I take considerably more time than my feline companion to finish my fish meal, despite the fact that I could take much larger bites out of mine. It's like he is afraid that I might go back on my word and snatch his fish back. Like I would actually do something foolhardy like that. I really prefer my hands and arms without claw marks. Thank you very much. It's probably habits born of a long life fraught with perils he all mastered.

Once Old Gray is done with eating he spends some more time sitting next to me grooming himself, as is apparently obligatory for cats. Only when he is satisfied with his efforts does he slink off into the next alley.

I still take my time to savor the taste of the juicy roasted fish. I'm not exactly in a hurry after all. It's not that late yet. And I only have one more point on my order of business for today and that is to turn in my sealed quest papers so I can receive my reward.

My path to the adventurers' guildhall doesn't lead through the gate though. It almost never does after all. I don't even want to try, given the guards' attitude and machinations. It's simply not worth the hassle as far as I'm concerned. Instead I cross over the wall once more at an out of the way spot and in an unobserved moment.

The additional advantage of this approach is, that it earns me some easy progress for my [Stealth] and [Climbing] skills. And I'm never above making some easy gains. I have to take what I can get. Any why wouldn't I?

I make the rest of the trip at street level though to get to know the walled part of Riverrun a little better. Especially with people still up and about on the streets. The empty streets at night, when barely anyone other than the patrols of the night watch is out, simply aren't the same. This earns my [Streetwise] skill another partial increase. I don't dawdle though, despite my curiosity. I don't want to find the counter at the adventurers' guild closed when I arrive after all.

My fears are unfounded in the end. I arrive with plenty of time to spare. There is another not exactly pleasant surprise though. I have to actually stand in line to receive my reward. I really shouldn't be surprised. It's to be expected that all the adventurers who checked out quests in the morning, or at least most of them, will return in the evening once they are done with their day's worth of work.

Finally it's my turn and I place the sealed papers in front of the clerk, like the others did before me. It's the same scarred veteran with whom I checked the request out in the morning. She nods satisfied as she checks the witch's seal on the papers.

"I see you were successful. The cat back with her humans? Did you run into any trouble?"

The questions are similar to what the others who were in line before me were asked too. In a way it's a simple, bare bones debriefing.

I don't hesitate to answer, but I don't share any more details than strictly necessary either.

"Yes. Cat got stuck in an empty fish barrel in a basement. She's back home now. No trouble worth mentioning. No bloodshed or anything."

The old woman nods, but she isn't quite done yet.

"No trouble with that other guild either? Sorry that I have to ask, but that is their home turf over there."

I'm not bothered by the question at all. If anything it's reassuring to know that the adventurers' guild is aware and mindful of these things.

I just shake my head at first before I provide a slightly more elaborate answer.

"No trouble on that front either. I checked in with them to make sure I wasn't poking my nose into anything, before I started looking for the cat."

And that too is technically the truth.

Finally the clerk is satisfied. She slams the guilds seal on the papers next to the witch's marking the quest as solved. Then she hands me the silver shilling I'm due. She does so with a sly smile and a wink.

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"Don't spend it all at once."

I can't help but laugh, but I nod anyway. It's only a single shilling after all. It might be enough money to get me through a few days, but it's still all too easy to blow it all on a single piece of equipment. New stuff isn't cheap and well maintained second hand gear usually isn't either.

There is one more question on my mind before I turn to leave. I don't ask it of the veteran handling the quests and rewards though. Instead I step over to the clerk who handled my guild admission.

"Sorry to be a bother, but could I ask you some questions about guild facilities? Especially the dormitory and the bath?"

The old man isn't perturbed at all. And to be honest, he probably has heard anything I could want to ask dozens of times before. Thus it's no surprise that he provides the information I need without me having to ask the actual questions.

"You can sleep in the dormitory for free as long as you are a member in good standing. That applies only to the bunk beds of course. If you want a room of your own you'll have to pay rent. You can use the bath free of charge as well, as long as you don't overdo it, especially regarding soap and towels. Please don't make a mess either. Mind the sign at the door too. Until sunset it's mixed bathing. After sunset it's either men or women only. We switch each other day."

I can only nod in the end, as that really covers everything I need to know right now. I suspect that the facilities and services are free of charge, because the guild takes more for accepting requests than we receive as a reward in the end, but that's quite alright.

"Thank you!"

I sketch a bow. Then I'm off in the direction of the bath. The sun is not down yet, but I don't plan to take a full bath anyway. I just need to wash up a little, to get rid of the smell of fish and dusty basement. A little soap will go a long way in that regard, even if it isn't scented.

In the end I even have the bath to myself, as apparently dinner comes first to the others. Well, I already had something, so it isn't all that different for me. I take the opportunity and finish quickly. Afterwards I'm right off to bed in the dormitory. Being first there too I can still pick among those bunk beds not reserved or semi permanently taken over by others. Not that I would have to worry anyway, as more beds than usual are free due to the absence of Rami, Núira and Aila.

I let out a little sigh as I lie there. I can't help it. I miss the three. At least a little. In the end sleep claims me before long anyway. Even a simple bed with a straw mattress is better than any floor after all. I don't even wake as the others turn in for the night, which would worry me, except [Danger Sense] not getting triggered reassures me that there is nothing to worry about.

In the end I wake next morning to the sound of a much appreciated notification delivered via divine whisper.

[*Ding!* You slept pretty well! Health increased by 0! Mana increased by 7!]

That not only sounds good, it feels good too. Working with a half empty Mana pool is a little annoying after all. Hopefully I'll soon be able to do something about that. Something beyond taking another nap. I guess I'll see. First though I get up and stretch thoroughly.

I visit the bath once more to freshen up a little more. Then I gather my things and leave the guild under the watchful eyes of the clerks at the counter. Hardly anyone else is up and about yet. I don't get a quest today, as I have other plans.

But I'm not in a hurry. Thus I take my time and have a look at the various eateries that open up bright and early to serve morning meals to people on the way to work. And a morning meal can be just about anything it seems. I spot bread with thin slices of roast from yesterday as well as fresh, fried sweet treats. Those are the most expensive option though. These things may not be the meal of champions, but maybe the food successful master craftsmen and women can afford. Most people stick to much simpler fare though. Porridge of various flavors seems to be most common.

I dive right in and become one with the morning crowd, earning me a little improvement for my [Stealth] skill once more. I manage to snag myself a sweet bun too in passing at a particular popular eatery. Not only does that mean that I have something to eat. No, my [Sleight of Hand] improves some too. Overall I'd say that the day is off to a good start.

Something is different though. The guards at the gate seem more tense than usual. They are a little more attentive too. Could it be that news, of a sort, about the slave deal gone terribly wrong has finally made it back to the captain of the guard? Well, whatever. They are still paying a lot more attention to people entering the through the gate, than to people leaving.

I make sure that the tag identifying me as a member of the adventurers' guild is easily visible just in case.

It works like a charm too. One of the guards on duty does indeed look my way, but when he sees the tag his gaze quickly moves on to the next person.

Once I'm out through the gates I soon leave the main street. The smaller streets and alleys out here are just as busy though. I sharpen my senses just in case someone decides to try and be cute. After all I have learned that some prospective apprentices of the thieves guild are willing to do some not very well thought out things to draw the guild's attention. I can't rule out the possibility that some fool might try to cut my purse. Well, I probably don't have to worry too much. There are plenty of people around with much heavier purses than me. I still make a point of staying alert though.

In the meantime I eat my recently acquired sweet bun, as I make my way through the district outside the wall. My destination is the shop of Rysia and Brygida. Hopefully the two can make some time to show me the basics of meditation. That would make a good day even better. No doubt about it.

I consider making a little detour to visit the tavern by the waterfront first, but I decide against it in the end. Guild business can wait a little longer. And if something is up that really can't wait, Jerzy, Wiktor or any one of the others I have gotten to know so far will find me for sure.

I arrive just in time to see Rysia open the shop together with her daughter. Brygida climbs up on a little stepladder to put up the sign advertising the services and prices besides the door. And her familiar has made herself comfortable on the window sill, overseeing everything like only a cat can.

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