A Party

Silvan woke to the sound music and laughter. The tavern downstairs was fairly loud and based on the number of drunken voices singing off key, Silvan judged that most of the town was there. Then he wondered how he actually got back to the tavern. He looked around and found Dahlia and Clair sitting in the room. Dahlia seemed much more alive now, with the glassy look in her eyes now seeming more full of life. When the two women noticed him starting to sit up, they came over to his side. Silvan opened his bonds and found that life seemed to radiate from Doll. He would have probed at her control core, but the girls left at home suddenly rushed into his head and began checking him over. He mentally assured them that he was ok, and then shut down the connections.

"Master, I thank you for fixing me," Dahlia said with a formal bow after making sure he was ok. "I apologize for my actions. I was not working properly."

"As I see it, you were working fine. You weren't broke, you were depressed. I... I saw more than I expected when I touched your core with my magic. You were in love with the commander of the Yul Empire, weren't you?"

"Yes Master. A Doll isn't supposed to love, but we have the capacity. The Yul were very good at making Golems. They achieved a sort of artificial soul that is almost unheard of. I was one of the best."

"Has Clair filled you in on why I came here?"

The Doll nodded. "You came to save me. I was made aware on the walk back from town of the danger I posed to the people here and what their solutions were going to be. I also know that you hoped to have me work in your brothel. I gladly accept the position and will serve you faithfully Master."

Silvan reached out and ruffled the Doll's platinum hair and gave her a smile. He was genuinely happy that she was joining the brothel, but more so that she was fixed. He couldn't do anything about her broken heart, but maybe with time she could come to terms with it in her own way. He sat back and was thinking about resting a while longer when the door opened and Pepper walked in. She flung herself on him and gave him a crushing hug for someone of her small size.

"Silvan! I'm glad to see you're awake. You wouldn't believe it, but after you passed out, we carried a bunch of treasure out and showed it to the Mayor. Bufford was a good sport about all of it and agreed to give us a portion of it. Turns out that there was a lot more in there than just that one cavern too! This town is going to be rich and we got a sizable cut! Remember that wagon we talked about? They gave us one and another horse to help pull it so we could cart our share home!"

Silvan was about to answer her, but caught the slightly jealous looks that the Zombie and Doll were now wearing and found himself chuckling.

"Seems like this trip was well worth it then. It will take us longer to get home if we have to take the main road, but that will be fine."

The girls convinced Silvan to get dressed and come down to the party. The people cheered when he made his appearance and he was hailed as a hero. Bufford promised three of the militia to act as guards for the trip home, as well as promising to come by soon to try out the rest of the brothel's services. Andreas was found in a booth nearby and was already well into partying. He slurred something about the scrolls and then passed out. The party lasted well into the night as the small town celebrated their liberation from the Doll that they now called friend, and their sudden surge of wealth. Then morning came, and its golden rays did little to wash away the town's collective hangover. With headache in tow, Silvan and his companions loaded their cart with treasures and scroll and began the journey home.