Dragon Realm Cypress

Avalon sat with her legs crossed and her blade resting across her lap. A still, quiet aura filled her quarters. A set of candles lit the dim room with their flickering wicks. She took a deep breath through her partially open lips, holding steady until her heart drowned out the silence and then let the air slowly drain from her nostrils.

Two weeks had passed since she had been home in Lost Dawns. Woadhollow was long behind her, but it still clung to her like a ball and chain: dragging her back, sinking her down. She had hoped meditation would relax her, but the thoughts only grew louder.

A knock came to her chamber door.

“Enter,” sighed Avalon.

Vada pushed open the door and poked her head into the room. Her eyes darted left to right as if paranoid that someone knew a secret of hers. “Sister, a strange man is here asking for you.”

Avalon looked at her confused blade sister. She herself was puzzled by Vada's expression, “Who is he?”

“I do not know, my Sister.”

Avalon got to her feet and placed a hand on her sword's hilt in concern. “Then why do you look so bewildered?”

“Because he isn't asking for Avalon, he’s asking for the Night Whisper.”

Avalon's face shifted from intrigued to angered faster than an owl would snatch up its prey and stormed out of her chamber. Vada was quick to get out of her way, but closely followed.

Guster stood at the center of the church surrounded by Silent Ones and priests praying in pews. Although he wanted to, he was mindful not to light up a bliss stick. Soon a fuming Avalon emerged from the back end of the abbey.

Guster cracked a wide smile as if reuniting with a longtime friend. “'Hey, blue! Don't you look fine as ever?”

Avalon took hold of Guster's collar and pushed him up against a stone pillar. The commotion stirred the priests from their prayers and halted the Silent Ones from their watch duties.

“You! Swamp rat! How did you find me?” shouted Avalon. She tightened her grip on his shirt's collar and brought the edge of her sword under his chin. “Don't even try to lie!”

Guster raised an eyebrow, as if wounded by the question. “Lie to you, blue? I wouldn't dare. All Guster had to do was ask anyone where to find de most beautiful woman in de whole world.”

Vada snorted, but covered up her mouth when her Blade Sister shot her a glance sharp enough to stun a bird out of the air. Avalon turned back to Guster and sneered, “Don't think you can butter me up with your swamp rat charm. You know what you did! I should cut you down where you stand.”

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Guster daintily brushed the inching blade away from his neck and loosened Avalon's hand on his shirt. “Oh, I know what ole’ Guster did alright, and you know what I did too.” Guster threw up his hands as Avalon pressed further into his throat. “Dat's why I'm here, and dat’s why you won't kill me.”

Avalon's eyes burned with hatred, and her arm tensed to strike Guster's head from his shoulders. But as she'd demanded, he told the truth; she lifted the edge of her Silencer and backed away.

Vada stepped forward, inspecting the man's features. “Avalon, who is this man and why does he trouble you so?”

Guster took Vada's hand and gently kissed it, then tipped his derby hat, flashed a devilish smile, and said, “Guster Laroux, darlin’. If Avalon didn't already have my heart, I'd give it to you instead.” Guster ended his introduction with a sly wink.

Vada cocked an eyebrow and yanked her hand away

“Guster, why are you here?” asked Avalon, her expression turned flat and her patience thin.

Guster adjusted his jacket and straightened his ruffled collar. “It's really simple, blue. I need your help to bring in Uther de Iron Soul. You remember him? After all, only de Night Whisper

ever beat him.”

Avalon balled her fists and clenched her teeth. “I killed the Iron Soul when I killed the Night Whisper! I left both buried in the sands!”

Guster mocked a frown and waltzed around her, jamming his hands in his coat's pockets. “Iron Soul be alive and well, but dat be a shame you killed de Night Whisper, ‘cause she owes me a favor. Dat’s what she promised me – unless her honor has an expiration date.”

“I may not understand the history you two have,” said Vada as she pushed herself in front of Guster. “But I can plainly see Avalon wants nothing more to do with you!” She saw how broken Avalon was by his words, and was determined to do something to aid her Blade Sister, and possibly avert bloodshed. “I’d not wait around if I were you.”

Guster leaned into Vada and smiled smugly. “Ain't you sweet. Sharp, too, like a peppermint. But she knows I ain't leavin’ Tree-Town without de Night Whisper.”

Vada's patience with Guster's charming demeanor ran its course and crashed in a blazing inferno as she unsheathed her blade and brought it so close to his throat it nicked his skin. “Then I will remove you from her presence!” she hissed scathingly.

Guster glared at Vada, then grabbed her head and pulled it closer to his face, brushing her cheek with a dagger. “You and I can have a party, mint. But at de end of de night, I'll be walkin’ away with de Night Whisper and you’ll be lucky to walk away at all.”

“Try it!” Vada spat, digging her sword in harder.

“Vada stop!” barked Avalon. She pulled her Blade Sister off Guster, and addressed the bounty hunter. “You are right, I have a debt to repay. I’ll beat the Iron Soul for you.”

Guster playfully blew a kiss to the enraged Vada. She deepened her scowl and bared her teeth even further. “Boat to Nacsirri leaves in three days; pack your things, blue.”

Vada grabbed Avalon’s hand. “You can’t leave! What of Andros, what of m-” she cut herself short, “-You have Silent Ones to lead.”

“I’m sorry Vada, I have to go,” sighed Avalon, “it’s a long story.”

“Do you really need to help that swamp rider?”

“I don’t like him either, but it’s the right thing to do,” said Avalon, “You’ll have to handle things around her until I get back.”

“Guster!” Vada called out to the bounty hunter just as he was leaving the church. She waited for him to acknowledge her before giving him the message, “If anything happens to Avalon, no god in the heavens above will be able to save you from my fury!”

Guster smirked and tipped his derby hat in sympathy.