Tunio disembarked and walked slowly back to the Whole Hog. He walked past people unloading and loading ships and moving freight to other districts of the city. The warehouses gave way to the brick store buildings. He turned around a corner and ascended the steps into the Whole Hog.

“Excuse me, sir,” the clerk from behind the desk called to him.

Tunio looked up at him and smiled. “Me?”

“Yes, sir. Your room was paid for by the elf until tonight. I was wondering if you plan on leaving us tomorrow or will be staying longer?”

“I will be staying a little longer.”

“Very good, sir. When would you be paying for your extended stay?”

“I will go and get some money now.”

Tunio turned right and went to his room and pulled open the top drawer of the bedside table and pulled out his money pouch. Inside sat his remaining eight folia and three silver pieces. He sighed, pulled out a gold folia and replaced the money pouch. He straightened up and looked at the spare sword he had purchased. He picked it up and attached it to his belt. He opened the door and stepped out. In the reception area he presented the folia to the clerk.

The clerk gulped and took the folia. “How long will you be staying with us?”

“I don’t know. Put me down for a week. After that, I will consider again.”

“Very good, sir.”

Tunio heard the clink of coin and the clerk began to count out his change: one gold coin, nineteen silver leaves, and thirteen bronze rods. Tunio looked at the pile of coins and pocketed them. He smiled at the clerk and walked into the tavern.

Aquillia was sitting in the far corner with several cups of ale scattered around the table.

Tunio approached her and sat down opposite. “Drinking already?”

“I can’t find him.”

“Paulus?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry about that. I could ask my friend where he is.”

“I would like that. When do you see her next?”

“I am going to climb Mount Wealth tomorrow with her,” he smiled.

“I can wait until then.” Aquillia took another swig of her drink.

“Don’t you need to be on the ship?”

“I left the employ of the captain.”

“Was your brother’s name really Paulus?”

“Yes.” She raised her cup into the air. “Another.”

A barmaid walked over and deposited another cup on the table in front of Aquillia.

“Can you really afford to keep drinking? Why are you even drinking at all?”

“Apart from the fact I am unable to find a trace of my brother, I can’t seem to keep a partner.”

“Surely it’s not all that bad. You have had several partners since coming here.”

“Two,” she held up two fingers, “is all I have had since coming here.”

“Two in what? Five days? Some would call that a good track record.”

Aquillia grasped the ale cup and lifted it to her head and drained it.

“I think you have had enough. Let me take you to bed.”

“It’s still earlyish,” she slurred.

Tunio rose and walked around the table and lifted Aquillia up and half-walked, half-carried her to the door. They climbed the stairs and shuffled down the hallway, barely avoiding hitting any of the walls. He pushed open the door to her room and deposited her in her bed. He pulled off her boots and shifted her body so that her feet were on the bed.

She tried to sit up but he placed a gentle hand on her bare shoulder and pushed her back into the mattress.

“My shkirsh,” she slurred.

“As you wish, your majesty.” Tunio lifted her bottom and pulled off her skirt. He tossed it aside to the floor and walked to the door. “Good night.”

As he closed the door behind him, he heard her snoring. He started to walk down the length of the corridor and descended the stairs. Irrawella opened the outside door and stepped into the tavern. She was dressed in a yellow sleeveless dress with a plunging neckline.

“I didn’t expect to see you until tomorrow,” Tunio said.

“You promised me dinner.”

“I did. Where do you want to eat?”

“I know a great place,” she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him out of the tavern. She guided him across the plaza to a small restaurant that was tucked just inside an alley. The restaurant smelled of cooked meat and spices wafting from the kitchen. There were three tables, two already had couples sitting on them.

Irrawella pulled Tunio to the empty table and sat. A man dressed in black trousers and a black tunic approached them.

Irrawella looked up at the man. “Stein, two chef specials please.”

The man nodded and walked away.

“Chef’s special?”

“It’s pretty much the only thing worth eating here.”

“How do you know this place and Stein?”

“Stein and I used to be owned by the same owner.”

Tunio leaned forward. “I thought that slaves had to wear that grey skirt thing.”

“Most people expect slaves to wear that grey skirt and they don’t even consider that some don’t.”

“Isn’t it against the law?”

She leant forward, and Tunio leant into her. “It is, strictly speaking, but it's not enforced.”

Tunio leaned back in his chair.

“What did you get up to while I was away making dresses for the wealthy?”

“I saw off two of my friends. They are leaving at dawn tomorrow.”

Irrawella nodded.

“One of my friends, the elf, told me that her brother’s name was Paulus.”

“That is strange.”

“Why?”

“The only Paulus is the one I introduced to you.”

“She asked me to ask you where she could find him?”

“His shop is way on the other side of the district. I can show her tomorrow after our trip.”

“Don’t you have to work?”

Irrawella pouted, “I do, but I don’t want to.”

“I can understand that. Won’t your owner get mad at you?”

“My mistress is going to be in the shop the day after tomorrow.”

Stein brought two bowls filled with a steaming bowl of soup and placed a spoon next to each of them.

“Thank you, Stein,” Tunio said.

Stein smiled broadly before walking away.

“You are kind to slaves. Why?”

Tunio shrugged. “My father never had slaves and taught me to treat everyone kindly.”

“I wonder why he did that?”

“He told me about a story once about a dwarf that was cruelly treated by his master that he met when he was a child.”

Tunio started to eat his soup. “Tell me about your childhood.”

“Well, I am from Ashford. I became a slave during a tribal raid and was sold downriver during the moot. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a chief’s moot.” She took up her spoon and began eating her soup.

“Why, what’s special about a chief’s moot?”

“During a chief’s moot captives are released. During a regular moot they are exchanged. My clan had no captives to exchange so I was sold for two silver pieces.”

“Is that a good price for a slave?”

“Not really. I was unskilled and still a very young child.”

“How much would you fetch now?”

“I am not sure; I am skilled now and I generate a small income for my mistress.”

“You were lucky.”

“Why?”

“Your mistress trained you up and lets you work on your own.”

“I guess it is okay.”

Tunio’s spoon clattered on the bottom of the bowl. Stein returned and collected the bowls.

Tunio reached into his pocket and pulled out several bronze rods. “How much was dinner?”

Irrawella opened his hand, pulled out a single bronze rod, and placed it on the table. “That will do.”

Stein came over and collected the bronze rod and returned with a bronze coin.

Irrawella closed his hand over the coin and winked at Stein. Then she grabbed Tunio and pulled him out of the restaurant. She took his arm in hers and they walked back to the plaza. She led him back to the Whole Hog and walked him up the stairs and down the corridor, pushing open the door and stepping inside. She lifted the strap over her head. When the dress fell to the floor, she kicked it aside. Naked, she turned to him in the door.

“Are you going to come in?”

Tunio stepped into the door and pulled it closed behind him. He hurriedly undressed, setting his swords against the wall in the corner and leaving his trousers and boots in the middle of the floor.

Irrawella watched him from the bed. As he climbed into the bed after her, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. He responded in kind.

***

Tunio lay in the bed beside Irrawella and watched her chest rise and fall.

A man’s heart is fickle,

true must a man’s heart be

to wield the spirit.

The words echoed in his mind as he lay back and stared at the roof.

Honour and glory,

reveal the soul

remain true to your word

and see glory.

Are you going to do this every night? he spoke the words back at the voice.

Until the pieces are assembled, the voice replied.

It could take decades to find them all. How about after the next piece we call it?

A king stays with a lie

The words echoed in his head.

Lies destroy the heart and mind.

Truth frees the soul,

Honesty shall humble you.

Gains shall follow.

Tunio spoke the words back to the voice. A sense of satisfaction welled from the voice. Tunio closed his eyes.

***

3rd day of the 8th month 610thyear of the 8th era

Tunio awoke to the sound of a loud thump. He opened his eyes and sat. Irrawella was in the middle of the room, holding her foot in one hand. She turned her head to look at him.

“Your boots.”

“Sorry,” he shrugged.

“I have to go to work and finish that dress.” She stepped over his boots, grabbed her dress from the floor, and stepped into it. She pulled it up over her thin frame and lifted the strap over her head. She pushed her breasts under the thin fabric, stepped into her shoes, and walked to the door.

“I will bring my friend round and you can give us directions to Paulus.”

“Come around after lunch.”

Tunio nodded as she pulled the door open and stepped into the hallway. He heard her soft steps along the corridor. Tunio tossed aside the sheet and got dressed. He tied the short sword to his trousers and strapped his father’s sword over his chest. He walked down the corridor and tapped on Aquillia’s door.

A murmur came from behind the door. Tunio pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Aquillia was sitting on her bed, her hair a mess and her eyes were half open.

“Close the door,” she demanded, turning to the side of the large bed.

Tunio pushed the door closed. Aquillia got up and walked to her backpack on one of the chairs. She pulled out a brush and started to pull the brush through her hair.

“Why are you here so early?”

“I have news about Paulus.” Tunio smiled.

Aquillia continued to brush her hair.

“I have arranged with a friend to give us directions to his shop.”

“When can we go?”

“After lunch. My friend is busy until then.”

“Great.” Aquillia stood and stumbled.

Tunio caught her.

“We didn’t?” she asked, standing.

“No.” He let her go and she picked up her skirt from the bed and stepped into it.

“Pity. I am going to need a hangover cure.”

“I still don’t know why you got drunk last night.”

“Felt like a good idea yesterday.”

Aquillia took Tunio’s arm. He opened the door and walked outside. She pulled the door closed and they proceeded down the corridor and the stairs. They crossed into the tavern and sat at the table. A barmaid came over and Tunio ordered two breakfasts and one hangover cure. The barmaid smiled and walked off.

Aquillia placed her head on the table and groaned, “Why didn’t we become a thing?”

“What do you mean?”

“I threw myself at you on the ship. Why did you turn me down?”

Tunio laughed. “It wasn’t you, it was me.”

She lifted her head from the table. “Tell me about it.”

The barmaid returned and brought them their breakfast. Tunio paid her a bronze rod and she left.

“What were you going through at the time?”

“I had seen my parents die only recently.”

Aquillia nodded and they both tucked into their breakfasts. After a moment of silence, Tunio swallowed his food. “I am sorry if you felt rejected.”

“I wanted to thank you for helping my daughter and I.”

Tunio nodded and continued eating.

“It wasn’t the most well thought out plan.”

Tunio nodded again. “It is alright. I think we are even now.”

Aquillia shook her head. “It is not. First, you help me with my daughter, now you are helping me with my brother: I don’t think I could ever repay you.”

“Do me a favour?”

Aquillia nodded.

“Please don’t show your gratitude like that, it would be awkward right now.”

“Your friend and you are sharing a bed?”

Tunio nodded and smiled at Aquillia.

“I see, I will have to find another way to repay you.”

“I am sure you will find something.”