With nothing to do for the rest of the day, Roland went into the backyard to test the limits of Eliza’s body. While her strength and invulnerability may be gone, he knew her speed wasn’t. Perhaps there was more to unlock. Initially, he began by just punching and kicking the air. He was surprised at how natural the motions came. They were quick and precise. Calling them intuitive would understate the ease with which they were executed. There was no awkwardness. In fact, it required intense focus to be less than perfect. With these actions, there was command but no control. What an odd juxtaposition.

Roland went back inside and dragged a large mirror from the main hallway into the yard so that he could watch himself. He spent half an hour cycling through fighting techniques that he now ‘knew.’ To his untrained eyes, he looked like a master of martial arts. Hidden memories from Eliza or some remainder of her essence must be allowing him to manifest what was not in his mind but now a part of his being. He could experience these moments but, even with repetition, not understand them. While dumbfounding, it was very satisfying. As he watched Eliza’s reflection in the mirror, he was captivated by the artistry of her movements. He had never seen her exhibit fluidity and gracefulness like this during his time in Serene. Did the years simply make her cynical towards beauty of fighting?

Feeling empowered, he tried to punch through an old wooden board on a fence. This nearly broke his hand. As he sat in the yard, shaking his wrist, he realized that while his motions looked impressive, without Eliza’s power, they were just an act. He was sure he could put on a performance, but at the end of the day, his strength matched his appearance: that of a teenage girl.

Beyond this staged combat, he found that he could now do acrobatics. After a few stationary flips, he was soon tumbling across the yard. This was certainly a new experience for him, although the thrill was quickly overtaken by exhaustion. Perhaps his endurance would improve with more training. Oh well, he thought, at least this is good exercise.

Drenched in sweat, he decided to walk to a nearby river to cool off. He drank water from his cupped hands, then took off his boots and soaked his feet. Surveying the river, he saw that it was deep, but not moving fast. He impulsively jumped in. Swimming was something that he had never learned - there was no need or opportunity to growing up in the Cantermere Mountains - but he had seen Eliza do various strokes in the baths so he was certain that he wouldn’t drown. While relaxing, he regretted jumping in with his clothes on. After floating around in bright the afternoon sun, he got out.

He walked back to Dire Fortress soaking wet. In Mallory’s room, he undressed and began to dry himself off. As the towel brushed across Eliza’s nipples, a chaste tightness gripped his skin. In the calm of the late afternoon, naked, he got under the covers of Mallory’s bed. Thinking of her, he used his fingers to trace over the areas of Eliza’s body that he had previously explored with touch and taste back in Serene. He pulled and pinched Eliza’s nipples, enjoying the sensation as Eliza must have when he used his hands and mouth. Spreading his legs open, he moved his right hand down. He slid one finger inside but then took it out and began rubbing above. These motions were familiar to both Eliza and Roland, but the rush of pleasure was of course new to Roland. His mind wasn’t particularly anywhere, as he was just focussed on rhythm and the building euphoria. A sudden urge overtook him. He rolled onto his stomach and continued. Soon he brought himself to climax.

The Seekers at the Sages’ Keep always espoused sexual abstinence. Self-pleasure was no exception. When Roland was a scribe, he never thought too much about these beliefs, although he was sympathetic to the opinion that they could impede the pursuit of truth. Now such virtuous nonsense was completely alien to him. After he wiped his hand on the bedsheets, he smelled his fingers and took a deep breath. Feeling no shame, he began masturbating again. He fantasized about a fairly routine time that he had sex with Eliza. However, he imagined that Mallory was in her place. While this may have been divorced from any reality past or future, with his eyes closed, it didn’t matter. He finished even faster this second time. Though hungry, he had no will to leave the bed. Content, he fell asleep.

***

The next morning, Roland woke early and found Jace loading several large bushels into the back of a wagon. Roland had assumed that he and Nick were going to take this wagon up the Windswept Coast, so he was confused as to what Jace was doing.

“Are you coming with us?”

“Yeah, Nick said you were travelling up the coast to Valdt. The dude who buys my GH is located along the way. Normally, I hire someone to drop off the herb for me, but I’ll cut out the middleman if I bring it out myself. You’re heading past there and there’s safety in numbers, so more profit with almost no risk. Also, they have some of the cheapest brothels and best live sex shows up there. Haven’t done a proper massage tour of the dirty coast since my freshman year.” He paused, “Anyways, once we’re in Valdt, I can take the safer Footracer path back to Bright Port.”

There was also a large, wrapped up painting sitting in the wagon.

“Is that yours too?” asked Roland.

“Is that my painting? No way, it’s Nick’s. He’s been working on it for months, but he won’t show it to anybody. Maybe he’s trying to impress some rich girl in Valdt with it? Does that move work with chicks? My go to has always been to take off my shirt.”

“I wouldn’t know,” said Roland as he went back inside to find Nick. He was not looking forward to travelling with this druyn’s taint.

Nick had just woken up and was waiting for some water to boil in the kitchen.

“So Jace is coming with us?” asked Roland. “Doesn’t he have to run your Famers’ Market?”

Nick yawned, “Nothing we grow is in season right now, so I shut it down this time of year.”

“Does he know who I am?”

“Nah, I told him you were my cousin Alys -” he paused and rolled his eyes, “- Fireborn.”

After Nick had finished his breakfast, they left. The wagon was pulled by two rezogos. Roland had seen these animals grazing around the Dire Fortress property but didn’t realize that they were domesticated. Rezogos are large, flightless, bird-like creatures that could move pretty fast. They could be ridden or, in this case, pull a wagon. Their main issue was that, just like normal birds, they shit everywhere. Further, they eat an enormous amount of food and don’t handle rough terrain very well. Most adventurers never bothered with them.

As the trio departed, Nick took a somber look at the wrapped painting. Then, with a smirk, he reached behind it and pulled out his lute. He looked at Roland, “How about some mind-numbing road music?” Roland ignored him. He was busy scanning the sky for anything with a draconic form.

***

Despite its name, the Windswept Coast was not at all windy. As far as Roland could tell, it seemed to be permanently covered in a light fog. Towns had names like ‘Lost-in-mist’ and ‘Haze Light,’ so this was unlikely to be a temporary phenomenon. On the surface, everything seemed as civil as the other parts of Relmgard, just more sparsely populated. The main road was well maintained so it would be a challenge to get lost. Travelling was uneventful. However, Roland always had the feeling that they were being watched. He began to dwell on a minor thing the Hero of Relmgard had mentioned but also dismissed: That he’d allow Roland to escape in order to track him. Roland asked Nick if he thought this was possible, but Nick said the hero was just fucking with him.

Each night, they were able to stay at an inn and get enough feed for their rezogos. When Roland would go to bed, Nick and Jace would leave and wouldn’t reappear until early in the next morning. There was little doubt what they were up to, as they would spend most of the following day hungover while Roland drove the wagon. This must have been another skill Eliza had experience with because Roland guided the wagon with little effort.

After a week on the road, they arrived at Jace’s destination: Stanky’s Wanderlust Inn. The sign outside of the enormous wooden building was heavily weathered, although the ‘lust’ part of ‘Wanderlust’ was freshly painted in bright pink. A short, fat man at the door made Jace check the scimitar that he had been carrying. Roland didn’t know if he could actually fight with it as he’d only ever seen him use it to clear brush. Roland didn’t have a weapon and Nick only had his lute, so the fat man didn’t bother them.

The large open space inside the building looked more like a saloon than an inn. The second floor overlooked the first, and there were several women leaning against the railings up there, studying the patrons. There were a motley assortment of characters at the bar, but they seemed pretty subdued. Roland and Nick found a table against a wall and sat down to eat. Jace and a large bald man who was standing behind the bar went outside to deal with the golden herb. This man was the inn’s eponymous owner, Stanky.

Nick and Roland both ordered noodles on the recommendation of the waitress. They were served with chopsticks instead of a fork. Roland had never used chopsticks, but Eliza’s body must have had some muscle memory for them as he had no problem twirling the noodles around the sticks.

“Nothing beats whore house noodles,” said Nick in between obnoxious slurping sounds.

By themselves, the noodles weren’t actually any good, but when they were drenched in a black sauce that was sitting on the table, they became a bit more edible. At least they were hot.

As they were finishing their meal and beginning to sip tea, Jace rejoined them. He must have smoked something after his transaction with Stanky because his eyes were bloodshot and he smelled worse than the beasts that had been pulling the wagon. He had an intense, uncomfortable look to him.

Jace leaned across the table and under his breath said, “Nick - this is our chance! We can rob this asshole!”

“What are you talking about?” replied Nick as he drank his tea.

“When Stanky paid me, I saw where he kept all his gold. It’s in a chest, in that backroom.” He pointed to a door near the bar. “Look around. Normally, there are nearly a dozen guards here. Stanky must not of thought that I’d come in person, because right now there are just two.”

“Yeah, and one is enough to kill all three of us.”

“No. Even if there were two hundred here we could take them out, because we have Queen Eliza with us.”

Nick laughed.

“Really?” said Roland. “Where is she?”

Jace looked at Roland, “Oh please. You really think Nick would travel up the dirty coast if you were just some random little girl who couldn’t defend herself? I saw you training at Dire Fortress. You’re an expert in hand-to-hand combat. I knew something wasn’t right but then when I was waiting for Stanky, I overheard one of the pirates at the bar. He said that you looked exactly like Eliza. That’s when it -“ Jace tried to snap his fingers but he couldn’t do it properly. “That’s when it clicked,” he finally said, tapping the table. “You’re Eliza of the Chosen. It makes perfect sense - you must have also trained Mallory!”

Roland scoffed, “That’s ridiculous. I’m not Eliza.”

“Don’t lie to me. You and Nick both think I’m just some dumb hick. Tanner and Mal did too. Just a punchline. How many people did Mal tell that I have a VD? Those rings on my dick were just an allergic reaction to silk underwear!”

Roland raised one of his eyebrows at this odd grievance.

Jace continued his rambling, “I’m tired of working for the weekend. If we get that chest, I can retire before my 30th birthday.”

“I really doubt someone named Stanky is sitting on a big score,” said Nick, still not taking Jace seriously. “Also, I’ve literally never seen you work more than three days a week.”

“Don’t change the subject and don’t lie to me.”

“We’re not lying to you,” said Nick. “Alys is not Eliza. In what realm does it make any sense that the ruler of Serene would go on a road trip with the two of us?”

Jace ignored him and yelled at Roland, “Just admit that you’re Eliza!”

“I’m not sure if you’re a hick, but you’re definitely a fool,” said Roland. “I’m not Eliza.”

Jace slammed his fists on the table.

“Jace,” said Nick. “Just chill, man. You got paid, why don’t you take it easy? Don’t the hostesses here blow patrons that tip well? If you don’t want to pay to get your joint worked on, why don’t we head back to that natural hot spring we passed and go for a soak?”

“I thought we were ride or die, Nick?”

“Yeah, when it came to tag-teaming girls back in college. Not if we’re talking about risking our lives for some tiny payday. What about my personality says that I’d be with you for that?”

Nick could see Roland roll his eyes at his comments. He turned to him and briefly explained, “I had self-esteem issues. The cheap thrill of degrading sex helped me work through that.”

“Tell me,” said Jace. “What happened to Talon then? I know you met with him the same day that he was murdered. Even a hick like me can unwind that bobbin. If you can take out a member of the Chosen then you can help me rob that low-level scum bag I just smoked GH with.”

“Jace, you’re wrong. Talon -“

“I’m doing it. Fuck it.”

“Jace, relax -“

“Stanky!” yelled Jace. “Stanky!”

The large man behind the bar saw Jace yelling and waving at him. He put a bar towel over his shoulder and started to walk over.

***

When Stanky reached their table, Nick did the bare minimum to diffuse what was going to be a tense situation.

“So is Stanky your first or last name?”

“Yeah I’m Stanky.”

“Just Stanky? You know you’ve really made it when -“

“That’s what dis was about? Settlin’ a bet ‘bout my name?”

Jace took a deep breath, “The chest. In the back. I want it.”

“Do ya now?”

“Yes. I want it,” repeated Jace.

Stanky scoffed, “Well I wanna throat fuck a Celestial, but that’s not in the cards is it?”

“If you don’t give it to us now, we’ll take it by force,” said Jace. He was trying to be calm and in control, but everyone could hear the nervousness in his voice.

“Youse three will take it? Youse lot look like you were cut from a theatre troupe for being too dandy.”

“You’re mistaken,” replied Jace as he shook his head. “My companion here is Eliza, Queen of Serene. She is the most powerful of the Chosen. I’ve seen her crush entire armies with her bare hands. The only one who will be throat fucked today is you - unless you do what we say.”

“Let’s hope cringe is intimidating,” whispered Nick with his hand over his mouth.

Stanky looked straight at Roland, “Really, eh?”

He now had a huge smile on his face. Taking a few steps back, he began to deliver a very loud monologue for everyone at the inn to hear.

“When you strolled in ‘ere, I thought ‘this piece looks like a delight.’ So much cleaner than the usual tarts that we get these ways. Then the barflies start mumblin’ about how youse look just like the giant statue they have over there in Serene. Imagine that? Eliza of the Chosen, visiting my humble establishment! The people’s queen! Willin’ to drink with the lowest depths of society. You won’t find yer king in here, little girl. Doubt you’d even find a jester - unless rape jokes are to yer taste.”

Stanky chuckled. Everyone else in the inn was silent as they watched the unfolding confrontation.

“Rest easy, lil’ witch, I have a broomstick for you to ride,” said Stanky as he moved close to Roland. “Always did wanna get up in some of that royal cunt.”

“Damn, dropping the c-word in public,” chimed in Nick.

“Quiet down, eunuch,” replied Stanky.

“I’m not Eliza,” said Roland. He didn’t make eye contact with Stanky. He sat still and kept drinking his tea.

Stanky shook his head, “Nah, you ain’t. Yer just one of those whores that dresses up for the gonks, aren’t ya? Elite type? Can always charge extra when you have a gimmick. Tho once yer broken in, the premium experience will lose its lustre. Hard to get repeat customers then, innit? So maybe I’ll have the first go, little Eliza?”

“I told you, I’m not Eliza.”

“Well Eliza, what do you-”

“Say that name again and I’ll break your jaw.”

“’Liza ‘Liza ‘Liza,” said Stanky as he smirked. “Well sweet wine, what should I call you?”

Roland knew there was no turning back. He put down his tea and made his move. Eliza’s speed was such that Stanky had no time to react. Deciding against hitting Stanky in the jaw - he thought he might break his own hand if he did - he instead punched him in the throat. Stanky fell back a few steps and wheezed. Roland could see water pooling in his eyes but Stanky wiped it away and smirked. He then began to laugh. Whatever pain he felt, it seemed to have quickly faded. Roland had punched him fairly hard and it had certainly hurt his hand, but Stanky now seemed fine. Maybe he was just trying to save face in front of the inn’s patrons that had become their audience, but he really didn’t seem too bothered by the sucker punch.

After he stopped laughing, he let out a “Fine” and walked away. On a shelf behind the bar, there was a hand bell. He picked it up and rang it for a few seconds then yelled out, “Quit faffin’ about lads! Get your arses out here!”

The sound of many doors opening came from the second floor. Men started to emerge from the brothel section of the inn. They were in various states of dress, but were all carrying weapons.

“Fuck,” muttered Jace.

“Here, we go,” said Nick. “I’ve seen this play out a million times travelling with Mal.”

Nick picked up his lute and leaned against the wall. He winked at Roland, “I’ll riff on the pentatonic scale.”

“Apologies for addin’ an intermission to this week’s leisure hour,” yelled Stanky. “But we have a very special guest! Eliza, Queen of Serene! In the flesh.”

Acting as if he was introducing a performer, Stanky extended both his arms towards Roland then began to clap.

The armed men, who were now forming a semi-circle behind Stanky, didn’t fully understand what was happening. Once they started clue into what was taking place, some of them started to chuckle. Roland heard one of them say, “Not going to kick her out of bed in the morning.”

Stanky continued, “Many have lusted after this youthful beauty. Tho some say she’s a tad too youthful for such desires.”

“Not me!” yelled one of the men.

“No doubt,” laughed Stanky. “I didn’t think there’d be any objections ‘ere! A fearsome fighter, so she’s probably a real slapper. But I know there’s not a soul in ‘ere who doesn’t like it rough!”

After making some more lewd comments to the guards, he then turned back to Roland, “Sorry, where were we? Oh yes, something ‘bout youse robbin’ me. Let’s put a pin in that - we gotta more pressing matter. There’re a bunch of my men walking around with hard-ons, ‘cause you put a cork in their carnal pursuits. So wadda we gonna do about that?”

Roland had been listening to this entire performance while he rolled one of the chopsticks on the table with his right hand. It was made of bamboo and would be suitable for what he was contemplating. Not once had he made eye contact with Stanky. He finally spoke in a commanding voice that he had heard Eliza use often:

“Well, your men can pair up and take care of each other.”

“A comedienne?” smirked Stanky. “Save it for the pillow talk.”

Nick continued to pluck a single note on his lute, adding to the tension.

“You don’t seem to have any problem with what comes out of your mouth,” said Roland. “I assume that goes the other way as well. So why don’t you get down on your knees and take care of them yourself?”

“That’s not very funny, is it?” said Stanky, who didn’t follow Roland’s pretty basic word play. “Come on little girl, you didn’t really think you could dress up like the most famous fighter in Relmgard and waltz around ‘ere without consequence? Now we’re gonna bend ya over the table and take turns fillin’ you like the delicate pastry you is.”

That was enough for Roland. He tightly gripped the chopstick he had been fiddling with. Utilizing Eliza’s speed and precision, he dashed forward and plunged it into Stanky’s left eye. Stanky stumbled backwards, but Roland stayed on top of him. He leapt onto Stanky’s shoulders and wrapped his legs around his neck. He pushed the stick as deep and as hard as he could with both of his hands. Roland finally let go of the chopstick and jumped down when Stanky began to convulse. In a fit of blood and spasms, he fell to the floor.

Stanky’s men had backed away as far as they could from the grotesque scene they had just witnessed. Roland was unsure what to do next. His hand was in pain. He had used so much force when plunging the chopstick into Stanky’s eye that the other end of it had gone quite deep into his skin. Even if he could dodge the attacks from the guards, that was all he could do now. There was no way he could fight back. He knew that if the guards swarmed him, there’d be no escape.

Suddenly, a middle-aged woman emerged from the group of onlookers and ran over to Stanky. She knelt over him and cried. Looking over at Roland, she yelled, “You … you’re a monster!”

This gave Roland an opportunity. He glared at the shocked guards.

“That’s right! I am monster! And any of you cum rags that don’t want to feel my wrath better leave this inn right now!”

At first no one moved. Then, the prostitutes who were watching from the second floor of the inn returned to their chambers. As the sound of doors slamming shut rang through the inn, the patrons and guards began to scurry out of the building. The only person remaining was the woman who was sobbing over Stanky’s corpse.

Roland walked over to the bar and poured himself a drink. He looked back at Jace. He hadn’t said anything or even moved in what felt like a century. Roland yelled at him, “Are you going to sit there with your ringed dick in your hand all day or what!?”

Jace slowly got up but moved fast once he did. Roland had no patience for anymore of this. After dousing his hand in alcohol and wrapping it with a towel, he walked out of the Wanderlust Inn.