The Messenger -

Chapter 17- 8 Gold Coins

The hat fell to the side a little, mostly though it was slanted , falling just over the man’s eyes and giving a shadow to his face.

“Tell me more about these friends of yours, they wouldn’t happen to be involved with the urgent gang would they? “

I scratched my head and thought of how to answer , I’d have to lie here. “No my friend is an executioner , Brovy and the other two are girls we were taking around the town. “ It wasn’t entirely a lie, I thought idly. That not entirely ,was just enough for me to keep my face mostly neutral .

The man narrowed his eyes.

“Cross that’s enough. This isn’t an interrogation. “ Avelda spoke firmly, her arms crossed with her twin blade resting between them.

She turned to me per pink hair swaying . “He was a former bounty hunter. “ She leaned in and spoke under her hand. “It makes him a little paranoid. “

“I am not paranoid.”

“It makes him hear good to. “ The Saintess tossed her head back in laughter then turned to her smaller companion Sala and whispered something to her before falling into laughter again.

She turned to me again when her laughter died down leaning back on her blade in perfect defiance of the laws of physics. I watched idly as the staff bent.

“One . “ She said. “ I don’t need to know the details. What I do want to say is this . “

She put one hand in her palm which she held vertical to the ground. “The Church appreciates your assistance in ridding the world of Urge. “ She nodded her head.

“Good work. “

My jaw dropped a little bit as the words hit me. I actually killed that guy?

The sentence even being thought was a new thing for me. Then the memory of the battle fell over me , the distance between us , the spear inches from my neck , only seconds separating blade from flesh.

And the well put aim of a bead finishing the job.

Shit , I thought again , I killed him.

On the other side of the room Avelda watched akwardly unsure of what do. Then in a ahah moment she remembered something.

“Sala “ , she said and leaned over to speak to the hooded warrior. “His money. “

The person within growled then reached in the vestiges of steel and cloak fidgeting around for a while before coming up with a bag of dusty brown leather .

I was knocked out of my stupor by Avelda tapping on my shoulder coin in hand.

“Your coin. For the bounty of 8 Gold placed on Urge The Gamblers head. Quite well for a first bounty if I do say so. “

I reached out and took the coin with little hesitation. Even with a guilty conscious I still needed coin.

I put the coin safely in my inner shirt pocket and did a grateful nod to the soul of Urge for giving me 8 gold coin.

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“Haha.”

“Sala you laughed . Really! Ahhhh it’s been a while , you’ve got the cutest laugh Sala. “

Avelda turned and fawned over the little warrior who’s identity I now gave girl.

A minute ago I was unsure if she had been a dwarf or not.

I looked up at Avelda slightly curious. “ How’d you know that this guy was worth eight gold coins anyway. Did he do something to the church or something. “

“Well …” Avelda said.

“We’re hunters .“ Cross interrupted. “We hunt those who’ve broken the rule of the law , and most times get a pretty penny for it , like the one in your hand. “

“Then we donate the proceeds to those in need. “ Avelda interrupted. “Particularly those in the impoverished areas. “

Avelda flexed while leaning upon her sword . “We’re the good guys. “

She leaned in and mock whispered in her hand again. “Except cross. “

“Oi!”

“Hahahah. Hahahah. “ Avelda laughed for a while . A contagious thing that lifted my spirits and before I knew it I laughed along a little as well.

When the laughter died down I pointed to the door.

“Thanks for all your help. I appreciate you saving me and letting me rest here , but I’ve got to see if my friends are alright and I got work tomorrow as well, so I’ll be heading out. “

I reached out my hand to the Saintess that had moments before only been a rumor I had heard of and waited for her to shake my hand.

“Wait .- “

Avelda reached into a small pocket on Salas hood and came back with a small device.

It was circle , thin and made of a sand colored metal. her hands reached out and took my palm turning it over and laying the circle inside, She curled my hand around it and withdrew , faster than I could blink, then winked.

“In case you ever change your mind One, just put some of your mana in this and take it to your nearest Sun church and give it to a nun. They’ll know what to do. “

I turned up my head. “ I don’t have mana.”

The saintess smiled. “You will soon.” The door swung closed then leaving me to contemplate what she meant in a corner of my head.

‘So that was the saintess hmmm. “

I nearly jumped from surprise as Willows voice rolled over me.

“You’re back Willow! “

“Yea kid, I’m back , I’ve been back for a while actually. I was playing sleep to dodge thier notice.”

“What’s the deal Willow, why wouldn’t you want a Saintess to notice you?“

After I asked the question I began tossing my eyes lightly over the city streets. I was in Center Avenue again. On its Southern District facing side where the Twin Sun church sat plainly in its dull brown colors. So plainly in fact that it missed my notice most of the time I encountered it.

Few people went by this particular street and even less went by the back of the church where the door I had just opened led to. With this being the case I leaned my body against the wall and relaxed a little settling into a conversation with the spirit.

Willow seemed to use the time it took for me to get my surroundings in order to phrase his thoughts. “The story of my making and the there after isn’t one they would take kindly to . Saintess and their like. You would understand if you had heard my origin.“

The shade of the building protected me from the stray rays of the sun and the building warmed my back. I rested peacefully upon the church.

“ I’m free now. Care to try again. “

“I think not. Only a fool does the same expecting a different outcome , and I would rather use my time talking of something useful. “

“Like what.” I said kicking a nearby rock.

‘Like what happened after you collapsed.’

“ So you did see. Tell me Willow, what happened ?”

A cat that was waltzing by stare at me curiously, giving me a curious “Meow?” before being in its way.

I coughed in my hand embarrassed.

I was talking aloud.

‘What happened when I was knocked out my Willow.’

‘You heard most of it. ‘ The spirit answered, forming a small wind like wisp. ‘ You defeated that brute , although it dost you a icicle in the gut that I had to seal up. Took most of my energy too.

‘The second bit however , is where things got a little strange One. ‘

‘Strange , How so. ‘

‘ Your friend Brovy ….. he tried to kill you. ‘

“Well shit.”