VIII. A GLIMPSE OF PERFECTION

It was dark by the time Vance and the Kings Guard made it to the derelict village on the windswept plains of the Lárione. Much like all the other settlements they had encountered, it stood deserted with ample signs of conflict.

After a brief search that revealed no hidden threats or survivors, they took residence in several of the larger homes. Vance stabled Peanut with the rest of the horses, patted him down and fed him some oats and hay he found in the feed shed. While he would not even consider riding the old cart horse into battle, Peanut served his purpose, and for that, he was grateful. Despite the laughter from the other knights.

Vance took the lantern from the door and shut it behind him. He nodded to the knight who had come to replace him as guard. While not unkind, the knights he accompanied did not seem to be particularly interested in socializing with him or the two travelers he was with. They did not seem to have any qualms about polishing off the elk he had taken down however.

“Aglaë looks inhabited, though by what we can’t be sure.”

Vance paused as he passed by home occupied by Rémann and his knights. The young squire leaned against a doorframe holding a steaming mug as one of his men gave his report. Vance slipped to the side of the house, pressed against the corner, and attempted to overhear the conversation.

“Are there any other towns in this light forsaken land?”

The knight shook his head. “Very few, Nole was our best bet, but that town looks to have been razed months ago.

Vance frowned, he was only able to gather snippets of conversation, but what he did catch was unintelligible. The tongue of Aes Sidhe was a queer one, and the cadence was erratic to say the least. He turned to leave and nearly knocked over Zuri. The young man put a finger to his lips and took his place to continue listening in.

Rémann took a sip from his mug. “She was headed for Duvachellé, as was Lord Aichlan. I’ve met the man before; if he came across Lady Alice he’s certain to have taken on the role of guardian.”

“If you’ll forgive me, I don’t believe we should so readily accept that merchant’s word as truth.”

“What are they saying?” Vance whispered.

“Shh!” Zuri hissed. “Something about a merchant.”

“He had no reason to lie Sir Cadán, and his description of both Lord Aichlan and the Black Army were uncannily accurate.”

“Very well Master Rémann, what of the Capitol?”

“What are they talking about?” Vance asked impatiently.

“Where we’re going next, I think.”

“Auld Ferrons seems logical then.” Rémann said as he dumped the leaves from the bottom of his cup. “We’ve received no word from Marquez that they have met with the enemy; Aglaë is likely a death trap.”

“And the one from The Order?”

“We’ll tell him once we are under way, I doubt he’ll protest, but I’m not interested in putting this up to debate. If we can find some survivors in Auld Ferrons we can get some much needed intelligence and dump the civilians.”

“Well?” Vance demanded.

Zuri made sure that the two men had gone before turning to answer. “They think the capitol is overrun, and they want to drop us off in Auld Ferrons.”

“Drop us off? What for? We’ve not slowed them don’t that much!”

“Not you fool! Me and Leila.”

Vance scratched his chin; a scraggly goatee had grown in during his time in the wilderness. “Oh, well that’s not much better.”

Zuri rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall. “It’s just as well; I didn’t plan on going up to Marquez anyway.”

“Well you can’t stay here, not with these creatures roaming about. You’re far too poor a shot.”

Zuri folded his arms over his chest and grumbled under his breath. Vance laughed at his bravado and ground his fist into the top of his head. He swore and swatted Vance’s hand away.

“Stop being a child.”

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“Don’t worry; I’ll not let them dump you to the wolves so easily.”

Zuri shrugged off his arm. “Why? You don’t owe us anything.”

Vance grabbed him again and held him in a headlock. “You personally? No, but I’ll not leave until I can get you to stop being such a little asshole.”

After several moments of attempting to break free, Zuri begrudgingly accepted defeat and ceased his protests. Vance released the young man and countered his death glares with a beaming smile.

“Better hurry back, your supper is probably stone cold by now.”

“You could have led with that you know.”

Zuri grinned. “This was more satisfying.”

Vance placed a hand on his shoulder. “Fine, let’s hurry then.”

“I’ve eaten already.” He said as he slipped free.

“Don’t tell me you’re sleeping in the wagon again.”

He shrugged as he quickly backed up onto the road. “What can I say? I don’t like houses.”

* * *

Vance pushed the empty plate away with a contented sigh. The village had several stores of grain and root vegetables which Leila was able to make a stew with using the last of the elk. The rest of the animal had been ‘gifted’ to the Aes Sidheans for allowing the travelers to accompany them, and was mostly gone by now. She took the plate to the sink and washed it. He watched as she hummed and swayed while her bells and bobbles jingled in time with the melody. An ancient thermostat chimed and the heating glyph attached to it reluctantly whirred to life, sputtering out a warm breeze that did little to combat the chill.

He watched her silently for several moments, enraptured by the melody and its singer. She set a pot to boil over the modest hearth and dumped some leaves into the teapot. He frowned, it was likely chamomile again. While it was good for sleeping, he despised the taste.

“Zuri’s sleeping in the wagon again.” He said conversationally.

She placed the teapot and mismatched mugs on the table. “He was born in that damn thing, it’s his security blanket.”

“I take it you’ve not spent much time in houses?”

“I’ve been in plenty of houses, but am not so attached to one or the other. Why do you ask?”

He shrugged. “I’m just trying to learn more about you. I can’t say I’ve ever met anyone who would willingly live as you do.”

She raised an eyebrow and placed a hand on her hip. “Oh?”

“No, no, I didn’t mean it like that, I merely-”

She laughed, easing his concerns somewhat. “I know what you meant; you just said it like an ass.”

“My apologies…” he said sheepishly.

“If you’ve ever been to Xanavene, you’d yearn for the road as well.”

“Leila…”

She waved her hand dismissively. “No one is listening, and it’s not like we were part of the war effort or anything.”

“But they don’t know that. Outcasts and exiles you may be, the mere mention of having roots in that kingdom could end disastrously.”

She placed her hand over her heart and batted her eyes playfully. “You care about us. How sweet.”

“Of course I care.” He countered, unamused. “They already speak of leaving you in the next town.”

“Will you let them?”

“What kind of question is that? It’s not even an option. We’ll go alone if we must, but I’ll not leave the two of you to the wilds.”

She regarded him silently for several moments, a curious look in her eyes. Her beauty struck him in the dim candlelight. She put her finger to her full lips in a come-hither fashion as the flame danced off her jewelry. She smiled in an enticing manner and took a few steps towards him, shedding her shawl in the process. He sat up straight in his chair, with equal trepidation and yearning. She bit her lower lip as she slowly unbuttoned her blouse. He laughed nervously as he found himself at a loss as to what to do with his hands.

“What are you doing Leila?”

She pulled apart her top, revealing her full, bountiful breast. He fidgeted in his seat, attempting to hide his growing arousal. She placed her foot on the chair between his legs with a cacophony of jingling bells, and slowly began to pull up her skirts. Despite his best intentions not to, he found himself face to face with the neatly trimmed patch of violet fur between her legs. He could feel her warmth wafting over him, and the scent of her nearly threw him over the edge.

“You know how, don’t you?”

He nodded, unable to tear his eyes away from her.

“Then why don’t you?”

He clutched the seat of his chair with white knuckles. If he attempted to push her away, he knew that he would break the moment he touched her supple flesh.

“I am sworn to chastity, I can’t Leila, no matter how much I want to. And I so very much want to.”

She snorted in contempt and put her leg down. He watched in dismay as she angrily redid her top.

“When Priests and Cardinals are regular patrons to brothels and nuns walk freely with child, you choose the ‘virtuous’ path of celibacy?” She said and spat at his feet. “You can lie to yourself, but don’t dare be foolish enough to try and lie to me as well.”

Vance reached up and grabbed her hand as she finished buttoning her top. “I have been lucky this far, and I fear what shall happen if I tempt the gods by breaking the one oath I have left.”

She snatched her hand away. “The very same gods that put you here? That allowed your Priestess to be killed or kidnapped? That gave those of the dusk reign over the whole of Silex again? I did not peg you for a fool Vance.”

He abruptly stood and clutched her by the arms. She stared back at him with defiant, golden eyes. He felt anger, frustration and an utter lack of direction. All that he once held dear and formed his identity around was no more, and she mocked him for it.

“What? Is the noble knight going to strike the woman for her blasphemy?”

He paused, he would never dream of striking her, but he did not know why he held her so. It was not her words that had angered him, he had thought them himself, he was angry that his self-deception was no longer viable. He pulled her close, he felt her heaving chest upon his and saw her eyes wide with anticipation and desire. He slipped his hand under her blouse and locked his lips with her own.