I clutch my chest in mock offense. “I will have you know, I once convinced an entire tavern that I was a merchant from Delsar, exploring the Nivan Desert for new ways to transport goods in hot climates without magic.”

Fionn roars with laughter, causing a few heads to turn in our direction. “No, you didn’t, you bloody idiot. Everyone knew who you were and just played along because they didn’t know what else to do.” He and Silene trade looks of amusement.

I blink, genuinely shocked by the information, but recover quickly. “Well, no matter, people here don’t know what I look like. It’ll be fine. I’ll challenge a few people to a drinking game or two, buy some tables a few rounds, and everyone will think I’m just a drunk looking to have a good time.”

“You are a drunk looking to have a good time,” Fionn and Silene both say at the same time. I only wink at them, then down my pint of ale in one chug.

I drink my way through the pub, making several friends who give me very little information but who enjoy the rounds of drinks I buy for them. A group of females celebrating the last night before their friend is married buy me drinks, and when I try to leave, they put up a hearty protest. Silene has to rescue me, and we make our way to another pub, this one a little less rowdy but still accommodating. I finally find a man who’s happy to tell me all about the so-called witchcraft the Queen practices, though his description of her activities is wholly limited to sexual acts with willing fae males. Unsurprisingly, he has no reservations or concerns about her witchcraft, and simply hopes she’ll call upon him one day to serve her.

“Creep,” Silene whispers under her breath as she and Fionn drag me away. I protest, but my ale-addled mind can’t fight off their combined strength.

At the third pub, at least half the tables are set up for gambling, so it’s harder to make casual conversation. I want to join in, but Silene pulls me back, reminding me I don’t actually know how to play the game they are calling Skran. Instead, we sit at one of the smaller tables and order a round of drinks. Silene’s eyes watch the game with an intense focus that means she’s scheming.

“Stay here,” she eventually tells us before walking over to one of the tables and joining in on the game. Within half an hour, she’s cleaned out all of the patrons. It’s a testament to how females are regarded in Thayaria that the protests are jovial in nature. In Velmara, I’d be worried for Silene’s safety if she’d bested a group of males out of so much coin.