The Highrise was probably the nicest place Priscilla had stayed at since coming to this world (excluding the Thornewood manor but that didn’t really count). It was a multi-tiered building made of a smooth gray stone that actually expanded through two different layers of Grazda and had a large balcony overlooking the city. They had entered the wealthier part of Grazda, that much was clear by the smooth roads underfoot and the streets that were noticeably clear of debris.

  Priscilla would have rated the Highrise as a five star hotel in her old world, especially since there were staff walking between guests offering refreshments. The lobby had high ceilings and marble-like pillars with decorative ivy trailing along its length. A lush rug lay across the floor, decorated with alternating layers of blue, silver, and gold in the pattern of flower petals that kept growing on top of one another and spread across the space. There was a faint floral scent in the air as they walked across the lobby, listening to the gentle lute music courtesy of the bard in the corner.

  The hotel’s other guests were looking at them, eyes drawn to the garish red sling or maybe to how their outfits were clearly well-worn and travel weary when compared to their high quality garments. Priscilla had grown up with wealth and rubbed shoulders with designers who could smell nervousness like a shark does blood, so she put her shoulders back as she strolled forward with a sway to her hips and half-cocky smile, daring anyone to stop her as she donned the persona as easily as switch of a button. Much as she may not have appreciated the things she was taught in her childhood, she did know how to walk around like she had an ego the size of a planet and fuck you type of money.

  “Don’t look so nervous,” Priscilla said over her shoulder as she led the way to the front desk, “we have every right to be here.”

  Unfortunately, it didn’t seem her words helped Kavil much as he stared wide-eyed at their surroundings. Sulaiman was bearing it better with a stoic expression, staring straight ahead as if there was nothing else in the world except the front desk. Priscilla glanced over the crowd as they walked, narrowing her eyes and daring them to say anything about her companions, but it seemed that everyone was more content to watch than engage.

  “Two rooms on the second floor please,” Priscilla said to the receptionist behind the counter. The delicately featured woman glanced at the boys before resettling on Priscilla, clearly deciding on her main focus.

  “We have a going rate of 20 gold per night with access to private hot spring baths,” the woman said in a clipped, professional tone, “and an additional 5 gold per room provides you with room service from our caterers and additional amenities for the baths.”

  Kavil let out a choked noise as Priscilla said, “We’ll take the room service. We plan to do some shopping this afternoon, so be a dear and send us dinner a little after sunset.”

  Priscilla slid over the 50 gold without a regret. She had just planned on being frugal twenty minutes ago, but fuck it, she wanted to give Kavil and Sulaiman a taste of living the high life at least once in their life. She’ll give herself a budget of 15 gold for shopping and then only spend money on the necessities until her next deposit – which actually was tomorrow now that she was thinking about it. Priscilla trusted the Thornewood parents about as far as she could throw them, but she believed their business integrity wouldn’t allow them to go back on their deal when it had been notorized.

  “Of course that can be arranged,” the receptionist said, taking the gold before writing something down. “Do you have preferences for your meal?”

  “Do you have seafood available?” Priscilla asked.

  “We received a shipment from Aizur Coast just this morning,” the receptionist said.

  “I’ll have a crab dinner,” Priscilla said before glancing back at the boys. Kavil seemed shell shocked at how much she was spending, but Sulaiman seemed to have his wits about him, his thoughtful gaze lingering on Priscilla before glancing to the receptionist.

  “I’ll have the same,” Sulaiman said, “and he’ll have a roast duck.”

  “Add three servings of your most popular desert and a bottle of champagne,” Priscilla added. The receptionist wrote down all their requests faithfully, pausing to see if there was anything else, before handing them their keys.

  Sulaiman herded a still dazed Kavil after them as Priscilla led the way to their rooms.

  “50 gold?” Kavil finally choked out as they neared their doors. “That’s more than what the horses cost.”

  “And it’ll be worth every piece,” Priscilla replied, smiling at him. “Close your mouth so it doesn’t catch flies, place your stuff on the bed, and let’s back out to visit the markets before they close.”

  Priscilla tossed Sulaiman their key and he caught it with one hand, staring at her with an odd expression. Priscilla waggled her fingers at him and entered her room, intent on freshening up at least a little since she had the chance.

  Priscilla dropped her pack on the large bed, glancing about the room as she stashed her money pouch into the sling for easy access.

  At first glance it seemed to be worth the money. The room was spacious, with both a dining area and a small area to rest that had stylish metal furniture the same color as the highest buildings in Grazda with blue cushions. The bedding had the same color scheme and Priscilla was looking forward to stretching out like a starfish when she fell asleep later. There was a private square hot spring that looked like it could seat four near the balcony, though the railing was high enough that people couldn’t see in from the outside so there was no need to worry about being seen.

  The piping system piqued Priscilla’s interest and she wandered over to inspect it briefly. She was looking at a lever labeled, “water flow,” when Asha piped up.

  “You spent a lot of gold, master.”

  “That’s true,” Priscilla said, leaning back to look at the view of the city, “and I don’t say I regret it. It’s a tool meant to be used, not hoarded – simply having money shouldn’t be your only goal in life.”

  Priscilla’s mouth twisted ruefully.

  Her parents had been the type of people who put making money above all else and look what that got them – an empty house that only existed for appearances, friends who wouldn’t lend a hand to help if they weren’t paid, and a daughter who hated them so much it made their business partners look at them askance. She had sworn she would never become like them, so blinded by the allure of gold that nothing else mattered.

  “Plus, if we ever get low on funds,” Priscilla said, shaking away the memories, “I know of plenty of places we might be able to get an unexpected windfall.”

  “Do not say those places aloud, master,” Asha warned so firmly that Priscilla laughed.

  “I wasn’t planning to,” Priscilla said, glancing in the mirror and smoothing down a few flyaways. “That’s just a backup plan, I have a shitton of gold so we should be sitting pretty. I did want to find a pair of fingerless gloves while we’re out – your hiding-in-plain-sight mode, it's sick as hell, but I would love to show you off again, so what do ya think, Asha?”

  “Can it have reinforced knuckles?” Asha asked breathlessly.

  “I’ll see what we can do,” Priscilla said as she headed back out to meet the boys. “Ah, and keep an eye out for any shopkeeper that sells magical gems. I don’t think what I’m looking for will be here, but it can’t hurt to look.”

  “You can count on me!”

  --

  So, here’s the thing.

  Kavil knew that something happened.

  He even had a fair idea about where it happened (The Golden Goblet) and who it happened to (Sulaiman) but he didn’t know the why (did roaches really just skitter everywhere?) or the how (did city rats really grow that big??) or what exactly happened (did the rats climb on Sulaiman chasing the roaches while the innkeeper just stood there???).

  All Kavil knew is that Priscilla knew what happened and it made her, pardon his phrasing, pissed like a draco-bat chasing an escaped soul from the seventh hell.

  But then Kavil was too distracted by the absurd amount of gold Priscilla paid for just one night (one! night! less than nine hours!) and the fact she got two rooms instead of sharing like was the sensible thing to do when adventuring (at least according to Frean’s journal) to even think about the theoretical something that happened as he stared at the massive bed in this way too expensive room.

  The only bed.

  Kavil stared at Sulaiman as the man casually strolled forward, confidently placing his pack on the end of the bed.

  Sensing Kavil’s gaze, Sulaiman looked up. An amused expression creeped over his face as Sulaiman said, “I don’t think Priscilla’s willing to wait long, Kavil, so best put your pack down and claim your side of the bed.”

  So.

  They were really sharing a bed.

  Great, that was great, fantastic even!

  If you totally discounted the fact that Kavil hadn’t shared a bed with anyone except his aunt since childhood. When Sulaiman had stayed in Kavil’s home, Kavil had opted to sleep on the floor with thick blankets and pillows to not make the other man uncomfortable.

  But it seemed that all of Kavil’s consideration wasn’t needed based on the way Sulaiman’s smirk grew the longer Kavil stayed silent.

  Kavil shook off his stupor, he was overreacting over nothing, and walked forward as normally as he could. The bed was big (it better be since Priscilla paid 20 gold) and there probably would be plenty of space between them, more space than there had been last night when Kavil laid next to Priscilla. Kavil had no problem last night, and this wouldn’t be any different.

  (As long as Kavil didn’t cry out in his sleep like Priscilla had, Sulaiman would probably stay on his side of the bed because there would be no reason that Sulaiman would need to comfort Kavil.)

  Kavil had himself convinced it would be perfectly fine and there’d be no problem sleeping that night when his gaze caught on the hot spring that was just out there for anyone to see. Again, Kavil thanked his mother for her complexion, as Kavil realized that if he wanted to enjoy the famed Grazda hot springs, then he was going to have to get naked in front of Sulaiman.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Before Kavil could melt over the possibility (and the images conjured up by his oh-so-unhelpful imagination), Sulaiman followed his gaze.

  “Looks like they have some towels for modesty,” Sulaiman said, pointing to an alcove Kavil hadn’t seen yet where there did seem to be some towels for that purpose. They would maybe be long enough to cover someone from their hips to their mid-thigh, and that would still be a lot of Sulaiman’s skin Kavil would get to see, and gods they were white towels that were getting wet, and Kavil had been thinking earlier it would be better for them to just share a room with Priscilla too –

  No!

  Let those thoughts be banished!

  Back, he said, back!

  “Do you want to take a bath before or after we eat?” Kavil said, wrenching his gaze away from the hot springs and all the imaginations it brought with, keeping his gaze firmly on Sulaiman’s dark eyes. Sulaiman’s right eyebrow raised at the question.

  “I don’t know yet,” Sulaiman said, “but I do know that Priscilla is probably already waiting impatiently for us, so let’s go visit that market you were excited about before she barges in here.”

  Kavil took that out gratefully and soon the problem of the hot spring was left behind him as they strolled into Grazda’s open air markets in the low-western part of the city. There were a few districts up, but close enough to the outskirts Kavil could see travelers coming and out of the market.

  It was a feast for the senses with the colorful tents that popped up to show off their wares that changed from stall to stall, filled with things he had never seen before, a silver flute there, and a glimmering ornament that floated above its base there, and a strange looking snake sitting in a cage over yonder. The cacophony of voices from the shopkeepers calling out their deals they swear were the best in the market, just give it a try, twined with the lively folk music that came from an unseen band, the bright, poppy tune demanding people dance, and the murmur of the crowd moving through and deciding if any of the wares tempted them, if the weather was good today, if they should try out the new shop down the road. The mouth watering scent of sizzling meat on the grill that warred with the sweet scent of the fruit being cut open at a stand a few feet from them and earthy smell of fresh herbs that had been prepared in a variety of ways greeted Kavil’s nose.

  Kavil took a moment to try and take it all in.

  He had read about Grazda last night in Frean’s journal, but reading about a place was much different than actually experiencing it for yourself. Kavil’s parents had been healers who traveled where the gods willed them, so theoretically he had been in a place like this before, but Kavil couldn’t remember it.

  It was the world Kavil had always dreamed of visiting, dreamed of confidently striding through like his parents before him, but Kavil froze as he watched the crowds flow and ebb before him like a river’s tide. It was so loud, so bright, so full of people he didn’t know and he didn’t know where to start, where to try and part the water that seemed like it would sweep him away if he continued to hesitate.

  Priscilla didn’t seem fazed by the commotion as she dragged an arm around Kavil’s shoulders, pulling him out of the way of a determined shopper and closer to Sulaiman, who curved his body to act as a block from the crowd.

  “Where do you want to hit first?” Priscilla said, grinning at Kavil with the confidence that had drawn his attention from the moment he first heard her curse at the bandit captain, promising to kick his ass. The type of confidence that felt contagious, seeping into Kavil where she touched him and made him feel like he could do anything with her by his side.

  “Honestly,” Kavil said, his mouth unwittingly pulling into a grin to match Priscilla’s, “I really would like to see if there’s any herbs from other continents.”

  “Sulaiman use that height of yours to scope things out,” Priscilla ordered. Kavil laughed as he felt Sulaiman sigh but did it regardless.

  “This way,” Sulaiman said as he turned. But then Sulaiman paused, giving Kavil a long look over his shoulder and sighed again, deeper this time.

  “Give me your hand so you don’t fall behind,” Sulaiman said, holding out his hand. Kavil took it without thinking too hard about it so he didn’t get lost in his own thoughts, and Kavil held out his other hand for Priscilla.

  Priscilla laughed and linked their fingers.

  “Don’t get us lost, leader,” Priscilla sing-songed to Sulaiman who rolled his eyes but started through the crowd.

  The press of bodies was honestly a little suffocating and Kavil did start breathing a little faster, but he focused on the feeling of Sulaiman and Priscilla’s hands. Sulaiman’s hand was broader than his, his fingers long and curling around Kavil’s with a firm grip. Priscilla’s hand had an odd texture to it, but she twined her fingers between his like it was natural, rubbing her thumb over his occasionally when Kavil felt like maybe someone got a little too close.

  But they made it to the stall in one piece, with Sulaiman letting go of Kavil’s had the moment they broke from the crowd though Priscilla’s touch lingered as she looked over the stall.

  And what a stall it was!

  Kavil spotted valerian roots, pepperrot, cinderpetals and what he thinks is a maiden’s hair mushroom with just a glance. Some of these things Kavil had only ever read a description of and only knew how to use theoretically based on secondhand knowledge from Aunt Jeroinin.

  Priscilla laughed at Kavil’s face, finally letting go to pull out a small purple pouch with an embroidered sun from her sling. She held the pouch with her bound hand and pulled out the gold with her right.

  “5 gold for whatever you want,” Priscilla said, pressing the gold into Kavil’s hand before he could refuse because she was already turning to Sulaiman and doing the same as she said, “I spotted a bookseller across the way. Let’s hit that after we’re done here.”

  Kavil wouldn’t say that his face was much better than Sulaiman’s as the other man stared at his hand and then back at Priscilla. Kavil couldn’t even muster up the will to try and resist when Priscilla’s smile turned bashful, an almost fragile light in her eyes as she said, “If you end up going over with what you want, don’t worry about it. I dragged you both onto this journey, so I ought to take care of you.”

  Kavil’s hand tightened around the gold and he pushed away his very good arguments about saving money to the back of his mind.

  “Thank you, Priscilla,” Kavil said, “I’ll make sure to spend it wisely.”

  Priscilla laughed, and the brief moment of fragility faded back into her confident smile, and said, “Sure thing, savior.”

  Kavil reveled in being called savior for just a moment before turning to the shopkeeper.

  “Excuse me,” Kavil said, “how much for the valerian roots and do you have cinderpetals from the west or the southwest?”

  “3 silver for a bundle,” the man said, crossing his arms, “and our cinderpetals are from the east, so it’s a silver per petal.”

  “I’ll take one bundle of valerian roots,” Kavil said, stepping deeper into the tent, “and three petals. Is that really a maiden’s hair mushroom I saw? And do you have any copperheads back here?”

  Kavil let himself be lost in the world of herbs, already mentally drafting out how he would prepare them into healing salves and potions to help protect Priscilla and Sulaiman. Kavil was no good in a fight, but he’d make sure that those who did fight didn’t have to worry about getting back up.

  --

  Sulaiman wasn’t one to go out shopping often, especially in crowded areas like the Grazdan market where he could feel other’s judgement on him like a physical weight. And when he did need to shop for basic necessities, he usually had a strict budget to make sure everything could be obtained with less than two gold, which was half of the weekly paycheck he received from the Thornewood estate. The rest of his earnings went into his savings to not be touched or thought about until it came time for Sulaiman to act upon his plan for his future.

  So to have five gold to spend simply on books…

  It was a luxury that Sulaiman had never indulged in before. He had only gotten books from secondhand stores or as gifts from Illnyea, and rarely held an unblemished copy of a book before.

  And it was Priscilla who had made it possible without a second thought.

  Sulaiman had found several books that caught his attention that he would never have bought with his own money since he could be spending it on something more practical. A short series of adventure novels that explored an underwater kingdom with stunning artwork; a guide to the way of the sand-sword fighters of the Beleyi; and the only two practical books he could find for how to cook well on the road with limited supplies and provide basic first aide. Kavil may be able to help teach him with the latter, but Sulaiman had always enjoyed having knowledge written down in ink because it felt more permanent that way.

  As Sulaiman paid for his purchases (he made sure to not spend a copper more than what he was given, despite what Priscilla said), Priscilla had slid three more books onto the counter along with a mesh bag full of shiny stones and two wooden cephalopod statues. She seemed to be practically vibrating with excitement as she paid, muttering, “Who woulda thought a bookseller had just what I needed?”

  And then Priscilla promptly handed one of the books she purchased to Sulaiman and then another to Kavil, who had been wandering around without purchasing anything since he spent his gold at the herbal stall.

  “You liked her best, right?” Priscilla said as Sulaiman looked down at the book. He hadn’t seen this while browsing, but in his hands was a biography of Adita Comollo, one of the greatest swordsmen to have walked this planet. He had only mentioned his interest in Adita in passing to Priscilla and Sulaiman had thought that fact would have slipped past her mind considering what they had experienced since then.

  Sulaiman stared at the book and then glanced at the one in Kavil’s hand just so he had an excuse to ignore the sudden swell of emotions he didn’t know what to do with. Kavil held a compendium of 1,001 beneficial plants, his eyes and smile going wide as he flipped through it. Sulaiman ran his finger over the biography’s cover just once before putting it into his bag with the other books.

  Kavil thanked Priscilla profusely as they made their way out of the market, stopping briefly for Priscilla to buy a pair of gloves, and then headed to the hotel they were staying in. Priscilla led the way with a surety that Sulaiman envied, never once hesitating when others looked at her with judgement. He supposed she must be used to high-class living but Sulaiman couldn’t recall Priscilla traveling away from the Thornewood manor since he met her when she was ten.

  Priscilla had changed a lot since then, as had Sulaiman, but he had no time to linger on those changes as Priscilla loudly said, “How about we take a quick soak and then enjoy our meal together? Alright with you two?”

  Sulaiman held back a chuckle at the way Kavil enthusiastically nodded and then stiffened once Priscilla went into her room.

  The hot springs were as comfortable as he remembered them being, the water providing relief to his aching legs and the arrow wound in his thigh that still twinged with pain when he took a step wrong. Sulaiman slowly coaxed Kavil to get over his nerves like one does a nervous deer by asking him about the herbs he purchased, and soon they both were able to enjoy the delightful warmth, though Kavil kept his gaze away from Sulaiman. Sulaiman chalked up Kavil’s odd behavior to his sheltered upbringing.

  Dinner was brought by multiple waiters, the feast spread out over the table with efficiency. Sulaiman had never had crab before, but he could see why it would be Priscilla’s favorite food with the rich flavor. He ignored the obscene noises Priscilla made when she ate her food, and listened to Kavil’s continued ramblings about herbs, since he hadn’t wasted any time to open up his new book as soon as they were out of the bath.

  Priscilla poured herself a glass of champagne with surprising dexterity considering she only had one arm to work with.

  “Want some?” Priscilla asked, green eyes snaking up to meet Sulaiman’s, the bottle hovering over another glass.

  Sulaiman tended to avoid alcohol because he knew that his self-control would be degraded by the drink and he didn’t want to give others the opportunity to find more flaws with his behavior. He heard enough jokes about keeping a Muloian away from the bottle, and Sulaiman wouldn’t prove those jokes right.

  But the instinctual denial didn’t make it past his lips as Sulaiman glanced at his two companions. Priscilla had continued with her campaign against the Golden Goblet as they traveled through the market, dirtying the inn’s name at every opportunity – she wouldn’t be one to judge Sulaiman if his control slipped a little. Kavil hadn’t shied away from Sulaiman once since they began traveling, and in fact insisted on getting far closer than Sulaiman had expected.

  So maybe, it'd be alright to let his guard down around the two of them.

  “One glass,” Sulaiman said and Priscilla lit up, eyes crinkling with delight.

  “Coming right up!” Priscilla said.

  By the time they had finished eating and Sulaiman finished his single glass (he was a man of his word), he did feel a slight buzz in his veins. Sulaiman made sure that Priscilla made it back to her room (she ended up drinking only two glasses) before he fully relaxed for the evening.

  Sulaiman was sitting on the edge of the bed looking over his pack when he felt the opposite side dip from Kavil’s weight.

  “Um, Sulaiman,” Kavil said instead of laying down, voice hesitant.

  Sulaiman turned, wondering what the other man was going to babble about again. It was surprisingly nice to listen to Kavil speak because he was so animated and excited about life. (Sulaiman couldn’t remember a time in his life when he had been so free.)

  Sulaiman pushed away the melancholic thoughts as he raised an eyebrow when Kavil remained silent.

  Kavil fidgeted with his fingers for a moment before taking a deep breath.

  “What happened at the Golden Goblet earlier?” Kavil asked, looking Sulaiman in the eyes. “I–I know something happened and if you don’t want to talk about it, it’s totally fine, but… I was just wondering.”

  Kavil’s confidence faded with each word he said, the last one coming out barely louder than a whisper.

  Sulaiman’s first instinct was one of denial, to tell Kavil to not worry about him and to just go to sleep since it wasn’t that important.

  But again, Sulaiman paused, looking at Kavil.

  Maybe it was the alcohol in his veins, maybe it was Kavil’s earnestness, hell, maybe it was Priscilla rubbing off on Sulaiman, but during this moment, Sulaiman didn’t want to keep the walls he built carefully around himself up.

  Sulaiman could tell that Kavil didn’t know much about the world outside his hidden hamlet, though he didn’t know how ignorant Kavil was.

  “So,” Sulaiman started, “how much do you know about the Muloian-Kavendash conflict?”