Standing on air above the park gate, Luka said his normal welcoming spiel.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, mystics and mages, adventurers and explorers, welcome to our humble slice of the extraordinary—World Walker Park!”

  Despite the cheer he sang, his eyes betrayed him. Instead of looking at the eager faces ready to explore the park, he was glued to a certain pair—Franky and Princess Alexandra.

  She clung to his arm like he was a rich purse, practically parading him around. From guardsman to guardsman, she introduced him to every man who wished to kill him. Did Franky notice their scathing glares and noble accord? No—no Franky did not. Instead, he followed his girlfriend, practically euphoric.

  Luka could practically hear Eve repeat, “Girlfriend!? You met yesterday!?” She had said it like a thousand times on the walk back from Monolith.

  “Well, we had an amazing night together!” Franky said, ignorant of his phrasing and the guardsmen who inferred the worst. They adjusted their hip-sheathed swords.

  “Yeah,” Alex added, practically swooning. “I can’t tell you how long I watched him sleep before finally falling asleep myself. At some point, I woke up in his arms and just knew we were a match made by the gods. It was the most peaceful I’ve ever felt.”

  Her words did little to convince her audience… except for Luka. “Happy for you two,” he said with a hint of mirth. “Let me know if you want to hold the wedding in the park. We can—”

  Eve’s hand darted to his mouth, smothering his words. Her glare sent him over the edge, laughter ensued.

  Back to the present, Luka welcomed the guests as they walked by. Most, if not all, rushed straight for Monolith, ready to experience the thrill!

  From talking to the Early Walkers, the ride was a hit. A massive hit. The theming, the experience, the story—all of it, in their opinion, worked incredibly well. The fact that at the top of the lift tower Monolith opened a wide window for all to see out was only a plus. A view from that high was only achievable by Guild sanctioned magic and not something a common person could ever hope to see.

  Luka scribbled a note, Remember to add observation floor to Ressen’s upper trunk.

  He squinted, then crossed the note out, adding instead, Ask Ressen to add an observation floor near the top of her trunk for guests. Do not tell her!

  After the mass of the morning crowd entered the park, Luka spent a moment collecting his thoughts. It was early, yet so much had already happened. A new ride, breaking apart the Guilds contract, Franky and Alex… What needed to be done now and couldn’t wait until later?

  There was only one answer: he needed to find Tram before an army of Guild lawyers arrived and tried to take over the park or something. Luka shuddered at the thought yet wouldn’t put it past them to try.

  After that, he need to do his daily rounds, find a new potion reagent vendor, make sure all the VIPs were happy, plan the next section of the park—Bestial Grove—eat lunch with Eve, Annie, and Vlad, and a dozen smaller things along the way.

  Luka sighed. His moment to himself was over, and he got to work.

  ***

  “Good,” Tram said flatly. “Good riddance, I say.”

  Luka blinked. “You’re not mad?”

  “Mad? Why would I be mad? The Guilds have always been abusive and annoying, and I’m glad someone finally put them in their place!”

  “Good, then. What do you think we can expect in retaliation?”

  Tram lazily waved a wrinkled hand. “The worst, most annoying thing you can possibly imagine.”

  The gesture did not equal the comment.

  “What?” Luka asked.

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  “They’re going to be hell. Seriously, the worst thing you can think an organization can do without breaking the law too much, they’ll do.”

  “And you’re okay with that?”

  Tram smiled, showing her long-dulled tusks and yellowing teeth. “No—not at all. But I believe you’ll handle it. And if not, then we’ll just sick Vale on them until they all die horrible deaths.”

  It was at that moment a cloud passed between the under canopy of Ressen and the sun, casting the area in shadow. Tram was suddenly a monumental terror, an existence with the sole purpose of causing torturous pain to her enemies. She was fear, she was agony. She would—

  The cloud drifted away, and the sun came back.

  Tram was back to being an elderly kindly orc that ran an orphanage and wanted what was best for her people.

  “R-right,” Luka mumbled, his shirt suddenly slick with sweat. “If they come for us, I’m just going to point Alex in their direction and have her deal with them.”

  “Alex? As in Princess Alexandra of the Kingdom of Embers?” Tram looked baffled. “Why would you assume she’d help? None of the royals ever want to lift a finger. You’ll need something to trade.”

  “Not if I get Franky to do it.”

  “Dare I ask why Franky?”

  “Because they're dating.”

  A beat passed.

  “They’re what!?” Tram snapped, her shirt suddenly slick with sweat. “We’re doomed. That boy is going to doom us all!”

  She turned on her heel and rushed away. What to do? Luka didn’t know… nor did he want to.

  Godspeed, Franky, he thought, off to do his daily rounds.

  ***

  It took a few hours, but Luka finished checking on the park and VIPs just after noon. Well—the VIPs that wanted to be found. Crime Lord Lanni hid in the shadows, moving around the park subtly, joining queues and eating churros without anyone other than his crew knowing.

  Jear was with Ressen, talking to her about schooling, a proper diet, and to not talk to strangers. Apparently, someone had tried to kidnap her last night. How that was even possible was above Luka. He shored up security after that.

  Lastly was Princess Alexandra. Annnd Luka didn’t want to think about what he walked in on with her and Franky. So, he put it out of his mind and slid into his favorite booth in Todd’s Bar.

  The short orc appeared a few moments later with a steaming mug of jrum and three mugs of cold syrupy wine. “Got any news?” Todd asked, placing the drinks around the table. “Is my business going to fail with that fancy smancy hotel?”

  Luka took a long sip before saying, “No. There’ll be plenty of people to go around, don’t worry.”

  “Oh, I’m not. Well, not after I heard whispers about how much you’ll be charging for a room.”

  He grimaced. How much guests had to pay for things in the park always weighed on him. Money wasn’t necessarily scarce here, but it also wasn’t necessarily flowing. The people of this world often worked harsh, manual jobs. They made enough coin to care for their families, but not enough to visit a destination amusement park, spend the day there while not making any money, and pay for food, drink, and tickets.

  “You think so?” he asked.

  Todd snorted. “Like a mystic coconut.”

  Luka blinked. “What?”

  “It means ‘yes.’” With that, the short orc stomped off to serve another table.

  The mugs of wine warmed by the time Annie and Vlad arrived. They sat down with growling stomachs, Annie with a quick hug.

  “No Eve?” she asked.

  “Dunno,” Luka replied. “You heard about Franky, right?”

  Vlad grunted with a smile. “How could we not? He’s the talk of the park!”

  “Oh?”

  “Seriously, Dad,” Annie said, “Everyone’s talking about the ‘strange bald orc smoochin’ the princess.’”

  He cleared his throat, sipping more jrum. “Well—I think it’s a good thing.”

  “Do you? I mean, what happens when he breaks her heart and she sends an army to the park because of it?”

  “Franky’s not that kind of guy.”

  Annie gave him a knowing look. “He wouldn’t cheat on her, but he might… forget about her?” She said the last bit as a question, almost as if she didn’t believe her own words. “Eh, maybe you’re right. Forget I said anything.”

  “Have some faith in him,” Luka said firmly. “We’ve got no reason not to trust him. He’s never been anything but a good friend to me—”

  Just then, the doors of the tavern swung open. Eve stomped through the room, drawing eyes. Her shoulders were hiked, her lips pursed, and her raven hair frazzled. She sat beside Luka with a grunt and groan, ire spilling from her body like a squeezed sponge.

  “I’m going to kill him!” she sang. “Today is the day my brother dies!”

  Around the room, the drinking patrons who watched her storm in raised their mugs and cheered. “Kill him!” “Woo!” “Death to whoever you’re talking about!” they boomed.

  Eve blushed at the attention.

  Annie and her father shared a look, Vlad too, but he was too busy hoisting his own mug to properly join the silent conversation.

  “Why do you want to kill Franky?” Annie asked.

  “Because,” Eve mumbled, “he’s ignoring me.”

  Luka and Annie leaned back in the booth, a collective ohhhh passing between them.