Late in the afternoon four people approached a small village. The front-most of the four carried a two-handed sword and was sitting atop her horse while wearing heavy steel armor, the horse himself simply clad in a saddle and wool. The other three sat in a horse-drawn cart with no visible weapons and wearing simple brown cloaks for warmth against the lightly, but steadily, falling snow.

As they got closer, the horse-rider slowed down to travel beside the cart and lifted the visor of her helmet, revealing a woman in her mid forties. “We should be safe enough here in the village of Nighforest,” she reported.

One of the trio still on the cart pulled back his hood to reveal a man with dark black hair in his early thirties. “I must concur, Rikel,” he answered. “You have done an admirable job in your duties as our escort thus far.”

Rikel shrugged. “Just part of the mercenary package, Lelwyn,” she dismissed the praise.

Lelwyn laughed. “While modesty may be a virtue, it is possible to overdo it,” he jokingly chastised. “But enough of this; we have finally arrived!”

Lelwyn stepped down from the cart and started heading towards the village. He turned to the others. “You are each free to do as you will for the rest of the day,” he informed them. “Just be ready to depart at first light.”

The group cheered and quickly parted ways while Lelwyn secured the horses and cart.

Rikel stretched and started aimlessly walking around the village to loosen her muscles after the long journey. As she wandered, she heard a shout behind her. “Captain Rikel!” the voice greeted.

Rikel turned around and saw an old colleague of hers. “Sargent Draleth!” she shouted back in delight. “What are you doing all the way out here?”

Draleth saluted in answer. “I got too old to be of any combat use and came back home to enjoy my retirement,” he explained. “What about you, captain?”

Rikel smiled with a mock glare. “We’re both retired now; get that arm down!” she pretended to admonish him while continuing to wander. “But, to answer your question, I also got too old and I refused an administrative promotion. I’ve been keeping busy with mercenary work ever since.”

Draleth nodded in understanding and followed. “Are you allowed to discuss your current mission?” he queried.

Rikel’s smile widened. “In general terms? Yes,” she told him. “I’m escorting a trio of Academy mages to some elvish village in the forest to deal with a blight.”

Draleth frowned in worry. “Be careful old friend,” he told her. “I’ve heard strange tales from the woods lately.”

Rikel raised an eyebrow. “Anything specific or just the usual rumors surrounding the forest?” she countered.

Draleth shook his head. “The elves haven’t come to trade with us once since before the last harvest,” he reported. “We also had an elf girl recently go through the village on her way into the forest.”

Rikel paused in shock. “Why would an elf need to go back into the forest?” she asked rhetorically.

Draleth shrugged his shoulders. “She didn’t stay long enough for anybody to find out,” he told her. “Now enough about magic and elves; I still owe you a drink for saving me during that ambush!”

Rikel sighed. “How many times do I have to tell you?” she asked. “I was merely doing my duty as a commanding knight when I saved you.”

Draleth laughed humorlessly. “You mean like the ‘mighty’ general who hid in the tents the entire time?” he asked sarcastically.

Rikel nodded reluctantly. “Okay, maybe not every knight in the army deserved a knighthood,” she admitted. “Fine, one drink,” she relented. “And it has to be a cheap one.”

Draleth laughed and put his arm around Rikel’s shoulder. “I knew I’d get you to see reason eventually!” he joked while leading her to the tavern.

When the two of them got to the tavern, Rikel ignored the many games of chance being played at most of the tables and headed to a table already occupied by a blond man in his mid thirties nursing a drink. “Draleth, this is Kirel,” she introduced. “He’s one of the mages I’m escorting. Kirel, this is Draleth. He used to serve with me in the army.”

Kirel slightly lowered his head and held up his glass in greeting. “Nice to meet you,” he slurred out. “Any friend of Rikel is an acquaintance of mine,” he joked.

Rikel raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been here at most an hour,” she observed. “How much could you have possibly had in that time?” she asked.

Kirel’s face darkened. “If you’re going to lecture me,” he began. “I get enough of that from Lelwyn.”

Rikel chuckled. “He can be rather strict at times, can’t he?” she commented. “Well, given that we’re here to drink ourselves, it’d be hypocritical for us to judge though, right?” she asked in an attempt to diffuse the situation.

Draleth, realizing what Rikel was doing, nodded. “That it would be,” he agreed. “Now, what kind of drink did you want, captain?”

Rikel smirked. “The kind with alcohol?” she joked.

Draleth laughed loudly. “That’s not always a given here," he joked. At Kirel and Rikel’s blank faces he continued. “A lot of the tavern’s business is with the elves; elves favor drinks that taste good over alcohol content. If you want to get sauced by your drink, you have to make sure the bartender knows that when you order,” he clarified.

Kirel laughed. “That’s why the first drink I ordered tasted of berries!” he realized. “Thanks for the tip, mate!”

Draleth laughed. “The bartender must have assumed that a mage would drink like an elf,” he teased.

Kirel pointed at Draleth, spilling part of his drink in the process. “If I was less drunk,” he started, “I’d explain all the many ways that that’s wrong.”

Draleth laughed again before going to the bartender to order, leaving Kirel and Rikel at the table. Kirel belched. “I’m just glad that we got to Nighforest before we had to start eating conjured food,” he announced.

Rikel nodded. “You and me both,” she agreed while Kirel finished his mug. Rikel looked at Kirel. “Just to make sure,” she started. “You are going to be sober when we leave in the morning, right?”

Kirel shrugged. “If not, I can always have Bewr or Lelwyn cast a sobering spell,” he hiccuped. “Well, Bewr would cast it; Lelwyn would probably just lecture at me for a few hours and make me stay drunk to teach me a lesson,” he mused to himself.

Rikel grinned. “Think either of them be willing to cast that spell on me?” she asked.

Kirel downed another drink. “Sure!” he answered. “You’re not the one that...” he suddenly stopped himself. “Neither of them would have a reason to tease you about it,” he corrected himself.

Rikel let the comment go when she saw Draleth returning with their drinks. Draleth passed out drinks to the trio. Rikel raised her mug. “To finding friends in unexpected places,” she toasted.

Kirel lazily touched his mug to Rikel’s. Draleth slapped Rikel’s back playfully. “Hear, hear!” he shouted.

The three downed the mugs and laughed. Two drinks later, Kirel tried to stand up and almost fell over. Rikel put down her drink. “Are you okay, Kirel?” she asked him.

Kirel nodded. “I will be,” he answered. “Well, as soon as the floor stops moving, that is.”

Rikel looked at Kirel with pity. “You are very drunk,” she told him. “Come on, let’s find Bewr so she can cast that sobering spell you mentioned.”

Rikel stood up to help Kirel walk. She turned to Draleth. “Nice meeting you,” she told him. “Until next time.”

Draleth raised a mug. “Until next time, captain,” he answered while heading to join in one of the games of chance.

Rikel nodded and escorted Kirel out of the tavern in search of Bewr. After a few minutes of fruitless searching, Kirel tapped Rikel on her shoulder. “Find books and you’ll find Bewr,” he slurred out in suggestion.

Rikel turned to him. “A village this small isn’t exactly going to have a library or a well-stocked schoolhouse,” she protested. “Maybe the temple,” she muttered to herself while trying to keep Kirel from falling over while she lead them through the small village.

The duo soon found themselves inside the temple where they saw a brown haired woman in her early thirties looking through several dusty tomes.

They were able to walk up to her without her noticing. Rikel cleared her throat. “Bewr,” she said softly.

Bewr jumped slightly in her seat without losing her place in her book. “Sorry, I didn’t notice you two there,” she told them while blushing.

Kirel laughed loudly. “You were reading,” he pointed out. “The building could have burned down without you noticing,” he teased with slurred words.

Bewr looked the two of them over. “Wow, our first day back in an actual settlement and the very first thing you do is get yourself drunk,” she observed. “This is a record even for you,” she added.

Kirel snorted. “If you’re just going to lecture me, I’ll just find Lelwyn for a sobering spell,” he objected.

Bewr rolled her eyes. “There’s no need to get dramatic, Kirel,” she admonished. “Let’s head outside so I can sober you both up,” she suggested.

Rikel raised an eyebrow. “What wrong with casting it here?” she asked in confusion.

Bewr giggled and shook her head. “The spell’s a little on the noisy side,” she explained. “Also, the temple frowns on spells that bypass consequences of actions like that.”

Rikel nodded and managed to help Bewr escort Kirel out without him tripping over himself. Bewr turned to Rikel. “Have you ever had a sobering spell cast on you before?” she asked in seriousness.

Rikel shook her head. “I never had the wealth or prestige for that much interaction with mages,” she answered.

Bewr nodded. “I thought as much,” she admitted. She then blushed when she realized the implications of what she just said. “I didn’t mean to imply...”

Rikel interrupted her with a laugh. “No offense taken,” she assured the mage. “You were just speaking the truth.”

Bewr let out a sigh of relief. “Anyway,” she changed the subject. “You’ll probably want to sit down before I cast this spell,” she advised.

Rikel nodded in understanding and helped Kirel sit down before doing so herself. Once the two of them were settled, Bewr cast the spell to remove their intoxication. “That was the simplest version of that spell,” she started. “Do either of you still feel drunk or do I need to try a more advanced version of the spell?” she asked.

Kirel shrugged. “Not enough that I won’t be able to travel in the morning after a good night’s sleep,” he assured.

Rikel nodded. “Likewise,” she answered. “In fact, I’m going to try to walk the rest of this off,” she told them before heading back to the rest of the village.

Bewr waved to her. “See you in the morning,” she called out in farewell. Rikel waved back over her shoulder.

Kirel cleared his throat. “Thanks for the sobering spell,” he told her. “And for agreeing not to inform Lelwyn that any of this happened.”

Bewr’s eyes widened in shock. “Now hold on!” she objected. “I never agreed to any such thing!”

Kirel sighed. “Why tell him?” he protested. “It’s not like it’s any of his business what I do in my free time anymore anyway!” he added.

Bewr took a deep breath to collect her thoughts. “Your agreement with Lelwyn aside,” she started, “he’s still the one in charge of this little expedition.”

Kirel rolled his eyes. “Does my being drunk tonight make a difference to the outcome of our mission?” he asked sarcastically. “Assuming I’m fully sober by morning.”

Bewr chewed on her bottom lip. “I suppose not,” she admitted. “I just don’t like all the secrecy, you know?”

Kirel smiled at Bewr. “And we all know how good you are with secrets,” he teased.

Bewr gently shoved Kirel with her shoulder playfully. “Better than you are with manners!” she teased back.

Kirel stretched. “On that note, I suppose I should head to the inn to see about getting us all rooms,” he mused. “It’ll be so nice not having to sleep in a tent for a change, won’t it?” he asked her with a smile.

Bewr grinned. “Very nice!” she agreed while standing up to return to the temple.

Bewr returned to the temple and discovered Lelwyn talking with a priest. Her curiosity peaked, she decided to walk up to them. “What’s going on?” she asked in greeting.

Lelwyn turned to her and smiled. “Bewr, your timing is most fortuitous,” he told her. “I have unfortunate news to impart; we shall have to sleep in the temple this evening instead of the inn.”

Bewr groaned. “Why?” she demanded. “We were all looking forward to sleeping in actual beds tonight!”

Lelwyn nodded. “Fortunately, that part of your plans for the evening is not in any jeopardy, for the priests of this temple have graciously agreed to grant us lodging us for the evening,” he explained.

Bewr sighed in relief. “Thank the gods,” she muttered. She then looked shocked and turned to the priest. “Sorry,” she apologized with a small voice.

The priest laughed. “A short prayer of thanks after being given good news is hardly blasphemous,” the priest pointed out.

Bewr nodded to the priest in appreciation and turned back to Lelwyn. “Why not the inn, though?” she asked.

Lelwyn gestured to a bench so they could sit down. “The last harvest bore insufficient crops,” he explained. “Nighforest has not enough food for their own needs, much less a group of travelers.”

Bewr groaned again. “Let me guess,” she started. “We have to eat conjured food tonight as well as sleep in the temple.” Lelwyn merely nodded in answer.

Bewr poked Lelwyn’s chest. “You’re the one telling the rest about this,” she ordered.

Lelwyn nodded and stood up to leave. “Then I had best get to it,” he observed. “Until tonight.” Lelwyn then left the temple to find the others.

Bewr huffed in annoyance before going to look for the book she was reading earlier.

Lelwyn found Rikel perusing the wares of the village’s blacksmith. He walked up to her and cleared his throat. “I must apologize in advance, but we shall not be able to lodge in the inn this evening,” he informed her.

Rikel raised an eyebrow at him. “What happened that caused such a drastic change in our plans for the evening?” she asked in resignation.

Lelwyn shook his head. “It is a long telling that I would prefer to not have to repeat unnecessarily,” he countered. “Suffice it to say for now that we shall be accepting the hospitality of the temple priests ‘til morning.”

Rikel sighed. “Very well,” she answered with a nod. “I’ll track down Kirel and let him know.”

Lelwyn held up his hand. “It would probably best if I should be the one to inform Kirel,” he told her. “I shall meet with you at the temple presently.”

Rikel, recognizing a dismissal when she heard one, nodded and headed to the temple.

When she got there, she found that Bewr had gone back to reading the temple’s books. Instead of bothering the mage, Rikel decided to hunt down one of the priests to find out where she would be bunking for the evening.

Not having much else to do, and not having had an opportunity to do so in some time, Rikel decided to pass the time with a bath. After she finished, she heard a knock on her door. She quickly slipped on a bathrobe to answer the door and saw Lelwyn standing there.

Lelwyn rose an eyebrow. “If this is an inopportune time, I can return later,” he assured her.

Rikel shook her head. “I just finished with my bath,” she explained. “What did you want?”

Lelwyn nodded. “When you’re ready,” he started, “I was prepared to explain why we are lodging in the temple this evening instead of the inn, as originally planned; the others are already waiting in the dining room.”

Rikel nodded back. “I’ll get dressed and be up there in a few minutes,” she announced before closing the door.

Lelwyn waited for Rikel to finish and walked with her to the dining room. Rikel turned to him. “I already knew where the dining room was,” she told him. “You didn’t need to escort me there.”

Lelwyn laughed. “I was actually avoiding the others,” he admitted. “Had I returned without you, they would have badgered me to tell them what was happening without you.”

Rikel smiled. “Ah,” she said as they reached the dining room. “Well, we’re all here now,” she observed.

Kirel stopped pacing and sat down. “What she said,” he agreed. “So, spill. Why are we in this temple when we could be in a nice inn?”

Lelwyn took a deep breath. “While Rikel was browsing for weapons and you were, almost assuredly, getting drunk, I was speaking with the head of the temple.”

Before Kirel could complain about the implied insult, Lelwyn continued. “During our conversation, it was revealed to me that the last harvest of the farmers of Nighforest yielded insufficient crops for the village’s needs, much less have enough for trade with outsiders,” Lelwyn explained.

Rikel sat down in shock. “Just how bad was it?” she asked in concern.

Lelwyn turned to face her. “About seven twelfths of the expected yield,” he answered.

Rikel let out a sigh of relief. “Okay, that’s not too bad,” she mused. “Assuming they normally farm enough extra for trade with others, they should have enough to last until almost the next Harvest season.”

Lelwyn nodded. “Aye,” he agreed. “Though they’ll be eating conjured food ‘ere that next Harvest arrives.”

Kirel grunted. “Okay, assume I agree about the food thing,” he started, “that doesn’t explained why we’re here instead of the inn.”

Bewr rested her face in her hands. “Do you really think that the inn would let us spend the night without trying to serve us food?” she asked.

Rikel nodded. “Bewr’s right,” she agreed. “There’s no way we would have been able to spend the night at the inn without being offered food that they wouldn’t be able to afford losing.” She turned to Lelwyn. “You did the right thing by having us stay here,” she assured him.

Lelwyn blushed at the compliment. “I simply believed each other option was unconscionable,” he deflected. “I, too, had hoped we would be able to avoid resorting to conjured food for this trip, both for the evening and for the rest of our journey to Midway,” he admitted.

Kirel groaned. “How long until we can restock in Midway?” he asked.

Bewr grimaced. “Several days,” she answered.

Before the group could process the news, the sounds of panicked screaming echoed from outside the temple. The quartet looked at each other in shock before hurrying outside to determine the cause of the commotion.

Once outside, Lelwyn stopped one of the villagers. “What has transpired?” he demanded.

The villager pointed to the south of the village. “A griffon is circling the village!” the villager screamed.