“Because we need to warn everyone and if Wisp is with Sovann it would be easier to talk there,” Neph replied.
Jala kept her gaze on the Pit door as they spoke, watching closely for any sign of Valor. She didn’t like the thought of anyone being in there alone and Valor always dressed finely and wore jewelry. He would be the perfect candidate for robbery.
“He is fine,” Finn assured her again following her gaze. “He is just gathering our money,” he added and then motioned toward the entrance. “See, there he is and he is fine,” he said with a smile.
Jala nodded slowly, watching Valor step from the door of the Pits, the crowd falling back from him quickly. With a quick snap of his arm the knight shook blood from his bare sword and carefully wiped the blade clean before replacing it in his scabbard. “Am I the only one that doesn’t kill people nightly?” she asked quietly.
“I don’t kill people nightly. I usually stay home,” Neph objected with a snort of amusement.
“Mmm, someone probably tried to rob him,” Finn said with a shrug as he watched Valor approach. The knight’s expression was dark with anger as he grew closer. “I’d say they did, he looks pissed.”
Stopping a few feet from them, Valor motioned down the front of his tunic. “Look at this shit, ripped down the side and splattered with blood. That’s real gold thread the bastard cut through. This tunic was probably worth more than that damn building. I’m telling you, Finn, this is the last time I’m coming here. I hate this part of the city,” Valor snapped, his words coming out in a tirade.
“Ahh, Val, I’m so sorry, man. I mean a tunic. By the gods, you only own about three hundred of them,” Finn said, his voice thick with amusement.
“That isn’t the point. The point is, I prefer to drink where bastards don’t try to gut me as I’m leaving,” Valor shot back, his annoyance growing.
“Speaking of fine establishments, can we go to Sovann’s now?” Neph asked, his hand flicking toward the archway.
“Sovann’s. Why in the bloody hell are we going to Sovann’s. Do you know where he lives now?” Valor demanded.
“That’s what I said,” Finn nodded and looked toward Neph.
Rolling his eyes, Neph glanced at Jala and then at Finn and Valor. “Can we at least get out of this district and then you two can whine?” he asked in a mockingly patient voice.
“Fine,” Valor snapped, and moved toward the portal stone, his posture rigid. “We go to Sovann’s, then maybe another drunk would like to gut me there.”
“I know someone sober that is getting the urge to,” Neph grumbled, following Valor.
Grinning at her, Finn winked and led her toward the archway as well. “Ahh, friends,” he murmured softly and squeezed her waist gently.
*
“All the lights are off,” Valor said in disgust, staring up at the three-story brick building before them.
“Thank you for paying homage to the Aspect of Obvious,” Neph said dryly.
Cocking his head slightly, Finn regarded the building and then burst out laughing, stumbling back from the doorway and raising a hand to cover his mouth.
“What?” Valor asked, as the three of them turned to stare at Finn in confusion.
Shaking his head slightly, Finn regained his composure and stood up straight, taking care to remove his smile. “I believe the two of them are, uhh, occupied,” he explained, motioning toward the building. “Though I’m not sure if that girlish moan I heard was my brother or Wisp,” he said, the words thick with contained laughter.
“No,” Valor breathed and looked back toward the building, then to Finn again. “Wisp is molesting your little brother?” he whispered, a grin forming on his own face.
“Oh, grow up,” Neph snapped at them and shook his head. Glancing to Jala, he shook his head again. “It might be better to come back tomorrow,” he said, glancing at Finn and Valor and then back to her, letting her draw the same conclusion. She gave a slight nod in agreement, not wanting to embarrass Sovann or Wisp.
“No, no wait. You two said this was important,” Finn objected, holding a hand up to stop them both from turning. “If it truly is, we should tell them now,” he urged, fighting down another wave of laughter.
“I am in full agreement. If it was important enough for us to come here, then we should tell them now,” Valor said, doing a slightly better job than Finn at keeping a straight face.
“You two are immature asses,” Neph said, looking between the two of them.
“Damn I wish it were Jail with us instead of Neph,” Valor sighed looking at the mage in irritation.
“I’m on Neph’s side here. I think we should tell them in the morning,” Jala said firmly, eyeing the two of them with narrowing eyes.
“Your wife spends too much time with Neph,” Valor said with disapproval, looking toward Finn.
“I won’t be mean, I promise, Jala,” Finn said with a charming smile. “I just want them to be safe,” he added in a sweet tone.
“Just looking out for their welfare,” Valor agreed in a voice equally sweet.
“Don’t believe them,” Neph warned with a slight shake of his head.
“Don’t listen to Neph. He is an asshole remember?” Finn said, quietly glaring at the mage.
“Oh Fortune, really Finn, you really want to torment Sovann that much?” Jala asked with exasperation.
“No it’s mostly Wisp we want to torment,” Valor clarified earning his own glare from Finn. “Remember, earlier I was telling you we were bullies. Well yes, we are,” he added, dodging as Finn tried to elbow him.
“But I don’t want you to torment Wisp or Sovann,” Jala objected, keeping her tone mild.
“And sadly life often disappoints us and we often don’t get what we want,” Valor replied glancing toward Finn who was half way up the stairs to the building.
“Finn …,” Jala objected again, her voice trailing off as she watched him push the door open.