A/N: Thanks to ShadowSage2 for betaing.
Vindication
Chapter Two
Eight years ago…
It was awkward, damn it.
It was inevitable that it would be like this, one of these days. He'd been waiting and wanting this for so long, and now, he could have her. He'd imagined how it would be, how it would happen, how it would feel. But it wasn't perfect.
He'd wanted their first night together to be something special, something romantic. And it was, but it was still awkward. Seeing her so vulnerable and being so vulnerable to her was intimidating and beautiful at the same time. He liked to believe he pleased her even though he felt clumsy and unsure of himself. Though, they were both at the same disadvantage since Casey—who was generally better versed in such things—was just as nervous and naïve.
He'd been in her room many times before, but never overnight. All the rooms were the same. A bed, a dresser, a chair, a desk and a lamp. Nothing special, all practical. Hers felt different this time, though. In then darkness, things seemed so serene, ethereal, even. The fire lilies she kept in a vase on the dresser created eerie shadows on the wall that seemed to watch them. Rain pelting the window sounded like impatient knocks on the door. Fortunately, he didn't let either of these annoyances deter him.
Exhausted but too nervous lying beside her to sleep, he couldn't help but think how perfectly she fit in his arms. He played with her hair and brushed it off her neck and out of his face. Mesmerized by the tiny, imperfect freckles on her back, he touched each one as if making a game out of connecting them. But one of the marks high on her back wasn't a freckle—it was a small, red tattoo of an arrow.
"Casey," he murmured into her ear. "What's this mark?"
She rolled out of his grasp and covered herself in the top sheet. "It's nothing."
"It's a guild tattoo, isn't it?"
She didn't answer him.
He nearly choked in disbelief on his words. "Are you…a spy for the guilds?"
"No," she spat. "Of course not!"
"Then why do you have this mark?"
"I can't tell you, but I can promise you I'm not a spy."
"Don't you trust me?" the question seemed so simple but he knew it was completely manipulative.
She glanced back over her shoulder. "Schwann, if there was ever a time that I needed you to trust me, it's right now."
His eyes closed and his brow furrowed in distress. "After all we've been through, Casey. After last night…I thought we weren't going to keep secrets."
"If I tell you," she said, rolling over to face him. "You must swear on your life that you will not tell a soul."
"Yes," he said, propping his head up on the pillow with his elbow.
"Swear it!"
"I swear it."
She twirled one of his long bangs around her finger. "Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a knight. But for people like me, that's easier said than done."
"People like you?"
She took a long breath before looking him in the eyes. "My family is involved with a guild. That's why I wear their mark."
"Which one?" he asked, not that it mattered. All guilds were enemies of the empire.
"Altosk." At his confused look, she added, "Some people call it Heaven's Arrow."
"I guess that explains why you're so damn deadly with a bow," he said, trying not to frown. He knew that guild members must renounce their citizenship and all of its privileges in favor of their self-created laws. Although there hadn't been a war between the two factions, skirmishes were rather frequent and the hatred ran deep. Thus, to be a trustworthy knight and a loyal member of a guild would be impossible. It killed him to admit it, but even as amazing as Casey was, she was no exception to that rule.
"I learned to shoot as soon as I could walk," she glanced away. "Most children born into guilds are taught to fight that young."
"I see. And the mark? It was given to you as a child?"
"Yes, I was so young I don't remember it. It's probably best that way. I've heard it's kind of painful." She sighed, "Though if you join a guild later in life, you will wear their mark."
"Do all guilds have them?" he asked, not that he cared for the answer. He just wanted to hear her voice and remind himself that in the past few minutes she hadn't changed, even if everything he knew about her did.
"Most do. Those that are involved in combat, at least. It serves a purpose."
"What purpose?"
She curled herself against his chest. "Should a guild member fall in battle, the enemy will know where to deliver their body. It would be considered disrespectful not to bring the dead back to their families."
"So I guess there's honor among thieves and murderers," he muttered.
"We are not thieves," she pushed away from him and glowered. Her words were so sharp they nearly cut off his nose. "Some guilds may be thieves but my father's guild is one the stands to protect people. No respectable member of the Union would commit murder—at least not against another guild member. It is strictly forbidden."
"Wait, just listen to yourself. It's fine to kill knights but not other guild members, no matter if they are thieves or murderers?" he asked, a slight edge of disgust forming on his words.
"If they are a member of the Union, then no," she said quickly, the burn of anger rising in her tone. "The courtesy generally extends beyond to others, though. If I were to go out and take down the leader of say, Ruin's Gate just for the hell of it, I would have a full scale guild war on my hands."
He considered a moment. "What is Ruin's Gate?"
"They excavate ruins and blastia. Hardly murderers and thieves as you so eloquently put it."
He snorted. "So they're grave robbers. That's a step up."
"Is being an asshole something you like to do after we sleep together?" she said, snatching the top sheet off the bed to cover herself as she stood up. "If so, just get out."
"Casey…"
"Just go back to your room, Schwann," she turned away, her voice straining against checked emotions. "I thought you were one of the good ones. I guess I was mistaken."
After fumbling around near the bed to find his shorts, he finally managed to pull them on. "Casey, I'm sorry."
"No, you're not!" she snapped, furor racing in her dark eyes. "You tell me how you hate that people judge you because you're the bastard son of a noble and his maid! What makes you think it feels any different to have you decide that my family is a band of thieves or murderers?"
Stepping cautiously towards her, he brushed his hair out of his face. "No, I really am sorry. I only know what I've been told about the guilds. And maybe those things are wrong. But it's also wrong that you didn't tell me about any of this. I know why you couldn't tell anyone else but—"
"I knew you'd react like this," she answered, her face flushing with rage. "I think you've shown me that even the lowest ranking members of the empire still hold hatred for us."
He reached out to put a hand on her shoulder, but she jerked away from him. "Come on."
Silence warily filled the room as they both stood perfectly still. A decade seemed to pass until she said, "You know, one of the laws of my father's guild is, 'If you lay hands on one of our own, be prepared to lay hands on us all.'"
He tilted his head, stepping closer, trying to catch her gaze as she kept her back to him. "All for one and one for all?"
"Yes," she answered, turning slightly. "So when you insult my father's guild, you also insult me."
"I'm sorry," he said, daring to put his arms around her waist and hold her gingerly from behind. "I really don't know what else to say. I didn't mean to hurt you."
She sighed as she folded into his embrace. "And I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"Will you tell me everything?" he asked gently.
She turned to face him and leaned against his chest. "Yes," she said, pulling him with her. "But let's get back in bed. I'm cold."
He wasn't going to complain. Grinning, he slipped under the sheet and blanket to lie on his back. With a quick kiss to his cheek, she made herself comfortable snuggling against his shoulder. "So the guilds aren't much different than the knights, I guess," he said. "With that pledge to stand beside each other."
She nodded, drawing her arm out from under the trappings. "Though, there is an exception. If two members of different guilds have a personal quarrel, they can engage each other. They must fight alone and their guilds must not interfere."
"Does that happen often?"
"Sometimes," she whispered, kissing his neck. "Mostly when men fight over women."
"Now that is no different than the empire."
"Women also fight over men."
"I'd pay to see one of those fights," he teased.
"Then you'd need to go to Nordopolica. The guild there, Palestralle, runs a coliseum where people fight monsters or each other." Flipping his hair from his face, she smirked. "The fights with women generally bring in bigger crowds."
"You've been?"
"No," she said, closing her eyes as she rested against him. "But I want to go."
"I would definitely pay to see that."
She laughed. "Anyway, I guess I should tell you that all guilds have their own laws. Their members must swear to them before they receive their mark."
"You didn't have a choice, though."
"I was too young and born into Altosk. So, no, I didn't have a choice."
"What does your father's guild do?"
"Protect cities, defeat monsters, keep the other guilds in line," she sighed. "He spends an awful lot of time keeping the hot heads from fighting each other."
He tangled a hand in her hair, letting her tresses slip through his fingers. "Do guilds charge for their services?"
"Most do, but sometimes they work gratis. Altosk has done some good will jobs in the past."
"Protection at a cost. Sounds no different than the knights, except taxes pay us."
"Yeah," she smiled. "Or they will when we graduate next year." She paused, letting a long sigh escape her lips. "I kind of wish my dad could be here for that, but I know it's impossible."
"I'm sure he could sneak in," he kissed her forehead. I doubt anyone really pays attention anyway."
She frowned even more and took his hand. "Schwann, my father isn't just a member of Altosk. My father is Don Whitehorse, leader of the Union. And if anyone found that out—"
His eyes widened as he interrupted her. "It could mean big trouble for you or your father."
She nodded. "Just as you accused me of being a spy."
"I didn't mean that! I swear I didn't mean that," he said, drawing her closer and brushing his lips against her neck. "But there's something I don't get."
"What's that?" she asked, lifting her head to look at him.
"Why join the knights? Can't you join the guild?"
Her expression was one of intense resolve as she said, "I want to be a knight."
"And your father was completely in agreement with this decision?"
"The guilds believe in doing what you think is right," she said, kissing him once on the cheek. "It would be hypocritical of him to say otherwise. I think being a knight is the right thing for me to do. My father supported my decision and even had someone forge papers so it appeared that I was born into the empire. He figured it would cause less trouble for me in the long run if people just believed I was the daughter of a nobleman."
"And for him," he smiled at her. "I still can't believe this."
"Why not?"
He rubbed the back of his neck. "I just can't imagine the leader of the guilds allowing his daughter to become one of those that normally causes problems for him."
"You'd understand if you met him," she said, flicking his nose playfully. "My father sent me here with his blessing. He even gave me Divine Cannon, the bow that is considered the family treasure."
"I remember you saying there was something special about it."
"That's not all," she whispered, right into his ear as if telling him a most delicate secret. "It will collapse and fold into a sword. I haven't shown anyone that trick because it would only raise suspicion."
"Probably," he whispered back before nipping at her shoulder. All of this talk was boring him. There were much more interesting things to do. "Guild weapons are unique."
"Yes," she answered to his words or his actions, he didn't know or really care. "Perhaps I could teach you to use it if you want, but only if you rid yourself of the idea that only cowards fight with bows."
"I…didn't mean that," he said, pulling back for a moment.
With his guard down, she rolled on top of him, her hands mischievously pinning his arms above his head. "You said it when we first met."
"I think I've grown up since then," he said, grinning up at her.
"I should hope so."