Chapter 18
MAY THE BEST FAE WIN.
It was then that Finn noticed the crowd that was gathering in a semicircle at the end of the pier. “If they try and get close to you, zap ’em, Gypsy.”
“Uhhuh! You got that right,” she replied.
“That’s some of the landlord’s heavies,” Pixie said. Pointing to a small group of heavyset men standing at the start of the pier. She didn’t seem concerned, though.
“I think you’d be wise to put your training robe on,” Ember said. “It’s got a cowl that might add to your mystique. The colour should tell them you’re not messing around.”
“Should we fetch Bernard or the watch?” Finn asked.
Pixie snorted. “Fat chance of the watch coming anywhere near this part of Tother. This will be excellent training for you, Finn,” Pixie laughed. “Here anything goes. Welcome to Shanty’s badlands.”
“Be careful. Overwhelming force is much better than getting yourself hurt,” Gypsy said, “Don’t stop to ask questions, lover.”
Ember looked apologetic. “It’ll allow us to see what you’re capable of, Finn, but that wasn’t our intention.”
Finn gave his mentors a hard stare. The fight to come didn’t concern him, but they asked for so much and gave so little. Sometimes, Finn missed the obsessive need for balance that was law in his old world. Yet again refocusing his thoughts, his mentors were quickly teleported from the cockpit so he could hastily change into the black robe Abbot had given him. He hadn’t expected to need it just yet.
He appeared next to the confused lovers a little later.
Finn started to construct a complicated rune formation. Once he’d finished and encapsulated the runes in a golden mana orb, he looked up at his mentors, watching him with rapt attention. “Are you ready?”
“Yep!” They both said as if they were all off for a picnic.
Finn sighed. “Off we go then.” He then transported them down to the middle of the pier, where they faced eleven big men armed with a wide variety of weapons. He was sure that two of the thugs were trolls. Their sheer size, grey skin and muscular form made their species obvious. “A very good morning to all of you. What can we do for you today?” Finn asked, using his best diplomatic tone even though he knew it was pointless. He didn’t want to be accused of provoking them.
“Who are you, short stack?” One of the burly men said with a sneer, stepping a pace forward from the rest.
“I’ll take that one into custody as a present for Bernard,” Gypsy said.
“Good plan,” Finn replied.
Ember and Pixie stepped up beside Finn. “We’re just here to collect what’s ours, Gareth. We’re not looking for trouble,” Ember shouted at the thug in charge.
The man she addressed as Gareth laughed. “There ain’t nothing here that’s yours, girly, but since you’re here, you can hand us over all your valuables and that boat. Be nice for a spot of fishin’ aye lads?”
Right on cue, the other men snickered menacingly.
“Oh no, you fucking don’t!” Gypsy guffawed in Finn’s mind. “I don’t want to end up stinking like a trawlerman’s underpants.”
“I advise you to get out of our way and go and do something less fatal,” Pixie chirped.
“Oh, Pixie, that was terrible,” Ember joked.
Pixie smirked. “I thought it sounded menacing.”
Finn snorted. “You’re too cute to be menacing,” His hand slapped over his mouth too late, the words already out.
“Ohhh! You think I’m cute,” Pixie cooed. “Good! I told you we’d be good friends. I’ll share Ember if you ask nicely,” she giggled while unclipping the double-headed spear from her back. Crouching low, she took up her fighting stance.
“You’d better tell me I’m cute too when we’re done here,” Ember said to Finn while at the same time glaring at Gareth. She brandished her longsword in readiness.
“You are cute,” Finn replied honestly.
Ember grinned. “Finn, please tell me you brought some weapons to this party.”
“Bit late to ask me that,” Finn retorted as a mana-formed fae blade appeared in each hand, menacing black flames hissing along their edges.
“Bloody fantastic! He’s got magic long knives, Em!” Pixie squeaked excitedly.
Ember looked at Finn quizzically. “Assassin?”
“To the core,” Finn replied.
“Wow!” Ember said, clearly impressed. “This I gotta see.”
Finn was getting impatient. “Sorry, Gareth, was it? Listen, we’ve got a lot to do today, and you’re just standing there being annoying. Either do something or fuck off. Choose,” Finn said.
“Nice line! I’m having that,” Pixie giggled.
“You little shit! Grind ’em, boys!” Gareth roared, then set off charging up the pier towards them, his accomplices in tow.
Finn launched into action. He teleported to the rear of the charging thugs and started his attacks. Finn preferred a fluid, unseen combat style, so he slashed at the back of one man’s neck, then span low and pierced another man’s buttocks, sinking his blade in deeply, aiming for one of the crucial arteries deeper inside.
The main thing about Ki-Gesh and the fae assassin’s combat style was that every strike was done clinically. Strike locations were carefully chosen, and it only came during the dance when a critical hit was assured. Finn swept another man’s legs out from under him as part of the spin, then severed one of the flailing limbs before rising toward his next target.
Realising they were being attacked from behind, one of the more agile thugs slowed, then started to turn and face his foe. Sadly for him, Finn was already twisting his way as he’d been his next target. With a minor adjustment to his blade height, Finn severed the man’s neck.
“I’ve got the leader in custody,” Gypsy reported. “Go get ’em, killer!”
Finn teleported back to where Ember was bogged down by three thugs. All she could do was defend against the rain of blows. Finn slapped the light cage construct he’d made earlier on one of her attackers, then put shield bubbles around Pixie and Ember.
Then he moved to intercept two giant troll-like individuals who had taken longer to reach the fray.
“Hehe! Tiny fae bitch! Get squished!” One of the trolls roared as he swung a massive club at Finn.
Finn flashed behind him and buried both blades into his shoulder muscles. The blades hissed as the shadows that coated them sliced across and seared through the monster’s spine. The thug screamed and tripped over his weapon as he collapsed limply onto the floor. Then Finn spun and sliced deep gashes into his comrade’s back. Sadly, his angle of attack didn’t allow him to apply the force needed to sever this troll’s spine, too, so the thug managed to lumber around to face Finn before the fae span back into range.
As his spin brought him closer, the remaining thug swung the fattest sword Finn had ever seen. Not having the space to avoid the oncoming hunk of sharpened metal, Finn flashed to the man’s right side and plunged his swords through his ribcage. The weight of the thug’s sword spun the troll, and momentum dragged Finn’s impaling blades around its torso, causing more than enough damage to finish the job. The stricken creature landed in a lifeless, bleeding heap.
Finn frantically scanned around for his next target, but when the man Pixie had been fighting collapsed from his myriad of wounds, he realised there weren’t any thugs left. Ember’s gaze swept from the cage containing her three assailants to Finn’s blood-spattered robes.
“Will yours live, Pixie?” Finn asked. However, Pixie’s spear was already plunging down into her victim’s eye socket. “Never mind,” Finn laughed. Instead, he teleported to the thugs he’d struck initially.
“Ember, I can heal two of these if you need them alive,” Finn called over.
“No survivors, Finn,” Ember replied. “They’ll only return with more friends if you let them go. These assholes never quit.”
“You’d better step back then,” Finn said as he concentrated on the light cage and clapped. The cage shrank rapidly, and three screaming thugs burst.
“Hah! That’s just too good!” Pixie shouted. “You have to teach me how to do that.”
“A bit more warning next time, perhaps?” Ember moaned, trying to wipe the coating of gore off herself. Eventually, she gave up, and there was a splash as she jumped off the pier. She swam a short way, then climbed up a nearby ladder. “It’ll take forever to dry off. Even longer to get this armour properly cleaned again,” she moaned as she clambered back onto the pier.
“We’ve got laundry machines on board. They’ll get your armour clean without too much effort from you,” Finn said as he ambled over to the last of the surviving thugs. A final strike ended the wounded man’s life. Then Gypsy teleported the mangled corpses to the bottom of the lake. “Feeding fishes is all they’re good for.”
Finn pulled his cowl back, allowing cool air to his face. “Gypsy apprehended Gareth,” Finn told the ladies. “Do you want him dead, too, or shall we give him to Bernard?”
“If possible, give him to Bernard, and I’ll explain things later,” Ember replied. “He can add the bastard to his arrest sheet.”
Pixie strutted over to Finn and slipped her arm through his. Ember caught up and did the same on his other side.
Ember smiled broadly at Finn. “You dealt with all but one of those assholes. We’ve never seen anything like it. You’re faster than Pixie.” Ember said. “Thanks for the shields too. I don’t think I want to ever fight without one now.”
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Pixie looked affronted. “Pah! I’m still a lot faster. I like the way you fight, though, Finn. You should consider a spear like mine. It might suit your style better than short blades.”
“If we team up, I’d rather Finn stays back and uses his magic,” Ember added. “He’s the only one who can, but we can fight up front. Especially if we get your magical shields.”
“After watching him move?” Pixie asked incredulously. “That would be a sad loss to the front line. You might have a point, though. If Abbot wants a strike force, that might be the best plan.”
“Strike force?” Finn asked, pouncing on the new information.
“Oh, Pixie, you idiot,” Ember groaned, shaking her head.
*****-*****
Pixie cried loudly. The petite fae wept bitter tears that streamed down her face in rivulets. Her eyes were puffy, and her face was red and blotchy. Pixie was not a pretty crier.
With a little menace and prodding, the landlord had finally brought out several crates of clothes and armour, but there was no sign of any of their other weapons the girls hadn’t been carrying when he’d thrown them out on the street.
However, before anyone could collect their clothes, the spiteful landlord set fire to them and then jumped up and down on Pixie’s box of equipment. He laughed at the sound of breaking glass as he rapidly crushed the box. Finn would never forget the sad whimpers Pixie uttered as she watched. Finn had quickly doused the burning possessions with conjured water, but they were beyond redemption when the fire was extinguished. Pixie had then attacked the disgusting man, and if it hadn’t been for Ember stepping in, the landlord would also have become fish food. Instead, Gypsy arrested him.
Now Gypsy was safely back outside the forge, happy to have had a bit of excitement. Bernard had been pleased with his gift and was busy questioning his newest prisoners, who apparently were wanted for many past crimes.
That just left Finn and Ember, who were doing their best to console the inconsolable.
“You both promised to take me shopping. Let’s do that tomorrow. We could buy lots of new alchemy things. Then you could show me around Barter. Would that cheer you up?” Finn asked pleadingly. He’d never had to console someone before and was out of his depth.
“We don’t have much money at the moment, Finn,” Ember confessed. “You might have guessed from the quality of the area we were trying to live in.”
Finn hadn’t considered that, but he had just thought of a way to solve Pixie’s problem. “Is Pixie a good alchemist?”
Ember looked confused by the question. Pixie stopped sobbing and hiccupped.
Ember was upset for Pixie and probably felt just as helpless as Finn. “She’s brilliant, Finn, she really is. Pixie’s mother taught her the trade and was distraught when Pixie decided to become a fighter,” Ember said while rubbing her lover’s back. “Her mom was a master alchemist. The broken equipment was inherited from her. That’s why she’s so upset. Pixie is lucky she took all her mother’s books with her when we were thrown out. Losing those would have been an even bigger tragedy.”
“Oh! Well, replacing it won’t help, then,” Finn said quietly to Ember. “I’ve got a large laboratory on the second deck. Part of it is set aside for the alchemy I do. I thought maybe Pixie could have a look. She can put all her books in there for now, and then we could get anything else she needs when you take me shopping.”
“We couldn’t let you do that after all the things you’ve already done for us,” Ember said. “I promised to repay your generosity, but I honestly have no idea how. Especially now you’ve done even more.”
“Are you both getting paid for being my mentors?” Finn asked.
Ember looked downcast. “We’re doing it in Liss’ name. Not for money,” Ember replied.
“That’s fine then. I’ll buy you some replacement things as part payment for being my mentors. It’s only fair. Come to think of it, I need some more alchemy gear for my work, too,” Finn offered. He liked Ember and had caught himself reluctantly warming to Pixie against his better judgment. He hated seeing anyone suffer, especially when his empathic senses forced him to share their pain. Now Hamish had converted his wealth, so why not use some of it to make his mentors happier? It’s not like he needed it.
Ember smiled at Finn sadly. “We can’t let you do that. You’re a sweetheart to offer, though.”
Finn’s heart ached when Ember’s eyes welled up with tears. “Don’t cry, please. Let me do this for you. I want to.”
Ember ran her finger gently down Finn’s cheek. “You have a golden heart. We don’t deserve your kindness, but I’m afraid we have no choice but to accept. I warn you, though, we’ll never be able to repay your faith in us, but I promise we’ll try.”
“It would be nice if you both chose to stick around, even when you stop being my mentors,” Finn admitted. “Gypsy and I could use some good friends.”
“Girlfriends, yes,” Gypsy said over the tannoy. “You think he’s clueless? You wait until I get a body. Can you imagine the avatar of a massive skyship choosing a wedding dress?”
Pixie laughed through her hiccups. “You two live the weirdest lives. It would be worth sticking around just to be part of them.”
Finn remembered the party Aggy had mentioned this morning. “Why don’t you two take some time to settle into your room? Let Gypsy know when you’re ready. She’ll get you to the party tonight. Don’t be too long, though.”
“We’ll need to get some clothes to replace some of the burnt things,” Ember said sadly. “We’ll also need to replace the weapons we lost.”
That gave Finn a good idea. “Don’t replace the weapons. Give me a detailed list of exactly what you need. It’ll be good practice for me to make them, and Hamish can train me as I go.”
*****-*****
Finn sat alone at the large kitchen table, watching Aggy and her team of clan helpers bustle around preparing the celebration dinner. He’d offered to help so many times he’d lost count, but the busy dwarfesses had an unstoppable momentum and playfully growled when he tried to enter the cooking area.
“Are you sure you’re okay about Neeve, now, dear?” Aggy said, her voice muffled by the oven. She fished yet another packed baking tray out and began setting its contents out on waiting wire racks to cool.
Finn was shocked that he hadn’t thought about Neeve all day. He felt like he’d moved on. “Don’t worry, Ma. I’ve got my mentors now. Tomorrow, Darcy moves in with us, which will be nice.”
Aggy looked at Finn with an expression only a worried mother could wear. “Oh, my poor boy. You’ve had such a rotten life, and I allow my wicked sister to damage you even more.”
His mother came over and started stroking his hair. “I felt guilty already, but yesterday, you rescued our miners at great risk to yourself. Hamish told me what you did for Suzette and Dougal. They’re only alive because of your quick thinking.”
“The miners were trapped, and I could do something for them. Of course, I helped. I might be new here, but everyone in the clan has been good to me,” Finn replied, wishing Aggy would change the subject. “Besides, I couldn’t let a potential mate pass on. So I had to do something,” he finished with a mischievous grin.
He felt someone quietly move the nearby chair a lot closer and then sit down. A warm body nestled closer, making him look up at his friendly new neighbour. Surprisingly, it was Suzette who was smiling adoringly at him.
Suzette’s five-foot-seven inches gave her a little extra height on Finn, but it wasn’t too bad. He’d joked with Ember that if he’d had a type, Bernard wouldn’t be it. Suzette, however, definitely was his type. Suzette’s long, raven hair gleamed like polished ebony, and she was wearing it without braids tonight. She had gorgeous honey-coloured skin and dark amber eyes that seemed to peer into Finn’s very soul. Her face was gently curved, the soft lines making her appear friendly and kind. Suzette was deliciously curvaceous yet had a slightly muscular, well-defined frame. Finn assumed the mining work made her strong, too.
While the Allisians knew the cat people’s race as catkin, the fae called the larger feline predators kushka. Kushka were pure fae and had powerful magic similar to Finn’s. It had been a kushka that Finn had been trying to become while studying at the academy. However, his efforts failed, and he ended up inventing a new species of spatial predator that only vaguely resembled the fearsome cats.
Suzette was only part kushka, but she had the luxuriantly fluffy ears of the species, which made him wonder if she had the prehensile tail, too. Apart from her ears, Finn had trouble with her chest. Diplomatically, Finn tagged it as generous. His problem was that she wore clothes that showed off her assets to their fulsome best, and his eyes seemed to home in on their glory every time he wasn’t concentrating. It was most distracting, but it made him determined to train his eyes to behave, even if they really didn’t want to.
Finn was delighted to see her. “Good evening,” he said, just two words in and already struggling. “I’m unsure how to speak to my new belle.”
Suzette giggled. “Mmm! I like being your belle. It sounds good coming from your lips.”
Finn smiled but failed to hide his nerves.
“Don’t look so panicked, silly. I don’t bite,” Suzette said with a light laugh. “You look like you’re a heartbeat away from fleeing. Yesterday, you were bold and brave. Does your belle make you nervous?” Suzette giggled.
Finn nodded; his nerves had started to lock him up. The more he tried to relax, the more tense he became. He was petrified of messing up again and losing another chance at a loving relationship. Finn was still convinced that he’d done something stupid that caused Neeve to flee from him in the way she had. “Perhaps I should go.”
“Oh no, you don’t!” Suzette said, putting a firm hand on Finn’s shoulder. “You thought your mentors were looking after you? That was before I got permission to court you. Now, you’re in my care, hero,” Suzette said. “So, you’re a little nervous? So what? I already thought you were a good-looking male worth my advances, and then you went and saved my life. Isabella told me she’d given me up as dead before you appeared and magicked me back to life. You’re my own personal miracle, remember?”
“Has he told you about your day out tomorrow?” Aggy asked, coming to her son’s rescue.
Finn gave her a small smile of thanks for her assistance.
Aggy sighed, grabbed his hand, and rubbed her thumb along the back. “Oh, love. You poor, frightened thing. What has life done to you?” Aggy’s eyes were moist as she watched her son torture himself with paralytic nervousness.
“Honey, Suzette wants to be with you,” Aggy added, trying to make her voice as soothing as possible. “Use that huge brain of yours. You speak to me. You chat with your mentors, too. We’re all female. Is it just the romantic thing that’s making you panic?”
Finn nodded again.
Aggy looked at Suzette and winked. “Give him time. He’ll loosen up soon enough. You’ve already seen what he’s really like.”
Suzette gave Finn a gorgeous smile, and Finn melted. Then she took his other hand and interlaced her fingers with his. “Gotcha, and I’m never letting you go. Not ever. How about I ask you a few questions, and you just nod or shake your head, fair?”
Finn felt completely stupid. He’d become a self-destructive bundle of idiocy. He nodded his head.
“Do you want me to be your belle?” Suzette asked, looking a little nervous herself.
Finn nodded emphatically.
A wicked grin crept across Suzette’s face. “Good. Do you like these?” she asked as she placed his hand on her chest.
Finn went scarlet but managed a slight nod.
“Thought you might. I wore this dress, hoping you’d notice. Would you mind if I kiss you?”
Finn shook his head. He met Suzette halfway, and their lips intertwined. At least Neeve had taught him how to kiss well. The kiss continued and seemed to soothe his nerves as it lingered. It was a good kiss, laced with emotions that couldn’t be faked. In the future, Finn would look back and know that this was the exact moment he fell hard for Suzette.
When their lips finally parted, a cheer rang out. Looking around, Finn found the room packed with almost the entire clan, plus Abbot and his mentors. Everyone looked happy for the young couple.
“A cheer for young love and our hero of the hour!” Hamish’s voice cried out. A loud ‘Hooray’ followed as Finn and Suzette held hands. Suzette looked at Finn with pride and growing affection.
“A cheer for the quick-thinking genius that saved our lives!” Dougal shouted, and another cheer rose up.
“The biggest cheer for the man I will marry before this year’s out!” Suzette shouted, and the loudest cheer yet rocked the kitchen.
Aggy’s team of cooks quickly served a wide array of food, and everyone scrambled to get seated and start the feast.
Suzette leaned toward Finn. “So, why don’t you tell me about tomorrow,” she whispered.
The kiss had mercifully allowed Finn to find his voice. “The trials will test me on Forest Craft, and Ember suggested you’d be the perfect teacher,” Finn said, realising that he felt fine after the initial panic had passed. “I was wondering, uhm, if you would like to spend a day in—err, Limwood with me? I think that’s what Ember called it.” Finn sighed. The nerves hadn’t completely gone yet.
“Mmm! Yes, that would be perfect. Just you and me, I hope?” Suzette replied, her voice sinking an octave, making her sound sultry.
“Yes, just us. I don’t have a bow, but can find one in Gypsy’s armoury before the morning. Aggy said she’d make us a picnic, and we could have a nice day to ourselves,” Finn said. “Would that be okay?”
Suzette nodded. “That sounds perfect. Oo! It’ll be our very first date.”
The party flowed on, and Finn received countless handshakes and solid pats on the back. All throughout, Suzette held onto his hand as if she still worried he would flee if released.
When the party slowed, Suzette leaned in so her lips brushed Finn’s ear. Her warm breath against his skin made him shudder with pleasure. “How about you introduce me to Gypsy? We can grab some time alone, and I’ll teach you how to choose a good bow. Maybe you could invite me to stay the night, and we could bundle?” she purred.
Finn watched as Suzette caught Aggy’s eye and raised her eyebrow at her. Aggy nodded, and Suzette rose from her chair and dragged Finn toward the kitchen door. As they reached the door, raucous cheers rose, accompanied by shouts of ‘good luck’ and ‘get stuck in’ from the more inebriated partygoers.
And so it was that Beau and Belle began their courtship.