|The Hop Troll|
It had turned out that the game 'Court the King' not only depended on luck but also on a certain amount of skill which meant she didn't win as much as she could have. Rhianwen counted this as an added part of her luck because otherwise someone might have claimed her to be a cheater fairly soon. Lucky people were suspicious but never more than at a gambling table.
Over the course of a few hours the pile of coins in front of her had been growing steadily until she had enough to at least be able to afford a basic tattoo. The goblin had grown increasingly surly with each of her wins but had made no hostile move against her. It probably had something to do with the fact that she kept her hands visible at all times, outside of the cloak. From the remarks around the table they had lumped her in the fae race, probably due to her walking in right after Nuada. It beat the time someone had thought she was a succubus or a demon.
"That's enough for me for now." She finally announced, wiping her hand across the table to clear the coins in a pouch. The woman - a sylvan sprite - protested at once. "You can't just walk out on us now! One more round?"
Rhianwen considered for a moment, running her tongue across her upper lip for a second. A quick glance behind her showed Nuada in deep conversation with another elf, though the skin coloration was more a deep, earthy brown instead of the prince's white tone. "Let me run to the bathroom for a second."
To show she was planning on coming back she put a silver coin on the table top, planning on using that for seed money. She rushed past the bar, rolling her eyes at Nuada when he frowned at her. What did he think she was going to do, run away towards the Troll Market?
Relieved she washed her hands at the sink, thankful that even in the most dingy bars a certain level of hygiene was still upheld. At least in the Other bathrooms she never feared picking up a scary disease. Careful to only wet her fingers she then dabbed them dry on a worn-out towel. If she smudged the drawings they'd be able to see she was human. She doubted it would matter to many of them but Nuada would have a hissy fit if it happened.
She turned around, immediately bumping into a muscular chest. She knew it wasn't Nuada at once, the prince would never want to be caught in a leather top that snug fitting. Looking up she saw it was the long-nosed man that had played with her at the table. She moved her hand protectively to the pouch tied at her waist. If he thought he could steal back the money he had lost…
"Please, I would never dream of stealing. Especially not from one of my own." He promised her, the vaguest hint of an accent shimmering in his words.
Rhianwen curled her lips in a nervous smile. "That's good to know." Damn it, what did this guy think she was? What species was he? She would have asked Lenore but the pixie had decided to give her at least some privacy in the bathroom. "I'll bid you a good day then."
The man grabbed her by the wrist, stopping her from walking away. Alarm at once flashed in her head. "Let go of me!"
"Which god is it you serve?" he asked her, at once halting her in her protests.
Rhianwen blinked, hoping she had misheard him. Ever since having found out about the Sphere she had been a bit iffy about the subject of gods. "Excuse me?"
He inclined his head towards her with a slight smile. "I immediately recognized the aura of another Regalia, or Artifact. Perhaps I have been rude in not giving my name to you at once. I am Yatochi and I serve the goddess Izanami in the function of one of her swords. Who do you serve?"
"I'm Rhianwen though I don't serve anyone. How did you know I have an Artifact?"
Yatochi seemed to be taken aback by her comment, his deep brown eyes at once narrowing at the revelation. "You have no master? How are you still alive?"
"Why should I have a master? And if you're talking about serving the one who owns the Sphere, they are trying to kill me. Have been for years." She replied back, yanking her wrist away from his grip. The man seemed to be thoroughly confused at her words though probably not as confused as she was feeling. How did he know who she was, and why did he assume she would be serving someone?
"Then how did you become a Regalia? The treasures of the gods are heavily guarded and only given to those who have proven themselves worthy." Yatochi's eyes scanned her all over as if she had suddenly grown an extra head.
Rhianwen herself felt agitated at having been found out. "I didn't steal it if that's what you're asking. It's all just one big mess that I got into without even knowing at the time. And what's a Regalia anyway?"
The man shook his head, mumbling to himself in a language she didn't know. Finally he turned back to her. "We Regalia act as messengers for our gods. My goddess is one of death, so I act in that function. I was delighted to have found another one such as I but… what you are doing is dangerous. You need to have a master."
Rhianwen tapped her foot on the ground, not happy having a random guy telling her she was in trouble. "Look buddy, I never asked for any of this. And if you think I'm going to start serving someone you have got it all wrong. I'm doing just fine on my own."
"But you will never be able to use your power if you do not have a master to grant you that permission. Like this you're easy bait for anyone that wants to posses divine power." Yatochi replied, looking around nervously.
"In that case I do suggest you start talking even louder. I'm sure they haven't heard you on the other side of the market yet." Rhianwen answered in a dry tone. Who was this guy to think that she would just go and serve someone because she wanted to use power? Not that it was such a useful power, getting to decide if a child would be born alive or not. It wasn't as if she was some kind of fertility symbol because of it. And she wouldn't have wanted to be either way.
"If we don't serve a god we die. I'm certain any god would be willing to accept your services." Yatochi urged her, scratching the side of his cheek. "Those who are capable of possessing the Artifacts are rare. I could ask my Lady if you could-"
Rhianwen held up a hand, not willing to listen to the rest of that speech. "No thank you. I'm doing just fine for now. In fact, I couldn't care less about the details since I'm obviously still alive. All I want is to live a normal life."
"Normal?" Yatochi seemed to be taken aback at those words as he took one step toward her.
She shook her head, walking out of the bathroom. "Yes, normal. As normal as I can get it. I'm talking nine to five job, paying taxes, owning a dog and the obligated 2.3 children average normal. Anything else, I don't need."
Though she had lowered her voice when she entered the bar she feared she might have given something away. She walked past Nuada towards the exit, confident he would see her going that way and be on her trail before she blinked. Yatochi was following after her either way, clearly not intent on letting her go without a fight.
"If you do not have a god, you cannot use your power. Why would you want to be a Regalia without being able to use the power?" somehow he had gotten stuck on that part of the business.
Rhianwen threw her hands up in the air, knocking back the hood of her cape. "I never wanted to be this. Nobody ever asked me my opinion, and as far as I'm concerned too many people know about me being what I am. So if we could just ignore it. Once I'm dead and gone Fortuna can have her Sphere back."
"But-"
"No. I appreciate you trying to help but no." She immediately interrupted him. All she wanted was have an everyday job, with an average Joe husband and two kids that were so ordinary nobody would look twice at them. Not one of those things sounded possible when serving as the gods know what for a… well, for a god.
Yatochi grimaced, having the general air of trying to pull the teeth from an unwilling crocodile. "As you wish. If you would change your mind about knowing more, or if you would like to pledge allegiance to my lady, I will be in town for a few weeks to come. A Hound of Resurrection seems to be on the loose and it is my duty to look into it."
Nuada choose that moment to join them outside, looking every tad as stiff-headed as usual, leading Rhianwen to conclude he hadn't taken the opportunity to get a few drinks in him. He eyed Yatochi suspiciously - though not quite as cold as the first time he had seen her - before casting her a quick glance. "You finished business early. You're sure you have enough? I don't want you pestering me again."
"Seems like you didn't have to ask me to leave." She replied with a shrug, nodding towards Yatochi. As expected the man was loath to further discuss their 'condition' in the presence of a third party. As the newest addition to her supernatural acquaintanceship made a slight bow Rhianwen turned around, striding away from the Market.
Nuada followed her quickly enough, clearly not wanting to walk behind or besides her. Instead he increased his gait until he was a continuous half step in front of her. "You did not tell me you wanted to meet someone."
Lenore landed in her neck, pressing cold feet once more against warm flesh. Rhianwen sighed. "Are you going to believe me when I saw I had no intention of meeting just about anyone? All I wanted was to clear people out of gold."
Nuada's sharp glare was almost enough to freeze her in her tracks. "You were winning quite a lot. Did you cheat?"
"Excuse me?"
"Humans cheat. You are human." His tone was so patient one would have thought he was educating a child.
Rhianwen crossed her arms over one another once more. The nerve of this man! "I did not cheat. Today was just a lucky day. I don't have to cheat to win."
When he rolled his eyes in that specific way that meant 'you're human so I'm going to disregard whatever you say' she nearly burst out of her skin. "Honestly, you think you know everything about me when you don't even know the first thing!"
"I know what I need to know."
"If you're going to start with that hole in my heart again, I will knock you through a wall or die trying. You're so quick to judge and you don't even… you know what, I don't care. I don't give a single damn about what you think. After all, you made it perfectly clear that we shouldn't get our affairs mixed up." It would have been nice if she could have been stuck with someone that at least tried to be nice to her. She longed back to Milo, the incubus she had once shared an apartment with. Those had been the days before she had realized that even a supernatural roommate was a hindrance to a normal life.
Instead of saying anything Nuada kept walking, his usually light step slightly more stomping than was usual. Rhianwen followed, a tense Lenore sitting in her hair. If Nuada thought she was happy having to spend time with his royal Arseness he had another thing coming. She should have poisoned his tea, that would have shown him.
"You…" Nuada's voice broke the heavy silence, fading in the distance as he seemed to be taking the time to choose his words. "Perhaps I was… humans…" he took a deep breath, not looking her in the eye. "As a reward for keeping your word - in your own special way - I will give you permission for short walks outside of my home as long as you tell me beforehand."
She decided to ignore the offhand insult hidden in his words, letting one of her arms drop to the side. Not that he was offering much but… "I would like that. Thank you."
"Don't thank me." He snapped at once, nearly sending her in a stupor. This guy really needed to find a way to blow off some steam before he bit her head of.
Speaking about blowing of steam, she had only just set foot in Nuada's lair when she was hit in the face by a tiny, cold body. Pip scrambled back, wings whipping up a strong breeze. At once he started a tirade, words cascading down on her in a high-pitched tone.
"Where have you been? What were you up to? Do you have any idea how worried we were?"
"I was just-" she started, unhooking the small pouch at her belt.
"I know exactly where you were, young lady! Lena told me all about it! How dare you go out without some more protection? What if the shadows had found you?" Pip continued to gush, his face nearly matching the hue of his red hair. He looked as if he could blow up any second.
Rhianwen blew a puff of air at him, hurtling him head over heels in the air. "Calm down, pipsqueak. I was perfectly safe. The prince didn't let me out of his sight except for in the bathroom and you can't be expecting him to follow me in there."
"Though she did have a clandestine meeting in there." Nuada chimed in for a second before he descended the stairs. If looks could have killed…
The worlds nearly made Pip blow a few fuses. Rhianwen quickly interrupted him. "It's nothing like it sounds, okay? There was this weird dude with a long nose who followed me in there, said he was like me. Worked for some goddess of death, Iza-something."
"What did he want?" Pip asked her, clearly straining to keep his voice in check.
Rhianwen shrugged, descending the stairs as once Nuada had entered the bathroom. She didn't need prince Charmless listening in on her business. "He wanted to know why I'm still alive without a god to serve before he tried to recruit me for his. Of course I turned him down flat because let's be serious, me, serving anyone?"
The pixie prince seemed to be relieved at the news. "Well, if he wanted to take you by force he would have done so then and there. Guess we got lucky this time. Still, Lil' Red, you shouldn't be going out like that. Anything could happen."
Rhianwen held out her hand, allowing Pip to land safely in her palm. "I know it's not safe. But do you really expect me to stay here forever? I mean, I don't have any privacy here and the host is a homicidal maniac that's praying for me to die since before I was born. Can't I go back to Milo's place?"
Pip shook his head, his fists planted on his hips. For a moment he looked as old as he was. "I'm afraid shadows have been poking around Milo's home for a few weeks now. They've been sighted around your mom's place as well. They're starting to get hot on your trail. Maybe because you and the artifact have been so close to completely melding."
Somehow the idea wasn't so elating to her as Pip expected it to be. She sat down on the ground where the other pixies immediately decided to nestle in her hair. "So what, me and the creepy orb in my stomach are becoming one. It doesn't exactly scream happy times to me."
"You might be able to start controlling the magic power. We've been doing our best to keep it hidden but if you could learn to control it-"
"Not happening." She at once interjected. "I want nothing to do with it. I already told the other dude today, and you've known if long enough too."
She decided to switch the subject. "Say, the prince said I can walk around a bit more freely, provided I tell him about it. If I take all of you with me, would it be okay if I explore the surroundings a bit?"
Not that there would be a lot to see around here. But right now she would be happy with having the option of seeing a different patch of moss every once in a while. Pip agreed, reluctantly.
Rhianwen started the preparations for tea when Nuada exited the bathroom. With a heavy sigh she averted her gaze. Things had been easier when she could still pretend he was a - twisted - figment of her imagination. Right now she didn't have that luxury. She'd probably be lucky if he didn't kill her when she had completely merged with that orb.
She thought about having to serve someone, shaking her head furiously. She had become the Unbending One for a reason. Nothing on this world or below it would make her change her mind. She would not kneel, not for anything.
If only you knew what I have in store for her. Obviously some pretty bad stuff is going to have to happen before Nuada starts to actually think she's not totally horrible, and next chapter is when I'll be setting those plans in motion! Yay! (only writers get excited about putting characters through horrible situations)
To Wanda : thank you for the review my dear! I hope you'll continue to like the story and I wish you a very happy day.
BlackMoonWhiteSky : Hehheh, well, you were somewhat right. Things will only really start going downhill starting from the next chapter though. And we'll have a little guest appearance from another movie regular, so I am looking forward to that.
ita-chan01 : thanks my dear =)
Shaniese : I'm sorry but I can only do quick updates when I don't have school... which means summer. Until then we'll have to trudge it out with excruciating slow chapters.
CrazyNorwegian : Kyah, more praise ^^ It makes me so happy, especially when people like my Oc ^^7
Neko : thanks dear, though I'm quite sure it'll improve. Beginnings are so iffy after all :/ (but no, thank you for the compliment, I'm so happy ^^)