After a couple of minutes, Bishop entered a small building that seemed to be in fairly good repair. They followed him in and found something that looked like a cot, and the remnants of several old fires. Chantal went to Bishop and started to release the bonds on his wrists. She could see his shoulders tensing, but he just stood until the rope fell away. Then he tentatively flexed his fingers and threw his backpack into a corner, his movements erratic, telling her how angry he was.
Well, and don't I feel sorry for that?
She suppressed a snicker. Provoking Bishop sure was fun. He turned to face her, and she managed to put on a neutral face just in time.
"Well, then", he sneered. "You can start getting rid of all that beautiful stuff you're carrying around, because we're going unarmed and unarmoured."
"What?", she asked, her amusement wiped away. "That's suicide!"
"No", he answered smugly, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "Going armed would be suicide. It would sure as hell draw the attention of any patrol we encounter. And as you said yourself, that's not what we want. So we're going to look as harmless as possible. No gleaming swords, no armour."
With that, he started opening the straps of his leathers. Chantal saw Casavir open his mouth, and judging from his expression, what he had to say was not flattering. She just held his gaze wordlessly, put down her backpack and started taking off her weapons. The paladin, seeing the resolve in her face, swallowed whatever he wanted to say, sighing. When she pulled the chain shirt over her head, Casavir came walking up to her.
"I don't like this", he said, so low probably only she could hear. "Please, at least let me go with him."
She smiled up to him. "You would not reach the next corner without going for each other's throat. We really can't risk drawing attention to us. So, it's me going. Plus, if I let something happen to you, Neeshka will have my head on a platter."
He smiled sadly. "She would have mine, too, if I let something happen to you."
She touched his face. "Seems like one of us has to face Neeshka's wrath. I prefer that to be you." With another smile she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. His arms closed around her, holding her tight.
"Take care", he whispered. "And please, bring her back."
"I will", she said, hugging him shortly, then stepping back. Turning around, she saw Bishop looking at them with a glint in his eyes.
"How touching", he said caustically. He knelt down beside the old ashes, taking out a handful. "Come over, princess", he mocked. "Time to spruce you up a bit."
Chantal watched while he started rubbing the ashes into his hair. "What are you doing?", she asked.
He shot her an ironic stare. "Forgot my wig", he said. "What does it look like? You better do the same, these white bangs of yours are like a beacon."
What I would not do for a friend… Neeshka is going to pay dearly for this.
She reluctantly moved forward, crouching down besides Bishop, and took a handful of the ashes as well, disgust plain on her face. She eyed the soot in her hands with misgivings and could not bring herself to smear the stuff onto her head.
She heard him give a little laugh and turned to look at his face, surprised at the unfamiliar sound. His eyes met hers, and there was a smile in them. "Princess", he said again, took some more ashes, reached out and ran his blackened fingers through her hair. She crunched up her nose, and the corners of his mouth tilted upwards, his finger running over her cheek, leaving a sooty trail. Her skin tingled with his touch. She stared at him, his eyes twinkling with mischief, and her breath caught in her throat. Was this a glimpse of the man she once thought he was?
Why does my heart beat so fast?
His hand stopped in mid-motion, the smile vanishing out of his eyes, replaced by an intensity that made her shiver. They sat, motionless, staring at each other…
Casavir's backpack clattered forcefully to the ground. They both flinched. Chantal looked away quickly, colour rising to her cheeks, and started rubbing the ghastly ashes into her hair vigorously. Beside her, Bishop got to his feet and retreated a few steps, turning to stare out of the open doorway into the night.
After she finished blackening her hair with trembling hands, Chantal got up and cleaned her dirty fingers as much as possible with water from her water skin. She still felt shaken from what had happened.
Well, tell me. What has happened?
She had no idea. Suddenly, tension had been thick, and her heart raced, and Bishop's eyes stared into hers…
Got to be more careful. Keep away from him.
Oh yes. Far, far away. Had Casavir noticed?
Duh. No, his backpack just slipped.
She felt shame rising in her in a sickening wave. What was wrong with her? How could she react like this? And now, Casavir had seen, too. She did not dare to consider what he must think of her. At least, it could not be worse than what she thought of her herself.
There's a comfort.
She had to get away from Bishop. So she had to get this over with, free Neeshka and get out of this cursed city. And then she hoped she would never have to see the ranger's face again. Resolutely, she turned to her backpack and started rummaging through its contents.
xxx
Casavir watched Chantal going through her backpack, sorting out the things she would take with her. His heart was heavy, thinking of the scene he had just witnessed.
The way he looked at her…
In the paladin's mind, there was no doubt anymore why the ranger was here. The good news was that this meant it was presumably no trap. It made it a bit easier to let her go into Luskan with Bishop alone. He would probably not hurt her, not before he had what he came for. The bad news was that Casavir feared Chantal was falling for the bastard again.
Why? What is it with him?
Casavir just could not understand. Bishop was an evil, unfeeling, ruthless, unscrupulous, murderous son of a bitch. How could she be attracted to such a man? After all he had done to her?
He'll only hurt her again.
Bishop would just get what he came for and leave. More likely then not with a couple of dead bodies in his wake. And one of them could well be Chantal's.
No. Not this time.
Casavir would not see her hurt again by the hand of this bastard.
xxx
Bishop stared out into the night, his thoughts racing, his heart still beating fast. He should be thankful to the paladin for saving him right now.
Well, that sure is new.
It had been really close. Watching her eyeball the soot in her hand, he could not help but laugh at the disgusted expression on her face. Then she had looked up, and in an impulse, he had reached out and started to blacken her strikingly white hair. It felt like silk under his fingers. She had wrinkled her nose, making her look like a girl, and he could not resist trailing his sooty fingers over her cheek. The look in her eyes had changed... and it had felt like time was standing still as he sat, not able to turn away, wanting to draw her close…
And then the paladin had broken the spell by noisily throwing his pack down. Had done it intentionally, of course.
Did you a favour. You should go and shake his hand.
Not in this life.
Still, it was true. No telling what kind of stupidity he might have committed if the paladin had not intervened. He had been so close to leaning forward, searching her lips with his… Had even forgotten the paladin was there, watching.
So much for keeping distance.
Have to try harder.
This probably had to be the most addlebrained idea he ever had in his life. He should have run the other way as soon as he clapped eyes on her. But no, he had to follow her and then, instead of letting them walk to their death if they were stupid enough to go to Luskan, he had to accompany them.
Congratulations. You have officially taken leave of your senses.
Well, that could be mended. He was here now, could not change that. But as soon as they were out again, he would do as planned and run. Like hell.
xxx
Chantal busied herself with sorting through her backpack until her hands stopped shaking. Her composure at least outwardly restored, she gazed at Bishop, who stood in the doorway, staring outside, his back to them.
"Are we going now?", she asked, very proud of herself for sounding normal.
He turned, regarding her for a moment without reply. His blackened hair made him look even more saturnine than usual. Eventually, he said:
"Take whatever money you can spare. If you have any valuables you can throw in, all the better. I might be able to find someone who can get your little demon out of jail without us having to fight half of Luskan, but it's gonna cost. Much."
"What do you have in mind?"
Again he took his time answering. "I know someone who knows someone. Someone with access to prison keys. For the right amount of money, that someone might free the goat girl. But it would have to be enough that he could leave this city afterwards to go far away."
"Why would he do that?"
He snorted. "Why wouldn't he? Who would miss the chance to leave this rathole? Most people just stay because they can't afford to leave. Because you have to run far for Luskan agents not to find you someday."
His voice sounded bitter.
"You did not run far."
He smiled humourlessly. "No. But I'm very good at hiding."
And there had been a reason for staying close.
He quickly shoved that thought down.
Chantal mentally took stock of her belongings. "Well, I have some money. Some jewellery. And probably some magical trinkets I can spare. I did not expect having to pay a ransom when I left."
Casavir's footsteps sounded, and a heavy pouch was pressed into her hand. "Take this", he rumbled. Then he started going through his backpack as well, taking out some rings and amulets. At last, he took of the magical rings from his fingers, and the amulet he wore on his neck. "And these. I don't know what price they will fetch, but take them. Just bring her back."
Chantal nodded and took everything.
"Then let's go get your demon friend and be out of here", Bishop muttered caustically.
She gave him a long look. "Neeshka once was your friend, too, Bishop."
His lips curled derisively and he turned away. "We were never friends, bard", he said.
She fastened the pouches to her belt, feeling irrationally hurt by his remark. Passing him in the doorway she paused, saying very quietly: "You may not have been my friend. But I still was yours." She stood, without looking at him, waiting for him to take the lead.
xxx
Bishop stomped through the ruined city, still fighting the impulse to just turn and punch her in the face. Friends, huh? The nerve! If the way she had played with him was friendship, then he'd pass, thank you very much.
Give me a good enemy any time.
With enemies, at least you knew where you stood. Could not say that about that so-called friendship.
I would have fought with her. I would have died for her!
Who'd have thought I would ever be so stupid again?
Luckily for him, he had seen what her "friendship" was all about in time to avoid that. But that one short moment, he would have done anything for her. Before she showed her true face.
I must have forgotten, else I would not be here right now.
How sweet of her to remind me.
He briefly considered ratting her out to Luskan yet. Just to watch her face while they got to her. It was tempting. It really was.
Only if you don't think farther.
He winced as the memories threatened to surface once more. He had managed to keep them away for years, but now he seemed to constantly have to fight them.
All her fault! She is stirring it all up.
And he hated her for it. But he just could not do it. Besides, he would be in deep manure as well. So no, as enticing as the idea was, better to stick to his original plan. And get the hell away from her as soon as possible.