It Could Be Worse (4th Season)
Episode 7: Guest
By Sulia Serafine
[A Protector of the Small fanfic set in an alternate universe; all credit goes to Tamora Pierce. I'm broke, so you can't sue me. Any other copyrighted things that don't belong to me in here in fact belong to other very businesslike people. Could you believe that? I guess that's why I'm broke.
E-mail me at silverwlngaol.com okay? And you know the drill: titles or subjects of emails are fanfiction.net, s.serafine, or icbw.
Rating of this episode: PG-13 for habitual cursing. When isn't there cursing anymore? There's also some action here, which doesn't really get all that violent. It's a cop series with personal drama. What did you expect?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Kad!" Lalasa exclaimed. "Oh my goodness, it's so good to see you!"
Kaddar Iliniat braced himself as his cousin threw herself into his arms. Since she had become a wife, let alone a mother, Lalasa had been very affectionate to the world in general, not just her own husband and her friends. Coupled with the fact that she had not seen Kaddar since they were hiding out in Scanra, she was doubly glad to see him.
Her cousin was of medium height, still taller than his feisty cousin. He wore his dark hair back in a short ponytail. His ears were pierced and sported small gold loops. His clothing, though dark and neat, looked expensive for the fabric alone. On further inspection, one would find the clothing from one of the top designers in the western world. Lalasa's fashion sense was obviously something that ran in the family.
"Oh, I'm so glad you've finally been able to visit! You missed the wedding last year, and I wish you hadn't."
The dark skinned man winced. "Yes, I'm really sorry about that."
Roald watched amusedly. "Don't worry. You didn't miss much."
Lalasa turned and glared at him. "Ha. Ha. Very funny."
"Where's the baby?" Kaddar asked, trying to appear regal and stately rather than eager and common.
"He's in his crib, sleeping. Come, sneak a peek," she urged as she took him by the hand and led him into the baby's room.
While they were quietly observing the baby, the bell to the door rang. Roald got up and went to answer it, expecting yet another visitor to see little Faleron. Cleon came quite frequently to see the baby. He was still living with Keladry, but expected to move out at the end of the week when all of his things had been restored to his apartment.
Roald admired Cleon for his perseverance. He admired Keladry for her loyalty and friendship. And most of all, he admired Ulliver Linden for putting up with the fact that another man was living was his girlfriend, no matter how plutonic Cleon and Keladry's relationship was. There was, in Roald's experience, an innate and heightened sense of possessiveness that all men had, whether they showed it or not. He had no idea how Ulliver kept his in check.
"Hello?" he said as he slid open the door. His eyes immediately lit up. "Kally! You're here!"
His half sister Kalasin Jasson entered, followed by Cleon and Keladry. They had picked her up from the airport. Whether the reunion of the sharpshooter and the spy had been emotional or romantic, Roald had no idea, but he didn't care. His sister was there and she had yet to reprimand him for calling her by a nickname.
"Are you hungry? I'll heat up some food really quick. Just wait here. Cleon, show her a seat, already!" He started walking toward the kitchen before he pivoted on the ball of his foot and turned back toward them. "But please be quiet. He's sleeping."
"Nap time already?" Cleon said, a little disappointed. He had been hoping to play with the baby for a few minutes.
The couple sat down on the couch quietly, merely enjoying each other's company without speaking while Keladry wandered to the kitchen to assist Roald (and give the reunited couple time alone). Kalasin was not sure at first how to react to the man who had picked her up at the airport. He seemed so different. He had not made any silly gestures. He had not said anything immature. Cleon had grown up during his absence, but he was still Cleon. She could see the light in his eyes, clouded by the loss of his best friend.
Temporary scars, she thought, suddenly wondering why the phrase would come to mind.
"I'm glad you're here," he whispered.
"So am I," she replied. Making sure that Roald was still in the kitchen and that no one else was in the room, Kalasin leaned forward and kissed Cleon tenderly.
He sighed into her mouth, as if he'd almost forgotten what it felt like to have this contact with her. His hand reached up to stroke the side of her face. How had he been lucky enough to win this beautiful woman in front of him?
And then it all came rushing back to him. Faleron's advice… the shooting gallery… the stuffed hippo…
Cleon reluctantly ended the kiss and leaned back against the couch. He touched Kalasin's lip with his finger, tracing the bottom. She was inwardly alarmed to see such a grave expression on his face. They were together again, were they not? Wasn't that reason enough for a respite from his mourning? He let his hand drop just as Lalasa reentered with another man following her.
Lalasa withheld a squeal of delight to see her sister-in-law. Before the wedding, she and Kalasin had always regarded each other with respect—but from a distance. Lalasa didn't care much for those ideas anymore. They were all family! She groped for Kaddar's arm and yanked him in front of her for introduction. "Kalasin! Cleon!" she whispered theatrically so they could hear her. "I'd like you to meet my cousin—"
"Kaddar Iliniat," Kalasin finished. She stood up and folded her arms across her chest.
Kaddar blinked, blushing a little. He smiled slightly. "You know me?"
The female spy nodded. In her most businesslike tone, she said, "Three men who were identified as former allies of Ozorne Tasikhe escaped from a prison transport last week. You're one of the people on their revenge list, I can imagine. The other…"
All eyes turned toward Lalasa, who turned an angry red.
"Damn my father!" she screamed. The baby began crying in the background. Lalasa fretfully fled to the baby's room in order to calm him down.
Roald appeared offended as he emerged from the kitchen, followed by Keladry. "So you didn't just come to see the baby?"
Kalasin stepped back, startled. Either she had hoped they wouldn't make that connection or that the idea had not occurred to her. Cleon shared Roald's hurt expression. Kaddar looked on, just entranced by the dark haired, mysterious woman who had revealed his secrets.
"And me?" Cleon asked.
"Of course I came to see you all," she said irritably. She turned toward Kaddar. "And you, Iliniat, you've only come here because it wasn't safe for you back in Scanra."
Lalasa's cousin shrugged dismissively. His eyes roamed from head to toe over the woman addressing him. "It isn't safe for me anywhere. I just happen to have family here. And a new cousin." He paused. "Once removed, if I remember genealogy correctly."
Keladry stepped in. "I'll page Flyndon. You'll probably need a bodyguard, then," she told Kaddar. "Are you planning on staying in Tusaine for a while?"
"Where else can I go?" His gaze drifted toward Kalasin, a little too absorbed in her presence.
Keladry noticed. I'll have to ask Lalasa later if he has the habit of skirt-chasing. The vibe I've been getting from him within the last minute or so is not so good. She walked forward and grabbed his wrist, hauling him after her into the kitchen. "Don't worry, everyone. I'll handle this."
She led him roughly in front of her, glaring at him as he casually leaned against the refrigerator. He didn't seem impressed with her. Keladry only regretted that she had not observed his character better the last time she had seen him two years ago.
"Kalasin is off-limits. And by Glory, you're practically related!" she scolded, reddening herself.
Kaddar rolled his eyes. "Only through marriage… OW!"
His hand flew to his cheek where Keladry had punched him. He stared at her incredulously, but she only glared at him. Kaddar rubbed his smarting cheek, wondering how much luck he possessed to have avoided having his head taken clear off his body.
Keladry paged Flyndon and awaited his answer, telling Kaddar in the meanwhile not to leave the Jasson residence on pain of death-by-energy-glaive. She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. "I thought you were estranged from Ozorne by the time he died. Why would these guys care about you?"
His back stiffened. "I'm a witness at one of their trials."
He doesn't look so confident about that answer. Is it true?
"Anything else?" she pressed.
He shook his head vigorously. "Of course not!"
She pushed him ahead of her as they left the kitchen. In the living room, Lalasa sat nervously on the couch with Roald at her side. Cleon and Kalasin were now standing and speaking quietly, probably about the potential threat to Lalasa and Kaddar.
"So?"
"So we wait," she replied. She glanced at her pager, having just felt a vibration from it. It was not Flyndon, but Ulliver. She sighed. "Sorry. I already made plans today, so I won't be able to stay with you and sort this out. I'm sure nothing will happen today, anyway. Tomorrow, we can worry."
She went to the door of the apartment. Cleon followed her with the intention of speaking alone with her. He closed the apartment door behind him and stood quietly in the hall.
"What is it with that guy giving Kalasin looks? I don't like him," he whispered.
"Don't worry about it. I warned him," Keladry assured. She cracked her knuckles. "And if he doesn't heed my warning, either you or I can take care of him, distant relative of Lalasa's or no."
Cleon nodded. He did not believe for a second that Kalasin might warm up to Kaddar's lingering looks, but he could not tolerate Kaddar. And for that reason, he knew he might have to copy Keladry's action and knock a little sense into him.
What would you have done? Challenge him to a game of poker?
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"So you've never been on a picnic before?" Ulliver asked, stretching out beneath the tree. The late summer, early autumn weather was warm enough for them to go without jackets in the local park. The tips of the leaves were turning brown and yellow, but there was still plenty of green life surrounding them to create a vibrant atmosphere.
Keladry shook her head. "My family did, plenty of times, but I always snuck out."
"Snuck out of picnics? What sort of child were you?" he laughed. "Did you drink coffee and complain about ulcers?"
She pushed him by the shoulder and smiled. "No. So I was a little serious… I'm not like that anymore."
He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "I know."
The female officer blushed and pushed him again. He caught her arm and pulled her down to lie against him. She fell against him, chuckling as he brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her. He shifted so he partly covered her, his hands reaching behind her back and stroking her spine absently.
The tender moment was interrupted by the noise of Keladry's pager. Ulliver muttered a curse. He hastily removed the pager from her wrist and flung it a few feet away. Keladry groaned and pushed him away.
"Ulliver! That might be important!" she scolded.
The man rolled his eyes and melodramatically collapsed against the picnic blanket, defeated by her noble sense of duty. She got up to retrieve the object and check to see who had contacted her. He turned his head to watch her crouch on the ground and read the small screen.
"Let me use your cell phone," she said, holding out her hand.
He reached into his back pocket and handed her his phone. She quickly dialed the number on the pager and waited for an answer.
"Hey, Kel," Cleon's voice greeted her.
"Cleon, what's going on?"
"Oh nothing. You know that guy who was about to hit on my girlfriend? Well, reportedly, he's running around town trying not to get shot at the moment. Neal thought that you two should probably help him. And I, on a personal note, emphasize probably."
"Cleon!" She wasn't sure as to take Cleon's resentment of Kaddar as a healthy sign of the good, old Cleon Kennan. At least an angry emotion was better than none.
"Okay, okay. Go help him. Last sighting was at the bridge. Neal and Wolset are already on their way. They'll contact you when the location changes."
She flipped the cell phone shut and handed it to Ulliver. "Well, this is going to be interesting."
Ulliver pouted. "I suppose you have to go."
"I'm sorry."
He sat up and began putting away the food they had packed. Worried that she had upset him yet again, she touched his shoulder. He caught her hand and kissed her knuckles. His expression told her that he was fine with it. Sometime sooner or later, he would do it, too. It was expected in a relationship where both members were equally dedicated to their work.
"We'll try again some other time," he promised, standing up. He pulled her up as well, holding both her hands in his.
"We will," she agreed. "Thanks."
He brushed it off with a shake of his head. "Don't worry about it. Go on. Get out of here and save the day. Sheesh, you'd think I was dating the Amazon princess Diana slipping into Wonder Woman mode."
She kissed him and jogged away, focused upon saving Kaddar Iliniat, even if Cleon didn't think he deserved rescuing. Ulliver gazed dolefully down at the lunch he had prepared. He bent down to fold up the blanket.
"Save the day… again," he grossed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
She saw Wolset and Neal almost right away. Neal was seated in the driver's seat while Wolset was standing outside the driver side window, shading his eyes with his hands and looking across the bridge. She stopped her motorcycle beside them and scanned the scene as well.
"Well, where are they?" she asked, already in an irritable mood for her interrupted picnic.
"From what we've pieced together, they were running along the bridge just over th—" Neal stopped. He frowned and pointed downward toward the river's edge. "I think they disappeared onto the river boardwalk."
"Why did he leave Lalasa's place anyway?"
"I don't know. Maybe Cleon scared him off or something. Kalasin does stay with Roald and Lalasa when she's in town," Neal supplied. She muttered a curse.
"Aw man! There are too many tourists down there!" Wolset complained. He slid across the hood of the car, Dukes of Hazzard style and quickly got into shotgun. (Neal withheld the urge to make a smart comment on Wolset's action-hero behavior.) "Kel, follow us to the Boardwalk Pavilion! You branch out to the west end and we'll take the east!"
She nodded. She kicked off the curb and sped across the bridge. The opposite shore of the boardwalk was lined with docks. There were so many freighter ships and private owned boats that there was a whole different branch of security for the docks. It was very unlikely that Kaddar or his pursuers would have continued their chase on that side of the river.
The boardwalk was lined with a dozen little shops and booths that were especially busy during the summer season. With the entrance of autumn, the crowd had only died down just slightly. There were still plenty of people to allow anyone wishing to disappear to quickly get lost within them.
When Keladry reached the boardwalk, she wished she had time to get more background information on the men who had escaped the prison transport—a name, anything. Flyndon had not answered her page. She supposed she should have forwarded it to someone else at the station. But it was too late for that, wasn't it?
Wait… Fugitive… Prison transport… I know just who to call for back up.
She glanced around. Keladry ducked into a COMscreen booth and quickly dialed the number she'd need to reach the Riders. Raoul answered, appearing curious as to why Keladry Mindelan, First Class DJPF officer would call him.
"Yes, Kel?"
"You're a Marshal! Aren't you supposed to deal with fugitives and prison transport?"
"Yes," he replied, starting to see by the look in her eyes what this was going to lead him to.
"Well, I've got two of them on a witness' tail! Get your people down to the boardwalk and help us out! You can check their names with Buri or something. They're old buddies of Ozorne Tasikhe."
The marshal snorted derisively. "The old fart still comes back to haunt us. Okay, we'll be there in no time! You page us any new developments, alright?"
She nodded and hung up. At least with more people on the case, they were bound to be more successful.
A flash of blue went by the COMscreen booth that caused Keladry to jerk around. She slammed the folding door aside and ran out. There he is! She saw Kaddar look around fearfully as he bumped into other civilians walking around with snow cones and ice cream. He circled around a man giving a flying toy demonstration and disappeared into an outdoor arcade.
She quickly paged Wolset, telling him to hurry as humanly possibly to her location. They would only take a couple of minutes to reach her.
Keladry looked around. She could not see the two fugitives that were supposedly chasing him. It was going to be difficult to reveal them if she did not even know what they looked like. She carefully approached the entrance to the arcade, hoping that she could convince Kaddar to come with her. The scared man would probably rather keep running, safe from both DJPF and the fugitives. His record wasn't as squeaky clean as Lalasa's, after all.
She ran past a row of pinball machines and spied Kaddar standing next to an air-hockey table.
"Iliniat! Over here!" she called.
His head turned toward her. He licked his dry lips and shook his head. "Keep 'em busy!"
"What?" she frowned.
Then it dawned on her, and she ducked just in time to avoid a blow to the back of the head. Keladry whirled around while in a crouching position, sweeping her leg out and tripping whoever had tried to attack her from behind. The man hit the floor, but his partner leapt over him and went for Keladry head on.
She rolled onto her back and kicked her legs up just in time to catch the second, skinnier man in the midsection and toss him over her like a sack of rice. She jumped to her feet and prepared for whichever man got up first.
"Stop! Put your hands in the air! I'm the DJPF!" she warned, brandishing her fists.
Neither of them seemed to care. They both dove at her. Keladry found it difficult to fight off both men at once. She landed two punches and a waist high kick before retreating to safety. She ran backward, turned, and flipped over a foosball table. She wished she had had her energy glaive with her, but she'd traveled straight from her picnic with Ulliver to the bridge.
Man, I can't fight unarmed as well as I used to. Hakuin and Eda would be so ashamed of me! She panted and caught her breath.
The other occupants of the arcade began to flee, shrieking to the outside of the tent. Keladry hoped they called for help, too. The more, the better. Two men didn't need so much of the DJPF to bring them down, but Keladry desperately wanted to get the job over with and go back to her picnic.
Keladry attacked the heavier man, who was dark haired and obviously Carthaki. She'd seen his profile before, she was sure of it, but she couldn't remember who. As she punched the man in the face, lost in thought about identifying him, she suddenly remembered the other man…
…a bit too late.
I'm getting rusty, she thought dizzily as the bar taken from the foosball table connected with the back of her head. Keladry slumped to the ground, unconscious.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Kel! Kel, wake up! They're getting away by boat!"
She opened her eyes, blinking rapidly. "What?"
"They kidnapped Iliniat—probably to torture him later," Wolset said, emphasizing his hunch by placing fist over palm. It was a cartoon-ish gesture that had Keladry shaking her head and wondering what else had happened during her very uncharacteristic knock-out.
"Raoul's rented a couple of boats and Flyn's got River Security on the job, too!" Wolset added, helping Keladry to stand. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, though her head was still throbbing. "I'll be fine. Is it too late?"
"Would the two of you hurry? They're getting away!" Neal called impatiently from the opening of the arcade tent.
Keladry and Wolset ran after their partner as he headed across the boardwalk toward one of the merchant docks. A speedboat with the DJPF insignia on the hull was waiting for them. And behind the wheel was none other than Lerant. He waved them over. The three officers scrambled into the speedboat. Their hands shot out and grabbed each other as Lerant sped away from the dock.
Lerant appeared truly excited. His dirty blond hair moved around his head in an animated way. His lips were already wind-chapped, but he definitely seemed much happier than anyone else had observed since the awkward incident with his and Yuki's fake wedding. He grinned as he kept his eyes glued to his prey. They were catching up.
"There's Raoul!" Neal pointed. "Hey… when did he learn to drive a boat?"
"Does it matter? Where are Kaddar and the suspects?" Keladry shouted over the noise of the boat.
The wind was blowing her hair about. She pushed her bangs out of the way and peered across the river, trying to sort out which boats were which. She could make out Raoul and Prosper in a boat identical to the one they were in, perhaps two hundred meters away. She couldn't tell if they were pursuing anyone beyond that because the river was so crowded with boats.
Wolset grabbed her arm to get her attention. He pointed to a black boat not too far ahead of Raoul and Prosper's boat. "There they are!"
"And there's River Security," Keladry breathed gratefully.
Two more speedboats marked with the DJPF insignia as well as a sign for River Security were in front of the black boat, blocking their way. To avoid being pinched on both sides by their pursuers, the men in the black boat turned perpendicular to their path and headed at a dangerous speed straight for the cargo docks.
They watched in horror as the boat actually slid up a loading ramp from out of the water and hit the side of a truck. The prow of the speedboat crumpled like paper under the impact, but the rest of the boat remained intact. Then the two men hauled Kaddar from the floor of the boat and onto his feet, bullying him at gunpoint. The Scanran held up his hands in a gesture of submissiveness as they dragged him out and along.
Raoul's boat, then Lerant's, docked. They drew their own guns with hopes of not having to use them. They approached the fugitives cautiously.
"Iliniat, are you okay?" Keladry called over to him.
"He won't be if you don't back down!" one of the men said. The three men were moving past a row of cargo crates. Keladry hoped River Security would get to their location more quickly so that they could surround the men.
She glanced around her. There were only five of them—
Five? There should be six! Where is… Wolset! Where's Wolset?
"What do you want with him anyway?" Raoul demanded. He had his gun trained on the larger man holding Kaddar. Keladry thought absently that she had been waiting too long to see the famed Raoul Malorie in action.
"Why don't you tell them, Kad!" the skinnier man barked.
Kaddar gulped. "Uh…"
"Tell them! Tell them everything, Kaddar!" the larger man ordered, pressing the barrel of his gun harder against Kaddar's head.
The Scanran moaned painfully. "I… I…"
"Do it!"
What are they talking about? Keladry wondered. Her heart was pounding. Were there more secrets to be uncovered? And here she thought the legacy of Ozorne Tasikhe had ended, but apparently it was as alive as ever.
"Okay, okay!" Kaddar gave in. The sweat was dripping from his brow. "I… wasn't estranged from Uncle when he carried out his last attack. I was the one who hacked into the Council's system to get all the information he needed about the President's Estate and I was the one who ran his base back in Scanra!" His chest heaved. "Alright? I'm just as guilty! I just… managed to escape notice is all…"
Lerant let out a low whistle. "Well, I'll be damned."
"Did anyone get that confession on tape?" Neal asked.
"Later!" Raoul interrupted. "We still have a hostage situation, boys." He paused. "And girl."
"Thanks," Keladry muttered.
Her eyes widened when she saw a shadow of moment from around the large walls and stacks of cargo crates. Her gaze flickered to her fellow officers and the Riders. They appeared not to notice anything. Biting the inside of her cheek, she dared to take four steps forward.
"Stay back!" the larger man warned. "Stay back or he gets it!" The hand holding the gun to Kaddar's head was shaking. The Scanran appeared as if he were going to vomit from fear.
"Drop it!" the other man yelled.
Keladry smirked. She dropped her gun, as ordered.
Confusion flashed in the men's faces. Keladry glanced up just in time to see Wolset leap from the crates and tackle the larger man and Kaddar to the ground. Caught off guard, the skinnier man jumped back, his mouth open wide in a gasp.
Prosper reacted quickly. He squeezed off one round that shot the gun out of the skinny man's hand. The man immediately raised his arms in surrender, hoping to avoid further trouble. There was no hope for escape now without a weapon. Meanwhile, Wolset was on the ground, wrestling the other gun out of the large man's grip. Kaddar crawled away on all fours, blood trickling down his temple from when his face hit the dock.
Neal moved forward to help, but Raoul stopped him.
"Let the boy get it himself."
Just as he said that, Wolset reeled back his arm and let loose a furious punch that knocked the man out cold. His limbs stopped struggling and fell to the dock limp. Wolset climbed off the man and plopped unceremoniously onto his rear, wiping the sweat from his eyes with the back of his arm.
"Nice one, Wolsie," Lerant nodded, impressed. "You pack some punch, huh?"
Keladry's partner looked embarrassed. "I've been working out."
Raoul guffawed. "Well! I'd better join your gym, huh? Come on, now. Let's get these guys cuffed and take them down to the station to be booked."
Keladry walked over to where Kaddar lay gasping. "Right!" She threw a look of disgust at Lalasa's cousin, still affronted by the fact that he had been a criminal all along. "Well, this certainly is a surprise. I had hoped that Lalasa wasn't the only non-villain in her family."
"I'm not a villain!" Kaddar protested.
Neal snorted and rolled his eyes. "Right. And I'm a woman in disguise."
As he handcuffed Kaddar, Keladry tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I don't know Neal… you do have a very womanish shriek when provoked…"
"What?!" he exclaimed.
"I mean, the name Squealin Nealan has to come from somewhere, right?" she teased.
"You should talk, Tough Stuff!" Neal retorted. "Don't make me tell everyone about the time we went to that party off Academy campus and some girl mistook you for a boy!"
Keladry blushed furiously. "She was drunk! And don't remind me about that… that girl almost—"
"Almost what?" Wolset asked as he walked up. The Riders were handing over the handcuffed suspects over to River Security as they spoke, leaving them free to chat.
She shook her head. "Nothing!"
Neal puckered his lips and began making kissing noises. Keladry shoved him away and stomped away, fuming. Wolset glanced back and forth perplexedly as Neal doubled over in laughter.
"No, no, it gets better Wolset. I'll tell you about the time that Zell Dincht threw a pool party during summer break and Kel's swimsuit—" He was immediately cut off when a bag of lifejackets taken from the speedboat were hurled straight at Neal's head.
"She's got some temper nowadays, huh?" Raoul noted to his Riders. They wordlessly nodded and stepped aside as Keladry went past, muttering about loud-mouthed, green-eyed men.
- - - - - - - - - -
When she got home, the COMscreen was ringing. It had to have been Ulliver checking on her, so she set down her things and rushed to the screen. She pressed the button and eagerly awaited to see her boyfriend's face.
What she saw had her taken aback.
"Hi, Kel. Long time, eh?"
She gazed into the man's dark piercing eyes with a mixture of confusion and concern. "What do you want?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to talk."
"That's a lie. Nothing is ever that simple with you."
He didn't respond to that. They both remained silent for a long time before Liam cocked his head to the side and began regarding her curiously.
"You met someone." It wasn't a question, just a statement of truth. There wasn't any use hiding it, Keladry figured. He knew how to read her.
"Don't you dare tell him," she threatened.
Liam laughed. "And what makes you think I can tell him anything? He's not even here."
Keladry blinked. "But… I thought… if he's not there… where is he?"
"How am I supposed to know?" The look on his face appeared sincere enough that she knew that he wasn't lying. He didn't know. But there was a gleam of arrogance in his eyes and she also knew that all of that information had been intentionally revealed.
"But… he's safe, isn't he?"
The hit man shrugged. "Maybe he is and maybe he isn't. What should it matter to you anymore? After all, you've met someone."
Her panicked, frightened, and outraged reaction was his revenge. And so Liam did not mind so much when the only woman he had ever brought himself to care for hung up in his face.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Author's notes: Sorry, couldn't resist. Liam is not just a hired muscle, as we all know. He's Joren's rival. He's Keladry's rejection (though he dumped her, we all know that he did it by Enishi's orders. It was clear to everyone that Kel was meant for Joren, so Liam had to be shoved out of the love triangle by force). He is… a whole bunch of nerves and angers that don't play nicely with each other. That's our Liam!
And as for everything else, well, that's all self-explanatory. I realized that I've always had Kalasin and Cleon think about each other in semi-romantic senses, but never actually had them do anything. So hope ya enjoyed that one.
Next time! ICBW Season 4, episode 8: Journey
…Inspirational lyrics for this future episode: Bob Dylan, "Highway 61 Revisited":
"Oh God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe says, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say "No." Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want, Abe, but
The next time you see me comin' you better run"
Well Abe says, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God says, "Out on Highway 61." "