“Get up, you stupid fucking bitch,” says the voice, nudging me with its foot.
“What did you say?” The world swimming into view. A brief panic, casting Tracing and drawing Runic Shield on my arm. The shield winking into existence.
“I said get up, we need to go,” Magpie says, in a much more neutral tone.
Climbing out of the roll, moving out of eyeshot and popping a squat. Coming back and doing some quick morning calisthenics, trying to knock out the soreness from sleeping on the hard ground. Getting my pouch and cutting one of the leaves in half. Chewing for a minute, then swallowing. Stretching my arms one last time, and then getting my gear ready. Magpie still standing there, forced to watch the whole time. At the sight of the leaf coming out of the pouch, she had opened her mouth to say something but then closed it. Oh Magpie, you got dragged along for this and didn't bring any herbs, did you? Might give you some if you beg properly.
“Hey M- Grace, I was wondering, did you remember to bring along your herbs?”
Squinting at me.
“We don't got an Empath with us, do we? Didn't think I saw one. You're going to be a wreck if you don't have 'em. Maybe not today, but probably tomorrow.”
“How many of those leaves do you have?”
“I got plenty.” A big grin coming over my face. “Would you like one?”
Squinting her eyes even harder.
“What do you want for one?”
“I want you to tell me something.”
“Yeah, what's that?
“Yesterday they said you ended up drawing the short straw and had to come out here. What's that mean, exactly?”
“It means other people couldn't come. And then I got sold out by someone I used to really trust. That's three strikes now, so he's out.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“It means I fit all the criteria, and I'm pretty low on the totem pole so I didn't have a choice.”
“Come again?”
“I answered your question,” she says. “How about you make good and hand over the leaf.”
Squinting at her.
“You didn't.” Pausing, trying to come up with a suitable rephrase. “That doesn't explain why you had to come. What do they want you to do out here?”
“Escort the caravan. What else would I be doing?” Squinting at her even harder, now. “I actually have field experience, more than most of the people in the House, at least. So when Bee reminded them of that I ended up getting assigned to this.”
You have more experience than most of the people in the House? Guess that means there's only a handful of heavy hitters in the whole bunch. Granted, Davos did end up giving you the greenlight, so you're probably not entirely a slouch. Handing her one of the leaves.
“Bee is Adrian, by the way,” she says. “You looked like you were wondering. He was chatting with you last night. He can be a real sweet talker.” Carefully tearing the leaf in half and popping it in her mouth.
“Just so you know, he didn't sell you out. I heard you talking about frying me up.” Magpie giving no reaction, only continuing to chew. “He walked into me right after. Pretended to act real friendly, but only to keep an eye on me. He's definitely got a good routine, if I didn't know any better I may have been fooled.”
“Bee probably wasn't pretending.” Magpie speaking slowly, glancing down after swallowing the leaf. “He's actually a great guy. Did you really mean what you said last night?”
“About the scarab on your tongue? Yes.”
“No, I meant the other thing.”
“What other thing? Prying your mouth open to do it? In that case, also yes.”
“I meant about you saying you'd rather be friends than doing something like that to me!”
“I meant it, but you're going to have to earn it.”
“Oh, really?” Starting to lose her patience.
“Yeah. I just have one more question.”
“Would you hurry up already? I want to get breakfast.”
“Is there any reason you asked me for a leaf and, say, not one of them?”
“How could I ask them?” she snaps, finally losing it. “You're too fucking slow and I'm stuck here dealing with your retard ass.”
Is she serious? That's the reason?
“I'd like to be friends.”
Totally stunned. Bewildered. Face going slack and mouth slightly open.
“Yesterday Adrian called you Mags. That's a nickname, I assume. What's it short for?”
“It's nothing. Don't worry about it.” Muttering. “I don't want to talk about it.”
Dang. She's making me feel legitimately bad about busting her chops. It wasn't just me, it's been hard on everyone.
“C'mon, what is it?”
“Let's get going, there's not going to be anything left.”
“Well, I don't know if I feel like going until you tell me. Besides, I've got food in my pack so I'll be just fine missing breakfast. You remembered to bring some food along, didn't you?”
Her squint returning.
“How about this: I'm going to be extra nice to you today, I'll barely fuck with you at all. At the end of the day, you tell me what it's short for.”
“Those are your terms?”
“Yeah. You get everything up front. If you feel like I didn't hold up my end, you don't have to. Deal?”
Reaching out my hand, and her taking it.
“Whatever. Deal. Let's go.”
Heading over to where the rest of the group had already eaten. The tents all packed up and the merchants reharnessing the animals. Daniel glancing over at our approach, then resuming his conversation with one of the merchants. A small amount of eggs and potatoes left, a single sausage and some onions.
“See, there's barely anything left,” she complains.
“There's plenty of food, we'll put it all on one plate.”
“But then what are you going to eat?”
“Listen, you and I are going to be pals today. Let me see that plate. Watch this. ”
Grabbing both sides of the plate, casting Copy and filling it and the food with mana. Slowly pulling it plate apart. Wonder growing in Magpie's eyes as it separated, leaving two identical plates filled with food in each of my hands.
“Tah-dah. Breakfast. See? Plenty of food.”
Magpie taking the offered plate. The two of us sitting next to each other eating our food in silence. Getting my lemonade filled canteen and taking a sip, then offering her some.
“You two look like you're getting along better,” says Anderson, ambling over with Wallace and Greene. Magpie not looking up, simply continuing to eat her food.
“We're doing pretty good. We made it all the way to breakfast and, at this rate, we'll possibly even make it to lunch.”
“That's definitely progress. Grace, here is your knife back. You're going to have more opportunities to use it today. That actually goes for all of you. Once we hit the trail keep your eyes open. You two hurry up, we're going to be leaving in about fifteen minutes.”
The three of them walking away, toward the fort's now open gate. Some of the wagons beginning to roll out. Finishing my food, strapping on my pack and doing a final check. Magpie behind me, then something sharp giving me a poke, at the kidney. Her knife easily sliding through my light leather armor. Magpie, you've come a long way. Proud of you.
“Before we get going today, I'm letting you know that I'm not going to forget what you did last night,” she says.
“That's fine.” Taking in her determination. “Right now you have me at a disadvantage, because I'm still trying to be extra nice to you. I don't know how serious the rest of them took it, but I hope you understand my threat wasn't an idle one.”
Staring at each other, then the knife being withdrawn. “Just so you know,” she says.
“Fair enough.” Reaching out my hand again. “Friends?”
Magpie considering my hand with a sideways look, giving a slight shake of her head. Her hand meeting mine. “Friends.”
***
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“You two stay right there,” Anderson says, as he leaves the tent.
“Just how stupid are you?” says Magpie, after he'd stepped out.
“Me? They're the ones who tried pulling something like that in public. I'm not going to take it. How much did you even get?”
“From them? Nothing. You shouldn't be so sensitive. Them talking doesn't justify doing that.”
“Maybe next time they'll think twice.”
Sitting in silence for a few more moments, then Magpie reaching into her pocket and pulling something out.
“That second Windward wagon had some great stuff in it. I managed to get a couple of these while you were talking to them.”
Being handed something small dark and square. Looks and feels like, taking a taste, a piece of chocolate.
“Thanks. At least it wasn't a complete waste.” Sitting in silence some more, taking minuscule bites. “So what is your nickname, I figure I held up my end of the bargain, today.”
“Yeah,” Magpie says, hesitantly, “you actually did. I've been in Ishtar now for about five months. And it's been pretty good, I guess. But before that, for my first year, I was in the guild. That's where I met Bee. The Thieves Guild. And we really had a lot of fun.” Magpie stopping for a moment, looking away. “And they hated us, they hated our guts. But, at the time, that only made it more fun.
“So my nickname, I had to earn my name. I'd been in about six months - and it was Valentine's Day, not that they care about that here, but I remember the day - and we were running a job in the noble district, at one of the manors. It was me on lookout, Bee going in the back, and Sly going from the top. Sly was Bee's mentor when I first got in, and he took me under his wing. They had all of us working in teams.
“My job was to keep an eye out for anyone coming, and if they did come, to keep them busy. So something happens and, like, the entire town watch shows up. Bee is looking down at me from the second story window, and he's like, go take care of them. So I go to one of the rock gardens and I get some stones, and I start throwing them, and the guards are chasing me all around the grounds of this manor house in the middle of the night. Around and around. Long enough that Bee and Sly got what they were looking for and got out. Then I hopped the fence and we all met back up at the guild.”
“That's great, what'd they call you?”
“Magpie. It's a bird. I was too tough to catch, flying around.”
“You mind if I call you that?”
“Why?”
“What's a better than a name than one you actually earned? It's not like you just made it up on a whim or plucked it from the sky. Hey, Magpie.”
“What?”
“Nah, nothing, just trying it out.”
An actual, genuine smile lighting up her face for the first time this trip. Sitting in silence for a few moments. “Hey, Lucy, I was talking to Hugh, but I was just wondering about your name-”
“Alright,” says Daniel, as he and Anderson interrupt our chat by entering the tent. The two men coming around and sitting cross-legged in from front us. “Before we get to it, I do want to say that you both seem to be getting along much better. But, or I guess because of that, my order still stands.”
“Yes, sir.” “Okay,” a little belated by Magpie.
“Also, as far as today, I've heard good things about both of you from Hugh.”
“Grace,” says Anderson, “for your first expedition, you're doing very well. Keep it up. And Lucy, while that energy field seems quite strong at blocking attacks, there's no reason for you to run in. Your presence alone is valuable: those enhancements you have elevate the entire group.”
“I thought it was the best way to contribute. It makes a lot of noise and playing decoy allows all of you to do your thing better. And nothing today was particularly strong.”
“Tomorrow is going to be markedly more difficult. Keep that in mind.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, for the real purpose of this meeting,” says Daniel. “I am interested in hearing your side of the story, but Lucy, in the future, please refrain from threatening clients.”
“They deserved it.”
“Okay,” he says, sitting back a bit, “tell me what happened.”
“So me and Magpie were walking through the camp-”
“Who's Magpie?” says Anderson.
“She's Magpie.” Jerking my thumb at Magpie and giving him a look. Don't you know that?
Daniel and Anderson glancing at each other.
“So, anyway, like I was saying, me and Magpie were walking through the camp, minding our own business-”
“We were asking around to see if anyone had any spices for sale,” Magpie adds.
“And from asking around, I don't think anyone does.”
“Why were you looking for spices?” says Anderson.
“I don't know who packed the food for the trip, but it's pretty bland. I'm not the greatest cook, but with some minor additions, some basics - pepper - I was thinking we could do a lot better. Those merchants are bringing all sort of stuff and I'm surprised I couldn't find any, to be honest. Windward actually filled a couple of their wagons with ice, one of them is totally stacked with fresh fish, but nobody seems to have any spices for sale going in this direction. Guess I need to wait until we hit Tasnanca.”
Daniel and Anderson glancing at each other.
“So, to get back to the story, we were on our way back from asking around, and then these guys come up to us-”
“They were from the Four Corners Merchant Company,” Magpie adds.
“Yeah, so like she said, these Four Corners losers come up to us acting all important, which just rubs me the wrong way. And then they accuse Magpie of taking some of their merchandise. Let me tell you, I've been tethered to this girl all day, she hasn't taken shit. She doesn't even have anywhere to put whatever it is they're carrying.”
Daniel and Anderson glancing at each other.
“So, anyway, they said some pretty unreasonable things-”
“They said we needed to pay them back for what they were missing,” Magpie chimes in. “And they wanted to search us.”
“Yeah, but that's not what they said. They said, and I quote, 'A couple Ishtar sluts won't mind working off the debt.' Well, I ain't putting up with that. Not from them. No fucking way.”
“And that's why you threatened to gouge out their eyes?” says Daniel.
“Figured that'd be sufficient for getting the message across. But then they went and tattled to you, so I guess not.”
Daniel taking a deep breath and looking around the tent. Anderson fighting to keep his mouth still.
“And that spell you used. That's the same thing you used on Mag- Grace last night, right?”
“It's entirely nonlethal. If we were in town, probably only an assault charge.”
“You shouldn't say that so lightly. An assault charge is fairly serious.”
Magpie's face mirroring my own.
“You see, the thing is,” Daniel presses on, “they told me you had enhancement magic, and then you go and whip out something like that. Is there anything else you're holding back?”
“Of course, I'm not a one trick pony. But it's mostly utility, and then the spell I've been using to make these,” pulling out one of the disjuncted stones. “We're only making like ten gold each for this run. These'll be a very nice bonus for everyone.”
“You mind using that freezing spell on me right now?” says Daniel, not at all distracted by my attempt to change the topic.
Rolling the stone around in my fingers. He's going to think it requires touching him to use it. Not entirely wrong, but he won't know the full range it has, or the limitations. Misinformation of the best kind, partially true.
“Sure, but you're probably going to resist it.” Reaching out a gloved hand, activating the Rune Trap stitched on the back of the glove and touching him.
Daniel not freezing in place, instead putting his hands out to steady himself, looking woozy.
“This is resist-” he starts to say, then stopping. Steadying himself, trying to hold down his dinner. Passing within fifteen seconds. “That was like instant sea sickness.” The man reevaluating me, and blinking away the tears in his eyes. “Right, I think we've covered everything. Be more circumspect in the future.”
Everyone standing up, opening the tent and the cool night air from the desert wind blowing in.
“Hey, this might be really late to ask, but I didn't realize it was going to be so cold in the desert. Do you guys have an extra tent, I don't think Magpie has one.”
“No,” says Daniel, glancing at Anderson, who also shakes his head.
“We could always bunk up with those Four Corners guys,” says Magpie, with a glint in her eye.
“We could probably kick them out of their own wagon.”
“That might not be as fun.”
“No,” Daniel says. Scrubbing a hand through his short hair. “Stop whatever it is you two are planning. Magpie - Grace - you can bunk with Hugh,” the glint in her eye smoldering, and Anderson voicing no objection. “And Lucy, you can-” Shaking his head. “Fifteen feet. You're going to be in here with me.”
His casual command sending my stomach tumbling. Had signed up for this going with Ishtar. Yesterday, when first meeting up with Anderson, Wallace and Greene, they'd been licking their chops, looking at me like a fresh piece of meat. Spooking me. Almost bailing right then, but unable to do it with Magpie standing right next to them. Then, last night, planting my flag, threatening the entire group via my nonapology. Staying awake afterwards, clutching the knife and waiting for them to descend. But nobody had come.
Today had been like a fresh start, both for them and for me, but that first impression isn't easy to forget. But Daniel, on the other hand... he'd seen me more like a burden than anything else. A far less objectionable starting point. Considering him now, and a small spot of excitement blooming.
“Yes, sir.”
Heading back with them to the campfire and catching the tail end of dinner. The temperature on this side of the mountains noticeably cooler, the night sky above clear and full of stars. Listening to the conversation of the group, with more bottles being passed around. Tonight actually taking a few sips to calm my nerves and the liquor burning on the way down. Serena and one of the members of her group getting up and acting out their confrontation with the Lord of the Mountain earlier in the day. Serena, well past tipsy, really getting into it and hurling a ball of fire into the air above, the explosion momentarily filling the encampment with light and sound. Slapping a hand over her mouth, trying to hold back her surprised laughter, her face beet red. Apologizing profusely while being sat down, getting put in time out, and the story wrapping up soon after. The general ambiance suffused with good feelings and camaraderie.
People slowly leaving the fire and heading to bed. Magpie and Anderson starting to head off, Daniel glancing over at me. Coming? Gathering my belongings and swallowing down my remaining nervousness and reservations.
With only the two of us, the tent seeming even smaller than when there had been four. Watching him remove his armor, setting it off to the side. Then pulling off his shirt, his back to me, lean and muscular. My mouth going dry.
“Are you going to get ready for bed?” The man only in his underwear, and his question bringing me back into the moment, sending my eyes upward to meet his.
Turning around and removing my weapons and unbuckling each piece of armor. Stacking them all in a neat pile. My clothing next, each piece taking longer than the last. Fingers on my panties, taking a deep breath, but unable to drop them. Glancing back, Daniel already in his bedroll, the cool air tantalizing on my exposed flesh. Crawling in with him.
“What are you doing?”
“Isn't this what you wanted? I thought this was why you ordered me to sleep in here.”
The man sitting up. “You need to understand something. You, and everyone else here, are under my charge this trip. And you're a prospective. I have an added responsibility to look out for you. I didn't ask you to sleep in here for this.”
“Would you like me to leave?”
The man laying back down. “No. You can stay like this if you want to stay warm.”
Laying next to him, my head on his shoulder and my hand on his stomach. From the tent over, Magpie's voice giving out little cries, then getting progressively louder.
“Is this a discipline kind of thing?”
“Something like that,” he says.
“Would you like me to test it?” My hand starting to move down.
Reaching my destination, full and hard. Giving him a squeeze. “No.” His hand gently, but firmly, removing mine. Effortlessly rolling me to face away, but then pulling me back in close. “Go to sleep.”
A touch of disappointment, but quickly forgotten. Laying against him, skin to skin, feeling him pressing against me. Listening to Magpie and Anderson in the tent over for what feels like forever, and then the night growing quiet. Daniel's breathing becoming steady and regular. Closing my eyes. Being comfortable and warm.