Flicker of Judgment

Chapter 46

The Lion Killer part one

It was a dusty grey, like dull silver fragments form the work shop floor. Or… perhaps more princessly she should call it the down of soiled doves. Though drab and somber the string was strong, resistant, and the pull all but sang with suppressed power as she looped then drew all without arrows to avoid accident.

The quiver was full, matched perfectly with the bow in hue and style, and the woven top set over it kept the arrows in their proper place rather than them walking off in the hands of the passing opportunist. Her test done he'd shown her where to set the bow in place. Walked her through the loops and knots that bound arrow to the quiver's strap as if she were a rank amateur.

And in ways, he'd shown her that she was.

He'd bound and done all the knots himself, at first. Even tying the woven cap for her, then helping her strip off the weapon and its attendant accessories, he then ordered her to do as he had done all on her own. Methodically he'd tested each of her efforts, his final test ending with a vigorous tug that nearly unbalanced her. While he worked, and criticized, she caught her breathe, eyes shining as she recalled.

The plaza had been amazing, vibrant and loud and utter chaos.

No Score could contain its mad gyrations, and it had been glorious.

While undoubtedly corrupt (he'd caught five pickpockets making a stab at his wallet and Natalia was sure she'd of been divested of her own in moments had she still owned it). She'd spied and noted (between petty picking of pockets) corruption of a more serious slant. She'd been able to pick up skewed lines, flawed weights, leaden measures, and could have called a number of merchants out on it. There were no knights to serve as justicars, but surly, cheated customers could serve just as well. He'd halted her plans, a whispered conference and he'd been the one doing the calling out. His voice low, posture ominous, he was perfect study as to how one man could be dubbed "the bloody" all without drawing a line of red on anyone's hide.

Physically at least, he'd bullied and threatened the prices down, and he'd gotten his shopping and her's done with a generous sum left in his pocket after.

It might be cruel to say… they'd made a killing in that market… not literally of course, but in the figurative sense, they had. If pride was a pelt she could safely have replaced every chair in the royal palace with the leather of tanned merchant pride that day.

It had been fun, so much fun!

As for those who'd been honest but greedy, they'd cobbled together a little act. He played the harried escort, she the pinch penny nag. Between the sympathy his semi mute sufferings evoked and her wraith when the more stone hearted proved asinine…

She'd had far too much fun for a day! Wonderful honest fun! Her face hurt from holding back wide smiles. She all but sparkled despite her weariness, and for Asch he was very controlled, holding to his act better than she… But there was a glimmer amongst the green of his eyes that told tales.

Also, he hadn't been quite as controlled as he was now. Feigning exasperation at shop's end, he'd finally "snapped" and dragged her away. The sighs of those not skinned, and those who had been routed had nearly kicked up a dust storm. Or at least she'd thought it had.

Once safely out of sight of the stalls, the plaza a noisy memory at their back, he let her go. They'd been on the Malkuth side, blue stripes scarring the more downtrodden buildings. Clearly not amused, he glowered at her.

"Alright, we've got what we needed…"

"But Asch…" She whined.

"No!" He barked. "Enough!"

Mn!" Arms crossed, she pouted, stomping a foot for good measure. Royal dignity be hanged, she'd been having fun and he'd ruined it.

And, as if she'd said that aloud. "I noticed you were having fun." He assured, humored once more, he let his hand slide over her face, thumb stroking a familiar route. She calmed under the familiar caress, but clung to her sullen front for the sake of appearance with teeth and nails. Reading through her subterfuge he wound his free arm about her waist, then letting parcels and packages tumble to the dirt he looped his other arm about her too. "And... I did too, thank you."

He was close, holding her as if she were precious, smiling so sweetly. His breathe clung to her lashes, and excitement on the decline they felt so heavy. Her eyes slipped closed, just a moment then flared open as he leaned in and set his lips over hers.

It had been no child's kiss. No mere peck as his other kisses had been before. He teased open her mouth with his tongue, deepened the deadlock, and tasted the darkness of her mouth. Stiff with shock, she couldn't think, and responded with instinct as he relented enough so she could return the favor. Back and forth, heart racing, she followed his lead as he showed her a game of give and take. Utterly fair, they only broke enough on some unspoken signal to catch there breathe. He held her still, shaking hands stroking her back, traveling an intricate path about straps and quivers in the like, only pausing once for a moment, before continuing the circuit.

He cleared his throat, made to speak, face warm surely flushed.

She cut him off, forsaking matters of dignity and propriety with a force that made him start.

"Don't." Her voice was ragged. "Don't apologize, please don't."

So he didn't.

Hadn't.

And his taste lingered in her mouth, she licked her lips, her packs retrieved form where they tumbled and dusted off. She'd helped him with his as well, and for a moment it was toe two of them in center of the street carefully shunted off to one side least the passing by dragon carriage run them over. The buildings about her were stripped in blue; those she could spy over his shoulder were scarred with red. So close to the border they'd left the plaza, and form here they'd split paths.

For now, for a time.

So he'd promised, as had she.

"I'll be half a day behind, and I'll close the distance by Dao." He took a deep breathe then. "If you don't see me at the pass than something's gone wrong, and it'll fall on you."

The burden he set before her in that moment made the stuff in her hands air light in comparison.

"I.. I understand." Heaven help he if it came to that though. What could she do? Nothing so said Score, Lorelei. Her eyes hardened recalling Lorelei's final fate, and he looing on separated by the distance of perspectives, let his lips quirk into a lean grin.

"Don't kill anyone if you can help it." He chided, much like a man would scold a child for not sharing with a sibling or something. "But if you need to, you have my express permission to shoot Luke in the ass if that's the only thing that'll slow him down."

While it was tempting, especially when he was being a pain in said region… she giggled, shook her head. "I'll cook for them instead."

"Poison's chancy," he warned obviously misconstruing her intent.

She decided now was not the place to explain. "I'll be careful."

Her exploits in the culinary would remain a blissful mystery, at least until she cooked for him, if that ever happened. Unlikely but still… perhaps… if… well hopefully she'd improve by then.

Still, he worried. "Where did you learn how to poison someone, it's not part of a noble's normal repertoire?"

She shrugged. "What was your real name, I forgot?"

About them people wended, so busy with their own affairs they never noticed the silence between them both. The shadows were long, lengthening, and her planned two hours had swiftly become six, or perhaps seven. In short, she'd… well they'd… lost track of the time.

Encumbered, he bowed, as best he could. Conceeding her point, respecting her wishes.

"Farewell, your highness." A chuckle slipped past hiss lips, caress soft, kiss tender. "Sleep well."

Unlikely that, but still the gesture had been kind.

"You too."

Green eyes considered her, all was clearly said and done but she didn't want to leave. Rem would not go back though, not for one girl, no matter her perceived import. Day was on the decline, and the shadows were deepening as night neared. All was said and done, and he didn't want to leave. Though duty and the like beckoned him to far flung roads, and the idea of another nap sung a seductive song to his weary soul. When he folded to the last, he wondered. Would he have a dreamless sleep, dark and deep?

Unlikely, very much so… still he could hope.

"Your friends are probably worried about you." Asch reminded her softly.

"So are yours."

Touche. Green eyes canted to the side, Asch studied real with a contempt that the hard headed held for the fancy.

"I'll see you at Dao, the latest." Natalia promised. Binding him without realizing, there was no way he could get out of this now. No way to defer this to another. "Till then?"

"Till then." Rasped whuffs and grunts heralded the coming of another dragon carriage from behind. Bells rang madly and a familiar reek made her cringe. Asch, looking beyond her nodded, clearly he'd been keeping the time in his head and this met some internal schedule. Firm, though gentle, he ushered her to one side, a building at her back she could see the grey, long legged, monstrosities puffing down the street. Most about her followed suit, but Asch once sure she was settled he broke away, flitting out into the serpentine beasts' path.

"You there! Fifty gald if you take me to the outer edge of the Kimlascan province!"

Serpentine neck arched, the beast slowed, but did not stop, veering a little so not to run over the would be customer.

"Two hundred!" Asch hollered.

To that the man stopped, dust billowing out at the sudden halt to stain Asch's off white coat in billowing brown.

"Two hundred?" Came a voice from up high, some querulous thing belonging to a man swathed in Daathic black.

"No questions asked!"

"Two fifty then!"

"Deal!" Pulling a pouch from Luke's pocket Asch tossed it up, the man, weary as most were, began to count the coins then and there.

From behind, came a sound familiar and just as unwelcome as the dragon's approuche had been.

"Naataaliaaa!"

Anise!

Asch's eyes widened in recognition, ripping open the door, he tossed his packs in, bundled himself in.

"Five hundred more if you go, now!" The Bloody roared, and never mind he was in, his voice carried well.

That was enough for the driver, with a crack of a whip he got the scared beasts to moving, and they were off.

"Heeey!"

Biting her lip, Natalia fought temptation. For one moment she wished she had joined, there'd been a precious span where she could have broken free and… Then Anise hit, a comet of flying pink uniform and pigtails. Latching onto Natalia's waist the fon master Guardian swung from where her hands were firmly latched.

Nearly loosening the bow Asch had christened "Lion Killer" upon purchase.

"Where've you been, it's been ages!" Anise wailed.

And to that, Natalia forced a smile, looked down into dear brown eyes.

"Busy." She answered in all truth. "Shopping." She elaborated.

"Boo, like that answers anything!" the girl groused.