Leaving the shop, I find Ren and Luna waiting. The moment they spot me, they close the distance, their expressions a mix of impatience and concern.

  "Took your time, didn't you?" Luna snaps, her golden eyes burning with irritation. "What did that smirking, base-born wretch have to say?" Her voice drips with venom, her loathing for Lucien evident.

  Ren, in contrast, seems entirely calm. "Did he tell you anything useful?"

  I exhale, glancing back toward the shop for a brief moment before meeting their stares. "Yeah. He said plenty. Not the answers I wanted, but...." I hesitate, I still haven't made up my mind about Lucien's offer. Do I want to reveal the full extent of our conversation?

  I move to speak but Ren holds up his hand. "Wait. Not here. I have a room in the tavern, we'll order some drinks and food and talk there. I'm sure you're hungry, after all this time. The good father was barely able to get the broth down your throat."

  At the mention of food, a deep, hollow ache grips my stomach, twisting painfully. The exhaustion that I had been pushing aside crashes down on me all at once, my wounds ache deeply. Luna was right, I should still be in bed. My focus on unraveling the truth kept me moving, but now after grasping just a few answers... it's catching up with me.

  I nod, swallowing past the dryness in my throat. "Yeah... that sounds good."

  Ren grins, clapping me on the back. "Good. Let’s go before Luna starts biting people out of hunger."

  Luna scoffs but doesn’t argue, already turning toward the tavern. I take a steadying breath and follow. The walk is brief, the building sitting at the edge of the market district, not far from Lucien's shop.

  As we step inside, the warmth and scent of roasted meat wash over us. Ren and Luna make straight for the bar, while Osric, wiping a mug clean, eyes them both with a wary expression. His gaze lingers on Luna, his lip curling slightly in displeasure, but the moment he spots me trailing behind, his demeanor shifts.

  "Ah, Seven! Good to see you up and about." he calls, setting the mug down with a dull thud. "Old Alric said you were recovering well, but we worried. If you don't mind me asking, what happened to ya?"

  Before I can answer, Ren steps in with a respectful nod. "Three hot meals and tankards of ale to go with them. Bring them up to my room, if you don’t mind."

  Osric’s expression cools, but he gives a curt nod, wiping his hands on a rag before turning his attention back to me. "Aye, I’ll see it done."

  Ren follows Luna toward the stairs, before I can join them, Osric speaks up. "You're with them lad?"

  I hesitate before answering, not sure what the truth is myself. "Not exactly, but there are some things I'd like to discuss with them."

  Osric nods, lowering his voice. "I understand. But watch yourself with those two. I get a bad feeling from 'em."

  I nod once, before turning away to follow the others.

  After climbing the stairs I see Ren and Luna waiting at the far side of the corridor. Seeing me, they enter Ren's room, not coincidentally I'm sure, the most isolated room on the floor.

  I close the door behind me and sit crossed legged on the wooden floorboards, in front of a round table, opposite Luna and Ren.

  I look around. The room is simple, but small signs of wealth catch my eye, a gilded dagger resting on the dresser, a collection of rings scattered carelessly beside it. A few flasks lie about too, and clothes lay haphazardly draped over the furniture. Ren seems rather messy, for someone who carries himself so cleanly.

  Ren leans back. "How’re you feeling? That wound still giving you trouble?"

  I touch my abdomen lightly before grimacing at the sharp sting. "Hurts still, but honestly, I’m more hungry than anything else."

  Ren nods. "Good. The food should be here soon."

  As if on cue, a gentle knock sounds at the door. Ren glances toward it. "Come in."

  The door creaks open, and Elsie steps inside, balancing a tray with three steaming plates of stew and three mugs of ale. Her movements are careful, but her nervousness is plain. She nods to me quickly before casting wary glances at Luna and Ren.

  "I-um-your-food," she squeaks as she sets the tray down on the table. Her hands tremble slightly as she places each plate in front of us, the scent of warm bread and seasoned stew filling the room.

  She places the mugs next, but when she gets to the last her trembling fingers slip. One of them tilts too far, spilling half a cup of ale across the table, splashing down onto Luna’s lap.

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  Luna hisses, jerking back as the cold liquid soaks into her breeches "Gods damn it!" she shouts, her golden eyes flashing up at Elsie.

  Elsie pales, her hands flying to her apron as she stammers. "I-I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean-"

  Luna glares, but Ren waves her off casually. "Not to worry, young miss. Mistakes happen after all."

  Elsie nods quickly, still looking terrified. She hurriedly grabs a rag from her tray and dabs at the spill, desperate to fix her mistake.

  "Leave it you useless sow! Get the fuck out!" Luna snaps, her voice cold.

  Elsie pales but nods her head rapidly, mumbling out another apology before fleeing from the room, leaving her tray and rag behind in her hurry.

  Ren lets out a laugh. "I'm sure the good tavern keeper will appreciate that."

  Luna scoffs, snatching up the rag and wiping herself off. "Let that grease-slicked hog confront me himself if he has a problem with it."

  Ha, she really does get mad at everything.

  "Do you hate everyone? I don't think there's a single person I've seen you with that you haven't insulted." I ask, leaning back on my hands.

  Luna glares. "Father Alric."

  Huh? What does he…

  She rolls her eyes. "Of the people you've seen me with, I have not insulted Father Alric."

  I think for a moment. "Huh, I suppose you're right."

  "Not that I don't have words for that lanky, serpent-tongued fraud too," Luna mutters, her tone edged with disdain.

  Ha! Good one. She’s funny.

  Though despite my amusement, there's no humor in her voice, only contempt. Seemingly for everyone.

  Though that’s entertaining in itself.

  Ren leans forward, resting an arm on the table. "Well then, enough of this idle talk. Let us get down to business. Tell me, Seven, what did Lucien say to you after we left?"

  His tone is light, almost conversational, but there’s no mistaking the edge beneath it, he wants answers. Luna crosses her arms, clearly expecting the same.

  I pause, my fingers tapping my thigh as I weigh my words. I'm grateful to the two of them for saving me, but my rescue... it seemed more a matter of luck and convenience than care for my life. Not that it diminishes my gratitude, but still... I don't really have a reason to trust the two of them.

  On the other hand, they seem to clearly oppose Vael and demons, which sounds like a good thing to me. If they can somehow kill that monster... I'd sleep a lot easier. Of course, if I accepted Lucien's offer, maybe I could deal with him myself.... assuming Lucien was being genuine. A charitable thought to say the least.

  "Well? What's the hold up!? What did that smug fuck say to you!?" Luna rests her head on her knuckles, looking at me, clearly irritated by my slow response.

  I come to a decision. "He wanted to apologize." I won't tell them about the offer, not yet. I need more time to think on it.

  "Pfft, apologize. Uhuh." Luna snorts, while Ren raises a questioning eyebrow.

  "I was surprised too. But he claimed to have different intentions in sending me to Vael, though he refused to explain what they were. Apparently, me bleeding on some chain I sold to him, provoked Vael into the attack."

  Luna looks bored, her head still resting on her hand. Ren though, leans in closer, curious. "Chain? What chain?"

  Exposing half the story is probably the best path. I want their insight anyhow.

  "I found a pendant in an old crypt some time ago and sold it to Lucien. According to him, it's a relic of something called 'The Black Iron Host'."

  Luna lifts her head from her hand and Ren's eyes go wide.

  "Supposedly bleeding on it signaled to Vael that I needed to be sacrificed, so I assume he's part of the 'Host? What do you think? Do you know what this group is?"

  Luna is the first to speak, her voice laced with open disgust. "Tch. A cult of filthy, demon-worshipping scum. They revere the demon god, groveling at the feet of its offspring like whipped curs, so desperate for scraps of their magic they’d spill their own mother's blood if commanded." Her lip curls as she grips the hilt of her sword tightly. "Vael, that disgusting, festering boil, is probably one of the demons they found to serve. Which would make Lucien his acolyte."

  Vael's acolyte, huh? I wonder if that's really true. He didn't seem particularily servile when speaking of him. Then again, I've never seen the two together. Maybe he was just manipulating me so that he can serve me up to that monster again....

  Ren speaks up, calmer than Luna, lacking her unfiltered disdain. "The Black Iron Host. Demon-worshiping cultists," he affirms, his fingers tapping idly against his cup. "Their founder, if the stories hold truth, was said to have wielded a shard of the Demon God’s own black iron sword. They revere it still, hence the name. Supposedly, together with their prayers, it has granted them great power. They craft their tools and relics in its image. The pendant you found, was likely one such tool."

  I consider the dream I had after taking it. And the dreams I've had since. How they stopped the night the gaoler took it from me and then permanently after I sold it to Lucien.... but then, why did I have another one during my long sleep? And in the first place, what do they mean?

  "I had certain... dreams, after finding it. Of battles, demons, and so on. Is that normal?" I ask, looking to Ren.

  He shrugs. "I've not heard of anything like that, but I'm hardly an expert, now am I. Luna?"

  Likewise, Luna shrugs. "I know less about it than you."

  "Damn." I say, disappointed.

  "Afraid Vael will return for you?" Ren asks, raising his mug to his lips.

  "You think it's likely?" I avoid the question, the truth of it being too shameful to admit.

  "Of course. From what I've heard, the host does not let go of its prey." Luna says casually, words that fill my heart with dread. "Ideally though, we'll have figured out how to kill that disgusting freak before then. If physical blows and magic failed... we'll have to figure out another approach."

  Her response doesn't exactly fill me with confidence, but really, I'm not sure what the two of them are even capable of. "Can either of you use magic?"

  Ren tilts his head, looking towards the swords lying to the left of him. "Oh, I? No, not the kind you’re thinking of-"

  CRASH

  Before he can finish, a sudden crash echoes from below us, followed by loud shouting. I tense instantly, my hand moving to the club I set aside.

  "What was that?" I ask, looking to the still-closed door.

  "Sounded like a table breaking." Luna says, sounding bored.

  I hear the jingle of Ren's armor as he stands and do the same, looking back at him.

  "Shall we take a look? Sounds like quite the commotion." Ren's swords are already back on his belt. Luna sighs and stands as well.

  "Yeah." I say, walking towards the door. "Let's check it out."