"So what do we have here, boys?" asked a man with hawkish eyes. His face was long and narrow, handsome and predatory.

His boys were in fact two tall barrel-chested Switangian men, a thin man with hints of goblin ancestry and a strikingly handsome Bawikyan woman. She leaned forward and stared at Jieun.

"I've never seen her before, Taeyang. Perhaps she's a part of The Guild's new crop." The woman's golden hues were the source of Switang's current bronzing craze. Her features were hard, just shy of manly. She had a thin club tucked into her belt.

"Is Rocio correct, little one? Are you with The Guild or a freelancer?" He reached across the table and extended a finger to raise Jieun's chin.

She jerked away and stood.

"She doesn't look little at all, boss," one of the big men chuckled. "Nope, not little at all." The other big man nodded in yellow-toothed agreement.

Jieun proved two inches taller than Taeyang. He stared into her eyes with a mix of curiosity and challenge.

"You're taller than I thought. I like that." He licked his lips.

"There's something strange about her," hissed the half-goblin. One of his overly large ears twitched.

"There's something strange about you, Candy."

The gang all laughed.

Jieun glanced around, noticing that most of the patrons watched the interaction, though they pretended not to notice. The serving girl spoke hurriedly to the barkeep, and the entertainment watched with intent eyes without breaking his performance. Jieun couldn't find Chaleek.

"Candle-Eyes calls you strange," Taeyang said, coming around the table. "Are you strange, girl?"

Jieun's mind raced. The gang radiated violence and she couldn't draw her knife or call on The Winds without blowing her cover and drawing unwanted attention. She wasn't sure what they wanted, but it was highly likely she wouldn't want to give it. As if sensing her thoughts, Taeyang closed the last bit of distance between them.

"How about a kiss, strange one?" He puckered his lips, leaned forward then froze.

"How about you step away from her, dung cur." Chaleek's sword pressed against Taeyang's throat, the warrior's eyes cold.

"Where'd the nugget come from?" one of the big men asked dumbly.

Candle-Eyes unslung a shortbow, stepping back as he pulled an arrow from a thigh quiver. Rocio drew her club and took a few steps forward, stopping when Taeyang grunted. If Chaleek added even a little more pressure, he'd draw blood.

"Calm down, friend. There's no need for violence here. This conversation is between me and the lady." Despite the blade at his throat, Taeyang sounded calm, even amused.

"You're invading her space." Chaleek guided the man back with the flat of his sword. Placing himself in front of Jieun, he pointed his weapon at Taeyang's chest. "Anything you have to say to her, you can say to me."

Taeyang grinned though his expression seemed forced. The big men joined his side, hands on massive war clubs. Rocio stayed at Chaleek and Jieun's back, forcing them to split their attention. Jieun focused on the East Wind, realizing she might be forced to act in order to save their lives. Candle-Eyes kept his distance, ready to fire at the slightest provocation. Their leader rubbed his throat.

"I meant no disrespect. If the woman is yours, you need only say so."

"She is not property and doesn't deserve to be pawed at like some pleasure girl."

Taeyang raised an eyebrow. "Not a whore then? Even better. Professionals bore me."

Rocio scoffed at that, and the man flipped her off.

"Hey, take that violence outside," shouted the innkeeper, his voice quivering "Don't make me call The Guild."

"Shut your mouth, old man. All I want is a kiss from my new friend."

"You're going to be disappointed," Chaleek growled.

Taeyang smirked and glanced at his gang. Chuckling, they moved in. Words aside, Jieun knew things were no longer about a kiss and had shifted to matters of pride. The way the man eyed Chaleek as he rubbed his throat told the true story. Without breaking her connection to The East, Jieun pondered what The Prince would do in her stead. The answer forced her to stifle a chuckle. Prince Jun Kkachi would mimic Princess Jun Durumi, the shrewdest diplomat he knew.

Taeyang's smirk faded and his hand went to the hilt of the curved sword on his hip. Considering the blade, his demeanor, and the brutes who called him boss, the man was likely a bushi from Lord Jun's elite soldiers or he had been at some point. Formidable and deadly. He stepped forward and Jieun moved past Chaleek to meet the warrior.

"Fine."

"What?" the two warriors said in unison.

"One kiss. Then you'll harass no one else this night."

"Sister, no–" Chaleek began, but her hand on his shoulder silenced him.

Taeyang glanced at Rocio who shrugged, then Candle-Eyes who lowered his bow slightly.

"Very well... but I get to choose where I kiss!"

Jieun blushed.

"Out of the question," she managed. "A kiss on the lips and nothing more."

"You can't fault a man for trying. Deal."

Before Jieun could speak another word, Taeyang grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a gentle embrace. Dipping her low, he pressed his lips to hers. Deep and warm, the kiss was full of heat and tenderness. Jieun squeaked when she felt the tip of his tongue probed her own.

What am I doing? What am I doing?

Surprisingly, he didn't grope her or take liberties with her body, which might have ended terribly. Instead he explored her mouth for a long moment, brought her up, and stepped away.

Rocio and a few observers clapped and, grinning, Taeyang took a bow. Jieun touched her moist lips.

Chaleek grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the barkeep. Jieun only fought him long enough to grab what was left of her soju.

"You have quite the woman there, nugget. Take care of her."

The gang laughed then retreated to a large table near the entrance. The entertainer filled the sudden silence with his song. The serving girls hurried to deliver their drinks and swiftly The Warm Feather Inn was back to business as usual.

"I apologize for this, madam," the barkeep said, bowing twice. "My establishment is usually a safe place, but on occasion we are visited by adventurers between jobs." He shook his head. "Their kind can be unpredictable, but they always pay in gold."

The man's embarrassment looked sincere.

"The keys to our room," Chaleek demanded. His stoicism had been replaced with warm anger.

"Of course. Here is your key. The room number is here."

"Thank you." Chaleek yanked Jiuen to the stairs.

She looked back at Taeyang's table, still feeling the sensation of his lips on her own. He and Rocio waved playfully. Candle-Eyes' suspicious gaze followed their ascent.

They're room proved small, by castle standards, with a single bed and a pair of windows looking out onto the street. Chaleek slammed the door, crossed the room and closed the curtains.

"Chaleek, are you—"

"How could you let that cur touch you?"

"I did what—"

"Are you what they say, a pleasure girl of The Guild of Hearts?"

"No, I—"

"Then why—"

"Let me speak!"

In that instant, she sounded like Lady Jun Minji with that same command she wielded over the castle staff and rarely Lord Jun himself. Chaleek fell silent, a bit of his ire draining away. Jieun forged ahead before he could recover.

"Those were not pitiful bandits on the road. At least three of them were members of Lord Jun's elite guard. I have no doubt of your capabilities, but I did not wish to see your life put to the test for a kiss."

"It was about more than a kiss."

"I know, but my discomfort is worth far less to me than your blood."

"I—"

"I couldn't bear... not for something so trivial."

He studied her.

"Most women don't consider a violation of their personal space trivial."

Jieun sat on the edge of the lumpy bed. "I did what I thought was best."

They sat in silence for a while, both lost in their own thoughts. This Taeyang was the first man she'd ever kissed, but he was the second to give her glittermoths in her stomach. It was exhilarating and all the more embarrassing because of it. The feel of his lips was as interesting as the sensation of Chaleek's hand on her waist. It took her longer than she would've liked to admit to clear her mind.

She retired to the washroom and used the privacy to attend to bodily functions and clean places that desperately needed her attention. The Warm Feather provided soap with a strong floral scent that was too cloying for her taste, but she scrubbed vigorously to be rid of a day's worth of sweat and grime. She never thought she could crave The Prince's massive tub so dearly, probably because she'd never expected to be without it.

Once clean, she looked down at herself and wondered whether Prince Kkachi could have made the trip. He wouldn't have made it alone and even if he had, the moment he was recognized by the royal guard, they would have hauled him back to Lord Jun. No. Kkachi would have to remain in hiding while Jieun found a way for them both. Getting dressed in her dirty tunic, she knew she'd need to find clothes on the morrow.

When she returned to the room, Chaleek grunted something about keeping the door locked and left. Not quite understanding why he was so angry, she went over to the windows and peered out at the street. The hour was late, but this part of town was just coming alive. Before her eyes was a world of alien colors and sounds. All manner of pleasures were for sale in every shape and color Jieun could imagine. The Heart District captivated even as it terrified. She watched the spectacle for some time.

A while later, Chaleek knocked at the door, slipping in quickly when Jieun answered. He smelled of the washroom soap and clutched his tunic closed as if his chest were cold. Jieun locked the door and studied the peculiar warrior. The men of Ngun-Mwar were some of the tallest and most impressive men in the realm with skin ranging from the color of charcoal to that of a honey bronze. Chaleek had the skin color and magnificent wooly hair, but lacked the size. He was short, but proud and competent. He wasn't what Jieun envisioned when she thought of Ngun-Mwari warrior poets, but their story so far was the stuff of popular epics.

He collected extra bedding that must have been provided by one of the inn's staff while Jieun was away and started to prepare a bed on the floor.

"What are you doing?" Jieun asked.

"It is late and I am tired from our journey."

Jieun nodded and climbed into the lumpy bed. Little more than a woolen sack stuffed with straw, it was infinitely more comfortable than the spartan bed of the shrine monks, but a far cry from The Prince's own lavish bed. Strangely, he wouldn't have thought his bed lavish before Jieun's adventure. Chaleek blew out the two candle's illuminating the room and laid down on the floor. Jiuen watched his silhouette for a time before dozing off.

"Chaleek?"

"Yes, sister."

"I know it isn't cold like the abandoned temple, but I would feel safer if you were up here with me."

"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer your new friend Taeyang?"

She didn't respond and the dark room lapsed into silence. After a couple minutes, she heard rustling. She slid over and he climbed in beside her. The warmth of his body was welcomed.

"Don't think less of me," she whispered.

"I do not think less of you, I think less of men who believe they can do whatever they wish to a woman because she can not defend herself." He sighed. "Such things do not happen back in my land. If ever a woman finds herself in a situation where she can not defend herself, it is beholden to a man's honor to defend her himself."

"I wanted to defend you for a change." She reached back into the dark and took his hand. Giving it a gentle squeeze, she placed it on her side.

He squeezed her hand in return and she noticed with a shock that his pinky was as hard as stone. She started to say something, started to question him, but the sound of his light snoring held her tongue.

Sorcery was a rare gift, granted to those families who'd pledged their lives and bloodlines to The High Throne. The nobility of the realm. Only those of royal blood could wield magic. Only those of royal blood were subject to the curse of the stone. Chaleek was a noble.