Chapter Eight

The next day, Ashelynn took Vayne on a tour of Bhujerba. Having already been there before, there wasn't much that he hadn't already seen. "Well since I missed giving you a proper welcome, Svagatam*. Welcome to Bhujerba." She said with a laugh. Vayne smiled. "I was honestly surprised you came so soon."

"I'm finding that you have constantly been on my mind since you left Archadia. So I had to come see you." This was only partly true. While he had thought about her often, his real reason for being there involved the magicite.

"You have been on my mind also." She blushed. Vayne couldn't believe how often she blushed. He must really have an affect on her.

Later that evening, Ashelynn put on her armor and weapons underneath a regular outfit and made sure she had a sack full of potions and slipped out of the Ondore Estate, heading toward the Lhusu mines. She usually had to sneak out to practice her fighting skills unless she wished to have her usual entourage following her. She was fairly strong by now, so fighting wasn't too bad as long as she had potions and didn't get ganged up on or go too far into the mines. Of course if needed she could always flee. She reached the mines unnoticed and slipped inside. In the first area, before entering the mine itself, she took her outer outfit off and put it in her sack then she entered the shaft entry. First she cast libra on herself, then pulling out two guns she got ready to shoot the steelings that were flying above her head. After shooting two of those, she concentrated her gunfire on the slaven in front of her. It came charging at her and she quickly switched to the two daggers she carried. Slicing both weapons into the slaven she managed to kill it as it had already lost quite a bit of health with the gunshots. Luckily she hadn't disturbed the skeletons yet. Suddenly a voice was heard behind her making her jump and scaring her half to death.

"I thought you didn't know how to fight." Ashelynn turned around, staring at the figure leaning against the wall.

"Lor . . . Lord Vayne! You frightened me." She was annoyed with him for scaring her and was irritated that he was there. "You really should not sneak up on someone like that." He could hear the irritation in her voice and wanted to smirk. So she was able to feel something other than infatuation for him. "What are you doing here?"

"I might ask the same of you? This does not seem the kind of place a Marquis' daughter should be, especially alone." He replied. She couldn't understand why that reply just made her more irritated, but it did. Controlling her voice, she said,

"I wish to practice my fighting skills should I ever find that one day I need them. As for being alone, surely you understand the wish to not be constantly supervised." He understood all too well. He walked toward her looking over her outfit. There was a look in his eyes that made her freeze. She couldn't look away from them.

"How is that supposed to offer any protection?" He asked, indicating her armor. She wore a skirt that came down to just above her knees, and a sleeveless top that showed her midriff. Both garments were the same blue color as her eyes, lined with black.

"It has both protect and shell on it and the gold bands on my upper arms and wrists give me immunity from all negative status effects. My sandals have bubble on them."

"I am glad." He said. "I apologize if I upset you."

"I apologize also. I should not have gotten irritated with you."

"Interesting way to store weapons." He said. She blushed. She had a leather strap on each thigh, with two leather holders on each strap, where she stored one dagger and one gun on each leg. The skirt covered them, so when she pulled one out or switched weapons, a large part of her thigh was exposed.

"Easiest way to hide them." She replied. The full effect of it all made his senses reel. She really was a beauty.

"Shall we continue on or return to the estate?" He asked.

"Will you inform my father of his daughter's doings?"

"No, but I would prefer it if you did not come here or anywhere alone. As my future wife, your protection is important. I can't very well marry a corpse. And I do not believe your father would be too thrilled at having to prepare a funeral for you." She sighed.

"Why did you have to put it that way? I am now stuck with a guilty conscience." She said. "How did you manage to find me?"

"I saw you sneaking out. It looked suspicious so I decided to follow you. I wanted to see what was so important that you felt the need for secrecy."

"Well now you know." She replied, switching the daggers for guns, and continuing on. Vayne followed intent on keeping her safe.

*Bhujerban for Welcome

Please review. As always the next chapter will be up in the next few days. Enjoy!