Dri walked back to the inn, thinking about the next task she had. Apparently goblins took over Shadow Fort in the South. Since she would have to head that way, Dri was going to stop in Cassardis for a night. Finally reaching the inn, Dri sat down at a table and wrote Benita a short letter:
Benita,
Because of a task that I have from the duke, I will be heading toward Cassardis tonight. If you could please air out the house and bedding, that would be wonderful. I should be back before dark.
Thanks for everything,
Dri
There, that should be enough. Dri stood up and found a messenger in the inn who was willing to take the message to Cassardis straightaway tomorrow morning for a few hundred coins. Oh well, 200 gold lost, but I get to have a nice smelling house.
The next day, near dusk, the gates of Cassardis were within sight. Taking a moment to rest, Dri pulled out a small coin pouch. "Krystal, Onyx. Here is enough money to buy rooms and meals for you from Pablo's Inn. Drake and I will head to my place. We'll see you sometime in the morning at the inn."
Krystal accepted the money, and the party set off again. As soon as they were through the gates, the two women walked toward the inn, looking tired from their journeys today. Drake and Dri glanced at each other, before heading to their own beds and supper. On the way, Dri felt her hand get taken and held by Drake. She squeezed her hand slightly, barely seeing the village folk look at them. All she wanted to do was head home, and make a nice dinner.
They reached her house at last. Dri pushed it open with sigh. There really is no place like home, she thought as she walked into the main room, unbuckling her sheaths. Seeing what was there, her mouth gaped open. She dimly heard her daggers clatter to the floor.
"Master, is everything alright?" Still in shock, Dri didn't reply. She barely heard Drake come in the room, as she was gazing at a beautiful double bed. A fire was rolling in the hearth and dinner was on the table. Candles were lit, and there were fresh sunbrights in the center of the table.
Dri shook herself. "I'm fine. Just, well, surprised."
Drake chuckled. "I can see that. Who did all of this?"
"I have no idea. Come, let's get out of our armor and into our spare clothes before the dinner goes cold." They quickly changed, then sat down to dinner. It was deer meat, a rarity in a fishing village. At once, conversation struck between them.
"You know, I only told Benita that we'd be home tonight. Either she did this or she let it slip to someone else," pondered Dri
"Benita did seem to want us together last time we were here. If so, why this?"
Dri blushed slightly. "I, well, I have always wanted this kind of atmosphere to, well…"
"That for the first time?" Drake supplemented.
Dri nodded. "However, only Quina knew about that. Either way, I'll pay back whoever it was who got us the bed."
Drake nodded, and they finished their meal in other, light conversation. Just as they were starting to pick up, there was a knock at the door.