Chapter 21 Three days...

I leaned back against the cold brick and took a deep breath…

This was going to be hard, extremely hard.

Extremely hard to not to claw that bitch in the face, it was after all her devious machinations that had caused the death of my friends. That and I was feeling a little pissed after realizing the bank account had been cleared out. Originally I was just going to let him get away with leaving me and Alaina, I had this feeling he would beat himself up over it and any punishment I doled out would be less than what he did to himself, he had always struck me as self-destructive like that… But now, now I was going to hunt him down and get what little money was left from his drinking. With any luck, I could track him down and get the money to pay Lady Brandmount off, and be free of this bitch.

Sarena stepped close to me and also looked like she was working to keep herself calm. She breathed in a deep breath and attempted to stop her fingers from twitching towards the bag she had slung over her back, in which as no doubt a doll she had constructed for the lady and for the lady alone…

“Shall we?” she asked turning towards me, I looked over at her and then up at the grand double doors that stood vigil above us and nodded. I was as ready as I was likely ever going to get. The stone stare’s in front of us were dusted with snow that piled in the corners where the wind could not reach, and at the top of the steps was a small landing. The Brandmount’s house was a grand estate, one that would have been more at home in a summer climate. The massive doors that stood in front was an intricate work of carved wood with vining patterns that seemed to snake all over the door’s surface. There was a brass knocker on the door, the formed metal showing a beautiful woman with pointed ears sitting with her knees tucked up under her, her hair flowing up like a high wind had caught her. Around the ornate figure, a moon-shaped half ring formed the actual knocker.

Reaching up I grabbed the knocker and slammed it into the door three times. Deep resounding thuds sounded, each one echoing slightly and overlapping with the next. Just like last time I was here, there was a pause as the butler came down the stairs to open the door for us.

He was a tall man. Taller than even Sarena by a full head, making him around the same height as Harland had been. His grey hair was cut in a rather dignified way and he stood tall and proud. I, however, couldn't take him seriously…

It was the mustache…

The overlarge bushy thing that wobbled above his upper lip simply was too funny to take anything about he said or did seriously. He looked at both me and Sarena, his eyes flashing in recognition before he performed a small half bow to us. “Greetings ladies, the Mistress is expecting you,” he said, straightening up. “If you would follow me to the sitting room I will inform her that you are here, please, right this way.” holding the door open for us he let us walk in.

Last time I was here I made sure to wipe the snow off of my paws, this time however I was very tempted to simply walk into the hall, but then I thought about the army of maids and butlers that were no doubt employed to clean things like that, I wouldn't be inconveniencing her any, simply making those working-class people’s lives harder. Stopping on the edge of the entryway rug I made sure to carefully wipe the snow and muck off of my paws.

That was one thing I couldn't stand about towns, the muck. There was muck everywhere, as horses people trampled the dirt roadway into the mud, mixed with other less mentionable things that I refused to even consider. And no matter how I tried it always worked its way between my toes, it was almost enough to convince me to wear boots…

Almost…

Looking up I noticed a small smile on the corner of his lips, causing the bushy thing above it to curl ever so slightly. The look in his eyes told me he had a pretty good idea of what had just gone through my head in regards to tracking up the house…

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How very observant…

Moving forward both Sarena and I were ushered into a sitting room. The room was simply ornate.

Redwood and oak gleamed beneath the lacquer, reflecting the entire room in a hazy red that seemed to catch the light, lovingly stroke it and then allow it to go back where it could be perceived by mortal eyes. The walls were covered in an intricate design, like that of a gold grape plant as the climbing vines covered the walls, leaving behind the tendrils of there outstretched vines, curling at the ends where it had found some purchase in the white paint that was its backdrop. The furniture was likewise just as opulent, an unassuming grey, covered in the intricate dance of birds during mating season, stitched, by hand of course, in a silver thread of the highest quality.

“Please, be seated, I will send in Roxanne with refreshments for while you wait, what would you like ladies?”

“I will have some hot spiced wine,” Sarena said, elegantly seating herself on a loveseat, crossing her legs and placing her arms across the back of the chair, looking over at me and making it apparent where I was supposed to sit.

“She would like cold milk to please,” I say as I attempt to look as graceful as my elven companion while I sit down next to her. I didn't manage it, but her arm came off of the back of the couch and pulled me into her side by the shoulder. They both looked at me with raised eyebrows, before the butler nodded and bowed out of the room.

Our drinks came within minutes, and I spent the next few contents, almost forgetting the situation I was in, as I slowly sipped at my milk and snuggled in close to Sarena’s side. As I sat there my mind started to wonder, one of the topics it did so on was the woman sitting next to me. What exactly she and I were. I didn't know much about her, about her background, or hell even about her powers, I knew next to nothing. And she definitely didn't know me, but something had happened down there in the caves. I might not know her but I trusted her, after all, you can see a person’s heart and soul best when their and your life are on the line. When the stakes were that high people tended to show their actual self…

So, the question then was what were we?

If we did end up sleeping together could I call us lovers? Or was that too much of a stretch? I didn't look at her as I considered. Could I even call her a friend? Perhaps, perhaps not I don't know, and that was the main issue, I didn't know. There was something there, something rather deep like she was a sister, someone I knew I could trust to not leave me behind, but past that?

It would require time…

As I was thinking this lady Brandmount walked in, she was still a striking woman, but now my vision of her was less than idyllic. “Greetings I wonder did either of your parties happen to retrieve my box?”

“Let’s just drop the act shall we?” Sarena hissed, “here is your silver back I want nothing to do with you or anything you want me to do, I also don't take to kindly to attempts to force me to comply with anything, I hate blackmail.” Sarena tossed her bag, the silver jingling as it flew and then a thud sound as it fell to the floor at the lady’s feet. Her lips twisted in disgust, but that was the only indication that lady Brandmount was upset, the rest of her perfect face and features remained unchanged as she casually disregarded the money and instead sat down on a divan across from us.

“I see, well, I will make sure to tell the guild that you failed to deliver and I will ask them to apply a demotion to your rank, because clearly, you are not skilled enough to even do a simple job.” she smiled sweetly as she spoke, and I could feel Sarena stiffen up next to me. “And what about you, are you here to repay me as well?” she asked turning towards me, a sly smile on her lips. She knew something, something she wasn't about to tell me, that much was for sure….

“She does not have the full amount, but she will shortly,” I say pulling out my own bag, in it was every last cent I owned… Eight silver, five gold, and twenty-three copper… I placed it on a coffee table between the two of us and slid it over to her. “She has put eight silv-”

“Eight is not what I paid you and your party dear, I need my original investment of 11 back,” she smiled a serpent’s smile, “I'll give you two options, the first being that if you can't pay me in three days time I will sale your debt to the garrison, where they will lock you up, and I am sure there are a few men who would not mind allowing you to pay off your debt one way or another at an increased rate,” her smile grew at the look of rage on my face. “Or if in three days you have not paid me then you can work for me until the debt is paid.”

“She has three days?” I asked, standing up, downing the last of my milk.

“Yes, three days.”

“She will get you your silver...”

“Good, and if you find that friend of yours, ohh what was his name, oh that's right, Tamerian was it? Yes, if you find him, let him know that those conditions apply to him as well...” she smiled at me, and I narrowed my eyes at her. But I didn't stay to see what she was hiding, I didn't have the time.

I only had three days...