Galen Vesa

Okie doke. That worked. Somehow. Now what? I walk them through the city, through crowds of people and to the guild? I can already hear the people chanting, look elves, lets stick ‘em! Perhaps I should facepalm myself? Since that would do me so much good, I abstained. Instead, I looked around the plaza behind the gate and, did some drunken god smile on me? There among a crowd of guards the guild carriage awaited clearance from the gate office.

It’s all yours doing, isn’t it?

I poked the lantern locked around my wrist yet as per usual it just ignored me. Regardless, i surveyed the guards until I found her giving orders.

“Constance, are you perhaps going back to the guild?”

Much like before, my voice brought instant silence among the gathered.

“Karin? What… “

Her eyes found the two standing behind me, hands still clutched around their weapons. Whether it was acquaintance with my sorry person or just a better discipline, guild guards just watched us in tensed silence. No one reached for their weapons. At least not yet.

“It’s a long story and this is not the best of places to tell it. If you are going back to guild, may we hitch a ride with you? That should be safer for everyone.”

“We’re not heading for the guild per se, but I think we can take a detour. Should I send someone ahead to announce your guests?”

“Yes, please do.”

She gave the orders and we climbed into the carriage. With that hurdle taken out of the way, I sat staring at the two elves. One terrified, the other bleeding from her side. Lafirra did her best not to show it but, judging by her sweaty forehead, her wounds might be festering.

“You are wounded. I can help if you allow…”

“Take us to the seer or I'll kill you!”

Lightning fast, Carlila had a tip of her saber pressed against my throat. Whelp, at least now I’m sure they didn’t recognize me. Whatever Water did with my face seems to be working.

“I don’t know what you want from that false serpent, but she offers nothing beside her sweet lies. Best if…”

And she stabbed me. Or tried to. Her thrust was swift and powerful, but the blade could not cut through my skin. It bent until it could no longer give and shattered, leaving her with nothing much but a handle in her grip.

“I see lack of manners runs deep in your family. Your mother wasn’t much polite either when I met her.”

Darn it. Dolt did it again. Why is it that my mouth seems to be working on its own as of late? I stole a quick glance at my bracelet but it still faked being just a bracelet. Oh well, since I spilled the beans, nothing stops me from going that way.

“Yes, I have met your mother and we can talk later in a safer place, but may I first see to your friend?”

Carlila had something ready to bark off but the older elf’s hand stopped her.

“Forgive her, she is quite impulsive. A trait that indeed run in their family. As for the wound, “

Lafirra lifted her cape, exposing a side soaked in blood and puss.

“I doubt much can be done at this stage. I have not much time left in me. You had saved us by the gate, please, help us get to the seer.”

“Regardless, allow me to try. As for meeting the serpent, if that indeed is what you desire… I may want a word or two with her myself. I shall arrange for us to meet.”

She gave me a nod and I placed my palm against her side, watching as the water ring came to life, sucking my mana. A formidable chunk of mana. It felt as if my magic waged a war inside her body, fighting over each part against a force that demanded her life.

And then I saw it. A rusting arrowhead lodged inside her spine. How on earth could she still move with a wound like that? That’s… The drain on my mana increased to the point of overtaking my recovery. For the first time a long while, my mana slowly decreased while long tendrils of bluish light slithered into the elf and wrapped themselves around the source of her fever. Oy, you won’t do what I think you want to do? But the ring no longer listened to my will and I became its tool. With my palm affixed to her side I only had moments to warn them, but I think she already knew what was coming.

“This will hurt, ungodly.”

And the ring yanked, reeling in the strands of power wrapped around the arrowhead. How did she not wail? I have no idea. How did she remain conscious? Must been her willpower that kept her alive for all this time. With tears rolling down her face, she wheezed and gasped while the water ring stitched her flesh together. When my had free at last, I put the offending piece of iron into Carlila’s palm. Her eyes wide with shock at this blatant display of power. Eh.

We arrived at the guild shortly after I finished, Constance guiding the carriage onto the guild’s backyard through the back gate.

“Your weapons.”

I extended my arm when we stopped.

“These are all people precious to me, so you better behave yourselves. Best no harm come to any of them regardless what you may think of them. Also, combat spells are forbidden within this city. For your own good, abstain from using any magic where you can. Do I have your word?”

My own words surprised me no less than my tone. When did I… Strangely enough, even Logic did not protest what I said.

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

“You have my word and my life.”

Lafirra, still pale, whispered at the edge of consciousness. Her hand fumbled with her belt buckle and I took her rapier from her, trying not to disturb her too much. The younger sister eyes traveled between her palm holding the bloodied piece of arrow, my face, and the swaying chest of her companion. She fought with herself for a moment yet in the end choose to surrender her wand.

“Does either of you speak anything a human can understand?”

“No.”

The younger said while the other looked as if speaking in any language won’t be on the list of her priorities. Possibly walking or staying aware did not made the list either. Well, bummer. Just how many of my thump’s cards do I have to throw away for those two? Should I even?

“Cora?”

“Yes master?”

Her body appeared beside me in a pristine maid outfit. When and where did she get that? Eh, whatever. There’s an elf gaping at me and a possibly furious wolf running this way. My issues can wait.

“Please take care of our guests. I don’t think other maids would be of much help at this time. As for you two, please wait here while I arrange your accommodations.”

Big words given the situation. With the carriage doors open, I hopped out onto the familiar white gravel. I had no idea if I would be coming back here, well I hoped I could and I thought I wouldn’t need to sneak in but I’m sure I hadn’t plan on coming back covered in blood and with potentially explosive baggage in tow. Now would be an awesome moment to sigh. Especially since I could see Altina stomping my way with her fur ruffled and standing, her aura screaming of murder. Although, before she could reach me, something unexpected happened. Overtaking the wolf and her guards, Vittoria came running and tossed herself at me, her arms greedily closing around me as if I were to vanish any moment. I felt her fingers digging into my back and her tears wetting my neck. Whatever she tried to say, her sobs made it intelligible.

Until, whack, her fist connected with my left cheek, most likely doing more damage to her hand than me.

“You… you… you absolute monster!”

She screamed that into my face, hugging her wrist. Yup, something broke there.

“I’ve spent weeks crying my eyes out for you by your death’s bed only to learn you were kidnapped and probably killed by some lunatics! I thought you were dead! It felt as is something within me died that day! But no, that was not enough for you, you had to crawl back! Apparently dying again! And what?! Did you even bother to tell me?! Leave me a message, a letter, anything?! No! you did not, not even a lousy “hi Vi I’m alive…” Can you even fathom how I felt when I overheard whispers of your return?!”

“You piece of tree humping, elven excrement! I hate you!”

She tried to slap me again, but I ducked her hand to spare her any more injury. To compensate for that failure, she screamed at me and stormed away in tears. Well, that didn’t go as horrible as it could. I moved my focus to the wolf patiently awaiting her turn.

“I'm back.”

She scoffed at me and shook her head.

“A. That I see.”

Altina made her best effort to restrain herself. He beastly eyes scanned me from head to toe.

“Why is it always blood and trouble with you?“

“That is not my blood…”

“Not her blood she speaks! Merciful Shamuu... Show me, what trouble did you bring me this time?”

I gave a nod at the carriage and watched them exit into the sunlight. Well, Carlila did step out on her own to dazzle the onlookers with her elven beauty. Her friend had little luck in that regard. Cradling the unconscious elf in her arms, the dryad stopped beside me.

“Guild master allow me to introduce you Carlila, trouble number one, daughter of Nafira who had saved my life a while back. Lafirra, the unconscious trouble number two, she… needs rest.”

To skip any possible questions, I turned to the elves.

“This is Lady Altina Hishgrew, guild master of the Emerald Hall, the owner ow the place you’ll be staying at. Please treat her well or I’ll make you suffer.”

My mouth did it again. I faked a smile. Carlila did not smile but made a polite bob with her head which the wolf reciprocated.

“Cora, please take the guests to their rooms, second floor main hall. You, my office.”

I relayed that to the elf and followed the wolf, along the way passing the weapons I held to Beatrice for safekeeping.

Ah the praying eyes of, well, everybody. Not that I missed being stared at by everyone, but it did provide me with a more ‘at home’ feeling to it… thinking that being stared at is a normal thing is probably not normal but, eh, I am me.

And then came the official welcome when the doors to Altina’s office closed behind me.

“Who are you? Speak!”

Now that’s a welcome I would expect from the wolf, mana blazing, blood threads locked all over my body and her sword glowing and pointed at my heart. That might hurt.

“Well, I am me, Cora is Cora and I did hope for a welcome hug.”

“Prove it. No one outlives a shattered core.”

“About that, well, all fixed now. You can ask that pervert there,”

Fire slept snoring on a couch, with an empty bottle lodged into the valley between her breasts. I don’t think spirits need or can sleep but she did quite a good show of it. Especially those thongs hanging around her ankle were a clever touch for her passed out, drunk persona.

“Or check yourself. You still hold our contract.”

“Is she telling the truth?”

“Of course my honey bun.”

Fire stretched and stat up, yawing.

“That is my love you speak of. One and only and mine… Now gimme more booze! I want to drink and sleep. Sleep and drink. Blowing stuff up is so tiring…”

She slumped to a side and went back to snoring. How odd.

“Well, what about my hug?”

“Go cough out a hairball.”

Big bad wolf said and then she hugged me and I hugged her back and then my charms decided to make things awkward so I let go of her.

“Pestilance and rot… those damn charms, so it is you.”

Altina went behind her desk and plopped into her chair.

“And at such a time… I still cannot decide whether you are a godsend or a natural disaster.”

She huffed and flapped her ears gave me a thoughtful look.

“What’s with those tree humpers you brought me? True what you said down there? What would they want so deep within the empire?”

“To see the seer. Or so they said. Aside from being an unruly child, Carlila is quite pleasant to be around. As for the other, well, she should be trustworthy. And yes, they are known to me but please do not ask for details, it is, complicated. After they rest for a day or two, I’ll spirit them away to where they belong.”

Altina considered that while I looked around her office. Given the Fire's presence, wolf’s secret stash was probably dry so I got her tea set from her desk and reheated its contents with my mana. Hugging the edge of the desk like a little kid waiting for a treat, Fire appeared beside me, Her nose an inch off the teapot. Her begging eyes were bobbing back and forth between my face and the teapot. Why…

Indeed, a queen of gluttony. The tea might contain trace amounts of my mana and the law did not allow her to take that. I poured a cup for myself, the wolf and for her as well. We watched her dry the cup with such pleasure it seemed disturbing. It made the wolf sniff her cup before she took a sip.

“That is a remarkably flavorsome tea. Where did you learn to brew it like that? I had not tasted such fine tea in years.”

Rooth had beaten it into my body. With a stick. If not for the insane recovery this body had and the water ring, I would be a living example of a violet plaid. Or at least my back and my hands would be. He had been a forgiving teacher in every other aspect, except for tea. Tea had to be made exactly right.

“In another time, far from here, nowhere near I wished to be.”

I added one of my fake smiles for a better effect and the wolf dropped the subject and enjoyed her tea.

“You called me both a curse and a blessing. The first one I can relate to, the other?”

“Sah, you need to ask? We are understaffed, our creditability is undermined, and my clerks are dropping like butterflies from overworking among other issues.”

She nudged her chin at Fire, yet again rummaging among the colorful bottles.

“Your arrival had probably cost me another employee so any help I can procure from you is a blessing.”

“I did not intend…”

“Do not give chase to that prey, it is Vittoria we are talking about. She had claimed to leave at least a dozen times. She will mop in her room for a while and be chasing a new skirt come spring. No, it is Zee I am worried about.”