Chapter 14: Another Meetup, But it is Less Ordinary


A fat hand knocked on the door before it was slowly opened. The door retreated to enable the intruders a view into a room belonging to Jerrla Lecknart. The room was a mix of pink and green drapes on the sill of an open window and several dolls and toys surrounding some miniature house on the opposite side of the room. There was also a fancy closet, no doubt containing all sorts of clothes. There was also a bed, which looked similar to Arrinoka's bed but scaled down and pinker. As well as a desk that had a wide mirror, and an assortment of accessories. You know. The typical room designed for an 11-year-old daughter of a trademaster.

*fweet*

"Jerry-Jerr my dear? Mind if we come in? I have some words I wish to impart with you. And perhaps a small arrangement." Zackis Lecknart said, speaking into the room.

"You can come in, Da." A sullen voice answered us.

Zackis made his way inside, but stopped right in the door frame, preventing passage in or out of the room. "I have some important guests visiting my tradehouse. One of them has brought over a pet and they gave the idea that you could perhaps pet sit for them for a moment."

"Pet sit?!" Jerrla answered back, sounding halfway between annoyed and anguished. "What about MY pet?! Duchess?!"

Zackis motioned a 'calm down' gesture. "It's only until we know for sure she isn't carrying any parasites. However, back to the point I'm trying to make. We know that you're grounded for fourteen days, but I was wondering if you would like to have a day or two removed from your punishment?"

"... Really? Who is the guest? It's not Dwebber Lenald and his creepy son from the Armorers Guild, is it?" She asked.

"Er, no. Heh. Actually, it's Arrinoka Arisota, the Fortmaster of Arisota's Hold. He was wondering if you can watch his pet for a moment." Zackis answered as he walked into the room and looked back at where he arrived from. As if on cue, Arrinoka followed him in, and myself as well.

Jerrla's eyes widened so much I could see her sclera. That and she was in a simple comfortable dress that was less dirt-covered than before. Some kind of pajama, I think it might be? "MISTER ARISOTA?! I MEAN- LORD ARISOTA?!" She was sitting at her desk one moment, and the next she stood fully upright and bowed to Arrinoka. "Uh... It's a pleasure to see you here, sir!"

Arrinoka chuckled. "Thank you. I heard that you gave your dear father a bit of trouble. I came here to help cheer him up some."

Jerrla stared at Arrinoka for a bit before looking crestfallen. "Um... Yeah. I was just very worried about my dog."

"Were you worried that the Beast Tamers Guild would put her down?" Arrinoka asked in a polite and gentle tone.

Jerrla looked down at her feet, embarrassed. "Yeah. I overheard Father saying something about that guild coming over to take Duchess away. I was so worried that they might put her down, so I took her and fled. I didn't know it was just going to be a simple quarantine at the time."

"I see." Arrinoka nodded. "So is your dog fine and alright?"

"Yes. She is fine." Jerrla said, perking up. "She's in the Beast Tamer's hill-dog kennels, being checked for earwigs."

"Mm." Arrinoka replied with a nod. "I can understand worrying over someone close to you, be it friend, lover, or even pet. I'm certain Duchess means a great deal to you. For you to care so much about her, that would make you a very kindhearted person. Not a lot of people have the patience, or resources and training, to keep a hill-dog as a pet."

Jerrla nodded back. "My father is well traveled, and he did many favors for the Beast Tamers Guild in the past. As a reward, they taught him their trade on how to care for a hill-dog, which gave him the knowledge he needed to train a few as his pets. I asked him if I could have one. He said yes, but under the condition that I learned how to be responsible caring for one. When I came to the kennel to choose my own pet, that was how Duchess came into my life."

"Your proudest moment." Arrinoka stated.

Jerrla nodded. "Yes."

*fweet*

"Then it gladdens me to ask you this small request, hearing from you that you care so much about animals." Arrinoka then gestured towards me. "See, I came into possession of a unique pet myself. I was talking with your father for a bit, but it seems my newest member in my family needs someone to play with. Allow me to introduce you to Roy."

Jerrla looked down at me. Her face changed into so many expressions at once that I couldn't quite catch any of them. Confusion? Surprise? Hesitation? A belly ache? I wouldn't know which were stronger. "... A scav?"

I furrowed my brows at her and crossed my arms. "Excuse me? Little lady, it's rude calling someone by zhat offensive term. I would prefer to be called by my name, sir, or friend, please and zhank you."

"Now now Roy. Be nice." Arrinoka said, flicking at the back of my head.

I shook my head. Ugh, this is so demeaning. I bowed and softened my tone afterwards. "In all seriousness, I bid you greetings. I hope zhe day finds you well. My name is Roy. I am Lord Arrinoka Arisota's new pet, and I sincerely hope we can become great friends."

Jerrla blinked a few times.

Yeah yeah. Even I think I'm weird-sounding too.

Zackis smiled lightly. "Now then. I think Arrinoka and I shall leave Roy in your capable hands. Be sure to play nice while the adults chat. Okay?"

"Yes Da." She turned to Arrinoka and gave him a curtsy. "Good day to you."

Arrinoka nodded and smiled before following after Zackis. Once the door was closed, and the faint footsteps faded away beyond the hallway I came from, I turned to look at the girl I helped only a couple of days ago. ... Well, I say 'helped', but she was probably tired and wanted to go back home. I guess she thought that farmer guy, can't remember his name, Clint or something, would agree to hide her dog while she came back home. I guess there was a misunderstanding, or that I might be missing something? Whatever. Don't assume something from nothing, because you can't spell assume without making an ass out of u and me.

Jerrla crossed her arms and looked at me, an expression between curiosity and slight revulsion. "I don't think I ever had a sca-... I mean, a yinglet in my room before."

I blinked a few times at her. "Zhey say you love animals, yet you sound like you're not having a good day today."

"You're right. I'm grounded for two whole weeks." Jerrla said bluntly.

I paused awkwardly and tapped at the ground with a foot-hand. "I'm getting zhe impression you're missing your hill-dog. She's probably very restless, considering zhat you're not zhere to give her zhe chin scratches to help her sleep."

"How do you- ... ... ... ... ... You." That look of realization on her face was quite priceless.

I subtly placed a finger to my lips and pointed at the door. I hope this gave Jerrla enough of a hint to tell her that there might be eavesdroppers in eavesdropping distance.

She seemed to understood what I meant, pausing as she realized my hint. Once the pause was over, she took a breath and sighed before gesturing to the dollhouse. "Would you like to play with some of my toys?" She asked with mock excitement.

I nodded quickly, matching her mock excitement. "Oh yes please! I promise to be careful wizh zhem!" Oh. Great. Gonna play with some girly toys now.

*fweet*


Her doll house was two stories tall, and it separated vertically from the middle. It contained carefully handcrafted furniture that had cloths stitched into them to simulate blankets, pillows, drapes, cushioned chairs, couches, and beds. The dolls were handcrafted plush toys, which consisted of the mother and father, named Daxtan and Darleen. The two daughters and two sons were Velny, Vella, Vernt, and Vertu. They were quadruplets. There was also an uncle and an aunt, Gumph and Lazzoo. There was also a toy hill-dog named Duchy she uses as a family pet for the dolls, as well as a bear-thing with feathers and a beak, which was traded from a lad who lives in The Step District in exchange for her grandma and grandpa dolls, Dalna and Qolbert. She says her friend named the bear-thing Ducky. How do I know this? Well... I spent several minutes playing with Jerrla and her toys, so that was how.

*fweet*

Anyway, we got to a point where I was telling her the rules of how to play one particular gameI know of, using the doll family, and the hill-dog and bear-thing toys as players. We were using the toys and pretending that they were playing a game of Sardines. It's like Hide and Seek, but everyone is the seeker and they join the hider once they were found. Jerrla smiled as I explained the game to her. "Wow. This seems like a good game to play with lots of players. But why is it called 'Sardines'?"

"Ah, zhat." I replied to her with a nod. "I believe it's zhe name for a type of small fish zhat likes to swim close to each ozher, making predators zhink zhat a school of zhem were a big animal. Zhey're also packaged and preserved as a food. Zheir name is even used metaphorically. Packed like sardines, for example."

"Never heard of such a fish before." Jerrla said. "Ever eaten one?"

"Nope, but at some point, if zhe option is presented to me, I would probably like to eat one." This was a nice distraction and everything, but the plot has to move forward somehow. I looked back at the door I came in from. "So uh... How long do you zhink Lord Lecknart and Lord Arisota will chat for?"

"Da tells me he and Lord Arisota were drinking buddies when they were younger. I guess it'd be for a long while." She replied, taking Ducky out of the dollhouse and setting it on top of the roof.

"Zhen zhat would mean zhey'd be out of earshot of our conversation. Good. Want to learn what I gazhered about zhe earwig plague?" I asked, barely above a whisper.

"Oh. I already learned about that from your other scav friends. I think their names were Flick and Yogs and... um... Voob I think?" Jerrla replied, looking up thoughtfully trying to remember things.

I blinked at her in surprise. What? "You've been in contact wizh zhem? Wait. How much do you know about zhe earwig plague?"

"Yeah. They gave me this whistle thing and taught me how to call them when the coast is clear." She said, going to her desk to fetch a grass whistle from it. "And they told me that the earwig plague was a seasonal thing that happens every ten years or so. Apparently their favorite places to make their nests in is the ears of the hill-dogs. The Beast Tamers Guild are working hard to pick out the earwigs and giving them medicine so their ears can heal."

Oh shit, that's right! That was a thing from, like, several chapters ago! Once she returned, she showed me the grass whistle. "Wow. Zhey must have a lot of trust in you to give away one of zheir whistles."

"They said they would keep in touch with me if they learned anything else about the plague, or until they get their girl scavs back." Jerrla said, gently rolling the whistle in the palm of her hand.

I blinked a few times. "Oh. But... Would zhat mean zhere are some yinglets nearby zhat's in whistle distance? Have you contacted zhem before?"

"Yes and yes." Jerrla explained. "They said they'd leave a few of their kind to keep in touch with me, and I can contact them when I'm not around any adults."

I nodded and smiled. Okay, so this should be good. "Zhink zhe adults will keep for a while longer?"

"Knowing Da, yeah. Want me to call your buddies?" Jerrla asked.

"Please do." I asked keenly.

*fweet*

Jerrla went to the open window and held the grass whistle to her mouth and blew *fweet-fweet-fweet* three times into it. Seconds later, an upside-down fuzzy face popped down and looked at us from the window. "Hee hee hee hee hee~! I knew I heard a voice I heard before! Hi new guy! It me! Voot!"

"SHUH-SHUSH! What did Flick say about loud voices?" Jerrla scolded.

"Oh? Oh. I sorry. Okay, I be more soft talky now." Voot said, flattening his ears in a slight crestfallen manner.

"Did he say new guy? He's not talking about Roy, is he?" Another voice said from above Voot.

Voot looked back. "Yeh yeh! It new guy Roy! Yellow furry guy! New new from days ago!"

"Voot!" Jerrla hissed.

"Oops." Voot held his mouth closed in embarrassment.

"Okay, I'm heading down." The above-Voot voice said. And just like that, a yinglet with dark gray fur, wearing a sneaking cloak, lowered himself into view and slithered through the window. "Voot, you're on lookout duty."

"Yes yes Patriarch Flick. Yous can count on me." Voot said before vanishing from our view.

I ran up to Flick, a wide excited smile on my face. "Flick! Oh it's so good to see you again!"

"Guys! Indoor voices!" Jerrla reminded harshly.

I felt a blush on my face forming. "Oh. Uh, I'm sorry Jerrla."

Once Patriarch Flick was on the floor with me and Jerrla, he scanned me over with his eyes sternly. After a few seconds analyzing me, he finally began to talk. "I have zhree questions. What's wizh zhe clozhes? Why are you in Jerrla's room? And how did you survive zhe hill-dog kennels at zhe Beast Tamers Guild?"

I paused. I looked down at my person. I then looked back at Flick with a sheepish smile. "Okay, uh... I zhink I have a bit of a story to tell you." I turned to Jerrla to ask her something. "Do we have time?"

Jerrla nodded. "Yeah, plenty of time."

I turned to Flick, sighed, and readied myself. "Okay. So! ... Do you remember when you left me back at zhe kennels?"


Insert summary of Chapters 9 through 13 here.


Unbeknownst to Jerrla and her guests, a door creaked open.

"-So I played wizh Jerrla and her toys for a bit before we decided to sound zhe whistle. Now we're here." I finished.

Flick nodded, breathed in, growled and sighed. "I have to admit, Roy. You have impressed me." Flick said.

I blinked a few times in confusion. "Uh. I did?"

"Mm." He said with a nod. "Because you entered into Arisota's hold, all wizhout drawing attention to our enclave, even in zhe slightest. I would say you passed my evaluation very impressively."

That's... actually a great compliment to have. I didn't think Flick would regard me so highly.

"... But I didn't zhink you would turn into a human's pet so quickly. I'd say zhis would set zhe yinglet people back culturally, but considering zhis is you we're talking about-" Flick then added.

"Look." I growled back. "I didn't want to become someone's pet, alright? I had to use a lot of wit to prevent myself from becoming someone's belt or coin purse. It was eizher have my fuzzy hide become a commodity for a craftsman or perform tricks under zhe command of zhe fortmaster."

Flick sighed again and shook his head. "But zhe fortmaster of all people? You do realize he might be zhe client zhat hired zhe mercenaries zhat stole our females and poached our males?"

"If he is, it was at my own risk and not yours. And even zhen, I'm not exactly in a safe position myself. One misstep and I'll be on zhe tanning table faster zhan a heartbeat. I'm expecting zhe worst to happen most of zhe time and I still haven't figured out who might be zhe client to zhe mercenaries, and I'm taking a great gamble placing my trust in zhe fortmaster." I hurriedly explained.

"So, what? Does zhat mean you're not going to betray us and remain zhe fortmaster's pet?" Flick asked inquisitively.

I paused for a few seconds before I answered. "... Honestly, it's cushier compared to living in your secret enclave."

"Cushier?" Flick parroted.

I rolled my eyes. "It means it's better protected and more comfortable. Zhe outer perimeters have zhe Outerguard protecting it, and zhe hill-dogs inhabiting it, zhe guardsmen of zhe city watch protecting zhe citizens of zhe city, and zhe nobles have personal bodyguards called sentinels protecting zhem. Not only zhat, zhis place is, quite literally, a fortress." A sigh escaped my lips. "And since I'm Arrinoka Arisota's pet, I'm in a protected position. Since I'll be close to zhe fortmaster, I might be able to ask for his resources to help us find zhe client, and perhaps locate zhe abducted yinglet females."

Flick nodded and closed his eyes. "Mm... Alright. I might as well tell zhe patriarchs and matriarch about zhis new information. However, we can't use zhe Jerrla girl's room as a meeting place. Zhe humans might get suspicious if we do zhis again. Zhe roofs of zhe Lecknart Tradehouse aren't exactly zhe safest to sneak on. Zoot nearly fell off zhe roof twice today, and zhe fort doesn't exactly have neutral areas where yinglets and humans meet up and talk freely."

"... Fek." I tapped at the ground with my feet-hands, grousing at myself. Flick has a point. Arisota's Hold isn't exactly friendly to outsiders. Especially to yinglets. That, and since the fort itself is a literal fortress, that leaves very few options for me to meet up with Patriarch Flick, or any of the other yinglets from Sharp Rock Enclave, to discuss future plans.

"Excuse me." A new voice interrupted.

Flick, Jerrla and I whipped around to see Arrinoka Arisota at the door. He quietly came in, closed the door behind himself, and bowed to us. The brain in my skull felt like it was doing somersaults and was violently crashing onto the ideas and consciousness that lives in my head, my heart leapt to my throat and turned into a lump the size of a metaphorical kumquat, and my blood froze so fast I thought I would astral project into the next reality screaming. Thankfully, I was frozen in so much fear that my soul kept itself in my body.

Arrinoka finished his bow and gestured to us. "I'm sorry for coming in unannounced, but Jerrla's father was distracted by other matters, and I took the opportunity to see how the playmates were doing. But alas, I unfortunately eavesdropped near the end of your conversation. As you are aware, I am Arrinoka Arisota, lord of Arisota's Hold. But who might you be?" He pointed to Flick as he finished his sentence.

Flick gave Arrinoka a stern glare. "How much did you hear?"

"Near the end of Roy's retelling of his story, I believe." He answered. "He was talking about playing with Jerrla and her dolls."

Flick stared at Arrinoka for several seconds before he gave a grumbling reply. "Mm."

"Mm?" Arrinoka mused. "Is that you're name, 'Mm'? Or is that what you mutter when I satisfy your questions?"

Okay this is slowly getting out of hand. "Patriarch, I beg of you to please be nice to zhe owner of a particularly yellow-furred pet. Please?" I said to Flick, gently tugging his black sneaking cloak.

He grunted at me, but sighed in defeat. "Very well. I am Flick, zhe Patriarch of Sneaking, one of many leaders below Matriarch Rhondy of zhe... secret enclave zhat I will not tell you about or reveal where it is."

"And your mission in my city is to find the client, and to retrieve the female yinglets that were abducted from your lands?" Arrinoka quizzed.

"Yes." Flick answered simply. It was obvious to me that he doesn't trust Arrinoka in the slightest. Not good for setting first impressions.

"Mm." Was Arrinoka's reply. He then turned to me, with a surprised and impressed expression painted across his face. "You certainly do keep surprising me in ways I don't expect, and you keep strange friends. I do not say those things lightly, Roy."

"Careful, my lord. If we were to become pals, I would have to add you zhat list of strange friends too." I teased.

"Roy. A moment." Flick ordered, gesturing for me to come closer to him. I blinked a few times before I walked over to him. He then began whispering to me. "Roy, I'm not sure if we should trust him."

I began whispering back. "We don't really have a choice here, Flick. We've been over zhis. If I'm his pet, zhen I can keep tabs on him. If he helps us, zhen zhat would be proof enough to tell you zhat he can be a powerful ally."

"Humans are smart zhough. How would you know he's not playing you into his trap?"

"I used to be human too, Flick. You should know zhat if you know someone long enough, you get to see patterns to zheir behavior. He doesn't exactly trust you or me eizher. I'm only his pet for his amusement, after all!"

"Zhen how do we know he's not a zhreat to us now?"

"I dunno! He hasn't called zhe guards on us yet. Maybe zhat is enough to tell us he's willing to hear us out, and maybe help us wizh our mission?"

"Hm. You may be right. I'm going to ask him somezhing." Flick turned around and stared up at Arrinoka. After a pause, he then spoke. "So why haven't you called zhe guards on us?"

"Mostly because I'm curious." Arrinoka answered, not minding the whisper huddle Flick and I had earlier.

"Curious? How so?" Flick asked inquisitively.

"Someone is keeping illegal rats in my city, Patriarch Flick. Rats packed together in high concentrations breed disease. Diseases spread, and they can hop onto carriers, sometimes quickly in highly populated areas. As the lord that sits upon the throne of Arisota's Hold, it is my duty to prevent discord among my subjects and warriors. if I were to fail in my duty, then the savages from the United Tribes of the Southlands would run rampant, laying waste to the cultures surrounding them, and burning the knowledge we had accumulated from many generations of ancestral leaders and innovators. As such, I am curious to know where our small union will lead to. Therefore, you shall have my support in this matter." Arrisota explained. He then looked at me. "When I first found Roy and spoke to him, I thought that he was a very clever liar for a yinglet. I first thought that he might have been a patriarch, yet I seem to be wrong to assume that. But the more I got to know him, the more exceptional I realized he is, and that the story he told me was genuine." He then gestured to Flick. "Seeing you here, with the way you carry yourself, tells me that you yourself are a patriarch of high standing. Therefore, I'm ready to believe the story about your women being abducted from your lands to be true."

Flick grimaced. "First off, how dare you call our females rats. Secondly, I feel zhat zhere's a point you want to make here."

"Indeed." Arrinoka affirmed. "Once you have your females, and I find out the identity of this client that has been hiring these mercenaries, I want your people to leave my city."

"And Roy?" Flick pressed.

"Honestly? He's been such a delightful little fellow." He said, looking at me with a kind smile. "I'd love it if he were to continue living with me in my home. But if he decided to leave instead, I wouldn't hold it against him." His expression then changed flatly. "But I have a reputation to uphold, and a city to protect. Having pests infesting it would tarnish my reputation and my city. However, to ensure our cooperation in future endeavors, we can meet in a... less conspicuous and awkward location than here. I'm sure Lord Lecknart would make quite a fuss if he discovered our meeting in his daughter's room."

"Since I'm supposed to be grounded for two weeks, yeah. Da would get really mad." Jerrla replied, no longer wanting to be a quiet observer to the conversation taking place.

Arrinoka chuckled. He then knelt down and placed two hands on Jerrla's shoulders. "Jerrla. This is very important. Do you think you can keep all of this a secret until they leave with their abducted yinglet women?"

Jerrla paused for a short while before she gave an answer. "Will I be able to say goodbye to Roy if he decides to leave?"

"I'm sure we can arrange something. I promise you." Arrinoka said reassuringly.

Jerrla nodded in agreement. "Then I'll do it. I won't talk about this, by my honor as heiress to the Lecknart Tradehouse."

"Very well." Arrinoka said with a satisfied smile and patting Jerrla's shoulders. He then got up and turned to myself and Flick. "Patriarch Flick. I wish to meet your fellow leaders. Do you have a place in mind where we can meet?"

"Zhere is an abandoned building near zhe Larrow Viggs statue, zhe one zhat looks like half of it burned up. We can meet zhere. However, I recommend you bring a weapon and a bodyguard." Flick answered.

"Ah. The building that used to be a distillery. Of course." Arrinoka blinked a few times. "A weapon and a bodyguard? Whatever for?"

"One of our patriarchs has a... let's call it a tradition when it comes to forging trust wizh any new people he meets. Especially powerful people." Flick explained.

That was when I decided to pipe in. "Um... Arrinoka? Does zhat mean you'll be bringing along Zhaladine?"

Arrinoka laughed at my statement. "Ho ho ho ho ho, wouldn't that be something! I think I will do just that, Roy!"

Flick looked at me and Arrinoka. "Am I missing somezhing?"

I sighed and shrugged. "You'll see for yourself. Just don't get too scared when you find out."

Flick was about to say something, but his ears flicked up. "I hear someone coming."

Arrinoka quickly turned around. "Sounds like Zackis has finished talking to his other guests."

Flick huffed before turning to Arrinoka one final time. "Remember! Zhe burnt abandoned building near zhe Larrow Viggs statue! Meet us zhere when zhe sun sets and zhe stars start appearing!" Flick then hopped into the windowsill and left Jerrla's room.

Seconds afterwards, Jerrla's door was knocked on.. "Jerrla? Roy? May I come in?"

"You can come in, Da." Jerrla answered. "I'm with Lord Arisota."

Lecknart waddled in and sighed. "Very good." He then stopped to look at Arrinoka. "I was wondering why you didn't come back."

"Oh, Jerrla and Roy were having a lot of fun. I didn't have the heart to break away. I know we agreed that I was to check up on her and come back, but... It was just so cute to see!" Arrinoka said.

"What was so cute?" Lecknart asked.

I chuckled. "Oh I was just teaching Jerrla a new game I know. It's called Sardines. It's like Hide and Seek, you see. Zhe rules are very simple, where everyone is zhe seeker, but zhey become a hider if zhe find zhe hider, so zhey hide wizh zhem."

Zackis blinked a few times. "Never heard of this game. Hm." He then sighed. "Anyway, I think it's becoming late. That, and I know how your bodyguard gets when she isn't shadowing over you."

Arrinoka nodded and sighed. "Yes yes, you're right. Which reminds me, I have some urgent business in the evening."

"Of what kind, if I may ask?" Zackis asked, tilting his head.

"Cloak and dagger shenanigans, I'm afraid. Nothing to concern you with." Arrinoka plainly said.

"Ah. I'll butt out of it then. I hope it goes well." Zackis added.

"Same." Arrinoka stated. He then turned to me. "So! I suppose we shall call it a day and go our separate ways then?"

"sounds about right to me." I said with a yawn. "I could really go for an hour-long nap soon."

"I'll see you out the door. Today has been a nice distraction." Zackis said with a smile. He then turned to Jerrla. "And once your punishment is over, you can play with Roy anytime you want. So long as Lord Arisota allows it, that is."

Jerrla curtsied at Arrinoka and me. "It's been fun. I hope to play with you again."


Once the pleasantries are over with, Zackis saw us out of his home while Arrinoka and I got back into the sedan carriage. I will admit. Meeting Flick again was a nice surprise. But at the same time, I think this means I have finally won over Arrinoka's trust. That or his cooperation. What surprised me more is that Arrinoka is willing to let me choose to remain with the enclave or stay with him in his fort. That's big news!

... Actually, I shouldn't get ahead of myself. Even if Arrinoka was now an ally to my enclave, it doesn't necessarily mean he would drop everything to help us in our time of need. And even then, we still don't know the identity of the client, or where the female yinglets are being kept.

Overall, it was a productive day. I just hope those mercenaries don't catch wind of us or something. I might not be a superstitious person, but I'll certainly knock on wood to ward off the bad luck and increase my chances of success.


A/N: I'm back home and enjoying some good pizza. How's your day been?