A tale of Tanguine

She was beautiful! He thought, he gazed at Tanith through his eyeless sockets, he wasn't sure how long he'd had feelings like this for her, but boy was he glade.

He watched as she lovingly cleaned her sword across the room, cross legged on the ratty grey sofa.

"What are you looking at Billy Ray?" his sword lady asked not looking up from her task, her rich British accent was music to his ears.

"Nothin' darlin'" he replied.

"Really? You've been watching me for the past ten minutes" she looked up at him.

"Just admiring your beauty" he told her and she stated laughing.

"Why thank you Lil' Darlin'" she tried to copy his accent but only succeeded on he 'darlin''

"Your welcome honey bunny" he turned slightly in his chair so he could fold his knees over the chair's arms "Anything you wanna say to me?" The smile evident in his voice.

"Fishing for compliments Billy Ray?"

"Only if it's workin' and no if it ain't"

"You aren't looking so bad yourself, ya cheese ball" Tanith laughed.

"Thanks" he smiled "Cheese ball?"

"Ummm, your being cheesy, it's fitting" she continued laughing.

"I'll try and see the compliment in that" he grumbled.

"You do that"

Billy Ray had noticed change in his fiance since Darquesse had pulled the remnant out of her, she seemed kinder now. He was glad that she decided that she wanted to stay with him instead of running off with the scarred freak.

It means that she had feelings for you he often thought to himself.

"What's on the agenda today?" he asked.

"A troll has a price on its head, it keeps eating mortals"

"Need any help"

"Narr, I've fended of trolls before, their harmless" she shrugged off his concern.

"Okay, just call if you need back up"

"Uh huh, what are you doing?"

"Old man asked me to ill his neighbor, I've just got to scope out the house and hopefully I can make the hit tomorrow"

"Sounds good. And you call me if you need any help"

"Sure I will sword lady" Tanith stood up walked over to him and hit him lightly over the head.

"What was that for?" he asked as she walked to the door and picked up her bag.

"Don't call me Sword Lady"

"Sorry darlin'" he walked up behind her and slid his arms around her waist and hugged her to him.

"S'Okay" she replied turning in his arms "Be careful today" she said pressing a kiss to his mouth.

"You too, honey bunny" he muttered back.

Thank you for reading,

MyNameIsClassified suggested some Tanguine and this is my attempt :) Demon Road is Derek Landy's new book :)