49.

Amahissen, my fellow soldier, was hardly a man. He was a storm. He tore through rooms, chewing up scenery, eating up the attention, and swallowing all pride whole. He grinned like crazy. He was Matthias if Matthias hadn't made the mistake of hitting Lukas that time long ago.

Gaunt Amahissen, called Hiss by us because his foreign sounding name tasted strange on our tongues, was in my house. Tino wasn't home, he went out to buy groceries. This was the week of the betrayal. I sat across from Hiss, his leering smile consuming any attention of mine that would wander.

"So." He said.

"Yes?" I asked.

He wore a white shirt and brown trousers. Even when he wasn't in combat, he was dressed for it. He was ready to defend, to attack, to beat, to win. He crossed his legs, leaning back in his chair.

"Did you come for a reason?" I asked.

"Can't a man say 'hello' to a friend of his, just once?" Hiss drawled.

I frowned.

His grin broadened.

"But, you know me far too well, don't you?"

A haunted shadow crossed his eyes. As if an inner war was being waged.

"I suppose I do."

"You suppose a whole lot, you don't affirm or know for sure, do you?"

"It's called modesty. Perhaps you should trying using it sometime."

His features darkened. A chill ran down my spine. I thought I could see his face being enveloped in shadow. The way he contorted his mouth provided for that illusion. Then, it lit up, briefly, and he laughed.

"As saucy as always, oh ambiguous Ber. Do you ever deny me the pleasure of your humor?"

I stared. "I beg your pardon?"

"Don't beg, it's rude."

"I have a feeling you're quoting something."

"I am, big guy."

We paused. I tried to search for the source. It was one of the older books, A.D.E.. In the meantime he looked around the home Tino and I shared. He had seen Tino and I once before. His expression tightened.

"What I menat to ask, as you so cleverly knew through my ruse, was how the hell did a big, brawny guy like you marry another man? Usually it's the prissy ones…"

"I didn't think you lived in the old times." I said icily. "Your prejudice is very obvious. Don't hide it."

"I wasn't being mean about it, goodness, I was just making a simple observation. You're a man of science. You should understand that, at the very least." Hiss paused, picking at the arm of his chair. His calloused fingers scraped against it with an unpleasant sound. "Then again, Tino's a feminine, attractive man. I don't blame you. So what are you, then?"

I pretended to consider what he meant. It was obvious he what his goal was. I just didn't know his motives behind it.

"I prefer not to label myself with a title. Most of them have fallen out of use, anyway, since the Dawning Era began. For better, I think. And why should I think about it? I have the love of my life. What else do I need? Some petty names to call myself? A fancy word attached to '-sexual'? I don't see any purpose in that."

Hiss raised his hands. "Hey, hey, slow down. I was just asking you a simple question. No need to through a hissy-fit. Hah, no pun intended."

"That was fully intended."

"Yes, it was. Now." He stood abruptly, placing his hands on the back of his chair. "If you don't mind, I have places to go and people to see. I'll come by later. How does that sound? I still have things I'm curious about." he offered me a friendly smile I did not return.

I wanted to kick him out, but I was no king.


I apologize for posting so many stories a day, but I have so many plans and so many stories I want to get to... And this story writes itself, what can I say? By the thirties, the chapters should slow down a little, though. Maybe. I'm not psychic.