No Land for Princes(s) (ONC2024 Entry)

Chapter Eight: Naïve

The next morning, Chaleek was gone. The bedding on the floor had been folded neatly and placed at the foot of the bed, and all of his stuff had been removed. Fear and disappointment warred inside Jieun's gut. She'd thought they... she wasn't sure what she'd thought, but she hadn't expected him to abandon her, especially without saying goodbye. Realizing that their story was over sobered her up and gave her focus.

She couldn't contact Governor Jun-Rei. Despite being The Prince's cousin, he'd likely turn him over to the royal guard. However, The Prince had one more friend within Black Fox City. He hadn't seen them in many years, but surely they would help. It was just a matter of making contact.

Taking a few minutes to switch a bit of coin from her stash to a place more easily reachable, Jieun secured her clothes, washed her face, and applied her bronzing lotion. Her fingers had recovered from the stone curse and her knife was hidden safely up her sleeve. All set to explore the city, she headed downstairs.

Raucous laughter met her as she descended to the main room. So early in the morning, The Warm Feather Inn was empty save for a group at the center table, all enjoying a hearty breakfast. Two serving girls, one too old for such a name and the other too buxom for such plain gray smocks and hoses, worked the table. A man smacked the buxom woman on the rear hard enough to elicit a yelp and his peers chuckled. She scurried off as the older woman playfully admonished the men. Her expression didn't match her jovial tone.

For her own safety, Jieun decided to avoid the table on her way out.

"Hey, Jieun. It's about time you came down, little bird!"

Cringing, Jieun turned towards Taeyang. To her surprise, Chaleek was seated beside him.

"Come, join us! This little nugget was giving me a chance to convince him to enlist in our troupe."

Rocio stood from her seat and patted it. Reluctantly, Jieun accepted the invitation and took the place beside Chaleek. He turned to her and nodded, stoic and handsome as always.

"Eat!" Taeyang demanded, sliding a wooden plate in front of her. "Courtesy of our generous friend, Bolo."

Across the table a tall shirtless man covered in tattoos, grinned. Many of his teeth were capped in gold. The hearts and cranes inked into his skin identified him as an officer of The Guild. The men on either side of him looked like loyal hounds ready to attack at his command. Taeyang's brutes sat on either side of them. Candle-Eyes sat on the other side of Taeyang and Rocio pulled up a new chair beside the goblinoid man.

Jieun studied the heaping helping of food on the table for less than a minute before her stomach loudly begged to be tended. Standing slowly, she claimed a two-tined fork and speared a trio of sausage links. Next were the hard boiled eggs, strips of bacon, rice, and buttered bread.

"Tell us more of this expedition into the south," Bolo said, shoving chewing tobacco into his mouth. "I'm still not convinced it's worth my investment."

"My man Candle-Eyes knows the south. He was raised on the border and he still has connections down there. He knows where the crown princess's convoy was ambushed. He knows where the goblins would have taken her treasures."

Bolo leaned forward. "What's to stop us from beating the information out of you and retrieving the treasure ourselves?"

Everyone knew us meant The Guild.

"My friend, I don't doubt you could do exactly that, but my troupe and I are professionals. We know what we are doing." Taeyang smiled, but Jieun noticed Rocio and Candle-Eyes fingering their weapons.

Bolo broke into a loud rumbling laugh.

"I am just teasing, my friends. I am a businessman, not an adventurer."