The sideways alley where Rosha pulled me stank of rotten garbage, plenty of which was lying around, and was so narrow that two people would have troubles walking shoulder to shoulder here. No one bothered to cut windows with the sight on this place, either.

Rosha let go of me as soon as we were hidden inside from the eyes of onlookers and gave her eyes one last rub before furiously blinking away tears. She stared up at me with a frown and planted her hands on her hips.

“Listen, Voren. I’m sorry you got dragged into it, but, well… It’s really not your business, okay? It’s cool that you wanted to help, but I’m not in trouble. Just forget about it.”

I looked down at her and crossed my arms over my chest. The cogwheels in my head, temporarily disabled by the cloud of lust, shifted into thinking position. Rosha smelled of onions because she used them to make herself cry.

She wasn’t in trouble, and she didn’t look like a person who would act so helplessly even if she was. She went for that Teren guy, acted like she heard about him, but it was just as likely that she knew him… He didn’t know her, though, but these two weren’t mutually exclusive.

In other words, this woman was playing that Teren guy, or trying to. More importantly, since she wasn’t in trouble, I didn’t have a chance to get into her bed by saving her. I scowled in frustration, leaning closer to Rosha as I studied her face.

She looked even prettier when angry. But would she look that pretty when afraid? Oh, what a dilemma.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that, pal. You just got there like a third wheel.” Was it sweat glistening on her temple? Was she afraid now under that tough attitude?

A hunter’s instinct in me rose and made me step towards her. Rosha backed away, but there wasn’t enough space. Just a step, and she hit her head onto a wall. “I don’t know what your scheme was, Rosha, but what else did you expect from it?” I asked her, honestly wondering. “Who wouldn’t want to save such a beautiful girl like you?”

She blushed, looking somewhere past me—another crack in her tough facade. But in the next second, she regained her composure and hid her emotions, besides irritation and anger, away again. “Well, if you are still up to it, you can help me, Voren. Since you busted me, I will need it.”

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I grinned. Now we were getting somewhere. “And what will I get in return, Rosha?”

“I don’t have much money, but I can pay you some, and,” she threw a glance at my tunic, “fix up your equipment. You really look in need of a decent armour. Or are you a robe guy? I pegged you for a rogue, but maybe you are a monk?”

I pulled back a little, disappointed with what I read in Rosha’s eyes—business. That was just boring. “I don’t care for armour or gold,” I bit off, but then smiled again. “Just pay me with your body instead.”

I expected Rosha to blush again, but to my surprise, she just scowled. “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely.” I gave her a level look. “What do you need with Teren, Rosha? Rob him, murder him, kidnap him? Whatever it is, I don’t care, but I imagine other people would. Teren himself, especially.”

Now she paled. “You…” Rosha closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Alright. Let’s talk more about this at my place.”

⠀⠀

We didn’t go there straight away. First, Rosha pulled me into another, even danker alley, where she spent ten minutes pulling weapons out of hidden nooks under stones and old wooden crates. Light swords, charged and primed crossbows, daggers… Yes, that looked like murder. There was quite a heap, but Rosha hauled them on her shoulder with little effort.

After this Rosha brought me to a one-storey building, the signboard on which read in bold red letters, “Rosha’s Weapons & Armour”. We came from a back entrance, and as soon as we stepped in, I was met with a high-pitched cry.

“Rosha! You’re back!” A blur of pink and white barrelled towards Rosha and enclosed her in a hug. Then, the blur lifted her head, and I saw her face, a face of a stunning your girl.

She was so much not like Rosha that it was a surprise to notice anything similar in their features. They had the same nose, but different eyes (the girl’s were of a clearer blue, like a spring sky), different hair (the girl’s was pastel pink and went down to her shoulder blades), different lips (the girl’s were just as pretty pink as her hair). The girl wasn’t as toned as Rosha, either.

There were sisters, I guessed, but might’ve as well have been cousins or just friends.

“Hi, Risha,” Rosha said, patting her sister—I was sure now—on her head with a sad smile. “How have you been doing?”

“I’m—” Risha paused and finally noticed me. Immediately, she shifted a little, putting Rosha between herself and me. “Who’s that, Rosha?”

I smiled at her. What an innocent, fearful creature. Like a rabbit. She put my hunting instincts on overdrive, but I didn’t miss the way Rosha put a hand around her protectively. “I’m Voren,” I said, friendly. No reason to raise anyone’s alarm, yet. I will jump if I don’t get what I want without too much hassle.

For now, I stayed put. I couldn’t imagine having friends, but there was something to be said about good allies ready to satisfy my needs when I needed them to.

“He came to help us. You,” Rosha said. “Come, Voren, let me explain you the things.”