Summer scanned the road ahead of her as they had reached another intersection that had two of the four streets sealed off.

  Dai was taking the lead for as a level 16 Hunter. He was by far their best scout and trap finder for their group. He was a member of Atwood Axes and a quiet man, taller then Mari his Dwarf team captain by a few inches; he was still a shorter, skinny man who moved like a panther when he wanted to. His dark brown eyes and his short black hair made him gloom at times.

  Summer was with her sister Faye and Kara their Level 14 Body Guard who said she was a Warrior and passed as one easily. Ishtar was a Level 14 Warrior in the Atwood Axes and it would be hard to tell Kara wasn't one unless you spent all your time with her.

  Summer was in fact the lowest leveled one out of the six of them at Level 9 and the only one who didn't have her class yet. A fact that bothered her a lot but she tried to not let it or at least to not show that it did.

  Dai waved them forward as he went down the new road. Both Mari and Ishtar followed close behind with Summer and Faye behind them with Kara as their rear guard. They had taken what they thought was a small side route off the second plaza they had reached from the 9th Gate.

  That second plaza had bothered Summer the two days they had been here and she didn't know why until Faye pointed out that there had been some kind of puzzle at the center that had been solved long before anyone from the surface had been here. It all added to the mystery of the place.

  They had gone down the direct opposite path of the one they entered in the second plaza today one of the ones that started as a smaller back alleyway and had not been chosen by other groups as the second plaza had six paths to choose from with three being large road ways.

  No one had hit it big like the Wrath of Pele or the Franco’s Team had so far but many had found some caches of treasure or enchanted weapons or items but nothing as amazing as those two teams. Summer felt like they needed to hit it big to get closer to Franco and his team as the Expedition leader seemed very protective of the new Bronze ranked team.

  “How much longer can we go today before we need to head back” Summer asked her sister who was near here as they slowly walked down this wide boulevard.

  “Three hours and we need to head out four more and we would have to hurry back and not have time to change for the funeral.” Faye said.

  It had been eight days since they had gotten here and they were finally going to burn the bodies of Franco’s teammate and that Gold ranked adventurer who had died in the Temple with them. As well as a Silver rank adventurer who had been killed the other day by a giant Blue Worm. Nasty things that liked to stick themselves to high places and fall down on their prey. The adventurer had apparently been killed instantly when the thing fell on him and bit off his head.

  That thought made Summer scan their surroundings again. They had been on this route almost all day passing the narrow alleyway after a few hours and now were be led down large roadways.

  Groups had reported yesterday that the dungeon was getting safer as monsters and creatures were learning to avoid them but still someone had died because they were not paying attention or had just been unlucky.

  They walked for another half an hour making several turns before Dai stopped up ahead and waved for everyone to gather. He waited at another turn, this time a hard left one.

  As Summer got there she rested her arm on Mari shoulder even if she had to raise it to do so. She wasn't that much taller than the Dwarf.

  “What's cooking”

  Dai smiled at her and waved her forward. “Check it out for yourselves but don't go past me.” He was at the inside corner and was looking down the way they would have to go.

  Summer along with Faye moved up next to him and peeked around the corner to see what was ahead. There they saw two long street blocks ahead was another plaza and this one was not empty.

  A greater undead Kimber Bone Giant stood wielding a massive two handed sword with nearly a hundred skeletons that looked to be poorly armed. They had bone clubs mostly but at least a few had real weapons still.

  “This better explains why all the wildlife has gone into hiding” Faye said after they had stepped back.

  Kara had taken one look at the plaza and stepped back weapon in hand.

  “That it does” Mari said with a smile on his face.

  “So this lovely walk can end here with us turning away and getting a small reward for reporting this and the Golds get to claim that enchanted two handed sword or we get to end our day with a nice little fight”

  “Or our deaths if there are more we cant see” Kara added.

  Mari nodded at her words. “All true all true. I’m a Slayer but not crazy. I saw we let Dai do his scouting up top” Mari said as he pointed to the roofs of the buildings above him.

  “And then we see what he says. If that's all there is then I saw we can easily handle it. I’ll take the Giant while Ishtar joins the rest of you in taking out the company of skeletons while Dai provides over watch. What do you say Captain” Mari said looking at Summer who stood next to him.

  She looked over to her sister who just smiled. They were not in fact telepathic but they were close. Summer knew that Faye had just said the equivalent of Hell yes lets kill some monsters but dont rustle up Kara to her.

  “Sounds like a good plan to me but lets see what Dai has to say about what's waiting for us before we make any promises” Summer said and she could feel Kara’s eyes on her trying to will her to say no and head back to the village but where was the fun in that.

  Summer danced back from a wild swing of the bone club as three skeletons went for her. She danced closer to a human skeleton that had a dagger and with her twin short swords easily parried the dagger with her right sword while she beheaded it with her left before she danced back to the fist skeleton and used Double Slash as she slashed the Kimber skeleton across its chest with both her swords that were instantly followed by a pair of phantom slashes that mimicked her attack with the same strength but with Magic piercing affects. The skeleton fell apart just as an arrow took the third skeleton in the head blasting it apart.

  Summer hopped back from the brief fight as she checked over the battlefield. Mari was trading blows with the Bone Giant that was almost three times his size but the Slayer battered aside the swings of the Giants sword with ease but his large axe was taking greater damage then the sword was. Summer kept scanning the fight and saw that half the skeletons were down already with more falling by the second. She saw her sister, twin wands out firing as fast as she could. One wand just a focus for her Free Casting Magic Bolt, the only ranged combat Common spell that her Mage class imparted to her while the second wand was a Stone Dart recharging one.

  Kara and Ishtar were slaying as they drove deeper into the skeletons. Kara with her two handed warhammer smashed a skeleton apart with each blow while Ishtar cut them down with his sword or bashed them with his shield. The fight was going well and Dai was still shooting down into the crowd which meant the two minute fight hadn't drawn anyone else yet.

  “Lets move closer to Mari, It's tougher than he thought or he is playing around with it and put your helmet on” Summer yelled at her sister as she started to cut her way closer to Mari.

  “It's enchanted and I look good” Faye said as a stone dart blew apart the face of a skeleton in Summer’s way.

  Summer was in her full chainmail, metal greaves and bracers adventuring gear with her open faced Sallet helmet unlike her sister in her armored full body tan duster and dark cowboy hat on. They both moved around the battlefield easily.

  They, unlike almost all other adventurers, had chosen the second option when one first gains levels at the age of majority. They had chosen the Way of Majesty which put Enhancements and Skills over Abilities.

  With her Dancer, Brave, Bookkeeper and True Lady Enhancements along with her Skills meant she was as fast and as tough if not as strong, since her Enhancements and Skills hadn't focused on those as any person on a battlefield around her level if not more so, as was Faye. It had been their choice but their parents had encouraged it for years before they hit sixteen. They were convinced that it was one of the contributing factors of their little noble house's growth in power over the last three generations.

  Using her Duel Wielding skill she cleared her way to Mari who was still trading blows with the Greater Undead.

  “Are you still playing with that thing or do you need help, old man?”

  Mari stuck his tongue out at her as he parried another blow and then using Quick Strike took off the leg of the giant undead sending it to the ground.

  “Your no fun that was good practice” Mari said before he dashed in and buried his axe in the giants head. Ephemeral green light drifted from the now destroyed monster.

  Mari then dove into the remaining skeletons while he used a Greater Sweeping Blow to clear an area ten feet around him as he did a spin.

  Summer laughed and then fought her way near him with Faye in tow.

  “Did you just do a spin attack in an actual fight?” She shouted at him as she cut down another skeleton that had landed a hard hit to her left hip.

  “This is a tough fight for a Bronze ranked team but if it was just us we would have still taken it as Silvers and it would be risky for us just because there are only three of us. With you here it's too easy.” He said as he cut down another three skeletons with a wide swing of his enchanted axe.

  He was right and within thirty seconds the fight was over. The large plaza they found themselves in was almost as big as the village where their camp was. It seemed to have been built around a real plaza in Desanigh but that had been clearly added to after the fall as clear signs of old walls and streets could be seen in the ground around the exterior of the original plaza. They kept well clear of the center as it looked to be another long looted puzzle but you never knew. The light hitting this part of the cave city or dungeon whatever way she thought of it was good. Like a cloudy afternoon.

  Their fight hadn't drawn anyone else looking to fish in bloody waters so after a kick check in with their team they began to loot the dead as Dai kept his over watch on the roofs nearby. After a half hour of looting they regrouped.

  “We got to get out of here if we are going to have time before the funeral” Faye said to the group after they had all gathered.

  “She's right we should head out as soon as we can” Kara said as she cleaned her warhammer with a fine cloth.

  Mari looked to his team who both just nodded.

  “Alright, that works for us. The Bone Giant had that sword and a ring which we will claim and you can have anything else we found.” Mari said.

  Ishtar handed over a wrapped bundle to Summer as did Dai.

  “Three daggers and some common gold rings I think” Ishtar said.

  “I found a nice necklace and another dagger. Looks to have a good enchantment” Dai said before he started to head back the way they had come.

  “Not a bad day's work” Faye said to the group.

  “Not at all and the bonus from finding Undead and another plaza should be worth a couple gold each.” Mari added as he slung his axe back on his back. The enchanted back scabbard locking it into place.

  Mari hefted the wrapped two handed sword he had looted off the Bone Giant and followed after Dai.

  Summer put the two bundles into her ruck and swung it back on. She had dropped it off before the fight but the way back should hopefully be quick and dull as they started to jog out of the plaza and back to the surface.

  They stood outside the patched and reinforced walls of the village with all but those placed as guards in the dungeon. Summer pushed her faded black tricorn hat back down as the late afternoon wind blew hard enough around them that she was afraid it might fly off. Faye and Kara stood to either side of her as they watched the large wood pyre which was below them as the ground sloped away from the village, allowing for the crowd to see Master Helmric, Franco’s team as well as a few others standing next to the ten foot tall pyramid of cut wood.

  Like real adventurers everyone had cleaned up their gear and wore it now besides their helmets. Franco and the Kimber on his team were wearing some new dark blue armor that looked to be made out of Chitin or monster leather. It looked good on both of them with Franco’s saber on his hip. The elf in their party had on his beautiful chest piece armor now buffed and shining in the fading light of the setting sun while their team captain in her large red armor kept her face down as Helmric spoke about the people they were saying goodbye to tonight.

  The old Kimber talked of the adventurer's last missions and the great things they did and what their teams remembered them for. After about twenty minutes he asked if anyone wanted to add to it and an older Kimber man talked about Gull and their decades together as teammates. After him a few came up to talk about the adventurer that died the other day but none of Franco’s team came forward to talk about their teammate.

  After another twenty minutes Helmric allowed Franco’s team to light the large pyre where the three bodies lay atop off. Once the fire was lit the wood caught easily and soon a raging bonfire was pushing the closest people back at the intensity of its heat.

  “I invite all of you to the town square in front of the Expedition offices where food and drinks will be as well as news of my conversation with Brother Zif of the Jade Temple the other day” Helmric said before he led the crowd back into the village.

  Faye and Summer waited as they watched Franco for a few minutes. His back was to them now as he and his team stood around the pyre as the fire consumed their teammates body as the sun set behind them. It was only when Kara coughed behind her that Summer looked at her sister and they decided to leave, following the last of the crowd back into the village.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  The large village square-like space in front of the expedition office was full as tables and chairs lined the exterior with beer and spirits flowing freely. As a large fire pit was in the center of the square where a few adventures played instruments and some danced to the fast paced Nahmoi song.

  As daughters of Abigail they didn’t drink but all three of them picked up mugs and pretended to sip at them as they mingled with the crowd. Many from Abigail followed the teachings of the church but many who became adventurers didn't so drinking was much more common among them.

  Faye pointed Mari and his team out and they made their way through the crowd till they reached them. He and his team sat on a half stone wall whose top had been leveled and wood planks had been put on top to make it a tall bench. Upon seeing them Mari patted the open space next to him and Summer gladly took it elbowing the handsome dwarf. Faye stood in from Dai and started talking to the quiet hunter while Kara stood back pretending to enjoy herself.

  “Nice little fight we had” she said as she took a small sip of the beer. It was gross like ever other beer she had tried.

  “Not bad at all, the appraisers said that sword looked good, maybe even Gold rated.”

  She whistled. “Not bad at all for a day of mostly hiking”

  “What did Master Netlor think of us running into the Undead?” She asked.

  Meri finished off his tankard and smacked his lips in delight.

  “Not bad, not bad at all” he said as he put the tankard on the ground next to him.

  Summer smiled as she handed him hers. His eyes went wide in delight.

  “I knew I liked you for a reason” he said as he took the offered tankard.

  “Not for my stunning good looks and easy ways,” she said flatly.

  He almost spit out the beer as he choked on his first sip.

  She smiled at his worried look which made him smile back after he wiped his face clean with a sleeve.

  He gave her an intense look for a second which she just smiled at.

  “Anyway, he said that was the first contact anyone has had with the undead in the city and that was a new plaza we discovered. He seemed worried that they were active and not just waiting there for us. Well I got 12 gold for you when we meet up next.”

  Before Summer could say anything a loud whistle cut through the nose of the crowd.

  Summer looked for its source and found Master Helmric standing on his platform in front of the expedition office.

  “All right I’ll be quick, so shut up and listen. I talked to Brother Zif of the Jade Temple and yes he is a thinking golem, a once living Kimber that had his soul transferred to a giant golem. No I do not know how that was done. He has enough work for us adventurers for a lifetime and is offering ancient artifacts and gold. He has been made aware of the difference between his gold and ours and will account for that so don’t worry about that. So he has real work, some of it is death zone level of challenge but for now he has three Gold rank missions and 4 Silver, all of them are full team missions so team up if you're solo or too small. Gold captains come look at them tonight and Silver tomorrow after breakfast. The missions are ready to go as soon as you are as I expect he will over pay at first until realizes his mistake.”

  He looked around as the crowd watched him. The message was clear, let the golem pay them what he will.

  “Just two more things. An undead company was found and destroyed today in the city. It was active and dealt with but we are waking up everything down there so the dungeon is growing only more dangerous. So group up and stay alert in there, they will try and ambush you. The last thing is caravan is leaving here in 3 days going back to Gemport. Four days after that one is leaving Gemport for here. Let us know if you you want to go back and put your orders in for the new one as soon as you can. I expect this next one to be even larger than the last. We are currently the most interesting thing in the world so hundreds of adventures as well as thousands of support are heading our way. I don’t care what information you sell as long as you don’t threaten this expedition's safety and you follow Guild rules alright? Good, now get drunk and have some fun. For the Fallen” Helmric said the last before raising his tankard and taking a deep swig of his beer as he opened his bill’s wide and dumped half the tankard down his throat.

  Faye soon sat next to her and they talked with Mari and his team until a dwavan song started to play and the Slayer jumped to his feet. He stepped away from the group before he turned and took a deep bow before Summer who felt her checks grow warm at the gesture.

  “May I have this dance Captain Summer” Mari asked.

  She got to her feet and gave him a bow, if not as deep.

  “My pleasure Captain Mari”

  He took her hand and they were off joining at least two dozen other couples dancing to the deep drums and fast paced flute music. Mari started them off in a common quickstep that fit well with most faced paced music and one that Summer as a noble daughter of Abigail knew well but one of the few that a normal adventurer would expect to see world wide.

  She laughed in delight as Mari spun her around as she felt his strength as he danced well. She kept up fine with him even if he had eight levels on her and they both began to sweat and laugh as they raced through the steps and spins of the dance. When the song ended they were both sweating but she beamed at Mari who smiled back at her.

  The next song to follow was a slower Abigail song and she grabbed his arm as he was about to move out of the dancing. She stepped closer to him and put her left arm around his waist.

  “Not so fast” she said, smiling.

  He smiled at her but looked back to their teams. “Your minder doesn't seem to like me very much”

  “My teammate can frown all she wants, she's not my sister let alone my mother. So lets dance” She started to lead but he quickly took over in a simple waltz that went with the music well.

  She was enjoying herself when seconds later she saw through a break in the dancers around her Franco sitting at a table with his team, drink in hand. So she led Mari in their dance till she got a good look at her sister and after locking eyes for just a second with her jested to the other side of the square.

  ***

  Faye couldn't see what Summer was pointing out but it could only mean Franco so she stood and turned to Dai and Kara who stood behind them.

  “Since none of you want to dance I think I saw a handsome prince over there that winked at me” Faye said with an easy smile on her lips as she made quick eye contact with Kara who just nodded slightly. She got the message.

  Without letting anyone interrupt her she walked into the milling crowd towards where Summer had pointed out.

  Faye moved easily as she was just between the dancers who were closest to the firepit and players and the edge where most sat and drank as the night grew darker around them. She made it just a quarter of the way around the square where she saw Franco sitting with Oaken his Kimber teammate. The elf and their team captain were not there. She smiled to herself and thought her sister was on the right path.

  “May I join you” Faye said as she approached the two with a smile on her face as she tipped her cowboy hat to both of them.

  ***

  Franco looked up from his feet. He was half a tankard down and was feeling the beer which hadn't seemed like a lot.

  The girl in the cowboy hat and duster smiled at him. She was short but had a long braid of brown hair and a friendly smile like she had the other night when she was counting all that gold.

  “Please do” Oaken said as he pointed to a chair next to Franco.

  “I’m sorry about your teammate” Faye said as she took off her hat and sat down close to Franco.

  “Thank you” Franco said without thinking. He had not known what to say when people had said such things to him the last few days.

  “Nice armor you got on, you didn't have that the other day and it looks like what Cid and Daggron were wearing” Faye said.

  “It is, we traded it for a weapon we got down there.” Oaken said as he pointed to her outfit.

  “How's that for spell casting” Oaken asked sounding truly interesting.

  Franco was trying to shake himself clear as he still felt a little fogy but he did feel something about this woman and didn't want to make a fool of himself.

  “It looks good on you” Franco cut in. She gave him a quick smile as if she was about to laugh before answering Oaken.

  “Its great, better than any robe and has a lots of pockets” She said as opened one side of it showing them the many pockets of different sizes that lined the inside of the thick dusty. She wore a tight fitting chain mail shirt over a cotton shirt underneath it.

  Franco realized too late that he was staring at her well covered chest and looked away, his cheeks turning red in embarrassment.

  “I see you have a shortsword like myself, how is it in fighting with your blade” Oaken asked trying to draw her attention to him.

  “Its alright for that, I keep the sleeves lose and a little short for that reason as it allows me move better in it”

  “You look good in it,” Franco said, trying to cover his embarrassment. Hadn't he said that already?

  That brought a wide smile to her freckled covered heart shaped face.

  “I’m Faye, Bronze ranked in Seasons End” She said as she stuck out her hand.

  “Oh I’m Franco Copper ranked”

  “Bronze ranked now” Oaken said chiming in.

  “That right, Bronze rank like yourself in the Stone Eaters”

  “Oaken” the Kimber said as he stuck his hand out for her to shake over the makeshift table.

  “A pleasure to meet you. Must be exciting to stay there in the office and see all the happenings” Faye asked as she sat back in her chair.

  “It seems to be something new every day” Franco said as a none answer.

  His head was still fizzy but he was trying to will himself through it. She hat winked at him before, did she like him or was it something else.

  ‘Faye where are you from?” Oaken asked.

  “I’m from Abigail myself and near the city I heard that Franco you are from Abigail but lost your memories somehow from what all the rumors are saying.”

  Franco knew people talked about him but Faye was honestly one of the first to ask him outright about it.

  She saw him hesitate and smiled at him before patting him on the arm. “Oh don't worry about it if you don't want to talk about it. I’m just from there and although it's a big kingdom I thought we could see if we know some of the same people. Adventuring is a small world as the say”

  “Thank you Faye it's just that I’m not sure what wild rumors you have heard but I don't remember anything before waking up in the Infirmary here, not really” he said as she looked away from her and at the dancing couples.

  “Well then don't concern yourself about it as I really just came here to ask if you wanted to dance” Faye said as she stood and offered him her hand.

  Franco’s eyes went wide and then had to stand as Oaken stood and pulled his chair out from under him.

  “I need a drink” Oaken said as he smiled at the two and walked off.

  Franco let go of her hand and stood up straight as he looked at Oaken walk off. Traitor, Franco thought.

  “I would love to” Franco said, turning back and looking at Faye who he stood almost a foot taller than.

  He still had his saber on and she had her gear but she put her cowboy hat back on and took his arm as they walked into dancers who were dancing to a fast waltz.

  Franco danced with her for several dances, all of them to fast moving for any talk but he surprised himself by quickly learning or more likely remembering the steps. She felt good in his arms and her bright smile made her light brown eyes sparkle in the fire light as the stars came out.

  After a few dances she pulled him away to catch their breath and to introduce him to her twin sister and team.

  “This is my little sister Summer my team captain” Faye said as she patted her twin.

  “I was born a minute later at most and I’m the fun one” Summer said as she took Franco's outstretched hand in greeting a wide smile on her face as a fit looking dwarf stood next to her.

  “This is our heavy hitter Kara who grew up with us in Abigail” Faye said, ignoring her sister and introducing the other woman to him.

  Franco had to look away because Kara was his height and looked him in the eyes. She was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. Tall athletic with light red hair that framed such an oval face as to make it look like a painting. She was so shapely that her steel breastplate couldn't hide her shape well and the tight jeans only added to her obvious gifts.

  Franco needed to quickly move on from the moment because he was afraid he let his mouth fall open at seeing her. “Its a pleasure to meet you both. Faye said you are from Abigail like I am said to be. I’m sure you might have heard a rumor or two about a forgetful adventurer and that's me. I might be from Abigail but I honestly do not remember”

  “Really, well we did hear some rumors but didn't you have a team before. What happened to them” Summer said as she kept a friendly smile on her face.

  Franco felt a pang of guilt run through him. His old team. The ones that died and he had been told their names but had quickly forgot them again. He felt the guilt and shame for not remembering them and lowered his head as his face grew flush.

  “Sadly they died, all but one who left for Gemport after the incident” Franco said softly. Hopefully they would move on from the subject.

  “Oh Franco we are so sorry” both Summer and Faye said at the same time.

  “That's a tragedy” Faye said patting him on the arm.

  “It really is I’m so sorry to hear what you have been through. Tell me their names and I’ll make sure our parents put their names onto the prayer rolls of the Temples.” Summer said real emotion in her voice.

  Her words felt like someone twisting a knife in his heart and suddenly he had that flashed of that girl on his bed smiling as he shaved and a deep feeling of happiness and then sadness washed over him. He didn't know her name. He was sure he had been told it since he woke up here but he didn't know it and he was afraid what that sad about him

  He just shook his head in shame “I don't know. I don't remember. Master Helmric told me afterwards but I don't remember anything” He said as he pulled away from the twins and walked away as fast as he could. Back to this bed where he could hide full of anger and shame. Anger that they asked but mostly anger at himself for not caring.

  ***

  Summer watched as Franco almost ran away from them. She looked to Kara and Faye and all three of them stepped away from where Mari and his team had watched the show.

  “He really doesn't remember,” Kara said.

  “Looks that way and looks like he is still the same man. Good enough to feel shame for that” Faye said as she took her hat off in one hand and whipped tears from her eyes.

  “It's hard to see him like this,” Summer said.

  “I know but poor Eloise. She was madly in love with him and now he doesn't even remember her name? What sick joke is this” Faye said.

  “He can't return home like this,” Kara said with frustration on her face.

  Summer and Faye both looked at her and then almost jumped out of their own skins when Sir Allen stepped into their little circle.

  He put a hand on each of their shoulders and made eye contact with both of them until they got their breathing under control.

  “At least you didn't scream” He said with a faint smile on his lips.

  He schooled his face back to that of a board adventurer in a second and looked at Kara. “Why is that Kara”

  Summer wondered what the man had heard and she was for sure going to put itching powder in one of his shoes next time she had the chance. His eyes flashed to hers as she thought that and it screamed, try that. How did the man do that?

  “Franco can't meet any of her family members like this. There would be blood in the streets of the capital if House Anderson saw him like this. Eloise had to beg her father to get involved to convince Franco to marry her. What they gave up to House Young already and what they promised to give upon the marriage was embarrassing and everyone knew it, even House Young but Eloise’s father loved her so much that he was somehow able to persuade House Young to force the engagement on Franco who we know liked her but did not want the marriage. Now she is dead and he lives and doesn't remember her name. That he shows emotion only at the fact that he does not remember her and not at her death. Let alone that he seems happier now then I remember him being months ago”

  “Do you agree with this?” Sir Allen asked them both.

  Summer and Faye both nodded at once.

  “Eloise was so madly in love with him for years it went from cute to worrisome long ago as Franco had made it clear that they were only friends for years but that all changed after this last Christmas break. They came back engaged with the wedding date set for next summer and their trip to Gemport during this summer sabbatical set and paid for by House Anderson” Faye said.

  “I must go but you were right to test him like this. Apologize to him tomorrow if you can and become his friends again over time. Do not tell him the truth until you are closer with him. This situation is as bad as they feared and he will need some real friends soon" Sir Allen said before giving them a brief nod and stepping away.

  “Fuck” Summer said softly.

  Kara lightly smacked the back of her head.

  “Ouch, I’m an adventurer Kara, this is how we talk”

  “Don’t make any mistakes, Summer. What happens here will be known and more than your mouth or wants are at play” Kara said giving her a knowing look.

  Summer looked back at Mari who was talking to his team and felt her eyes on him after a second as he turned and smiled at her. She smiled back and then turned her head to look at her sister.

  They exchanged looks in which Faye offered to play defense vs Kara and Summer explained she really wanted to hook up with Mari but not tonight at least. All within seconds of looking at each other. They really could hold entire conversations like this.

  “Well lets get back to mingling and at least acting somewhat like adventures” Summer said.

  “As long as the act doesn't go too far,” Kara said quietly behind her.