Logan stretched and opened his eyes.

“Thank you for this morning,” Ingirid said.

Logan looked at her. She was wearing her dress and had just finished putting on her shoes.

“You don’t have to go now.” Logan sat up.

She smiled at him. “I must return to work.”

He frowned. “Come stay with me. You won’t have to work again.”

“Cute.” She stepped over to him and kissed him on the mouth. “I like my job.”

“If that is your choice.”

“It is.” She stood and opened the door and walked out.

Logan followed her to the door and watched her descend the stairs. He turned and dressed, stepping into his trousers and boots and pulling on his tunic. After belting on his sword belt, he gathered his items and walked down the corridor to Aquillia’s room and opened the door. The room was empty. He placed his copy of The Chronicles of King Cordifolia on the bedside table. He turned and left, closing the door behind him. He walked back to the stairs and descended. Pushing open the front door of the tavern, he encountered Aquillia heading back into the tavern.

“You’re leaving?” she asked.

“There is no more reward for the belt, so I am out.”

“I will miss you.” She opened her arms and hugged him.

He hugged her back. “Give my regards to Tunio and your daughter.”

She stepped back and nodded at him. He stepped past her and disappeared into the crowd.

Aquillia stepped into the tavern. She ascended the stairs and walked down the corridor to Metilia and Gazali’s room. She knocked and the door was opened by Gazali wearing a pair of trousers. Metilia stepped up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“Are the two of you coming out to enjoy the festival or are you hiding in your room all day?”

“We will come out,” Metilia said. She stepped back and then came out wearing a blue skirt and a pair of sturdy boots. Aquillia’s eyes lit up seeing Metilia dressed as she was and linked arms with her and guided her down the steps and out the door. Gazali closed the doors and followed his wife and mother-in-law’s bare backs as they headed into the festival.

***

As night crept upon the city, Tunio and Irrawella found themselves sitting on the steps of the Whole Hog watching as the festival began to wrap up. Irrawella leaned on Tunio’s shoulder.

“Come in and have dinner,” Tunio prompted.

“How could you eat any more?” Irrawella said, sitting up. “You ate all day.”

Tunio shrugged. “I guess I am looking for reasons to keep you around.” He turned bright red.

“How about I come up and you buy me a drink.”

“Sounds great.” Tunio smiled and stood. He extended his hand and she took it. He pulled her up and held her close. With one hand wrapped around her waist, he guided her into the tavern and took her to a table.

A barmaid came to their table.

“Two ales please.”

The barmaid nodded and walked away.

“How did you know I wanted an ale?” Irrawella asked leaning into Tunio.

“I didn’t,” Tunio confessed, “I don’t think they serve anything else.”

Irrawella giggled. The barmaid returned and placed the ales on the table. Tunio paid her and she walked away.

“I had fun today,” Irrawella said.

“How much have you drunk?”

Irrawella took a gulp of her ale and smiled at him with a foam moustache on her lips. Tunio laughed as she wiped it away.

“I don’t get to drink much, there is not a lot of money for a slave to make.”

Tunio sat back into his chair. “So, your boss comes around and collects your money every day?”

“No, the shop doesn’t make a lot of money.” She tossed back her cup and drained it. Standing, she smiled at Tunio.

“You are going already?”

“I have to be back early.”

Tunio frowned. She bent her head to his ear. “Take me to your room.”

Tunio stood and led her upstairs and took her into his room.

“A bed. This is going to be a great night.”

Tunio closed the door behind him and placed his sword in the corner. He pushed his pants to his boots, then stepped out of his boots and pants. Irrawella peeled off her dress, dusted off her feet, and climbed into the bedsheets. Tunio climbed in behind her.

“I have never done anything like this before,” she said, wrapping her arms around his torso.

“What, sleeping in a bed?”

“No silly.” She kissed him, pressing her body against his. “That was a great kiss, better than I expected.”

“I will be gentle.” Tunio returned the kiss.

***

Tunio awoke to the sound of his door opening. Irrawella was sleeping on the side of the bed facing the wall. He looked at the door and the faint light of the corridor streamed in through the open door. In the doorway stood a woman.

“Who’s there?” he whispered. He climbed out of the bed and went to the door.

“Tunio, who is that you have with you?” Doris said from the corridor, her voice rising a pitch.

“Doris!” Tunio exclaimed. “What are you doing?”

“What do you mean what am I doing?” she demanded, putting her fist on her hips. “I thought we had a thing?”

“What thing?”

“Last night and the night before?” She reached out and ran a hand down his lean frame and then grasped his spear.

“I thought we were done,” he said, pushing her hand off his member and stepped into the corridor, closing the door behind him.

“What gave you that impression?”

“When you stormed off this morning.”

“We have a small fight because you lost your sword and you think we are over?”

Tunio blinked. “I didn’t even know we were a thing.”

“You think I just come into random men’s bedrooms for the sake of it?”

Tunio nodded.

“I can’t believe you think that of me.” Tears started to form at the corners of her eyes.

“That is how it started. You just came into my bed and started screwing me.”

She shrugged. “I will have to agree to that. So, is she someone special?”

“I am not certain,” Tunio admitted. “I don’t think it can go on for much longer. She is a slave. I doubt we will have much of a future.”

“You poor boy. You fell in love with a slave.” A mocking smile creased her face.

“I have no future and with the king withdrawing the reward there is no possibility of getting enough to buy her.”

“Did you at least get your sword back?”

“I did.”

“That is something at least.”

“I may have to find a job. I will be out of money soon.”

“Follow me,” she commanded. She turned and walked down the corridor.

“Where are you going?” he asked, following her down the corridor.

“Don’t worry.” She stopped at another door and pushed it open. The door was a small closet. On the floor were a few furs and a pillow. On the walls were a series of shelves filled with sheets and towels and cleaning apparatus.

“I am not sleeping with you,” he insisted.

She laughed. “This is a slave’s room. The tavern has not had a slave for some time.” She pulled out a stack of sheets, revealing a pipe with a small valve. She turned the valve and the shelves swung back, revealing a set of stairs.

“Come,” she instructed and ascended the stairs.

Tunio glanced back down the corridor. What am I getting myself into? He gulped and followed her through the secret door. Once on the stairs the door swung closed and he shivered from the air, cool on his naked body.

“It’s cold in here.”

“You came out naked.”

In complete darkness, he put his hand out and felt a cool smooth wall. He felt with his foot for the first step and ascended the stairs. At the top he heard gears grinding and another door swung open. Light cascaded on to his eyes; a roaring fireplace illuminated the rest of the room beyond. A large bear rug was spread out on the wooden floor. Two large comfortable chairs sat facing the fire. The walls were covered in trophies and bookshelves filled with books and other trinkets. Tunio strode out to the fireplace and warmed his body.

“We can talk here.”

“Nice place you have here.”

“It was meant to be the room for the owner, but the previous owner of the tavern owned many businesses and gave this room to the exclusive use of my organisation. When the tavern was sold on his death, no one knew this room was here.”

“What is your organisation?”

“It doesn’t matter. Just that I have been given permission to find the belt,” Doris said, sitting into one of the chairs.

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Well, you are going to find the belt for me.”

“I don’t know if I can do that.” Tunio turned and faced Doris. “The clue I am stuck on makes no sense and even if that wasn’t enough of a reason itself, I am running out of money.”

“I know. You said so.” She stood and picked up a small wooden box from the shelves. “How much money do you need?”

“I would need enough money to cover my expenses, and maybe pay for some help.”

“Who were you thinking of paying?”

“I am not certain. I would need someone who knows the city and is quite well studied.”

“Things you are not.”

“I am, after all, a farmer’s son.” He spread his hands wide.

She opened the box and reached in. He heard the clinking of money. She counted out eight gold folias and held them out to him. “This should be enough for all that.”

He took the money and his eyes widened. “For this I could buy a slave.”

“You could buy several,” she admitted, closing the box.

“Thank you for this.”

“It is important to me that the real belt is found.”

Tunio nodded. “How do I get back?”

“The last step is a pressure plate, when you step on it, it should open the door.”

Tunio nodded and walked out of the room and descended the stairs. As he stepped on the bottom step he heard a soft click and a grinding of gears and the secret door opened, and he walked through and pulled the door closed behind him. He walked back to his room and quietly opened his door. Relief flooded him when he saw Irrawella still asleep on the bed. He pulled the door closed behind him, opened the drawer in the bedside table, pulled out his money pouch, and poured in eight folia. He returned the pouch to the drawer and closed the drawer. He then gently climbed back into bed and went to sleep.

***

Tunio stood naked around a campfire. Eight other people stood around the campfire, also naked. The man directly to his right opened his mouth and spoke.

A man’s heart is fickle,

true must a man’s heart be

to wield the spirit.

Honour and glory,

reveal the soul

remain true to your word

and see glory.

The others all chanted.

A king stays with a lie

The second, a woman, opened her mouth and spoke.

Lies destroy the heart and mind.

Truth frees the soul,

Honesty shall humble you.

Gains shall follow.

Return to truth

Separate truth from lie

The sword divides

Truth sets the captives free.

Together the whole group chanted.

Corruption eats at society

The third, a man, opened his mouth and spoke.

Warriors march and peace leaves,

Peace returns and warriors depart.

The tempest spent

Hearts soar.

Girded with belt and sword

Peace is sought.

None can make,

Rest is given.

The whole group chanted.

Justification for sin imperils all

Then the fourth, a woman spoke.

A beacon on a hill

Can be seen by all

Heart and spirit unite

Washed white as snow.

Steadfast in truth and loyalty

People from light and dark

Blood spent

Gathered in the storm.

Together they all chanted.

Fallen, fallen all is lost

The fifth, a man, spoke.

Courage rises

Screaming into the face of danger

Hope returned

A battle saved.

Valiant leadership went forth

Driving fear away

Leaping into the fray

Tearing it away.

They all chanted.

Swept aside nothing stands

The sixth, a woman, spoke.

Glowing bright

Dawn breaks

One life saved

Night is broken.

Covered in darkness

A quick step

Lost forever

Never to return.

They all chanted.

Set apart a remnant shall rise

The seventh, a man, spoke.

Grip, twist, grasp,

Strength run through

Only the strong

And steadfast.

A beacon in light

Waxes cold

Only together can they stand

Against the coming doom.

They all chanted.

Swirling around the last few, hate closes in

The eighth, a woman, spoke.

Arrows fly

Metal rings

A god attacks

Men are doomed.

Restrained no more

Corruption, hate and strife

Death, lust and greed

Fight we must or to doom go.

They all chanted.

Sword on sword we stand the last battle will find us

They stopped and silence descended. They turned and faced him. Tunio awoke with a gasp, sitting up, his skin sticky with sweat.

Irrawella stirred beside him, turned, and looked at him. “What’s the matter?”

“It’s okay,” he comforted, “just a bad dream.”

She nodded and closed her eyes, her breathing returning to normal. Tunio reached over to the bedside table, opened the drawer, and checked his money pouch. The eight folia were still there.