Zack

It was now past dark outside The Mead Beast and, most importantly, past the end of Glenn Redwood’s shift on the gates. Zack had no doubt Glenn would accept his invitation to meet them for drinks, given how endlessly his friend had badgered him about meeting Anna for the past few weeks. He’d somehow managed to balance his time drinking with Glenn with his separate time with Anna—no mean feat—yet at this point, there was simply no holding him off any longer.

When Glenn Redwood was determined to be nice to someone, it was like trying to stop a cart being pulled by wild horses. Excitable, happy, dopily heroic horses.

Officially, Glenn was meeting them here tonight to officially celebrate their rescue of Renee Fallowpeak and the arrest of the infamous Shrike. As much as Zack remained determined not to become some sappy hero from one of Glenn’s storybooks, he kept on getting caught up in rescues and crime stopping. It was all Glenn’s influence. Glenn was just the worst about that sort of thing.

Alan, holding a half-eaten meatroll in one hand and a half-empty mug in the other, raised the mug and spoke. “I want it on record. This is your worst idea yet.” And with that, Alan chugged the last of his mead like a veteran Wolfpine Adventurer, slammed down the mug, and waved to Randi. “Another!”

Zack glanced affectionately at Anna. She remained nestled quite comfortably in the crook of his arm, sipping her own mug of apple mead. “He really is starting to fit in, isn’t he?” Zack asked.

With all the ruckus in the tavern tonight, he had no worries about anyone overhearing their conversation unless they sat at the same table. Only a well-hidden Shadower would do that, and if there were any Shadowers still watching him, waiting for him to try to pawn off the strange crystal his contact had yet to claim, Zack welcomed their attention. He’d even offer to buy them a drink.

Anna snickered contentedly against his chest, then looked up at him with warm eyes. “One can hardly blame him. I believe this is the first time you’ve ever bought him a round. Our hero!”

“I try,” Zack said mirthfully. “And I tell you, it’s time. It’s been three months. The only thing that will possibly make Glenn look askance at either of you is if you don’t agree to meet him for drinks.” He glanced at Alan. “And you, my friend. You plan to slow down any time soon?”

“Not so long as you’re buying,” Alan said.

Randi swept by and dropped another full mug on the table without even slowing down. “Thanks for the business!” she shouted. “And thanks for Zack’s coins!”

As much as he wanted to be annoyed with her, Zack couldn’t help but admire Randi’s grace and boundless enthusiasm. With a fresh crop of young Adventurers in town, Sadie’s daughter was in her element, dodging drunkards and slinging mugs like the best Adventurers in Wolfpine dodged Monsters. The Mead Best would likely do even better than normal tonight.

Still, it wasn’t like crescents were a problem for him right now. Preceptor Fallowpeak had been almost obscenely generous, giving Zack a full three moons in reward for saving his daughter. Given his newfound fortune, buying Alan and Anna some drinks seemed only fair.

As Zack’s eyes swept across the crowd, he spotted a rather comely blond-haired woman in a red [Cotton Robe] eying them from a few tables over. Or rather, Zack realized to his delight, she was actually eying Alan. Would wonders never cease?

Given how grumpy Alan Ironstar had been these past few weeks, there was absolutely nothing Zack could think that would better improve his mood than a fun night with good company. He whistled softly to catch Alan’s gaze. “Ironstar. Head’s up.”

Alan immediately perked up, all pretense of drunkness vanishing. “What is it?”

Had Alan just been pretending to be drunk? Or could he ignite and put it out like a torch when troubled? Regardless, Zack imagined Alan would need his wits about him for his next adventure.

“Two tables over,” Zack said softly. “The blond in the red robe.”

Alan frowned in what might be confusion, then casually glanced in the direction Zack had suggested. The moment his eyes fell upon her, the blond-haired Adventurer in the red robe sat up straighter. She grinned and then, tentatively, waved right at them.

Alan’s gaze immediately jolted back to Zack and Anna. “Gods.”

“What’s your problem?” Zack demanded quietly. “She’s gorgeous.”

“She is quite lovely,” Anna agreed quietly from beside him. “But, Zack—”

“Absolutely not,” Alan demanded, staring right at Anna.

“Not into blondes?” Zack asked.

“Not into relationships,” Alan said calmly, as he nursed his mug and stared straight ahead. “It may feel as if we’re safe here, but we can’t get close to people we don’t know.”

Zack sighed. “Gods, Alan, she’s not asking you to marry her. She just wants to bo—”

Anna’s sharp poke to his ribs made him yelp. When he glanced at her, he caught a worried warning that just as quickly vanished back beneath her normal calm. Zack stared a moment before settling back against the bar, and Anna settled against him.

She didn’t seem angry. It hadn’t been an angry warning. She’d looked ... concerned.

As Zack thought back on Alan’s words—“Absolutely not”—and the fact that Alan’s admonition to keep silent had been directed at Anna, not him, he saw the possibility too late. He also felt like an absolute heel for not seeing it earlier.

Alan must have a woman back home in Aquarine, a woman of whom he was quite fond. He’d likely left her behind and become a fugitive to keep Anna safe, to ensure she escaped her traitorous brother and even now stayed ahead of the Blazers and others Anna’s brother had sent after her. If that was, true ... Alan Ironstar truly was a far more generous soul than Zack had ever guessed.

Alan must be missing his woman terribly. And here Zack was, trying to toss him in bed with a blond Adventurer he scarcely knew. He hadn’t known until now, of course, but still ... what could he say? How could he make this right?

Fortunately, the doors to The Mead Beast opened before Zack could dwell on it. His savior walked in through the doors: Glenn Redwood. Zack had rarely in all his life been happier to see a Town Guard walk into the tavern. He rose just enough to wave and whistle.

Glenn’s eyes swept across the tavern and alighted upon Zack, then passed over the two people at the table with him. His whole face lit up like he’d just come across a group of good friends, and he smiled wide as he walked over. He seemed unaware literally everyone in the tavern quickly slipped out of his way. Glenn had told him that bothered him at first, but now, he was used to it.

The blond Adventurer looked elsewhere once it became clear Glenn was headed to their table. Three months ago Zack would have slid over to her table himself to say hello, but he was, surprisingly, completely content with the treasure now on his arm. He slipped back into his seat beside Anna.

Yet instead of simply thumping down and shouting for a mug, as literally any other Adventurer in Wolfpine would do, Glenn stopped by their table and waited to be formally invited.

“Anna Ironstar?” Glenn inclined his head. “Glenn Redwood, Level 10 Town Guard. It’s wonderful to see you again. I’m not sure you remember me, but—”

“You saved Zack and I from those Shaitan,” Anna interrupted warmly, beckoning him eagerly to sit down. “How could I forget a man like that? Please, join us.”

“Please,” Alan agreed evenly. He even scooted over to make room on his bench.

Glenn thumped down eagerly beside Alan and offered his hand. “Glenn Redwood, Level 10 Town Guard.” Like he hadn’t just said that a moment ago. Glenn was just a stickler for politeness.

“Alan Ironstar, Level 6 Brutalist,” Alan agreed ruefully, and he shook Glenn’s hand with only a trace of consternation. “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last.”

“At last is a word for it,” Glenn agreed ruefully, before he turned his gaze on Zack. “I’m sorry it took this long for us to all actually sit down. My schedule kept keeping us apart for some reason.” He eyed Zack knowingly. “Almost like someone knew when I was on the gates.”

Zack grinned wide. “Erika couldn’t make it?”

Diversion, especially diversion involving the subject of women, was almost always the way to refocus Glenn. He still couldn’t believe Glenn had straight up turned Erika down, but at least they both seemed fine with it. At this point, he was honestly jealous of how good friends Glenn and Erika seemed to have become.

“She’s helping her mother catch up with a big order all the way from Lakebrooke after they underestimated a job,” Glenn said proudly. “Erika’s a Tailor, and already incredibly skilled. Do you know she actually made Level 7 last week? Considering she’s not even 17 yet, that’s impressive!”

Anna leaned forward, one eyebrow raised. “Erika is your girlfriend?”

“Oh no!” Glenn said, then hesitated. “That is, I mean ... she’s wonderful. But just a friend.”

“So you have lots of female friends?” Anna asked innocently. “That makes sense, I suppose. From what I’ve heard, Town Guards have a truly impressive amount of Stamina.”

Glenn stared at her a moment. Then, as his face turned red and he opened his mouth to reply and failed to do so, Zack laughed and thumped the table. “Oh, that’s perfect.”

Anna gave him a squeeze. “Am I now?”

“I’m waiting for someone,” Glenn assured them all, as if he’d just finished coming to some sort of life affirming revelation. “That’s all.”

“How wonderful that we’ve cleared that up,” Alan muttered into his mug.

“He’s always like this, by the way,” Zack told them. “Just so you know what you’re getting into.”

Randi chose that moment to slap a fresh mug down in front of Glenn. Before he could do more than glance at her, she thumped Glenn on the shoulder and hurried away.

“Free drinks,” Zack reminded the others. “He’s the one person here I’m not paying for.”

Glenn looked between them, then stared at Zack, eyes narrowed. “Just how much money did you drag out of Preceptor Fallowpeak?”

Zack tossed back his mug and chugged mead. He raised one finger to forestall further questions as he did so, letting the silence linger for long enough Glenn visibly grew even more annoyed. Finally, Zack set down his empty mug, licked his lips, and smiled wide.

“How much did you ask for?”

“Nothing,” Glenn said evenly. “Anything I accepted might have been considered a bribe.”

“And that’s why I’m not a Town Guard,” Zack told everyone. “Now, what are you eating?”

Before anyone could answer, Zack caught a glimpse of the next person to step into The Mead Beast. He immediately sat up taller. Even out of his armor, he’d never forget that Adventurer’s narrow nose, wide chin, and bright blond hair. It was the Skirmisher who’d tried to duel him.

“Problem?” Glenn asked calmly. All traces of annoyance vanished.

The Adventurer—Leopold Argentshade, as he’d introduced himself—made one long visual sweep of the tavern as if utterly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people inside it. Zack sat silently beside Anna and felt her go tense beside him. None of them said anything until Leopold, without another word, turned and walked back out of The Mead Beast.

Gods, what a jerk.

Glenn glanced at the doors. “Was that the man who tried to duel you?”

“At Level 10,” Zack reminded everyone. “Which, honestly, how’s that even fair?”

“I’ll talk to him,” Glenn said, and made to rise.

Zack grabbed his wrist just in time. “Sit down, hero.”

Glenn, frowning, nonetheless sat back down. Zack suspected Glenn could easily have lifted all three of them and the table beside, but he listened to his friends. He’d forgotten just how protective Glenn could be, especially since the Gods had literally ordered him to protect people.

“Leave him be,” Zack said. “Poor guy looks lost. I actually feel bad for him.”

“If he tries again—”

“I’ll just laugh in his face,” Zack said, putting on his best rueful smirk. “Relax and finish your mug. We’re celebrating, remember? Talking about what a hero I am.”

Glenn tilted his head. “Is that what you’ve been telling them all this time?” He looked to Anna, then Alan. “It seems I have all the more reason to thank you both.”

“For what?” Alan asked.

“Putting up with him,” Glenn said.

Zack tossed a breadcrumb at him. “Now you’re buying the next round, moneybags.”