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> *Sorna Waiwa Sanda-Sya
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> Steadfast wind shield-(his, her, it)
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> *Rough translation from the ‘Witch Tongue’ of Cydonia (a form of Archaic Imperial, a dead language). The verse is open to interpretation as it is in incomplete form.
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> Here it probably describes the first rank of the Greater Spell of Wind (greatly simplified) used in its controversial ‘defensive’ variation. A forbidden practice frowned upon by the Coven who preferred not to mix protective and bellicose spells on the fly or shorten incantations outside of a controlled environment. Of course Kallister along some very-talented ‘intuned’ sorceresses were known to have used their own variations of spells in the past. Mixing and maxing to their heart’s content. Their attempts frequently fatal.
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Whisper ‘Pretty Nose’ Jinx
Beau Ideal
Part II
-Old acquaintance-
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Jinx watched Lithoniela perusing the merchant stands, this part of the market sold tools and animal accessories like saddles, stirrups, various leather straps, locks and an assortment of covers. From plain small wool and hemp blankets, to rolls of worked leather for chairs to use under horse or camel saddles and of course to just ‘cover your pet elephant!’ as a manically grinning merchant hollered.
For those that could afford one.
“Jinx,” Sam Mathews started sounding unsure. The two adventurers had followed her as the Gish had immediately gone after the couple by crossing the busy street. “That’s a big man.”
“She’s more dangerous,” Jinx hissed opening her stride but Sam grabbed her shoulder and forced the protesting Gish to stop.
“Let go Sam,” Jinx warned staring... well, mostly looking up towards the taller man’s face heatedly.
“What’s the story lass?” A heavy-breathing Marlo asked, keeping an eye on the unsuspecting couple that stood about ten meters away.
“We were in the same group with Glen,” Jinx explained puffing out. “That was back in Hellfort, around 188.”
“The Monarch,” Marlo murmured. “How is this relevant? She’s a friend?”
“She left with a cunt that tried to murder him.”
“So another girl was involved?” Sam queried.
“No, but a cunt nonetheless,” Jinx retorted. “She’s a Zilan by the way and he must have been one too. Ninety percent sure about the latter. Also a Silent Servant working for the prince’s wife. Turns out Lith is a princess too.”
Marlo smacked his lips and then grimaced. “I’m hearing lots of big words and titles thrown about lass. Which prince?”
“Sahand. Word is he croaked.”
“Ah. And the other thing?” Marlo asked with a slight nod of understanding.
“Of Wetull.”
“What? Are you serious?” Sam gasped and looked at the unassuming female, tapping at a pair of metal stirrups with a small blade to check on the quality under the merchant’s annoyed scrutiny.
“Aye. It’s a secret.”
Not anymore.
“What about the other part? The whole assassin stuff?” Marlo asked to steer the conversation on more practical matters.
“All true. Dante and Hook were killed whilst retreating towards the bridge. A lot of other people were slain as well.”
“Murdered?”
“Killed by that Gold Leopard’s army. Another cunt. Still breathing.”
“Umm,” Marlo nodded again seemingly engrossed to her words. He either gets everything, Jinx mused, or nothing at all.
Marlo used the same expression for both.
“So you blame her?” Sam asked evenly trying to remain fair. He didn’t know the names or the people other than what he’d heard from her. Jinx talked a lot when stupidly drunk.
“Not for that. But she could have stayed with Glen and didn’t,” Jinx snapped. “I’m going to talk with her.” She glared at them. “Not starting anything guys. I’ve done this shit a thousand times.”
“Eh,” Marlo grunted and wiped the sweat from his suntanned face.
“What?” Jinx hissed.
“Nothing,” the veteran adventurer replied sheepishly and rearranged the scabbard on his thick waist. Marlo had taken on some weight.
Jinx thought it was him eating more lately and the absence of jobs but the man blamed his age and the accumulated strain of recent losses.
He called it ‘stress eating.’
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The Gish came within reach of the couple with the two adventurers lingering three meters away. Jinx managed to snip a ridiculous blue top-hat from an engaged in deep conversation trader and put it on immediately to keep herself invisible. An old Alix trick. She even lowered it to eye level for more effect and placed an elbow casually on a support post directly behind the armed Lorian.
“Prefers softer fabrics due to his condition,” Lithoniela clarified to the ‘covers & pillows’ trader. “Over harsher materials or leather.”
“The cat?” The trader snorted but managed to maintain his professionalism. “Velvet pillows are the softest in the market. They are also the most expensive historically.”
“I’ll hear your number,” Lith told him stiffly. “Then make my offer.”
“That’s not how it goes lass,” the trader explained. “But there are cheaper materials of equal softness to pick from.”
“We’ll never hear the end of it,” the man said. “It’ll be like raiding Nikah’s Cellar all over again.”
Hmm. Jinx had heard Dante talking about that years back.
“You can tell from the meows?” The trader retorted. “You people are really weird.”
“What manner of people?” Lith asked tensely taking offense.
He can’t see yer ears ye stiff dork! Jinx thought.
“Animal lovers,” the trader replied and shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever rocks your boat dear, I don’t really mind.”
“I do not own a boat,” Lith hissed not getting his meaning and the man escorting her intervened.
“Milady I can finish this here,” he offered.
Wow, you found a new fool to string along.
“I don’t wish to trade with him,” she retorted inflexibly.
“We don’t have to,” her escort replied.
“Next one please.” The trader decided. “Come take a feel! Give your tired back what it truly deserves. Very soft pillows!” The latter words intentionally drawn out to further infuriate Lithoniela.
The moment they moved away from the stands and in a less busy part of the street Jinx leaped in front of the big Lorian and landed behind the stooped Zilan. She went to grab her hood but Lith twisted around and slapped her hand away.
“Damn,” Jinx cursed, her slapped fingers tingling. “You didn’t hold back there.”
“Myrna’s freckled bosom!” The man grunted coming to a halt, not to run the Gish over. “What is this bizarre dwarf be doing?”
Are ye blind mister? Jinx thought not believing her ears. A dwarfess with dis bloody figure? Have you been living under a fuckin’ rock?
“It was for snooping around like an idiot,” Lithoniela retorted clenching her jaw. “What do you want?”
Well, fuck you too dear.
“You couldn’t say hello?” Jinx snapped.
“I was busy Gish.”
“Is that a Gish?” The man asked and looked at Jinx’s profile. “Good grief! Eh, well… hmm. No worries then.”
Jinx gave him a frustrated side-glance afore returning her attention to the glaring Lith.
“You really grew up to be a tall bitch,” Jinx started and Lith pulled her lips back revealing two pairs of healthy fangs. The Gish had long been desensitized to that though, to the point she even had fun with pointy teeth in bed and their owners, so she didn’t even flinch.
“Lass, ye better go away now,” the man counselled. “After ye apologize.”
“She won’t. Always an unfair arbiter and harsh guilter,” Lithoniela told him stiffly. “Her name is Jinx. We know each other for some time.”
“You are so full of shit,” Jinx rumbled angry. “To have the gall to stand there in your fucking hood and in fake preeminence when we dragged your threadbare arse out of the blasted lands!”
Literally.
“Hey!” The man grunted and put a heavy hand on her right shoulder. Lith’s face had crumbled in barely controlled fury. “You asked for it lass,” he told her and made to shove Jinx away but she stood her ground. The Gish’s strength surprising the Lorian and Marlo’s professional voice coming at the end of it.
“She didn’t,” the adventurer explained. “On the condition ye were accurate, we be all up to our elbows in shite right now. Blades out and all that fuzz.”
The Lorian snapped his head back to inspect them and then frowned.
“That’s right,” Marlo responded to his scrutiny. “Forget about me. There is no meaner motherfucker than me friend. That’s Sam Mathews.”
Sam furrowed his brows at Marlo’s dubious praise, but shit like this usually works. People are cautious when names are thrown about.
Six times out of ten.
“She’s insulting—”
“No I’m not,” Jinx cut the Lorian off mid-sentence. “Tell him the truth, don’t be a blue cunt,” she urged the gnarling Lithoniela.
“Caruso knows everything,” the Zilan hissed.
“Are ye sure Princess?” Jinx asked tauntingly and Lithoniela made a frustrated gesture.
“Bah. He knows. Your childish trickery won’t work with me.”
“Yer childish trickery won’t work…” Jinx shook her head right and left after she repeated the Zilan’s words. The tall hat fell off but she caught it on her left ankle, leg raising lithely and then lobbed it on her pink head casually.
Impressed even herself she had pulled that off.
The men were all impressed for sure. Lith had pressed her mouth tightly in a jealous pout.
“What am I guilty off Jinx?” She finally asked with a glance at the human crowd passing them by with curious looks.
“You know. Glen almost died and you skedaddled out of trouble wit yer murderous friend,” Jinx replied without mincing her words.
Lith puffed out slowly. “Glenavon made it because I sent Fikumin to him. A Folk promise is forever.”
“Who’s that Glenavon?” Marlo asked and Sam whispered to his ear. “Ah, right. God damn it. What’s wit that lad and monikers? Fuck’s sake!”
“You miss the part where you brought a killer in our midst,” Jinx hissed and took a step forward well into Lith’s personal space. Two things she noticed immediately. Lithoniela was still a tall girl and her boobs were bigger.
“I didn’t know,” Lith replied taking a small step back. “The matter is resolved.”
“Are ye serious?” Jinx snarled. “That son of a bitch tried to kill him!”
“It was a contract. It is voided now. A mistake corrected,” Lithoniela explained slowly. “If you think I was intending to harm Glenavon then you’re out of your mind.”
“Who told you that? The whole voided part? That Larn cunt? You actually believed him?”
Lith grimaced in the attempt to hide her frustration. “I went to the source, stop trying to pin this on me Jinx.”
“What source?” Jinx probed tauntingly. Sahand’s wife?
“I’ve said enough on the matter,” Lith replied stiffly. “I hear Glenavon is doing fine. How are the others?”
Jinx stood back crumbling her rosy face. “Zola is dead. Dante and Hook. Alix, who you don’t know. Glen’s wife died after delivering a stillborn so he’s not exactly fine.”
“He’s the King of Wetull.”
“So what?”
“Eh, you’re impossible to talk to. Stiles had more sense than you.”
“He’s dead as well. Run out of lives. Has a statue in Garth’s district though, so there is that?” Jinx taunted.
“The pirate?”
“Commissioned by the Princess of Kaltha. We’ve no idea how he pulled that off.”
Lith blinked in surprise and then stared at her dirty boots. Way fancier boots than the ones she had left them with.
“You have my commiserations but life has been harsh for all of us.”
“I can see you are upset. What is this bullshit? You’re playing tough for this guy?” Jinx snapped and Lith lost her color momentarily.
“Lass, your mouth needs a good washing,” Caruso growled.
“Hey,” Mathews warned but Marlo stopped him.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Caruso was in the right there lad,” he explained.
Lithoniela sighed after a moment of silence. “So he got married?” She asked at the end of it.
“A Cofol girl. Left him a daughter.”
“He actually made a Cofol Queen of Wetull?” Lith asked raising her thin brows.
“I now remember why I didn’t like you so much,” Jinx replied through her teeth. “You look down on people.”
“It is a legitimate query Gish!” Lith snapped losing her patience.
“Only to you.”
“I don’t know how he pulled that off,” Lithoniela said trying to keep her nerves under control. “Does the Council exist?” She paused at that and looked about them. “Enough. We can’t discuss these matters here.”
“I’ve rooms rented next to Von’s tavern,” Jinx offered.
“This is not the time,” Lithoniela decided with a small pout. “I have important work to do.”
What?
“You’re going to leave?” Jinx yapped like a hyena barely getting the words out.
“Keep your voice down,” Lith warned her.
“Nobody cares,” Jinx retorted with a snarl. “With yer stupid hood and all the silly whispering about like thieves. The cat is out of the bag Lith. Humans know yer kind exist!”
“Don’t be a fool Gish,” Lithoniela hissed back.
“You are a backwards, stiff blue cunt that lives inside her head,” Jinx unloaded in anger and Lith leaped towards her, long strong fingers curling around Jinx’s neck. The Zilan pressed to silence her and the Gish responded by placing a thin index finger at her belly.
“That’s a blade,” Jinx mumbled with a strangled croak and stabbed with her finger in warning. The results spectacular.
Lithoniela recoiled letting out a terrified gasp and almost went down on her back, comely face distorted with preternatural dread.
Tits!
Fuck happened here?
Jinx blinked in stupefied silence whilst Caruso rushed to help the rattled Zilan.
“It was just a finger Lith,” she explained and Caruso gave her a glare.
“Alright that’s enough talking lass,” he told her. “You go your way and we go ours now.”
“Pink curls?” Marlo asked.
“No,” Jinx spat and stepped forward. “I want to know.”
“I don’t have to tell you anything,” Lith groaned and stood up trying to compose herself. “I owe you nothing.”
“What happened to you?” Jinx asked not bothering with her objection. “Where is that murdering turd? Did he…?”
“Larn had nothing to do…!” Lith puffed out exasperated. “We are not family Jinx.”
“And these people are?”
“These are my people!” Lith hissed and Caruso placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Some are coming here to see me.”
From where?
“Yer people are in Goras,” Jinx retorted. “What you’re running with are outcasts and killers.”
“You know nothing of the way the Realm works,” Lithoniela rejoined sounding hurt and then shook her head wearily.
“I know more than you about the exiles. Glen welcomed them back,” Jinx replied a little guilty for forcing her to talk about it. Whatever it was that had caused it, Lith had suffered a big trauma. She wasn’t the same. Her whole rigid façade maintained to hide that very fact.
“If Glenavon rules how he pleases then everyone I used to know is dead,” Lith said bitterly.
“That’s not true,” Jinx grimaced and stared at the two adventurers to let them know they were about to move. “Let’s go to your place. Talk there.”
“Jinx,” Lith said and licked her full lips. “It is better if we part here.”
“Why?”
“Milady?” Caruso queried in a cautious manner for such a big man. “You were talking of the matter yesterday.”
Lith placed a finger on his lips to silence him.
An intimate gesture.
Jinx had initially thought Caruso just worked for her but it appeared they were really close, either friends or lovers. It’s been so many years, the Gish realized suddenly a little melancholic.
“It’s a bit out of the way,” Lithoniela stated nonchalantly and lowered her arm.
“A cheap shady hostel at the edges of the pirates’ district?” Jinx teased to break the tension.
A constipated Lith pursed her lips tightly not keen on partaking in the Gish’s attempt at humor.
“A ruin,” she replied inflexibly. “At the abandoned center of the settlement.”
Only a Zilan of her stature and delusion would ever call the sprawling ever-growing Eikenport with its two harbors and three large districts a settlement.
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“So Marlo and Mathews,” Caruso asked the two adventurers on their way to Lith’s ‘hostel’ an hour later. “Remember the name I think.”
“Mathews is too young,” Marlo corrected him eyeing a beggar returning with his profits walking fast. “You’re thinking Len Hughes aye. Drown in Granlake I heard, back in seventy nine, right after he’d retired -fuck’s sake. Whilst fishing of all blasted things. Sus for sure. But he was running with Sibren Matts for a moon those last years, around seventy four-seventy five when I was handsomer. Think I remember a couple of lads loitering around the taverns of Colle back then. A mouthy lad and a tall dude wit a squire’s face.”
Caruso’s rough skin got crumpled even more. “Brit. Yeah. He ain’t around no more. An accident… on the job.”
Marlo nodded. “What job be that?”
“When we failed to join Matts we worked what came around. Then headed for Rida. Helped the Marauders a bit and stayed with Adrian Stoner’s crew for a while, whilst helping out Myrna Tiploft. Last couple of years afore Rida got leveled we found permanent employment with the guild.”
Jinx noticed he didn’t mention which of the guilds it was.
“How’s the pay?” Mathews asked.
“Mostly decent,” Caruso replied with a glance at a walking in silence Lithoniela. “But things can get wild sometimes so ye see past that. These last couple of years especially.”
“Don’t tell me about it!” Marlo let out a hoarse grunt in agreement. “I’ve been living in Goras of all places and hunting monsters. Galloping fucking goblins!”
Caruso jerked his head to around to stare at the seething adventurer.
“Ye seen goblins?”
“It’s an expression he likes,” Sam elucidated since Marlo was too frustrated to reply. “But monsters we’ve seen aplenty.”
“Yeah? What kind?” Caruso probed curious.
“All kinds.”
“I’ve seen—” Caruso went to add but Lithoniela turned around to cut him off.
“We’re here,” she said evenly standing in front of an abandoned lot with a ruined building at its center that used to be an old mansion.
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Jinx stared at the prepared with blankets sleeping spots, next to saddle sacks with supplies –a strange pile of bones amidst them looking a lot like a huge Arachne’s claws and the leaking cracked ceiling above them with narrowed eyes. Then at the barred with stones and pieces of old timber collapsed east wall. Five cots. Four normal and a tiny one with killed animal bones around it.
A small cannibal?
Hmm.
Ah, the fucking cat.
“You know hostels are dirt cheap in the pirate district right?” She asked the Zilan that went to feed her horse. Several mounts were tied outside, two camels and a mule, the old abandoned yard covered in weeds.
Lithoniela reached inside her satchel and got a folded green blanket out. She tossed it over a horse’s back and worked to set it up proper.
“We are careful,” she finally said.
“Lith, Glen has made a deal with the Princess of Kaltha,” Jinx told her. “Married into the Peninsula. People don’t look to come after you.”
“I thought you’d stay near him,” Lith said.
“Yeah, he’s not that easy to follow these days.”
“Where did he find the wyvern?”
“I gave him an egg.” Lithoniela turned to look at her surprised. “Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that,” Jinx continued scratching her left temple with a finger right under the top hat. “Anyways, it hatched and he now rides a wyvern he named Biscuit afore the real name came out. It is as weird and I’m not supposed to tell anyone about it?”
“An Onyx Wyvern,” Lith noted.
“Does it matter?”
“It does for it’s a tell sign of Hardir O’ Fardor,” Lith explained.
“The locals call him that. Lots of lunatics with yer kin. Pretty girls and boys though I’ll give ye that.”
“He went further than I ever imagined,” the Elderborn Zilan admitted. “He wished for a throne and the dagger listened.”
“I don’t believe Glen meant that,” Jinx replied. “Don’t even think he wanted to rule in Altarin. As for the dagger, you believe an old weapon could do that?”
“Anything magic-touched can be a medium, a bridge or a door. It makes gods listen,” Lith explained stiffly. “What lunatics? The palace—?”
“Yeah the palace is gone hon,” Jinx cut her off. She didn’t want to give her false hope. “Blown to smithereens and most of the court with it so Glen made a new one. Eh. There’s still an old one standing of sorts in Elauthin but I understand it was ceremonial. Just to clarify matters here, Elauthin is gone as well for the most part.”
“Ninthalor’s palace,” Lith explained with a sigh and pushed her hood back revealing a more mature version of her face. Still comely but with an aloof harshness in it and dark lines under her expressive eyes. They turned cold at Jinx’s scrutiny.
“I’m worried for you,” Jinx explained. “Not ogling. I’ve a girlfriend.”
The thought of Maeriel made her stomach turn into a knot. What am I doing here? I need to get back to those that love me, Jinx decided. Let the blue cunt figure stuff out on her own. She doesn’t want to listen.
Lith pouted and gave her horse a soft pat on its neck. “Sorry about Zola.”
“Soren got hit the worst from that,” Jinx croaked not wanting to remember it. Lith had done it on purpose to change subject. “Don’t do that.”
“Does Glenavon want us back in Goras?” Lith asked Jinx pretending she didn’t hear her.
“Glen has his hands full but sure. He’s not one to hold a grunge.”
“He was repulsed at my sight the last I saw him,” Lith reminded her.
Eh, Glen is easily rattled but as quick in getting his shit together.
It’s a skill. A weird one but he sort of makes it work.
“There are thousands of blue cunts and cocks in Goras,” Jinx explained as tactfully as she could. “Some are bat-shit crazy, some will take a bite at you if they’re drunk and a couple are outright fucking dangerous to be around. Aye. Glen is completely unfazed about all that. You’re remembering a different guy. A boy, but now he’s a fully-grown man. Mind you,” Jinx added after thinking about it some. “That don’t mean he’s great or not an idiot at times. The last thing he needs is more fanboys touting his horn. He’s pretty receptive to that too.”
“Why didn’t you two ever hook up?”
Jinx stared at her familiar face for a moment then replied honestly. “We could fuck tomorrow I guess, but we made a deal on that boat trip back to Jelin to stick together through thick and thin. Us island folk are better off as friends and family. A folk promise can be broken Lith,” she added going back at the Zilan Princess’ earlier comment. “Family is forever.”
They turned to walk inside the building, its main doors long destroyed or stolen but Jinx heard voices approaching from the ruined mansion gates facing Eikenport’s main street and paused.
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“There,” a familiar voice griped, not as refined now. “Skin peeled off at the heel! Feel it. Lower Rhys, Goddess’ grace!”
“I needed to get the full measure of it,” Rhys replied all serious. “You also seem tired from walking.”
“A massage amidst the reeds is your suggestion?” The woman snorted at that. “You need to take the shoes back and ask for a new pair. I’ll just limp to the house.”
“Can I get my horse for that? It is five kilometers back to the market.”
“Sure.” The woman replied reasonably.
“Will the trader remember the deal?”
“Ehm… can’t you just make it happen?” She complained sounding really sad.
“Better wait a bit around the city for nightfall then. I’ll take the mule as well. Bodies are difficult to carry,” Rhys decided. “Anything else caught your fancy?”
“Get some tools for stitching leather. Some bananas but not the green ones and better wine. Another blanket?”
“Right. We could share mine Milady of lucid dreams.”
Dude, lay off the redleaf.
“I need a clean one Rhys,” the woman argued leaving it open to interpretation.
“I’ll have it cleaned thoroughly,” Rhys retorted hoarsely.
What in the name of Allgods is going on here? Jinx wondered as Moira and Rhys appeared out of the tall weeds, Moira carrying an armful of wildflowers and the sweaty man two large sacks laden with market goods.
Very heavy by the looks of them.
Some of the products sticking out.
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“She’s an old friend,” Lithoniela warned the frozen Rhys, an umbrella clattering down spilling out of the sacks.
“Jinx,” Moira said in a mellower voice. “So you followed after us, you naughty little Gish?”
No, sweet tits.
“I followed after her,” a still surprised at seeing her again Jinx retorted. “You guys are a thing?”
Moira blinked her pretty eyes unsure.
“We are together. Don’t mind her language,” Lith explained quickly. “Rhys…” she warned the snarling half-breed again.
“Rhys was heading back to town,” Moira explained and touched his shoulder.
“Mmm,” the man murmured. “I don’t like this Gish,” he told her.
“Don’t be silly,” Moira replied and stooped to get a pair of fancy sandals with silver straps off of her dirty tanned feet.
The new pair.
“I can help,” Rhys offered and dropped his bags.
“Go ahead then,” Moira agreed and raised a leg to his waiting hands.
“Where did you find them?” Jinx asked the tensed Lithoniela and she glanced her way skittish as a deer hearing a hunter’s bowstring drawn. Is she worried Sam and Marlo will come out of the house?
“Moira… is my servant,” Lith explained and Jinx stood back not expecting it. “A freed slave.”
The Gish caught Moira’s grimace of displeasure out of the corner of her eye.
“And the guy?”
“Just a companion.”
“Now that hurts my fucking feelings,” Rhys griped. “I thought we are more than that Ela of the courts.”
Ela of the courts?
What’s this, a fancy monikers convention?
“Only in your perverted dreams Rhys,” Lith retorted stiffly and the man smirked with his freaky mouth.
“Go,” Moira ordered cutting his leer short. “Take the shoes with you.”
“Jinx was about to leave as well,” Lith told her and Moira made a tired gesture, whilst Rhys picked up the shoes. He headed for a large brown horse.
“I don’t mind your friend,” Moira replied and approached with difficulty. Jinx stood back when she reached near her. “You spooked the young Gish dear,” the beautiful servant said to Lithoniela calmly. “Why?”
“We expect visitors,” Lith reminded her tensely.
“Do we?” Moira paused unsure and listened at the voice of Caruso talking with the two adventurers inside the mansion’s central hall. “Are they here? I need half an hour to get back into shape. Make it a full hour.”
“No, they are not,” Lith retorted at her sounding frustrated. “But they might arrive at any moment.”
Jinx licked her lips and took another step back to stand just under the entrance. Something is very wrong here, she thought. The group’s dynamics all strange and convoluted.
“Jinx is our friend,” Moira purred perceptively and reached with an arm to touch her but Lithoniela caught it in a steely grip. “If she’s yours,” a pouting Moira added glaring at the rigid Zilan.
Which, while it presented a more interesting side of the head-turning beauty, was quite revealing. It made her eyes glow for starters which was weirdly familiar for it matched Lith’s stern gaze but also strange, for it made the pretty half-breed’s face crack like a mirror’s surface for a tiny moment. Behind the cracked mirror or a disturbed water’s surface a slightly different version of her face appeared. Equally if not more breathtakingly beautiful but also clearly older.
And chillingly alien.
Beau Ideal, describes naught but a picture for our eyes to feast upon. Marlo had told her some hours earlier. An illusory eidolon of a real person. It might not match what is painted outside or it may do, but nature’s most beautiful creations are often as deadly as Wetull’s flesh-eating flowers ‘pink curls’.
Moira had cast her pretty head to the side reading Jinx’s expression. Reading her thoughts, the Gish realized. The sudden startle making her recoil away from the two girls that were staring at her perceptively.
Out of the reeds -no more than four meters away- a tall, thin figure appeared clad in black well-used leather garments and hidden behind a raised leather hood. Next to him that freaky kid had popped out as well munching on an unpeeled banana and a pissed off large black cat missing half its fur which made the animal look rather ghastly.
The newcomer’s cold gray eyes assessed the situation in half a second, his stare darting from the two taller women to the shorter stunned Gish, a flicker of recognition barely cracking his solemn expression.
The remaining half a second both he and Jinx reacted, the Gish trying to back away inside the building and the assassin snapping his right arm forward, the sleeve flapping like a whip and a small blade hurled towards the desperately attempting to dodge Jinx.
The toss was perfectly straight and impossible to miss.
But it sort of did.
Everyone seemed frozen in place, the afternoon sun dimming on the sky.
“Sorna Waiwa… Sanda-Rya!” An otherworldly mighty voice roared setting everything in motion again and a titanic strong wind blasted the lunging steel blade away. The colossal gale ripped through Jinx lifting her clean off of her feet with a screeching yelp of panic, shoulder banging the doorframe afore hurling her ten meters away like a used dinner plate. A gnarling Larn, the ogled-eyed kid and a screaming lewd obscenities’ in Common flying cat, along an area of equal size blasted away as well in the sudden bedlam.
Small stones, the umbrella, parches of weeds and grass got uprooted, the ground scrapped clean off material that then bombarded the area on the façade of the house for a drawn-out chaotic moment.
A part of the north wall collapsing in a pile of debris the next. The air crackling disturbed and super-charged for another.
And then the wind died.
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“Eargh!” Jinx coughed violently, whilst rolling about on the disturbed ground, spitting pebbles, grass and mud out of her mouth, feeling kicked by a beefy horned zebra right between the tits. “Freal… for real,” she managed to croak in the second attempt, Larn’s pained grunts reaching her from ten meters away, as he slowly got up.
The rattled Jinx realized her fine hat was nowhere to be found.
“Oras heavy shadow descending, Doll,” the disheveled assassin protested irate in his gravelly voice. “Told you not to do that again!”
Jinx tried to stand on shaky feet and Moira appeared in front of her, lovely face all healed up now but very-scary.
I went to the source, Lith had told her keeping the most important part out in a sense.
The woman raised her left hand, slowly turning it and opened a dirty palm wearing a soothing smile to calm the frightened Gish down. Then she blew on her palm pursing her plump lips and a cloud of sparkly green dust smacked the jerking away Whisper right at the nostrils.
Turning everything into a myriad hues of black.
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