The first noise I hear upon my delicate waking are the sounds of groaning. “Ow, fuck... owwww...!”

“We’re almost done, Dear. Just be patient.” A sultry voice says to my right.

“It fuckin’ hurts!” Sam, also to my right, whines and wiggles around on the bed. She tears the blankets off me in the process.

“Of course it does. You had four stamina potions only a few hours apart from each other. That’s terrible for your body! Someone should have warned you about that...”

At that passive-aggressive jab, I continue pretending to be asleep.

“My healing can only do so much. The two of you need to remain in bed for another day or two.” Opal sighs, removing her hand from inside of Sam’s after massaging the muscles. “Stamina potions make your body work overtime, so it’s best to compensate by laying around afterward.”

“W-We didn’t know, Miss Hart...!” Meri hides in her pillow on the opposite side of my body.

“Meri, Dear, I know I haven’t had a chance as of yet to get to know you as close as Sam and Zutiria, but you can just call me Opal. There’s no need to be so stiff and formal with me.”

“O-Oh, um. Ok, Opal...!”

“Good girl. Now get ready for my magic hands to poke around inside of you and make everything better.”

“W-WHAT?!” Meri almost jumps from the bed out of embarrassment, unused to Opal’s method of teasing.

Alright, that’s enough pretending. I’m going to get too horny if I just lay around listening to flirty banter and dirty massages. “Stop, stop, my morning erection can only get so hard,” I yawn, sitting up to face the day at last.

The Doctor is unsurprised to see me rise, merely raising an eyebrow. “It’s six in the evening, Dear. Your morning erection is rather late by that measure.” Opal shakes her head with mock sarcasm.

“Shit, that’s right... We had kind of a fucked up night, didn’t we?” I look to my side and see Sam trembling after having received one of Opalina’s magical muscle treatment sessions. Meri is just about to be the next victim.

“Where’s Zutiria?” I ask, noticing the absent Mage.

“I moved her to one of your guest rooms. Her condition is stable, but it’d be best to just have her out of the way as she recovers.” Opal says, chanting her spell and penetrating Meri’s shoulders.

“AH- OW- HAAAAH!” The Maiden winces, bites down on her pillow, and shuts her eyes. The last time I got one of Opal’s massages, it felt rather nice, so I can only imagine the state Sam and Meri are in if it hurts to this extent.

“How are you feeling? Do you need one of these when I’m done with Meri, Dear?” Opal gives me a teasing, playful grin, and I shake my head.

“You know I’d never turn you down if I could help it, but I need to get a few things done today... Did you-”

“Gwin should already be downstairs,” She smiles. “Don’t push yourself,  and do what you need to do. Pick up your maids from the Pet Shop, and come back home to rest. You’re under a lot of stress after what happened last night, and I want you in tip-top shape for our visit to Dawnstead.”

I vaguely recall promising to leave town with Opal a few hours ago, but I ask just to remind myself. “So that wasn’t just a fever dream?”

“Nope, the day after your mating ceremony tomorrow, you and I will be staying at Castle Mourneheart as Duke Gloomcrest’s honored guests.” The Doctor’s eyes make a small twitch of irritation right when mentioning the Duke’s name, causing her to put extra pressure on Meri.

“AGHK-” The Shield Maiden cries.

“Castle Mourneheart...? Oh, shit. I think I went there as a kid once.” Sam tilts her head, groaning and rubbing her aching muscles. “Place was fucking creepy. I wouldn’t wanna go even if I could move my body.”

“The timing works out just fine,” Opal says as she removes a knot so tight that it nearly causes Meri to faint. “You three aren’t going anywhere for the next couple of days, anyway.”

“I guess I can’t argue with that. Sorry, girls.” I frown at Sam in particular. I wanted to spend some quality one on one time with her soon, especially after what had just happened. Her Highness blushes when she notices the romantic way I’m looking at her. Averting her pretty green eyes, she grumbles to herself.

“I’m ok, Boss. Opal told me there’s a lot of money in it for us, so there’s no helpin’ it. Go get that sweet, sweet Guild gold. Besides, someone might recognize me there, so I don’t wanna go in the first place...” Sam sighs, knowing her ‘disguise’ isn’t as good as she used to think it was. Magic freckles cast by Zutiria and a bandaid over her scarred nose aren’t enough to convince people you aren’t the very distinct-looking Crown Princess of the Realm.

“Alright,” I pull myself out of bed and carefully crawl over Meri. I make sure not to touch her, as the massage takes its toll on her poor body. Taking my glasses off of the nightstand, I also happen to see a fresh pair of clothes laid out for me as well.

I dress myself and once again see that little box that was in the same treasure chest as Sam’s new sword. Before I can reach for it, Opal tells me to hurry on up. “Don’t keep Gwin waiting, Dear. She’s very excited to see you.”

She’s right. There’s time for magical loot when I don’t have a million other things on my plate. Before I see the Dwarf, though, I duck into the nearest guest room to find Zutiria sleeping on the mattress that Peri and Cherry had been using this week. While I don’t say a word to her, I smile and sit by the Mage’s side for a moment.

I hope that her sleep is dreamless and that for as long as she’s out, Zutiria can rest devoid of her night terrors. Her sleeping lips draw me in, and I give her a tender show of affection. A tiny smile draws up corners of her mouth, swilling my heart with satisfaction as I leave her to her sleep.

On my way to the stairs I pass by the bedroom door one more time, only for Opal to call out to me. “Oh, one last thing, Dear. Any news on your Goddess-granted healer, yet?”

“Sadly no, but I can’t imagine it’ll be much longer...” Amidst the chaos of everything that’s been going on, I almost forgot I should be expecting a new adventurer to arrive at the Guild soon. Luxy said sometime within two weeks, and it’s been six days now.

“Hmm. I hope not.” She lets her irritation show again and Meri pays the price.”

“AHHH TOO HARD, TOO HARD, MASTER HELP!”

I get a kick out of watching Meri squirm, so I playfully wave goodbye at her and descend down the stairs, abandoning the Shield Maiden to her fate. Hopefully, the healer doesn’t show up while I’m out of town with Opal. That would be unfortunate timing... though it’s not like she could have worse timing than Meri’s arrival, at least.

In the entrance hall, I find Gwin and Nikita sitting together at a dining table. Without my permission, they’ve appropriated one of my kegs of ale and have it propped up on the table between them. The two are talking about all sorts of things while getting progressively drunker. I notice one keg is already on the floor knocked over, presumably empty.

“‘Mornin’, Chief.” Niki laughs with a boisterous hint of sarcasm.

“Well, if it ain’t th’ man who cost mah family a fuckin’ fortune, toast to ya, lad!” Gwin raises a glass of the Guild’s ale, and I bat an eyelash.

“Shit,” I hadn’t even considered how taking down Pimpington would affect the Shatterbrew clan. “Nice to see you too, Gwin.”

“Ye, mah clan’s not too happy bout all them half-finished brothels we started, but shit’s hilarious if ya ask me.” She shrugs, downing the entire glass in one shot in true Dwarven fashion.

“Opal left a sandwich and some tea sitting out for you,, Niki tells me right as I open the door to the kitchen. Taking them both in hand, I sit next to the two rough and tumble girls.

First things first, I ask, “Your clan doesn’t know I had anything to do with them losing out on business, do they?” 

“Whole town knows ya sent yer girls into th’ big penis castle and beat up the pimp. On account of the kidnappin’ he did, it ain’t like my family can blame ya, but they still ain’t happy. Least we still got paid fer like... five of the brothels.”

My annoyance shows clear as day on my face. “Well, that’s just great, Gwin. I want your family to like me, after all...”

Gwin blushes, raising an eyebrow. “And why’s that, Lad?”

“So that they’ll give me discounts on renovating the Guild,” I tease, which leads to the grumpy Dwarf kicking me in the shin.

“Such an arse,” She makes a disgruntled face and kicks her teeth, looking very cute in the process.

This whole time, Nikita has been nursing her ale and smiling. She’s not avoiding me, but she’s remaining an appropriate distance for whatever reason. “Things went pretty smooth this morning, just so you know. Opal woke up everyone in the Pimpfort and the Pet Shop with her magic. Lots of the pimp’s hooker army escaped, but Opal took those two henchwomen you let tied up with her to Dawnstead. All three of them should be in the Duke of Arrark’s dungeon right about now.”

“No further movement from Fleetfoot?”

Nikita shakes her head. “Nah. I’m not too worried about them.”

“Why is that?” I narrow my eyes.

“Call it a hunch.” The Grekkan sighs, making it clear she’s not planning to elaborate any more than that. She seems to have her reasons, though.

“The Doc told me ya needed some leather work done?” Gwin pours herself another glass of ale right as I finish off my sandwich. “Oh, an’ before ya ask, sh already patched up all th’ new holes in th’ place and fixed yer desk up from the kitty marks.”

“Gods, Gwin, you’re the best.” I sigh, relieved upon knowing that the Guild’s property damage is back to the average amount for now. Once again, the Dwarf’s freckled cheeks fill with a rosy red that isn’t only from her alcohol. “As for the leather, I just need to find Meri’s adventurer’s pouch, and then,”

“Ah moved th’ pouches to yer sex closet,” Gwin chuckles. “Speakin’ o’ that, couldn’t fuckin’ help yerself huh, Lad?” She asks about my vast amount of plundered goods.

“I saw a lot of things that I wanted, so I took them. You’d do the same.” I shrug my shoulders.

“I mighta shown a wee bit o’ moderation. Jus’ a wee bit.” Gwin makes a smidgen gesture with her hands. In response, I scoff at the idea.

“Personally, as a Grekkan, I respect your absurd level of hedonism, Chief. This one’s for you,” Niki smirks and decides to screw the middle man, downing the rest of the entire keg by placing her mouth on the tap. After she finishes with a loud belch, she wipes her mouth and grasps my shoulder so tight it hurts. “Besides, it’s a good thing you looted what you wanted out of the place. As soon as we were done leading all the Beastgirls home, the Pimpfort transformed back into a regular old building. The area around it’s back to normal, too.”

Interesting, I was definitely curious on whether we were just going to have the Pimpfort be a permanent fixture on the Dewhurstian cityscape from here on out. I’m glad to hear that’s not the case...

“Let’s go do what ye need me to do, Lad,” Gwin slams her mug down on the dining table and stands. I follow after her, but Nikita calls back to me before I disappear into the east wing.

“Chief,” She says in a soft, thoughtful voice.

“Yes, Nikita?”

“Just wanted to say I’m sorry bout how down I’ve been lately. I promise we’ll have a talk about it soon, once things settle down. Sound good?” The gruff, grizzled mercenary spares me a tender smile.

“Looking forward to it,” I respectfully bow towards Nikita, who makes a ‘pft’ sound at my well-meaning gesture.

“C’mon, Gurdair Cockiron...” Gwin rolls her eyes as she grunts, heading into the storage room and referencing yet another Dwarven folk hero or God that I’ve never heard of but am very interested in learning the lore behind.