The streets of Snake's Coil were alive with energy. Merchants shouted their wares, children darted between the crowds, and adventurers in gleaming armor or enchanted robes swaggered through the marketplace. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the twisting, spiraling streets.
After the chaos of Cinderspire and the long journey to reach the capital, the four of them had expected some sort of immediate confrontation. But for once, there was no looming disaster, no ancient threat bearing down on them. Just a city bustling with life.
"We need a place to stay," Kade said, his silver eyes scanning the streets. "Somewhere quiet. Away from all… this." He gestured vaguely at the busy marketplace.
Reed cradled Starshadow in his arms, the baby Skyrend Griffon dozing peacefully despite the noise around them. "Agreed. A real bed sounds like heaven right now."
Jaxon nodded. "And food. Lots of food."
They wove through the crowds, following the winding streets until they found a quieter district near the city's outer ring. There, nestled between two towering buildings, was a cozy-looking inn with a sign that read The Serpent's Rest.
"This looks promising," Elias said, pushing open the door.
Inside, the inn was warm and inviting. A fire crackled in the hearth, and the smell of freshly baked bread filled the air. A few patrons sat at wooden tables, sipping drinks or chatting in low voices. The innkeeper, a stout woman with a kind smile and a mop of curly red hair, greeted them from behind the bar.
"Welcome to The Serpent's Rest," she said. "Looking for rooms?"
"Yes, please," Jaxon said. "Four rooms, if you have them."
The innkeeper nodded. "You're in luck. We've got just enough space. Name's Mara, by the way. Breakfast's at dawn, and dinner's served an hour after sunset. Anything else you need, just holler."
They paid for the rooms, then made their way upstairs to drop off their things. After days of traveling, it felt strange to finally stop moving. Reed set Starshadow down on the bed, where the baby griffon promptly stretched its wings and curled up again.
"I could sleep for a week," Reed muttered, flopping down beside him.
"Not yet," Elias called from the doorway. "We've got the whole day off. Let's explore the city a bit."
"Five minutes," Reed mumbled, already half-asleep.
But after a brief rest and a quick wash, they regrouped and headed back out into the city. This time, they wandered without any particular destination, letting the winding streets guide them.
Snake's Coil was unlike any city they'd ever seen. The upper rings were filled with noble estates and grand towers, while the lower levels housed bustling markets, taverns, and shops selling everything from enchanted weapons to rare potions. They passed street performers juggling flaming swords, merchants hawking magical trinkets, and adventurers boasting about their latest exploits.
As they wandered, they overheard snippets of conversation.
"—the Dungeoneer's Guild is recruiting for a big raid tomorrow—"
"—heard they found a sealed vault deep in the dungeon—"
"—said it could be the biggest haul in years—"
Jaxon's ears perked up. "Did you hear that?" he asked, turning to the others.
"Dungeoneer's Guild?" Kade said, raising an eyebrow.
Elias grinned. "Sounds like our kind of thing."
They followed the voices to a large stone building near the center of the city. Above the entrance hung a massive banner depicting a crossed sword and torch—the symbol of the Dungeoneer's Guild. Inside, the guildhall was bustling with activity. Adventurers crowded around a job board, comparing quests and arguing about rewards. A group of armored warriors were polishing their weapons, while a mage in flowing purple robes scribbled notes in a massive tome.
At the front desk, a bored-looking clerk was stamping papers.
"Excuse me," Jaxon said, stepping up to the desk. "We heard there's a dungeon raid happening tomorrow?"
The clerk glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "You looking to sign up?"
"That's the idea," Elias said with a grin.
The clerk sighed, pulling out a stack of forms. "You'll need to register with the guild first. Name, rank, specialty, that sort of thing."
They filled out the forms, listing their powers and skills as best they could. Jaxon hesitated for a moment before writing Twin Existence under "special abilities," while Kade simply wrote Chainbound Reaper.
Once they were registered, the clerk handed them a map of the dungeon's upper levels and a list of rules.
"The raid starts at dawn," he said. "Meet at the south gate. And try not to get yourselves killed."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Jaxon muttered.
As they left the guildhall, Elias couldn't help but laugh. "A dungeon raid. This is going to be fun."
"Or deadly," Kade said.
"Probably both," Reed added, stroking Starshadow's head.
Either way, they had a feeling tomorrow would be anything but restful.