Sonnia looked down to see a group of leather armored men carrying torches and swords, one man in the back had a will o wisp circling around his head. Under the warm moon she smiled waving down at them then whispered to herself.

  “Don’t interrupt me this time, we can’t help anyone if I am stuck in a cell, Sonnia.”

  She then bolted away with her staff in her hand, then she laughed a bit hearing them clamor to get up the steps, by the time they reached the top. Sonnia already lost them. They spread out looking for her, the man with the will o wisp stayed at the stairs organizing the group from afar.

  “She only has so many hiding places up here to stay vigilant, we need to lock her up before she spreads it.”

  Sonnia listened from a distance, smiling to herself as she debated whether to play hide and seek or play assassin. She heard at least a dozen or so voices but no heavy thuds like from the golem earlier. Finally coming to a decision she wanted to play more, she ran, staying in dark , listening to footsteps behind a building that itself made of finer bricks, that was polished over.

  Sonnia ran to the next building, hearing a lonely set of footsteps, she had her staff ready to whack the unsuspecting soldier as the light got closer to her. The man only had a moment to react. He tried calling for help but a blunt blow to his head knocked him out cold before even a single letter could be yelled from his mouth. Sonnia grinned and even whacked him again just to make sure he stayed unconscious.

  Then dragged his body in the darkness, she took off his helmet and armor slowly and carefully. With the helmet off she saw a gaping wound where her staff hit, she lowered her hand and healed the wound, the glowing red illuminating the darkness around her lightly as his wound closed up. Then put on his armor, thinking she could sneak out if she was careful. Not before drawing a smile on his cheek from some dirt on her clothes.

  “Sleep tight little warrior, sorry about the wound, hopefully when you wake up, you won’t even remember this.”

  She walked into low dim lit streets now confident, deciding to go explore the second floor more curious about it. Her disguise however barely made her look any different from the average soldier that was chasing her. Looking around though she realized the streets were just as empty as the ones below since everyone was asleep. From the distance though footsteps gathered, the soldiers found her quickly. The captain stepped forward with yelling.

  “Are you Sonnia? Former adventurer of team Reaper?”

  Sonnia looked with a frown after hearing that team name, she debated running, they were very slow but she felt compelled to answer seeing the men readying their weapons wondered what their angle was.

  “Yessss I am. I’m Sonnia the seeker rank adventurer andddddd formerly dead.”

  The captain whispered to his will o wisp which then floated to Sonnia’s ear telling it a message.

  “Our caretaker of this city would like a meeting with you, if you wanna accept then walk forward. If not we can continue this endeavor more if you desire. We have need for professional help and we know of your reputation.”

  Sonnia blinked, staring at the will o wisp then asked loudly while she had her staff ready to attack if need be at the crowd of soldiers.

  “Will there be food and drinks? I am hungry for real stuff, no trail mix please.”

  The captain sheathed his weapon now more calm. He raised his hand and the men lowered their weapons some even took a sigh of relief.

  “There will be, whatever you request that

  We can offer. Just know we can’t let you or anyone leave the city, so please comply and lower your weapon Sonnia.”

  Sonnia smiled and walked forward to the group as if they were old buddies. She slung her arm over one of the soldiers shoulder making him uncomfortable and confused while the others surrounded her.

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  “Let’s go then! I also want this robe cleaned, and a bath, a comfy bed, and breakfast in bed. Don’t cheat me.”

  The captain remained professional, ignoring her words. He pulled out a set of cuffs to put on her. Motioning for her to step forward into them

  “I’m sure our caretaker can easily give you all of those, but before you do I need to put these on you. It’s just a precaution, you are not under arrest in anyway though, it was his orders.”

  Sonnia thought for a second, she held out her hands allowing the cuffs to go on. She prepared to trap and choke the nearest soldier looking at all of their necks watching their veins.

  “I hate liars, I’ll trust you but don’t lie to me, now where are we goin?!”

  The Captain raised his hand in the air, half of the group dispersed back down stairs sighing. The excitement that Sonnia made now is finally coming to an end. Sonnia followed her small group of entourages, she looked at all of them with a smug grin.

  “It took twelve men to make them confident in facing little ole harmless meeee, it’s funny. They all look nervous still. AHHHH”

  She lifted her hands quickly at the man next to her, he nearly fell down from her sudden movement letting out a loud gasp. He hastily drew his weapon at her, even though the steel touched her throat she laughed and stuck out her tongue at him.

  “Scared scared scared, you can’t kill me, you can’t kill me. I’m a special guest here.”

  She laughed loudly at the man, he sheathed his blade looking embarrassed at himself. The captain though stood in line keeping everyone organized now talking to Sonnia like she was a little kid.

  “Enough of you, this is serious, stop messing around or I will be forced to put more restraints on you. Do I make myself clear.”

  Sonnia pouts, nodding her head, staying silent, seeing that the captain wasn’t fearful of her, her eyes looking at him as if hungry seeing how in control he was. The rest of the walk was silent until they reached a fine house made of wood it was fenced off by a clean metal gate. Inside the gate was a fine lawn that was well maintained, grass cut low. Side walks going around, and then a small pond. At the gate itself were a few guards who were more heavily armored than the standard leather she saw many of the others wear.

  The captain stepped forward getting salutes from the soldiers as they unlocked the gate and stepped aside letting Sonnia and the captain go through. He walked forward leading Sonnia to the door of the home. She looked at it all wide eyed.

  “This all looks nice, I wanna live here! It all looks so glamorous, it needs gems encrusted into the sidewalk then it is perfect, I can’t wait to see the strapping handsome man who owns this place, my mouth is already watering at the thought of him. Is he single! Tell me tell me tell me.”

  The captain took a heavy breath. He tried tuning out her voice as his head started hurting from her barrage of excited words. He knocked hard on the door.

  “It’s me Chester. I brought her as you wanted. Now please open up, so I can go back to work.”

  The door opened and a middle age man with a slight chubby body opened the door, he was tired looking with black hair that needed to be cut desperately. It threatened to overtake his eyes. He worse a clean unwrinkled black suit. He smiled and opened the door wide letting her in and did a formal bow.

  “Hello Sonnia, your reputation proceeds you. I am Chester the caretaker of this Lowmere at least at the moment I am. Who knows what the future will hold.”

  Sonnia looked at him with big dissatisfaction and disappointment in her eyes, she hoped for a more stronger dashing man. Even the name left a bad taste in her ears. She frowned and walked forward after the cuffs were taken off by the captain who then asked in a careful voice.

  “You sure you want to be left alone with her? I think it’s a good idea to give you a few guards.”

  Chester though reassured the captain and waved him off without even looking at the captain.

  “I’m fine, I trust our guest won’t try anything stupid, she’s an adventurer, she wants rewards, treat others the way you want to be treated and what not, now good day sir.”

  He shut the door in his face after Sonia walked in, he immediately said in a cheerful voice.

  “I’m sure you have many questions about this arrangement. But first why don’t you get settled first, your hungry I imagine and—“

  His nose winced from her stench, which was a putrid stale smell that filled the room. Sonnia was unbothered; she strolled past him and sat sprawled out on a couch. Chester watched and wrinkles formed in his face.

  “I imagine we should get you cleaned up first, I think that's the best course of action for you”

  Sonnia immediately hopped up walking to him. Leaving a slight stain where she sat down while a maid watched straight faced holding a wet rag.

  “Finally a reasonable request. Yes yes yes a bath please and get your woman there to give me some blackberries too. Make someone here be useful, it makes up for your face.”

  Chester thought to himself and frowned at her request while a hand swiped across his face then looking at fingers.

  “Sadly not, but I am sure we can try to satiate your hunger in many other ways. If it's fruit you want, we have apples, oranges, I think some preserved cherries and peaches as well. First enough of that, go take your bath, upstairs to the room on your left, it’s already hot please enjoy. I'll be waiting down here, Miss Sonnia.”

  Sonnia walked up stairs slowly step after step looking around in front and behind her. The maid was already cleaning the couch where she sat. Very briefly she saw Chester look from watching herself walk up the stairs. She frowned a little at the thought of where his eyes trailed. She thought in her head.

  “He is to ugly to have someone like me….i want my cuffs back and that cute man. Why can’t someone be rich, handsome, and strong.”

  She approached the door and opened and was immediately hit by steam in her face, making her sweat briefly. The room was clean, made of marble and a clear pool of hot water with some soaps and sprays. She walked over spraying some in her hands. Making an exaggerated bleh face, Sonnia opened a window and chucked all of them out the window, hearing shatters in the ground across the house.

  After stripping down she walked in the pool of water with no hesitation. It stinged but she smiled as her filth took over and stained the distant water around her. She dipped her head under and popped back up breathing in the air. Suddenly tears fell down her eyes. Briefly she remembered Lyra, her team captain.

  “I remember, we were new to team Reaper. She hated us, always cold threatening to kill us. Yet, she chose to have us share a room with her, not Theorin who tried to make a move on us and offered me to share beds with him. She was like our strict mother…..you killed her Sonnia. Or did we kill her if we all lost the fight, I’m sorry Lyra.”

  Sonnia sniffled to herself and quickly wiped off the tears as she bathed and cleaned off herself and scrubbed until she left a faint smell of soap. She even submerged her old robes in the water not wanting to abandon them for the clothes already set for her.