Leonidas began feeling the day’s events weigh on him when he reached the bottom of the stairs. He gripped the stair rail to steady himself while coming down the last few steps, and his legs and arms now feeling heavier than they had in a long time. Cid, Maeryn and Silvius were sitting at a large round table, chatting amongst themselves. While they were still worn from the day’s events, their spirits seemed to have improved greatly since Leonidas first arrived.

  As the others spotted the doctor, Silvius called out, “There’s the man of the hour!” Silvius lifted his flagon with the others following suit.

  Leonidas lifted his hand to acknowledge the others. “I’ll be over there in a moment,” he said before moving to the counter. He turned his gaze away, not wanting to show the weary smile and hunched posture as he wished to skulk off and hide in the shadows.

  “What can I get for ya?” the innkeeper asked.

  Leonidas pulled out a coin purse and started placing the gold coins individually on the counter. “This is for a new set of bedsheets. This is for a room. And this is for whatever food and drink you used for one of those days.”

  The innkeeper nodded calmly at first, half-listening to the requests, before jerking their head up near the end. “Wait, why do I need new bedsheets? Is someone dead?”

  “No,” Leonidas said exasperatedly. “Just performed some surgery.”

  “On a dead person?”

  “No, that’s an autopsy. Surgeries are for living people,” Leonidas clarified, with mild annoyance.

  The innkeeper nodded suspiciously as they picked up the gold before moving to fetch some food and drinks. Leonidas let out a heavy breath before joining the others at the table. He found himself having strong reservations stepping towards them. The temptation of simply moving over to some empty table and process what happened in his own way. He noticed other tables, empty of plates and people, far preferring to sit at to be alone with his thoughts. His fingers tapped nervously against the plate as he tried to figure out the best move.

  “Just a professional courtesy,” he told himself. “Don’t make this more than you already are.”

  “How’s Kveldulf doing?” Maeryn asked in a low voice as she leaned towards the doctor.

  “A lot better, though it’ll be a while until he’s on his feet again,” Leonidas assured her. “He’s just sleeping right now.”

  “That’s good to hear,” said Cid. “And Jeanne?”

  “A couple of broken ribs, but nothing to worry about,” Leonidas replied, feeling his muscles beginning to burn and rubbing the bridge of his nose. “She should be back on her feet and driving you all nuts in no time.”

  “Well, I owe you five silver, Cid,” Silvius said to the man still dressed in the ruined fine robes.

  “You can pay me when we’re done with the ruins.”

  “Oh gods, the ruins!” Maeryn groaned. She lowered her head and rested it in the palm of her hand.

  “The ruins?” Leonidas asked, suddenly remembering what Jeanne had told him earlier. “I thought you were all exploring a cave.”

  “We originally came to explore some ruins which are purportedly situated inside a cavern around here. What’s more, they’re reputed to being a place of worship for the Wraith King,” Silvius replied.

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  Leonidas’s gaze turned towards Silvius almost completely still. His legs began curling closer to him as shook his head and recollected his thoughts. “The Wraith King, Callanband?”

  “Yes,” Silvius confirmed, with an excited smile.

  “You all are diving into a place where the Wraith King and his acolytes used to call home?”

  “Well,” Silvius insisted, “we’ve done our fair share of research beforehand. And this isn’t our first time delving into ruins like this. So, we know to mind precautions to avoid setting off traps and letting loose some ungodly creature of wanton destruction.”

  “That’s a good start,” Leonidas said, unconvinced. “And what is it you expected to find anyways?”

  “To be honest, I can’t say. But whatever might be there, I’d rather it be in the hands of someone who understands its importance than some brigand.”

  Leonidas closed his eyes tightly, lowering his head and letting out a low moan.

  “Everything well, doctor?” Cid asked.

  Leonidas nodded slowly, with his head still on the table. “Now remembering why I normally try to avoid Jeanne’s beckons and calls.”

  “Has she done this to you before?” Maeryn asked.

  “Many,” Leonidas replied, not bothering to lift his head.

  “Not surprising. She does have a penchant for that,” Cid said, taking a sip from his flagon.

  “At least you get to have an interesting tale to tell people,” Silvius said to Leonidas, patting his back.

  Leonidas lifted his head slightly, looking at Silvius out of the corner of his eye. “You’re a glass half full person, aren’t ya?”

  “I do try to see the positive side of things.”

  Leonidas put his head back on the table. Silvius still patting his back with a concerned expression on his face.

  “Well,” said Cid, “since Kel and Jeanne are both seem on the mend, I think it might be time to consider our next move in the meantime.”

  “There’s still the ruins that we need to explore near the cave entrance itself,” said Silvius.

  “Have we taken out all the bandits?” Cid asked.

  “Wasn’t that the leader we fought last time?” Maeryn asked.

  “I wouldn’t assume that until we know otherwise,” said Cid, “The ogre was more than likely just muscle, especially since many of those inclined to leadership left these lands after pledging their service to the Lord Rexum Carnifex during The Great Treason. Of course, having the creature out of the way certainly makes our job easier, but not complete.”

  “We could scout the ruins first, see if the bandits are using the place as a base to work from,” said Maeryn.

  “Not a bad idea,” said Cid, “Do a little reconnaissance before until Kel and Jeanne are back on their feet.”

  “Maeryn and I can take care of that,” said Silvius.

  “And I’ll go get our equipment some badly needed care,” said Maeryn.

  “Excellent idea,” said Cid. “Doctor, what were you planning to do?”

  “I was going to stay here until tomorrow, keep an eye on Kel and Jeanne. And then check back with a family I was tending to this morning.”

  “Why don’t Maeryn and I accompany you?” Silvius suggested.

  “You think that’s needed? I don’t know if that’ll be necessary.”

  “Never hurts to have someone watching your back,” said Maeryn.

  “Fair enough.”

  “We could all go together?” Silvius suggested, “Take tomorrow to recover and head out the day after.”

  “Wouldn’t be a terrible idea,” said Cid. “I’d like to keep our surprises to a minimum.”

  “I know my nerves are still a little unsettled,” followed Maeryn.

  “Then I think it’s settled,” said Cid. “Tomorrow, we rest, take care of errands, and afterwards, we go for a little adventure, eh?”