"Don't you think you are rushing into moving in with this stranger?" Culgan asked, keeping pace with Seed as they left the manor.

"He's not a stranger to me. He served with us. He trained with that asshole, Leon Silverburg. He knows as well as we do what we did wrong."

"This is a chance for us to start our lives over. We don't have to lead more men to their deaths. This land remained mostly untouched during the war... Are you ready to be responsible for bringing death and chaos to the people here?"

Seed stopped and set his hands on his hips as he tilted his head back for a deep breath. Part of him was ready to go charging into battle again and the other more sensible part of him said to slow down. He'd accepted losing the war when it meant losing his life. Waking up and starting over, it wasn't that easy for him. His whole identity revolved around his country. Without it, he felt lost. "I don't know, man. One thing at a time. Let's deal with these crooked military officials and see what's next. How about that?"

Culgan wanted the land he loved back as much as they did, but he knew he had to consider the bigger picture. For now, at least, he could agree they needed to do something to make life safe for their people. "Yes. Let's focus on that and avoid rushing into attempting anything like a military coup. I do question if we need to move in with the man in order to do such things."

Seed shrugged and started walking again, "It's a nice house. I never thought I'd be able to live in this part of the city. It's a hell of a lot better than paying for a room at an inn. And I don't want to move into a shitty apartment on the south side. You don't have to move in if you don't want to, but I'm not turning down the invitation. He might rescind it, but a few nights here is better than a few nights there."

Culgan did want to keep an eye on Varen's activities and learn exactly how he operated, but he did not want to feel beholden to him by living under his roof. "I'll consider it."

"Great. Should I invite Christina? She doesn't have anywhere else to go."

"I have a feeling she is going to invite herself anyway. You know she'll find out one way or another that you moved into a mansion."

"True." Seed thought he managed to make her sound like a creepy stalker, but he knew she was harmless and her heart was in the right place. "I'm going to the Hungry Wolf first. You want to come by, have a drink?"

"I will join you later. There are some things I need to take care of first."

"Yeah? You know how to get there?" Seed asked, calling his bluff.

"South west, past the market place."

"The Hungry Wolf seems an appropriate name for a place you would frequent."

"Yeah, it's too bad they don't serve dinner. Don't bring an empty stomach unless you want to get shit-faced."

"I'll be sure to pick up some fresh bread on the way."

They parted ways with Seed taking the road south of the city center and Culgan going north. Seed guessed his 'business' had to do with returning library books or something. The Hungry Wolf wasn't open for business yet; it was too early in the day. But as he approached the building, he noticed the windows and doors were all left open, so he let himself in, careful not to slip on the wet floor.

Through the darkness
I would walk in the streets
Confessions never seemed
To provide me with a release

Seed didn't announce himself and instead stood in the doorway listening to Silene sing as she scrubbed the floor under a table.

Held me down and tried to cure me
Tried to give me reason
But nothing could separate
This burdened mind from me

"Don't just stand there," Turel said, coming down the stairs. "Help us dry the floor."

Silene bumped her head under the table as she became aware she had an audience and peeked over the edge of the table. "Seed? How long have you been standing there?"

"Not long. Didn't want to interrupt. Unlike Turel," Seed smirked, shooting his friend a look.

Turel raised his hands up in surrender. "Sorry. Forget I said anything. I'm just gonna go back upstairs and rest my back."

Seed picked up a dry towel and looked around at the areas that still shined with water. "You don't have to stop on my account."

"I'm still working on it," Silene said, scrubbing a sticky spot off the floor, and looked over at him.

"Do you always write songs when you're cleaning?"

Silene chuckled, "Most of the time. Turel is used to it."

Seed leaned back, checking the stairwell to make sure Turel wasn't spying on them. "Hey, you know how you were saying you wanted to move out of here?"

"Yes?"

"This friend of mine invited me to move into his manor. Said he's got a few open rooms," Seed said, gauging her reaction. "Not far from the city center. You could move in, work on your music, perform for nobility. Spend some time focused on what you were meant to do."

She hesitated, wringing the wet cloth in the bucket beside her. "What would he charge me for rent?"

"Nothing," Seed answered. "I don't know how long his offer is good for, but I'm sure if you wanted to move back, Turel would take you in."

"It sounds too good to be true," she said.

"Maybe." Seed stood up and took his wet rag to the sink to wring it out. "Just thought I'd throw it out there."

"But you're moving in?"

"Yeah. I may not be paying rent, but I'll be working for him," Seed said. "Not that he'd expect anything from you if you moved in. He said the space was open."

"Working for him how?" Silene carried the bucket of soapy water to the sink to dump it.

"It's complicated," Seed said, moving out of her way. "I'm not exactly sure what his plans are. He'll probably have me meet some people. I know a trip to Muse is in my future."

"Is he a merchant?"

"He works with merchants. But, uh, it's not exactly a business he's getting me into."

"I'm not used to you being so cryptic, Seed."

He chuckled and scratched his head. "Yeah, well, if you're living under the same roof, you'll find out sooner or later."

"I'd rather find out sooner. Is it something illegal?"

"No-" Seed started and thought about it, "Well, maybe a little."

"He doesn't have a secret opium operation, does he?"

"I should ask him. I bet he has connections," Seed grinned. "No, that would be more than a little illegal. It's about the state of the country."

"You mean your soon-to-be landlord is heading a," Silene leaned and whispered melodramatically to tease him, "rebellion?"

Seed grinned, "We prefer to call it a… freedom rally. The name is a work in progress."

Silene laughed, "Are you sure he would be okay with me moving in? I don't know how I could help your cause."

"Don't worry about it. If this thing isn't dead in the water, we'd be relocating to a bigger place eventually. I get it if you don't want to be involved at all though. I mean, it's not really dangerous right now, but it could be."

"It would be nice to be able to focus on my music…"

"Think it over. Culgan's not too thrilled about the idea of moving in and getting involved with this guy. But I like him. And I've never lived in a mansion before," Seed said, walking past her. "I'd stay and help out, but I've gotta go find Christina. If she finds out I invited her last, she wouldn't let me hear the end of it."

"You invited me before Christina? That's so sweet," Silene smiled.

"If she comes to tell you about it, just pretend it's the first you're hearing of it... or nod and smile until she gets distracted."

"Thanks, Seed."

He winked at her on his way out and she felt her heart skip a beat. Why does he do that? Silene shook her head at the butterflies in her stomach and picked up a fresh towel to continue drying the floor. The midday sun coming in through the windows did most of the work, but she didn't want to leave any puddles under the tables. She couldn't help smiling the rest of the time she spent drying the floors.

Seed returned to the inn, wondering why he said he'd be back in a couple days when he really wanted to pack his things and claim a bedroom in the mansion right then. Whistling as he walked in, he noticed the empty front desk and looked around, wondering why Christina wasn't manning her post.

Grinning, Christina knelt under the desk, trying to contain her giggles as she imagined getting the drop on him. She thought she heard him walking past the desk and jumped up, hitting her head and causing everything on the counter to shake. "Ow! Shit!" She tried to jump out, to salvage her surprise attack, but she tripped over a chair leg and flailed, grabbing and throwing the papers on the countertop in a futile attempt to stop herself from falling.

Seed stood back as he watched her fall and take everything in her path with her. He chuckled, "Wow. You did not want to let gravity win." Had she not bumped her head, giving away her position, she might have actually succeeded in surprising him.

Christina sat up and reached her hand out. "Gravity isn't the boss of me. Now help me up."

He took her arm and lifted her up. "I'm never sending you on any errand that requires stealth, that's for sure."

"Hey, I can be sneaky as long as there aren't stupid chairs there to foil me." She picked up the papers from the floor and straightened them up.

"So, I know I don't even need to ask, but do you want a room in Varen's manor?"

Christina beamed with a rush of excitement. "Rich guy with a rich house? And I don't even have to shake my butt at him to convince me stay? You're right, it goes without saying. I do!"

"We move in in two days. I get first pick of the bedrooms."

"That's not fair. I'm the lady of this group and should get first choice. Unless Culgan is looking for a roommate. I don't mind sharing his bed," she grinned.

"You can ask him. But I still get first pick."

She grinned and turned her back to him as she looked over her shoulder at him with her best seductive gaze. She hiked her pants up to accentuate her curves and wiggled her butt at him. "Huh? This changing your mind?" She backed up toward him, butt swaying.

Seed chuckled with his eyes on her butt. "Nice try, but your feminine wiles won't work on me, Christina."

She turned around and popped a button on her shirt to show off her cleavage, thinking maybe she had mistaken him for an 'ass man' and that he was more a fan of breasts. She leaned forward to tease him, pushing her breasts together. "Hmm? Won't you reconsider?"

"Okay, cut it out." He turned to walk upstairs. As much as she joked about it, he wasn't a monk, and he couldn't risk his body reacting to her. That would be embarrassing and would definitely give her the wrong idea.

Christina pouted as she secured her button. "You sure you were a soldier and not a priest?"

"You working at the pub tonight?"

"Yes. Are you planning on coming by?"

"Yeah. Culgan's coming too. Maybe you can try that move on him."

"Maybe I will. And maybe I will get second choice... Hey, why do you get first choice anyway? I think Culgan should get first choice."

"What the hell? Why?"

"Ha! So you don't have a reason. Culgan's older than you, isn't he?"

"Culgan's not sure he's moving in yet. I was invited, and I invited you. That's why."

"Fine. Then I definitely get second choice because I agreed second then."

Seed smirked, "If he pulled rank, would you argue with him?"

"I'm sure I can make an argument or two," she said, giving him another playful shimmy.

"Let me know when you head out and I'll walk you." Seed had the feeling one of these days, all that booty shaking and shimmying would get her into trouble, either with a handsy patron or a jealous girlfriend.

"Sure thing, stud. Who else did you invite along?"

He could see by the look on her face that she was thinking 'I better be the first.' "Hm? Uh, no one yet," he lied and went upstairs before she could probe any further. After taking a shower, he dressed and lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling as he contemplated what was in store from him when they moved into Varen's manor. As much as it should have scared him or given him pause like it did Culgan, he was excited. He didn't know if they would succeed, but even just getting the information from Lyle to give to Fitcher felt like progress in the right direction. Even if he never got to call himself a Highland soldier again, he at least felt like he was still serving his countrymen. He didn't hear Christina knock on the door, and her opening it pulled him from his thoughts. "Time to go already?"

"Yeah. You 'taking care of business' in here? Need help?" She grinned, "You must be awfully focused on something not to hear me knocking as loud as I have been."

"You sure you didn't knock quietly and barge in just so you could see for yourself?"

"Well, I can't say I wouldn't want to catch you red handed and red faced. But, no, I want to go see Culgan. I don't have time for your attempts to seduce me now."

Seed rolled out of bed and walked with her to the Hungry Wolf. "I'll bet Culgan is already there. He probably isn't used to staying up so late."

"Are you calling him old? He looks wise but young enough to have some fun."

Seed laughed, "No, I'm not calling him old. He's only three years older than me. He's just a little more tightly wound. I wonder if you can get him to cut loose."

"Oh, I'll have fun trying," she smirked. "Either way, tonight is a celebration! We're going to have a good time!" She swung the door open to the pub and threw her hands up in the air. "The fun has arrived!"

Silene looked up from the table nearest the door where she sat with Culgan. "It's still early, Christina."

Christina looked around and spotted Olaf at his usual table. "Well, the place isn't empty."

Seed grinned at Culgan. "I knew you'd get here early."

"I thought you would want me to meet your friends, and I thought it better to meet them before it's loud and crowded."

Turel came from behind the bar and set four mugs of mead down at the table. "And I hear you're all going to be roommates, leaving me all by my lonesome. Let me guess… Christina is moving away too?"

"If you think that you'll be rid of me just because I'm upgrading my lodging, think again, mister!" Christina realized that meant somebody, either Seed lied and invited Silene before inviting her or… Culgan invited Silene!? Her eyes shifted suspiciously between her two suspects.

Silene exchanged looks with Seed as if to say 'I wasn't going to say anything' and Christina caught the look. With a dramatic gasp, Christina pointed at Seed, "You lied."

Seed chuckled nervously, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Turel put his arm around Christina and said, "Well, I'm glad to hear it. I don't know if I could run this place by myself anymore. I've been spoiled with you ladies."

"You'd lose a lot of your customers, that's for sure," Olaf said from across the tavern.

"You mean to say you're not here for the tasty imported ale?" Turel feigned offense.

"Imported from where? Down the street? Like I wouldn't know Frank's brew," Olaf scoffed.

"How did..."

Seed sidled up next to Silene and whispered, "So you've decided to move?"

"It seemed silly to hesitate."

Seed shrugged, "You're not the only one. I'm glad Culgan came around."

Christina flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Well, I am kind of a big deal, Turel. I might have to start charging you appearance fees."

"If you're asking for a raise, you're going to have to pick up cleaning duties too."

She already did enough of that at the Crescent Inn. She whipped around to look at Seed, "What are you whispering about? Was it the part about you not inviting me first?"

Seed knew she'd get after him about it, but he decided to make light of it. "I guess that means you get last pick of the rooms."

"Culgan! Tell Seed it's unbecoming of him to go back on a deal."

"Perhaps we should wait until we are given a tour of the house before you two start claiming rooms," Culgan said, reluctant to get involved.

"Oh, I already know which room you're going to choose, Culgan," Seed said, giving him a knowing look.

"That's impossible. I haven't seen any of them yet."

"Yeah, but you'll still choose whichever room is in the quietest part of the house."

"We don't yet know which room that is."

"I'll know it when I see it."

"You should choose the room that is the most soundproof in the house, Culgan… for reasons," Christina winked.

Turel clapped Christina on the shoulder. "We've got customers coming in now. Work your magic."

"Welcome!" Christina grinned at the group of men who walked in, "Get ready to have those bellies filled and spirits lifted! Speaking of spirits, we have the finest in the city!"

"Silene, think you can play us another song tonight?" Turel sighed, "I hope this won't be the last time you play for us here."

"It won't be," she said, standing from her seat. "I'll go get my cello."