Rio swirled his mead around in his mug and stared at it with a frown for a few minutes. Finally, he put it down on the table with a sigh.
“Alright, m’lady. You’ve convinced me.”
I blinked. Everything went fuzzy for a second before refocusing.
“Really? That wasn’t very hard.”
“Well, I suppose you’re right about some things. Our Mister Itzallion has been a monstrously good sport about a lot. And I doubt he’ll be let out anytime soon unless someone comes to help him, and I wouldn’t wish the port’s detention houses on anyone.”
I grinned sluggishly. Despite the half-blood’s hate for the dragon-kin, Levent had proven to him that they were not all crazed murderers.
“What’s the plan? Do you have one?” I tipped my empty mug, watching the lamplight catch in the glass.
“Hmm. Not yet. Let me think.”
The half-blood rested his head on his hand, his eye traveling lazily around the room. For a moment I thought he was going to fall asleep. I nearly did myself. He then picked up his mug and gulped the remaining booze, slamming the mug on the table.
“I’ve got it. Come with me, m’lady. We have some preparing to do before we can free our tragically captured fiend.”
“Wha? Are we going to forge some documents or… Wait. Don’t you mean ‘friend’?” I asked as I gathered my things from around the table.
“Oh yes, of course that’s what I meant.” I did not believe him.
“Here we go!” The half-blood kicked the swinging tavern door open, trotting into the night.
I followed at a much more casual pace, waving to the barkeep as I left. The man just shook his head. I was not offended.
Walking outside, it took me a moment to find Rio in the dark, busy street. Hitching my bag over my shoulder, I dashed up beside him.
“So what are we doing?”
“First we need to find an inn – a base of operations is always important. Plus we don’t want to go on a mission carrying a bunch of sacks. Second step – well. I’ll tell you about ‘second’ later.”
“There is a ‘second step’, I trust?”