Congratulations, you played yourself.

The bloody and burned look I came in with, and the sounds we made that night, must have left the poor in keeper quite flustered.

Even exhausted I was not going to pass up on my lovers getting to use me.

Thank God they had the energy to make up for my lack of it.

It was when we got back and reported the mission success we were dragged into the Marshal's office.

"Here's the drink you said I owe you, you'll need it for this."

"What is it now?"

"Complaints and ones I can't ignore Anymore. "

"Oh come on, we've got to have the best mission rate, We've been kicking ass"

"You mean besides your attitude and the Bloddy mess you make when someone sets either of you off? "

" Well yeah besides that, that's just cost of doing business. "

" Kay. " At my one word she quits the back and forth. "What are the complaints Marshal , the ones you can't ignore."

"That you three need to be ranked higher, not because you actually should be, but because of egos and frankly just the fact we need fresh blood on the high tier missions."

"I see, I'm assuming you've been protecting us from being thrown to the wolves, thank you. What changed."

"On your end, this last mission removed several of my excuses, beating him one on one like that proved you can handle it-"

"Damn those guys must have been real bitches if the complaint made it back before we did. Sure Mir whipped the floor with him, that doesn't make him special. "

"Whoa, let's not get too hasty here, I only won cause that guy was easier to play than fresh inductees."

"Be that as if may, it and the fact you each possess high quality artifacts, really makes it hard to justify, add to that the posturing from the temples, calling back their worshipers incase of war, and our short staffing issues are getting worse not better.

As you may know, when a section is reclaimed and we are tasked to clear the area, it takes a long time for enough adventurers to make it out here, the fire brands make it here first, then those like you, then the stragglers that finish out mission in the old frontier until it is considered civilized enough for the constables to be assigned.

We are losing people from the first two waves and the last wave is just a trickle. Honestly things are rough enough I'd probably be forced to do this anyway in a month, or two. "

"What do you mean high level artifacts? I just have my engagement gifts. These two have the artifacts. "

" I don't know why you are hiding it, but the report of your quarter staff was quite clear, you know there's nothing wrong with using them, plenty of adventures earned their rank by mastering artifacts, and you won't be the last. "

My dumbass was so angry that day, my own restrictions slipped my mind, but this might be the perfect cover so I could use more of my abilities, maybe we could survive then. " Caught me, honestly it's not you we're trying hide them from, we've been saving most of our pay and buying artifacts, we just didn't want to give anyone reason to riffle through our camp, or home."

"Ah, well you shouldn't worry about that, we are all in this together after all, now let's get you squared away, I'll do my best to assign easier missions of your new rank, that's all I can do for the newbies right now."

"Don't bother, just give us missions we won't have to deal with other teams on and we'll call it good."

"Why?!"

"Because the aforementioned mentioned camp rifiling, Im sure you remember the paranoia instilled by family tradition, from when you tested us?"

"Ah yes, the sins, do they really spread the doubt so far?"

"Yes, I may trust other teams to have my back on a mission, but theft like that, while we sleep? No I'd need to be closer to 'em to trust 'em that much."

"Very well, if you are sure, I'll do my best to keep such other teams to a minimum. Now go and prepare, once well rested, you already have a mission waiting for you."

At home the atmosphere was tense.

"Mir are you sure about this."

No, but that won't help, "Yes, this is our best bet, we were going to be here eventually hell, another month and we'd be right back here, at least this way I got to dictate terms, that mean less holding back, it's our best bet."

"Mir's right Roxy, I don't like being forced to do anything, especially not when it feels like punishment for doing too good a job, but this seems like the best bet. Let's get some rest, come to bed girls."

Rest was hard to come, but between my girls and the fluffy bastard, it was harder not to eventually fall asleep in peace.

---

We were so stressed we didn't even play last night, frustrating to say the least.

My goddess at least would make sure I could focus on the work.

Heading out I noticed Kay had a slightly bigger pack and a look like the cat that got the cream.

"Kay what are you up too?"

"Nothing"

"You know neither I nor Mir believe you, hell I didn't even notice anything could be going on, but that tone? You are up to something. So spill."

"Nope, it's gonna be a surprise, you'll love it."