“Uhm,” Virian tried to find an explanation for the current situation, but failed. He knew why he was here, of course. Ivy had needed help. But how was he supposed to justify his presence in the Bloody Flag to it's leader? His eyes shifted from sergeant Rose to the Bloody Prince, and then back again. Any help, maybe?

Sergeant Rose stayed quiet, but studied the prince from her stance just a few paces in front of him. Virian remained at the bedside near Ivy while The Bloody Prince held his gaze on Virian.

“I know you,” he said, then turned his head to the sergeant, “but who are…nevermind. I already figured it out.”

“You think yourself clever, Armond?” Sergeant Rose asked. Apparently that was his name.

“Do you think you are not obvious?” the Bloody Prince said.

"It's a shame, really."

"And why's that?" Armond asked.

The two were eying each other like two feral beasts fighting over a particularly juicy prey. Virian glanced at Ivy and realized that perhaps that was exactly what they were doing. Uh, oh. Was she about to attack him in the middle of his gang? Virian had told everyone that he was with her.

Sergeant Rose broke the staring match with a smile. Huh? This wasn't quite the same reaction Virian had received when he had confronted her.

"It's a shame I won't be around much longer," the sergeant said, "I think I could have some fun with you." Armond scoffed. "Though I should give you the same warning I've already given our dear governor. I—"

"Save your breath, witch. I don't care."

Virian gawked at the man's brazen attitude, but sergeant Rose only stood silently observing the man.

Finally, she opened her mouth again, "It's been so long since I've been in a situation like this. It brings back memories. There's nothing quite like feeling the blood surging through your veins. I...understand why Ivy won't let it go. But it cannot last."

Armond only nodded, and then gestured toward Ivy and Virian.

"So what happened?" he asked.

Sergeant Rose flicked a glance toward the bed where the healer Caseem was working on Ivy and let out a tsk.

“This one didn’t want to come home and face a scolding, but she wanted to get away from you. Well, she chose this fool’s place.” She waved a hand at Virian. “I suppose the trip there caused her stitches to burst.”

The Bloody Prince gave Virian a look and shook his head.

“I don’t understand it. Does this lad have a golden cock or something?”

“What?” Virian asked.

“Women love you, boy. For no good reason.”

Sergeant Rose shrugged.

“He is quite handsome.”

A deep frown formed on the Bloody Prince’s rugged face.

“Not you, too.”

“I’m just saying I wouldn’t throw him out of bed. I’m not going to fall over myself in his presence. He’s probably not worth the trouble anyhow.”

The Bloody Prince rubbed his temples with both hands.

“So what do we do with these two?” he asked.

“I’m right here, you know?” Virian said.

“Yes, but that does not make you any less irrelevant to the current discussion.”

Sergeant Rose, for her part, also ignored Virian.

“I don’t think we’ll be able to tame Ivy any time soon. She’s too young and too strong. She can go and do whatever she wants whenever she wants. I tried to stop her from taking your jobs. We know how that went.”

The Bloody Prince grunted.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Wait a minute. Things started to click. How had he not noticed it before. The Bloody Prince’s jobs, Ivy running away from him, the healer hired by the man who had stabbed her.

“You tried to have me killed!” Virian shouted.

“It didn’t pan out,” the Bloody Prince said, and then shrugged.

“H-he admitted it!” Virian pointed at the man. “Sergeant Rose, arrest him!” They both raised an eyebrow at him. “Sergeant…”

Virian blinked, a realization washing over him. He suddenly felt as silly as they must think him. Could he really even call her “sergeant” anymore knowing what he did now? It felt ridiculous. She wasn't going to follow his orders, and clearly she didn’t think of herself as his vassal.

Who really held any power in the this city? The people of the docks feared and respected the Bloody Prince. Virian would be lucky if the average citizen even knew who he was. The nobles mostly deferred to him—if they did at all—merely because of who his family were, but the criminal overlord could likely cause an uprising of the people that could not be stopped. And Rose? Her power gave her the ability to manipulate whoever she wanted as easy as breathing.

He looked at Ivy groaning unconsciously under the ministrations of healer Caseem. She seemed more like a weapon for the other two to wield. A dangerous, unruly weapon, but potent enough to bring the city to its knees. On that front, Virian might actually have some sway, but could he really use Ivy just to feel important? This whole thing was so messed up.

Rose laughed.

“Don’t get so worked up, ‘your highness,’” she said, “we won’t be in Atrican much longer. You can quarrel all you want with Armond, then.”

Virian returned his gaze to the bear of a man towering over Rose. He smirked back at him.

“Wait, what?”

“As soon as she is able,” Rose said, “we are going somewhere you will never see us again.”

“Have you checked with her on that?” Virian asked.

Part of him said it in self preservation. He figured as long as Ivy was around, he might be safe. It again felt shitty to be using her like that, but he also didn’t think she would appreciate others speaking for her.

The Bloody Prince grunted at his words.

“What now?” Virian asked. “Got something to say?”

“I was just thinking that was the first thoughtful thing you’ve said.”

“All three of you,” Rose said shaking her head, “unbelievable.”

The Bloody Prince ignored her comment, instead diverting his attention to the bed where Ivy lay. Caseem had retreated to a nearby table, fiddling with his tools.

“How is she?” the Bloody Prince asked.

“The young lady will be fine,” he said, “as I mentioned before. Tell her to stay still.”

“Good. You may return home. You will find a sizable payment waiting for you whether you want it or not. We'll find you again if needed.”

The healer stared for a moment, then resigned to his fate with a slow nod. He gathered his instruments, and fled from the room as fast as one dared move without outright running.

The Bloody Prince brought his attention back to Virian.

“You and I need to have a discussion,” he said, “let us give the women a moment alone.”

Virian scoffed.

“A discussion? Is that what you think we need?"

"Would you prefer a duel?" Armond asked.

Before it had even registered in his head, sergeant—no, just Rose—answered for him, "He doesn't."

Armond let out a hearty laugh that filled the room like someone playing a large drum.

"Good. I wouldn't want to make it a habit of upsetting Iveriani. Once was enough. I can't tell you how many men I wasted on you, boy."

Virian started to descend from the high of his anger to something else more depressing.

"Am I really so terrible?” he asked. "How many times did you try to kill me?"

Armond let out a breath and walked to where the healer had previously stored his instruments and took a seat on a low backed wooden chair near the table.

"I don't have anything against you. Truthfully, of all my targets, you are the least deserving. I lied to Iverani to get her to kill you. You're just an obstacle. One I have to deal with, now. Unless I decide to just kill you three, I guess."

Virian tensed, once again searching his body for a sword that he did not take with him to this place.

"Don't fret so much, your highness," Rose said, "he doesn't believe himself capable."

A tiny mumbling sound came from the narrow bed Ivy was laying on. Virian leaned in closer.

"l-la. lar," she said.

"What's that?" Virian asked.

"Liar."

She raised one shaky hand and pointed it vaguely in the direction of Armond. She held it for a couple of seconds and then it fell limp at her side, her lips staying sealed.

Virian turned to Armond and scowled.

"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Nothing. I told you I lied. Do you not remember?"

Oh, right.

"So you plotted to have me killed solely for your own greed?" He gave Rose a look. "Can you not see he is wrong? Use your power on him!"

Rose tapped her foot.

"I...prefer not to," she said.

"Why?!"

"Let him tell us. I kind of like the sound of his voice."

"Prince Virian," Armond said, "You are alive because Iveriani desires it so. As long as that does not change, you are not in any danger from me or my men.”

“So I’m just supposed to trust in the whims of this ‘Iveriani’?”

The Bloody Prince gave him a blank stare, then turned his head toward Rose.

“Is he serious?” he asked.

What was it now? Did the man really think Virian would agree to be taken off somewhere just because ‘Iveriani’ said it was safe? I mean come on. Who even was this person…

Oh. Virian spared Ivy a glance. Iveriani. Right.

“Even if I trust Ivy,” he said, “I don’t trust you, or your thugs. I’m not going anywhere with you to have your 'discussion.'”

The big man let out another big puff of air.

“Ignoring the fact that I could make you come with me, fine. I can see that you are too agitated now for a rational conversation anyway. So let me guess, you would be comfortable with me visiting your palace?”

“W-well yeah. Sure, I guess.”

“So that you can surround me with guards and throw me irons?”

“Thought crossed my mind.”

“Would you agree, perhaps, if I asked Iveriani to choose a neutral ground to meet with me? Say…in a few days once you’ve calmed down a bit?”

Virian had no idea what the man might want from him or why he was trying so hard to get him to talk, but those terms didn’t sound too bad. He was already this deep into whatever the hell was going on, so what did he have to lose?

“Agreed,” he said.