Vekrem knelt on a padded pillow that sat neatly on the ground in front of Vhol. The stitching on the black colored mat looked excellent, and Vekrem, pleased with his choice, folded his arms. “So Vhol, how are you?”

The woman, Vhol, tapped a silver necklace that graced her slender, furred neck with a long, black fingernail. I could see that it already had many scratch marks, reflected by the light of the fire; this was something of a habit for her.

“That’s all you have to say to me?” she replied irritably. “Years Vekrem—It’s been years!” She suddenly sat straight as a board, staring daggers at him, as if she could piece his heart by a glare.

He pretended not to notice.

Seeing them quarrel, I leaned back quietly in my own chair. Dragon, who rode somewhere in my mind, was seemingly content with the drama unfolding. He made himself comfortable, and I knew, somehow, he looked out my eyes. Seeing what I did. Hearing what I could.

Vekrem broke the silence first, saying, “Yes, it has been years. And in those years, you’ve never once come to see her. Well, see what remains of her at least. She was your friend, as much as you don’t want to admit it.”

Vhol scoffed. “And why should I go? Don’t you think I’ve done enough? Taken enough risks for her? For you?”

I had no idea what was happening, but the two certainly had a history.

That was crystal clear.

Vekrem suddenly turned to me, anger boiling behind a false expression of calm. ”You asked what she is to me?” I nodded quietly to his question, not wishing to add more to this fucked up situation. “She is my savior. That is, she saved my life, and my mother’s too. After my father… well, no need to mention him.”

Vhol rushed to the defense as she interjected, “You know nothing of your father, boy! Nothing of what his love to a human cost him. What it cost me.”

Finally, I could take no more of being left in the dark. Finding courage in myself, I faced Vhol, asking, “And what did it cost you? I still don’t have the whole picture.” I waited for her fury to turn on me, but, instead, she peered over at me as if I were a child who’d asked a rather surprising question.

“Has Vekrem really never mentioned anything about me?” Vhol asked, her tail curling around a goblet that sat on a table just in front of her, bringing it to her lips where she dipped the contents of it into her mouth. Her whiskers twitched, and her face said that it was all pleasure. She set the goblet back down, adding. “Typical…”

Vekrem leaned forward, it was his turn for cold fury. “Now wait—”

“Vekrem and I have a tumultuous past,” she added, ignoring Vekrem who scoffed, leaning back, “as I’m sure you’ve now gathered. The very long story short, I helped him and his mother escape.”

Curiously, I scratched patches of hair on my chin. “Escape from what?”

“From a certain death. You see, young Vekrem’s father is—”

“I would prefer not—” Vekrem replied.

Undeterred, Vohl continued, “His father is a noble. Third for the throne of the Rodrent empire. Or, at least, he was.”

Dragon sent out waves of curiosity that stoked my own. “And what happened?”

Vohl pulled lightly on her whiskers. “He abdicated his throne; ran away. After he was caught having an affair with a human woman. A certain serving woman. My serving woman.” My jaw dropped, but Vhol continued, adding, “Prince Skenvahn was engaged to marry, so you can imagine the scandal.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“May as well tell him now,” Vekrem said, putting his fingers to his temples, the will to fight completely gone from his persona.

Vhol smiled at his defeat. “I always enjoyed making you squirm, Vekrem. Skenvahn wasn’t just set to marry however, he was set to marry… me.”

If I’d been drinking something, I would have spit it out. Dragon roared with delight at the revelation, and it sent coursing pain through my head. “Ugh… I mean, uh… I’m sorry?”

Vhol waved my comment off. “Don’t be; it was years ago now. Besides, marriages between both lesser and upper nobles are largely arranged. Feelings are an unnecessary distraction. Prince Skenvahn’s and my engagement was no different. Still, it came to shock, not just to me, but to the entire royal family when they found that not only had a human maid enticed her way to the third in line, but that she was also pregnant with his child—which meant she carried a potential heir, no matter how unlikely the prospect.”

Vekrem, now visibly shaken, his hands clenched in rage so tightly that I thought his muscles would tear.

Vohl looked at him piteously, and, after a moment of silence, said, “Come now Vekrem, don’t look at me that way. You’ve known this truth for some time.”

Ignoring the potential ramifications of ostracizing my only friend in this world, I asked, “And after it was discovered: What happened next?”

Vekrem stood up. “Enough! If I’d known that this is how my time would be wasted, I never would have come to you. I assume that since you aren’t surprised I'm here, a spy tipped you off to my coming?” Unsurprised, Vohl nodded. “Then do you know why I—I mean, we are here?”

“Rumors only I’m afraid,” she replied. “The whispers spoke of a roaming band of Chitik’s leaving the forest around where your quiet hovel lies. I worried for your safety, but then, surprisingly, I heard you arrived in Silverock. I knew it would only be a matter of time before you sought me out.”

Vekrem sat back down on the pillow with a hmph. “That’s close enough to the truth.” Turning to me, he added, “This is Ike, a human who cannot seem to remember much about our world.”

“And a strangely dressed human at that,” Vohl added, eyeing me up and down. “Oh, and don’t think I didn’t notice the silver pendant you keep in your pocket, human. You would do well to make sure none sees that.”

“Regardless,” Vekrem interjected, “when the Chitik’s attacked, he managed to defeat one in single combat. Quite easily I might add. I’ve been meaning to make a trip to The Primordial—”

“The Primordial!” Vohl replied, standing. It was the first time I’d seen her truly rattled in this whole conversation. “That’s suicide!”

Vekrem nodded, but then added, “However, not if we prepare first.”

Vohl walked to a nearby table, taking some glasses off and setting them in a straight line. She walked across the various lined bottles on the wall, her ears twitching as she came upon the one she searched for. Taking it, she poured each of us a large amount, and then brought us each a cup.

Eventually, Vohl settled back into her seat. “I don’t speak of suicide without a proper drink first. Just a rule of mine.” She tipped the cup into her mouth, draining the entire thing.

I looked down at my own drink, and sipped from it. It was good—tasting of red wine with a cherry base. I was more of a beer guy, but this would do for now.

One does not turn away anything in this kind of world.

Vekrem set his own drink on the table. “That’s why we need your help. You can get us supplies that I cannot possibly get on my own.”

Vohl’s blue eyes lit up, catching the edge of the fire. “Like what?”

Vekrem began to go through a list he’d made up in his head. Half-way in, Vohl stopped him, collecting a piece of paper, a quill and ink, and writing down his every demand. Thinking back, I had no clue what over half the items were, but, apparently, they were important to our continued survival. Seeing Vohl’s face change as she thought of our trek through The Primordial made me want to reconsider, but Dragon, the ever present force he was, somehow gave me the strength to keep my nerve.

‘And that’ll do,” Vekrem said as he finished listing the items.

Vohl shook her head. “Anything else I can get you? A silver crown to go with your new throne?”

“Hardly,” he replied with all the seriousness in the world. “And yes, there is something else I need. Lodging, at least until the items are prepared. A few days I assume?”

Vohl nodded. “A few days—and that’s with calling in favors.”

“I’ll owe you.”

“You still owe me for your own life.”

Vekrem laughed as he stood. “And what a life it has been.”