(Dyn)

  Judge Urvana leaned ba her chair, her fiapping rhythmically on the desk as she pted Charles’ words. She let out a weary sigh. “I really wish the guilds would take a page from the League and stay out of politics.”

  The rugged elf remaianding, arms crossed, gaze fixed on the judge. He wouldn’t sit until he knew Vera was safe. His breathing, shallow and tense, gradually slowed as he forced himself bato his stoiposure. His stance softened, but the sharp alertness in his eyes stayed.

  Urvana pursed her lips, drawing in a slow breath as though steeling herself for an unpleasant task. “Fine,” she said, her voice heavy with resignation.

  “Fine?” Charles’ eyebrow twitched. His voice was low, ced with suspi.

  “Ebonscale has already offered to take her back to their stables.” She straightened, folding her arms tightly across her chest. “But sider the animal permaly banned from Dartmouth.”

  Charles’ jaw ched at the mention of Ebonscale, but he gave a curt nod, swallowing his frustration. With Vera’s life no longer hanging in the bance, he let out a deep breath. Charles retrieved his chair, l himself into it.

  Urvana tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “You’ll have to work out payment or voluntary surrender for the stabling services with Ebonscale directly.”

  “Thank you for sparing her,” Charles replied, his voice returning to its even tone.

  “You’ll provide restitution to the hospital for all repairs,” Urvana tinued, her eyes narrowing as she studied Charles’ rea. The rugged elf gave a stiff nod. “The League has offered to broker this deal. They’re a no-i loan to cover the damage.”

  Dyn noticed the er of Charles’ mouth tighten again at the mention of the League. There were a lot of parties ied in this case. Still, this was his first brush with Dartmouth’s legal system, and he couldn’t tell if this was normal—or if they were all iheir heads.

  The judge tinued, “If you accept the loan, they’ve requested pleted crafting tracts as pensation,” her fiapping lightly oablet as she spoke. “The total cost of the damage should be calcuted by the end of the day. Do you wish to settle the debt with the hospital or with the League?”

  Charles exhaled sharply through his nose, his jaw tightening. “The League.”

  Urvana tapped oablet, pausing briefly before lifting her head. “I’m also senteng you to one year unity service. This will offer an opportunity for both restitution and rehabilitation. The League has also requested you plete your unity service with them as an adventurer.”

  Charles winced, his face tightening, and he swallowed hard as he tinued listening.

  “I’m aware your Adventuring lise is currently suspended,” she said. “You need a guild sponsor to restore it. You have oo find a new sponsor.” Urvaated for a fra of a sed. “Or you could save yourself the trouble and rejoin Ebonscale. Guildmaster Maeve has extended an offer—”

  “No.” Charles cut in; his voice sharp as his bdes.

  Urvana raised a brow. “No?” she repeated, disbelief c her tone. “One of the most powerful people in our world tries to recruit you, and you don’t even want to think about it?” She crossed her arms, staring as she tried to read his rea.

  “No,” Charles repeated, leaving no room fotiation.

  Urvana clicked her tongue in mild exasperation. “That’s fine, because my meeting was with Guildmaster K’hab. He’s offered you an invitation to join Nightshade.”

  Charles shook his head slowly, his expression unreadable. “No, thank you.”

  Nathan, leaning forward, ed his o look at Charles past Dyn. “Why not?”

  Charles kept his focus locked on the judge, his face making it clear he had no iion of answering.

  Urvana threw up her hands in exasperation. “Would it make a difference if I told you both guildmasters offered to cover your debt to the League, if you accept?”

  Charles shook his head.

  Urvana sighed, her patience visibly wearing thin. “I was afraid not,” she muttered under her breath. She cpped her hands lightly, as if trying to shake off the sheer absurdity of the situation. “Fine. I’ll let two of the most iial people in the realm know that you’re not ied in joiniher of their prestigious guilds.”

  Dyn shot a fused g Charles. ‘Why doesn’t he want to join Nightshade?’

  The judge tinued with a casual shrug. “Maybe you’ve got better prospects.” She shook her head. “I don’t know. But you will find a guild to sponsor you within the year.” She shot Charles a pointed look.

  “Once you’re back as a lised adventurer, you must plete 150 on-ranked her tracts,” she added, resuming her practiced formal tohe League siders that a fair number for a year’s work. There’s imeframe, but you’ll be required to keep your lise active until your quota is fulfilled.”

  She set her tablet down and leaned forward slightly. “Charles, do you have questions about your senteng?”

  “No,” Charles said.

  Urvana shook her head at the three of them. “I don’t like trouble,” she said, her voice low and edged with weariness. “I don’t enjoy ued career firsts or having to tell people who could make me disappear ‘no.’” She sighed again, rubbiemples as though warding off aable headache.

  “And I especially don’t like the amount of attention you three have drawn from some exceptionally powerful anizations,” she added, her words heavy with warning.

  Urvana straightened herself, fixing her hair. “Charles, your senteng is plete. See the attendant before you leave to plete any remaining paperwork, and then, for the love of Mother, move your transport.”

  Dyn’s face broke into a wide grin, and without thinking, he threw his arms around Charles in a spontaneous hug. “You’re not going to prison!” His voice was full of urained joy. Charles sat stiffly, his entire body tensing as if unsure how to react, remaining frozen until Dyn finally released him.

  “O thing before you go.” Urvana’s voice softened as she shifted her gaze to Dyn. “Guildmaster Maeve has requested to meet with you.”

  Dyn blinked, jabbing a thumb at his ow. “Princess Spock wants to meet me?”

  “No,” Urvaed, louder this time. “Guildmaster Maeve wants to meet you.”

  Dyn barely had time to process the idea before Charles leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Did she say why?”

  “No,” Urvana replied, “but I’ve already refused on your behalf. I don’t know what a woman in her position wants with a refugee, but I ’t imagine her motivations are anything but ing. The power dynamic alone is troubling.”

  She paused, her gaze softening just a little. “While I may e tret that decision, you’ve e to us for prote. She’s agreed to wait until yee status is resolved. My advice? Take your time iing into our society. It’s possible she’ll lose i and move on.”

  Dyn swallowed, a nervous tingle running down his spihe weight of the versatioled heavily on his shoulders, leaving him unsure of how to feel about the whole situation.

  “Either way,” Urvana added with a sharp gnce, “be prepared. She doesn’t take ‘no’ lightly.”

  “Thank you,” Nathan said, his voice calm but grateful as he ined his head slightly in appreciation.

  “You thank me by staying out of trouble,” Urvaed with a wry smile.

  Nathan and Dyn stood just outside the Dartmouth stabury, the midday sun casting long shadows across the cobblestoreet. The trio had agreed to meet at Merts’ Circle in a couple of hours, once Charles had moved his treehouse and apologized to the injured officer. Nathan, stomach growling, insisted on grabbing lunch. Dyn wasn’t particurly hungry, but he could tell Nathan wasn’t about to let him out of his sight.

  The two of them wandered into a small restaurant called ‘Catch of the Day.’ The faint st of grilled fish and herbs hung in the air as they walked through the door. Inside, a glowing ented chalkboard listed the menu: Simple, Herb-Crusted, Spicy, Tangy, Smoked, Sweet, Savory, and Sweet & Savory.

  Dyn slid into the booth across from Nathan, gng around at the other patrons. The seats were plush but firm, and the low hum of versations blended with the king of dishes and crystalware. He barely noticed when the waiter, a well-groomed okamijin with a shiny amber coat, approached their table, carrying two pce settings.

  “Will it just be the two of you?” the waiter asked, his voice smooth and professional as he set down the ly ed utensils.

  Dyn’s eyes caught the waiter’s furry, cwed hands as they carefully pced crystalware in front of him. An icy shiver ran down his spine, his mind briefly fshing back to the deadly beating from Dreadfang. He blinked hard, trying to shake the memory away. During the court recess, Charles had told him the name of his okamijin killer.

  “Yes,” Nathan replied, leaning ba his seat.

  The waiter nodded. “What I get for you?”

  “I’ll have tangy,” Nathan said with a polite smile.

  “Would you like that fky, firm, or crispy?” the waiter asked.

  “Fky, please,” Nathan answered without hesitation.

  “And for you?” the waiter asked, turning his attention to Dyn

  “I don’t know what’s on the menu.” Dyn avoided looking up, choosing to focus on the ly ed utensils he was fidgeting with instead.

  The waiter poioward the chalkboard with a swift, precise motion. “That’s the menu, sir.”

  Before Dyn could respond, Nathan cut in, his voice firm but protective. “It’s fine. He ’t have any of it, anyway.”

  Dyn gnced up. “Yeah, but I still look, ’t I?”

  Nathan shook his head, his answer firm but kind. “It’s probably best if you don’t.”

  “Okay, fine.” Dyn sighed, fidgeting with the utensils again.

  The waiter, sensing the tension ease, asked, “Would you like anything strohan water?”

  “No, two waters would be great,” Nathan replied with a small smile.

  “I’ll be right back with your drinks,” the waiter said before disappearing behind a set of double doors marked ‘Staff Only.’

  After the waiter had left, Dyn finally looked up from his fidgeting. “How do you know what you ordered?”

  “I don’t,” Nathan said with a casual shrug, leaning ba his seat. “All I know is it’ll be fky and tangy.”

  “Yeah, but…” Dyn struggled to follow. “What fish did you order?”

  Nathan gave a kind smile, his voice calm as he expined. “Doesn’t matter. The proprietor buys from traveling merts with ste abilities or items that keep the fish fresh. It could e from a river, ke, or even the sea. They keep it simple—just asking how I want it prepared, and they use whatever’s on hand to match my order.”

  Nathaured toward the sign with a small, knowing smile. “And that’s why they call this pce Catch of the Day.”

  “It’s a shame I ’t try any.” Dyn crossed his arms over the table, pouting.

  “Don’t you get any ideas.” Nathan shot him a stern look. “You absolutely ’t try any.”

  Dyn slouched slightly in his seat, his gaze wandering around the room as he half-listeo Nathan. The lively versation happening in the booth behind them quickly stole his attention, the animated voices of two female patrons drifting over and pulling him in.

  “And then he swooped out of the sky and nded right oyrant’s back!” one of the women excimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

  Dyn’s ears perked up. ‘An adventurer?’ he thought, leaning slightly closer without realizing it.

  “I didn’t know he had a flying ability,” the sed voice chimed in full of surprise.

  “Of course he does! How else do you think he killed the brood mother?” the first voice replied.

  “That makes sehe sed voice admitted.

  “Anyway, the eyrant was massive—mean and feral, nothing like the ohey train at Ebonscale. She tore through the jurying to throw him off.” The first voice paused dramatically before asking, “Do you know how big tyrants get?”

  “I heard they grow as tall as the trees,” the sed woman answered.

  “Yeah, but this one was even bigger.” She held out her arms wide. “Lo’kai got battered by branches, leaves, and vines as she charged through the jungle—”

  The sed voice cut in. “How did he stay on?”

  “I don’t know! He’s amazing—maybe it was one of his other abilities. But he rode that beast straight into the s, right into the bog hydra’s territory,” the first voice tinued with admiration. “All acc to his pn.”

  “Wait,” the sed voice said. “What about the bog hydra? I thought that was his tract.”

  “Exactly! That’s the genius of his pn! He picked a fight with the biggest, meayrant he could find, just to rile her up a her ready for battle. Then he drove her straight into the bog hydra’s territory.”

  “He fought them both at the same time?!” the sed voice excimed incredulously.

  “Nope. Just before the trees cleared and revealed the bog hydra’s pool, he grabbed hold of the very st vine and hung there, watg as the two moore each other apart.”

  The sed voice jumped in before Dyn could. “What happened? Who won?”

  “The bog hydra didn’t stand a ce. Lo’kai had riddeyrant hard and worked up her appetite. Apparently, hydras don’t grow their legs if you eat them. Or their bodies.”

  “Ew… gross,” the sed voice muttered, and Dyn heard the unmistakable sound of a pte being pushed away in disgust.

  “I know,” the first voice replied, clearly unfazed. “But that’s how Lo’kai killed a bog hydra… and got a pet tyrant.”

  “He’s so cool.”

  “Yeah, and seriously hot…” the first voice added, drifting off into a dreamy sigh.

  “I swear, you’ve got scale fever.”

  “You’re n.” The first woman giggled and then dropped her voice to a whisper. “You know, sometimes I dream that I’m the tyrant—”

  That’s when Dyn made a scious effort to tuhem out. It was easily one of the craziest stories he’d ever heard, and he had no clue what a tyrant, brood mother, hydra even was. The tangy st of Nathan’s fish, however, brought his focus sharply back to the table.

  “How’s the food?” Dyn asked, trying to sound casual. He unsciously licked his lips, betraying his envy as he watched Nathan shovel another bite of the fky fish into his mouth.

  Nathan nodded, chewing slowly and sav the taste before responding with a simple, “It’s good.”

  Dyn’s stomach grumbled despite himself. ‘He hasn’t said a word in a while. He must be really hungry,’ he thought, gng again at the half-eaten meal.

  “Have you ever heard of a guy named Lo’kai?” Dyn asked, trying to shift his focus away from the tantalizing smell of food he could.

  “Yeah,” Nathan mumbled between bites. “He’s an adventurer. Guildmate of mine, actually.”

  Dyn raised an eyebrow. “So, you actually know him?” He notiathan’s eyes had shifted to green as he ate.

  “Nightshade’s a big guild,” Nathan said, taking his time as he chewed, swallowed, and casually reached for another bite. “It’s more like… we’ve met.”

  The prismatic elf finished his meal, lig the st bit of tangy sauce from his lips, and stood to settle their tab. At the ter, the waiter gave him the total, and Nathan tapped his League card on the register. The soft chime of the transa echoed through the cozy restaurant as he opted to use League credits instead of gems.