08/23/2025 Snippet, BANSHEE BEACH.

And that takes care of Chapter 11.

“Beach next?” I asked Lucas, after I switched out my rum-and-not-coke for a perfectly reasonable beer.

He surprised me by shaking his head. “Can you handle it without me? I’m kind of wondering what our friends from the capital needed an Adventurer for. That’s worth checking up on.”

That made me squint at him, maybe a little sloppily. I don’t drink my lunches nearly as much as the Lore might make you think. Then again, I was on vacation. “I thought you told them it was none of your business.”

“Oh, it’s not.” Lucas laughed. “So what? Besides, it’s just none of my business now. You know how quick that can change.”

“Yeah. Unfortunately.” A thought occurred to me. “While you’re skulking about, find out more about our old friend Alan. Just to make sure he’s not refreshing a grudge.”

“Smart,” Lucas conceded. “But isn’t the phrase ‘nursing?’”

“Nah. Alan’s the kind of guy who likes to slam them back. I figure that he can’t do much down here, but every little bit hurts, right?”

“Words to live by,” Lucas nodded. “I’ll add the Matter of Alan to the research list, then. Dinner at the Xanadu? You can bring Betty, if you like,” he went on, with a wave. “She’s lovely company.”

And off he went, once again mistaking my sudden panic attack for something a lot more fluffy. The worst part? The wronger Lucas was, the safer he’d be. He’d even thank me for keeping him in the dark, assuming he survived the heart attack that would come from that particular big reveal.

I shook off my worry and got to my feet. It was time to hit more beaches. Hopefully this one wouldn’t try to swing back.

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