“Water. You?” Answered Thug to the waitress before turning to Ires. If this was a trap then he would be playing right into it. With a few more scars, the appearance of a homeless person and without a sword, it would be the most foolish thing to try to stage. Not wanting to waste an opportunity to get the mercenaries off their back, he had bitten the bait. A quick check up of the extermination of the hobgoblins after and here they were, in a place he was surprised to have come to hate, one of the local taverns.

Looking around to the several tables with maybe a tad too much people for so early in the day, he almost missed Ires’ reply. “Something strong, Don’t care for what.”

“A recommendation and…water? Is that right?” She asked, letting her disdain for the second option known.

“Yes.” Hissed Thug, discharging his conflicted emotions onto the woman, who picked the hint and rushed to her duties. Tapping on the table, and already regretting his outburst, he reached for a cigarette. ‘Damned be my luck!’. Anger already flaring, and needing something to think about, he cut the chase. “What did you want?” More an order than a question.

Ires' gaze lowered and she remained in silence for a few seconds. Having come here, she stopped, not knowing how it would work out nor how to address it. She would be asking the man he had tried to kill several times to join a suicide mission. “Your help.”

“I already knew that.” His curt reply gave little to grab onto and they shared an uncomfortable silence until the drinks came by.

Her drink was a simple mug of ‘cleaner’, plain alcohol watered down. It only had the punch and the cheapness. A drink her company had, well, not enjoyed that much. Almost breaking the mug, she took a swing. “I want your help to kill a dragon.”

“You are that low weight? Why in the nethers did you ask for something so strong?” Thug mirrored her, trying to get the water down even when the temptation was there. He knew how to deal with it now, a part of him tried to convince him that a mug won’t do any harm.

“I am serious.”

“And I guess that I am going to be very surprised now. Which one?”

“Izdral, the White Scourge. An elder white dragon.”

Thug arched an eyebrow. “Who? Well, for the name I guess it is bad news. Could I ask why are you enlisting me? We do not have the greatest work relationship.”

“Because we lost. I am the last one,” Her words lowered to a growl containing only cold hate, “It murdered all of my company, in an hour. I am alone, armourless and weaponless. It left me to rot in a pool of their blood. And I will answer in kind. I will bathe in its blood.” A white lie would do no harm, that she had come to learn from him.

Thug, not knowing what to say, sipped some water. Seeing her hate, he knew they were off her radar. For now at least. Thanks to that, he had no reason to accept. Already planning the route to another city, he asked, more from protocol than from actual interest. “What about the dragons under my care?”

“I do not care anymore. I thought they would be fine ammunition against it. It was my mistake to think it had emotions for its children. It used its son in our fight to distract me and wipe us all.”

The sound of a cup hitting the table interrupted her, “Wait, that Izdral is the mother of Jacob? You are asking me to kill their mother?!” His now loud voice drew several gazes, causing him to shake his head and lower it again. “By Dice’s morning breath, why am I hearing you right now.”

“You think something like that had children?” Her gelid voice was enough to convey to the onlookers the need to return to their business. “Her brood is out in the wild for a reason.”

Thug grabbed his chair and got ready to leave. “Look for another fool, lass.”

Before he could, her voice stabbed him. “You got the skills I need. I won’t platter on and on about why a monster such as it should not be under the light of the sun. Neither will I ask of you the decency to realise I am in the right or that you helping me is the only correct choice. You showed me enough stubbornness to know otherwise. I will pay you and you will get the job done.”

Thug retorted sarcastically, half risen, “And in what are you going to pay me? Rags? Dirt? Good thoughts and nice feelings?”

Ires gulped down the last of her drink, resolute to pay whatever price it was needed, even her personality. After all, she had nothing left to offer, nor nothing did matter except the death of that damned lizard. “I can grow my hair. I can heal my scars. I can dress whoever you want. I can give you a d…”

The punch of Thug broke the table, causing another fuss. “Do not end that sentence.” He meant it. He hadn’t realised his right hand was grabbing the hilt of his dagger, ready to unsheathe.

Ires didn’t relent. “See? You are interested. I can give you your old life back. I can give you your damned Irenia. I can bec…” A punch from Thug throwed her to the floor, thanks to the unsteady chair that followed her, staining her face with both his blood from the hit to the table and some of hers.

Thug, standing, remained still under the chair moving sounds and screams of the clientele. His rough breathing almost didn’t register. He wanted to gutter that damned knight right there. Nonetheless, he knew he was only venting his rage. A small part of himself had wanted to accept the deal and he had been too repulsed by it to act differently. ‘...back to beating women to ease my hurt feelings, huh.’

“What do you say, Thug?!” Laughed, almost madly, Ires. “A last job! A mirror of what your father had made you do before letting you marry that snoot stained peasant!”

“Shut it.” Thug grabbed his pouch, picking a few silver coins to pay for the damages and noise, and left the tavern after paying. Her laughter slowly dimming, Ires remained inside the tarbern.

Thug’s rush also dimmed, even if for a completely different reason, as he came to be in full view of the main square. A look at a white pale, almost crying, kid was enough to send him in a full fledged run. Hare weakly waved as if to hide her fear, her body language ignoring the woman at her right. Thug took until he reached her side and hugged her to see Jacob behind the woman.

“What happened?” He couldn’t but eye the woman dressed in white clothes. ‘Her eyes are the same as Hare’s.’

“So, you are the man who bested that vermin? You don’t look like it.” Her cold gaze nailed him in place, making him sweat and working his legs as if a weight had been casted upon him. “I was talking to five, try not to interrupt me before I grow tired of it.”

Thug broke the chains and moved, putting himself in between and shielding Hare. “And Hare is my employer. She will talk to whoever she wants, lass. Is she disturbing you, Hare?” Thug turned his head a bit back, gauging her body language.

Izdral started to laugh, surprised at his bravado. She started to raise a hand before stopping all movement. Her eyes darted to his right hand, glued to the dagger. She had almost overstepped. A smile growing, she added, moving her hand to the side, as if to bat away the tension. “Now, now. Let me correct myself. You do look like it. My respects to you, I had to make sure. Fourth wasn’t always the most trustworthy of my vassals.”

“Not talking to you, lass. If you could move aside and leave, things won’t get ugly.”

Izdral arched an eyebrow, irritation coming to her tone, “Could y…”

“Too many words. Let’s keep this real. If you were capable of doing more than blabbering on and on, you would have done so already. Move.” Thug pointed to a side with a movement of his head, baffling even more the elder dragon.

Izdral opened her mouth, eyes filled with hate, before having to fold. She would not take a fight In the middle of a human city. Moving aside, “Careful, human. You are disrespecting forces beyond your comprehension.”

Remembering her early sentence, he threw his hypothesis, “How’s the beating that the forces in my comprehension gave you?”

Turning around, she gave no reply as she walked out.

With more pressing matters, Thug didn’t look as he crouched to hug Hare again, trying to comfort her.

………….

“Should be done in half a year, maybe more. This set’s beyond a normal battering, lady. Where in Heaven's Realms were you fighting?” The local metalworker, an elder elf, shook their head. At least it appeared a nice challenge, and that thought started to give them a lot of energy.

Ignoring the growing hunger in their eyes, Ires asked, “How much, and when.”

“A platinum coin. The enchantments are beyond help and will have to be wiped clean. Metal’s not that cheap either with the new demand. You can pay until it is ready. No pay, I take it for myself.”

‘A platinum coin.’. Ires nodded. Enough to fuel a medium sized city’s upkeep cost for a year, it was an inordinate price to pay. Needed, but extremely costly. Still, two dragons and a skilled mercenary would help her with the payment, that she was sure of. “The sword?”

“You mean this chunk of iron you call a weapon?” The elf shook their head. “It needed not but dusting. I would sell an arm to meet the metalworker who made this child. You may take it…” A look at her frame dispelled all doubts they had of her strength. Ires grabbing the greatsword with a hand caused them to be a bit more respectful. “Anything more?”

“No.”

As she left the building, she was not surprised to see Thug resting on the wall. Making a frown at the smoke, she stabbed, “Already? I thought you were very much against it.”

“I give you a month. Show me I can somewhat trust you to not stab me in the back and I will bite.” Another puff of smoke. “But try to imitate my wife and I will gutter you like a fish and throw you in the forest.”

Smirking, Ires asked, ignoring him, “And what was the reason for your sudden change of mind?”

Thug threw the cigarette to the ground and stepped on it. “Last the month and I will sing.” Not waiting for a response, Thug started to walk.

Still smirking, Ires looked to the setting sun. ‘Another night sleeping on the ground.’ A part of her complained, quickly silenced by the satisfaction of moving forward with her plan. ‘Gutting her and leaving her to root on the forest, huh. It does sound nice.’. Surprisingly enough, after half an hour of walking, they reached a somewhat abandoned house. Her emotions must have slipped through her smirking mask, for she heard Thug’s voice.

“Enough money to pay for it. Will have you helping.” He answered. Not the question she was asking, but answered nonetheless.

“Will I live here too?”

“Leaving you on the streets would only be that much fun. You betraying us will happen with you inside or outside.” Thug knocked on the door. “And truth be told, living with someone is a great way to get to know them. Not a lot of secrets can be hidden for long nor at all times.”

The door opened before Ires could answer.

“Thug! Jacob is being mean in ches…Oh, hello!” Started Hare before welcoming Ires with a wave. Her cheerful appearance made an illusion of the early crisis.

“Yeah? Kick him under the table. Oh, right, she is…Who are you?” Thug turned around to look at her.

Ires was too focussed on Hare to hear the question. Had she looked at it this close before? She had mistaken her for a normal child until she detected the horns. “Ires.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“There you have it. She will be staying here and help us rebuild the house.”

“Welcome, lady Ires!” Hare jumped a bit, looking at her sword. “Did you become another partner?”

“You could say that.” Intercepted Thug. “Be nice to her. But go be mean to Jacob and, remember, you can always fly the board if he gets arrogant.”

“I will!” Hare, with a new idea, rushed back inside.

“How’s that conscience? Chewing you out or you still holding?”

“For how long are you going to keep this facade of a family up, mercenary?”

Thug sighed, shaking his head, and entered the house.

Ires looked up. A half broken house. She knew there had to be some metaphor with herself. She did not care enough to look for it, simply entering the home. She would still kill these three after the mother laid at her feet. Nonetheless, she was welcomed by a hastily cleaned home. Little furniture still, but the warmth of the kitchen had spread through the place. A surprised scream from the sitting room and a lot of small things hitting the room was followed by the laughter of a small kid. It all tasted like poison, causing her to clench her first. She had not come for kid watching. Breathing in, she resumed her walk towards the kitchen. If it was trust she had to buy, she would.

Inside, Thug was reheating the last of their provisions on the wood stove. Clumsiness slowed him down, as he was not used to cooking in a room. He had had no need, stalls were enough for the majority of people in the bigger cities. In a smallish city, in winter? It was a different story, at least in the north. The sound of a plate hitting too hard hid her footsteps.

“Need help with it?”

Thug jumped, almost throwing the plate. “By Elenia’s bo… No, no I do not need it. Go wait wherever. And, by Karax’s beard, drop that weapon somewhere!”

Ires shrugged and, moving the shoulders again, let the weapon slip to the ground. Turning around, she heard a muttered reproach.

“Don’t just… Fine.”

With nothing to do, she entered the room with the dragons. Seeing Jacob run around trying to catch Hare. His cheeks were filled with the red that anger can get out and Hare’s of the one that laughter brings out. Her hand went to the usual position of her sword’s handle, to no avail. Her eyes stalked the dangerous tails as they bounced around. Willing her arm to lower, she looked around to see a ground littered with chess’ pieces. The noisy room taking all the tension, wanted or not, of her, she crouched to start cleaning the pieces.

“See? You are making lady Ires clean up after you!” Jacob said as he finally catched Hare.

“You shouldn’t have started to gloat! I am a beginner!”

“I am too!”

Ires clenched her teeth, holding in a reply she would regret. Her hand broke the king piece it had recovered.

Hare, detecting her mood swing, stopped playing around and, turning to her, she asked, eyes starting to fill with concern, “Are you all right, lady Ires?

“What would a lizard know?” She snapped. Hare lowered her head, nodding lightly. Jacob’s eyes darkened, as he was old enough to catch onto the slur.

“I beg thy forgiveness?” Jacob’s tone lost its warmth from earlier as he turned towards Ires. His reptilian eyes furthered her hate, her hand grabbing the air above her shoulder. Her left simply formed a fist by muscle memory as her eyes scanned the best way to down the monster. She halted thanks to a simple word and the smell of food.

“Out.”

……

Taking a long breath of nocturn air, she slowly exalted, trying to let the anger ride the small cloud of hot air. As her heart slowed, her eyes followed the second cloud, way greyer.

“Wanna talk about them?” A calm tone, as if it was a second handed comment completely devoid of interest. She had not lied. That meant that all of her comrades had died. He should have been more considerate but what’s done is done.

“Your gang of monsters?” Ires whispered, lacking the energy to monologue about her truths.

“Your old group. How were they?” A softer reply came, followed by more smoke.

A few seconds of silence gave a small respite to Ires as she collected her bearings again. Sadness came to her voice as she found herself muttering what she had never realised, “I…didn’t know anything about most of them. Mercenaries come and go.” Was her weak excuse. What was moving her to talk about that hateful night? Has she grown so weak?

“Then tell me something about the ones you remember.” While his voice was still uninterested, he had stopped smoking, leaving the cigarette to burn by its lonesome.

“So that you may know the people you helped to murder?”

“So that someone else may remember them too.”

A sigh. “Where do I start from?...Miela, a great woman. She lost her husband to a raid from goblins.” Her brown eyes stalked her from the chair of her old office. The last words she had given her had been part of a rude and foolish order. “Great with the spear. Reckless in battle. Issa, a breathtaking bowwoman. Never missed when it counted. Neither when it didn’t to be fair. Came from the money, stayed for her new lover. Both of them had the best eyes of all the women I have met. Gregory, an orc with a war axe. Gods, the heaviness of his blows were enough to tear shields apart.” A single tear fell on the ground. Her composed voice continued, unabated, “Marc, my second in command. A cunning mage. Always had my back. My friend.”

“How were they?”

“Miela…was a sea of hate. She died along with her husband, only going along with the wind. I heard she was once a tailor...not anymore. I pray for their happiness.” The support of the wall of the house was appreciated. “Issa was your typical drunkyard. Always being an asshole who liked to get into fights. Only in front of Mary was she somewhat decent. She always bragged about how good at betting she was but, inside, she hated it with all her soul. It was an excuse to play games, all types. She liked tabletops most. Gregory was the kindest man I have ever seen. The bastard would go out of his way to not step on any kind of plant. He always tried to defuse the situation if it got heated up…” A small stop. “He didn’t talk about himself, never. Now I realise. But I know that he liked to sew.” Having calmed down she continued, “Marc was the brains that never shrunk their duty. And, despite all his smarts, he never found the right words to say. Instead, he just stayed near, giving his presence and time but not his voice. He loved to learn about plants. He was a good friend. And I c…!”

Before her blood could ignite again, a wineskin hit her chest. Her eyes turned to him.

“Do not give me that look, I too hate myself for refiling it. Take a swing.”

Doubting for a few seconds, she emptied half of it. Cleaning her lips, “Thanks.”, she returned it.

Thug nodded. He had listened and he would remember. He owed nothing more. “You know a better way of being grateful? Stop venting your emotions onto kids. And apologise.”

Biting her tongue, she nodded, ‘Monsters, you say.’.

As if he had read his mind, Thug shook his head. “Why do I even try?”

…….

Ires left her new room. Dinner had been awkward, but she had done what he had asked, even if she loathed those two. Remembering the fake smile the female one had done and its bright tone was enough to sour her morning. Leaving the house, she started her run, only to stop it as she turned around the house. Thug doing the laundry muttering curses was her speed bump.

“What? Long time on the road, we arrived yesterday. What did you expect? Clothes don’t get cleaned by themselves.” He grumbled.

“But, you?” Ires couldn’t hold in the smirk. Thug had simply brought a big bucket out and, using the water stone, a scrubbing board and some soap, had started to work.

“See anybody else?”

“You woke up pretty early for such a meagre task.”

“And those are the words of a person who does not do their laundry. Carry on with your training, lass.”

Ires didn’t contain her huffing. As she ran away, she couldn't help but hear Thug’s complaint of not being able to pre soak the items. Two hours later, and to her great surprise, Thug was still cleaning the clothes.

“Had fun?” An irritated tone welcomed her together with the sunrise.

“Never knew you would be so slow. Is it that hard?” Asked Ires with honest curiosity.

“Give it a try.” Hissed Thug as he tried to relax his trembling hands. Stretching his back, he heard it pop. “Damn it all. Clean enough. I need to get moving or I am going to lose it.”

“How about a bout then?” Evilly asked Ires. Not waiting for his response, she left again.

“Anything would be better.” Started Thug. Stretching a bit, he looked at his rough work. “If I lived from this… What’s done is done.” Looking around, he saw no Ires in sight so, taking advantage of the small rest he had been granted, he sat on the ground. The respite lasted little, as Ires returned with two wooden long swords. Not waiting for him to get up, she throwed one to him.

Catching it with his right hand as he raised, “Been time since I held one.” Casually commented on Thug as he slashed the air a few times to get a feel of its balance.

Not responding, Ires simply prepared her stance. Thug did the same, even if his stance was a bit rusty. ‘A more offensive oriented one. I will overwhelm him without giving him time to react.’. Not waiting for more than three of her seconds, she rushed forward. Making bigger plans would backfire her. The best thing would be to act on instincts.

The weight of her muscles flexing rushed her blood through its vessels and the air hit her as she cut the distance between the two. She would train until she bled.

Nevertheless, her downwards strike didn’t connect, as Thug receded a step. The following stab found itself at his side, promptly being locked in its crossguard by Thug’s blade. Her hands couldn’t maintain their grip and she could only watch as Thug simply threw her sword away. She didn’t move as Thug’s blade touched her neck.

“I win.” He couldn’t hold in the scoff. “You keep that up and you are not going to win.”

“Keep what up?” Ires’ fists clenched as she growled.

“Giving up.” Thug averted his sword back.” I know little of you beyond our clashes, but I learnt something. The you from before would have tried to punch me after losing your sword.”

“This is a bout, not a battle.” She retorted, convincing herself.

“Whatever.” Thug walked towards her sword and, walking back, handed it to her. “You surrendered this time. And you surrendered too when I told you to gain our trust. And, not that you wanted to try that much, but you also caved in to yourself. You have chosen to not change, to never see things the kids’ way even if it's only to deceive me.”

She opened her mouth, Thug giving no quarter. “Excuses are puffs of smoke. At least face your skills properly. You want to counter my words? Crack my nose with your sword.” Thug retreated a few steps, redoing his stance to one more solid.

Not having had the words to counter, Ires redid hers too. She had assumed Thug could have no tricks in a bout with wooden swords. His tricks didn’t come from outside, so her pretensions had been as solid a foundation as one made from sand. Her eyes turned to Thug, as if seeing him from the first time. Full of fake openings, shady footwork hidden behind the illusion of following a common stance from his Household. Complete dominion over the sword, even if he was making it seem like a second mastery. The dirt below her feet was pushed backwards as she readied the charge. Her pride…no. She had refused to see him as a threat.

She dashed forward, dodging the stab intended as a feint and parrying the pommel hit. Before Ires could push his sword upwards, Thug jumped backwards, sliding her sword to the right side. Ires followed with a right hook, causing Thug to dodge and stop moving Ires’ sword as he dodged left, trying to make use of Ires’ inertia. A jab from her left arm cracked his nose, reeling him backwards. Her sword weakly hitting his shoulder stopped the second bout. The same as before, but this time she had taken him seriously.

“See?” The funny tone of Thug didn’t fit its enmity. “You can do it if you try. Now look at a mirror, maybe you could start facing yourself.”

“Shut up.” She had recovered no pride from this victory, no satisfaction. It had been underwhelmingly easy. She had always been the better swordswoman. The only thing that had arrived from this victory was shame.

“Ain’t that the thing you are best at? Shutting down whatever you do not want to hear.” Thug cleaned his face. “Whatever. Rocks would be easier to talk to. More enjoyable too.”

Ires resisted the urge to beat him with her sword. Instead, she walked to enter the house. As she entered, she saw Hare, two-handing a dagger, near the doorstep and getting ready to leave.

“Good morning!!” She beamed a smile at her, even if she was somewhat sleepy. The bed hair was also another thing she had forgotten to fix, taking into account she had dressed the shirt backwards.

For a moment Ires could but see her as a normal child, fresh out of the realm of dreams. She had had reptilian soldiers, so she was not displeased by the horns and tails. She almost smiled back before she remembered her draconian origin. Frowning, she charged inside, both of them hitting shoulders and Hare being knocked slightly to the side.

……

Hare smiled weakly as she patted her hit shoulder. She slowly walked out of the house, her head always low. Too long for such a small distance, she arrived next to Thug. She didn’t know her tail had left a path marking her route as it tailed along the ground.

She almost jumped in fright as Thug caressed her head, trying to fix her hair. He didn’t relent, Hare slowly calming down.

“All better.” Thug tried to smile somewhat successfully.

“Ye…yes.” Hare clenched her dagger. “Is…is it really fine? Shouldn’t we go back?”

“Do you want to?”

Hare’s pained smile stabbed Thug’s heart. “It is my home after a…”

“Hare.” Thug touched her checks, carefully raising her head. “Look at me. No lies. I will ask again. Do you want to go back?”

Hare tried to fight Thug’s hands to nod, not mustering enough force. After a while she couldn’t hold it in and, tears streaming down, finally answered, “I do not want to! I never want to go back to…to that…no, please. Do not make me…”

Thug’s embrace silenced her. “Then you will stay. As simple as that.” Those were his comforting and soft words. If Hare had not been that busy crying onto his chest she would have seen the face of Isaac of the Rosekeepers, personal assassin of the duchess Isal. ‘I expect you to die serving my needs, Ires.’ Was the freezing thought that crossed his mind as he did his best to not let his emotions show. He had not asked Hare to divulge her past nor would he do. He had no need for whys or becauses. That white lizard was dead.

After the sobs stopped, Thug squeezed her a bit. “Wanna throw that dagger a few times?” He whispered.

“Can we?”

“That’s why we have these training sessions, ain’t it?”

.....................