by M. Gregg Roe
“Okay. Thank you.”
Audrey began to slowly eat, and the food seemed to be going down fine. Draymund suddenly began to speak about his own personal history. Saxloc seemed quite interested, as did Cinda when she arrived a few minutes later and quietly took a seat nearby.
Draymund described how the people of the Quarterlands had been forced to flee when the Great Cold came. They built hundreds of ships, and most of those who ended up on board them were children. Only a few ships survived the long voyage to Thren, and the survivors built a brand new town just outside of Andoran’s Realm that they named Hope.
Audrey asked Draymund where the Quarterlands were located, and he went and retrieved an atlas from the library. He showed the three of them the location of the four closely-grouped small continents that comprised the Quarterlands. He also showed them the location of Hope, just south of Andoran’s Realm.
Draymund described his early adventures with Branwyn, Celebern, and Milric. He was an excellent storyteller, although Audrey suspected that he was exaggerating his own role somewhat. He concluded with the story of the rescue of three hostages from some kind of spider temple. When he revealed that one of the hostages was Almera, Audrey said, “So that’s how you two met. That’s so romantic!”
“Indeed,” added Cinda, looking wistful. “Would that I might also chance to meet my intended in such a noble fashion.”
Draymund left, and the three of them sat and chatted for a while. Before long, Cinda left for work, and Audrey wondered just what kind of work it would be tonight. According to Cinda, it was often as simple as going out to dinner with a man and being a good listener. She had taken a number of her more elegant dresses out of storage for use in such tasks.
Draymund and Almera went out after dinner, and Saxloc promptly started looking at her expectantly. She had managed to placate him by agreeing to have sex whenever they were alone in the house, even if it was at a strange time or she was exhausted from school. She had even agreed to do it once in the practice area downstairs—it had been kind of exciting. But it definitely wasn’t going to happen this time.
“Don’t even think about it,” she warned him.
“Why not? My parents are out and you’re cured now.”
“You are unbelievable!” she said angrily. “I was vomiting just this morning and I’m still weak. Leave me alone!”
Saxloc’s face turned red and he looked embarrassed. “Sorry,” he mumbled as he walked out.
Audrey went to her room and laid down on her bed. She felt despondent. Things were simply not going as she had hoped. She wanted to go out for romantic dinners, to take long walks, to have honest conversations. Then they would go somewhere private. They would start by just kissing. They would take things slowly. He would make her feel wanted, special, loved. When they finally commenced the actual act, it would be marvelous for both of them. That was how it had been with Erwin, and that was what she both expected and wanted from Saxloc.
Despite his promises, Saxloc really only seemed interested in using her to satisfy his urges. He seemed to view everything that she thought should lead up to sex as a waste of time. He was too eager, too impatient, too self-centered, and too immature. He wanted sex all the time, and he couldn’t seem to understand that she didn’t. As a result, she found herself enjoying it less and less. Saxloc, of course, hadn’t noticed; he only seemed to think of himself.
Increasingly, she found herself thinking of Erwin. Her dates with him had always felt romantic. He always made her feel special. At this point, she would rather be one of his girlfriends than Saxloc’s toy. She should never have agreed to be exclusive with Saxloc, and she no longer felt bound by her promise. She went to her desk and began to write a letter to Erwin.
♦ ♦ ♦
The next day, Audrey felt fine, but she decided to take it slow. She spent much of the day reading her new book, although she did take a short walk around the grounds after lunch because it was such a nice day. Carlinda came over in the late afternoon for another cooking lesson with Almera, and Audrey joined them. She soon found herself alone with Carlinda. Draymund and Almera had dinner plans, and Saxloc had gone to meet Gabriel and Hankin. He had asked her to join them, but she had declined because they were going to the Axe & Spear. She had no interest in ever going back there.
They were making a chicken and vegetable stew in a large pot, as well as baking rounds of bread. Audrey was wondering who was going to eat it all since Hagen wasn’t going to be coming over either. It did, however, give her an opportunity to speak with Carlinda.
“Have you and Hagen thought about having another child?” she asked hesitantly.
“No, Audrey. I can’t bear to have another child after what I went through. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Oh … uh … I guess I wouldn’t.”
“Are you still trying to fix the two of us?”
“Yes. I guess I am.” Audrey shrugged. “I can’t help it.”
“That’s because you’re a good person. But not everything can be fixed. I’m often sad, but that’s just part of who I am. I also don’t think that it’s as bad as you believe. Hagen and I see his children several times each year, and I dearly love them both. I also get along well with his ex-wife Tilda. We all want what’s best for the children.”
That made Audrey feel better and she smiled. “That sounds nice. I would like to meet them someday.”
“Meet who pray tell?” inquired Cinda as she strolled into the kitchen smiling. She was wearing a beautiful black-and-gold dress, and her hair had been elaborately styled and put up with gold hair clips. Audrey thought she looked both elegant and beautiful. Carlinda just looked surprised by Cinda’s sudden appearance.
Audrey gestured and said, “Carlinda, this is my friend Cinda. She also attends Xlee’s Martial Arts Academy.”
Carlinda nodded. “It’s nice to meet you, Cinda.”
Cinda curtsied and replied, “And you as well, Lady Carlinda.”
“Why are you dressed like that?” asked Audrey.
Cinda smiled in a secretive manner. “My client arrived thoroughly inebriated. Thus I am free this evening. I had hoped that we might go out, but I see that you are already preparing a meal.”
“Uh … yes. So you don’t have to service drunk clients?”
“That is correct. Inebriation is a violation of the contract. The fee is forfeit, and a second violation yields permanent banishment.”
“What are you two talking about?” asked Carlinda with a look of complete consternation.
Cinda looked very haughty as she said, “I am a courtesan, Lady Carlinda. I am employed at Desires.”
“You’re a prostitute?” she asked with a shocked look.
“We do not use that term,” replied Cinda angrily. “We are not a common brothel.”
Audrey tried to calm things. “She’s telling the truth, Carlinda. It’s a very high-class place, and they treat their employees very well. I even considered working there my—” She really hadn’t been planning to admit that.
Carlinda shook her head and burst out laughing. When she finally regained control of herself, she said, “This is just too funny, Audrey. You were so offended when I mistook you for a prostitute that time, and then you actually considered becoming one!” Carlinda started laughing again, and Audrey felt herself turning red in embarrassment. Cinda smiled primly, looking very amused.
Audrey sighed before saying, “Yes, Carlinda. I did. I still have an open job offer, but that was just a contingency in case I had to quickly move out.”
Carlinda had laughed so hard that her face was red and streaked with tears. She faced Cinda, bowed deeply, and said, “My deepest apologies, Lady Cinda. I sought not to offend thee or thy fellow courtesans.”
Her speech had sounded formal, causing Cinda to smile broadly. “Not you too,” complained Audrey.
Carlinda raised her chin and said haughtily, “I was much schooled in chivalry in my younger days, Lady Audrey. Tis much the same.”
Audrey sighed and then bowed to both of them. “Lady Cinda, we have ample sustenance. Would you deign to join us for our evening repast?”
Cinda curtsied. “I would be most honored.”
They had a lovely meal and then talked for hours, sitting by the fire and drinking rice wine until they were all thoroughly drunk. Draymund ended up escorting Carlinda to her house, and Cinda stayed the night in a guest room.
Audrey hadn’t been able to fix what was wrong with Carlinda, but she had found her a new and unexpected friend.
34
‡ Boiling ‡
“Audrey! Stay awake!”
The voice sounded distant. She felt drowsy, and the left side of her head throbbed. What’s happening? Why won’t he let me sleep? She felt her shoulders being grabbed. Hands shook her roughly, causing a bolt of pain in her head. She opened her eyes in shock, but everything looked blurry.
“Audrey,” the voice said, “I’m sorry, but my father said it was important for you to stay awake. You have had a head injury. We healed it as best as we could.”
There was a long pause during which Saxloc finally began to come into focus. She could see that she was in her own room.
“Actually,” he said, looking guilty, “I gave you the injury while we were sparring. I’m really sorry about that.”
She suddenly had a vision of a wooden practice sword about to strike her unprotected head. Now I remember. I asked Saxloc to spar with me. Again.
Saxloc had been surprised the first time she asked him, but he agreed and the two of them went to the training room below the house. It quickly became apparent that he had no idea of how to deal with her unarmed combat style. He couldn’t seem to predict her movements, and she also felt that he was worried about hurting her. Audrey had no trouble disarming him and then throwing him down. After the second time, he had become irate and quit.
It had taken two days for her to persuade him to try it again. Draymund was the deciding factor. He complimented them for their initiative and encouraged them to continue. When Saxloc reluctantly agreed, Draymund came to watch them. Saxloc still wasn’t able to deal with her attacks, but then his father criticized him and gave him some advice. After that, she found that she couldn’t even get close to Saxloc. He seemed to be able to anticipate her every move. She became frustrated and lost focus, leaving a huge opening. Saxloc reacted automatically, and everything went black after he struck her in the head.
Audrey focused her eyes on Saxloc’s face and said, “I remember now. It was actually my fault. I left an opening and you reacted.”
He didn’t look reassured. “No. I should have been more careful. I should never have hit you in the head.”
“I disagree. You are trained to fight in dangerous situations. That means taking advantage of any weakness in an opponent. I’m the one who made the mistake. Hopefully, I’ll learn from it.”
“If you say so. How about if you wear some kind of head protection next time?”
She was just happy to hear that he was willing to continue their sessions. “Okay. I’ll ask Grasapa about it and see what she recommends.”
He looked very relieved and finally smiled. “Good. I’m looking forward to it.”
Her head was starting to hurt less, but she still felt drowsy. Something occurred to her and she asked, “Why don’t you ever wear a helmet? Gabriel does. And the city guards all do.”
“That’s actually a very good question,” he replied. “All four of us wear some type of armor.”
She had expected him to continue, but instead, he just looked at her expectantly. She thought about it for a moment before saying, “Gabriel is the only one of you who isn’t a spell-caster. He also uses a shield, but the three of you don’t because you need a hand free to cast spells.”
He nodded approvingly. “Very good, Audrey! A helmet does provide good protection, but it limits vision. Most spell-casters would rather be able to see easily and move their head quickly. I do own a helmet, and I used to wear it sometimes. If I were ever part of an army, I would definitely wear one.”
“Okay. That all makes sense. There’s no way I would want to fight while wearing a big metal helmet, but one made of leather or something should be okay.”
“That sounds good.”
She thought for a moment. “Saxloc, why do you and your friends go to the Axe & Spear? I went there one time when you were on Kaldir. The ale was terrible and a fight broke out almost immediately.”
“Did Eomera start it?” he asked.
“Yes, and I’m pretty sure she finished it too.”
“I’m not surprised. She’s usually there and she loves to fight. I think that’s how she stays in shape. We really do like to go there. We’re used to it and there’s not much chance of running into our parents there.”
“Good point.” She smiled slyly. “Nissa really likes Gabriel. I think we should try to set them up now that Petra is out of the way.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I think Gabriel needs some time to recover from Petra.”
Audrey sighed. “You’re probably right.”
♦ ♦ ♦
While Audrey was recovering from her head injury, Saxloc suggested that she start reading up on the different types of undead. She knew about the upcoming mission to kill an evil cleric named Morton, and she remembered him explaining that evil clerics could reanimate corpses into a variety of hideous creatures, collectively known as undead.
The monster book had a large section devoted to undead, and some of them didn’t sound that bad to her. Animated skeletons would probably look frightening, but it would be trivial for her to target vital areas with her kicks and punches. The book even said that blunt weapons were more effective than weapons like swords or spears.
Zombies were another matter. The only way to kill them was to hack them to pieces. Breaking bones wouldn’t do anything other than maybe slow them down. She would have to use her dagger or throwing knives against them, but something like a sword or axe would clearly be better.
And then there were wights and wraiths. They could cause injury just by touching you. Unarmed combat was completely out of the question. She was beginning to think that she needed to use some other type of weapon, preferably something with a longer reach. Going on an adventure where she might have to fight undead was starting to sound like a really bad idea.
She also took advantage of Saxloc’s guilt about harming her to get him to take her on something resembling a real date. They went for a nice dinner, strolled to a nearby lake, and spoke about many things. He amazed her by promising to leave her alone on class nights. She reciprocated by agreeing that she was overly concerned about them being overheard by his parents. She backed it up by going to his room that night even though Draymund and Almera were still home. But it still wasn’t as satisfying as she had hoped it would be.
♦ ♦ ♦
A fight erupted during the next dinner and story party, but it wasn’t between Audrey and Saxloc. This time, Draymund and Almera had invited Gabriel’s family to come over and tell stories. Audrey also invited Cinda, because her friend had been fascinated by Draymund’s stories and begged to be included. She did, however, ask Cinda not to mention her current occupation.
The evening started out rather well. Everyone was nicely dressed, dinner was delicious, and Marryn was almost polite to Audrey for a change. Cinda was relaxed and personable, and she spoke about her Shorinken training rather than her job as a courtesan. Their guests all seemed quite taken with her.
After dinner, they went into the parlor, and Medea began to speak about her time on Kaldir. This time there was a lot about Albert’s new wand. It was called a Wand of Wonder, and its effects were as unpredictable as Albert. Medea was soon living in fear of both Albert and his wand.
Medea spoke of their repeated attempts to kill Nelephon the Illusionist and his demon wife Wiva. They finally succeeded in slaying Nelephon, but his wife escaped. She continued her tale, describing the
Great Cold that an evil man known as Vismo Than had brought forth using the EarthStaff, an artifact of great power. When she reached the part about the legendary hero Mardan, Audrey looked at him in amazement. With his muscular build and good looks, he did indeed look the part.
Mardan began speaking as well, describing how all of them were eventually forced to flee by ship to the neighboring continent of Yunn. The survivors from Kaldir ended up constructing their own city. Following the pattern there, they named it the Sixth City of Yunn. Mardan and Medea married, and the two of them were chosen to be the King and Queen of the new city. Gabriel and Siljan had both been born there.
Then Medea described how Albert ended up being carried off by Wiva, who had returned seeking vengeance for the death of her husband Nelephon. Audrey got all excited and exclaimed, “Albert and Wiva. Aliva!” Medea said, “That’s right, Audrey. Aliva is their daughter. I would still like to know how Albert talked Wiva out of killing him.”
Mardan then described how the Great Cold finally came to Yunn. They fought valiantly against the hideous creatures that accompanied the Great Cold, but the temperature kept falling and the snow was endless. In the end, they all perished while making one last final stand.
“Then how can you all possibly be here?” asked Audrey in disbelief. She wondered if they had just made everything up.
“Patience, Audrey,” said Almera with a secretive smile. “That story is yet to come.”
Soon they were all soon standing in small groups talking and drinking rice wine. Audrey asked Mardan and Medea some questions about their tale. Gabriel and his parents were speaking with Saxloc, while Marryn and Cinda were talking animatedly near the fire.
Audrey noticed Cinda removing the elaborate tiara she was wearing and letting down her long black hair. Seconds later she heard Marryn scream, “I knew you looked familiar! I saw you with Konrad! You charge for sex! You’re a whore!”
Cinda was stunned, and Marryn’s face was red and twisted with anger. Everyone stared at the two of them in surprise, and then, to Audrey’s utter horror, Marryn launched herself at Cinda with her hands stretched out like claws. Audrey reacted instinctively, moving swiftly toward them, but it was all over by the time she arrived. Cinda had flitted sideways and struck a single measured blow to the side of Marryn’s head, dropping her instantly. Cinda was already squatting by Marryn’s unconscious body checking her head as Audrey arrived with the others close behind. Medea swatted Cinda’s hand away and checked her daughter herself. Then, to Audrey’s surprise, Medea cast Recovery on Marryn.
