Anarion’s eyes opened. He faintly recalled making it to his room. It was smaller than his room in Holsten. It had the same pattern design as downstairs. However, the bed was double-sized. Just outside you could hear birds. Summer was slowly transitioning to Autumn. The sun shone through the window, which caused Anarion to wake up in the first place.

He slowly got up with his head pounding and stomach feeling queasy. He could faintly recall the previous night. Anarion, now standing opened his door and slowly stumbled down the stairs. Bwoire and Falcon were sitting down, drinking ale and eating breakfast. He stumbled over to the table and sat down next to Falcon.

They had the same table as last night, aside from people staying at the tavern there were no patrons during the morning. Anarion said nothing, his forehead hit the table like it did the previous night. “Kill me now, this hangover has defeated me,” said Anarion. Ithilious came strutting down the stairs, he sat down next to Bwoire.

Ithilious had a stupid, yet satisfied grin on his face. He was glowing or gloating, Falcon wasn’t sure. He said “Good Morning, boys.” It seemed like Ithilious was glowing and gloating at the same time. “Oh that’s right Ithilious, you found a woman to have pity sex with you,” said Anarion. Before Ithilious could retort he asked, “Are you itching or burning anywhere?”

Bwoire and Falcon started laughing out loud. So loud that Anarion had to cover his ears from the volume. This pissed Ithilious off. His eyes were full of anger. Amma came into the tavern, she waved and started walking towards the table. “She didn’t have pity sex with me. I picked her up. Don’t sling insults because you are jealous.”

Anarion and Falcon were snickering. He didn’t realize Amma was behind him the entire time. “So you went through with it. How long did you have to beg?” Ithilious turned around. “You broke mother's heart last night.” Ithilious looked petrified. “What did you tell her?” Amma replied “The truth.”

Amma asked. “Bwoire, you know where I live, right?” Bwoire said, “Of course I do.” She slammed down two pieces of paper on the table. “In case you two need to find us.” Her face started turning red. Anarion was too hungover to care at the moment. “Oh, that’s right. You’ll need to know her house if the two of you plan on making the beast two backs,” said Ithilious.

Amma’s face turned redder. She grabbed Ithilious by the back of his shirt, which pulled him off the stool. She started dragging him out of the tavern. Falcon grabbed a paper and said, “She lives in the first ring, how fancy.” Bwoire said “The Shadowbane Clan is as old as Terath. Their clan has a small community in the first ring.”

Anarion was turning green. Bwoire called the barmaid over, she brought him a fresh pint of ale. “Drink it, even if it’s just a little bit.” Anarion picked it up and took small sips from it. “How did I end up with such a lightweight for a student,” asked Bwoire. Anarion replied with “Shut up.” The ale eventually lessened the grip his hangover had on him.

Bwoire stood up. “I’ve got things to do. Let’s find you two a place to live,” said Bwoire. Falcon stood up, ready to go. However, Anarion took his time getting up, making sure not to vomit all over the table. Bwoire guided them to the eighth ring of Terathil. He knocked at the door of what looked like a regular brick house.

“Come in.” it was a female voice. Anarion and Falcon were not surprised. The interior was not house like at all. Documents, upon documents stacked as high as the roof. A woman sitting at a desk that was blocking passage into the rest of the house. The woman had short orange hair, glasses, and a slim physique.

“Bwoire for the last time, I’m married,” she said. Bwoire laughed. “I’m not here for that Melinda, I’m here for my two friends.” she took a look at Anarion and Falcon. “They are quite handsome, but as I said I am happily married.” Bwoire sighed. “They need a place to live, I figured you could do your job and help them out with that.”

Melinda laughed. “Oh, silly me. What are you two looking for? What is your budget?” Falcon said “Apartment, I don’t have a budget. Nothing extravagant.” She wrote it down on a piece of paper. “I’d like to buy a house. Though I am not sure how much people usually spend on houses.” Melinda said “It depends on the ring. The lower rings are more costly, the higher rings are fairly cheap.”

She continued. “A house in the twelfth ring will cost between five and fifty gold. Depending on the size of the house of course.” She looked at Falcon “As for apartments, you are looking at fifty silver a year for a typical apartment in the twelfth ring.” Anarion said, “I can spend about twenty-five gold.” Falcon said, “That sounds good to me.”

Melinda said, “I’ll go show you some places in the twelfth ring then.” She put a folder and a key ring into a bag and stood up. “I’ll meet you both outside." Everyone stepped outside. Bwoire looking at Anarion and Falcon said “I live in the second ring. I don’t have a piece of paper to write down my address. If you need to find me simply ask one of the guards.” He walked away, presumably to return to his house.

Melinda stepped outside. “Follow me.” Melinda guided them to the twelfth ring. Right at the gate, she pointed to a massive building. “There is one vacancy inside, do you want to see it?” she asked Falcon. He shrugged his shoulders “Why not.” They walked inside the apartment, it was constructed out of brick-like all of the other buildings, it also had the same black roofing tiles.

There were six floors. She unlocked a room in the middle of the hall on the sixth floor. A simple two-room apartment. It had all of the facilities, but no furniture. She handed both Anarion and Falcon a card for a carpenter. “He can make any furniture you need,” she said. Falcon sighed. It does not look great, but I need a place to live. “I’ll take it,” he said.

He handed her forty silver, this place was slightly cheaper. She handed him the key. “I’ll return later to finish the paperwork.” Anarion and Melinda left Falcon in his new apartment. They stepped outside, turned the corner, and right in front was a two-floor house. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” thought Anarion.

Melinda unlocked the front door of the house. The bottom floor had three rooms, the top floor had two. “Being a young man this house is perfect for starting a family.” Anarion, still hungover nearly vomited at the very thought. She showed him the entire house. “The owner is quite desperate to get rid of it, so it will only cost you fifteen gold if you decide to buy it.”

Anarion wasn’t very picky. “Fine, I’ll take it.” It looked like Anarion and Falcon would be neighbors in a sense. He handed her fifteen gold. “Excellent, let’s fill out the paperwork.” Anarion received a deed to the property and two keys. Melinda left soon after, Anarion walked around his house for a while.

It was somewhat exciting. He was only nineteen yet he had a place for himself. He would have to sleep on the floor for a while, but he did not mind. Eventually, Anarion left his house and went to Falcon’s apartment. Melinda had just left, they completed the paperwork for a lease. “I’m going to that carpenter if you want to tag along.” Falcon sighed. “Yeah, I would prefer not to sleep on the floor for long.”

The carpenter was a short walk. They each ordered furniture for their new homes. By the time they were done, it was noon. Anarion decided to track down Bwoire, he wanted to know where Tycondris was. Falcon went his separate way. At the gate to the second ring, he asked where Bwoire lived. The guard escorted him deep into the second ring and down an alleyway to a mansion isolated from the rest of town.

The mansion was unique, it was made out of marble. There was a garden in the front and back yard. Anarion knocked on the door. No one answered. He continued to knock on the door, shouting “Bwoire.” Finally, the door opened. A naked woman with large red hair and massive breasts answered. “Oh you are right Bwoire, he is cute.”

Anarion’s face turned red. “I’d like to speak with Bwoire,” he said nervously. Bwoire appeared at the front door completely naked. “What do you want? I’m not sharing.” Behind him were two naked women, one with brunet and the other with blonde hair. Anarion cleared his throat. “Do you know where Tycondris is staying.”

Bwoire sighed. “Ask the general. Go through the alley, it’s the house right across from it.” Bwoire slammed the door shut. Anarion stood there for a second. He was trying to calm down before he knocked on the door of a general. Finally, after cooling down he followed Bwoire’s directions and knocked on the correct door. It opened, Tycondris was behind it. “Anarion! I didn’t expect to see you here. I was just leaving.”

He stepped out the door. “Bwoire said I should come to the general’s house to find out where you live.” Tycondris smiled. “The general hooked me up with a place in the eight ring, I’ll show you.” Anarion could not get the mental picture of all the naked women out of his mind. Tycondris was rather close to the eighth ring. When they arrived he pointed it out.

He was still dressed the same, as he was in Holsten. “Let’s get a drink,” said Tycondris. Anarion was still hungover but agreed. They went to the same tavern as the night before. Anarion and Tycondris ordered an ale. To everyone’s surprise, Falcon walked in about thirty minutes after they arrived. He sat down next to Tycondris.

This was the perfect chance for Tycondris to ask “So what’s going on with you kids. The whole war has put me behind.” Falcon had a devious smile on his face. “There is quite a bit to tell. Major developments I would say.” Anarion’s forehead hit the table. Tycondris looked at Falcon with excitement. “Spill the beans kid. I’m dying here.” Falcon laughed. “Of course my good sir. All in due time.”

Falcon looked at Anarion. “For someone in love, you look gloomy Anarion.” Tycondris had a shocked expression. Anarion raised his head off the table, his face was red “How many times do I have to tell you, I don’t know how I feel!” he yelled. Falcon and Tycondris laughed. “I see you’ve found the joy of teasing Anarion, he is quite shy.” Falcon smirked, “This is no simple teasing, I am spouting the truth.”

Anarion started slamming his forehead on the table. Falcon said, “Amma, declared her love for him at the Summer Fair.” Anarion picked up the pace, slamming his forehead on the table like a man possessed. Tycondris’s eyes widened up. “How did you get this information?” Falcon laughed in a cocky manner. “It simply took alcohol.” Tycondris frowned “We’ve gotten drunk a few times. He’s never spilled those kinds of beans.”

Anarion’s forehead was bleeding, but he did not stop. “If you don’t know how you feel, I have a solution,” said Tycondris. Anarion raised his head, blood was dripping down his face. “What solution is that?” he asked. Tycondris smiled and asked, “When do you get your next assignment?” Falcon answered, “In six months, maybe even nine.” Tycondris laughed “That’s perfect for this plan.”

Anarion listened with intensity in his eyes. “Tell me, what is your plan?” Tycondris slammed back his ale. “Have you ever heard the phrase distance makes the heart grow fonder?” Anarion shook his head, some blood splattered on the table. “Take her on a date, on the condition that you won’t see each other until you have a new assignment. This should help confirm things for you.”

Anarion’s face turned white. “A date?” Tycondris nodded. “You’ll do everything that happens on a typical date. Hold hands and give her a goodnight kiss. The whole works, except for intercourse.” Anarion’s face went from white to red. “Do you think this will help?”

Tycondris laughed. “Of course it will. You will have half a year to think it over with the memory of a date in your mind.” Falcon looked at Tycondris like he was some kind of genius. Anarion’s face turned redder. “I’ll do it. I don’t want to give her hope in case there is none. I’ll confirm things for myself. I’ll find out how I feel.” said Anarion.

Tycondris gave him a thumbs up. “Go tell her now!” Anarion’s forehead hit the table again. Falcon laughed. “Don’t wimp out now Anarion. If you commit to doing something, then do it. You will prolong your suffering by procrastinating.” Anarion slowly stood up and left the tavern. His heart was racing, he knew Falcon was right. It was better to ask now rather than procrastinate.