minsk, what’s up?” He was frosty but polite to the c’tahl.

  Minsk gave him a nod before looking away to run an eye over the interior of the house. “I have it on good authority that you are harboring a dungeon born monster. One that’s very dangerous and needs to be turned over to the guild.”

  Joe’s insides tied themselves into knots, but he didn’t let it show on his face. Instead he crossed his arms and met the c’tahl stare for stare. “‘Good authority’, and did this authority send you out to collect this supposed monster?”

  Minsk’s glare ratcheted up a few more notches. Joe’s resolve however had been hammered against the anvil of customer service for too long to crumble easily and he didn’t flinch under Minsk’s gaze. In the end it was Minsk that caved first. “I’m not here to take it from you. I just couldn’t believe that even someone as green as you could be stupid enough to do something so dangerous.”

  A spike of anger shot through Joe’s heart. He could hear the sound of a chair screeching against the wooden floor as Moira stood up and stomped over. “Minsk” she growled. Joe took her hand and gave it a squeeze, banking her fires before she rolled her former lover out like a rug.

  “Crystal,” Joe called without looking away from Minsk. “Could you come here for a second?” It took a bit more than a second for the cub to clamber down off her chair and make her way over to him. The entire time she was doing so JOe maintained eye contact with Minsk.

  The c’tahl’s face went through several different emotions as Crystal approached. At first he was annoyed, then confused, then shocked as realization finally came to him.

  “Papi?”

  Joe crouched and scooped the little core beast into his arms.

  “Is that-”

  “This is Crystal, she’s the core beast we found in the dungeon. She’s the ‘monster’ they want to take from me.” Joe’s eyes hardened as his grip tightened around the little girl. As if she understood her Papi was upset, Crystal put her own arms around Joe and pressed her cheek into his.

  Minsk sighed, shifting from foot to foot as he glanced away from the two of them.

  Is he uncomfortable? Well good. “Not what you were imagining?” Joe asked. Crystal laid her head on his shoulder, looking up at Minsk with mild interest.

  The glare returned to Minsk's face, but it seemed to not quite fit as well as it had a moment before. “No,” he admitted reluctantly.

  “A bit hard to feel like the conquering hero when your ‘enemy’ is a child?” It was a low blow and even Joe could admit that Minsk probably didn’t deserve it. Hours of work the previous day, coupled with a rather shitty night's sleep however meant that he really didn’t care. The barb didn’t go unnoticed, as behind Minsk his tail fluffed up like a pissed off tom cat.

  “It’s not what the beast looks like,” he growled. “It’s what it can do. You are risking the lives of everyone in this town by harboring that thing.”

  “She, Minsk, she, and she’s no harm to anyone.” Joe shot back, pointedly not thinking about what had happened with Dr.Hornsforward.

  “I’m sure you think so.” Minsk's tone made it clear what he thought about Joe’s opinion. “But it’s not your choice to make. The guild is coming, Joe. They’re assembling a team to collect,” he glanced at Crystal before continuing, “it and I can assure you that if you stand in their way you will only get hurt.”

  “How do you know they’re doing that?” Moira cut in for the first time since coming over. Minsk turned away from Joe, seeming to dismiss him the moment his eyes were off the chemist. “They wanted me to lead it.”

  “And you said no?”

  Minsk nodded to his former lover. “It was a bit too close of a relation,” he said grudgingly, shooting Joe a look. “I also hoped to talk some sense into you before the guild got involved.”

  Yeah and your opening move was to insult my intelligence JOe thought, scowling back at him.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “Well” Moira’s one word broke the glaring contest between the two men and centered them back on her. “Thank you for letting us know they’re on the way. Did you plan to stick around?” She let the other half of the question hang unsaid, unsaid but not unheard.

  Minsk’s ears flattened down against his skull. “Moira please. Do the right thing and get rid of it. Don’t let him-”

  “That’s enough Minsk.” Moira interrupted, her voice was not loud or harsh but it carried enough authority to stop Minsk in his tracks.

  The c’thal snorted before turning and leaving. “Fine, but do not get my daughter injured because you are being stubborn.” With his last barb delivered, Minsk turned around and left.

  Joe wanted to kick Minsk down the stairs, but restrained himself. Other than throwing around a few inflammatory comments Minsk hadn’t done anything to warrant physical violence. Joe glanced at Moira as Minsk rounded the corner and disappeared from sight. She was pale, clearly Minsk’s parting shot had hit its mark and left his blacksmith rattled. The two of them met each other’s eyes and had a silent conversation.

  Setting Crystal down, Joe stepped out into the stairwell. A moment later Moira followed him and shut the door behind her. When she turned back, Joe could see she was trying hard to hold it together. She doesn’t want to say it, Joe thought as he looked deeply into her green eyes. Damn you Minsk. Leave it to you to make a valid point in the most assholeish way possible. Joe took both Moira’s hands. She wouldn’t look at him, her eyes unfocused as she stared into a private world all her own. I can’t make her make this decision, it’d kill her to even suggest it. Taking a deep breath, Joe said the words he didn’t want to say.

  “I’m going to turn Crystal over..” Moira’s head snapped up, shock warring with relief and disgust for prime position on her face. Before she could interject Joe went on. “Minsk had a point, us standing our ground can only end one way, and when all is said and done I can’t have you or Sarah get hurt because I’m being stubborn.” Joe ran his hand through his hair, bile rising up to his mouth. ‘Paul and I spent hours on it last night, we don’t have a leg to stand on. Unless I cough up their twenty percent difference, she’s getting sold.”

  “I have a lot of equity built up in my shop.” Moira crossed her arms, trying to look tough but Joe could see it was just a facade. “And you own your shop outright. You could mortgage it. I know the Bacartis are always looking for property.”

  “There’s no guarantee that would be enough.”

  “We have to try!” Moira snapped, “ ye gods Joe, she may not be flesh and blood ours but we’re the best chance that little girl has.” She tapped her pointer finger hard against his chest. “You cannot tell me you actually think she would be taken care of wherever she ends up.”

  “No,” Joe admitted, “but we don’t have time to assemble the money, not unless they are willing to delay the sale.”

  “Arrangements can be made,” a new voice rumbled up the stairs. A moment later its owner stuck their head around the corner. The man was a minotaur like Micah but scaled up a size and a half. He was clad in chainmail and at his hip was a warhammer a lesser being would have needed two hands to wield. His face was serious, but not unkind. Behind him four more armored individuals pressed into the stairwell. “Good morning, my name is Arlowe and I am in charge of the recovery team for the guild assets in your posssession.” Arlowe raised a hand to forestall Moira when he saw her bristle. “We are talking legality here ma’am. I am already aware of what she looks like.”

  “And you are still here to try and take her?” Moira growled.

  “Yes. No ma’am please do not interrupt again.” He gave her a put upon smile. “I know how I would be if someone tried to take my son from me, and I can tell you already care about her.” He gestured towards the door. “could we perhaps continue this conversation somewhere other than in a stairwell?”

  Moira’s living room was cozy with its four normal occupants, adding in a fifth had snugged things up further. Now with the addition of five more adults, everyone was pressed in like sardines. Arlowe had taken up a position on the floor opposite the couch with his four associates ranged around the room doing their best to find whatever space they could.

  By mutual unspoken agreement Moira and Joe had wedged Crystal between them. The little core beast sipped placidly on some juice as she looked around with mild interest at the newcomers. Despite her protests, Sarah had been instructed to help Gretta man the shop until the meeting was over. The two hadn’t made it all the way out the door before Sarah turned and, planting her hands on her hips in a passable impression of her mother, declared; “you better be nice to my mama and papa.” Threat delivered, she stomped off.

  “That girl is going to grow up to be somebody,” Arlowe chuckled. He reached into a pouch at his waist and extracted a small set of pince nez glasses that he balanced on his bovine snout. “Now,” he said in a business-like manner, “since I overheard you two talking about how to buy out the guild legitimately, I am going to approach this in a civilized manner. As I said previously, arrangements can be made to delay the sale while you collect funds. I will let you know right now that it won't be a small amount and I won't be able to delay it indefinitely." He raised a hand back over his shoulder and one of his group, a human man that looked no older than Gretta, placed a leather folio in his hand. Arlowe dug around in it for a moment before producing a document that was held together with a golden staple.

  That threw Joe for a second, as he’d not once seen a stapler the entire time he’d lived in his new world.

  “This is an official interest of purchase contract,” Arlow explained, setting the document down on the coffee table and sliding it towards Joe. “It doesn't bind you to actually buy out the guild. Instead it acts to show your interest in doing so. It also acts as a promise to not do certain things while collecting the funds.” Arlow gave a little chuckle, “namely you won't head for the hills, guild property in hand. It also prevents you from pre-selling part or whole of the disputed property. I will draw your attention to this clause here on page one.”

  He tapped a paragraph about halfway down, drawing Joe’s eyes to it. “It states the guild reserves the right to retain potentially dangerous and or valuable items in their care prior to the buy out. Before you interrupt me, yes in this context she does count as an item. It’s legalease, it doesn’t have to be nice.”

  Joe picked up the papers and leafed through them. There was nothing sinister in it. In fact the wording was very straightforward and easy to follow. I guess this is what you get when people more use to swords than pens write contracts. “So basically sign this to say I’m interested in buying out the guild and wont run off or sell Crystal on the side.”

  “Exactly, then I take it to the guild and they review it and come up with a buy out price. If the guild decides they would rather keep her in their possession I’ll see what can be worked out. If that should happen, I promise on my guild honor that she will be taken care of.”

  Well there’s really nothing else I can do, Joe’s eyes scanned the document not really reading anything in front of him. If I tried fighting this they’d have to take me to court in a bucket. His eyes wandered to the warhammer on Arlowe’s hip. The minotaur hadn’t acknowledged it other than maneuvering the cumbersome weapon into a more comfortable position when he sat down. It was, however, the sort of weapon that did its own introductions. Joe was fully aware of the sort of devastation that could be wreaked with a weapon like that.

  “Alright,” Joe said, setting the paper back down on the coffee table, “I’ll sign it”

  Arlowe smiled, after a moment of digging around in the folio he produced a golden pen and handed it to Joe. “Just sign here and we’ll get the process started.”

  Joe took the pen. Glancing towards Moira Joe saw she didn’t exactly look happy, but she gave him a short nod none the less. Joe put pen to paper and scrawled his name. As he did so the pen buzzed in his hand like a joke pen. His gut twisted like he had vertigo and the fingers holding the pen went numb for a moment. Joe dropped the pen with a yelp and looked at Arlowe.

  The minotaur looked confused for a moment before taking on a genuinely concerned expression. “Oh I’m sorry, have you never signed a warded contract before?” He frowned when Joe shook his head. “My apologies, I should have explained.” He pointed to the gold colored staple holding the paper together. “That’s a warded seal. It not only holds the papers together, but carries an enchantment that monitors whoever signs the document with the linked pen.” Here he pointed to the pen where it lay on the table. “Nothing invasive. It just checks to see if you’ve violated the contract. If you do then the seal gives off an alert and highlights the sections of the document that were violated.”

  “Ah so it doesn’t prevent me from doing anything, it just tells you if I’ve done something I shouldn’t have.”

  “Oh no, if it made you physically incapable of violating the contract that would fall under compulsion magic.” Arlowe shook his head.

  Which is apparently illegal here Joe thought as he nodded.

  Arlowe returned the pen and paper to their folio before standing with a grunt and a loud popping of knees. “Well that’s it for now. I’ll file the paperwork when I get back to the guild and we’ll be in touch with a price tag shortly.” He gave a nod to each of his associates who filed out of the room and down the stairs. Arlowe himself slotted in behind the last of them, but stopped and turned back at the threshold as if he’d forgotten something. “One more question before I go. Off the record as it were. If you do buy out the guild, what are your plans with her?”

  Joe blinked. He shared a bewildered glance with Moira before turning back to the minotaur. “Well at the moment I’m not sure. She’s a little too young for school, so I’ll probably just have her behind the counter with me once the shop gets rebuilt. Why do you ask?”

  “Oh, no reason,” Arlowe said with a chuckle. “You all have a good day.” He waved before shutting the door behind him.

  <><><>

  “Well ain’t that a real pickle ya got yaself into.” Merrie Carrie sat across from Joe with her chin propped up on the heels of her hands. She watched as Crystal slowly worked her way through a jam filled pastry. The little girl had a serious look on her face, as if her treat was the most important thing in the world. “Ya really gonna sell your shop?” Merri Carrie asked, dragging her eyes away from the jam covered toddler.

  “If that’s what it takes. I wouldn’t call it selling though, more like mortgaging.” Joe took the paper napkin Crystal’s pastry had come with and did the best he could to clean her finger. Across the table Merrie Carrie snorted. “Mortgaging to the Bacarti’s might as well be selling, but it’s not like there’s any other option and boy do they know it.”

  “They don’t do favorable rates?” Joe asked, giving up on Crystal’s hands for the moment.

  “That’s putting it mildly.” Merrie Carrie groused. “Over half my monthly payment goes right into their pockets without ever touching my balance.” That’s actually not too bad. Joe watched as all his hard work went to waste the moment Crystal picked up her treat. Although I guess it really depends on how it’s structured. If it’s fifty percent over the life of the loan that’s actually really bad. Joe sighed through his nose. Well, it was nice owning my own place while it lasted.

  Merrie Carrie misinterpreted his sigh. Waving a hand in a dismissive gesture she chuckled, “aw hell Joe, that aint nothing water can’t get rid of. Just let that girl be a kid.”

  “Hm? Oh, yeah I knew I should have waited until she was done.” He looked away from his cub, eyes drifting to an interesting knothole while his mind wandered off. “I’m surprised by how civil the whole thing was.” Joe said, still entranced by the wood.

  “Hm?”

  “When the guild rep showed up today.” Joe elaborated. “Back when we were drawing up the original contract it got down right nasty. But this time they were pleasant. He didn’t talk down to, or threaten me in any way.”

  “Well that ain’t hard to understand. It’s cuzz you got Arlowe.” Merrie Carrie chuckled, running her fingers through her fleecy hair “That man’s the biggest sweetheart there ever was. Got a head so level you could balance a ball on it. He’s got a little one himself you know.”

  Joe raised an eyebrow, “oh?”

  “Yeah a little boy. He’s about three now I think.” Merrie Carry tapped her chin and looked upwards. “They come in about once a week for a cookie and a plain cup of yara. Whoever it was that decided he should be in charge of the team’s probably the smartest member of the whole damn guild.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far. They originally wanted Minsk to lead.”

  Merrie Carrie pulled a face. “I retract my previous statement.”

  “Mo’peas” Crystal held her sticky hands up to show that they were, in fact, empty.

  “Well aint you just a bottomless pit.” Merrie Carrie chuckled. She stood, chair scraping softly against the tile floor. “Should I get her another one?”

  “No, we need to head off.” Joe responded, ruffling Crystal’s hair and dodging a sticky swipe when she tried to fend him off. “I could use a wet towel though. Then I need to go to the bank…”

  <><><>

  Much like the Hitching Post, the Bank of Acadameyway hugged the walls of the university. Unlike the Hitching Post, the bank made it abundantly clear that it was a separate entity. It looked like a castle in its own right, all massive grey granite blocks with barely a page's width of mortar visible between them. Its windows were high, small and barred. The single entrance facing the street was flanked by two large orc guards. Both eyed Joe as he approached but said nothing.

  Yeah I’m not asking them where to find a loan officer, Joe gave each a friendly nod as he ascended the stairs. When he drew level with the pair, he only came up to their shoulders. He resisted the urge to see if they were still watching him as he passed inside.

  The interior was just as intimidating as the outside. Almost everything was stone, from the walls to the floor to the barrier between the tellers and the patrons. All was the same uniform grey granite the outside was built from. The only wood visible was the frames surrounding the portraits of severe looking men that glared down at those who entered.

  Geez, take every trope of banking and crank it to eleven why don’t you? Joe crossed the silent lobby, trying to not let his boots make too much noise on the bare stone floor. Ranged along the far wall were a series of grill covered windows that the tellers stood behind. There was no visible door connecting their side of the windows to his. As Joe looked around he suddenly realized that there were no doors coming off the lobby besides the entrance. Wait, where the hell do I go? Shit am I in the wrong place? Joe slotted himself into the back of the line and waited his turn, apprehension tightening his gut.

  Thankfully this world seemed to subscribe to the ‘one big line’ way of doing business. With four windows only needing to service the half dozen or so people waiting, it didn’t take long for Joe to end up at the front of the line.

  “Good afternoon sir, I can help you over here.”

  Joe caught a bit of movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see the teller on the far left trying to get his attention. The bars on the grill were so thick that he could barely see the movement, but it was enough that he finally noticed. The teller herself was a human woman dressed in a subdued black robe that covered her from collar bone to wrist. It was belted with a thin leather belt that lacked more than a metal ring to hold it in place.

  “How may I help you today?” she asked with a customer service smile.

  “Hey, I was hoping to talk to someone about a home loan?” Joe practically whispered. Other than the tellers calling people forward the building was as quiet as the grave.

  The woman winced almost imperceptibly. Had Joe not spent years in the pits himself he would have missed the look entirely. It was the look of any customer service rep about to deliver bad news they were sure would get them yelled at for.

  I guess some parts of customer service never change, Joe sighed internally.

  “I’m sorry sir, but we don’t have a loan officer available at this location. You’ll want the ‘Acadamyway Exchange Office’ on Main. If you’d like I can set an appointment for you though?”

  Joe gave her a practiced smile of his own. “That’d be great, what do you have?” He could see the exact moment the teller relaxed. Her smile became a lot more genuine after that. He left a few minutes later with a slip of paper and an appointment in two days. Well, not exactly what I wanted, but I’m not surprised it’s what I got. I probably could have blustered my way into getting something done sooner but I’m not going to be that kind of customer.

  On his way back to Moira's, Joe checked in with Mi’Takal to see if he’d gotten any mail. The dependable kobold informed him that he had not, but made sure Crystal left the store with a clean, if slightly foxed, stuffed dog. Its softness fascinated the little cub all the way back to Moira’s, letting Joe brood on things in peace. All this sitting around is really getting to me. I just want my shop back. A bit of Joe twisted in his gut at ‘my shop’. It won't be mine for long though. At least not all of it.

  A tug on his hand brought Joe out of his gloom. He looked down into Crystal’s big blue eyes. She held her hands up to him, stuffed dog flopping bonelessly in her grip.

  “Upeas”

  “Alright love, I’ll carry you the rest of the way.” Joe bent down, managing to get the girl up into his arms with minimal grunts and weird popping noises. Thankfully they were only a handful of blocks away and Joe was able to make it before his back gave out.

  When he got there, it was to find Arlowe waiting for him.