Delvin’s mother had been killed in a raid on the nearby town when he was 17, just a month shy of his 18th birthday, so he inherited the inn and ever...ything associated with it, good and bad. Demon-kin, like Delvin, were usually not all that trusted; it was more to do with their origins than who they were as individuals. Adventurers were usually more accepting of his kind, mostly because they really didn’t care one way or another. Delvin had become quite the lord keeper in his time as the owner. We kissed, of course, and I told her how beautiful she looked."I keep the dress on for a while but I know you like it off, right?" she said laughing."You are so beautiful either way, just perfect," I told her as I led her into the living area where I had the wine and glasses with some salty Asian-style nibbles in dishes.We sipped our wine as we sat together on the sofa, kissing, just happy to be together."I miss you, Russ, miss us being alone together." I missed you, too, Joy. I really want us. We had decided to rent space on the wharf, display what we had for sale in lots and then auction it off. Trixi had put Captain Hail in contact with a man who would organise it all for us.Hail had said the poor man’s eyes had nearly popped out of his head when they showed him what we were selling. The Mercy was a decent sized ship, and the androids had packed it to the rafters. We had even added a new lower deck in the hull. It wasn’t really roomy for me, but the androids had no trouble, so Hail. Hope had another more practical task in hand, and had the maids force open each mouth in turn, she then peering in to study their teeth, and noting any obvious peculiarities, before descending the stairs to meet the cart, Beatrice going with her and wearing a serene smile as the sound of fresh application of the whip echoed behind them. Beatrice was keen to know the successes of her gallows from Agnes, and get a rich gratification in seeing the faces of the three wretches who’d travelled with.