The party met in the main room, cleansed, dried and cloaked, it felt good to be refreshed. Kaleb felt naked without the pendant and his heart still burned with rage for the predicament he had landed in. The anger was toward himself for being so stupid and to the Orc who had pinched it, though Esme would find herself playing the funnel for the entirety of it. Kaleb and Iridia explained the situation to Flencer and Morgan who also felt rather silly for being tricked by the unscrupulous Vince.

Two Orc guards stood beside Esme as she addressed the invigorated group, “Our plan of action should be to gain entry—”

Kaleb raised his hand, “Our plan of action is to re-equip, I need a good smithy for this hammer, Flencer here needs a new crossbow, we are also very hungry, so have your lackeys prepare something.”

An Orc stepped forward, “I ain’t no—uugh!”

Kaleb grabbed his jaw and shoved two thick fingers down his throat, he spoke with venom that could only have fermented in the heart of the staunchest Paladin when addressing what was considered a heretical race, “You are a festering pustule on the arse of this blighted plane,” He pushed his head back and made the Orc whine, “You have forgotten your manners when in the presence of your betters,” The Orc fell to his knees, “If you so much as grunt without my permission, next time I will remove your jaw, is that clear?”

The Orc feebly nodded, “Uh huh.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Yiiish, muh lurd.”

Kaleb pushed his head away and wiped his hand on the breast of the other Orc, “We are hungry, feed us.”

Esme bit her lip and nodded, she helped the Orc up and guided them both out of the way, instructing them in hushed tones. She returned to address Kaleb, “Your cruelty won’t get you that far here, Kaleb, perhaps when we venture out you’ll show a little more tact, most aren’t used to speaking with Paladins.”

“I am not responsible for these monsters.”

“They aren’t monsters,” She sneered, “Let’s go, I know a smithy,”

Iridia walked beside Morgan as they followed behind, “Kaleb seems, angrier than usual.”

Morgan offered her a glance, “Indeed, I’ve only seen him worked up like this once before.”

“What happened?”

“He had a spat with a councilman, I don’t know the details but…do not be offended my lady, if he lets he temper out on you.”

“I think Esme is in his sights,”

Morgan nodded, “She is playing with fire, if given the chance I am certain he’ll hang her, I imagine he’ll have you do it.”

Iridia took in the sights and a lung full of salty air to calm her nerves. The city had become islets of stone connected by bridges of various materials, some engineering considerably more dubious than others. A central island with stone bridges and guards held a golden spire, much like the ones in Angelspree.

“Isat where the Paladins live?” Flencer pointed.

“For now.” Said Esme.

They arrived at an open-air blacksmith where a blackened Human clinked away at his anvil, he looked up at the hooded arrivals and paused his work, recognising Esmse, “Hello, need something?”

Esme was about to speak but Kaleb had already pushed in front, from under his cloak he showed him the Hammer of Zale, Morgan moved around and gave him the broken piece. “I’d like this repaired.”

The smith gave Esme a look who in turn nodded, “Right you are…” He took up the steelhead and haft and inspected the damage, “This is a clean cut, and it’s steel…”

“It is clear you are a worthy artisan with such perceptiveness.”

The smith ignored the sarcasm of the irritated Kaleb, “What could do this?”

“Whatever it was, it wasn’t enough to deal with me,” Kaleb’s scarred face told a story and the smith nodded.

“Right you are, I’ll fix her up proper like.”

“It’s a boy,” Iridia quipped,

The smith looked at her,

“The hammer that is, it’s a boy…”

“Right you are, young lady.”

Flencer held back a chuckle as he inspected a rack of bows and crossbows.

“Pick the one you like best Flencer, Esme is shouting us for this.”

She folded her arms and cocked her hip, “We don’t have all the coin in the port.”

Kaleb laughed, “Nary mind the harlot, she can just do another night's work and fill our coffers if we overspend.”

Esme gritted her teeth and bit back the words she had for him, swallowing them down, Iridia could see that Kaleb’s barbed tongue was beginning to claw away at her temper and she felt a trickle of sympathy for her. She was reminded of how Kaleb made her feel when she was placed in his stewardship. “Don’t take it personally, Esme…”

Esme looked down at the humble peace offering Iridia had offered, “Your master is a scoundrel.”

“He’s quite lovely when you get to know him.” Iridia struggled to get those words out without sounding sarcastic.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“I know him, I know Paladins very well.”

“I’m a Paladin.”

“No, you’re not a Paladin.”

Iridia flushed and frowned, she was about to speak but Esme finished her thought.

“I see too much kindness in you, when you are embittered by the oath you’re forced to keep, then you’ll be a Paladin…then you’ll be like Kaleb.”

Morgan placed his hand on Iridia’s back as Esme walked away to perch herself on a bench and smoulder. “I think you will grow to be a kind and fair Paladin, Iridia.”

“Maybe she’s right, I almost sent you away didn’t I?”

He chuckled, “But you didn’t.”

“Not this time.” She looked over at Kaleb and Flencer who were bonding over killing tools.

The party returned to the hideout shortly after, the Orcs had prepared food and they ate heartily like vultures fighting over the last strands of sinew.

“I think it’s time we discussed our plan.” Esme sat cross-legged on the wooden floor where everyone ate, not touching a morsel.

“I’ll hear it.” Kaleb rolled his tongue through his teeth to clean them.

“We need to have a bridge lowered to get you inside.”

“How do we lower a bridge?”

“From the inside.”

Flencer spat out some gristle into the bowl of chicken and Morgan gave him a death stare, “I reckon I see a hole in your plan.” the Dwarf hummed as she suckled a bone clean.

“I know a way to get inside, but only someone slight could get through, sorry Kaleb and Flencer, but that'll be a job for Morgan and Iridia here.” she pointed at them with her open palm.

“Me?” Iridia looked around the group warily.

Esme nodded with a rueful smirk, “I can show you the way, you have a slender boyish shape so you’ll get right in.”

Iridia’s eyes flashed wide, “You’re a bit of a cow, you know that?”

Esme placed her hand on her chest, “Me?”

“Yeah, you, you’re just like Kaleb.”

Kaleb spoke with a mouthful of meat, “Me?”

“Yes!”

Flencer and Morgan laughed and Iridia shot them a dark glare.

“Anyway, Kaleb, you make a scene out front, get the guards all riled up.”

“How might I do that?”

“Use your imagination, you seem like an expert at pissing people off.”

Flencer raised a finger, “Esme is right, you truly are a master in such craft.”

Kaleb sneered, “Get back to eating hog.”

Morgan was covering another snigger,

“Something funny, tadpole? You’re going to be crawling on your belly, earning your keep at least.” Kaleb put a stop to his laughter, there was a stiffness in that tone which conveyed his ire. Morgan knew all too well when to drop something.

Esme rolled her eyes, “Make a scene, have them address you.”

“A spectacle, isn’t that what your owner said?”

Esme eyes narrowed, “He isn’t my owner.”

“Sure,” Kaleb bit into a chicken leg.

Esme bit her tongue once more.

“I think I ‘ave an idea,” Flencer said proudly. “I reckon you need to get Kaleb lookin’ like a proper dopper Paladin,” he sniffed and bit into a potato, speaking through a mouthful, “Right, get him all shiny, ‘ave him make a claim to the house an all that, that’ll piss em off and everyone will see.”

Esme nodded, “Good idea, I think we have some old gaudy Paladin armour.”

Kaleb raised his eyebrows. “How might you own such an armour?”

Esme cocked her head, “We are resourceful.”

“Murderers and thieves,” Kaleb muttered.

“You think you know everything, don’t you, Kaleb?”

He looked at her and tilted his head, admiring her beauty in the low light for a moment, it wasn’t a traditional beauty, something deeper he couldn’t place his finger on.

“You have spent all your career in that fat city of Angelspree,”

“How would you know?”

“I know, I know enough about you justiciar, you’re out of your element, you bumble from place to place making a mess and pushing people around, there is a word for men like you.”

Kaleb leaned forward, “Say it.”

“Bully, you’re nothing but a brute and a bully, your type is the reason I—” Esme stopped herself.

“Reason you what?”

“It doesn’t matter,” She rose, “Rest, you’ll need it, I’ll secure you some armour, maybe even a helmet if one exists to fit that fat head of yours.”

The party looked at Kaleb, he was surprisingly taking it in his stride, Esme’s words had perhaps cut close to the bone. He responded with a silent chuckle as he inspected a chicken bone.

“I can assure you, Kaleb, your methods may have gotten you this far, but your luck will run dry—”

Kaleb lept up and pressed his nose to Esme’s, his speed caught her off guard as it does many, for his mass should not travel with such rapidity. “I need no luck, I need no strategy, the divine heart will guide me so long I remain true of heart, I am principled unlike you strumpet.”

Esme slapped his hard face and stormed out into the back room of the hideout.

Kaleb turned to face his party and sat back in his place, it was deafly silent for a few minutes, no one wanting to prod the hornet nest.

Iridia bit into a chunk of bread and huffed, “What’s a man of many faces?”

Kaleb blinked a few times, “Well, it’s what it sounds like.”

Morgan smiled at Iridia, she had defused all the awkwardness, that skill of hers always underappreciated.

Flencer huffed, “Yeah, but I finks she means, what is it, you know?”

“They are sorcerers, magicians, they can change shapes…” Kaleb drifted off a moment and thought back to when he was given the scroll, the Dwarf had disappeared into thin air, like a magician.

“Kaleb?”

He shook his head, “Sorry, they are magic users, they are trained beyond the golden veil.”

“What’s the golden veil?” Asked Morgan.

Kaleb groaned, “I shan’t get into that, folk from the golden veil were banished hundreds of years ago.”

“Why?”

“For crying out loud tis like having children, because they are deviants and tricksters, spies and such.”

“Because they are not connected to the divine heart.” Iridia added, “We can’t see their lies easily.”

Kaleb nodded at her, “Correct.”

“Do you think I will be banished? My people that is…” Morgan leaned back on his hands.

“Perhaps, if we are successful with our quest, you may have secured a future for your people in the Imperial lands.” Kaleb cleared his throat.

“I’ll proclaim your heroism, I’ll have my shield write an ode to your bravery.”

Morgan smiled at Iridia, plucked up the courage and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She blushed brightly and held her cheek. Kaleb's disapproval was painted over his face.

“We should rest, but sleep with one eye open, I do not trust the harlot.”

“I heard that!”

They looked to the doorway where Esme called from.

“Paladin bastard!”

Kaleb chuckled, “I think she is starting to like me, perhaps we can show her the error of her ways.” He winked at Iridia. Kaleb had cheered up somewhat given the circumstances.

“I think she wants to stab you, master.”

“Evil is predictable, that is a certain.”