The prior night had not been one of Samiel's best. He went out. He drank, he partied. He went to his favorite little whorehouse and bedded three women. None of it satisfied him the way it usually did. He had been annoyed the whole time. The original plan had been for he and Kip to head out together and see what mischief they could find. At the last moment, Kip declined. There had been a reason but large quantities of ale erased it from Sam's memory. He didn't need Kip to join him. It was just nice when his friend came along.

By the time Samiel made his way for home, he was drunk out of his gord. He slept soundly, although how this was no one could say. He was passed out in Kip's porcelain bath tub. Both of his shoes had been kicked off and his shirt was mostly unbuttoned.