The events in Save Tonight happen shortly after the beginning of book two and should be considered canon. Part two should be published next week.
Save Tonight
Part 1
They turned the corner, and Mario sighed in relief. Finally, they were out of sight of the ship. Just the two of them. Without the kids, without the grumpy healer, and most importantly, without the wannabe funny comments from Baby. Acting like he knew all about dating, just because he'd read a book or two. When would he learn that real life wasn't like the books?
He glanced at Korlys, wondering if he should take his hand, but decided it would be too girlish. "Now will you tell me where are we going?"
Korlys smiled in a self-satisfied way. "I noticed a little restaurant while I was out scouting the town that reminded me of an Antivan bistro. I thought we might try it out."
His enigmatic Antivan refused to elaborate as they hurried through the streets, their cloaks wrapped tightly around them to keep out the damp chill of an early Fereldan cold snap. Dull grey clouds, pregnant with precipitation, had driven most townspeople indoors, leaving them surrounded by a quiet punctuated only by the sounds of their boots on the cobblestones and the sleet tapping against their cloaks. Their surroundings did nothing to dampen their moods - the weather seeming cozy to them - and soon they arrived at the town's central plaza.
Mario barely suppressed a chuckle when he saw the fancy building with its ornaments and doodads. A bistro, he says. He'd bet it was the poshest place in the whole town. He didn't say anything aloud, though, letting Korlys lead him inside.
As soon as they walked in, a waiter greeted them and led them to a table next to a fireplace where a lively fire had already been kindled. It was made out of large stones held together with mortar, and the faint smell of pine enveloped them as they were seated. The crackling of wood being devoured was punctuated every now and then by a pop as the fire found a pocket of sap. The combined effect created an intimate atmosphere that invited guests to linger long over food and wine, and of which Korlys heartily approved. He was already in the most excellent of company, and if the food was half as good he would be content.
That the waiter's demeanor hadn't faltered when their ears were revealed as they'd removed their cloaks, hinted of a proprietor with a democratic mind - at least when it came to business. Korlys' impression was soon confirmed when the man himself bustled out of the kitchen to greet them.
"Buonasera! Welcome to Via Emilia!" The man had a booming voice and was impeccably dressed. His arms stretched wide in greeting, echoing the amiable smile on his face, as he reached their table. "I am Emilio Catalucci, your humble host." Emilio punctuated this statement with a theatrical bow. "Tonight," he said, after finishing his genuflection with a flourish executed with a grandiosity rarely seen outside of Antiva, "we are pleased to announce we are serving our signature dish - succulent prime rib au jus and a sour cream horseradish sauce, accompanied by roasted new potatoes and green bean amandine. It is an original Antivan recipe. You will not find any other like it outside Antiva City, I assure you."
Korlys had sat up straighter in surprise as he recognized the owner's accent. Now his lips curled into an amused smirk. "Oh? I was not aware that prime rib was an Antivan dish." He watched the flicker of recognition in the eyes of the owner as he instantly connected the dots - a well-dressed Antivan elf was almost certainly a Crow. But as a true Antivan proprietor, that slight flicker was the only sign, and it was gone in an instant - his expression never faltered. It was a reaction so familiar to Korlys it felt like home.
"Ah, a fellow countryman! It is so rare to meet another Antivan in Ferelden."
Korlys understood the subtext as clearly as if Emilio had said it aloud - 'I hope you are not here for me.' "We are just passing through - this country is much too cold for my taste."
Emilio chuckled, the subtle tension in his shoulders easing. "Sí, that is the one thing I cannot seem to get used to." Here the waiter returned with the wine list, which he handed to Korlys. "Well, I will let you get back to your meal, but please choose anything you would like from the wine list - on the house. And do not hesitate to notify me immediately if everything is not absolutely perfect." Emilio bowed again and left to make the rounds of the few other tables where customers were seated.
"What was that about?" Mario asked softly, staring at the man as he walked away. "Why would he give us wine for free? Unless it's some cheap ogre piss."
Korlys chuckled. "I would imagine a well-dressed Antivan elf in Ferelden is very rare - and one who just so happens to show up in a restaurant owned by a fellow Antivan rarer still, sí?"
The thief frowned. "Just because you're an Antivan elf he thinks you're a Crow and you want to kill him? Who does he think he is, the Queen of Antiva?"
"Tsk. Mario, your indignation is charming but unwarranted. Surely you cannot expect the thought not to cross his mind - any Antivan in his situation would be cautious if they had any sense." Korlys' smile faded, and a faint weariness colored his gaze. "You will have to get used to situations like this, you know. It does not bother me, and it should not bother you." His grin reappeared. "Besides - free wine!"
"I guess it has some perks," Mario agreed in the same light tone, although he didn't intend to get used to it. "Then choose the most expensive one."
A short perusal of the wine list, and Korlys was delighted to find an Orlesian vintage he knew was very good. He ordered it, and soon their glasses were filled with an exquisite merlot.
Korlys held his glass up to admire the hue. As casually as if they were discussing the weather, he remarked, "Those men at the table near the entrance - they are intriguing, are they not? I wonder what is in the bag at their feet."
Mario discreetly turned his head. The men were trying hard to appear unremarkable and relaxed, but when you looked closely, there were too many things that didn't fit in. Like the other guests here, these three had neat clothing of good quality - but they lacked their relaxed nonchalance. They were all stiff, sitting too straight. Like someone wearing nice clothes for the first time… or apprentices on their first big job. "Maybe it's their first time in a posh restaurant, too," he offered, hoping he wasn't as obvious as them.
"Perhaps," Korlys murmured. "In any case, as long as they do not disrupt our evening, it is none of our concern, sí?" He inhaled slowly and deeply over his wine glass, then took a small sip, allowing it to rest on his tongue momentarily before swallowing. "Ah, this is marvelous!"
Mario picked up his glass, swirled it and sniffed it; it felt awkward, but Attrei insisted you were supposed to do that before you drank wine. He'd decided Mario needed to learn table manners, what fork and spoon to use for different meals and how to pour wine from a bottle correctly, that sort of stuff. Normally Mario wouldn't give a damn - food was just something you needed to keep going, and it tasted the same no matter what fork you used. At least that was what he used to think before he met his spoiled Antivan, who enjoyed having fancy meals in places like this. And before he found out that being spoiled was contagious.
The wine was marvelous. "Are there plums in this?" he asked, delighted. "I thought all wine was made from grapes."
"It does taste like plums," Korlys agreed, "but no. The winemaker influences how a particular vintage will taste by deciding when the grapes will be picked," here he held his glass up to the light again, "how they are to be fermented, whether or not to filter-" Korlys caught himself and glanced at Mario, suddenly realizing he was starting to ramble; the thief probably wasn't interested in such intricacies. But he was pleased to see Mario was looking at him with admiration instead of boredom. "Mi dispiace - I tend to get a little carried away when discussing wine."
"No, I liked it," Mario assured him. To be honest, he didn't really understand or care, but it was clear Korlys did - no surprises there - and that he enjoyed talking about wine almost as much as drinking it. He was so animated, Mario wouldn't mind hearing more. But before he could say so, their waiter arrived, and Mario sat up more stiffly, watching silently as the man placed plates of steaming hot food in front of them.
Only when they were alone again did Mario relax a bit. He took a deep breath and smiled at Korlys. "This smells delicious. Are you sure it isn't Antivan?"
"It is not Antivan, no. But since it is an Antivan recipe, I am sure it is much better than ordinary prime rib." Korlys winked.
Seeing Mario watching him closely, and knowing he was feeling uncertain about his table manners, he carved a thin slice off of his prime rib, then dipped it in the jus and horseradish sauce before popping it into his mouth. "I was right. Try it."
"I've no doubts this is not an ordinary prime rib since prime means the best possible quality." Mario tried to keep his face straight as he copied Korlys' actions. "Mmmm… it's the best roasted rib I ever had, that's for sure."
Like the best of waiters, theirs managed to be instantly available when needed, and completely invisible otherwise. He came by from time to time to top off their glasses as they enjoyed their meal, but did so so unobtrusively that the men hardly noticed his presence.
"Did you notice the flyers?" Mario asked. "About Banns Rutherford and Kingsley having a night football match? A night match. How silly can nobles be? But Maker knows what they imagine a football match is. Wouldn't be surprised if they just ran in circles."
Korlys gave a wicked grin. "So, you do not like playing ball at night?" He just couldn't resist teasing Mario a bit, but relented as the thief blushed fiercely. "Actually, I thought we might watch it. In Antiva, it is very popular, and much time is spent discussing the merits of various teams and who will win the next match. We call it Calcio Rialto. A lot of money changes hands, of course - Antivans cannot resist a good wager."
"Yeah, it's popular here, too. Lizards had their own team, you know. But it's a dirty game, or at least the way we played it. I was always full of bruises. Can't imagine playing it at night."
"Oh it is a dirty game the way Antivans play as well, as I am sure you can imagine. But, playing at night has its advantages... especially for a talented pickpocket and his astonishingly handsome student, yes?"
"What?" Mario was still trying to wrap his mind around the idea of a football match, played dirty in the Antivan way. "Oh. That's brilliant!"
"Naturally." Korlys winked. He was about to add to that when a movement caught his eye. He'd never entirely stopped observing the men he'd pointed out earlier - his training had taught him the dangers of disregarding the out-of-place - and now they were standing up, two of them unsheathing longswords and the third pulling a shortbow out of the bag at their feet.
The sudden tension in Korlys' body and shifted gaze was all Mario needed to know that something was up. He turned his head.
"Ladies and gentlemen," one of the men - the archer - said, "this is a robbery. Please stay calm and do what we say and nobody will get hurt. Put your wallets, jewelry and weapons on the tables," the man continued. "My comrade will collect them, and then we'll leave and you can finish your dinners in peace."
"You've got to be kidding me," Mario he muttered incredulously and turned back to Korlys. "What now?"
Korlys' eyes danced with mirth. "Well, it seems we should do as they say, yes?" The Antivan reached out and laid his wallet on the table, his eyes locked on Mario's, silently communicating to follow his lead.
"And just when we were getting to the dessert," the thief complained as he pulled out his wallet.
The bandit shifted his weight, lifting the bow and fitting an arrow in its string in one smooth motion. Whatever else he was, he was obviously very comfortable with his weapon, and therefore likely a competent archer. And he was looking their way. "Weapons too."
"Yeah, yeah. We heard." Mario rolled his eyes, unsheathed his knife and put it on the table.
Since the bandits didn't protest, Korlys followed suit, laying his two Crow daggers on the table, unsheathed. Surely they wouldn't be so foolish as to allow that, would they?
It turns out, they would. Satisfied, the archer nodded to his cohort to take the bag and start. The man - a little mouse of a fellow, thin and pale, with dull brown hair and dishwater eyes - sheathed his weapon and obeyed.
Out of the corner of his eye, Korlys could see Emilio crouched behind the half-wall that separated the main dining room from a smaller area used for overflow in busy times. He must have sneaked out from the kitchen, the door to which was at the back, when he'd heard the ruckus. The owner was perfectly situated - the bandits were facing away from that area. Maybe he could use that somehow; the man was also Antivan, and therefore naturally brave.
The assassin flicked his gaze briefly, met Emilio's eyes and then looked away. There was no way he could think of to communicate any direct instructions, and even if he could, no possibility of coming up with a plan. They'd just have to wing it. Even if the owner only managed to create a momentary distraction, Korlys could make use of it.
Mouse moved from table to table, sweeping wallets, pouches and weapons into the bag, and rudely forcing the ladies to take off their jewelry. Finally he reached the last table before theirs. It was occupied by an elderly couple both of whom looked like shriveled raisins in frills; there was a considerable pile of rings in front of them. Mouse quickly stuffed them into his bag, then pointed at the lady's head. "That thing, too."
"Excuse me?" she said indignantly.
The man reached across the table and snatched something out of her hair. She restrained herself from shrieking but turned all red in the face - an improvement over her waxy complexion, if you asked Mario - and sat there seething in hurt dignity and helpless fury, unable to have him whipped or throw him to mabaris, or whatever she would normally do if anyone dared to offend her.
The bandit arrived at their table, stepping between Korlys and the archer as he reached for their stuff, and blocking the archer's line of sight. In the blink of an eye the ex-Crow grabbed one of his daggers, and in another plunged it through the man's hand, pinning it to the table. It was intensely painful, Korlys knew, but he hoped the robber wouldn't be foolish enough to pull the knife out. He didn't want to kill the man - unless he made it necessary, of course.
Mouse screamed like a stuck pig, dropping the sack with the loot. Now! Mario grabbed his knife and ducked under the table. Almost instantly, he heard the swish of an arrow and a soft thunk as it hit the chair. Fuck. Perhaps they weren't completely dumb after all. But Korlys would deal with that. He had to take down the third one, the one with the sword, four tables away if he moved clockwise. Thank the Maker for fancy long tablecloths and romantic candlelight! They provided the perfect cover for his movements as he slid from under one table to another. He could only hope the nobles weren't stupid enough to give away his position.
Using the robber's body to shield himself from the archer, Korlys picked up his other dagger as Mario disappeared. Just then, Emilio decided it was time to join the fun. He popped up like a jack-in-the-box and threw a heavy glass at the archer. Korlys laughed at the 'bonk' sound it made as it bounced off the man's skull. "Stick around," he said with a maniacal grin to the man pinned to the table, "while I go introduce myself to your friend." The man - busy shrieking in pain - didn't reply.
Mario wrapped himself in shadow and carefully lifted the tablecloth to see what was going on. He half expected another arrow in his direction, but the archer wasn't paying attention - he was facing the kitchen, rubbing his head and yelling curses and threats. The swordsman was just a few steps from the table, turning in all directions in a pitiful attempt to look threatening. Mario lowered the tablecloth again and moved a bit to the left. Inch by inch, he snaked out and crept along the wall towards the coat rack. The swordsman never glanced his way; maybe he didn't expect any danger from that direction.
By the time he got behind the swordsman, the archer was already reaching for another arrow; if there was any chance to get to the other man, it was now. He had to believe Korlys had his back. He lunged forward, wrapped an arm around the man's chest, and put the knife to his throat. "Don't move," he hissed. The man yelped in surprise but obediently stiffened.
"Drop your weapon," Mario ordered. The sword clattered to the floor. Kicking it away, he looked around to see what Korlys was doing.
The assassin had the point of one dagger pressed against the lower right side of the archer's back, and his other hand was gripping the man's ponytail, pulling just hard enough to tilt the bandit's head back a bit. The archer's body was frozen the way a kitten's body freezes when picked up by the scruff of the neck, and Korlys was leaned in closely, his lips hovering near his ear in an almost intimate way, lips moving but voice too low to catch. Whatever the ex-Crow was saying, it had turned the bandit's face ashen. Korlys paused, and the man nodded as best he could.
Apparently satisfied with that response, Korlys looked around and caught Mario's eye. He gave a smirk and tipped a wink, then addressed Emilio. "If you would be so kind as to relieve..." Here he looked at the bandit, who shakily replied, "Rolph." Korlys grinned. "'Rolph' here of his bow, I believe he would like to apologize to your patrons and return their belongings - it seems this was all a misunderstanding, was it not?"
Rolph nodded awkwardly again, his adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed nervously.
Emilio stepped forward to retrieve the bow, looking at Korlys with a mixture of relief and incredulity.
Once that was done, Korlys let go of the man's hair, keeping the tip of his dagger where it was as Emilio nocked an arrow and pointed the bow at Rolph with surprising expertise. The assassin stepped back and let the would-be robber stammer his apologies, his face now flushed red with embarrassment tinged with anger and fear.
Mario chuckled. "Damn, we're good. You should follow your friend's lead and apologize, too," he said to the bandit as he withdrew his knife and sheathed it. He strolled over to Mouse, still pinned to their table.
"I would help you, but I'm not a healer," he said. "You'll have to wait until the guards arrive; I'm sure they'll be very helpful."
Korlys walked to Mario's side. "Actually, I should probably also give him the antidote... but unfortunately," he leaned over slightly to get a closer look at the wound, "that will not help as long as the poisoned blade is still in his hand." The assassin touched the handle gingerly, causing the bandit - who had managed to calm himself to quiet whimpers - to flinch.
"S-ser," the bandit stuttered, "perhaps someone has a healing potion or poultice instead? No need to involve the city guards... if the guards come, they will just ask a lot of tiresome questions, and we've already disrupted your meal long enough - for which we are deeply sorry, I assure you!"
"That's the first clever thing you said tonight," Mario said.
"I wish it were that easy," Korlys said. He gave a heavy sigh, as if he truly regretted his words, but he was clearly enjoying himself. "But my companion and I do not have any with us, and I doubt that the other guests or the owner will be inclined to help."
Emilio cleared his throat. "Actually, I have several - we always keep some on hand for kitchen accidents - and I would prefer not to have a dead man in my establishment, if possible. Bad for business, yes? Perhaps I could tell your friend where it is, and he could bring it to you."
"Why don't you yell for a waiter to bring it," Mario snapped. Just because he wasn't a Crow didn't mean they could use him as an errand boy. "And he can also bring some rope so we can tie those two up."
"There is no need for that," Rolph said nervously, as the owner called for a waiter. "As your friend said, it was all a misunderstanding."
"That depends on the noble guests here, too, you know," Mario said, with a little bow to the lady with the messed up hair, who glared at the bandit like a pissed off and stuck up mother hen. He took the bag with the loot and walked over to her table. "I am very sorry you had to be robbed by such a barbaric butterfingers, ma'am. Please allow me to return your jewelry."
Korlys smirked at Mario's grand airs. The assassin leaned casually against their table, arms crossed, in a carefree manner completely unlike what one would expect from someone who had a man dying right next to him. A waiter arrived with both a health potion and a poultice - since he wasn't sure which one Korlys wanted, he explained. The ex-Crow took them both and set them on the table.
He turned to the bandit. "This will be very painful, but you will need to keep your hand still to avoid any more damage." Korlys grasped the handle of the dagger with one hand, and placed the other over the bandit's - he would need the leverage anyway, as the blade appeared deeply sunk into the wood underneath, and he doubted the man's self control.
Putting all his weight into it, he pulled, but the dagger barely moved, causing him to have to work it back and forth to loosen it. Blood gushed forth, and the bandit screamed, but there was no other way to remove it. I hope this does not ruin the blade.
Mario had just moved to another table when the shrieks stopped. Surprised, he turned to Korlys - just in time to see the bandit sagging on the table, unconscious. The noble couple gasped, and the lady turned so pale Mario thought she would faint as well.
With an irritated sigh, he put the bag with the loot on the table and flashed a strained smile at the lady. "Please excuse me, ma'am. And don't watch - it's not a sight for a lady."
He returned to Korlys and wrapped his arms around the bandit's body from behind, lifting him. At least he wasn't as big and heavy as the other two. "I'll hold him. You finish this - or him, if it's faster," he muttered softly.
"It would be faster to whack his hand off with a meat cleaver, but I'm not leaving my dagger here." Korlys leaped lightly onto the table, planted one boot on the bandit's hand, wiped his palms on his trousers and crouched. Wrapping both hands around the pommel of his blade, he jerked upward with all his strength.
The dagger flew upward, but luckily not out of his grasp. The assassin sheathed it without looking and crouched back down. Blood was pouring out of the wound - far too quickly to make using a potion feasible. Korlys picked the poultice instead, wrapping it around the man's hand tightly to staunch the flow.
That done, he leaped down and slapped the unconscious bandit across the face, leaving a bloody palm print on the man's cheek. "Wake up, idiota!" The bandit's eyes rolled and his eyelids fluttered. Close enough. Korlys took the health potion, tilted the man's head back, and poured the liquid down his throat. He tossed the empty bottle aside, then pulled out a vial of the antidote from one of his many hidden pockets and had the man drink that as well.
"Good enough," the ex-Crow said after observing for a moment. "If he dies now, it is his own fault." He looked at Mario and grinned. "You can let him go."
Mario eased the stupefied bandit onto a chair. Stupid, incompetent fool. As if ruining his date with Korlys wasn't enough, now his hands and the sleeves of his shirt - his best shirt, too - were soaked in blood and dripping on the fancy carpet. He grimaced. "Can we get cleaned up somewhere?" he asked the owner, who was hovering over Rolph and his friend, now both tied up. "We can deal with these three later."
"Of course!" Emilio agreed heartily. He set the bow aside as he hurriedly waved over two of the servants gathered just outside the entrance to the kitchen. "Prepare basins of hot water and get soap and fresh towels ready upstairs for the gentlemen."
The owner turned back to Korlys and Mario. "My living quarters are upstairs," he said, herding them towards the staircase at the back of the restaurant. "Please use my bathroom to get freshened up. I will take care of everything, not to worry - I will send someone to buy you new clothes to replace those, and by the time you are done, we will have everything cleaned up down here and a new table set for you."
"Grazie, Emilio - we are not in the mood for tiresome questions from the city guards, as you can imagine," Korlys hinted.
"Of course, of course!" Emilio repeated. "You will never have to see them, I assure you." By then the three of them had arrived at the bottom of the staircase. "Please - consider my home your home."
"No need to waste the guards' time," Mario said. "If you get me."
Korlys' glanced at Mario briefly at the same instant Emilio was glancing his way, but neither Antivan showed surprise - or any emotion other than bland cordiality. In truth, the proprietor was likely not at all surprised, considering.
"Certainly," Emilio quickly agreed. "I will make sure they are at your disposal."
Korlys would have laughed aloud at that pun, but Mario likely didn't realize the owner expected him to 'dispose' of them in the traditional Crow fashion. He settled for a pleasant smile. "Grazie, Emilio. I had almost forgotten what Antivan hospitality was like."
With that ambiguous remark delivered, the assassin turned to Mario. "Come, before the water turns cold." Two men had already gone up the stairs with hot water, and he couldn't wait to get out of these bloody clothes... and to help Mario out of his as well.
oOo
"You were right about the perks," Mario said with a smirk as he closed the door behind them. "Sorry for using your past like that but just because those three are morons, it's no reason to help the city guards… but, more importantly." Mario slowly walked over to Korlys, the smirk changing into a hungry smile. "Do you have any idea how bloody sexy you were back there?"
"Oh?" Korlys pulled his shirt up and over his head, consciously flexing the muscles of his upper body as he did so. He let the shirt fall to the floor.
Mario ran his hands over Korlys' abs. "So powerful, so in control, and… dangerous."
"Then I will have to be more powerful..." the assassin leaned in and placed a kiss at the curve where Mario's neck met his shoulder as he untucked Mario's shirt, "and in control..." Korlys moved to the other side of the thief's neck and placed another soft kiss as he slipped his hands underneath his shirt and trailed his fingertips up Mario's sides, "and dangerous..." Korlys let his lips brush against Mario's skin as he traced his way up to his mouth, stopping himself before actually kissing the other elf, his hands coming to rest against Mario's back, "more often, sí?"
Mario unlaced Korlys' pants and breeches but did not pull them down; he slid his hand inside, feeling Korlys' length and gently squeezing it through the cloth. "Sí." He grinned as Korlys started to rip the buttons of Mario's shirt off, clearly unable to continue playing his games.
Seeing the thief's expression, Korlys winked. "Perhaps I will work on the control part another time."
oOo
Soon - way too soon, if you asked Mario - they were done, sparkling clean, smelling of rosemary and camomile, and wearing new sets of clothes. Mario had been pleased to see they were the same dark colours as their own, not nonsense colours like maroon or purple.
They were on their way back down to the dining room when they heard a question that made them pause in the middle of the stairway.
"Who are those elves, Signor Emilio?" a female voice asked.
"I'd like to know that, too," a mildly irritated male voice said. "This used to be a respectable place. Since when do you allow knife-ears in here?"
"Those 'knife-ears' proved to be more able and brave than many," the female voice snapped.
"They are a distinguished gentleman from Antiva and his" - here there was an almost imperceptible pause, followed by an equally subtle stress on the last word - "consort. Very respectable, I assure you."
"An elf a distinguished gentleman?" the man asked derisively. "Antivans have strange- oh." There was a brief pause. When the noble spoke again, his voice sounded strained. "I wonder what business he has in the city."
Korlys continued his descent down the stairway as Emilio replied, his tone one of barely-veiled amusement tinged with contempt. "I am sure I would not know - feel free to ask him yourself, if you would like."
The ex-Crow timed his steps perfectly - walking out into the dining room on the last word. All heads turned, and Korlys gave them a wolfish grin. "Ask me what?"
"To ask you if you would honour us with your presence tonight," the elderly gentleman replied. He walked over to Korlys and extended his hand. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Rutherford, Bann of Northern Hills. We are having the annual football tournament this week, and tonight is the final match. We would be delighted if you and your companion could join us."
"Korlys Gambino," the Antivan said, shaking the man's hand. "And this is Mario Esmond," he continued smoothly, turning towards Mario, who was standing to his right. In truth, he didn't know Mario's last name, but he did not want to reinforce Emilio's obvious assumption that Mario was just a Crow's plaything. He leaned in subtly, resting a hand lightly on Mario's upper arm. "Would you like to attend, caro?"
"Sure, why not." He grinned at the Bann as he extended his hand. As he expected, the old bastard didn't have the balls to refuse him in front of the scary Antivan gentleman, and after the briefest hesitation, shook Mario's hand cordially.
"Excellent! The game does not start until nine, so please, finish your meal at your leisure. The venue is in near proximity to the restaurant; it will be a pleasant walk after dinner."
"Delightful," Mario said dryly. Why couldn't nobles talk like normal people? Venyou and progsimity, couldn't they just say it wasn't far? Feeling like a mangy mabari that sneaked into the Chantry under their stares, he followed Korlys to their table. It was remarkable how quickly they had managed to clean up the mess. The whole dining room was sparkling. Not a single drop of blood anywhere, and a new table had been set by the fireplace, complete with a new bottle of wine and all that confusing cutlery. One would never guess there had been a robbery attempt not so long ago.
After a while, the nobles got tired of staring, or perhaps they remembered they were supposed to have manners, and the waiters brought new food and he relaxed again. Korlys looked unruffled, of course, as if all of this was normal. "So this is how you birdies are spoiled in Antiva? Expensive dinners and games with nobles and - what was the word they used for me?"
"'Consort'. Sí, I suppose that the life of a Crow does have its 'perks' as you say," Korlys smiled politely and sipped his wine. "You know, I believe I had enough to eat even before we were interrupted. Would you like dessert?"
Mario lifted his brow. "I thought I already had some," he said lightly. "But I don't mind seconds."
Korlys' eyes lit up and his smile became genuine. "I believe I can arrange that. In fact, I have already rented the perfect place," he said with a wink.
"Ah, but we were invited to the game," Mario reminded him, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "And I promise you that it will be delightful. I'm gonna teach them what the consort of an Antivan gentlemen can do in near progsimity to their pockets."
oOo
The clouds had cleared, and a million stars glittered like diamonds against a backdrop of black velvet. The temperature had dropped even further while they were in the restaurant, and Korlys' breath fogged out in little clouds with each exhale. He was glad they'd brought their cloaks, and had his tightly wrapped around him, hood up.
They'd arrived at the large square where the game was to be played a few minutes before it was to start. Bleachers had been erected for the nobles, and Bann Rutherford and his wife were already settled in, seated close to the top where they'd have the best view. Mario and Korlys had said they'd join them shortly - they wanted to place a wager first. Which wasn't strictly true. Korlys indeed wanted to bet, and was in the process of doing that very thing. Mario, however, had other plans.
This many honourable citizens together in a poorly lit area was an opportunity no thief could ignore, not if they took their craft seriously. The local guild was probably out, too, but they were no match for a Lizard. As always, the rich people did all they could to make this easy, sticking together near the bleachers, maybe in hopes the Banns would acknowledge their existence with a gracious nod - it excited them more than sex, he'd bet.
By the time the game started and the big, clumsy humans began running all over the place, he had the most interesting citizens done. Nobles next. The bleachers had seven rows; the first row was too low to get underneath it, but as the nobles seated their guards there anyway, it wasn't a big loss. Left side first, from the bottom to the top, then back down the right side - and then he could join Korlys. With that, he wrapped himself in shadow and crept under the bleachers. Strictly speaking, such caution wasn't really necessary - the players and the crowd made such a ruckus the nobles wouldn't hear him unless he yelled right in their ears - but it was always better to be overly careful than careless.
The first target was a sturdy man in a thick fur coat. He reached through the gap and untied the strings of the pouch. It was pleasantly heavy in his palm, and he hummed in satisfaction as he put it in his inside pocket. He was about to move to the next one when he noticed a dark shadow moving at the other end of the row. He crouched down, observing his competitor. To his surprise, it was a young human woman, wearing a proper dress, her hair combed up. Once she finished here, she could mingle with the crowd watching the game. That she didn't bother to hide or disguise herself meant she had someone to cover her back nearby.
That could cause trouble. A guild was likely informed about him and Korlys… Better not let them know they were here. Still unaware of his presence, the girl moved to the upper rows. With a wide smirk, Mario moved deeper into the shadows. Let her work, if she wanted. Once they both finished, he could take everything from her. Faster that way. Okay, time to get to work.
The girl was good, he'd give her that. She worked systematically, not a movement wasted as she untied the coin purses and pouches and dropped them in her own pouch, tied under her upper skirt. But he was better. When he finished the last of his targets, at the end of the fourth row, she still had two to go. Just as he wanted; if she was faster and moved to his now purse-free targets, she would immediately know what happened and run away with all the loot. Including Korlys' wallet. If he let that happen, Korlys would laugh his ass off. And he'd never let Mario live it down.
He tiptoed behind her, waiting for the best opportunity. It finally came as she reached the last guy. He was wearing a heavy fur coat and apparently was smart enough to keep his wallet in the inner pocket. Cursing under her breath, she stood on her toes to lift the hem of the coat and slide her hand beneath it. Brilliant! He stepped behind her and gently slid his hand under the waistline of her skirt. It took just a second to feel the strings to the pouch, untie them, and pull it to him.
The next moment, she was down on him, determined to scratch his eyes out; he barely managed to jump aside.
"Give it back," she hissed at him.
"I don't wanna," he teased. "Go ahead and call your guild friends. Let them all see how you screwed up a beginner's job." That gave her pause. Just like he hoped.
"You are right, no one needs to know," she said in a sweet voice and took a step closer. "Why don't we… talk this over?"
"And I'd wake up in a middle of a square with a hangover, half naked, and robbed blind? No thanks. Besides, I don't swing that way."
"Ah!" She stopped turning her head to the top row. "You don't happen to be with that weirdo - fourth from the left - do you? I wasn't sure why he'd do that - it's not what people normally do when they feel a pickpocket taking their wallet. But it makes sense now. He thought it was you!"
That gave him pause. She couldn't possibly mean Korlys. There was no way he'd give himself away. "What the fuck are you talking about?"
The girl giggled. "No no. I'm not telling you. Go ahead and ask him. Let him know he was robbed by someone else after all. Here, catch." She threw something at him. Surprised, he saw it was the purse of the last guy.
"Giving up already?" he asked warily, still wondering what Korlys could have done. Weirdo, she said… Why did it remind him of dirty football games played in the Antivan way? He should ask… or not. Some things were better left unanswered.
"Like you said, it's a beginner's job." The girl shrugged. "I'll do something else, say I never was here in the first place. But the next time we meet, I won't go this easy on you. I'm Strix, by the way."
"Pleased to meet you," he replied with a courteous bow. "Though I hope it's the last time, if you don't mind me saying so. As for my name, you're bright enough to figure it out yourself. Now, I need to apologize. I'm expected elsewhere." If her Guild was informed about them, she'd find out anyway; if they weren't informed, no need to alert them now. He melted in shadows and ran to join Korlys.
oOo
Korlys swore as Bann Kingsley's team scored the winning goal just as time ran out. True, he hadn't had a chance to learn much about either team before placing his bet, but it stung his pride just the same. He and Mario said their goodbyes to Bann Rutherford and his wife and made their way back to the restaurant, where they'd arranged to meet Emilio to take care of the bandits. The proprietor was beaming, having placed a sizeable bet on Kingsley's team, which didn't lighten Korlys' mood any.
Emilio indicated the men were tied up in the basement, and Korlys turned to Mario. "I will bring them up. You stay here - no need for both of us to go down into the cellar."
The Antivan descended the enclosed stairway, still grumbling to himself over his gambling losses. The last thing he wanted was to be here, dealing with incompetent would-be bandits. As far as Korlys was concerned, this was the city guard's problem, but he knew how Mario felt about it.
The lantern he was holding pushed back the darkness of the root cellar just far enough to reveal the next three or four stairs in front of him as he went. The ex-Crow had just reached the bottom when he caught a glimpse of movement to his left. Instinct caused him to duck, but not quite fast enough, and he was dealt a glancing blow to the side of the head. Korlys staggered, but managed to keep his legs under him. He dropped the lantern. Luckily he was so low to the cellar floor that it stayed upright, but he barely noticed as he drew his daggers, moving quickly to the right.
Blood poured down the side of his head, and Korlys was suddenly coldly furious; here he was, wasting time trying to be merciful - time he could be spending in bed with Mario - and this was the thanks he got. The ex-Crow silently circled the attacker, who still hadn't completely moved out of the range of the light; it certainly wasn't another Crow. The sounds of one or perhaps two others moving about in the dark could be heard, but they were coming from somewhere beyond and to the right of the assailant. He could assassinate this one first before taking care of them, if they were foolish enough to stick around. If not, Mario could handle them, and Emilio would likely join in - whoever he had been in Antiva, Korlys felt sure it was not a restaurateur.
The assassin stilled, waiting as the man looked around wildly, trying to get a glimpse of movement. Korlys' eyes had adjusted to the gloom, and his eyesight was keener in low light than any human's.
oOo
Mario was leaning against the wall, waiting for Korlys and the three bandits. Emilio was also there - Mario wasn't sure why, he'd hinted to the man that he wasn't needed, but he'd insisted that he had to lock up behind him. Mario had to bite his tongue to keep from telling him he'd been robbed tonight already, anyway.
He winced as he heard a soft thump coming from the cellar, as if something had fallen to the floor. If everything went smoothly, there'd be no reason for that. He silently ran down the stairs, thinking about what could've happened. He could think only of two reasons - the Crows had decided to make another attempt to capture Korlys - they never knew when to stop, annoying fools; or the three idiots had somehow caused problems and Korlys had killed them. Oh well. He tried to save their lives, but if they were that suicidal to attack his Antivan after what they saw him do earlier, it was all their fault. Not even Baby could blame them for this.
Unsheathing his knife, he sneaked in, listening for other sounds, but all was quiet. He took a step in and looked around. A lit lantern was on the floor, but the cellar was full of barrels and crates blocking his view. There was something - potatoes or apples, he couldn't tell - in the left corner, and he could see the two dark shapes to his right; he couldn't tell if one of them was Korlys. Which meant Korlys couldn't see it was him, either - a thought far scarier than whoever had attacked his Antivan. Wrapping himself in shadow, he whistled their signal and moved from the light. Of course, Korlys wouldn't answer, but at least he'd know not to stab him.
Korlys' attacker turned towards the stairway at Mario's whistle, turning his back to him. With uncanny swiftness, the assassin darted forward and planted his foot to the back of the human's knee, causing him to cry out as his legs buckled. Before he had time to recover, Korlys had him kneeling, his head pulled back and a dagger at his throat.
"Rolph?" came a nervous question from near the staircase.
So these two were bandits. That was all that Mario needed to know. He lunged forward, jumping on the back of the closest one, toppling him. The man yelped in surprise. He squirmed, trying to get to his elbows, but couldn't get any leverage.
"Don't move," Mario ordered, pressing his knife to the man's neck. In the light cast by the lantern, Mario could see Mouse falling to his knees, begging for his life in front of Emilio, who was standing three steps up from the foot of the staircase with his bow aimed in Mouse's face.
"Please don't kill me! I have a family!" came the sound of Rolph's voice to Mario's right as the air was filled by the stench of piss. In the gloom Mario could barely make out the shape of a man on his knees, and another behind him, crouching or kneeling, he couldn't tell.
Korlys couldn't see up the stairway, but could hear the third man babbling desperately, so he assumed Emilio had him under control. His grip on the man's hair tightened. "That is not my problem," Korlys replied coldly.
"We were merciful once," Mario joined in. "And here you go causing problems again."
"We only wanted to escape, ser!" came a muffled reply from the bandit beneath him. "We didn't mean to cause any trouble for you!"
"You know, I believe that," Mario said with a chuckle. "What should we do with these three idiots?" he asked Korlys. "They're a bigger danger to themselves than anyone else."
"Oh, so you did not mean to split my head open, did you?" the assassin growled, pulling Rolph's head back as far as it would go.
"Sangue per sangue," Emilio muttered.
Korlys froze at the sound of that familiar Crow saying. Blood for blood. The weary resignation in Emilio's voice, as if that was the way it was and there was no changing it, no stopping the senseless killings, shook him.
"No." He pushed the man away as he got up, causing Rolph to fall forward onto his face. Korlys sheathed his knife as he turned around and walked a bit farther into the dark to collect himself. He quickly forced a composed expression on his face, donning the persona of a self-assured, emotionless assassin.
"I believe it would be proper to let Emilio decide their fate," Korlys said as he walked back to where the others were. "It is his establishment."
Mario nodded. He didn't know what the Antivan's words meant, but he guessed it had to do with the Crows, and he was getting tired of this game. Korlys wasn't an assassin anymore, doing the dirty work for the cowards. If this fucker wanted them dead, he should at least have the balls to admit it. He turned to Emilio. "Well? What's it gonna be?" he asked, grinning at the man's dumbfounded expression.
Emilio lowered his bow slowly. He looked down as Mouse, who was still collapsed at his feet, looked up at him, silently waiting to hear his fate. He stood there, a thoughtful look on his face, for a surprising amount of time before replying. "I believe it would be best if the three of you left the city. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee that one of my customers might not see you on the streets and call for the guards themselves."
Interesting. Mario tilted his head. He'd expected excuses from Emilio about how he couldn't decide, how it should be the Crow… Or maybe something like, 'well if he let you live, so will I'. This looked like the man honestly didn't want them dead. Perhaps he wasn't that bad. "Seems it's your lucky day." Mario withdrew his knife and got up. "And it's not just guards that might be interested in you. I'm pretty sure the thieves guild won't like you trying to rob the nobles right under their noses. If you want to survive, get out of the city. And for fuck sake, never try to steal again. It was painful to watch."
The bandits didn't waste time exiting the restaurant. "We should go, too," Mario said. "We still want to… do things tonight."
Korlys followed Emilio and Mario back upstairs to the dining room. His head was pounding, exhaustion was starting to drain him of what energy he had left, and the side of his face felt crusty with drying blood.
Emilio raised his lantern to inspect the ex-Crow's scalp. "You have a pretty good gash there. Sit down and I will stitch you up," he said pulling out a chair.
"Are you sure you know how?"
"Of course," the owner answered with a broad grin. "There was a time when I made my living as a surgeon - of sorts. Just rest - I will heat some water and gather the supplies."
"Is there anything I can do?" Mario asked.
"Sí - we have some oil lamps in the storage room off the kitchen, if you could gather some so I could have enough light to work with, I would appreciate it."
Korlys sat down, mildly surprised, as he watched the two bustle back and forth, bringing lamps, towels, Emilio's surgery supplies, and finally, the hot water. Their actions seemed as coordinated as if they were used to working together. It seemed Mario had changed his mind about the restaurateur.
Emilio rolled his sleeves up. "Mario, if you would hold one of the lamps up for me." He took one of the towels and carefully cleaned the drying blood from around the wound, then trimmed the hair closely.
"So... you were a surgeon 'of sorts' in Antiva?" Korlys asked casually as Emilio threaded his needle with silk thread. It was a bit of an effort, though; half his head felt on fire from the soap and water, and he'd had to grit his teeth more than once already. He wasn't looking forward to what was coming next.
"Sí, there are times when one may not have access to a healer, or have an injury that requires surgery," here he tilted Korlys head slightly, and inserted the needle, "and it would be inconvenient to go to a more conventional establishment, as I am sure you can imagine."
Korlys gritted his teeth, beads of sweat popping up on his brow. He grunted in agreement.
"You mean you worked for the Crows," Mario said dryly.
Emilio stopped what he was doing and looked at Mario before laughing heartily. "These Fereldans," he said to himself - or Korlys, it was hard to say - "always so straightforward. A refreshing change from Antivans, is it not?" He didn't wait for Korlys' reply, but bent forward to continue his work. "Yes, I stitched up many a Crow, but they were not my only patients. There are many who cannot afford the fees most surgeons charge. But the Crows always paid generously."
"Why did you leave?"
This time, Emilio did not stop stitching - a fact for which Korlys was immensely grateful. He only wished he'd thought to ask for brandy or something to dull the pain first.
"On the other hand, there is much to be said for Antivan tact, yes?" Emilio murmured in their native Antivan, and Korlys snickered in spite of himself. He stitched quietly for a moment, but finally replied. "When I was eight, and my brother Roberto ten, our parents died. We were taken in by relatives who were very kind to us, but had eight children of their own. Roberto and I took odd jobs every chance we could, and what was left over after contributing to the family we saved. It was always his dream to open a restaurant, and so we did. By that time I had learned much about surgery - an elderly resident had taken me on as an apprentice of sorts, when he found I had the aptitude - and I did that on the side when not helping my brother.
"But, when Roberto passed away, I found I did not have the heart to continue running the restaurant on my own, and with no other family to keep me there, I decided to sell it and travel instead. And here I am." Emilio finished up the stitches in time with the close of his story, and he covered his work with a fresh bandage. "That should do it," he said with satisfaction.
"Grazie, Emilio." Korlys got up, feeling the bandage gingerly. "And now, we must be going." As hospitable as the proprietor had been, he could tell the man preferred for them to leave before Mario asked any more questions about his past.
Emilio escorted them out, inviting them to come back at any time, and Korlys was excited to be finally heading to the inn he had so carefully chosen. Mario's mood seemed upbeat - perhaps this evening would be salvageable after all.
A/N:
We're sorry for not updating or publishing anything for so long. Shebas has had some health problems to deal with in the past year, and it's put us a bit behind our intended schedule. We have already started to work on book two of the main story, but it will take some time until it's done.
Also, there may be more one shots coming in the future - we have several in progress right now, so we'll see.
We want to thank Oleander's One and Bloodsong 13T for agreeing to continue beta reading for us. It's so exciting to be working with you guys again!
