"Renato, so you can go through the Inner City gate whenever you like." The half-elf leaned against the bedside, a hint of teasing in her eyes. "Then why did you fool me before?"
In their room at Fragrant Words, Renato looked embarrassed by the question and could only offer a strained explanation:
"I just happened to know the guard on duty today. It was a favor, not permission to come and go as I please..."
Once they confirmed that the Hunting Lodge in the woods was not Caspar's hideout, they could have headed back. But Lailas insisted on searching the surrounding area thoroughly so they would not overlook any other clues.
After being occupied by a band of outlaws for so long, the place was unlikely to hold anything useful. Just as Renato had expected, the three found nothing and only ended up covered in mud.
The bard left early to attend to something, while Renato and Lailas did not return to Fried City until evening.
The half-elf had just bathed and lay on the bed with her long, wet hair spread loose. Looking at her slender, pale fingers, Renato found it hard to reconcile her with the ranger who had shot three people dead in an instant that afternoon.
"Lailas, were those explosive arrows of yours a spell? Or special ammunition?"
"They were Flame Arrows, a ranger spell."
Wrapped in nothing but a bath towel, she gazed distractedly into space. Renato grew increasingly puzzled. At first, he had thought she was merely a mercenary with some particular agenda who was skilled with a pair of swords.
But as they investigated the Wolf Gang together, and he learned ranger techniques from her and exchanged pointers and sparred with her in swordsmanship, he gradually realized she was far more than a