Blackjack stared at the pork Friedrich had cooked for her, sniffing it every now and then while the two Mercians devoured theirs with gusto. She pulled off one of her black gloves, picked up a rib and then held it to her mouth. The Alaurian took a small nibble of it and then another. When she was content that it was edible, she started to eat properly.
“I told you it would be good,” said Friedrich smiling confidently as the sun set, creating a perfect orange sky overhead.
“It is not good,” said Blackjack, wrinkling her nose. “It is edible sustenance.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“There is no seasoning, it is simply cooked pork meat. You have done nothing to merit it being called good other than the bare minimum.”
“Why overdo what’s already delicious?” shrugged Friedrich.
“Pitiful. Perhaps you will one day try the cooking of the Alauri. Our worst chefs are finer than your best chefs, Mercians.”
“I’m going to pretend you’re delirious from the poison so that I don’t lose my temper,” smiled Friedrich, trying to hold in his seething anger. “A simple thank you would have sufficed rather than insults.”
Blackjack looked at him ready to retort, but she paused. “Thank you, Friedrich,” she said and then gave him a forced smile.
“Isn’t it nice that we can all get along?” asked Marina.
“We will not be in each other’s company for long,” said Blackjack. “I am making my way to Akatfall, so we will part tomorrow morning when my wound has finished healing. Unfortunately, the potion I took was not as strong as I would have liked.”
Friedrich and Marina exchanged a glance. Friedrich shook his head quickly, but Marina smiled and nodded at him before turning to Blackjack. “We’re going to Akatfall too.”
“I see,” she said, deliberately not saying anything more.
There was an awkward silence in the air before Marina blurted out. “We should all travel to Akatfall together!”
“I do not think—” began Blackjack.
“Nonsense,” scoffed Marina. “We’re not taking no for an answer, Blackjack, especially seeing as you’re still injured. You can ditch us when we get there if you want, but it’s the smartest option. Just think about it, the three of us on the road together, felling the foes that cross our path.”
Friedrich knew Marina wouldn’t budge, and Blackjack was clearly more than capable, so he relented. “Yes, you’re more than welcome to come with us as far as Akatfall. Afterwards, we’re travelling to Kai’roh. The capital would therefore be the natural place to part.”
Blackjack looked uneasy. “Very well,” she said. “I will come with you that far, but I would like to request a detour from the main road.”
“Fine with me,” said Friedrich.
“Are we bypassing Cambrae?” asked Marina, a hint of regret on her face.
“Yes,” said Blackjack.
“I wanted to meet Hareld Ashcroft in person,” she said sadly.
Friedrich put his hand on her shoulder. “Who needs to meet a fancy tailor when we’ve got a detour to…to…?”
“The lighthouse at Ebony Point,” said Blackjack.
“Indeed!” exclaimed Friedrich, a little too enthusiastically. “Everyone knows about the lighthouse at Ebony Point. A popular tourist destination from what I’ve heard. A lighthouse is a much nicer sight than some fancy clothier, right?”
“I suppose,” sighed Marina.
Blackjack cocked her head to the side. “I do not think—"
“Yes!” yelled Friedrich, subtly shaking his head at the elf to try and get her to play along. “That lighthouse will be quite the sight, won’t it?”
“I…um…” Blackjack trailed off and began muttering to herself while shaking her head.
Friedrich wasn’t sure, but he could have sworn she said something along the lines of. “What is this Mercian hell I have gotten into?”
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
*
The party of three walked down the cliff path and onto the shore, where the tide ebbed and flowed, far enough away that it did not wet the sand beneath their feet, but close enough that they could enjoy the view as they walked. It was an unusually warm morning, the sign of an approaching summer, but the wind at the western coast of Mercia cooled things right back down again.
“The air is so clear here,” said Marina, breathing in deeply with her eyes closed.
“That’s not clarity,” said Friedrich, “that’s the smell of saltwater and seaweed.”
Blackjack said nothing and walked ahead, leading the way. She had woken first and spent the morning patching the tear in her armour back up, borrowing Friedrich’s cloak to keep her naked upper half concealed. He tried his best not to look at her, knowing that she was watching him. When Marina caught him looking over his shoulder once at the beautiful elf, she quietly slapped him on the arm and scowled at him.
“Blackjack,” Friedrich called ahead as he gently kicked the sand.
“Yes?” she replied.
“Why are we going to the lighthouse?”
“I have a contract.”
“A demon hunting contract?”
“That is the only contract I will take.”
“You really are a demon hunter through and through, eh?”
Blackjack looked over her shoulder. “Yes.”
“I can respect that,” said Friedrich. “For me, I’ll do anything to get the riches I need.”
“Anything?”
“Well, within reason.”
“Have you defined those limits?”
“What do you mean?”
“What are the lines you will not cross?”
Friedrich stopped walking and pondered for a moment. “I haven’t considered that, if I’m honest. I wouldn’t murder for them…”
“Interesting,” said Blackjack.
“On a lighter note,” said Marina, skipping across the sand and overtaking Friedrich. “Now that we’re travelling together, will you tell us your real name?”
“No,” said Blackjack, marching on ahead.
The three continued to walk along the sands, hopping over small streams as they trickled towards the ocean and passing underneath stone archways carved by the elements over many, many years. It was a pleasant walk, but Friedrich had a lot on his mind after Blackjack’s question. Only he knew the real reason that he wanted his boat, but that was just the first step. To achieve his true goal, he needed much more than a boat.
He placed his hand upon the golden mask that hung around his neck. He had not realised it at first, but this mask could be an essential key to his plan. If he had the full allegiance of Kitt, the spirit within, perhaps he could achieve greater control over the powers of his fox form. He could feel there was something he was missing each time he transformed and perhaps granting Kitt’s desire to see Kai’roh would help him discover what that was.
“Are you alright?” asked Marina, upon noticing how deep in thought that Friedrich was.
“Never better,” he smiled. “It’s just been an exhausting couple of weeks. It will be nice when we reach Akatfall and can finally take a real breather.”
“I thought a day of rest was enough for you?”
“I thought so too, but I think maybe I’ll take two this time.”
“Two sounds fantastic to me,” said Marina.
The journey continued, the only stop being for a small midday meal, then the three trudged along the sand again. The tide was starting to come in as the sun sank towards the horizon. Friedrich and Marina were starting to wonder if they would reach the lighthouse before it was dark, but finally Blackjack stopped.
“There!” called the Alaurian, pointing towards an island up ahead.
A few hundred feet out into the water stood a tall island of stone, upon which sat a grand lighthouse white. It watched over the oceans, but there were no ships to guide tonight, nor could it without a light to shine. Connecting the island to the mainland was a stone bridge, ancient and strong. It must have taken many men many years to construct such a tall and wide bridge and it left Friedrich standing there in awe before Blackjack pulled him towards the cliff face.
“We need to approach quietly,” she said. “I do not want them to know that we are here.”
“Who are they?” asked Marina.
“Demons?” asked Friedrich.
“Yes,” replied the elf. “The reason we came along the shore is to avoid being seen on the road. It is often unpleasant to walk along the sands, but the conditions today were in our favour. I thank you for being accommodating.”
“What’s the plan of approach?” asked Friedrich. “Just say the word and we’ll follow your lead.”
“You are to both remain here while I fulfil my mission and then I will return to you.”
“No.”
“I do not understand.”
“We’re coming with you,” said Friedrich sternly. “The last thing you should be doing is going alone when you are still recovering.”
“I am in perfect condition.”
“Friedrich’s right,” said Marina, nodding fervently. “We can help you. It can be in a manner of your choosing, but you should not face demons alone.”
“You are as obstinate as each other,” Blackjack sighed. “It is no wonder you two are betrothed.”
“Betrothed?” asked Friedrich and Marina.
“Am I mistaken?”
“Yes,” the two Mercians said again.
“I apologise,” said Blackjack. “My intuition is normally better than this. Regardless, I will accept your offer to help, but you must do exactly as I say. Are we in agreement?”
“Yes,” said Friedrich while Marina smiled and nodded.
Blackjack led the two along the cliff face, keeping to the shadows as the sun continued to sink lower and lower. By the time they were standing underneath the bridge, the sky was a faint purple save for the sliver of orange on the horizon over the ocean.
“Can you climb?” asked Blackjack, to the top of the bridge.
Friedrich and Marina exchanged worried glances, but Blackjack let a rare flicker of a smile escape.
“I see you two are without humour. There is a staircase built into the middle of the bridge. Do not worry, for I have researched heavily before coming this way. I would not leave us stranded below, looking for a way to climb up.”
Blackjack walked towards one of the support walls that sat in the middle of the bridge. She located a small ladder and climbed up towards a thin ledge, where a wooden door sat at the top, leading inside the bridge. The high elf opened it and beckoned for Friedrich and Marina to follow. The three headed inside and Friedrich closed the door silently behind them.