“Wow, so you’re an Otherworlder, and the Firehand’s daughter,” said Renia, wide-eyed.

They’d done little but talk for the last hour while sipping on their chosen beverages. Frances was cradling a fizzy strawberry-flavoured drink, while Renia drew out Frances’s story. She didn’t go into details, but it was nice to reflect on some of her happier times in Durannon to an attentive listener.

“Yeah. She’s… she’s amazing,” said Frances, wistfully.

Renia giggled. “I can imagine.” The harpy paused and met Frances’s eye. “Forgive me for asking, but you don’t seem the type to frequent these kinds of establishments. Would you like to do anything in particular in the time we have?”

“I… I was interested in the um, bedroom activities at first, but no. I’m not ready and I don’t think I’m allowed anyway. Besides, I… well…” Frances tried to explain, and ended up sipping on her cup again.

“You’re feeling lonely, aren’t you?”

Briefly closing her eyes, Frances nodded.

Renia giggled. It wasn’t the same raucous, mocking giggle that Jessica and Leila had, and hearing that was quite odd for Frances. “That’s nothing to be ashamed about, and I’m not being paid to say that. We hostesses aren’t just skilled in the bedroom, we are trained in other activities too.”

“But you wouldn’t have contradicted me,” Frances said.

That brought a coy smile from the auburn-haired harpy. “Well, not directly.”

Amused, Frances took another sip from her cup, a number of questions on her mind. “What kind of activities does a hostess have to be good at? And do you have any particular specialization?”

“It depends on the establishment. Aside from being good in bed, other common skills that are needed include dancing, singing, being a good conversationalist, being a good companion, and being good at games.” Renia winked. “What do you think are my specialties? Here’s a hint: I have three.”

“Being a good conversationalist?” Frances asked, arching an eyebrow.

“I suppose that was a little obvious,” said Renia in a rueful tone.

Frances chuckled and examined the harpy closely. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for. Yes, the harpy was beautiful. That didn’t automatically mean she was good at the bedsheet tango.

After quietly watching the harpy, Frances realized that something about Renia’s posture and presence as she’d guided them to the table and ordered drinks pointed to a possibility. The more she thought about the harpy’s manner and how she hadn’t once made Frances feel threatened or intruded on her boundaries seemed to confirm her suspicion.

“You’re a skilled companion, right? It fits well with your conversation skills, and you’re very good at making people feel comfortable,” said Frances.

“Yes.” Renia looked intrigued. “You are very observant, Frances. Most of my clients never noticed that.”

“I think you’re proud of that. It’s a testament to your skill that they just enjoy spending time with you.” Frances pursed her lips, examined Renia’s warm features for a moment and sighed. “I don’t have a clue what’s you’re third specialization, though.”

“Ah, well I’ve been told I’m excellent in the bedsheets by both male and female clients,” said Renia, grinning as Frances mock-sighed. “Usually the clients I play this game with guess that first.”

“I can imagine.” Frances pursed her lip. “If you aren’t too uncomfortable saying, what’s going on with you and your coworkers? They seem… rather hostile.”

Renia’s smile weakened. “It’s a long story, and you seem to have a lot on your mind. Are you sure this is the best use of your time?”

Frances considered Renia’s words. “I… I like helping people, or… well I don’t like seeing people in pain. I have my own reasons why I want to stay in Durannon rather than go back to Earth. If you really don’t want to tell, then that’s fine too.”

Renia studied Frances, the harpy’s bushy eyebrows slightly furrowed. With her wings, she slowly nudged her glass, with a drinking straw (harpies had no other way to drink their drinks if they didn’t have one) to her lips. After a quick sip, she straightened and smiled.

“What do you know about sex work in Durannon, Frances?”

“I only know a little. If I’m remembering correctly, it depends on different countries, but it’s mostly legal and seen as a lawful career. It’s not seen as reputable by some, but most agree that leisure houses and their employees are a benefit to cities and towns rather than a hindrance,” said Frances.

“That’s quite a lot actually,” said Renia, a sincere surprise flitting across her features. “You’re very well-educated for living here for just three years.”

Frances blushed. “Thank you.”

“So I got into my line of work when I was sixteen in Alavaria. I was proud of my looks, and knew how to use them.”

Frances raised her hand. “If I may ask, how long ago was that?”

“I’m twenty-six now. So that was ten years ago. I was really good at my job… a little too good.” Renia sighed. “When the others called me a bitch, they weren’t entirely wrong. I was a gold-digging bitch.”

Frances blinked. That was not how she expected the story to go.

“My play tended to be this. I’d seduce a naive, dating, or married rich male, or female, spend a month or so leading them on, playing on their feelings, and then at the last moment, I’d secretly inform their partner, take the hush money and leave town.”

Renia said this all in a matter-of-fact voice, and she didn’t break her gaze from Frances’s incredulous stare.

“I left a lot of people quite angry and broken-hearted. The ones I really infuriated, though were the many other sex workers who pursued their career legitimately and with the best of intentions.”

“But… why?” Frances asked.

Sighing, the harpy’s smile faded away. “Part of it was the money. I didn’t come from a wealthy family and the more money I got, the more I spent, the more I needed. And there was a thrill to the act. It seemed like a game, toying with human and Alavari feelings, watching them cry after me. I reveled in it. At least I did, until well, karma hit.”

“Four years ago… I… I fell in love with another hostess. I was getting bored. Our relationship was new, exciting and felt like a match of equals. I was smitten… and she scammed me out of half my fortune. She’d been hired by one of the families I’d scammed to retrieve what money she could.”

Renia said this with a composure and serenity Frances marvelled. Still, she held out her hand on instinct and the harpy gently took it with her wing. The feathers were harder than Frances had expected, and yet there was a tenderness to Renia’s touch.

“I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“Thank you. Though, I think I needed that to happen to me. I was not a good person.” Renia took a deep breath. “And then well, bad timing hit. The war started after she broke my heart. I had at that point already built a bad reputation in Alavaria and I didn’t want to be involved in the war. The Human Kingdoms suddenly became off-limits. I was stuck in Erlenberg, with far less money than I started and a terrible reputation.”

“I… I don’t understand. How has it still not faded?” said Frances.

“Well, I did turn myself into a pariah and… I wasn’t very good to some of my earlier clients at the start of my forced exile.” Renia giggled, but this time, it didn’t make Frances smile. “You’re seeing the end of three long years of self-reflection and hard-learned lessons from kind patrons like you.”

Frances averted her gaze. “Oh, well, I’m happy to help.”

Renia grinned slyly. “Aren’t you paying me to help you, though?”

Frances smiled at that. “Well, yes. But… I always find helping people makes me feel better. Useful.”

“And it’s important that you feel useful?” Renia asked.

“Why else would people want me around—” Frances stiffened, her fingers clenching around her glass. “Sorry, I… I think you can tell I’m not quite normal.”

“Frances—”

“I… sorry. I…” Frances tried to bite down her feelings, but they gushed out, almost like vomit escaping her throat. “Please, ignore that. It’s… It’s not worth burdening you with.”

Renia shuffled across the cushions of the alcove they were seated in. Slowly, she wrapped her wing around Frances and drew the girl to her side. The Otherworlder wasn’t sure about the harpy’s touch, but it was so gentle, and her body was so warm.

“Frances, you chose me, paid me to listen and talk to you. And you’ve kindly listened to my story. If you don’t trust me, that’s alright, but if you’re worried about hurting me, you don’t need to. I won’t leave, not unless you want me to.”

“I…” Frances sniffled, wiping her eyes. “I don’t know where to start.”

Renia wrapped her other wing around Frances and tucked the girl’s head under her chin. “You were saying you feel alone?”

The hollow, cold ache in her chest returned and Frances sniffled. “Yes. I’m… My friends. They’re good people. I trust them and… they’ve always made time for me, listened to me, held me when I have one of my crying fits, but… but I’m scared they might leave me. I know they won’t, but I’m scared they will.”

“Crying fits?” Renia asked, quietly.

“My parents… my birth parents abused me all my life.” Frances felt Renia flinch before her embrace tightened. “I can’t… I’m trying to fix myself, I’m trying to stand on my own, but I’m so far away and I still need to lean on my mother, my friends… what if I’m driving them away? I’m so… so needy, get panic attacks, and can’t sort my emotions out half the time without crying a river!”

Frances chocked, and without thinking, she buried her face into Renia’s shoulder. “I don’t even blame my friend Martin for wanting to spend so much time with his girlfriend Ginger! She’s funny, pretty and kinda sweet, but like a really really hard spicy candy. She’s so happy with him and he is with her and I don’t want to ruin that because I know I will! But… but I miss just… sitting with him so much. He doesn’t judge, he just advises and… I can’t get a straight answer from Elizabeth half the time these days.”

“Elizabeth is?” Renia gently prompted.

“My best friend, an Otherworlder like me.” Frances sobbed and as she realized her feelings for her friend, new tears trickled down her cheeks. “I… I love her. She’s my sister in all but name. But… but she’s stopped talking to me! She used to tell me everything and we talked about everything and anything but… but now she’s avoiding me and I don’t know why! I want to ask her, but she’s put up with me and my venting for so long… it won’t be fair if I try to pry out what’s wrong. And yet… yet she seems to be able to talk to Ayax and I… damnit I’m jealous she can talk to Ayax.”

Frances croaked. “What kind of person am I for that? Ayax is my cousin. She’s family and she’s never ever lied to me or betrayed me. She’s held a torch for Elizabeth for weeks and I want to stop her because she can help Elizabeth when I can’t? If I get in their way… I’d be everything my bio-mom said I was, a worthless wast-of-space! But what if they both fall in love—no, I’m sure they’re going to fall in love. They’re good for each other… Where am I then? What use am I to all of them? As a friend? Not as a mage, as an Otherworlder, or as a cook, but as a friend?”

Frances tried to wipe her eyes, but the tears kept coming, and to her horror, she realized she’d gotten Renia’s dress soaked. And yet, the harpy held her, rocking her gently, stroking her back with her feathers.

“I… I… I’m sorry. I’m… trying to be better. To be a better friend. To think better of myself. I’m just… I’m just so scared of losing them. I mean, I know friends sometimes drift away, but I… why did it have to be all at once?” Frances cried. “It’s like… nobody but my mother and her family wants me for me. Am I… am I too broken to have people that want to be with me?”

“No. Frances, I… you are wanted,” said Renia, in a firm tone. She squeezed the sniffling girl held in her wings. “I can’t say for your friends, but I cannot imagine a kind, caring person like you would not have people who’d admire you, want you for who you are. You might have already met them, or you just haven’t met them yet.”

Frances somehow managed to lift her now aching head from the harpy’s shoulder. “Renia… I can’t even feel like I’m a pretty person and I’ve been told so many times that I have good looks. Who’d want to be with someone as messed up as I am?”

Renia pursed her lips. “Frances, do you know why people want to be each other’s friends and lovers?”

“Well, they like each other right? In some way?” Frances asked.

“Yes, and I’ve learnt through my long years that you may be an ass, an ugly bastard, or the most miserable person in the world, but you’ll always find someone who is interested in getting to know you, no matter how unworthy you might feel you are,” said Renia.

Frances nearly snorted in disbelief. “How could you know that?”

The harpy grinned, her auburn eyes bright. “You picked me to accompany you today, didn’t you?” Renia asked. Leaning forward, the harpy planted a chaste kiss on Frances’s brow. “So you shouldn’t be asking who’d want to be with you. You should be asking, when, and where you’ll meet people who want to be with you. Because you will, and I believe that a precious girl like you will find many, many friends. I truly believe that.”

Frances blinked, sniffled and found herself crying again, more softly this time. Renia held her, listening to her, being there, and she didn’t leave.

She might have been paid to make Frances feel better, to listen to her, but at that moment, Frances didn’t care. For once since the siege began, she felt completely safe.

They spent the rest of the night talking, watching the dancers on stage, even sharing a snack that reminded Frances of fish tacos. But as the evening drew on, Frances started to yawn.

“I’m sorry, Renia. It’s been lovely, but I think I need to head home,”

“You could stay the night if you want.”

“I… I have to go back to the war. They’re expecting me back at the Windwhistler compound.” Frances winced. “I… yeah. I’m sorry. It must be awkward for you. Helping someone who fights your countrymen.”

Renia, in a careful tone, asked, “Well do you like killing?”

“No. I… I’m just finding it harder to feel sympathy for them,” Frances admitted. She closed her eyes, her mind back on the beach. “I lost good soldiers… heroic soldiers, who gave their lives so we could escape. It made me… so angry at the Alavari, even though I know they have to have a reason for fighting.”

Renia nodded. “I can understand that, Frances. You don’t want the people you care about to get hurt. It’s a natural response. You just need to make sure your anger is not directed at people who don’t deserve it.”

Nodding, Frances took a moment to commit those words to her memory and smiled at Renia.

“Thanks. I… I had a great time today. I’ll visit again when I have time.”

The harpy beamed, but Frances suddenly realized her smile didn’t reach across her face. “That’s sweet of you, Frances but I’m afraid this is my last night. I’ve been let go. I wasn’t bringing enough customers.”

Frances froze, aghast, no—devastated. “Wait, where are you going then?”

“I’m afraid I don’t know. I’ll find out as I go along,” said Renia.

“If you need help, or work, please, just ask for me at the Windwhistler manor. I can’t promise you it’d be hostess work but there are plenty of things to do,” Frances said.

Renia blinked and smiled. “I will, Frances. But I’m going to try to find work on my own first alright?”

Frances nodded. She could respect that.

Renia then for a horse drawn buggy to take Frances back to the Windwhistler compound. The pair walked to the receptionist, Frances withdrew the little left of her deposit and Renia accompanied her to the Shimmering Sunset’s entrance.

Just before Frances got in the buggy, though, she turned to Renia.

“One more thing. If… if you are ever in danger or think you need protection, just go to the Windwhistler compound and tell them that you know me.”

“Frances, I appreciate it, but I—”

“I have no clue if we can win this siege, Renia, and there will be fighting in the city. Just… consider it okay?” Frances begged.

Renia blinked but she must have seen how serious Frances was because she nodded.

“I will. Thank you.”

“Thank you too.” And with that, Frances left the bright lights and warm comfort of the House of Light. She still had worries, but for the moment, she at least felt a bit better about herself.

And given what was to come, that was what she needed.

“Hey Frances, how was last night?” Elizabeth asked.

Frances smiled and sat beside her friend at the breakfast table. “Good. I visited a House of Light. They’re pretty amazing.”

“Oh?” Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “Did you… um… not that it’s any of my business…”

“I did hire a hostess. We just talked. It helped a lot,” said Frances.

“That’s good.” Elizabeth’s eyes dropped to her plate. “I’m glad for you.”

Frances thought Elizabeth had more to say, but her friend turned back to her plate.

“Elizabeth… you know I—we’re here for you if you want to talk, right? Or if you don’t want to, we can find someone,” said Frances, softly.

“I know, I’m just… not ready yet. Thanks.” Elizabeth smiled, and Frances nodded, even though it wasn’t the same bright smile that her friend usually had.

Ayax ran in, buckling on her combat belt. “Liz, Frances, we’re needed. They’re mustering near the broken walls. Dad is worried they’re trying an early dawn attack on the first defense line.”

Frances shoved a scone in her mouth and grabbed her wand.

“Muster the battalion. We’ll move out in an hour,” Elizabeth ordered. She shoved several spoons of oatmeal into her mouth. “So much for breakfast,” she muttered.

“I did teach the cooks to make kimchi, Elizabeth, so if you’d like, you can have a snack later?” Frances suggested, even as she gulped down her scone.

“Thanks, Frances,” said Elizabeth, smiling a little wider now.

Frances smiled back, a little wistfully. The little peace she’d had was over, the war had returned.