Twokinds AU Chapter 4

He pushed open a flap on the tent and gestured for me to enter first. I obliged, then walked to the center and spun to see him fastening the flap shut. He muttered a few words and I felt the slight tingle of magyk in the air.

"There. Now we may speak in private."

I nodded,

"I'm Grand Master Trace. The one you want is Grand Master Reina, who I killed about a week ago because of her corruption due to black magyks. There's nothing for you here except pointless bloodshed."

He stood silently for a few moments, caught off-guard by my full disclosure and honesty.

"I... see. I don't think it's going to be that easy, Grand Master Trace."

I shook my head, "No, I don't think so either. But please, just call me Trace. The burdens of leadership are not something I would like to bear for long."

He nodded in understanding, "Very well, Trace. I am known as Elmarc to most Keidran."

"Then what can I do to convince your people to leave in peace?"

"They are not my people, Trace. They simply needed a leader to band together under. I only command a few tribes."

I sighed, "That's exactly what I was afraid of. What will convince them to leave? Aside from total victory or total defeat, that is."

He shrugged, a very human-like gesture for the de facto leader of the Keidran, "I know not. We came for the Grand Master of the Templar Order, the one who had kidnapped and tortured dozens of our kind, but you are not she."

I was silent for a minute, "... could they be convinced that I am?"

He had strode to a map table in the middle as I thought, but now he spun and faced me, shock in his eyes.

"You would do that? For your Templars?"

I rubbed my forehead in frustration, "I don't see much of a choice in the matter. Either I do, and you leave peacefully, or I don't and we start into a huge bloody battle that neither side will ever win. We obviously have more powerful and disciplined troops, plus the high ground, but we are outnumbered at least five to one, based on what I could see from the tower."

He said nothing in response, so I continued, "If we do this, there are a number of people I need to say goodbye to."

He nodded, then went to the tent entrance. "Whatever you're going to do, do it quickly. Many of the warriors here have personal grievances against the Templars, and they won't wait forever."

I nodded in return, then we walked in silence through the camp to the fortress. I approached the portcullis and the gate rose just enough for me to walk through. I took barely four steps before Kathrin, as expected, pounced on me.

"Are you alright? How did it go? Are they going to leave in peace? Who was their leader? What did-"

I laughed, then kissed her right on the nose. I'm not certain what possessed me to do that, but she stopped talking and blushed visibly, even through her fur.

"I'm fine, everything went well. Let's head back to the keep where we can speak more."

She nodded silently, apparently unable to speak after my unexpected display of affection. We walked into the central keep, then headed up the stairs until we reached my room. I removed my armor, piece by piece until I was just in my comfortable underclothes. After, I quickly dug out the journal that the Grand Masters had kept, them stored it in a small pouch attached to my armor. Kathrin spoke first,

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

She hesitated, "That... kiss. In the courtyard."

"Oh, did you not like it?"

She shook her head vigorously, "No it's not that. I just... what did you mean by it?"

I shrugged, "Does it have to have a meaning behind it?"

She visibly deflated and spoke quietly, "No, I suppose not."

I hated to see her sad, so I spoke quickly.

"Kathrin, you're not just a slave to me. You're not even a sister, you're much more than that. And if I'm going to be gone soon, I want you to know how much I… appreciate you."

She smiled and hugged me, burying her face in my chest. For a few moments everything was peaceful, but then she stiffened,

"What do you mean you're going to be gone soon?"

I sighed, I supposed it was better to get this out of the way.

"Kathrin, the Keidran came for the Grand Master of the Templar Order."

"I don't understand, she's dead."

"Kathrin, they aren't leaving without one. And they never knew she was a female."

Her eyes widened in understanding, "No! Trace, you can't! You didn't do anything!"

I smiled gently at her, "Yes but they don't know that. This way, they'll leave peacefully. Besides, I have a bargaining chip that I might be able to use."

She frantically grabbed me, wrapping herself around me,

"You can't leave me, Trace!"

I sighed sadly, "This is the only way to make sure that everyone, especially you, makes it out alive."

She sobbed into my chest and I felt her tears soak through my clothes. At the same time, my heart throbbed painfully at her sadness. I massaged her neck and back,

"Hey, shhh, it's going to be fine. I might even be able to trade the journal for my release. For now though, we don't need to worry about that stuff. Just… stay with me."

She rubbed her eyes and nodded, then snuggled up to me, unable or unwilling to speak. I don't know how long we were there, but after awhile her breathing slowed, signaling her descent into sleep. I gently picked her up and set her in my bed, careful not to wake her, then left a note and signed it with a heart. I whispered quietly to her,

"Goodbye, Kathrin. I'm sorry I never got to tell you that I love you."

She smiled in her sleep then rolled over and mumbled, and for a moment I feared I had awoken her, but her incoherent mutterings were the extent of her activities. I placed a soft kiss on her forehead, then headed out to face my doom.