I Own a Brothel in Another World

Chapter 256 – Under Investigation

Stepping closer to the exhausted messenger, I bring out one of my water bottles, holding it out to the man. He frowns at the object initially, and I don’t blame him, but my waterskin isn’t there for some reason. I might have left it somewhere on the floor above while refilling everything.

Still, he receives the metal cylinder and even figures out how to unlatch the cap. The rest is just as easy. Hearing a sloshing noise from inside when he shakes it, the parched Dwarf immediately takes a swig, gulping down the entire capacity in one go. It’s just water, but in these situations, it could be liquid gold.

“So we know what the message is?” I ask after he hands it back with an appreciative nod.

“The Patriarch wishes to open it with the Counselor present,” he explains. “Will it be possible to schedule a meeting today or should I let him know to set one in the morning?”

Mevana shows next to my and Sirgia’s side. “We can handle the remaining time on our own. You two should go. It might be something important.”

Niel nods along, standing just behind her coworker.

Sirgia and I exchange a glance and find no reason to disagree.

“We will visit the Patriarch right now,” she announces. “Take a rest in the residential area above the shop. There’s no need to rush back as we can move there in a matter of seconds.”

“What she says.” I gesture with my head at the stairs leading up, then turn to the two cute ladies behind us. “You sure you’ll be alright?”

Mev waves me off. “There’s barely any traffic at this point and if those bastards decide to try anything, I’m sure your friends will intervene, Mas—Sir…”

“It’s closing time in just a moment anyway,” Sirgia’s best friend notes.

“Okay.” I smile at them gratefully, then lean in to give the curvier girl a quick peck on the cheek, but she twists her face to catch it on her plump lips.

Squinting at the sly woman, I move back.

“Thank you, ladies. We’ll be back in a blink.” I ruffle the vixen’s hair a bit.

Before turning away, I spot Niel gazing up at me somewhat expectantly.

Can’t really leave a girl like that, can I?

Sliding my palm along her cheek, I press a kiss on her forehead. This one doesn’t try to cheat in any way and gratefully accepts my thanks. With both of them properly rewarded for their sacrifice, I finally turn to Sirgia and the two of us step outside.

“You like her, Master,” my sweet mate points out.

“It was professional. Both were supposed to be,” I reply as Diana emerges from the brick road. “Besides, you say it like there’s anything not to like about her. She’s a kind girl with a big heart who fought hard for the sake of her friend’s family.”

“Mhm.” She hums to herself.

Knowing that I have no chance of winning this argument, I simply leave it at that. This naughty Dwarf would match me with pretty much anyone who is a looker and thinks positively of me. I miss the times when she was just a shy cookie worrying about receiving enough of my affection.

Actually, okay, maybe not. Sirgia was way too anxious about her feelings and her self-worth was at the very bottom in the past. I guess I still prefer this version over her fearful face full of doubt that I actually do see her charms in a positive way, lightly speaking.

Nevertheless, Diana transfers us back to the courtyard and we take it from there. The artefacts that serve as lamps illuminate the pathways with an orange glow and we find our way into the main building. Heading straight for the Patriarch’s quarters, we catch one of the maids so she can tell him ahead of time. It would be rude to just show up without a warning at this hour.

Another servant guides us to our destination, taking a roundabout route to give her colleague enough time to finish her task, and we arrive in one of his offices. Entering through the doors that are held open for us, we meet the man behind a heavy desk. Both of us curtsy respectfully.

“Patriarch,” I greet the Clan Head.

He grunts deeply. “Just forgo those tense pleasantries when it’s simply us. You are supposed to be my aides, are you not?”

“Very well, Grimm.” Sirgia trots up to his desk. “We’ve received the news of a missive.”

“I hope my messenger didn’t rush you.” He raised an inquiring brow at her. “It’s an important evening for your business.”

“The prompt response was our own choice,” I answer, seeing no reason to cause any trouble for the other guy. “Plus, we were just wrapping up. The shop is mostly empty, with just a few final customers still pondering over their choices. The variety surprised many of them.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” The Patriarch chuckles openly. “Any trouble?”

“A little bit,” Sirgia reveals. “But nothing we can’t handle. Stockhawkers sent a delegation demanding our closure or they are going to take us to the crown for infringement.”

“Bastards!” Grimm smashes his fist into the wooden surface. “Really? Infringement? They dare?”

“They’ve been dealt with,” she adds. “Though, they did cause a scene in the middle of the store.”

“Which is actually a good thing for us,” I say, capturing their attention.

“How so?” The man frowns lightly.

“Those who witnessed the dispute heard every word, listening to our confident deflection of the baseless claims. We are more than happy to go the court route and are in possession of all necessary documents. Plus, we mentioned our origins from abroad,” I sum it up for them. “This will start some rumours and every bit of doubt towards them is to our advantage. We are just starting here so our slate is perfectly clean. Stockhawkers can’t say the same about their reputation amongst the smaller business owners.”

The Patriarch stares at me for a few seconds before exploding into a hearty laugh.

“You are a devil!” He points his thick finger at me. “They have no idea who they are up against, do they?”

“What can I say?” I shrug nonchalantly. “I’m kind of an expert when it comes to the convoluted fields of marketing. If they choose to go to war with us by utilising tools from that sector, it’s not going to end well for them.”

Sirgia giggles adorably as she gazes up at me. “Master is right. His ideas made our establishment soar. He knows his stuff.”

I fluff her soft hair with a grin.

“Anyway, that’s a topic for later.” I turn back to the Clan Head. “The missive?”

“Right, right.” The rough man picks up a sealed letter from his desk. “Let’s get to it, shall we?”

Using a stylish letter knife, he slices into it and pulls out a folded parchment. We give him a moment to read through it and observe his reactions. It doesn’t look like it’s something horrible as he only briefly scowls and lets out a tired sigh.

“Long story short, and they do love their official speech, they are sending a representative to discuss the matters of the Farscope,” the family leader informs us. “Since they do not address anything else, it’s just an obvious excuse to investigate the hints regarding the clan that we slipped into our report. That representative will most likely want to talk with the creator of the item, and drag their stay out by demanding to watch it being constructed multiple times just so they can sniff around for the one thing that matters to them, which is the chance that their asses might get set on fire.”

“As expected.” Sirgia shakes her head. “Do we know who they are sending?”

“One of the Grand Patriarch’s officers, who in this case, if my memory serves me right, is one of his granddaughters.” He squints at the paper. “Yeah, I think that was her name. She’s a piece of work, for sure. If you thought our Elders are haughty, just wait until you see her. It’s a mystery how she doesn’t scratch her nose over the top of the doorframes wherever she goes with how high she holds it.”

The two of us snicker at his obviously exasperated words. Spoken from experience, no doubt.

“It’s okay. Master knows how to handle that type well. She’ll be eating out of his hand in a matter of hours. Or out of something else.” My lover sends me a knowing wink.

I stare at her. Before asking who she even means, a few ladies flash through my mind. It stops on Cornelia as the beautiful Court Magician’s face comes to me through my bond with Sirgia. I want to disagree immediately, but to some extent, I understand why she thinks so. While our icy magician isn’t exactly the extremely prideful type, she does have her tsundere moments and it did take a bit of work to break through that wall.

However, I still shake my head. “We aren’t going to seduce the Grand Patriarch’s granddaughter. That’s a shortcut to getting us all beheaded or worse. Befriend? Perhaps. But you better not be making any schemes in that pretty little head of yours already.”

She bats her charming lashes at me innocently and I snort.

“Now I gotta figure out who to send for the escort.” The annoyed man rests his elbow on the desk and his forehead atop his palm.

“Escort?” I glance at him.

“It’s a custom where the recipient of an envoy is expected to meet the representative midway and bring them to the clan,” Sirgia fills me in. “Just politics, nothing more.”

“Kind of wish we had brought some girls from our mercenary corps with us.” I stroke my chin.

“Why not establish a branch here, Master?” She tilts her head curiously. “When the gateways are up and running, it will be easy to move the members between the locations.”

“We could use an honest and capable company around here.” The Clan Head grunts idly.

“I assume our rank and history from the Human lands don’t directly transfer here?” I ask.

“The local guild might want to test you if they think you are overselling it, but mercenary work is quite universal so it shouldn’t be that big of an issue,” the Patriarch answers. “But, you certainly won’t make it in time for the journey so I have to pick someone from our garrison. With my oldest sons still being away, our representative will have to be my daughter. She should be returning this upcoming morning, and since she hates staying cooped up here, she’ll gladly take up the task immediately.”

“Then, Master should accompany her,” Sirgia offers without any thought of consulting it with me. “You won’t have to delegate any of your valuable guards that way.”

“Just him?” The man squints at me.

“Patriarch, you saw the power behind my artefacts,” she continues. “Master is not only bursting with them but wields abilities many times stronger on his own. Even fully equipped with my mightiest creations, I don’t feel confident in taking him down at this point in time. There’s a reason why a dozen savage mercenary females from multiple races follow him like tamed kittens.”

I don’t think he is worried about the safety of his daughter. Not in that context, at the very least.

“Do I get any say in this?” I smirk amusedly. “Did you forget that we just opened a shop and pretty much started a war with a corporate giant?”

“That’s part of the reason behind my suggestion.” Sirgia turns to me with a hint of pleading in her gorgeous eyes. “I implied the Pleasure Queen’s connection with the clan so it’s not impossible for them to try something against the family too. Sending out a greeting party becomes an appetising opportunity to mess with us.”

“You do have a point there.” I scratch my head.

“Besides, from what I remember, the Patriarch’s daughter has always been focused on the practical application of offensive artefacts and weapons rather than their construction. As he said, she likes to be out there more than here with everyone. She could be a potential first member of our corps in this region,” she pitches in her idea hopefully. “The Third Regiment is already under training, but the Fourth is yet to be formed. Eden Delta could be our face here and we would have a self-sufficient force stationed for future trouble with business and other things.”

Snickering quietly, I give her a proud nod. “Looks like someone is paying close attention to our plans and strategies back at home even as much as she locks herself in her tiny forge.”

Sirgia’s cheeks darken deeply and she grinds her shoe into the floor shyly.

“Fine. Let’s go with that. I’ll take just Diana with me and leave the others to watch over you girls,” I agree in the end. “I simply can’t say no to you.”

Kneeling down, I give my lovely wife a passionate kiss, to which she responds in kind, pulling me into her more. But, I don’t overstay my welcome. There’s an important person in the room with us.

“And you are sure just you are going to be enough if we assume to expect an ambush?” The Clan Head watches me studiously.

Taking a deep breath as I stand up, I briefly release all my aura that’s usually under the wraps. A Demigod and a Tier 7 is a rather explosive combination. That’s why, when all that spiritual pressure descends onto the room, it’s like the chamber suddenly gets put in stasis from the sheer pressure and tightly condensed mana filling the air.

As quickly as it begins, the magical storm ends just as abruptly. Grimm gasps like a fish out of water and grabs his heart, sweating profusely, his visible eye threatening to pop out of its socket. I catch even Sirgia stumbling a little, offering her my elbow. Thankfully, her connection with me and how powerful she is on her own spares her from the point-blank impact.

“W-What was that…?” the shocked man chokes out.

Summoning my info panel, I filter it out to just show my Tier and Stats, making it visible before I flick it his way.

A pitiful noise escapes his throat as he registers the unbelievable data, the pink window disappearing soon after.

The Patriarch’s frantic eye locks onto Sirgia. “What kind of monster have you brought into our home…?”

She, in turn, rolls her eyes and copies me, flinging him her own rectangle, filtered similarly. It makes him even paler. It’s not a surprise. She’s right on my heels when it comes to advancements, recently hitting Tier 6. And by being my true love who reciprocates those feelings, her numbers are just as insane as mine.

“Goddess almighty…” The Clan Head slumps into his comfy chair. “Just the two of you could turn this city upside down… The Stockhawkers have no idea of what they are fucking with…”

“See? Everything will be okay.” My short mate grins at him. “Your daughter is in good hands.”

He leaves it at that, clearly too drained to even respond. I pick that as the moment to leave the poor guy be and take Sirgia away after politely bidding farewell to the family leader. He should be back to good after a restful night.

Hopefully.

As for us, I yank my cheeky girlfriend’s ear up as we walk down the corridor.

“Ow, ow, ow!” She squeaks kind of adorably while rising to her toes.

“Is trying to lure Niel into my bed not enough for you? Do you plan to devise some grand Dwarf orgy that involves every royal, noble, and respectable clan daughter of this kingdom?” I give her a few more tugs before moving my fingers to her hair. “I need to limit your time spent with Shino, Nat, and perhaps a few Beastkin women.”

“Wouldn’t you enjoy that, Master?” Sirgia whines faintly, a tiny smile curling up the edges of her mouth as she relishes the headpats.

“Don’t change the topic.” I press harder into her head. “It’s not about enjoyment. I could always enjoy you. Or is this because you are getting bored of having to warm my bed?”

“NO!” She whips around in a blink, smashing into my chest. “I’m sorry, Master! I didn’t mean to!”

“Shhh, all’s good.” I crouch down to give her a proper hug. “I was just teasing. But, you have to admit, it does kinda sound like that.”

Her face nuzzles into the crook of my neck. “I’m just… excited... I’ve been your only Dwarf for a long time, Master… I just… Uhm… It will sound so silly…”

“You can tell me anything, you know that.” I brush her back lovingly.

“I know you love me for me and my body pleases you greatly… But my brain is still a little stupid… It worries sometimes… And I think… Seeing you appreciate others like me… Proves to it that you truly are attracted to Dwarves for what we are… And my body does excite you properly, not just because of romantic feelings…” She gives her best explanation.

Bringing her face up to mine, I give her cute nose a tiny peck. “It’s not silly. I think I understand where you are coming from. You are scared your figure is just like something exotic

“Maybe…” Sirgia tries to think deeply along with my soothing words.

“So, I’ll state it clearly right now. You are gorgeous, and so are many other females of your kind. I think often about ravishing many of you. With some, I do more than just think, see Mevana.” I boop her on the forehead and she snickers exquisitely. “And I promise you, I’ll ravish many more. You don’t need to actively seek them out for reassurance. I don’t forbid you from being my wingwoman, of course, but I can tell you’ve been much more extroverted since we arrived in your homeland. Are you just coming out of your shell or do you feel like you need to be like that?”

“I might have been forcing it here and there,” she admits honestly. “But I also find it fun to tell others how great you are, Master. Not just in bed, of course.”

“Feel free to act however you like, just without the need to worry anymore.” I pinch her rosy cheek. “Get back to working on Niel before you rope the future Clan Matriarchs into it.”

My gingerly mate nibbles on her lip. “So you do want to bed her, Master.”

I throw my arms into the air. “Woman, I just told you Dwarf girls get me going! She’s like you but purple-haired!”

Laughing delightfully, she jumps up to peck my cheek. “You’ll have us both soon, Master. Or three of us? I’m sure Mevana will want to join.”

Rolling my eyes, I cross my arms over my chest. “That’s it. The day I find the three of you naked in my bed, you’ll be going through every single toy in our current assortment before you get any of me, one full orgasm per product.”

Her smile disappears, replaced by an expression full of trepidation. The massive blush continues to bloom, though.

The rest of our trip back continues in silence. We get home shortly after closing, Mevana and Niel already tidying up the shop from the evening’s matters. They spot the crimson bloom on Sirgia’s cheeks as she meets their eyes and raise intrigued brows at her, but the tiny minx escapes to the residential floor before anyone can say anything.

While she recovers in peace, I fill the ladies in on the recent dealings. They agree that a respectable mercenary company would be sought after as the market is supposedly monopolised by one group, fully made of Dwarves, naturally. I bet it’s just some family force like we introduced ours in Evalitia. The duo doesn’t try to stop me from joining the escort mission either, Mev actually insisting on it. She does have first-hand experience with our unit, I guess.

When Sirgia rejoins us, we go through the data we gathered from the first day of work. Money isn’t the most important right now, but it still feels nice to see both Niel and Mev light up at the numbers. It’s obvious they have never earned this much in one go before. Especially the former, who has been on a clan stipend and Sirgia’s parents’ pocket money for most of her life.

When the two of us suggest they take it all and split it between themselves, they argue for a moment, but Sirgia smacking a sack full of platinum coins onto the counter silences them instantly. They knew she had to have some funds with everything we’ve been doing, but seeing money for money always makes a statement.

Since it’s getting late, we leave discussing our next steps for the morning. Even though most of it is already planned out. A good business plan looks fairly ahead. We’ve spent some time brainstorming it with Sirgia during the last few days. It should be pretty solid, taking into consideration plenty of variables and risks.

So, we all head to our respective beds on the upper level. I share a room with my sweet mate, obviously. Mev and Niel have their own quarters. Yet, the stout girl still sneaks into ours for some cuddles. We welcome her wholeheartedly and doze off together. I’m not surprised the bed fits us all easily. Having Sirgia’s plots in mind, she must have picked it for that very reason.

In the morning, everyone prepares for the day in the communal area. The shop opens early now that the debut has taken place. Our employees are more than just excited to work in their own store and workshop. I can easily understand that. Mevana has always been a business-oriented artisan with some struggles and Niel experiences the freedom of leading her affairs for the first time. 

They are going to do great.

And that’s why, the three of them guide me outside to see me and Diana off, my cordial wife making the few last adjustments to my adventuring gear, assuring I look as dashing and dangerous as ever.

“I’m kind of torn between staying and begging to come with you,” the chunky girl admits. “It’s so exciting with you as an escort.”

“I assure you, I don’t fight off a band of criminals buck naked and with a raging hard-on for every client.” I snicker at her. “Just the special ones.”

Mev blushes furiously, fanning her neck.

Sirgia catches Niel glancing at me ponderingly. “Don’t worry. Master will take you for an adventure soon too. I’m sure you would love to see the lands beyond the family compound.”

The purple-haired girl sprouts a fair flush too, her eyes fleetingly jumping to my waist and back up.

I think she might be imagining a different kind of adventure than implied.

Oh, well. My fault for reeling her into my sexy time with Sirgia.

Speaking of which, the person in question ends her fussing over me and spins around to face them. “I’ll bring Master to meet his travelling companion and be right back. A letter left by a messenger said that the Patriarch was feeling a bit weak this morning. As a Counselor, I have to take up this duty of his.”

I do my best to hold in my chuckle and not smile stupidly.

Mevana struts forward and I go down to one knee. She daintily grasps my coat, bringing our lips together in a hearty kiss. I make sure to run my palms all over her delicious curves to give her my appreciation. Sirgia might not be the only one conscious of her figure. So, Mev should know that I desire her appetising thickness very much.

When I’m freed, Niel trots closer too, looking a bit less sure. Acting carefully, I hold a hand out to her and she slides her cheek into it gracefully. I let her be the one to offer me a little kiss while my thumb strokes her rosy face. 

But, as she turns around, I give her perky rump a light smack, causing her to squeak in shock. The others grin at her, and judging by the peek she gives me over her shoulder, she doesn’t mind. Perhaps even finds it a little intriguing. Something new.

I wonder if she had any suitors before. Might have been a tad hard when she reduced herself to a servant.

Leaving that thought for another day, I touch Diana’s fur while Sirgia joins me. With one last wave, I disappear along with the two females, reappearing in front of the grand central mansion. Giving me an affectionate lick, the big wolf hides in my shadow. My very important wife starts guiding me through the building, clearly receiving the details earlier.

Many bow to her politely, showing proper respect for her position. As they should. She deserves all of it.

Soon enough, we find ourselves in front of a sizable door to what has to be someone’s sleeping quarters, located in the high-ranking section. The Patriarch’s chambers aren’t that far from here.

My dear partner knocks on the wood gently. “Miss Cecil?”

“Enter.” A feminine voice comes muffled from the other side.

Sirgia pushes the door open and we are presented with an… interesting sight.

The entrance doesn’t even swing half of the way before my mate stops. A very noticeably girly frame enters our sight, recognizable especially thanks to the two delectably round and full mounds tipped with dark peaks that hang proudly from their profile. Their owner stands in front of an open dresser, just finishing pulling up her pants. When her green eyes give us a passing glance, she does a wild double-take, losing her balance for a second.

An undignified squawk echoes through the chamber as her narrowing pupils lock on my face. She doesn’t rush to cover her mesmerising assets, surprising me a tad, and instead lunges forward and climbs onto the very dresser, using the bottom drawer as a stepping stone. My brows rise in shock as she grabs the hilt of an ornamental sabre hanging above the furniture and jumps down with a mighty thump.

“GET OUT!” The half-naked lady reels her athletic arm back.

My hand is already on the knob and I slam the door shut an instant before a third of the sharp blade pierces right through it, the tip halting right in front of my nose. I go cross-eyed for a moment, then glance down at my just as flabbergasted mate, slowly mouthing the word feisty

She slaps her palm over her mouth to silence the incoming giggle. We don’t want to piss the already riled-up princess any more.

Five minutes later, we receive another invitation, this time much more tense.

The woman stands with her fists angrily on her sides and throws me a glare like she wishes I would drop dead this instant. Her black reinforced pants are now joined by a matching vest, metal breastplate, and a cape attached to the respectable armour. As noted earlier, her eyes are green, her hair matches the feathers of a raven, and she wears it dreaded towards the back, the sides of her head mostly uncovered, only one or two bundles adorning her fierce face.

Which would be even more ferocious with its sharp and rough angles if not for all that crimson covering it.

She taps her foot impatiently for some reason.

“You told us to enter?” I raise a brow at her, not willing to be blamed for this.

“I wasn’t expecting a male!” the girl snaps back.

“Oh, so flashing your tits to another female is no deal?” I ask, matching her stance.

“We are both women! We see each other like that all the time!” She sneers at me.

“So do I.” I roll my eyes.

My words throw her off as she blinks at me in confusion while Sirgia smiles on the side.

“Lady Cecil, I’m going to honestly apologise for this incident, because there’s an inkling of a chance that we should have thought of this possibility, but you can’t act like that was my fault,” I say my piece. “Can we just forget it happened or does it have to become a bigger issue?”

Considering her snarl, my bet is on the latter.

“I was the one who brought him here so if anyone other than you would be put to fault, it should be me,” my lover declares softly.

Cecil’s intense gaze moves onto her. “And you! I’ll have you fired by midday! Who do you think you are to just bring a man to my chambers without announcing him?! Did your masters not teach you anything? Just wait until Father learns of this!”

“Ah. I’m sorry.” Sirgia looks down at her shop uniform and snaps her fingers.

Her attire is replaced by her adventuring outfit too, one a battle-hardened veteran wouldn’t be shy of. Then, she reaches into an inner pocket and pulls out a pin that depicts what looks like a contour of a forging furnace with some kind of a tool inside, resembling a chisel or such. It takes me way too long to recognize it as a graver. The entire badge is made of a shiny chromatic metal.

“C-Counselor?!” The girl takes an unstable step back. “I mean, Lady Counselor! It’s an h-honour!”

She bows halfway to the ground, the scarlet fury quickly making space for the pale terror. Seems like Daddy has managed to inform his daughter about the most crucial matters before our arrival.

“Now, back to where I was.” Sirgia raises her gaze from the pin, making the other woman shiver. “Would you like to submit a complaint about my inadequacy?”

“N-No, Lady Counselor!” the warrior girl stammers out. “I’ve made a shameful mistake that involves only my own shortsightedness! I carry no slight towards Your Grace or the male!”

“The male bears the name Alastair and is to be your guard and companion for this escort mission,” my mate replies with a firmer tone. “Did the Patriarch not explain that?”

“Excuse us, Lady Counselor! Father has been ill this morning! He yelled something out about the most powerful mercenary who has stepped over these lands before fainting!” Cecil explains quickly.

My genius girlfriend rubs her forehead. “Looks like I’ll have to check on him before going back. The medicinal supplies I carry should be enough so you don’t need to delay yourself for this, Master.”

“M-Master?” The black-haired female drags her eyes over to me. “Ah, greetings Mercenary Master! As an aspiring wandering sentinel, I hope to learn much from you during our travels!”

Sirgia snorts but doesn’t correct her. Not that I want her to.

“Likewise, Lady Cecil.” I give the girl a cordial nod.

“Please, just Cecil, Mercenary Master.” She tries to smile kindly.

“Just Alastair or Al, then,” I follow suit. “Are you ready to leave or do you need some more time?”

“I just have to fetch my bags and I’m good to go!” Cecil straightens up, saluting to her chest. “Should we meet by the stables?”

“Yes, let’s do that,” I agree with her idea. “Do not rush it. It’s still early. Being in a hurry can lead to mistakes in packing up. It’s better to verify everything twice rather than have to come back for something crucial.”

“Yes, sir!” She thumps her chest.

Inclining my head once more, I turn to leave, Sirgia walking out right behind me. The door closes in tense silence, the sabre still lodged in the planks. Moving a safe distance away from the bedroom of the Clan Head’s daughter, we glance at each other and snicker openly.

Never a boring day.

My petite lover pulls me in for a fluffy kiss before continuing on her way to the Patriarch’s chambers, aiming to get the man back on his feet. I take the long way to the stables, giving Cecil an ample amount of time to get everything in order. When I arrive there, she’s just leading a full-sized horse out of the nifty barn, the animal fully saddled and bagged up.

“You got your steed? Let us depart, then.” I give the mighty beast a few pats on its side.

“Where’s your horse?” she asks, frowning as I don’t enter the stables to fetch one. “I’m not letting you ride behind me, Human. Or get any closer than a greataxe’s swing, for that matter.”

Looks like she does still carry a grudge, in the end. And with the Counselor absent, I’m just a Human, huh.

“I’m riding a different kind of mount,” I reply with a grin. “One that would make the nearby stallions quite uncomfortable.”

Cecil climbs onto her mare from a stepladder and groans while rolling her eyes. “Please, tell me you aren’t riding a donkey because it learns faster and doesn’t buck as easily.”

Grabbing her reins, I take us closer to the nearby gate and step aside. The sentries meet my gaze as I bring two fingers to my lips, one guy’s eyes flashing knowingly. He elbows his compatriot with a smirk.

I whistle sharply and my massive Lupus Voidis emerges from my shadow into a jog. She draws a majestic circle around us, making Cecil’s horse neigh anxiously, before stopping by my side, nuzzling her canine snout into my palm.

Playing with the elongated muzzle, I flash the Dwarf girl a smile. “Cecil, meet Donkey.”

The Donkey sneezes into my fingers and brings her ominous violet eyes to my level with an expression that can be deciphered as something akin to a wolf deadpan.

“Alright, alright, it’s Diana.” I chuckle and roll her head between my hands. “Close enough, I would say.”

My valiant steed gives my face a few punishing licks before laying down and letting me hop into the masterful saddle. 

After she gets up, bringing me as high if not a bit higher than Cecil’s seat, I throw my arm forward. “Onwards!”

The mouth-agape Dwarf doesn’t answer, her mare following after me on her own, guided by her training most likely.

This is going to be a fun little trip, I can feel it.