----------------------------------------
Whisper ‘Pretty’ Jinx
Lady Lussiel, of Morn Taras
I insist
----------------------------------------
Bloop.
Bloop.
The air bubbles went reaching the surface of the barrel. Jinx, who had slipped under, stirred in the sleeping Maeriel’s embrace and the Zilan ranger came about with a startled moan, feeling the smaller Gish move.
“What are you doing Drool?” Maeriel asked.
“Trying to get out, but you’re too heavy to move,” Jinx replied and snaking away reached the lip of the barrel to pull herself out. Heaved once and her naked torso wedged itself on the soaked bronze edge. Jinx moved her feet, using Maeriel as a springboard in the tight confines of the barrel and then spilled on the floor alike a fish out of a fisherman’s bucket.
“I was by the lake,” Maeriel griped after failing to grab Jinx’s flaying foot afore the Gish dropped out.
“I love yer lake,” Jinx assured the pouting female standing up on the soaked floor tiles of the villa, a thoughtful expression on her flushed face. “But spending time in yer head is boring dear. I prefer fucking.”
“We do a lot of that,” Maeriel hissed and tried to get out as well, but Jinx put a hand out and pushed her back in for no reason.
Other than because it was very funny.
“Hey!” Maeriel protested and tried again successfully, long blue curls plastered on her perky tits and fit body gleaming in all its glory, when she stood tall on the bedroom floor.
“Get the phallus,” Jinx reminded her with a sly grin. “It’s at the bottom of the barrel.”
“What are you planning inside that pretty head?” Maeriel queried folding over the barrel and using her long arm to find the toy.
“I’m just watching yer arse now,” Jinx teased her that grin growing. “Then I plan on visiting Moira.”
“Are you not hangover?” Maeriel probed and stood up with the fake cock in hand, she then brandished at the Gish threateningly. “I order you to speak the truth, Lady Lussiel, or face my fabled spear!”
Maeriel wasn’t a funny person, but sometimes her efforts were successful.
“Haha! I can function while drunk,” Jinx replied and picked up a discarded tunic shirt from a chair afore adding. “And I fear of no phallus, fabled, or not!”
“Don’t yell so loudly!” Maeriel protested while she hurried to dress herself, Jinx doing the same, taking a backwards tumble and balancing briefly on her head, in the attempt to get both legs inside her leather pants at the same time, kicking at the air and hands pulling at the leather garb hard. “What are you doing Drool?”
“You’ll never know,” the now dressed Jinx replied mysteriously to her lover’s favorite query. She jumped up lithely and made a loose pony-tail out of her wet pink hair. “Race ye to the healer’s room!” Whisper taunted next and sprinted out of the door like a bolt.
----------------------------------------
Caruso was blocking the door at the end of the hallway.
“Hey,” the large human warned and reached with an arm to stop the running Gish. Jinx ducked under it, dived on her left shoulder between his legs and came out right behind the adventurer. She was forced to stop there abruptly, as Lith planted a boot on her chest to drive her back.
It was a kick.
“Damn it. Ye kicked me in them tits!” Jinx cursed and got up from the floor, slapping Caruso’s helpful hand away. “That’s it, we’re fighting yer highness. You and me.”
“Be quiet,” Lithoniela snapped and crossed both arms over her chest. “Moira is resting.”
Lies.
“Just admit yer scared.”
“Do you wish for another kick?” Lith retorted.
Nope. I’m good.
“So, can I see her?” Jinx changed the subject, whilst trying to catch a glimpse of the bed the healer occupied.
“Read my lips. No, you can’t.”
“Why?”
“I won’t talk about it.”
“Why?”
“Get out of my face Jinx!” Lith hissed very annoyed.
Jinx chuckled, but didn’t back down. “Why?” She probed yet again.
Lith pursed her mouth. “Outside. Else you’ll get nothing.”
“It’s my home,” Jinx reminded her. “All of it.”
“Pfft,” Lith scoffed and then forcefully pushed the Gish out of the door. Caruso stepped aside for them shaking his head. “Just grow up.”
“That’s as tall as I’ll get,” Jinx retorted smartly. “I just need to ask Moira something.”
“Are you deaf? It will have to wait. She can’t talk,” Lith hissed with a stare at the approaching Maeriel. “Aren’t you on duty today?” She asked her.
“I have the day off your grace,” Maeriel replied.
“I’m yer grace too! I order you to let me through,” Jinx asked the princess with a grimace.
“You can’t order me around you fool,” Lith hissed.
“Says who?” Jinx taunted narrowing her eyes. “I don’t believe you.”
“She’s worried about Moira,” Maeriel explained and Lithoniela let out a frustrated sigh.
“All she needs is rest,” the princess replied. “And personal space.”
“Was she raped?” Jinx asked and Lith gave her a glare. “We found her naked in the woods? Far from me to judge, but anyone could have given it a try given her condition! Right?”
“An assault can be more than physical, or both,” Lith replied warningly, she wanted Jinx to drop the matter. “A blow can come in many ways.”
“Assara said she wasn’t injured,” Jinx said.
“Are you listening?” Lith snapped angrily. “Leave it be.”
What the all hells is the matter with you? Whisper wondered. You’re twice as inflexible as before. “Assara is certain that fool was there—”
“Stop it,” Lith cut her off with a glance at Caruso. “Everyone grew up but you Jinx, don’t create more problems!”
“How am I…? Assara—”
“Your Ticu is mistaken!” Lith hissed.
“Maeriel?” Jinx asked and the ranger breathed out behind her. “You’ll cower before her? Fuck’s sake! Cat got yer tongue?”
“Milord!” Melon’s hoarse reply was heard. The cat was half-asleep next to the door. “I’m innocent! I never touched this pussy!”
“We know she was with Fareno,” Maeriel replied after an awkward pause, “And I heard someone yelping in the dark. The Ticu are excellent trackers your grace.”
“Or she got drunk and wandered off,” Lith offered, but Jinx was certain she didn’t believe that. In fact, Jinx could swear on her toes that the princess was lying.
Bitch.
“Let’s ask her.”
“No Jinx, you won’t.” Lith retorted. “Respect her privacy. Not everyone is a Gish.”
What’s the problem here? Jinx wondered with a pout. “I’ll talk with our Lord friend.”
“No.” Lithoniela hissed.
Caruso grimaced. “Maybe we should consider…”
The Zilan princess glared at him. “Stay out of it.”
“I’m trying to help,” a discomforted Caruso replied. “Apologies.”
“Let’s go Maeriel,” Jinx told the numb ranger and turning on her heels walked away.
----------------------------------------
Jinx returned to her bedroom, grabbed her gear and then headed downstairs looking for Assara. They found the young Ticu inside the kitchen eating a rat, which wasn’t too disturbing, but she had a man in there sitting on a chair, which kind of was.
“Assara,” Jinx said softly and the raven-haired creature’s black fish eyes stayed on her before turning towards the ranger. “Stand back Maeriel.”
“I wasn’t going to hug her,” Maeriel replied. Jinx walked to the plainly dressed and barefooted Ticu with a glance on the serene male. A guard from across the street.
“Let him go,” Jinx told her and Assara blinked unsure. “I want to ask about the other night.”
The Ticu placed a full dark-red unpeeled onion, inside her mouth and started chewing on it for a while, afore hissing and spitting a mess on the kitchen’s floor.
“Ergh,” Assara gripped trying to empty her mouth, eyes blinking rapidly. “Poison.”
“Not really,” Jinx replied getting a towel to clean the Ticu’s face. “Maeriel get him out of here,” she told the watching from a safe distance ranger.
“He’ll come again,” Assara droned and smelled the towel. “Ah, bad fruit.”
“Not a fruit,” Jinx replied with a smile and went to get an orange. “This is a fruit.”
“Poison.”
“No… sour and sweet. Taste it,” Jinx offered her the orange and the Ticu sniffed it with a grimace.
“Let’s go to the lake,” Assara offered. “Eat the fish! Eat him when he returns?” She smiled at that freakishly, showing at least a hundred small teeth.
“How about we get some meat from the butcher? Ficu’s wayward guards are off the menu,” Jinx told her with a warning look. “Who was with Moira?” She asked the Ticu. Assara licked the orange and then squeezed it in her hand until it burst.
“Oh. It leaks. Is it dead?”
Yeah.
“It’s fine. Who was it?” Jinx insisted and the distracted Ticu blinked once.
“Aniculo.”
“The wyvern wasn’t there. You mean Garth,” Jinx tried again. “He was there.”
“How does she know?” Maeriel asked returning to the kitchen. She had escorted the confused guard outside.
“Moira reeked of Aniculo. Garth,” Assara said and blinked. “He run away.”
Son of a bitch.
“Hmm. Garth was at the festival,” Maeriel offered. “We know that from Hagen. But he wasn’t with Moira surely. She must be mistaken. It makes no sense.”
Jinx stood up with a scowl.
“Drool. Say that he walked past us this doesn’t mean… Moira had a lot to drink and then wandered inside the woods. The Princess is right,” the ranger said sounding worried. “We should locate this Rhu Fareno. Why would Hardir run away?”
“Something fishy is going on here,” Jinx replied and walked out of the kitchen with a worried Maeriel following after her.
“Like what?” The ranger asked.
“You think Moira is weird,” Jinx said stopping to look at the frustrated Zilan.
“I said she lies, but all slave girls are like that.”
“You’ve seen her use magic,” Jinx insisted.
“All healers have some magic. I do too.”
“Have you ever seen a Cofol healer like her?” Jinx probed.
“She’s not a Cofol, but it doesn’t mean anything,” Maeriel argued.
“How do you…?”
“Jinx, she’s just good at using makeup. Fixing the eyes, working the cheekbones to make them more pronounced. Many women do it, it’s a simple enough skill, and they can’t all have your perfect face.”
“Hmm.”
Maeriel sighed. “She’s gifted, which is why the Princess brought her along.”
“No, this isn’t the reason,” Jinx retorted stubbornly. “Lith is self-sufficient and not really easy to befriend, especially for a former slave girl. Something else is connecting those two.”
-
An hour later
Morn Taras South Tower gates
“Maeriel,” the palace guard said. “You are working today?”
“She’s not,” Jinx replied and looked behind the guards. “Let me through.”
“That’s the Gish,” the other guard said with a grin. “Lady Lussiel.”
“Ah, right. You have an appointment Lady Lussiel?” The first guard asked.
“I’d like to inspect the court,” Jinx informed them, standing tall under their scrutiny.
Not easy when you are staring at their belt buckles.
“Eh, sure. Not many ladies do that. Just make certain to talk with Lord Rimeros first though,” the man offered and then stepped aside. Jinx walked past them with her head held high. She maintained her stiff posture for a while, but it was tiresome, so Jinx started strolling again in her usual manner.
“There’s Rama,” Maeriel said walking with large measured strides, next to the forced to walk faster Jinx. “What is he looking for?”
“This could have been the town,” Jinx griped not paying much attention to Maeriel. “All this space gone to waste.”
They stood aside for a group of Rokae riders to pass them by and watched them reach the doors of the citadel before dismounting. One of them paused for them to approach. The Rokae knight greeted the couple with a curtsy.
“Lady Lussiel, Leader Maeriel,” Sir Alan Kirk, the man behind the sober silver mask, said. “Taras was empty, I didn’t expect visitors today.”
“The town is recovering from the festival, or is still hangover,” Maeriel replied with a nod at the other Rokae gathered at the entrance. “Sir Nuvian. Sir Maderas, how is Lord Suraer?”
“He must be inspecting the mares today,” the Rokae replied. Sir Maderas was Lord Suraer’s adjutant in court. “It’s a long process.”
“Personally?” Jinx asked not to be left outside and Maderas lowered his eyes on the grinning Gish unsure.
“Yes,” he finally replied guardedly.
“Lussiel was made a lady of the court yesterday,” Alan Kirk enlightened his Zilan colleague.
“That explains it,” Maderas replied wryly. “Why?”
You stiff pile of metal, Jinx thought annoyed, but Maeriel placed her hand on the Gish’s shoulder soothingly to prevent a scuffle.
“Lady Lussiel is a good friend of the Monarch,” the Ranger elucidated.
“Plenty of other options about, but to each his own,” Maderas replied rigidly and turned around to climb the stairs to the double doors. With a nod Sir Kirk followed after the other knights.
“He meant Zilan girlfriends,” Maeriel translated.
“Yeah, I got it honey,” Jinx spat annoyed.
“There are several members of the court that believe the Monarch should seek proper company,” Maeriel insisted coming after the running up the stairs Gish.
A Zilan companion was her meaning. Not another human, or a Gish.
Jinx paused at the opened door with a gesture for the bemused guard to hold it for her. She then turned on her heels to face Maeriel.
“You’re doing it without malice, but ye sound bigoted. Just to be clear, if you hadn’t worked yer mouth so well last night, I would have kicked ye in the groin,” she told her in a reasonable manner. “The second mistake everyone in here makes, is they give Glen even more room to maneuver, or bend over backwards for him. All in the hopes that he’ll remember the gesture, or behave according to the norm. It won’t work, lines will be crossed and you’ll all be made to look like fools.”
“That’s what you do Drool,” a slightly embarrassed Maeriel teased her.
“True,” Jinx agreed. “But I’m a Gish.”
Jinx turned around, saw the eavesdropping guard’s distracted silly grin and snapped thumb and mid finger sharply in front of his face to get the man out of his torpor.
This whole lady thing, is pretty useful, Whisper thought smugly walking past the guards.
----------------------------------------
Visiting Morn Taras is an ordeal, with the vagueness of directions and any semblance of a standard schedule, almost insurmountable objects.
“This is a day of rest,” Rimeros informed them, wearing a striking red and gold outfit, over a white front-buttoned shirt and dark pants. The Zilan official cast a peeved glance at the empty throne. “Hardir has taken these last couple of days off.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Bullshit.
You are all a bunch of liars.
“Hardir was at the festival last night. I heard Hagen reporting it to Saevelos and you!” Jinx snapped and jumped on the Castellan’s table. Rimeros stood up slightly and extending his arm pushed Jinx’s arse off of the table. Then he sat down again and cleared his throat.
“Lady Lussiel, please calm down,” he started, shifting through several scrolls. “You can write Imperial yes?”
“Not really,” Jinx replied, a little bemused. Rimeros dropped that scroll and got another one from the pile.
“Sing?”
“Ye don’t want me to,” Jinx assured him.
“Translate from Jelin Common?”
“Listen, anything with writing, reading and works demanding heavy lifting I won’t do. I’m petite for a reason,” Jinx clarified. “And I’m not here to look for different work.”
“What is it you do exactly?”
“You missed my point.”
“A Lady of the Court must have a function,” Rimeros insisted. “Of some kind.”
“I ain’t sucking yer cock dude.”
“I wasn’t… Lady Lussiel!” Rimeros snapped furious.
“Save it for some other lass that buys yer bullshit. You’re stalling by the way.”
“How am I…? Ehem, never mind. I’m trying to understand your usefulness,” a frustrated Rimeros argued.
“I can teach the Princess stuff,” Jinx retorted and spotted a disheveled Glen rolling down the stairs. The Monarch flinched upon seeing Jinx talking with Rimeros and then grimaced mid-stride, almost lost his footing, afore he recovered and smiled broadly at the glaring Gish.
“Whisper!” Glen yelled coming down the stairs, managing to comb back his soaked greying hair using both hands. The Monarch had an early bath apparently. “Hah. Why, there’s a good surprise today. A good morning Rimeros. You’re up early as well, I see,” he added walking to the throne and sitting down.
“It’s late noon sire,” Rimeros said standing up to walk to him and Jinx tried to glance at his scrolls, but the alert Zilan paused, then turned around to return to the table. He gathered all the papers carefully and took them with him.
“Hey,” Jinx asked marching behind the Zilan official. “Can I have an outfit like that but in a smaller size?”
“Not for free, you can’t,” Rimeros retorted tautly.
“Can I borrow yours?”
“No, you cannot.”
Pfft, tightfisted clown.
“Hah, look at you two working together,” Glen commented from the throne, but despite playing it cool, her friend was shook for some reason. His attempt to lighten up the mood, too fake to be believable.
Now catching Glen in a lie isn’t easy, or even guessing the reason behind his behavior, Jinx thought and watched a Cofol slave bringing up a huge plate with drinks and foodstuff for the Monarch. Atju left everything at a small table on the right side of the throne and then departed without a word.
“I’ll have breakfast just the same,” Glen decided lamely and gestured for Jinx to approach. “Dig in Whisper. You look famished.”
Jinx stared at the caramel bread and cake on offer. Glen winked at her and poured some wine in an engraved gold goblet. It’s color a light red. “It’s sweet, a rare vintage,” Glen explained, then paused as if to consider his words afore he added. “Semi-rare I guess.”
“Hardir,” Rimeros cut in, but Glen stopped him with a gesture.
“We’ll talk later Rimeros. Give us the room friend.”
“As you wish, Hardir.”
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Jinx swallowed and then licked her lips slowly, following Glen out of the corner of her eyes pacing the space before the throne, his boots echoing inside the empty hall. She washed her mouth with some wine from the Monarch’s goblet and then refilled it.
“You had fun at the festival?” Glen asked her casually. He had found a chair at one of the scribes tables, not the one Rimeros had used earlier, and sat down to watch her eat from a distance.
“For a while,” Jinx replied and got up to walk near him.
“I like yer hair. It’s expressive. How you move it right and left. Very you.”
Jinx grabbed at her messy ponytail a little self-conscious. “Didn’t really work on them much.”
“Who does… work on them more?”
Seriously?
“You know. Lith, the Zilan, your Peninsula slave girls.”
“The girls are freed. We have no slaves in here,” Glen reminded her. “Almost,” he added probably remembering Atju.
“It’s a good cover for you,” Jinx replied and the Monarch furrowed his brows annoyed.
“I hope you had a good spot to watch the festivities,” he said after a moment of silent contemplation, returning to the previous subject.
“You didn’t?”
“Just for a brief time,” Glen replied without batting an eyelash. “I have business to attend to and no time to fool around.”
Whoa, you’ve gotten better at lying with time.
“They tried to placate me,” Jinx said. “I’m not accustomed with titles. You think I’ll make a good lady?”
“No,” Glen replied. “You won’t. But then again, I’ve no idea what a proper lady means. A different thing here, or in the Peninsula. I wager something completely alien in Lesia, or back at Ballard.”
“Emerson had found a slave girl too,” Jinx pointed out.
“Knowing him, it was for a completely different reason than whatever anyone else could imagine.”
“Saving her from the pits,” Jinx said and Glen nodded in silence. “Your reasons are different?”
“Mmm,” Glen murmured rapping his fingers at the table still in thought.
“So you didn’t stay at the festival because of business?” Jinx asked casually and Glen grimaced.
“I’ve family to take care, a kingdom to run and a whole world out there,” Glen said, as if he had prepared the whole thing beforehand, “That changes each day, not always for the better. This time of the year is always difficult for me.” He made a show of searching his leather shirt’s pockets, until he found an old scroll and got it out.
“What’s this?” Jinx asked a little worried and Glen sighed, a tick marring the left side of his face.
“Liko wrote me.”
Damn you.
“Are they alright?”
“The Dogs got caught in a difficult spot, and they lost a lot of men. Crafton was killed. I kept it from you, not to spoil your reunion with Maeriel,” Glen explained in a proper sad voice. Jinx hanged her head at the news.
“How many did we lose?”
“I’m still waiting for a proper tally.”
Damn.
“How is the war going?”
“The Crows won there, but lately things have taken a turn for the worse,” Glen expounded.
“I’m sorry about Crafton. He had found a home with the company.”
“Hmm. Yeah, he had.”
“He was family,” Jinx said feeling emotional and Glen grimaced.
“In a sense,” he told her and got up from the chair. Glen breathed out and stared at the empty granite throne in thoughtful silence. Jinx wiped her eyes and tried to read the old scroll, but failed. She sniffled and then remembered that Glen had probably staged the whole thing to derail the conversation.
“Were you at the copse behind the hostels?” Jinx asked to check her hypothesis and feeling a little guilty for not trusting him more.
“What happened Whisper?” Glen asked turning around.
“Moira—”
“Who’s that?” Glen cut her off abruptly. Jinx gulped down.
“The girl with Lith. The one I came here with?”
“You didn’t come here with her,” Glen said austerely.
“I meant in Goras,” Jinx retorted defensively.
“You should have done so though. Come to me right away,” Glen continued in the same tone. “Am I right?”
“Ugh?” Jinx snapped narrowing her eyes. “Why are you dodging my queries?”
“You are mistaken,” Glen replied evenly. “Is there something I should know?”
“Like what?” Jinx hissed. “We found her unconscious amidst the trees. Assara says she caught yer scent.”
“What did she say? Your Moira?” Glen asked and Jinx narrowed her eyes angry.
“She hasn’t… I haven’t talked with her.”
“Why?” Glen asked before she had time to catch her breath.
“I… you were there then? You lying cunt!”
“Whisper, I need you to calm down,” Glen told her and she blinked baring her teeth. “Why is Lith there?”
“How do you… Is this yer doing?” Jinx growled furious and Glen opened his eyes in surprise standing back.
“Of course not.”
“Who is Rhu Fareno?” Jinx asked and Glen let out a deep sigh. He walked up to her and gave the Gish a good hug.
“I need to be careful Whisper,” he said soothingly. “For Inis and all those I care about. Like you silly girl,” Glen added sniffing at the top of her head. “Did you have fish?”
“It’s my fingers. Didn’t clean them that well,” Jinx explained and raised a hand to his face. “But it’s not fish. Here have a smell.”
“Whisper!” Glen grunted and pushed her away in disgust. “Luthos curse ye! Gods damn it, I don’t want these ideas near my daughter!”
Jinx scrunched her mouth this way and that, her nostrils opening and closing angrily.
Glen puffed his cheeks out. “Apologies. I know you mean well—”
“Who is Rhu Fareno?” Jinx roared cutting him off midsentence and a stunned Glen grimaced, then pursed his lips so tight they turned white.
“You are talking with the King,” he reminded her. “Mind yer tone.”
“I thought ladies of the court talked like that,” Jinx retorted.
Glen licked his lips. “Obviously they are not.”
“Will ye answer?”
“Only if you tell me exactly what’s going on,” Glen said and raised his head, his eyes on the large staircase leading to the half floor and the internal balcony overlooking the throne. Jinx looked that way as well and spotted the scarlet-haired, little princess watching them from the middle of the stairs. She had almost made it to the bottom before Glen noticed her. “Lady Lussiel is here sweetheart,” Glen told his silent daughter. “You remember her.”
“Hey there Inis,” Jinx waved. “Have you learned to use a rope yet?”
Glen furrowed his thick brows and then glanced at the grinning Gish confused.
“We prefer to learn about the bow,” Inis replied regally.
“Maeriel can teach you that,” Jinx argued with a smile.
“We prefer to learn it from you,” Inis insisted. “You are closer to our size.”
“Well, you are a smart cookie fer sure,” Jinx agreed with a nod and a lewd wink. “We’ll figure something out honey.”
“Inis go back upstairs,” Glen bristled and grabbed Jinx’s shoulder to sit her down the chair.
“I want to know how it went,” the girl protested, but her father was adamant.
“This is not the time,” Glen insisted. “Find Iskay, or Kilynia. Where are they?”
“I made them sleep in my bedroom,” Inis replied with a sigh of frustration. “You’ll have to wait a bit to talk to them father.”
----------------------------------------
“What did she mean?” Jinx asked the scowling Glen after the princess had returned to her quarters. “Made them sleep?”
“Hah, nothing to worry about,” Glen played it down. “Inis is frolicking with potions… ehem, what were we talking… ah, yes. We had just finished.”
“No we hadn’t!” Jinx snapped.
“But are you sure?”
“Of course I am!”
“Ah, you were about to tell me about Moira. Yes?” Glen asked going a different way, dodging like an eel lathered with olive oil.
Eh?
“No. You—”
Glen raised his arm stopping her. “Let me pause ye right there. Something is not right with your Cofol friend Whisper.”
Jinx breathed out in frustration. “What were you doing inside the copse with her?”
“You don’t know that,” Glen said with a half-smile.
“You just admitted it!”
“No, I didn’t,” Glen replied shamelessly and then smacked his lips thinking about it. “The Ticu caught a smell, or other, you said?” He asked the seething Gish.
“Your smell, not another’s! She is certain you were there!”
“I didn’t know they could do that,” Glen admitted and walked to his chair to sit down with a grimace of discomfort. “My back hurts.”
He glanced at Jinx with sober eyes. “Sit down Whisper,” Glen’s arm pointed at a chair near his own.
“I rather stand.”
Glen shook his head right and left.
“Have you noticed anything weird about Moira?” He asked evenly.
“What did you do?” Jinx countered with a tired voice.
“Me? Huh. She tried to seduce me,” Glen replied with a sigh. “I think there was magic involved.”
“Are you seriously going to blame her?” Jinx snarled.
“Yes.”
“You—”
“Whisper,” Glen stopped her. “You are not listening. There was magic involved.”
“Right. Who is Rhu Fareno?” Jinx asked.
“It is unimportant.”
“You mean he’s you!” Jinx snapped.
“So what?” Glen retorted. “That girl is not who she pretends to be and Lith knows it.”
Jinx pursed her mouth. “Lith knows her for years. She’s protective.”
“Whisper. I saw things… she almost killed me somehow.”
“What exactly you were doing, when you saw these things? What things?”
“Don’t get too hung up on the details. As for the things I saw? Just weird stuff.” Glen puffed his cheeks out. “I had a lot to drink. Might have smoked a bit too much also,” he murmured.
“Maybe you had too much then? You know on top of being high as a kite?” Jinx offered mockingly.
“Are you sure she’s not dangerous?”
“Moira?” Jinx blinked in shock. “She’s a healer. Is she clumsy and demanding? She is. Is she weird? She is that too, but dangerous?”
“She speaks that weird Imperial Eilven hums.”
“So does Iskay, Sen as I recall,” Jinx argued. “What?”
“Eh, not the same… never mind. Where did she find the cat?” Glen asked. “The one that talks.”
Jinx breathed out in frustration.
“You ride a wyvern and you’re worried about a cat?”
“Nothing weird came to your notice?” Glen insisted. “Come on Whisper. You are good at spotting lies.”
“Aye. Especially around you,” Jinx retorted. Is Moira strange? She wondered under Glen’s patronizing scrutiny. Is this scoundrel trying to shift the blame on the poor healer? He would do that of course. Then again, Moira had used small magic tricks in the past, during their travels and here in Goras. Jinx felt a weakness flooding her body, when she tried to recall the day they had met and an alarmed Glen got up noticing her falter.
“You’ve gone pale,” he told her worried.
“I can’t remember,” Jinx griped and grimaced. “Give me a bit of wine.”
“Will it help?” Glen asked unsure, looking at the goblet.
“Are you a dottore mister Garth?” Jinx hissed through her teeth.
“Is yer healer one?” Glen taunted and offered her the goblet. Jinx glugged down its contents and burped loudly. “The ladies of the court will love ye Whisper.”
“Just keep yer mitts away and I’ll handle the ladies,” Jinx deadpanned. “I don’t know about magic,” she continued. “But Moira and Lith have something going on.”
Glen raised his brows knowingly.
“Not what yer thinking,” Jinx scolded the smirking Monarch. “Lith is a bit off, more off than her usual self. I… they had an encounter with that freak you had found. Gimoss,” she added and Glen blinked before raising a hand to push his unruly hair back.
“Hmm,” the Monarch said and scratched at the back of his head.
“Hmm?” Jinx asked waiting for something more and Glen nodded. “What?”
“Gimoss was dead set on going after the Aken and the Witch,” he told her. “What are the details of this encounter?”
“I don’t know much,” Jinx admitted. “Lith won’t talk about it. The witch is dead. Burned inside the duke’s palace in Rida. It was common knowledge in Eikenport.”
That’s fine, a soothing voice whispered inside her head. You can keep those.
“Did she have an apprentice…? Berthas has a pupil. Whisper, you don’t look well,” Glen said reaching to grab her by the shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“I… haven’t slept that well.” Jinx murmured a little spooked.
“Take a nap, spent some time with Inis-Mir,” Glen offered.
“No, I’m fine,” Jinx asserted stubbornly.
“Whisper, I insist,” Glen said in a sterner voice and gave a nod with his head. Jinx turned to stare at the two tall Rokae that had appeared behind the hall’s massive black columns. “Sir Kirk, you’ll handle this?”
“Aye sire,” the human Rokae replied, voice coming out muffled under the mask.
“Sir Delmuth, I leave Lady Lussiel to your care,” Glen continued addressing an impressive Zilan Rokae standing next to Sir Alan Kirk. “Keep her safe, keep her here today.”
Huh?
“Aye Hardir,” Sir Delmuth replied.
“You sneaky snake. What are ye doing?” Jinx jeered with a scowl and Glen extended both his arms out, fingers spread and moving up and down in a calming gesture.
“Darling,” the Monarch had assured her. “It’ll be alright. Trust me.”
-
----------------------------------------
> Caruso was hurt.
>
> You've hurt him, Lithoniela accused herself, working the leather with her fingers on the armorer’s stand. Not much was on offer by Angrein’s apprentice and this was a slow day inside the market, but despite that Zaos had garnered enough of a reputation, so a small group of customers had gathered to peruse the young Zilan’s wares.
>
> Jinx might cause a stir, especially if Glenavon is involved. The sorceress had trouble formulating coherent thoughts after breaking their connection so violently, but she had slurred enough words out and had named the Monarch as the culprit. Why would Glenavon pose as an adventurer though? Does he know about Aelrindel’s true identity?
>
> Who tipped him off?
>
> Surely it wasn’t just two lustful souls finding each other?
>
> Or the witch’s fantasies? Goodness me, surely not!
>
> Then again, why would you trust a potential stranger to open up yourself to him? Did you know subconsciously? One would expect from an experienced Elderblood to show restraint and exercise a modicum of caution, not dive headlong into absolute intimacy.
>
> Especially after scolding Lithoniela for being careless with Zilyana, which had led to the latter’s gruesome demise. The horrific memory hurting Lith’s soul, as it was still vivid in its details and she felt physically sick recalling the moment, when Gimoss’ decayed face emerged from the darkness. The wyvern lich leered monstrously and the Aken Bonemancer started cutting her flesh with the knife in the daydream.
>
> Be gone demons!
>
> Lithoniela cursed, her body thrashed by shivers despite the summer’s heat, and feeling bile raising in her throat. She dropped the chainmail shirt on the table and Zaos took it in order to hang it on its place again. The princess turned her head to hide her grimace of discomfort and the handsome Zilan standing next to her at the armorer’s large counter, offered Lithoniela a purple silken hankie.
>
> “The smell of oiled leather can be overwhelming in this heat,” the Zilan said in a pleasant voice. Lithoniela blinked trying to remember where she had seen his face before. “You have your mother’s mouth.”
>
> “Lord Paeris,” Lithoniela murmured and Paeris smiled in a friendly manner.
>
> “Titles are like old coats,” he told her with a small curtsy. “We can discard them, whilst remaining the same underneath. We can wear them, but eventually our true essence seeps out.”
>
> “I didn’t see you,” Lithoniela said clearing her throat. “Heavenly greetings.”
>
> “Likewise princess. Forgive my intrusion. I fondly remember playing with you. You were a beautiful child, much like your mother had been. Soft and colorful. Very loud,” Paeris said and the uncomfortable Lithoniela took the hankie from him to wipe her sweaty forehead. “That eventually blossomed into a rare, elegant flower, few can resist.”
>
> Goddess.
>
> “Lord Paeris,” Lithoniela stopped him with a glance at the bystanders, feeling quite embarrassed. “We’re practically family.”
>
> “A known fact,” Paeris agreed. “The moment I heard of your return, I strived to meet you.”
>
> “I stayed at Morn Taras,” Lithoniela explained, not wanting to discuss the matter in public and aware of the small crowd growing around them, much to Zaos satisfaction and the other merchants envy. “Hardir insisted.”
>
> “Has he loosened up his bonds?” Paeris asked in an understanding tone. “He can be rather savage. Alas I’ve seen it firsthand.”
>
> “What do you mean?” Lithoniela asked a little perturbed.
>
> “So many incidents,” Paeris said and glanced about them himself. “To discuss in the open.”
>
> Lithoniela pursed her mouth and stared at the purple hankie for a while. “You have lodgings in Taras?” She asked the Zilan and he nodded.
>
> “Not much survived, but my small atelier still stands.”
>
> “Is it still at the Favored Heights?” Lithoniela asked and Paeris nodded. “You started playing again then?”
>
> “Some tunes. Mostly chords. I can’t overcome what was lost princess,” Paeris replied. “Still, we must continue living, yes? Strive to find a different outlet for our needs. I hear you learned to hunt well. Your mother would have been proud.”
>
> Lith wasn’t as sure about that.
>
> The lost princess with her primitive bow, the palace rumors said.
>
> “I favor combat, but learning to hunt was a necessity,” Lithoniela replied with a blush.
>
> “A line of architects and rangers, produced two warriors in a row,” Paeris said sounding impressed and smiled cordially. Yeah, he may have lost some of that bright blue on his hair and may now sport a wrinkle, or two, but Lord Paeris is perfectly built, as they said. “Who would have thought? I’d love to have a private talk princess, if your schedule permits it. You are not without friends in Taras,” he added and with another curtsy, turned and walked inside the crowd.
>
> A sober, muscular, Imperial Hoplite leader taking his place.
>
> “Saevelos,” the flushed Lithoniela said, always feeling a little intimidated by the sober Hoplite that kept following her around. “I’m perfectly safe.”
>
> “I’m not of the same opinion.”
>
> Did you just…?
>
> “I can defend myself,” a now annoyed Lithoniela insisted and walked towards him, which forced the Hoplite to back away. “I’ll return to Lady Lussiel’s place.”
>
> “Not yet.”
>
> “Excuse me?” Lithoniela gasped not expecting a second gruff reply in a row. “Who do you think you are?”
>
> Saevelos fierce eyes held her stare for a tense moment and then the veteran hoplite rustled hoarsely. “Hardir’s men are storming Lady Lussiel’s villa right now. You should stay out of it.”
>
>