Esther brings up some concerns.

Back at camp, the bustle of the market a distant memory, I found myself alone, awaiting the return of the rest of our party. The flickering flames of the campfire threw dancing shadows around the clearing, the peaceful quiet only interrupted by the occasional chirp of a night critter.

The silence was broken by the sound of soft footsteps approaching the camp. Esther emerged from the darkness, her face illuminated by the warm glow of the fire. “Jasper,” she began, her voice hesitant, “I've been thinking about the treasure we found in the dungeon.”

I shifted, looking at her attentively. “What about it?”

“I'm concerned about Oman, Zarah, and Nia,” she admitted. “They're… well, they're not the most financially responsible.”

I couldn't help but chuckle. “That's an understatement.”

She smiled, but her expression quickly turned serious again. “I think it would be a bad idea to give them their shares right now. They'd likely spend it all in one go, leaving us with nothing for emergencies or future needs.”

I pondered her words, rolling a small gold coin between my fingers. She had a point. Oman and Zarah were known for their love of ale and games of chance, while Nia had a weakness for expensive trinkets and fashionable clothes.

“You're right, Esther,” I said finally. “But we can't just keep everything for ourselves. That wouldn't be fair.”

Her eyes met mine, the firelight reflecting in their depths. “No, of course not. But perhaps we could… manage it for them? Give them a little at a time?”

“Sounds like a plan. We give them a few gold coins each, tell them we got lucky and stumbled upon them. That should keep them happy for a while.” I nodded, seeing the wisdom in her suggestion.

Esther smiled, relief evident in her eyes. “I'm glad you agree, Jasper.”

I returned her smile, comforted by the fact that despite all the strange occurrences and feelings swirling around me, at least one thing was clear. Esther was here, as reliable and considerate as ever.

The evening passed slowly, the campfire's light dancing across the clearing as Esther and I shared stories and laughter. The calm was only interrupted by the sound of the wind rustling the leaves of the surrounding trees. Our companions were still nowhere to be seen.

Just as the last rays of the sun disappeared behind the horizon, the distinct sound of jovial laughter echoed through the forest. Moments later, the trio of Zarah, Oman, and Nia stumbled into the camp, their faces flushed and their spirits high.

“Jasper! Esther!” Zarah slurred, waving a half-empty bottle of ale in the air. Her usually composed demeanor was replaced by a wide, drunken grin. Oman followed closely behind, his large frame swaying slightly. Nia, the youngest of the trio, was giggling uncontrollably, her arm linked with Oman's.

“You should've come with us,” Oman said, his words slightly garbled. He was trying to appear more sober than he was, but his red-rimmed eyes gave him away.

“We had so much fun!” Nia piped up, her eyes sparkling. She was quick to recover from the ****, her youthful exuberance still intact.

Esther and I shared a glance before I stood, holding out a few gold coins to each of them. “We didn't idle away while you were having fun,” I said, a hint of amusement in my voice. “We got lucky, found these while you were away.”

Their eyes lit up at the sight of the gold, their drunken merriment momentarily replaced by surprise and then delight. They eagerly took their share, their earlier inebriation momentarily forgotten.

As they settled down, the firelight glinting off their new-found wealth, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Even though Esther and I had kept the majority of the treasure, we had managed to bring some joy to our companions. As I looked at Esther, her eyes meeting mine in the flickering light, I knew we had made the right decision.