“Thanks for walking me all the way back,” says Wolfe, while still looking around in starry eyed wonder. “I definitely understand now why this stuff is so addicting.” Kicking her shoes off in the entry, next to a larger haphazardly discarded pair.
“It's nice. It's like all your cares and worries just fly out the window, and everything seems great, and everything seems like a great idea. It's best to mentally take a step back, because it's real easy to just go ahead with whatever. That's why I, um, hurried us out of there before midnight.”
“Totally fine by me,” she says. “They were starting to get- they really seem happy together. And now,” stretching her arms out, “since it looks like Matt made it back, I'm gonna sober him up some.”
“Enjoy.”
“I'm planning on it.” Wolfe starting to giggle, but her eyes now avoiding my face. “Lucy, I want to say, I'm glad we met.” Her eyes coming up to meet mine, then looking away. Coming a little closer. “I was totally lost after ending up here. I've never been very good with, and Evie caused this big blow up, and...” Her eyes coming up again to meet mine, then looking away. “And I didn't know what to do, and everything's gotten much more, I don't know... I just wanted to, um...” Right in front of me now, and leaning in for a tentative kiss directly on my mouth. Soft and gentle, with a lingering taste of sweetness. Getting lost in the moment and starting to kiss back. Leaning into it and getting more than a handful of- Wait, hold up. Pulling back. Wolfe, freckles even more apparent, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth. Giggling.
“Shit, I, um,” she resumes giggling, not at all embarrassed. “Shit, shit. That wasn't what I was going for, but, if you want...”
“Kate, don't worry about it.” My own face feeling a few degrees too warm. “For the record, I'd totally consider it. You look great, you're really getting in fighting shape. And, I never imagined I'd ever say anything like this, but I'm jealous of your, um... so I'd definitely consider it, as a one time thing, or maybe more, if Matt wasn't here.”
“If Matt wasn't here” Wolfe says, stepping back, recalibrating and recentering herself. “You're right. Lucy, no offense, you're really pretty, and it does sound like it could be a fun change of pace, but you're right. But then, why not something even more adventurous? I was thinking about that on the way over. I know they have brothels here but, I mean, those are for men - and men can be so basic. There's got to be something for women.”
“It's called a bar, Kate.”
“That's not,” Wolfe smiling in spite of herself, “that is truly basic. I was thinking more than that. Something exotic. I want to be pampered by manservants and fed grapes.” Her earnest declaration causing me to crack up. “It doesn't have to be grapes! Whatever. But that's more in line with what we should be doing here, right? Not stuck in this one town. Ishtar seems like it has some good people, that one girl aside, and I guess I'm jealous of you going on that trip and getting to experience all those things.”
“It was pretty good, but Tasnanca is not what I'd call a relaxing destination. But there are other places to do, well, not what you said,” rolling her eyes, “but all sorts of stuff. There's this village up in the mountains a few days north of here - but actually getting up there is dangerous. There are these much easier to get to other little villages all along the road heading west. There's Ossen, which is this group of volcanic islands not too far off the coast. It has hot springs and beaches. For a vacation, Ossen may be your best bet, but be ready for some culture shock. Here, in town, they've mostly gotten used to us, but everywhere else they still call us Outsiders.”
“Outsiders?”
“They think we're visitors from another world.” Pointing above my head. “And we really stick out - to them - because they can see our surnames floating just above us.”
The girl peering at the space just above my head. “I don't see anything.” Of course you don't. “You know, you keep doing that. Spouting off about everything like you know everything. I couldn't help but notice it a number of times today.”
“That's, well...”
“I know you've got a reason.”
“I'm going to come clean, but I don't want everything to be all fucked up between us when I do.”
“It won't be.”
“Kate,” taking in a deep breath and looking at the ceiling, “it might be. I won't think less of you for it - I'll try not to, at least - but the longer I take to tell you, the longer I know I'll keep you as a friend.”
“How are you even managing to be a downer right now? You need to smoke another bowl.” Her hand flying to cover her mouth. “This stuff really is addictive, isn't it?”
“It is, so think twice before deciding to make it a habit. More often than once every couple cycles can really start a spiral. Listen, I've got an early morning ahead of me so I've gotta run. Have a good night.”
“I'll see you in a few days.”
Turning to leave and a thought striking. “Could you also try and get Evie on board tomorrow? Somehow. I'm heading to Ishtar for a chat in a couple days and I'll try talk to Magpie while I'm there.”
“I'll try, but I'm not even sure how to approach it.”
“That seems like it'll be the biggest issue.”
Leaving Wolfe's apartment and starting to head in the direction of my own. Deviating out of habit, moving further north and heading west. Too far west. Several blocks away realizing my unconscious destination. Stormhawk.
Mentally kicking myself. Back at Ishtar it would have been so easy to stay another fifteen minutes and then deliberately run into Daniel when he got in. But that would have ended badly. Either rejected flat out, or fucked like some slut – possibly even passed around some – and then thrown out on my ass. And Kate, my responsibility for the evening, possibly right there alongside me due to Melder's drug induced suggestibility. Or possibly, almost worse than the pump and dump scenario, instead being unconditionally reinvited to join the House - the only condition being that every move would now be watched by the likes of Serena, or whoever else, and Daniel would never be mine. An unacceptable arrangement, all around. Much better to avoid that kind of temptation entirely.
And now, right now, only a few streets away from House Stormhawk, strictly for a booty call. A deliberate violation of my own stated rule - not even a cycle after declaring it. A couple months from now, if we last that long, would be one thing. Revisit the rule and relax it a bit. Come by here and there. But right now? May as well just say none of my declarations mean anything, and that he can do whatever. Doing something stupid would definitely mess everything up between us. If not sooner, then definitely later - if we even last that long.
Well, in that case, if it's not going to last, why not visit him right now? Continuing on for several more steps before mentally kicking myself again. Get it together. Heading straight for my apartment.
***
Standing at my door, doing a final inventory check before heading out to the West Gate. Pouch with a stack of leaves, two servings of that awful green tacky substance, four torches, a very small spool of spider's silk, a regular rope, fifty feet. Grappling hook? No grappling hook. Need to get one for next cycle. Two boxes of matches, one mostly empty. A partially filled pouch of disjuncted stones from the time spent underground on day two and yesterday. Had forgotten to sell this specific pouch due to the smell at Ink's. Tossing it onto my counter next to the pile of shoe soles that hadn't even been started.
Anyway, two empty pouches, a money pouch filled with maybe seventy silver, one water filled canteen, one soon to be filled empty canteen. Needle. Where's the needle? There it is. My knife with the red glow in its usual sheath on my torso. Backup knife in its sheath at my hip. New hatchet comfortably resting on my other hip in a belt loop. The hand axe had cost fifteen hundred forty silver, with noticeably more weight than the slightly more expensive one, but with the rune making things feel lighter, easier to swing and much sharper, should get more bang by using the heavier material. New, but soon to be replaced, mountain boots. New, more breathable, but less completely water resistant clothing. My usual light leather armor and a forest green cloak.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Forgetting anything? Probably. Out the door at half past six and heading in the direction of the West Gate. Stopping by a bakery and getting two loaves of bread and a muffin. Getting some cold cuts and cheese wrapped up at the attached deli, and a smaller portion of cold cuts and cheese for right now. Apples, a lot of apples. Getting two of those. Three. Eating one on the go. Plenty of apple juice still around. Filling the canteen.
Arriving at the West Gate at five past seven. Wilde there, waiting, but otherwise basically deserted. Likelihood of betrayal today? Low. He's undoubtedly going to get questions about me later, both from Sam and from Stormhawk. Probably under explicit orders from his House. If not explicit, then certainly implicit. But what are his reports going to consist of? Cocksucking skills improving and moans like a whore. The perfect kind of disinformation: fun to do, and completely true.
Davos, certainly, won't understand - wouldn't have understood, myself. But let them think what they will, and plant those little seeds of doubt. Underestimate me. Put me in the non-threatening category, at least in the doesn't-need-to-be-dealt-with-right-now category. Give me some more breathing room and some more time. Hopefully leave me alone altogether. And, in the meantime, try and convert this one, with honeyed words and honeyed lips and money in his pocket. And then who will be watching who?
“Lucy, good morning,” he says. On my tippy toes for a quick kiss. “The first thing I want to do is get my new wolf, but then I'm all ears, where do you want to head today?”
“Where are you planning on doing that?”
“There's a den a bit of the ways to the north, I need to get one of the pups.”
“How about we save that for on the way back.” Wilde opening his mouth to respond, but stopping at my upheld hand. “Since it's our first time out, I was thinking not too far away, maybe get back here by four. We'll have plenty of time for us to sell everything, and we'll have plenty of time for you to get your wolf.”
Glancing away and mulling it over for a moment. “So where to?”
“I was thinking the Misty Falls, near the mountains on the north side of the Haunted Forest. Focus mainly on the lurkers, and hopefully you can track down a couple of those stags.”
“That's awfully close to the Spider Temple.”
“We'll give that place a wide berth. Maybe hit the southern end of the forest but then we'll go around and come in from the east. Maybe hit some spiders on the way up, but we should be far enough away to avoid any patrols. That's actually one of the benefits of the falls, not too many people are going to wander by.” Giving him a little grin.
“Okay, sounds good.” Returning the grin.
“So I guess its time for me to fill you in on some of my little tricks.” Raising an eyebrow. “Some of the other ones. The easiest way to explain is that it's enhancement magic, it makes things more effective. Let me see your sword and, after that, let me see your bow.” Holding out my hand with a placid expression.
The slightest hesitation at handing over his sword - would have missed if not paying special attention. Definitely not one of the dumber ones. Probably have to have some kind of street smarts to make it out there. This might be entertaining. Likelihood of imminent betrayal? Probably even lower.
“You saw my drawing trick earlier. I use that to draw these.” Painstakingly drawing the rune on the blade. Extremely minimal erasure permitted. “And then I activate it. Hold on, it takes a moment.” How long this can this sandbagging be kept up for? Pause, two, three. Activating the rune. “And there, the rune is activated. Oh, let me remove the writing.” Using my hand to wipe it. Mentally willing the writing to disappear where my hand touches. “And there, your weapon is now enchanted.” Handing it back over.
Wilde taking back the sword, taking a few practice swings, pulling off his glove and testing the edge. Accidentally cutting himself on the much sharper edge. Very surprised. The proof is definitely in the pudding, but there's no need for him to know exactly how it's made.
“This is definitely different,” he says. “You can do this for the bow, too?”
“And maybe for your arrows. Let me see your quiver.”
Doing the bow first. Kindergarten drawing. Already getting impatient. This is not going to last. Looks like he's still busy testing the sword. Making a little black spot and then removing the pieces to create the rune. Activating it. Pretending to use my hand to wipe away the rune. The arrows, all or nothing. Either they all get it, or none do. Making sure the quiver is turned away from him, small black spot, removing to leave the rune. Activating. It took. Hopefully an enchanted quiver produces magic arrows. Wiping it away.
“Here you go, we're all good.”
“So you have to draw the rune in order to have it activate it. Is that why you've got that design on the back of your glove?” Glancing between my two hands. “Your one glove.”
Definitely not one of the unobservant ones. Didn't want to have to show him this, but he already knows from experience - and other people know as well. There's bound to be talk circulating. Time for another limited hangout for the upcoming question.
“Yep, that's why.”
“Okay, cool, I was just wondering. You ready to get going?”
“Yep, ready to go.”
***
“This place is amazing,” he says, while chowing down on his lunch.
The two of us sitting at the top of the falls, on a rock jutting outside the mist. A place these monsters typically wouldn't try to approach when hunting prey. In addition to being safe - safer - it also has an excellent view of the surrounding countryside.
“It's a great place for lunch, but I still can't believe you found one, let alone two of them.” The antlers stick out of his pack, and the pure white stones the stags turned into are in mine.
“Much more pleasant to deal with than the lurkers,” he says. “Hopefully, before we leave, I'll manage to find another one. There's a lot stuff out here people miss.”
Two of the items on the list. The quite elusive White Mist Deer, and the other thing skulking around the falls, Mist Lurkers. Producing a not so healthy looking, sickly purple grey stone, and the main reason for brining an entire stack of healing leaves. His arrows, proving invaluable, and my hand axe, the best decision in a long time. Always satisfying.
“I was hoping lunch would be a little more relaxing than this. When we get back can you give me several hours to deal with some stuff and get cleaned up. I'll meet you for dinner at nine. We'll go to some inn.”
“Nine?” he says. “How about we grab something quick and skip dinner?”
“Let's play it by ear.”
***
“Can you hear me? You there?” The voice intruding on the blackness. Laying on my side, the familiar taste of the leaf in my mouth. Continuing to chew. Forcing my eyes open. Wilde, kneeling, looking down at me. Trying to say something but only a mumble coming out. “That thing knocked the hell out of you and sent you flying. How're you feeling?” Swallowing. The intense pain in my side where the hit had squarely landed slowly beginning to diminish. Any broken ribs? Taking a few deep breathes. Probably need some of that green goop. My strength returning, somewhat. Finding the energy to gingerly sit up.
“I'm okay. These things are a bit over my level.”
“I don't suppose that's information you'd care to divulge,” he says.
No harm in telling him, it'd be easy math to figure out, anyway. And better that they know. More deterrence.
“I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”
“Nineteen,” he says, after a moment.
“Very close to sixteen.”
“You're fifteen?” Wilde taking in a deep breath. “You were fifteen when we dueled, right?” Nodding again, and the guy letting out the long breath. “I want a rematch.”
“A fight to the death?”
“Hell no. And no flares. They stopped allowing that shit for a reason.”
“Not interested in those stakes. But thanks for patching me up.”
“Fine,” he says, grudgingly, “I'll give you your fight to the death. But no flaring weapons.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“That sounds fun, let's say we do it in a few cycles. I'll probably be nineteen by then, roughly about there, anyway. Get as far as you can. I'm chasing you.”
“As far as I can?” he says. “My House duty is going to make that difficult.” Pausing. “So how about next cycle we leave town on day four, hit the road at like three thirty and aim for something a bit out there and camp out for the night. It'll be a good time.”
“Sounds great.” An amazed, essentially childlike grin appearing at my quick acceptance. “I'll come up with something. A couple of the things on that list only come out at night.”
Getting to his feet and reaching a hand down to help me to mine.
“You alright?” Nodding at him while keeping my teeth gritted. At least one of my ribs is definitely fractured, or possibly broken. Rooting around for the tin of green goop. “Then let's start heading back,” he says, “I need to stop by that wolf den.”