Page 91 of Wanted: Rogues and Bards

“Exquisite timing. I was preparing a pot of water for tea,” Bel said in greeting.

Malfas jumped in. “I was explaining to my companions that a nice white tea can help flush out the humors and rebalance the different auras while cleansing the mind. It’s all very scientific and I can go into the specifics if you’re interested⁠—”

“Please spare us,” Hapi grumbled, cutting off another of Malfas’s long rambles.

“Tea would be perfect,” Fen stated as he shoved Lirion down on the long bench opposite Mal and Hapi, then he sat down beside him. He’d released Lirion’s hand, but their knees bumped under the table. The small, subtle connection helped keep his edginess and anxiety at bay.

“Lirion is concerned about how we’re going to free his sister once we reach this swanky brothel holding her prisoner,” Fenric said.

“Well, there’s not much we can plan for until we actually see the location where she’s being held and do some scouting,” Hapi reminded him.

Fenric shot the elf a dark glare that sort of said If you can’t say something helpful, keep your fucking mouth shut. “True, but I don’t think Lirion has a strong understanding of our abilities, and since we won’t reach Baza for another two days, we’ve got time to lay all our cards on the table. While we’re not in the rescuing business, per se, we have had to rescue a teammate on more than one occasion.”

Hapi huffed and folded his long, slender arms across his chest, pulling his pristine white shirt tight across his narrow shoulders. “One time you had to rescue me. We’ve had to break Malfas out of dangerous situations at least six times, two of which happened before you joined us, Fen. Bel, was it four times for you?”

“Five,” Belstrom corrected primly as he placed dried tea leaves into five mugs. “The latest event is not included in the count due to the fact I was assisting Malfas with his own precarious predicament.”

“Rain three times,” Fenric added.

“And you?” Lirion nudged, the first genuine smile tugging at his lips.

“None, so far.” Fenric smirked. “But sneaking in and out of a place is my bread and butter. When we’re working as a team, my job is stealth and reconnaissance. If the entire team needs to enter a place, I’ll usually go in first, snoop around, check out the level of security, entrance, exits, and targets. It’s also my job to handle basic thefts and assassinations, though I try to avoid killing where I can.”

A small part of Lirion relaxed at Fenric’s words; not that his stance on killing should have made any kind of difference. Lirion had killed more than once when people had tried to use and abuse him, but it wasn’t his first choice. Maybe he was just relieved Fen took a similar approach.

“Hapi—”

“Provides an endless army of the dead to frighten and overwhelm,” the elf supplied with a brittle smile.

Belstrom snorted from where he stood by the stove. “So long as your spell ingredients and personal reservoir of power prevail.”

Hapi rolled his eyes. “Yes, ‘endless’ is a bit of a misnomer. Raising mindless zombies takes more personal power. Raising morons back to life after they die stupidly takes more ingredients. Regardless, when people suddenly find themselves battling zombie versions of their newly slain comrades, it tends to turn the tide of the fight. I don’t need to raise hundreds of them to win the battle.”

Fen leaned toward Lirion, bumping his shoulder. “Having a necromancer simply walk onto the field is usually enough to turn the tide.”

“Plus, his skelebabies on the ship have been immensely helpful. They are quick to act, don’t complain about the working conditions, and you don’t have to pay them, unlike a human crew, which can be very rowdy and expensive,” Malfas added.

Lirion smiled at Malfas. There was something adorable about the chatterbox warlock, and he definitely wasn’t put off by the necromancer’s dour mood. He’d already witnessed how the elf doted on Maxie. Hapi could pretend to be as crusty as he wanted; they all knew he was gooey soft on the inside for Maxie.

“When it comes to fights, Bel and Rain are our bruisers. They’re good with a variety of weapons and fighting styles, though Rain will claim his only fighting style is dirty.”

“Please do not reduce my contribution to our team to mere brute strength,” Bel chided as he lifted the steaming kettle off the stove and started pouring water into the mugs.

“I wasn’t done yet,” Fen snapped as he accepted a mug. “Belstrom is also well read and very intelligent. He usually serves as our chief strategist for getting into and out of sketchy places. He is our problem solver.”

“Like how he noticed I was attacking the kraken with the wrong spells, even though he has no formal magic training,” Malfas said.

“My contributions were merely simple logic and observation,” Bel murmured as he finished handing out the tea.

Lirion wrapped his hands around the uneven clay mug, letting the warmth seep into him. Not that he was necessarily cold, but the heat and the interesting conversation helped him shed the last of the anxiety chewing on his nerves. All the buzzing and restless energy drained out of him. The rock of the ship and their simple conversation were soothing.

“Of course, my principle contribution is my magic, not to mention the guidance I can provide by translating the will of the constellation,” Malfas explained.

“Except that the information from your god isn’t all that helpful at times,” Hapi complained.

“Right now, Puppy is still in training. We don’t know what his true specialty is going to be. His poisoning could be handy now we’re learning how it works,” Fenric cut in before Hapi and Malfas could start arguing. Fen rested his elbow on the table and placed his chin in his hand as he stared at Lirion pointedly. “That’s our little group. The only thing missing is you.”

“Me?” Lirion said, sitting up straighter.