meet the parent.

The evening meal was the best part of the day for Alex thus far. It wasn't an exceptional meal, but the rest of the day had set the bar of expectations pretty low. By contrast a meal of acceptable quality was a pretty welcome turn of events, a bit of the spicy side, but desert food often was.

Raven ruminated over the meal on the difference between the desert city food and the nomad flavors. And while he had an obvious preference he wasn't unappreciative of what the quality of the meal either, just a touch more critical than Alex was.

There was no wine to accompany the meal, since the sell of wine was illegal within the city walls and the consumption of wine was reserved for religious rites. Drinking water was also quite expensive, but it was the only thing available to be bought, the practice of gouging on the water was more of a bother to Raven than the quality of the food. No doubt for the citizens of Tut 'Tel this was just how the world worked, but to seasoned travelers like Alex and Raven it ended up as a sore subject that neither talked about as they rationed their consumption of cups.

The service was also cordial, but obviously uninterested in attempts at being over familiar, the serving girl was probably a daughter of the owner, or some other close relative. Alex had nothing negative to say, and Raven had very little positive to say about her person.

Neither Alex or Raven felt like remaining at Shadow Scryer after they were done eating. On the street Raven started pulling Alex along behind him, "Never stay anywhere here other than my mother's place. Not the highest class establishment, nor the most reputable. But it's the cleanest place in town and that matters, especially here in Tut 'Tel."

"How clean are we talking?"

"It's a brothel in a city where it's technically illegal, that's how clean it is."

Alex raised an eyebrow, "Technically?"

"Technically. There are no laws about it on the books, but remember that Pyrotheo bans families and all acts of pleasure. Sex is enjoyable so it falls under the list of banned activities if you talk to the right priests."

"So does that make it technically illegal or not?"

"Moral purity is the law, so technically illegal depending on which cast of clerics you belong too."

"Does your mother have some sort of patron protecting her?"

"Nope. She's been in the business for most of her life, long before I was born, and she's learned how to ply the trade without stepping on any toes. I'm sure there are plenty of clerics who'd love to see her out of business, but pretty much all of them have also used her services at least once in their lives and she keeps a very detailed set of books."

"****?"

Raven made a gesture with his fingers in the air, " 'Insurance.' "

Alex was shuffled into another building that lacked windows in any capacity and took up a noticeable section of the wall, but the entry lobby was very well lit even if a little cramped.

A withered woman covered in enough paint to make her age impossible to determine narrowed her eyes at Alex and Raven as they came in through the door. Eyes from which nothing could be hid, nor did these eyes care about who stood before her. The passively critical assessment and dismissal was enough to chill even Alex to the core, and those same eyes carved a path over the form of Raven too, although he seemed less affected by the concluding dismissal.

"So this is the friend you insisted on eating with over your own mother."

"Mother," Raven began, but was not permitted to finish.

"I know who he is Raven. He's been here before."

That took Raven by surprise.

Alex bowed politely, "I apologize for not remembering."

"I'd be surprised if you did. You and that pretty Priestess who was always on your arm." She sucked in like she was going to spit, but she didn't. "Almost eleven years ago you were celebrating. You two made quite the ruckus too. You paid well in the morning and then you were never seen again."

Raven and Alex shared a glance.

(Was that when you found the location of my prison master?)

(Must have been.)

(Sounds like quite the night.)

(I don't remember it.)

(Drunk?)

(Not in this town. But I really don't remember it.) Alex took a slow breath, "I'm sorry ma'am. I don't remember that night."

"I'm not surprised," she sucked her breath in again through tight teeth, "I saw it in your eyes then, the only thing you saw was your own glory. The glory of Alexander Lionheart was too bright for even you to see the people around you anymore."

Alex scratched his neck a little uncomfortably, "That sounds like me."

"You look like hell now. It's a better look."

"Thanks...I think."

"How's the pretty thing?"

"Dead."

The woman chewed on her thought, "Pity." was all she said in the end before changing the subject, "How many nights are you staying?"

"Just tonight."

"What flavor of bedfellow do you want?"

"MOTHER!"

"Hush boy! I make an exception for you because your my son, but I run a business here and the girls need to work too."

Alex rested a hand on Raven's shoulder, "It's fine Raven." Then to his mother, "Do you have anyone completely new, someone not fully prepared for the profession?"

"You want to break in a virgin?"

Alex shrugged, "I'm tired and I have a lot on my mind. A girl unsure of her skills is more suitable to my temperament tonight."

"If you cannot get it up and traumatize my girl I'll cut your trophy off myself and hang it on the wall by my bed. Understood?"

"Yes Ma'am. I'll be a perfect gentleman."

Eyes narrowed, "See that you are." She fetched a key from the wall, "You're in room 24, Raven will show you the way, and he'll be staying in his own room."

"Of course mother."

"Yes Ma'am. Thank you for your hospitality."

"Thank me in the morning after I decide how nice to be to your ass on the way out the door."

Raven pulled Alex off quickly. A safe distance down the hall Raven whispered, "You have a **** wish or something?"

Alex blinked in perplexion, "How so?"

"Some of the girls training her are children, if you had asked for one of them mother would have killed you in the lobby."

"Oh...she's not going to send me a child is she?"

Raven threw his hands into the air, "I hope not. But that's the kind of trap my mother would lay for a former hero." Raven put a fist to Alex's chest, "Be VERY careful tonight."

Alex nodded, "I will be very VERY careful."

Raven motioned to a door, "Hopefully I'll see you in the morning. May the gods spare you tonight."

Alex slid into the room, dropped his hat and began to degear his armor.

Demon hopped up onto the bed, "This is going to be fun to watch."

Alex shot her a dirty look, "Maybe for you."

"You have a cold sweat, I can practically taste it from here."

"Go to hell Demon, if you get me in trouble with the madam I will stab you with a spoon until dead...again...and again. Understood?"

Demon said nothing, but lounged out on the bed like some sort of goddess incarnate and began to preen her fur.

A few minutes later there came a soft knock at the door.

(I believe that's for you, Master.)

(**** by spoon!) Alex shot back, but he opened the door anyway.