With the quest officially over, Natalie returo The Kraken's Hearth and took some mueeded rexation time. pared to previous fights, she had e out of bat a mess. Exploding a goblin's head with an empowered [Smite] wasn't the est way to finish an oppo. She took a long, hot shower, scrubbing herself until she was squeaky . Which ainful process, sidering the bruises starting to blossom across her—physical proof of her aches and pains, which even Liz hadn't been able to prevent.

  One of the Baron's meched them a few hours ter when it was time to head bato town. Iarenhelm's city ter, the popution was abuzz with activity. As the Baron had said, it was no major holiday festival or anything like that, but most towns and cities were happy to throw a celebratiohe opportunity called for it.

  The streets were lined with colorful banners and streamers hastily struween buildings and mp posts. The st of roastis and fresh-baked goods wafted through the air, mingling with the chatter of townsfolk. Children darted between adults' legs, ughing and giggling.

  Natalie aeammates came, as suggested by the Baron, ie uniforms. As much as this was a celebration for a threat solved—and, Natalie knew, a rather minor threat, at least as far as the general popution cared—they were here as emissaries for Teheir stily cd armor wouldn't fit the atmosphere.

  Eyes followed them as they walked through the street, passing by staher already assembled or well on their way. A few intrepid souls greeted them and said their thanks, though for the most part, they progressed unimpeded. The Baron was in the ter of the town square, uhe shade of a vas opy. He boisterously greeted them, then enced them to enjoy themselves—to explore, eat, py some games, and so on.

  So that was what they did.

  They wandered around, taking in the sights and sounds of the impromptu celebration. The aroma of sizzlis drew them to a food stall where they had their first meal since m—which all five of them promptly devoured. Life-or-death bat had a way of f a ravenous appetite. The vendor insisted they didn't pay, despite multiple attempts to hand over s. They had hardly saved the city from destru, but it seemed they were being hailed as minor heroes heless.

  Aina found them shortly after their meal. She made a tentative request to apany them, and though Jordan gave Natalie a signifit look, they would hardly turn the woman down.

  They went and pyed some games. Sihere hadn't been much prep time to set up anythiravagant, they were of the simple sort: horseshoes tosses and activities like that, some at stalls and some out in the open.

  One game in particur caught Natalie's fancy: tug-of-war. She'd hesitated oher to join in, worried it might be a faux pas to throw around her css-enharength. But Aina's encement vinced her, and the daughter of the Baron would know what was sidered 'socially acceptable.'

  Natalie found quickly that the townsfolk ehe petition as much as she did. After the first burly man was hauled around the pying field, a sed joihen a third, before she stalled out at four red-faced and puffing growhe rope straining bad forth as they tugged iher dire. She won, but it was an eked-out victory. [Juggernaut]'s upgrade had made the difference.

  Then a new challenger approached, an old man with a crooked bad veiny forearms, and by the hoots and hollers and looks of glee on the defeated men, he was a known quantity in town. She doubly knew something when he rolled up his sleeves, took one end of the rope, and the other men walked away, happy to let him challealie alone.

  Sure enough, Natalie didn't stand a ce. The man pulled like an ox—or several of them in a li was her own turn to swallow her ego as she was solidly flouhe man was some kind of higher level [Laborer] css, obviously, with a potent skill for hauling heavy weights. Old and crooked-backed or not, she hadn't stood a ce, hehe quered townsfolk's delight when he'd walked up.

  She accepted her defeat as graciously as she could, though her cheeks were red wheurned; being dragged around by a man in his sixties or seventies was a bit embarrassing, css or not—illogical as she khat was. Her already sore muscles protested the activity, but it'd been fun.

  From there, they tinued, greeting townsfolk, mingliing sweet baked goods from various stands, and indulging in their st day in town. Natalie regaled Aina with a reting of the climactic battle, omitting the secretive aspects. The blonde hung on her words, which she had to admit she rather enjoyed.

  The group split up bit by bit, with each of their party ied in different parts of the celebration, and even Jordan parted with o scrutinizing gaze for her and Aina, a warning look in her eyes. Natalie returned an offended look of her own; it wasn't like she would be pinning down the Baron's daughter in the middle of the town square to ravish her. Nothing would happen.

  Unfortunately, as soon as it was the two of them left, Aina grew fidgety.

  "So," the Baron's daughter said. "It's a little busy here. There's a park just a few minutes away. Do you want to make ourselves scarce? It's very loud, don't you think?" she hastily added. "We'll be ba time for my father's speech."

  Natalie hesitated.

  Aina wasn't wrong; things were busy iower. And it would just be the park, another public space—just, slightly less public. It wasn't like anything would be happening there, either. They would be enjoying each other's pany. Even Jordan and Sofia had said it was fio flirt, so long as she kept it to that.

  And she would. She'd made a promise, hadn't she?

  "Sure," Natalie said. "Lead the way."