Daryl exhaled, resting one hand on the counter. "Alright, miss maid—do you at least know where they went? Anywhere?"
The maid crossed her arms. "First off, my name's Sunny, not 'miss maid.' Second…" she shrugged, flicking a strand of blond hair over her shoulder, "I have no idea where the Duke and his brat went."
David blinked. "Sunny, huh? Fitting name. You light up the whole inn."
Sunny gave him a dead stare. "And you darken it."
Daryl pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please ignore him. Do you know if they at least took the Horizon Train?"
Sunny tapped her chin. "Hmm… today's Tuesday, right? No, they couldn't have. The Horizon Train doesn't come again until next week."
Daryl's eyes widened. "Next week?! Why the delay?"
Sunny leaned forward on the counter, her voice lowering. "Monsters, bandits, goblins—something's been attacking the train routes. Just this morning, we got reports of goblins using fire arrows. Whole caravans went up in flames."
"Goblins?" Daryl repeated, stunned. "Using fire? That's impossible. They're practically brain-dead. They can barely tell rocks from food—how could they possibly figure out fire?"
David froze, his expression tightening as a single bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"Oh… oh no…" he muttered under his breath, remembering the cheerful, stupid faces of the goblins dancing around the fire he'd made for them.
Daryl noticed his sudden silence. "What's wrong with you?"
David quickly forced a grin. "Eh? Nothing! Just—uh—crazy world, huh? Goblins getting smart. What's next, orcs with college degrees?" He laughed nervously. "Anyway, doesn't really matter, right? We can just, uh… wait out the week here!"
Daryl frowned. "And do what exactly?"
Before David could answer, Sunny leaned in with a smile that wasn't quite friendly. "Well, you could always work. Lots of folks in town need help—fence repairs, monster cleanup, that sort of thing. Pay's decent if you're not lazy."
David's face lit up. "Work, huh? You hear that, Daryl? We can make some money, buddy!" He slung an arm around Daryl's shoulder with an exaggerated grin.
Daryl sighed, peeling the arm off like it was contagious. "Fine. But before I'm dragged into any ridiculous schemes, I'm getting a drink." He turned back toward the counter. "Miss Sunny, I'll have a beer."
"Coming right up," she said, grabbing a mug. As she poured, she leaned closer to whisper, "Also, your friend—" she tilted her head toward David—"still owes for the damage from last time."
Daryl froze mid-sigh. "How much?"
"Fifty coins," she said sweetly, sliding him the beer.
Daryl rubbed his face with both hands. "Alright, alright. I'll make sure he pays."
Sunny smirked. "Uh-huh. You two make such a cute pair."
"He's not my friend," Daryl said flatly, taking a sip.
Daryl set his mug down and leaned slightly forward. "Anyway, Sunny—did the Duke take the train?"
She sighed, wiping the counter lazily. "No. Like I told you, the Horizon Train wasn't even here Monday. It's been delayed for a whole week."
Daryl frowned, tapping his fingers against the counter. "So… if not the train, then what? Did he leave by carriage? Horse? Anything?"
Sunny lifted an eyebrow. "Do I look like his travel advisor? I'm just the maid here. I clean tables, serve drinks, and tell idiots not to bleed on the floor."
Daryl gave a curt nod, bowing slightly out of courtesy. "My apologies. I didn't mean to trouble you."
Sunny smiled faintly. "Oh, you're fine. It's your loud friend over there that worries me."
Daryl turned his head—David was no longer beside him.
Across the room, David stood near a group of drunken miners playing cards. He leaned on their table, his grin wide and full of mischief.
"So let me get this straight," David said, pointing at the pile of coins in the center. "You're betting that much on a single hand? Man, I wish I had your kind of confidence. In fact, I can help you guys win."
The miners looked up, confused.
One squinted at him. "Help us? How?"
David clapped his hands together. "Simple! I'm… a professional luck enhancer. Trained by monks."
The table went silent.
"A what now?" another miner said.
"Luck enhancer!" David repeated proudly, puffing out his chest. "I bless your cards with divine fortune—for a small fee of course. Just ten coins, and boom, triple your luck!"
Daryl groaned, rubbing his temples. "Oh gods, no…"
Sunny covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. "You weren't kidding—he's a menace."
One miner leaned back suspiciously. "You serious, pal? Sounds like a scam."
David waved his hand. "Scam? Me? Nah, nah, scams are for the unholy. I'm simply here to share blessings." He pointed dramatically toward the ceiling. "Right, God?"
A mug shattered somewhere behind the counter.
Daryl got up, walking toward him like a tired babysitter. "Mr. Hawk…"
David quickly turned with his best innocent smile. "Oh hey, Daryl! Just networking, you know—bonding with the locals!"
The miners whispered among themselves, some chuckling.
Sunny called over, "If he gets punched, I'm not cleaning it up."
Daryl exhaled through his nose. "Of course not." He grabbed David by the shoulder and muttered under his breath, "Stop trying to scam people before you get stabbed."
David whispered back, "I wasn't scamming—I was offering a service!"
Daryl shot him a glare. "Next time you 'offer a service,' make sure it doesn't involve divine luck."
David shrugged. "Fine, fine… tough crowd." He turned back toward the bar and sighed dramatically. "Man, no one appreciates honest business anymore."
Daryl rolled his eyes and returned to his drink.
The inn's noise carried on—singing, shouting, mugs clinking—and in the midst of it, David's mischievous grin returned. His eyes scanned the crowd again, looking for his next "customer."