System Break

After extricating myself from a sticky situation we asked a servant to guide us out of the castle and we headed back to our guild hall. Barely ten minutes passed, and it was already awkward between us.

"Gather everyone," I said and waited in the common room. Reyas was moving about but Kysandre was still asleep upstairs and Alejo was with her. I could see their cores.

"Sakaala was magnificent," I said, and she smiled shyly. "We have a deal; we just have to convince the mountainfolk to sell some ore to the Duke."

Gisael handed me a cherry and I popped it into my mouth. "Here's to hoping the old duke doesn't try any funny business."

Ailen snorted and Sakaala frowned. 

"Yeah, I agree. The old bastard will definitely try on some funny business."

"What is funny business?" Reyas asked.

"Swindle, dishonest dealing, cheat, etcetera," Sakaala said and they all nodded in agreement.

Gisael stared at Sakaala. "What happened?"

Sakaala turned bright red and Gisael looked at me. Thank goodness I had my mask on. Her lips curled and she sniffed.

"I'll tell you later," I said because I wanted to stop further investigation on her part.

Sakaala looked away; she could not look Gisael in the eyes.

I stood. "Fill them in on the details," I asked Sakaala. "I'll go check on the bluecloaks."

I took the stairs two at a time and left the awkwardness behind. I tapped lightly on the door.

"Enter," Alejo said softly.

I pushed open the door and Kysandre was sitting up with a few pillows behind her back. She looked at me and smiled. I reached for my mask and took it off.

"How are you feeling?"

"Good thanks to you."

"Me? It was your healer and Gisael."

She shook her head. "I may have been in shock and could not talk. But I was aware what was happening." She glanced at Alejo. "Is it a secret?"

I shrugged. "Just keep it to you two."

"What secret," Alejo said.

"He can heal."

Alejo's eyes widened and he stared at me. I waved my hand in dismissal. "It's basic stuff really. Nothing compared to Kysandre." And then I mumbled, "Or a Troll."

I walked around the opposite side of the bed. "What now?"

Pain crossed Alejo's face. "I'm not sure. Whatever we do could go badly but our main goal is to keep Kysandre alive."

"We're going to head back to the Forest before they pin any other bullshit on us," I said.

Alejo shook his head slowly. "If they murdered her just after you left they could still blame you and say you ran."

"Why her? I know the fisherfolk hold her dear, but, it seems personal and a waste of her talent."

"You're right," Alejo said. "The personal part aside. Our duke is not beholden to the Chancellor and they're sacrificing one of his, it costs them nothing. But why would Sigwurd agree? I must go and talk to him."

"Alone?" Kysandre asked.

"You are not coming with me." Alejo said. "And he will stay here. Sigwurd assured my safety, but not yours."

"He could send the others after me while you meet with him. It is dangerous for the Svartalfar."

"How tough are these others?" I asked.

"Same as Alejo, there are two other protectors and then there are more - apprentices and adepts. There are forty in all."

Alejo grimaced. "Forty cannot attack this place in secret. But the other two protectors are older than me, powerful and experienced."

It began to dawn on me that Kysandre made the elite group of five because of her special abilities. The others were veterans.

Alejo stood. "I will go now. I've kept him waiting long enough. Stay in this room with her and if you need a rest send Gisael please."

"Sure," I said. "Get going, you fret like an old woman."

Kysandre giggled and received a smile from Alejo. He patted her hand and then left quickly.

I pulled a chair across the room and positioned it facing the bed. I sat down and put my feet up near hers with my arms crossed behind my head. I sighed.

"What's wrong?" she said.

"I did something stupid."

"I'm sorry. Send someone down to the docks and I can rest with my family. I'm putting your people in danger."

"Don't be fucking stupid. If someone decides to attack us, its their decision and you were just their instrument. And, my stupid act has nothing to do with you or this city."

"What did you do?" she asked softly.

I sighed. "We met with the Duke of Salastria. And, no it has nothing to do with that meeting it went well. But during the meeting we put in a little show because he's a dirty old man."

"Oh," she said. "Is that all?"

I shook my head. "After the meeting I fucked her brains out in a storeroom."

Kysandre turned bright red. Her curiosity overcame her embarrassment. "Who?"

"Sakaala," I said.

"Oh," she said.

"Yeah, oh. She's the boss's daughter - a princess in my world. And now she's begging for it."

"Begging for what?" 

Damn, she was innocent. I pointed to my crotch.

"Oh," she said.

Neither of us spoke for ages and it was her who finally broke the silence. "I had a crush on you too. It is understandable, just make sure you let her down gently."

"Had?" I asked.

She smiled. "It's hard to have a crush on a man who has sex with so many women."

I laughed. "But I'm not a man."

She laughed and then stopped. "That hurts, don't make me laugh."

"Sorry." I leaned back and closed my eyes, but my qi-sight was open. I could see qi-cores, large and small, bouncing round as people moved. All my friends were gathered downstairs but Barrin had left. No one else was inside, Gisael must have sent all the staff away.

I reached out to Demon Bird. Come. I need you. He had been exploring up the mountains to the north and the kills left by the adventurers. The range spread all the way across the centre of the island from sea to sea. I thought of it as the mid mountain range.

"You know what I mean. There is this magnetism about you. I think most women could easily fall for you."

"In less than a day you fell for me and fell out?"

She stifled her laugh this time. "You make me sound like a child."

"Ah, yeah. You're like eighteen."

"I've been training as an adept since I was ten. I've been ready to fight to the death since I was fifteen."

I chuckled. "Fair enough."

"Hold my hand," she asked. Kysandre was dressed in a simple white gown which accentuated her silky brown skin. Her sea green eyes looked up at the ceiling and there was a small satisfied smile on her face. 

I flopped my hand onto the bed beside her and he placed hers in it. I gave her a little squeeze and then held her hand gently.

"This is nice," she said. "You can watch over me anytime." Her gown reached down past her thighs and her legs were sublime. Her foot crept across the bed until it touched mine.

"Sure," I said. She was smoking hot after all.