Suited for Luck

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “Goodnight, Posy,” Doc said gently.

  With her gone, he picked up the drinks and shut the door, exhaling deeply.

  “Doc?”

  “Sorry. I don’t like seeing children cry,” Doc told her as he set the drinks on the table. There were two cups of wine and a single shot glass. Doc tossed back most of the shot before holding the rest out to Fiala.

  Fiala took it and downed the rest. “Oh…?”

  “Yeah. She keeps giving me some of that. Not sure how I’m going to cope with killing people without it.”

  “She rarely shares it,” Fiala said. “Lia must value you highly if she’s been sharing this with you.”

  “Well, I am trying to help her get her business back,” Doc said as he brought the wine over to the bed.

  “That’s true,” Fiala agreed, taking the cup he offered. “Do you really think you’re going to be able to?”

  Doc thought about Rosa, the mine, and the tournaments coming up. “Yeah, I think I have a real chance. It’ll take right up to the solstice, but I think I can do it.”

  “Can I help?”

  “Just be here to help me through the rough times.”

  “I will.”

  After taking a sip of the wine, Doc set the cup aside. “You were worried for me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Let me thank you. Not many people have been truly worried for me.”

  “Huh?” Fiala said.

  Doc took her glass and put it down before leaning in to kiss her gently.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Doc and Fiala woke up at Posy’s soft knocking on their door. Fiala was up first, bringing the water into the room before Doc had even leveraged himself out of bed. When were metal spring mattresses made? Doc wondered while Fiala wiped herself down. We’re going to put a hole in this poor cot-thing.

  Doc was lost in his thoughts, so he blinked dumbly when Fiala touched his arm. “Huh?”

  “You going to wash up?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “No, I just have a few things to do before the tournament starts,” Doc replied as he got to his feet.

  “Oh? What do you have planned?”

  “Talking to Posy’s mom during breakfast, and then I need to speak with Otto and his family after that. That should get me to the tournament... after that, it’ll be up in the air.”

  “Otto? The barber?”

  “Yeah. I’m trying to get an in on some miners and some... complications popped up there.”

  Fiala stared at his back, “You mean Sonya?”

  Doc hesitated before nodding, “Yeah. She has a crush on me. I’m going to try and let her down easily.”

  Fiala sighed, “She’s been in here multiple times looking for you. No dwarven female would willingly set foot in here, much less an unmarried one. It won’t be as easy as you think it will be.”

  “Fuck...” Doc sighed as he finished washing. “I’ll do the best I can.”

  Fiala gave him a soft smile. “I can’t blame her for wanting to be close to you. I still don’t know a lot about your past, but I like to think I know who you are as a person.”

  Doc returned the smile and got dressed. “You put a lot of faith in me.”

  “Yes. I… uh… I said a small prayer to Lady Luck last night while we were… busy.”

  Doc laughed, “Oh. Did you have a religious experience?”

  “I think I was brought closer to god… dess,” Fiala giggled.

  “I’m pretty sure Luck didn’t intend for me to bring her worshippers through carnal means, but a few would be okay.”

  “I’ll go make sure they have breakfast ready for us,” Fiala smiled, heading for the door.

  “I’ll be right down.”

  Doc came down to the main room to find Fiala sitting at a table. There was an older woman with rabbit ears in the seat next to her. An extra cup and plate of food were set on the table, so Doc sat himself. “Morning. Thank you for speaking with me.”

  The bestial gave him a hard look. “You’re the one my daughter speaks of so highly?”

  “Posy is a good girl,” Doc smiled. “You should be proud of her.”

  The woman glared at him, but Fiala cleared her throat, “Daf, Doc is a good man.”

  Daf glanced at Fiala, then back to Doc. “What did you want with me, sir?” The last word was spoken as grudgingly as it could be.

  “There isn’t a good way to say this,” Doc sighed. “Your daughter was telling me that she has given you all of the money I’ve given her.”

  Daf’s chin went up, clearly waiting for him to rebuke her.

  Doc shook his head and held up an empty hand. “She told me why, and I don’t fault her or you. Have you seen anyone about the problem?”

  Daf blinked, clearly not expecting his change of topic. “Henrick can’t help me, and Whittaker doesn’t see our kind,” she said after a moment of silence.

  Doc nodded and glanced at Dillon. He had been looking over at their table and giving him a cold eye. When Dillon walked further down the bar, Doc spoke again, but softly, “If there was another way, would you try it?”

  Daf stared at him before she snorted, “What snake oil are you selling?”

  “I’m not,” Doc replied. “I can help with some things, like Fiala’s broken bones. Depending on what your condition is, I might be able to help you, too. I can’t promise it, but I’d be willing to try.”

  “Doctor?” Daf asked slowly.

  “Doc is my name. I am a faith healer, though.”

  Both eyebrows shot up and Daf blinked at him slowly. “Fiala, he speaking true?”

  “He is,” Fiala answered just as softly. “My broken toe and tail are healed.”

  Daf chewed over the idea for a minute before she asked, “What’s the cost?”

  “Nothing. Maybe a prayer to Lady Luck, but that’s it. No coin, no promises, nothing of value but faith.”

  “Why? Helping me could expose you.”

  “Because Posy loves you,” Doc said simply. “I hope one day I’ll have a child that will love me even half as much as she loves you.”

  Daf’s stern face softened and she glanced toward the stairs. Posy was peeking out from the doorway to the hallway, watching them. “Precious child, she is. Fine... what do I have to do?”

  “Just step into the back with me for a moment,” Doc said and stood up, his food untouched.

  Posy vanished behind the door once Daf got up and made her way toward it. Doc’s gaze was distant while he prayed that he could do this. When they both stepped into the hall, Daf and Doc went for the private dining room. Posy was looking out from the kitchen, puzzled, and Doc gave her a smile before motioning for her to wait.

  Closing the door behind them, Doc triggered healing hands and held out his hands to her. “When you’re ready, take my hands. Lady Luck, please help Daf... her daughter loves her and she needs some of your blessing.”

  Daf stared at his hands for a second before firmly grabbing them. The moment she did, Doc realized he could diagnose her condition. It became apparent that her constant pain was because her pancreas wasn’t working like it should. Doc focused on the organ and found that it was close to complete failure. Swallowing hard, he pushed his energy into healing it.

  Doc stopped before it was completely healed— he had started feeling the strain of healing taking a toll on him. The glow faded from his hands and he stepped back, resting against the table. “Not healed,” he panted to her. “Your pancreas was failing. Have to do more over the next couple of days. Should ask Lia to use this room for breakfast... make it easier for me.”

  Daf stared at him, the chronic pain and numbness she had felt for the last dozen years now gone. “You… how…?”

  “Faith,” Doc replied with a tired smile. “It’s not done, just helped. It’ll take two… no, three more days to fix it unless I want to pass out. Is that okay with you?”

  Eyes starting to water, Daf sniffed, “Lady Luc
k, you said?”

  “Yeah.”

  She knelt on both knees and clasped her hands in front of her. Closing her eyes, Daf prayed, “Lady Luck, thank you. Thank you. Henrick told me this would be my death inside a couple of years and that time was almost gone... I’ll be able to see my little girl grow up now. Thank you for sending this man to us and giving me this time.”

  Seeing the dour woman suddenly so grateful was a gut punch. Doc swallowed, holding his own emotions in check. “I’m glad to help. Come on, this is no time to cry.” He held out his hand and waited for her. “Work has to be done and if we take too long, people might comment.”

  The door cracked open a little bit and Posy peeked into the room. “Momma?”

  Daf surged to her feet with Doc’s help and rushed at her daughter. Posy squeaked and started to back up only to be swept up into her mother’s arms and hugged hard. “You precious little one!” Daf cried, holding Posy tight. “I love you, my little flower.”

  “Momma!” Posy began to cry, hugging her mother right back.

  Doc saw people looking down the hall and coughed. He walked out of the hall, not meeting anyone’s eyes. Making it back out to the front, Doc took his seat at the table and started in on his breakfast.

  “Well?” Fiala whispered.

  “Not completely done... another time or two, but she’s better,” Doc replied in a mumble around some eggs and gravy.

  “Good. Daf is good people,” Fiala smiled.

  Doc gave her a smile while he ate in an ungentlemanly manner. Fiala shook her head at him as she got to her feet. “See you at the tournament, right?”

  “Barring the unforeseen,” Doc replied.

  Kissing his cheek, she headed for the stairs, going to get into the clothes she had planned for the tournament. Doc watched her go while tearing through breakfast.

  Dillon wandered over once Fiala was gone. “What was that all about?”

  “Well, we’re kind of seeing each other,” Doc replied.

  “What? You and Daf?”

  Doc frowned, “What? No! Me and Fiala.”

  “Oh,” Dillon chuckled awkwardly. “I meant what was up with Daf?”

  “I was telling her what a good job Posy was doing,” Doc shrugged and shoved another forkful in his mouth.

  “Why follow her into the back, then?” Dillon asked as if he’d caught Doc in a trap.

  “To praise Posy in front of her.”

  “Oh… that isn’t as scandalous...” Dillon sighed. “Here I was building this elaborate theory, too.”

  “That’s what you get, then,” Doc snickered, finishing the last bite of his breakfast.

  “Got something to take care of before the tournament?” Dillon asked.

  “Business doesn’t wait,” Doc said, getting to his feet and draining his cold coffee. “Thanks for the meal. See you in a bit.”

  “Yeah, I’m going to be one of the dealers.”

  “I’ll be back.”

  ~*~*~

  Doc was surprised to see the “closed” sign up on the barber shop window. Frowning, he knocked on the door. Otto twitched the curtain to check who it was before opening the door and letting Doc inside. He shut it behind him and locked it again.

  “This way,” Otto said gruffly.

  Doc felt the tension pouring off the dwarf and wisely kept his mouth shut. Following him to the living room upstairs, Doc saw Sonya and Greta waiting for them. “Good morning to you both, ladies,” Doc said, doffing his hat and bowing to them.

  Sonya beamed at him, “Good morning, Mr. Holyday.”

  “Good morning, sir,” Greta added, though her smile was strained. “Please, have a seat.”

  Doc did so, taking the single chair set across from the sofa where the family sat. The tension in the room was nearly suffocating and Doc’s smile was starting to strain as much as Greta’s. “Miss, I’ve heard you’ve been looking for me.”

  “Sonya. Call me Sonya,” Sonya was quick to correct him. “Yes, I’m ready to court you.”

  Doc shook his head, “Sorry, miss. I’m already seeing another.”

  “No, you’re just sleeping with them,” Sonya said with a smirk. “I’ve asked.” Both Otto and Greta jerked as if slapped. “You’ve slept with two of the women there, though you do seem to favor one over the other.”

  “You’re saying that you went into an establishment that you shouldn’t?”

  “Yes. For you,” Sonya said, her eyes shining as she smiled at him. “I’ll do what I have to so we can be together. You saved my life and as such, my life is now yours. That is all that matters.”

  Otto’s teeth ground together audibly and Greta was a bit pale.

  Seeing their reactions, Doc shook his head. “I see. Your life is mine?”

  “Yes,” Sonya beamed.

  “Okay. Otto, I give to you the life of Sonya. As I’m unfit to be caretaker for it, I offer it to you.”

  All three of them blinked at him in shock. Sonya was the first to snap out of it, “No, that—!”

  “I accept the life debt,” Otto said quickly.

  Sonya went red and she spun on her father. “No!”

  “A life debt was agreed to and then passed,” Greta said firmly, staring at Sonya. “Will you throw away your heritage?”

  Sonya trembled in rage before turning angry eyes to Doc. “You will regret this!” Jumping to her feet, she stormed out of the room.

  Doc shuddered when a cold wind traveled down his spine at her words.

  Otto exhaled, “Thanks be given. Holyday, you have my deepest gratitude. I never expected you to do what you did. I can’t cover the cost of her life debt, but I will do my best to help you with your endeavor with the mine.”

  Doc nodded, glancing to the hall that Sonya had fled down. “Is she going to be okay?”

  “In time,” Greta sighed. “You basically just said her life was something you didn’t want and casually gave it away, even if it was to us. Considering how certain she was that you would love her, it would be a crushing feeling.”

  Doc grimaced, “I didn’t mean to hurt her that badly, I just didn’t want her to think she had to chase after me. I’m not a good man, and a woman of her beauty and standing should have a man who can do right by her.”

  Greta gave him a sad smile, “She isn’t wrong, it seems.” With a sigh, she got to her feet. “If you’ll excuse me, my daughter needs me right now.”

  “Ma’am,” Doc said.

  “I’ll show him out,” Otto told his wife.

  The two men were left in the room once Greta left. Doc shook his head, “I hope that was enough to dissuade her.”

  “If not, I can’t ask you to do more,” Otto said. “I’m a little torn on your answer, honestly. I thank you for helping distance yourself from her, but also upset that you could so easily hand my daughter’s life away like you did.”

  “I wouldn’t have done that if you hadn’t been the one to take it,” Doc said. “I just know that she’d have a hard life with me, much harder than she deserves.”

  “Tomorrow, here at noon, for the other meeting,” Otto told him as they headed for the stairs.

  “I’ll be here,” Doc said, shaking hands with Otto before leaving the shop.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Business had picked up when Doc made it back to the Lily. A dozen people were sitting at tables or standing by the bar, drinking and talking to each other. He saw some familiar faces there already. Giving friendly nods to Edward, Julius, and Raymond, Doc headed for the stairs, only to stop when Lia came out of the hallway door.

  “Ah, good,” Lia said. “If you have a moment, please?”

  “Of course,” Doc said.

  She led him to the private dining room and shut the doors behind them. “I spoke with Daffodil earlier.” Seeing Doc frown, Lia smiled, “‘Daf’ is how most people refer to her.”

  “Ah. Yes.”

  “She’s felt better today than she has in years,” Lia said, watching his face. “Why did you do tha
t?”

  “Posy,” Doc shrugged. “Cute kid that loves her mom. Hate to think of her crying.”

  Lia’s lips pursed, “That’s it?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How unusual,” Lia murmured.