Fire & Metal, #1
Metal Slinger
by Rachel Schneider
Contents
Chapter 41
Overview
Acker, Jovie, Hallis, and Beau enter a fortified border town and are extorted by guards wary of a rumored light wielder. Short on funds, they split tasks and secure lodging that turns out to be a brothel. Pressed by circumstance, they keep the rooms, pair sleeping arrangements, and avoid attention overnight.
Summary
Approaching a walled town near the border, Acker hides his identity while Hallis leads the horses. Guards demand papers, then triple the fee after citing rumors of a light wielder who resembles Jovie. Acker pays heavily—including an extra charge for the women—to avoid attention and possible retaliation from Roison.
Inside the worn, spoke-like town, the group splits: Acker seeks a board for the horses while Hallis and Jovie search for lodging. An elderly innkeeper sells them two rooms with dwindling funds. As dusk falls, Jovie notes unlit streets and a pervasive crookedness, and the group reunites nearly broke.
Returning to the inn, they discover it is actually a busy brothel. Despite embarrassment and aggressive solicitation aimed especially at Acker and Hallis, Jovie decides they should stay due to exhaustion, darkness, and sunk cost. They push through advances and make it upstairs.
Hallis suggests the double-bed room go to the women, but both rooms have been switched to singles. Acker orders locked doors and no wandering. Accepting the situation, Jovie and Beau share a room while Hallis and Acker take the other. Beau produces a bottle, and they settle in to lay low for the night before pushing to the palace tomorrow.
Who Appears
- JoviePOV; hides her identity, observes town’s corruption, agrees to stay at the brothel, shares a room with Beau.
- AckerPrince traveling incognito; pays extortionate gate fees, arranges logistics, insists on safety, shares room with Hallis.
- HallisLeads horses, negotiates lodging, unknowingly books a brothel, grumbles but adapts; pairs room with Acker.
- BeauFlags town’s crookedness, endures the brothel chaos, shares room with Jovie, produces liquor to unwind.
- Town guard leaderExtorts triple fee and charges extra for the women, citing rumors of a light wielder.
- Lord GravebriarLocal lord mentioned as endorsing guard practices; said to be at the tavern.
- Elderly innkeeperSells two rooms without papers; rooms turn out to be in a brothel and both are singles.
- Door greeter at brothelFlirtatious hostess who welcomes the group and propositions Jovie and Beau.