Shadou had run the
guildmaster's gauntlet for the fifteenth time and she had once again failed to
complete it. By this time her fellow guildies stopped offering her advice and
just shook their heads. They told her to give up and save her skin. She had
just completed four hours in the infirmary being pumped full of antidotes for
the many poisons she consumed. The spike trap was going to leave a nasty mark
and that pit trap had caused her to sprain her ankle. If only she could see the
little details all the others saw. Sadly she was better at diplomacy than
finding traps and diplomacy did not always keep you alive. Her hands shook as
she stumbled into the local bar in search of a stiff drink that would shock her
system into normalcy. She did a quick sweep of the bar and groaned to herself.
Silk was there. She turned to leave but his voice broke through the din and
everyone hushed to listen.
"Ah, Shadou, come
and I will buy you a drink that won't kill you."
Laughter rang out
amidst pointed and rude comments. She stiffened her shoulders, pasted a smile
on her face and turned to face him.
"The only thing
you ever feed me is poison Silk."
He gave a fake pout and
reached out to take her hand. She half sauntered and half stumbled past him
with a growl, pushing his hand away. He was the biggest braggart she had ever
met, but he knew his alcohol and that was what she needed tonight. He called
for two Bloodwyne and she winced at the thought of drinking anyone or
anything's blood.
"I am pretty sure
that is poison you lush."
He just smirked at her
and handed her the glass. He toasted her constitution and ability to escape
death repeatedly before downing his own glass in several loud and obnoxious
gulps. She looked into the glass with a sick feeling and then shrugged and
drank it down without breathing. Oddly enough it seemed to strengthen her and
the alcohol was more evident than the blood. Silk place an arm over her
shoulders and led her to a table. She hesitated to sit with him and then decided
she would be better off not standing more than necessary. She took the seat
across from him so that she could watch his every move and studied the man
before her. He was arrogant in the extreme. What kind of a name was Silk
anyway? She had already lived 120 years and seen his type all over the realm.
His kind turned her stomach to say the least.
He pulled out a deck of
cards and set them on the table. "Something safe for you this evening…"
He smiled at her, cocking his head as he waited for an answer.
"One hand to test
your skill Silk and then I will be going."
He nodded and shuffled
the deck before dealing them out. Each of them set a silver piece on the table
before picking up their cards and finding their best neutral face. She was more
than pleased with her hand and she looked up at Silk waiting. He was studying
his cards a bit too much. Trying to find something out of nothing wasn't an
easy task. She shuffled her cards in her hand and then sat back in her chair
and waited some more. The poison had taken a lot out of her and she was feeling
the need to rest overwhelming. She set her head against the back of the chair
and watched Silk with a yawn.
She stretched out in
the cold stillness and pulled the blanket tight around her. She stopped still
and then sat up quickly her eyes popping open before squinting in the morning
sun. She looked around herself in a panic. Where the hell was she and how did
she get here? She patted herself down and was relieved to find that she still
possessed most of her belongings. She found the rest of her things in a corner
near the sumptuous bed she was lying on. Ok, now she was really panicking. She
slid out of the bed, grabbed her boots and put them on. She felt for the dagger
in her sleeve and pulled it out. She crept to the door and opened it a crack
listening carefully. Someone was downstairs making enough noise to be heard.
She crept along the railing and peeked over the edge finding Silk with his back
to her doing something. She relaxed a bit. Something smelled good so she walked
down the stairs and cleared her throat.
Silk turned and smiled
at her. "Finally woke up I see. I am not used to women falling asleep in
my presence." He walked over and held out his hand where two silver coins
sat. "You won by the way. Nice hand you had there. With such a rough day I
figured I wouldn't take advantage because you fell asleep."
Shadou palmed the coins
and stuck them in her pocket. "How decent of you, I promise I won't tell
anyone. We wouldn't want to ruin your reputation. What are you making?"
He smirked and motioned
towards the wood stove. "It's all safe. Foods that will help bring your
energy back for certain. Are you gonna keep pointing that knife at my belly or
do you want to eat?"
She looked down at her
blade and snorted, putting it away. "It's habit. How did I get here and
where are we by the way?"
"Well,” he said, “I
carried you out of the bar over my shoulder like a drunken tavern wench and
brought you home."
She glared at him and
found a seat at the table with a huff. "No doubt you let everyone think
you were going to have your way with me too."
Silk pouted in mock
offense and then laughed. "I do have my reputation to think about."
Shadou growled and
flipped the dagger out of her hand at him. Just in time he brought up the
skillet, dropping the bacon, grease and all down his front as the blade pinged
off the metal and onto the floor. He glared up at her while pulling his shirt
away from his chest.
"You feisty
ungrateful wench, what is your problem?"
"My problem is you,
and your reputation. You keep your breakfast and don't do me any more favors.”
“What breakfast? It's
on the floor now isn't it thanks to you.” Shadou glared at him before pulling
her things together.
"I will make sure
everyone thinks you are horrible!" His mouth dropped open in shock before
laughing out loud.
"Honey, too many
people know otherwise and they will only conclude that it must be you who is
horrible."
He was howling with laughter while Shadou huffed,
grabbed her things and rushed out of the door.
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