Galen Vesa

A wedding.

I put down my fork.

“That I believe was not in my contract.”

“A?”

Altina stared me down with a puzzled look then sighed.

“Why do people always assume the worst? I am no slave trader, nor do I have any interest in becoming one. I have never abused any of my contractors. My part of the deal I keep. Always.”

“Then, the wedding?”

“Between the price of Ferreha, a nephew of the current emperor and the chief of the Blood Clan. Originally the prince asked for a marriage certificate to be blessed by you but given certain circumstances, I have decided we will deliver the deed in person. Victor von Ferreha is a connoisseur of the unusual. He shall be pleased by such surprise gift and perhaps we may have a chance to discuss the details of our payment and craft you an alibi.”

Killing several birds with one stone but, why would I need an alibi?

“Is it necessary?”

I asked and this time Altina paused before putting another bite in her mouth.

“Were you anywhere near the Phelm village? South-west of Fenira?”

I could've been. Not that I have any recollections of it.

Erta?

*How should I know? I am no master of human geography. There are thousands of such villages all the same to me. *

“I don’t think so. Why?”

Her ears twitched and her eyes narrowed.

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“Because the village no longer exists. Roughly around a week after your departure, merchants came bearing the news. People and animals all but gone.”

Ah, suspicions. Well, I've been accused if many things that in my life but never of a genocide.

“So, am I guilty?”

The Woolf scoffed.

“Of being dense and irresponsible? Perhaps. Of slaughtering a whole village? No. You lack… a certain kind of finesse for the task. One not even I have.”

A string of blood rose from her palm and formed a long and serrated blade. She balanced that bloody knife at the tip of her finger for a moment then dispelled it and suck the blood back in.

“The entire village gone and not a drop of blood spilt. I do pray we would not meet one who could do such… magic. Eat, you will not have a chance in a while. We have a moon until the wedding. The dressmakers of Avasill will need at least a week for your dress. Perhaps three days if I overpay. That gives us no time to spare. We ride as hard as the beasts can make it.”

And she made true of her promise. The moment I put down my bowl, we were packed and riding with the carriages making a steady twenty miles an hour until the beasts foamed. Then, they let them rest for several hours without setting camp and we were riding again.

In silence.

Well, I had very little to say but the silence hung in the air like a heavy scent. That or I still carried some blarg around me.

Chuko sat glaring at me from the seat across. The enormous blade she held in her arms made her look tiny. Next to her, Altina keep herself occupied with a book while Vi pretended I did not exist. A difficult task when ever so often a rough turn would push her against my arm or me against her.

One such turn found my guild master nose-diving into my pillows. Perhaps introducing seatbelts in this world would be a worthwhile idea.

I helped her up and moments later my own head found its way into Vittoria's lap. More of uncomfortable silence ensued.

“Can we stop whatever nonsense is going on? I have enough trouble figuring people out as it is. Please do not add to my confusion. Have I done anything else to deserve such treatment?”

This time Chuko pretended not to notice while Vi made her best not to cry. Her tears dripped down her chin in silence.

“No. You did not.”

Altina closed her book.

“I have forbidden her from going too far in her pursuit of pleasure and fluttering happiness but as you see the child decided to, I may only guess, punish herself by pretending you don’t exist. I do hope you had not fallen madly in love with her?”

“What is love? Nothing but a commodity I used to sell.”

*Getting creative, are we?*

You have witnessed what this body is capable of and what it was design for. We may as well play the part when it suits our need.

I put my finger under Vittoria’s chin and made her face me.

“My heart had frozen years ago, do not fear to brake what has been shattered already. There is nothing left.”

“That being said, I no longer let other choose the beds I sleep in.”