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It turned out to be the same infirmary he was sent to the day before. Skull's first thought was that a wanted man like him should be thrown into captivity rather than a medical facility. They even arranged for him to recuperate in peace too. This was hardly a time to lay back and rest without worries; maybe it was the silence before the storm. It had to be. When it comes to him, nobody could be such a good Samaritan. For all he knew, a platoon of high officials might be awaiting him, laying traps just outside his ward.
Scenes of the struggle against the orcs surfaced in his mind. Before he blacked out, he had to save a person from their grasp. Yes, he had saved Manald. But whether she escaped to safety or not, he had not the slightest hint of idea. What he feared was that, there was a possibility that his arrival had came too late. If she did not survive, he would be eternally regretful. The last he remembered, he was in turn saved from the sea of axes by a destructive crash that created a crater in the earth.
"Sir?"
Skull spun around to see a young acolyte standing by the doorway, and he stopped pacing.
"Speak."
"If you are well enough, Lord Stratza has wishes of you visiting him in his mansion," the young boy reported politely.
Skull's doubts began to pile up. What did the lord of St Caprina had in store for him?
"And what exactly does he want, kid?"
"Don't worry, sir. You're one of the four heroes who saved our city from the orcs. The lord merely wants to show his gratitude in the form of a dinner at his mansion, nothing more and nothing less. He means no harm."
This was sounding a little ridiculous. Skull only wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible. First he needed to know his companions' whereabouts.
"The three others –"
"Oh yes, the other three are safe and sound, and they are awaiting your arrival at Lord Stratza's mansion," the boy cut in. "You should really attend it, nobody has ever had a chance to dine with the lord in his mansion."
"Fine," Skull said, waving the boy off. His pounding heart returned to normal after the boy had mentioned that "the three are safe and sound", in other words, Manald did not fall to the orcs.
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The enormous mansion of Lord Stratza was fascinating. Just like the main attractions of St Caprina, the front yard held a manicured garden of flowering shrubs and pleasantly shaped trees. Maraulea marvelled at every single feature of the three-storey house, the yard already urging her to explore every corner of it.
Lord Stratza led Sagi and Manald into the house as a servant opened the front doors. The first floor was constructed of large blocks of granite, polished to show off the colours. Huge paintings and several artfully crafted artefacts made up most of the mansion's decorations, the evening sunlight streamed in through the stained glass windows.
"Welcome to my humble abode, my saviours," the lord spoke with a smile.
Manald flushed with pleasure, while Sagi continued to remain interested in the tall shelves seated at the corner, and the incomprehensible paintings. The wizard thumped his Staff of Soul gently on the ground as he approached the library corner, specially picking out a volume of a thick book titled "Arcane histories vol. 4". Since young, he had been besotted with books regarding magic and legendary wizards.
"I see you developed a great deal of interest in such books. Take a seat, Sagi, while you read," Lord Stratza offered.
Looking up from the middle page filled with pictures of historical wizards, Sagi leaned his staff against the wall that was painted a pale pink.
"Lord Stratza, I understand my companion Skull had been branded a wanted man, yet you offered him the best hospitality nonetheless. Doing that may raise contempt from the residents."
"Ahh, Sagi, that you may put your mind at ease. On the contrary, the residents had taken a liking for him, for he is still after all responsible for driving off the orcs. As for the hospitality, I offer the four of you of equal treatment, and not especially to him," the lord explained with much patience. "I thank you for your concern, Sagi."
The black-robed wizard nodded, and sat down on a large, soft couch for further reading pleasure. Lord Stratza smiled again as he saw the satisfaction of his guests; the spontaneous rogue who was so engrossed with the mansion, the wizard who shared similar interest as he did in the collection of books. The lanky lord of St Caprina, wearing a bright blue grand majestic robe made from the fur of Sasquatch, with silver trimmings. Suddenly remembering that he had forsaken the priestess who was sitting on the stone benches in his garden, he strode out of his house.
"Apologies, priestess, for not attending to you."
Manald averted her gaze from the flowers to the lord, then edged to the other side of the bench to leave a seat for the lord.
"I didn't mind it at all."
"I've heard you suffered severe injuries. Are you well?" Lord Stratza asked with concern after he took a seat beside her.
"In top shape, actually," Manald reassured with a smile. "Your hospitality was excellent."
"Why, thank you, priestess. Or rather, the warrior priestess. To think a gentle priestess like you managed to slay an orc commander!" Lord Stratza complimented.
Laughing softly, the priestess returned to the blooming flowers.
"Its done out of desperation. I didn't expect myself to do it!"
"That friend of yours," the lord started. "That assassin, will he be coming? I've sent an acolyte to inform him, but he has yet to be seen."
"I'm quite certain he will, Lord Stratza. Come to think about it, till now I don't see your wife."
A look of amusement crossed his face.
"Probably because of my premature greys or my beard, many, including you, assume that I'm married. In fact I'm not, priestess."
Manald began to feel foolish and embarrassed.
"Mind me not, but I thought you might be forty."
"Nay, not for another nine years," the lord confessed.
"Shouldn't we be heading back for dinner?" she said, her stomach suddenly rumbling. She then realized that she was really hungry.
"Not unless your assassin friend shows up."
The priestess sighed, remembering how she threw her temper at him this morning. And by stalking off all by herself, the orc forces confronted her, eventually troubling Skull to come to her aid. As a result, he had to be treated, for he suffered numerous axe blows. He probably did not even want to see her. Now, she had to take back her words blurted out this morning. After all, they were quits now that they saved each other.
"Pardon me, priestess, but I see that you are very concerned about him. And you tend to become tensed whenever I speak of him…"
"That's how guild mates behave, Lord Stratza," Manald said, trying keeping a straight face. "After all we had been around for quite a number of years. Our bonds are strong as steel."
"I've heard of the Avenger myself. But I don't see the rest besides the four of you."
"We've parted ways, but that's just temporary. Anyway –"
The rogue appeared out of nowhere, startling both Manald and Lord Stratza. She began doubling over in a shrieking laughter, the two's reaction amusing her greatly.
"Oh sorry, is dinner ready? Its been a while since I sat down and enjoy a feast! What's the delay?"
"We're delaying no more, for he has come," Lord Stratza announced when he saw an assassin escorted in by the acolyte he sent. "Welcome, Skull, we all are awaiting your presence."
Manald was rather surprised at the patience Lord Stratza displayed. Usually such significant beings would detest late-coming, not to mention, waiting for a particular guest. The young boy bade Skull farewell, and left the assassin to the mansion. He reluctantly shook the lord's extended hand, and walked off to the house without looking at any one of them. Maraulea ran to join the priestess and the lord.
"What's his problem? Its not like he has feasts every single day."
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Sagi was so engrossed in the book that he did not notice the rest entering. The illustrations of those catastrophic spells cast by legendary wizards amazed him as he kept reaching for more recent volumes. He only looked up suddenly when a servant called out to him.
Inserting the books back to the space where he drew them out, he saw his companions and Lord Stratza already seated at the long, rectangular dining table that could allow about twenty guests excluding himself. Each place had a lighted candle placed on it and a glass of Geffen's very own honey ale was served.
Seated at the end of the table was Lord Stratza, and the rest sat along the length of the table on either side. Pulling out an exquisite looking chair, Sagi took a seat beside Maraulea, who was playing with the candlelight by putting anything she could find through the flame. Opposite him, Skull was probably the only person who was not enthusiastic about the dinner, for he kept a grim look. Beside the assassin, Manald was sharing her experiences as a priestess to Lord Stratza, and talking about the guild wars that happened over the past few years.
The five tucked in with much appetite when dinner was served. Lord Stratza emptied his glass of honey ale, and began helping himself to large portions of the chicken, and a spoonful of berries. Skull remained uninterested, downing glasses of ale instead of eating a proper meal. Reaching out to scoop the strips of beef, Sagi shook his head slightly when he noticed the assassin's behaviour.
The wizard could somewhat sensed that Skull was a little uneasy about Manald and the lord getting alone so well. But he kept quiet throughout the dinner though, speaking only necessary. Although the Geffen-imported ale was his favourite, he did not take in as much as Skull did.
Maraulea quickly swallowed the chicken she was chewing on with the help of some wine. When her mouth was cleared, she started launching in tales of her battles. Her speech got her even more excited as she used a chicken bone to illustrate how she killed the orcs with a single slit of her zeny knife. However, only Lord Stratza was entertaining her, while others immersed themselves into the hearty feast.
Sagi wiped the juice of the berry dripping down his chin.
"Lord Stratza, we're making our leave tomorrow morning. To further ensure safety of this town, spying on the orcs is necessary. The orcs had been quiet and peaceful since a very long time, we need to find out the mastermind behind their deeds."
"Very well. I shall wish you a safe journey, and once again, I thank you on the town's behalf," Lord Stratza replied after taking a sip at his ale.
Manald put down the cheese and bread she was munching on.
"So where are we headed next?"
"The Orcville. That means, we'll have to travel to Geffen again," Sagi spoke firmly.
The rogue looked up from her plate.
"This time, there better not be anymore orcs resisting our journey!"
"We can only hope," Manald reminded.
"She's not wrong," the black robed wizard said. "Tomorrow morning, we'll travel through a warp portal to avoid them. Any problem, Skull?"
No response came from the assassin. Blood had rushed to his face after a drop too much, his cheeks now a shade of crimson. He held the glass of ale in his hands, staring off into the corner in a daze. The chicken and berries on his plate was left untouched, and his eyelids were about to shut. Fearing that Skull would foment ire from the lord, Manald nudged him multiple times in the ribs.
"Don't bother, Manald," Sagi said. "He's hopeless."
"What ails your assassin friend here?" curiosity got the better of the lord, when he noticed that Skull ate nothing, but only drank heavily.
Maraulea flashed a cheeky grin.
"Terribly ill, he is."
"Indeed? May I ask…?"
"Ill at heart. The whole pin's gone!"
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The inebriated assassin woke up to the sound of running water. Skull bolted to a sitting position, and found himself resting on a stone bench all these while. He was in the gardens outside of the mansion; a small fountain stood near him, on it there was a stone statue of a dragon.
A pale crescent hung in the sky, trying in vain to illuminate the world. It was probably far past dusk. Rows of beautifully planted shrubs and blooming flowers surrounded him, the gentle flow of water seemed to enhance the serenity of the garden. A slight breeze ruffled his silver hair, his long fringe parting to display his pale face and those pair emotionless grey eyes.
Dinner was already long over, he thought. But for some reason, the scent of roasted meat lingered around. Skull pressed against his stomach hard as a wave of pain literally squeezed his insides. The assassin groaned as he remembered that he had not eaten anything, yet he drank heavily on an empty stomach.
"Immuonnas…"
"Huh?"
Skull snapped his head backwards. For a fleeting moment, he thought his sister had come to him, moreover, he was called by his morrocish name. When he could not believe his eyes, he rubbed it violently. Then it turned out that his post-sleep effect was truly fooling him. Manald approached him with a plate in her hands, and on it was what he sniffed; a piece of roasted meat. Beside it were some fruits and berries. Come to think about it, there was some resemblance between his sister and this priestess. The priestess uniform they wore, the dark hair, and the way they cared for him. His expression softened for once, when he started to miss his sister suddenly.
"Eat a little," Manald said, offering the plate to him. She expected him to either wave her off, or shout at her to leave him alone. To her surprise, neither occurred. Skull took the plate from her hands, but did not immediately start eating. Instead, he set it down beside him. The priestess noticed him grimacing in pain as he pressed at his stomach, knowing that he had serious gastric.
"Relax yourself," she instructed, pulling his hand off his stomach. Placing a palm on the assassin's stomach, Manald muttered a short chant, and a green energy flowed from her hands. Skull became less fidgetive as the soothing energy eliminated the pain.
"That's the least I could do for risking your life," the priestess said following the conclusion of the cure. "I've been wanting to offer an apology since the battle –"
Skull waved a hand to dismiss the apology.
"I would not, and never forgive myself if I left you alone to die at orcs' hands. My sister's dead; I want no one else close to me die because of my recklessness."
That was probably the most pleasant thing she ever heard him say. She flushed as she dwelled on the particular word "close". Watching Skull wolfing down the plate of food, she pitied his loss of a close kin. Perhaps that explains his taciturn personality, she thought. Over these years in the guild, she doubted if she had ever seen a hint of amusement or humour on the assassin's face.
"Skull…"
He stopped forking the meat on his plate, and looked into her blue eyes.
"What?"
"Can you smile for once?"
Skull's brows furrowed as he lay down his plate.
"What are you driving at, priestess?"
"I'd rather you keep a smile, than a grim look for as long as I'm going to know you."
He averted his gaze in disregard, and returned to his food. Thinking that she had prattled on for quite some time, Manald kept quiet to avoid causing Skull's exasperation. Reluctant as she was to leave such perfect atmosphere, she left the assassin to relish in his meal in peace. However, as much as she hated to depart, Manald longed to keep him company.
"You have yet to answer Sagi. Anyway, rest early," she spoke softly, turning to leave for the mansion. She hardly expected it at all, but a hand grabbed her arm, stopping her. The priestess's heart suddenly leaped a beat.
"Be on your guard. And… don't end up like how you did earlier," Skull advised, quickly releasing his hold on the blushing priestess after he realized what he had just done in the heat of moment.
"All the more you should stay with us," Manald responded after she found her voice.
Desperately fighting the embarrassment she subtly displayed, the best thing to do was to return right away.