The mood in the Drifting Leaf's common room was a world away from the tense silence of the Helios tower. It was loud, warm, and smelled of spiced ale and the inn's earthy, living walls. After the data leak, the story of who had done it had, inevitably, seeped out. The inn's owner, a grizzled old Urdian with a deep-seated dislike for corporations, had let it slip to a few regulars. Now, the place was packed with locals and off-world dockworkers, all wanting to catch a glimpse of the "Omni-Stellar Slayers."
Lucian stood near the back, a deep frown etched on his face. This was a security nightmare. Every new face was a potential threat.
But Silas was in his element. Perched on a stool, a frothing mug in his hand, he held court for a captivated audience.
