Disclaimer: I don't own it.
AN: Well, another late chapter. I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks to all of my reviewers.
Rei wrinkled his nose at the smells that wafted through the alley. In his entire seventeen years of life he had been to town five times. He never remembered them stinking this badly. It was moments like this that he was glad that he lived in the plains where the wind cleaned everything from the air.
Tala nudged him, holding a small bag up. "Don't lose this. Not that we couldn't get more." Rei tied the bag to his belt; golden eyes fixed on the taller shifter. "No stealing Tala." The redhead threw his hands up, blue eyes showing his indignation. "Why does everyone think I'm a thief?"
There was a scraping sound from further in the alley and both shifters turned to find eyes staring at them from the darkness. One pair green, the other blue. "Because you have that look about you." Driger stepped out of the shadows, his tail lazily swaying back and forth. Wolborg trotted up to Tala and sat down, looking up at his partner with his tongue lolling out
"Stupid mutt. Did you find anything out?" Wolborg didn't answer, to busy stalking a mouse that had just crept from underneath a crate. Driger finished cleaning his paw before he answered. "We've spent the last three days talking to avatars of the other gods but no one seems to know anything. Evidently this mage came out of no where and has managed to block the sight of all the gods."
Rei ran a hand through his bangs, trying not to let his frustration show. "Great. So we're going to find his stronghold how?" Wolborg swallowed the mouse and shook himself, his coat fluffing out. "Keep heading south. Just follow your bond. Come on cat. We still need to talk to Adonis's cherubs." The two guardians disappeared.
Tala stretched and glanced up at the sky, frowning at the dark clouds that hung in the sky. "Come on Rei. Let's find an inn before it starts raining." Despite the threat of rain, people were still wandering the streets. Tala led the way, having been to the city several times. Kai had avoided making to many appearances in the same town.
They rounded a corner and Tala nearly ran into someone, only saved by Rei's quick reflexes as he latched on to the older shifter's cloak. "Watch where…." The lead female trailed off as her dark eyes settled on the two teens. The second female peeked over her companion's shoulder, brown eyes widening as they settled on Rei.
Rei, although he had been to the city only a handful of times, knew exactly what the two females were. Their dresses were cut to mid thigh and extremely low in the bodice, exposing more skin then a modest woman would. They wore extensive amounts of cosmetics, especially on their eyes and lips.
She slipped from behind her friend and latched onto Rei, fingers clutching his shirt. "Hello. My name's Aide. Want to go some place quiet?" Tala growled, eyes narrowing dangerously. As Kai's friend, he had an obligation to keep his mate safe and Kai would remove a hand if he found that Tala had let anyone touch Rei.
He pried her off, pulling Rei to stand next to him. "He's taken." The second prostitute sidled up to Tala, trying to tempt him with her poorly covered cleavage. "What about you? Are you his or are you free?" Tala, feeling the need to scare them, shifted slightly his canines growing. Both prostitutes drew back. The redhead smirked. "I'm also taken. Now go." They turned and fled, leaving the two shifters alone.
Just as it started raining they reached the district of town that had clean, affordable inns. Tala pushed open the door to an inn called The Gilded Feather. Tala stretched and grinned. "Just in time." Rei took his cloak off and shook it, watching water droplets roll off the fabric and onto the floor. "Just in time, other than the fact that my cloak is soaked."
The redhead shrugged. "It'll dry out." He grabbed a server as she walked by. "Two rooms, baths and food." She nodded. "We just got over a big rush. I'll have your food to you as soon as possible. Meanwhile" she dug into her apron pocket and came out with two keys. "First two doors on the left. There are towels and bathrobes in there and the bathing house is out back. Leave your clothes on the table right inside the door and I'll pick it up and have it cleaned for you by tomorrow morning.
Tala handed one of the keys to Rei. "Now I know why I hate the cities." Rei led the way up the stairs. "Why?" Tala unlocked the first door, lighting a candle to get his point across. The room although obviously one of the bigger rooms in the inn, it was still a little jammed. "There is never enough room."
When they got down to the bathhouse, it was empty. Even through the walls they could smell the steam and hear the water burble. Tala leaned back against the wall next to the door, eyes scanning the backyard through the haze of the rain. "Go ahead and take as long as you want." Rei slipped into the building letting the heat sink into his skin. They had been spending large amounts of flying, always heading south.
He stripped and slipped into the hot tub, sighing as he felt his muscles relax. The last time he had had a hot bath was when he and Kai had gone to the hot springs after his wound had healed. Hot baths like that were luxuries. Most of the time cold baths in the nearest watering hole were the norm for shifter tribes.
Rei tried not to spend too much time in the baths. He quickly washed his hair and body, watching as the soap bubbles were carried along a small rivulet that trailed along one wall. Feeling lethargic he folded his arms on the ledge of the tub and closed his eyes, promising himself that he would get out in five minutes to let Tala have his turn.
*****
Rei was awakened by the sound of raised voices. It was still raining, muffling the voices to the point of not being able to make out the words. He shifted partially, tiger ears peeking through his hair. There were two other people outside besides Tala. The other two seemed to be a couple. "Why can't we?" Rei smiled as he heard the older shifter sigh. "Because I said so." The second person spoke, her voice shrill. "That's no reason. You don't own this place." Tala's voice dropped, venom dripping. "Because I don't want anyone peeping at my wife."
Rei stifled a laugh, knowing that Tala would be saying that with an absolutely straight face. Rei, with a groan pulled himself out of the tub and rapidly dried himself and tied the sash to his robe tight, opting to leave his hair down to keep Tala's story in one piece. He gathered up his clothing and slipped his shoes on, opening the door. "Sorry I took so long love. The hot water was so refreshing." Tala smirked, glad that Rei had followed along.
He bent down like he was going to kiss Rei on the cheek. "Go ahead and go eat. I won't be too long." Rei nodded and left, well aware of the couple's eyes on him.
The moment he stepped into the inn the server from before took his clothes from him and pointed to a table near the fireplace. "I'll have these back to you by tomorrow morning." Dinner was the breast of some kind of a massive bird, warm bread and wine. Tala joined him minutes after he had started eating, the sash to his robe slowly coming undone. The redhead yanked the sash tighter and sat down.
"Have fun with your friends?" Tala downed half of his wine before answering. "I hope their god banishes them to hell. The moment you left they tried to slip in. The only thing that stopped them was the sound of a growl from the tub." Rei rolled his eyes, ripping his bread into pieces. "Tala, someone is going to catch on sooner or later."
The redhead shrugged. "I can't do anything to control him." Rei pushed his plate away from him, only half eaten. "I know. I'm going to go to bed. See you tomorrow."
The moment Rei climbed into the bed Driger appeared in the small room and stretched out as much as possible in front of the door. "Are you okay Rei?" Rei pulled the blankets up and blew out the candle on the bedside table. "Tired. Nothing else."
*****
Tala pushed the door to Rei's room open, wincing as it collided with something. A low growled sounded. He leaned against the door jam, eyes searching the room. He could barely see Rei's form curled in the middle of the bed and Driger who had moved to sit near the window.
He slipped into the room, setting Rei's clean clothing on the foot of the bed. "Sorry Driger." The tiger shrugged, cleaning his paw at the same time. "Don't be. I was the one in front of the door." Tala gently shook Rei. "Come on. We need to get going."
Rei rolled over and pulled the blankets up. "I'm tired. Go away." The redhead sighed and tried again. "There's no reason you should be tired. You got almost twelve hours of sleep. And you need to eat something." One golden eye opened, glaring at the other shifter. "So? And I don't want to eat anything." Tala stood up. "I'll be back in five minutes. Be up and dressed or I will dress you myself, never mind the consequences."
When Tala entered Rei's room the younger teen was dressed and sitting up, finishing binding his hair. He handed Rei the bowl he was carrying and sat down. "Drink all of it." Rei sniffed the liquid and caught only the smell of honey. "What is it?" Tala tried to avoid rolling his eyes but it didn't work
"It's honeyed milk. You need to have at least some kind on nutrients. It's going to be another long day of flying." Rei finally gave into Tala's gentle prodding and downed the milk. "Let's go."
They headed out of the town and through the hills towards the south, wanting to be well away from the town before shifting. There was a high price for captured shifters as slaves. Two rocs took to the air, casting shadows on to the plains.
*****
Kai paced the cell, unable to sit still. He wasn't entirely sure how many times he had paced the cell. It was exactly twelve paces by twelve paces. The ceiling was high and a grated window sat high in the wall, casting faint sunlight into one corner. The door to the cell was massive, a small grate covering a slot to slide food in.
He figured he had been in captivity for five days. The mage, in a manner odd for a captor, fed him three times a day, once at sunrise, midday and sunset. That would have worried Kai, other then the fact the portions were only large enough to ensure that he wouldn't die.
What really worried him was the lack on contact with Dranzer. Normally he could reach his guardian, even if the great bird was on the immortal plain. Something about the castle seemed to be blocking that connection though.
The door squeaked as it opened and a small green skinned creature with big ears stood in the opening, shifting nervously from foot to foot, his spear clacking against the stone floor. "Master wishes to see you. Come." Kai smirked, fangs growing, claws sliding from his fingers.
"Tell the master if he wishes to see me that he can come here himself. I'm not his and I refuse to bow to him." The small goblin looked around hesitantly before stepping further into the cell, trying to intimidate the taller being. "Come now." Kai moved forward with lightning speed, clawed hand raking out to grab the spear, snapping it like a stick.
"I said no!"