Leomi and I stand there staring at Vikiana, my umbrella even slips off my shoulder to slowly fall to the ground. The veteran steps back with a thin smile on her lips. I witness my love grin at her from the corner of my eyes. I hesitate, not sure about what to do or think.
“Mother, did you just accept her?” Lance asks with a deep voice, the golden jay on her shoulder starts silently chirping.
“I don't oppose, acceptance will take some time and bruises.” Vikiana replies, her lips rising just a little.
“The two of you look more alike with short hair.” I comment and immediately feel silly.
Both tall women glance at me and then at each other. Small creases appear on Vikiana's forehead while Leomi frowns slightly. I blink uncertainly at their reaction which isn't merely underwhelming but puzzling.
Grace approaches and turns her book around, showing the word 'congratulations' before heading in the direction Yvonne left towards with Nahl looking rather preoccupied in tow.
“What have you done, my jay? Your name has reached my ears almost daily from indirect channels these past few weeks.” Leomi suddenly asks as she turns to me.
“I have simply been setting a foundation for your trap, my love.” I easily reply.
“... You can't be serious.” She says, paling. “Please.”
“I am, it is my decision. I'll only become more suitable to bait him as time passes and I advance my own plans.” I reply gently.
“What if I fail you?” Leomi asks, her expression heavy.
“You won't.” I reassure her with a smile.
“What if I do?” Lance insists with a dark voice.
“Then we'll deal with the consequences, kitten.” I tell her, unconcerned.
“Together.” Leomi acknowledges with a tiny nod.
“I'm the cute one, you're not allowed.” I protest and lean in to kiss her.
I feel her hands land on my waist as our lips meet, which is why it startles me when five fingers take hold of my wrist and stop me from cupping her breast. I open my eyelids and throw a look to my right, finding a stern Vikiana glaring at me. I slowly pull away with an awkward smile.
“You're supposed to be my bodyguard.” I remind her.
“I'm protecting you from me.” She replies, somehow managing to sound threatening despite her even voice.
Great, I can't even fire her now. The golden jay on Leomi's left shoulder silently chortles at my discomfiture. I glare at all three of them until I spot a group walking over from the east.
Rowland, Roisia, Cecil, Yvonne, Nahl, and Grace along with her four Justiciers. As I resent Vikiana and wait for them to arrive, Leomi orders her thousand Hospitaliers to return to their barracks to disarm before coming back.
The rest of the Council shows up in carriages, including the fat merchant whose name I think I forgot thrice, probably out of spite for him having so much food to stuff himself with, and Sybil Whytton whose name I recall because she's a pretty tall blonde on top of being a Councilwoman.
“Well, now it's a party.” I grunt.
“We can still...” She trails off.
As I was about to speak up, Leomi's head snaps to the east. I turn, finding a group of about forty Nobles and twice as many guards coming down the large street leading to the docks.
“We're going to have to delay.” Leomi murmurs sadly.
“Duty first?” I ask harshly.
“People first.” She corrects with a sigh.
“...” I exhale to let my building anger out, aware that I don't have any ground to argue on considering I have and will use that same priority, which has and will complicate our relationship.
In the lead is a lanky man with blond hair, he is wearing a royal blue shirt with the purple symbol 'IV' on the heart and white pants embroidered with golden threads. Worst of all, he has a fan in his left hand. There is a tough-looking middle-aged man with scars on his face and completely black clothes with two swords at his waist escorting the lanky man.
Following one step behind is a slender but taller man with black hair that corresponds to Huan Thrin's description. These Nobles form two groups, one from the Izla and one from abroad, there is no doubt in my mind that their appearance now is no coincidence.
“If they're who I think they are, I'll be spilling blood by nightfall.” We utter, experiencing a mind-splitting pain as blood rushes to our bruised brain.
“Not with those broken fingers you won't.” Leomi denies instantly, grabbing my hand and carefully squeezing it.
“It's fine.” I reassure her. “It won't hurt, me.”
“No, my jay.” Leomi affirms, turning to me. “Izla Meria cannot afford to get into open conflict with these Nobles, not if we want to survive. The leader is Prince Arkur Caroline of Telnur, the lithe man. He is a flow-smith for the fourth phalanx.”
“You expect us to stand there while they try to steal you from us?” I ask, barely holding myself back.
“They won't be, there is etiquette to follow on the first meeting. You can forget the stakes if you want, Jessica, but this matters to me. As much as you needed me to act in accord to the situation back at your village, I need you to do the same here.” Leomi argues calmly. I open my mouth to protest but she stops me by gently placing her index on my lips. “I'm only asking you to be civilized, not to bow down or be excessively polite. Same as I remained a Lady back home, you can remain a warrior here. Simply exercise some restraint.”
I grit my teeth and tear my eyes away to lock eyes with her. I reach around her waist and grab her right side with my forearm set in the small of her back. Leomi's smile stiffens as she likely realizes what I'm going to do.
I sidestep to her left side and kick the back of her knees. She falls backward, my forearm becoming the only support preventing her from hitting the pavement and rolling down the steps.
I suppress the flash of agony coming from my hand and absent left arm, which flares because of my desire to truly hold her, to lean in. I kiss her full on the mouth.
Her forearms soon appear on either side of my neck and she crosses her wrists between my shoulder-blades. The crowd falls quiet and then a loud whistle pierces the shocked silence, followed by amazed cheers.
“You go, girl!” Yvonne calls out. Unsurprisingly, the whistling ended a moment before she spoke.
“Don't encourage her.” Rowland says with a groan.
I pull Leomi back up, finding her rosy cheeks especially entertaining. She smacks my butt and turns to Yvonne. She shakes her head just slightly, causing my best-friend to glance at me.
I hesitate for a moment and then imitate Leomi, unwilling to get engaged now because it'll turn into a spectacle where I'll have to make a point instead of it just being about us. Grace turns her book around to show Leomi while pointing at the last line with her quill. 'I have work.'
“Any details to share yet?” Leomi asks. Grace shakes her head and heads off.
“What is she investigating?” I question.
“I don't know.” Leomi replies with an awkward shrug.
“Viki?” I turn to her but she simply stares back.
“I thought she was looking for Elizabeth Vil but she's asked about the chat I had with Viki.” Yvonne speaks up.
“Yvonne.” Vikiana says with a warning in her voice.
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“What? She gets to call you Viki, why can't I!?” The sword-sworn protests while pointing at me.
“Wait, she does?” Nahl asks while blinking in surprise.
“I do.” I confirm.
“She doesn't.” Viki denies.
“Don't listen to Viki, she's being shy.” I tell the rest with a serious voice.
Vikiana glares at me while Yvonne grins mischievously. The rest, Leomi included, stare at me and Viki with baffled expressions. The awkwardness lasts a while and only ends when Leomi turns to the group of Nobles.
I notice that they've stopped to chat with the Council while a large group of servants places two more tables near the main one and sets the tables. A group of muscular sailors carrying barrels soon shows up.
Master Amand steps out of the Temple with Alex and heads there, joined by Cecil. Only Rowland, Yvonne, Roisia, and Nahl remain here with us, with Vikiana standing back as an outsider. I give Leomi a pointed look to tell her that she should go now if she's going to leave.
“You're not coming?” Lance asks me with a hopeful look that almost changes my mind.
“Thrin is here to throw a wrench in your plans by relying on the influences they represent to suppress you and have you return his house's titles, which is clearly working considering you told me to behave. I'm the carriage that's trying to run him over so I can't be there when he tries to pressure you to make me move out of his way because you won't be able to deny involvement with my actions if I am.” I explain.
“And you don't want to go.” Leomi adds smilingly.
“I'll be watching from up here.” I tell her with a wink.
“Huan Thrin won't be able to use them to suppress me, they're here because they all need something from me.” She notes, raising her eyebrow like she's asking a question.
“Their presence is enough to bolster Thrin's case when he presents it considering they represent the traditional way of Nobility.” I argue.
“It might tip an Arbitration in his favor if added to the confirmation that Elizabeth Vil violated her exile.” Leomi continues in my place.
“That sounds naughty.” Yvonne whispers from a mere meter away, startling us both. We chuckle and turn to include her.
“Master Amand wouldn't judge in his favor, but another might and there are two other Masters in Meria right now.” Leomi mutters.
“Just tell the Thrin my actions are my own if it comes up. I'll deal with him myself when he reaches out to the Order.” I tell her.
“It'll be too late once he makes an official request.” Lance tells me with a frown.
“I don't plan to let him but, even if he does, it won't be too late for me to act.” I reassure her.
“Okay, I'll trust you.” Leomi agrees without even taking a moment to think.
Leomi picks up my umbrella by the rim and holds it out to me. I take hold of the handle with a grin and set it on my shoulder to watch her go down to the plaza, her thighs pushing her white and blue cloak with every step. I sit down where I am.
Yvonne soon pulls Rowland over and makes him take a seat beside me before dropping on his lap. The two grin at each other like idiots while Roisia and Nahl join us, sitting below me. Leomi quickly buries herself in the crowd, stopping to talk to people with a grin on her face as she relishes the attention.
Not far from her, Grace approaches a well-dressed woman in the crowd who has an air of resemblance to Tuala Hakarth with her four Justiciers. The woman panics slightly but soon relaxes and follows them.
“What is she up to?” I ask.
“Probably trying to track down how Elizabeth Vil managed to ambush Jessica Freepath in spite of the overwhelming odds against that happening.” Roisia quips, causing Yvonne to burst out in laughter while Rowland and Nahl look around with quizzical expressions.
“Viki!” I yell out, certain she sold me out because Roisia's pike is much too close to the fear I expressed for it to be a coincidence.
“Yes.” She replies. “No.” She adds after a pause. “What was the question?” She asks with a very serious tone.
“You're never going to let go of that yes and no thing, are you?” I ask, feeling defeated.
“No.” She responds gravely.
“You're fired.” I tell her. Roisia and Yvonne chuckle once more so I turn my attention to these two minxes. I suddenly realize that Cecil would have shown me a sealed order if there was one. “There's no decree of the Council making her my bodyguard, is there?” I ask.
“Not that I saw.” Roisia tells me with a laugh.
“Ugh. Liars, all of them.” I lament.
“It was a verbal agreement.” Vikiana speaks up. “And they're courtiers of a kind, those all lie as they breathe.”
I twirl my umbrella and sigh while observing the awkwardness on the plaza. Peasants are awkwardly keeping their distances from Nobility while the Bourgeoisie is trying to discreetly breach the gap without individually exposing themselves.
That situation strikes a stark contrast with how even those in beggar-like clothes seem to have no fear of approaching Leomi, not to the point where they block her way or touch her but close enough to personally greet her.
It provides me with some understanding as to why Leomi is so beloved by people, other than her beauty, charisma, and intelligence. She leaves most with joyful expressions, some appear disappointed but yet smile as they give up their spot.
I would have been worried about her safety if she wasn't so deadly with a sword and didn't possess reflexes close to the Little one's, but I'm pretty sure the crowd would rip assassins to shreds before she even got to draw. Wet smooching sounds reach my ears so I close my eyes, only to notice scratching sounds no doubt coming from Rowland's stubble.
“Would the two of you just go.” I complain with a grunt.
“Don't be jealous, her jay is staring at you. But you're right, she's almost there.” Yvonne berates. She leans over to whisper in my ear. “I'm glad Grace and you get along.”
She's the one who told Grace. Yvonne stands up and pulls Rowland to his feet. The two rush down the steps hand in hand to split the crowd in order to catch up to Leomi before she reaches the Nobles.
“These idiots are ignoring me, aren't they?” I speak up.
“You might have grandiosely claimed Leomi but the fact you're not with her now convinced them you're not a Noble so you don't factor in their calculations.” Roisia explains.
“That Prince has been looking over.” Nahl mentions.
“Oh?” I perk up, lifting my umbrella to take a good look to see if that Arkur is pissed enough to provoke.
“Thinking you're irrelevant doesn't mean they don't have their pride.” Roisia notes.
“Shit.” I swear and lower the umbrella.
“What?” Roisia asks, throwing me a glance over her shoulder.
“I can't provoke him, even silently. Leomi told me to be civilized.” I tell her.
“Uhla will never believe me when I tell her you can be.” Nahl says with a grin.
“The day isn't over, who says she's able?” Roisia counters.
The two burst out into laughter, which has the effect of attracting the tip of my boot to their backs. They continue but I ignore them because I am magnanimous, still, the chuckling attracts my boot to their butts next.
“Ah, they're on the move.” Roisia calls, clearly attempting to distract my boot which doesn't work because I'm definitely not kicking them. “I'm serious!” She adds.
I incline my umbrella up, finding the group of Nobles splitting to head for the tables. I enhance my eyesight to get a good look at that Arkur and Huan. They both have blue eyes and relatively pale skin that shows they spend their days indoors, the former's blond hair and distinct traits could make him obnoxiously attractive to women.
“Where do duels to the death place on the civilization scale?” I ask.
“Depends, how much do you want to make your acquaintance with Grace's hammer?” Roisia asks back.
“So...” I start.
“They're not on the scale and place just above murder really.” Nahl interrupts.
“That's too bad.” I murmur as Leomi extends her hand out to invite the Prince to take a seat at the main table.
Arkur doesn't immediately move there even though Lance chooses a chair on the left of Cecil who is sitting at the head of the table. He keeps talking while looking at the chair on her right and blocking Yvonne from taking it even though Leomi shakes her head. I take a few deep breaths and prepare to be impolite before pausing and tapping on Nahl's shoulder.
“Impoliteness is civilized when it's to prevent uncivil behavior, right?” I ask.
“I, maybe?” He answers.
“Good enough for me.” Roisia comments.
“That chair is ours!” I yell, using the royal pronoun because it amuses us.
“You forgot the title.” Nahl notes with a weak voice.
“Prince isn't a title.” Roisia argues.
Arkur slowly turns to me. His light blue irises are clear but his calm, almost dull, expression makes his gaze seem turbid. Yet, my eyes fly past him to fixate on his servant because the man changes posture, placing his right palm on his longsword's pommel. I feel a cold thrill travel down my spine.
“Dame Freepath is the one who organized this banquet.” Cecil speaks up, implying I have the right to claim a seat at the table.
Sybil, the fat merchant, and another three Council-members nod to add their support, meaning all but one of them have, but the most surprising part is that I can suddenly hear them all clearly as if they were next to me.
The crowd falls utterly silent, when merely our surroundings grew quiet after I yelled. Someone clearly activated a sound construct over the plaza. I resist the urge to make a stand against Nobility now, even though the situation would perfectly suit my plans.
Ruining hers, and damaging the Izla to make a point, would be counterproductive after all. As the Prince turns to Leomi, evidently ignoring me and the Council, I notice that Master Amand is watching the tough-looking swordsman with wariness. That's a sword-master.
I casually twirl my umbrella while Arkur and Leomi face off, showing how awesome it is to all the eyes scrutinizing me. Lance isn't going to talk first because the Council gave their opinion and we've said our piece after all.
“You allow peasants speech?” Arkur asks casually. He sounds arrogant, not in a fake way but in a way that comes from his very bones.
“This one is a warrior as well.” Leomi replies, making me proud because she didn't dismiss my status as the lowest of the born.
“That is an insignificant detail considering her reported origins and deeds.” The Prince briefly glances at Huan Thrin who pinches his lips and frowns in dissatisfaction once Caroline's eyes return to Lance. “Not to mention the circumstances.”
“The Lake gave people speech, who am I to restrain it?” Leomi questions with a toothy smile.
A quiet clamor goes through the crowd, interrupting the Prince who was about to retort. I can't help but chortle. I try to be discreet but the sounds resound throughout the plaza. Yvonne, standing by Leomi, gracefully hides her mouth with the back of her hand.