I thought of the ovens and coffee machines from my café—how they were so similar to the ones I knew but powered differently. Inventions given to one world from another by travelers like myself. Stories too.
It was a cool thought.
“That’s enough sun for one day.” Maddox grabbed my hand and led us out of the water.
Those worry bugs. Not just the two of them but Lake too. He had retreated to the covering of trees but kept his eyes on me.
“I’m thinking about making stuffed peppers for dinner,” I said, loud enough for Lake to hear. “Maybe honey glazed carrots and cornbread muffins for the sides. I’ll need to stop by the market for groceries first though.”
“All I heard was the word muffins,” Maddox said.
Briar snorted. “You best save one for me, since you stole mine at lunch. You fiend.”
“What will you give me for it, physician?”
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s not wise to taunt one knowledgeable with herbs and poisons? All it takes is one drop of a special elixir into your morning coffee, and you’ll be on the shitter for three days.”
I laughed so hard I lost my footing. Maddox caught me, visibly fighting a laugh of his own.
God. I wanted more days like this one. One where we laughed and fell deeper in love. The only thing that would’ve made it better was if Lake had felt comfortable to spend it with us. Well, in the open. Not from a distance.
After drying off, we dressed and started back toward the harbor. Lake had vanished, staying out of sight as he left the beach, but I had faith he’d come to the café later.
Ships made port at the dock, and men unloaded large crates. Merchant vessels brought in goods to be sold or traded in the marketplace, and some were supply ships for the castle and surrounding businesses.
“Captain,” a uniformed man said to Maddox, tipping his head. He stood beside the dock with another uniformed man.
Maddox returned the nod and guided me away from the harbor.
“Who were they?” I asked. My hand found Briar’s on my other side, and he linked our fingers.
“Guards,” Maddox answered. “With the rise of bandit attacks across the neighboring kingdoms, we’ve added security to prevent the looting of vessels. You’ll find guards stationed in the market as well.”
“So the bandits are still causing trouble?” I asked. He hadn’t spoken of them much over the past few months.
“Yes.”
“How many are there? Don’t bandits usually travel alone or in small groups, attacking travelers on the road to steal their shit? They’re not an organized force.” At least from all the books I’d read. Fictional, but still. “Right?”
Maddox surveyed the market, gaze darting along alleyways and side streets. Watching everyone we passed. “Normally, yes.”
“Normally. But not now?” When he didn’t answer, I asked another question. “Have they come any closer to Bremloc?”
Maddox’s jaw tightened.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“It’s nothing for you to concern yourself with,” he said. “No harm will come to you while I still breathe.”
“I’m not worried about me.” I slipped my other hand into his. “I just want the ones I love to be okay.”
Up ahead, the Adventurer’s Guild came into view. People walked in and out, dressed in various styles of armor; some leather, some chain mail. Others didn’t wear any. Many had weapons holstered to their sides; daggers, long swords, and short swords. A woman had a bow and quiver of arrows strapped to her back. She tucked a small bag of coin into her side pouch as she exited the Guild and met with another woman. She must’ve just completed a job and had been given her reward.
The Guild reminded me of something from a video game—or fantasy anime. Adventurers accepted quests and were ranked according to their skill set. The higher their rank, the greater their reward. Upper-level adventurers also had access to the more dangerous quests, like monster slaying and clearing caves to obtain the loot.
There were noncombat quests too, like herb gathering or collecting other materials. Briar sometimes sent in requests for ingredients if he was running low, since he was busy and couldn’t always keep them stocked.
“That’s where you went yesterday?” I asked Maddox. “The Guild?”
