Saelin watched as the guards pulled the carriage away from where it had been abandoned. ‘Moving that was the best decision of my life. The others are in prison or dead, and who knows what happened to the boss?’ The question came to mind, but as he stroked his chin thoughtfully, he couldn’t picture what his boss even looked like. ‘I’m almost positive I saw him face to face…’
‘I’m going to miss this cafe.’ He thought, dismissing his annoyance for the moment, and raising his cup overhead while looking around for a server. Like most of the outdoor cafes of Pas’en, this one tended to employ beautiful young looking women as servers. Unlike most of them however, this one only bought dark elves like himself. ‘Is it a fetish if I only like looking at my own race?’ He wondered as he looked at the ass of a shapely young dark elf who bent forward as far as she could in her low cut bright white dress to place a porcelain cup in front of the customer.
It reminded him of the shapely little slave he’d recently helped kidnap. ‘I wonder if she lived?’ It soured Saelin’s thoughts a little to consider her fate. He pasted a pleasant smile on his face when a large breasted server bent forward in front of him and slowly refilled his cup when he set it down.
“Here you are, master.” She said in a heavy, breathy voice. “Anything else…?” She asked, holding the forward posture. It was an open secret that some of the servers served more than tea after closing as a way to make money to buy their own freedom. It made for very motivated service.
“Not just yet.” His slender face highlighted his flawless smile up at the soft, doe eyed dark elf woman.
“Of course, master, I’ll return soon.” She said and walked off to tend to someone else.
‘Komestran accent. No wonder they’re getting thought of as born servants.’ Saelin thought and sipped while he watched the guards take the carriage away at last after a thorough check.
Saelin was smart enough to know better. ‘They’re just making the best of things. It’s as natural as anything any free person does. Most won’t see it that way though, they’ll see it as natural ‘for Komestrans’. “Oh well.” He murmured. ‘Still better off than that poor girl. Leaving that stupid goblin and that stupid orc alone with her and a list of things to ask was just inviting a thrashing. Time for me to move on, maybe southeast. Spend some money there. Prince Isaura has lots of wealthy, bored noble ladies who don’t want to get caught screwing around. Easy blackmail, easy work, and nice weather.’ It was an easy choice. He looked reluctantly at the shapely dark elves he was leaving behind, set down a few coppers when the guards were out of sight, and walked away to go buy space on a wagon.
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When Nua reached the throne room of Prince Rasgen, she was surprised to be immediately met by a guard. “Duchessa Aiwenor?” He asked, she craned her neck to look up at him. As humans went, he was big, very big. Shoulders so broad that two of herself side by side was not quite one of him. He had heavy, expensive looking armor that was a blend of adamantite, orichalcum, and steel, as well as a large halberd in hand.
“I am.” Nua replied up at the brute, she pondered the best way out of a half dozen ways to kill the man. She decided on a kick in the back of the knee, flowing into swinging herself around the thick neck of the man, during which she would draw her hidden blade, ending with placing that blade into the brainstem of the man through a chink in the man’s neck armor. ‘I can see it already, he’s far from graceful, unbalanced even a little, his head will fall back, his neck will be exposed, and I can kill him.’ The brief thought of how much she’d enjoy killing a human rose unbidden to her mind. She cursed the thought, ‘Sinner! You may sin in one way, but not in that. Some humans destroyed themselves for you! Don’t disgrace them by unworthy thoughts!’ She abjured herself as a priestess, and awaited his answer.
Her thoughts raced rapidly from how to kill, to a rejection of her still lingering hate, before the giant had a chance to make his reply…
“Follow me, the Prince wants to see you in his private office.” He didn’t wait for acknowledgement, his halberd held across his body at an angle, he led her through a door and a short way beyond, down a hall with a bright red carpet that centered between two rough cut stone walls.
The door he came to was of heavy, thick dark wood and had long, wide, and possibly thick looking metal bands that ran across the front.
The guard stepped aside, and Nua approached to knock, her fist hit it hard several times, and the welcome voice of Prince Rasgen reached her. “Enter.”
She reached for the curved vertical handle of iron and depressed the catch of it with her thumb. It opened, and in she went. His office was much smaller than she anticipated, a single desk near the rear wall of the rectangular room. A few shelves of books, file cabinets of iron, stacks of papers abound, and most notably… a half empty bottle of wine… and no cup.
The guard closed the door and Nua approached his desk. She inclined her head politely and stood with her hands behind her back and feet shoulder width apart. Dressed in her martial attire, black armor, green cloak, faint almost invisible gray insignia of her god’s face, and her knife, she felt at ease. Prince Rasgen however, did not.
His eyes were bleary and the proud, fun loving prince, wore the face of an aching heart. And it wouldn’t be unfair to say that he stank of alcohol, sex, and a simple lack of washing off either for the last two days.
“Prince Rasgen.” Nua said gently, when he just kept staring at her.
He shook his head out of whatever space it was in, and sat up while clearing his throat.
“Duchessa…” He started, then looked at the door, “dismiss the guard.”
She nodded again, opened it, looked at the behemoth and said, “The Prince desires privacy, you can go for now.”
Stolen novel; please report.
From behind the helmet, she could feel his unease, but he obeyed and the sound of clinking armor in motion carried into the office. Nua closed the door again and returned to where she had been a moment before in front of him.
“Thank you… I don’t like being overheard.” He said with a heavy heart, “Duchessa, would you say we’re friends?”
Nua almost reared back at the question, unexpected as it was, her mind reeled.
“Princes don’t have many of those.” He said with a deadpan face and a blunt tone.
Nua took a step closer to him. “I know. And, speaking bluntly…” She looked over her shoulder at the door, “stripping away all the posturing in public where you declared your friendship after my success, I like you. You’re good company, you’re more fun than I am…” She managed a slight huff and a self deprecating smirk.
He returned it, “You’re not without your fun side.” He praised her lightly and slid the bottle over to her
“Thank you, My Prince.” She said, and drank straight from the bottle in a firm swig before setting it down again and sliding it back.
The sound of sliding glass over wood was accompanied by the faint smell of expensive wine retreating from her just a little. “You’re too kind, but you’re more fun than I am. And you have a real sense of duty, you’re passionate, not bad looking as far as human men go. I don’t know if I’d say we’re ‘friends’ like people who have known one another for years. But…” She held her hand out and caught the bottle when he pushed it back over to her. She took another swig, then slid it back.
“An honest answer, I don’t know if that should make me feel better or worse about what I’m going to ask you next.” Prince Rasgen caught the bottle when it slid into his palm and set it aside. His hands folded one over the other and the sharp eyes she’d liked quickly on first meeting, were there again.
“Sobella… she needs an escort into Tlalmok territory. After what happened with Prince Sado, they need to be good at what they do.” He let the statement hang between them.
“And they also need to be expendable, correct, my Prince?” Nua stated the question with a deadpan expression, tight lips and steady eyes.
“Ugly, but yes, Duchessa. Yes. The ministers were universal in wanting to hire you for the job. You’re a mercenary, and you’re one of our nobility. This makes you expendable but also gives you status when it comes to dealing with the beastmen. And, if I can speak as a man… knowing someone who likes her, who she likes as well, will be with her at the end… it makes it hurt a little less…” Rasgen snatched up the bottle and hurled it at the wall where it shattered with a crash. The remaining wine dripped down the wall or falling down to create a puddle on the floor.
He flung his forehead into his hands with his elbows up on his desk. “I’m supposed to be the one to protect her! Not you!” He shouted, and Nua did not move, she only remained still and considered her answer.
“I am sorry, Prince Rasgen. If you want me to do this for you… and for her, I and my Breakers are at your disposal. I will keep her safe as if she were my lover, and protect her until she meets the end your stars decided for her.” Nua kept her voice calm and diplomatic at first, but as she spoke, it was gentle, and she stepped closer.
Nua’s right hand went out across the polished bright tan desk, the gloved right hand within sight even with his downward gaze. “I swear it. On my life, my faith, my god, my honor, on my own head.”
“What do you want for it?” Prince Rasgen asked plaintively as he reached up, and took her hand in both of his own when he finally saw it.
Nua shook her head slowly, looking down at him with a kindly, small smile of sympathy. “In deference to her courage… and… our friendship, I won’t charge you for this. You’ve suffered enough. I’ll go because you’ve asked me to go. If we are to be friends, I can’t take your coins while you’re in mourning.”
He leaned back in his chair and looked at her mutely, “You’re going to walk into the Tlalmok capital… because I ‘asked’ you to? You know they eat people like you, don’t you Duchessa?” His raised brow suggested he thought she was insane, but she gave him a predatory, toothy grin in return.
“Predator, prey, the difference is a knife’s edge and who is holding the hilt.” She winked. “You’re asking me to go and serve as the escort for Sobella, I’m honored by the request, and so of course I’ll do it. You’re my friends. That’s how things are in the west, a friend asks for help, you give it.” She looked regretfully at the shattered glass and wasted wine while the Prince pulled out another bottle from beside him and loudly popped the cork against the wall.
“That’s how friends are in the west, you put yourself out for the ones you like.” She said with no small amount of pride, tilting her chin up as if to dare him to challenge the dignity or pride behind her statement.
“Still, this is a lot of favor I’m asking.” He took a swig of the fresh bottle and slid it over to her.
She drank again, and slid it slowly back.
Nua’s thoughts came on as hot as the pain she remembered on her back the first time she felt the kiss of the whip. ‘Not for this. A woman who actually passed anti-cruelty laws for slaves? That’s someone who deserves an escort to the mouth of hell.’ Nua thought privately, but responded out loud by saying, “You let me buy a title here, you didn’t have to do that. Yes, it was after a job, but you let my servants buy land while I was gone, you’ve treated me well. I know not everybody is pleased by my being here, so that means a great deal. I will look after Sobella.”
“I will find some way to thank you for this, I don’t know what, but this means more to me than you can ever understand.” Prince Rasgen answered, “I hope you and your Breakers all come back safely.”
“If I don’t for some reason, then let me ask one thing of you.” Nua said in a still voice.
“Name it.” Rasgen said in a sharp voice before sliding her the bottle.
“In the top drawer of my office, you will find a letter, have this letter sent west by sea and placed into the hands of the Dark Savior, everything I have, I want to pass on to her. If I perish out there, and she comes to collect, please don’t be frightened. I swear on my soul she won’t be here to hurt anyone.” Nua made the request in the same still, humble voice that he hadn’t heard from her before.
“I see. I will bear that in mind.” Prince Rasgen replied with a hesitant and thoughtful look. “However,” he added, taking another swig and sliding her the bottle again, “I prefer you come back, after all that’s happen, I’ll need all the help I can get.”
“Don’t we all?” Nua asked with a sad rhetorical tone as she took another drink and set the bottle down in front of him rather than sliding it. “When do I leave, My Prince?”
Her hands folded back behind her back, and he looked at her again, “Your situation with the missing slave, was it resolved to your satisfaction?”
“She was recovered alive and is able to work again, and most of those responsible are captured or dead. However one of the ones responsible wasn’t caught, he took the carriage and ran. I have heard nothing about it yet. Also the captive survivor acknowledged that they had a boss who was also not caught. They wanted information from her, my slave informs me that they wanted to know a great deal… about me specifically. That tells me that there is a person behind the one responsible, a hidden hand. I don’t know who it is, but they will pay for striking at my house. And pay dearly.” Nua tore off the words with a vindictive, hard eyed stare, which the Prince met with brief quiet.
“So… that would be a no, then. At least for now.” He asked as he sought clarification.
“Ah, yes, that’s right, My Prince. But with her return, and the acquisition of more soldiers, I’m ready to work, I’ll just need a day to lay out guidelines for my household staff on what needs to happen while I’m gone.” Nua explained patiently as events began to play out behind her eyes and terrible plans were laid for the days ahead.
“That will be fine, the changing of the moon will be the time you’ll leave. That gives you a few days. We just have to wait for the Starwatcher temple to select the blessed ones from your numbers.” The Prince took a long breath and grabbed the bottle again, “You can go, for now, and when you go, go with my blessing and a hope for at least your own swift and safe return.”
“When should I expect the temple priests, my Prince?” Nua asked with notable discomfort.
“When they arrive. That could be today, or tomorrow, or the day you’re to go. But whenever it is, just remember this, they’re a prickly lot and don’t like to be argued with. Even I can’t overrule them, not in matters of the faith at least.” Rasgen replied reluctantly, taking another long drink from the bottle and slamming it down almost hard enough to break it. “May fate be kind to you.” He said with a tranquil voice, and leaned back in his chair to stare up at the ceiling as if the stars were above, giving answers he hated, to questions he hadn’t asked.
“My Prince.” Nua said and rendered him the salute of her faith, fist smacked hard over her heart, she wheeled about, and headed for the exit, leaving the sound of long, hard swallows behind her as the Prince finished the fresh bottle by himself.
When she left the room, all she could feel was sorrow for the Prince, and as she connected the dots in the appearance he was given, and what Rasgen had told her about ‘blessing the chosen escort’ a savage rage toward the only one it could be. She kept her face as tranquil as the patient elven slave she’d once been when the whips were over her back, but burning resolve roared through her like fire through dry grass. ‘Minister Ulmin. You’re a dead man walking.’