p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"Eirene's confusion spilled into anger as she mulled over the conversation she had overheard between Jinn and Liviana. She had taken a few moments to gather her composure after gently closing the shutters. On one hand her body trembled with delight – to think Jinn had never revealed his wings, his true self to anyone but her! The thought chased away any crumb of doubt she may have had about his love for her. At least he was telling the truth about that. But could she believe it, even now, if he was withholding information about the whereabouts of Germanus? She ran both hands through her long hair; eyes closed and stamped one small foot as she uttered a stifled cry of frustration. Should she talk to him about what she'd heard? But then she would have to reveal that she'd been listening. Without a second thought Eirene headed for the door and took the back stairs that led out to the main tavern below two at a time, with every intention of confronting him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"Jinn had forbidden her to leave their room before he had ventured downstairs with the promise of acquiring some form of dinner for Eirene. She hadn't been bothered by the instruction at the time, from what she'd seen of the large public room below on their way in it wasn't really a place she would choose to spend her time in anyway. But now, that instruction rankled her greatly as she saw the tall, striking form of her Master leaning against the countertop deep in conversation with a pretty blonde woman; though her prettiness paled in comparison to Liviana's haunting beauty that still etched itself upon Eirene's lids whenever she closed her eyes. Her stomach growled at the rich smell of roasting meat and stewed fish, reminding her that Jinn hadn't bought anything up for her as promised and, by the looks of it, he didn't plan to anytime soon. She narrowed her eyes, feeling her anger towards him bubbling even more fiercely as she caught a fold of the tunica of a passing woman who had her arms laden with used dishes and an earthenware jug. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I'll have a bowl of whatever meat you've got and a jug of wine please.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"The woman, a rounded middle-aged lady with straggly brown hair greying at her temples and a heavily lined face eyed the girl for a moment, taking in the gleaming collar at her throat with a sour expression. She twitched her tunica out of Eirene's fingers with a swift jerk of her hips and stalked off towards the counter where the tavern-keeper, possibly her husband watched the exchange silently. Jinn, on the other hand still hadn't noticed Eirene as his back was turned towards her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"The woman said something to the man behind the counter, nodding her head in Eirene's direction as she filled up the empty jug she had collected with one hand, from a much larger jug, and tidied away the used dishes at the same time with the other, adding a few more stains to her already grubby tunica as she did so. The man was as stout and robust as the woman, ruddy cheeked with narrow, suspicious eyes that Eutopia didn't like the look of. Especially when they raked over her in such a brazen way as they were now. He gestured to the woman briefly before Eirene saw him hesitantly approach the end of the counter where Jinn remained deep in conversation. A simpering look that sickened Eirene clung to the man's face as he interrupted whatever meaningful discussion Jinn was having, gesturing to where Eirene sat. Jinn straightened up at once and Eirene caught the surprise and perhaps anger that flashed in his dark eyes as he spun towards her. He had whirled around so quickly that Eirene hadn't been prepared for his beautiful features, made all the more striking by the gentle light of the oil-filled lamps placed about the room for illumination. There was a sudden fierceness to his expression that Eirene wasn't expecting but she caught sight of the woman he had been talking to, who leant around Jinn's broad shoulders to follow his gaze. Eirene swallowed whatever doubt may have been creeping up on her then, tossing her head to shake the loose hair from her eyes, her chin raised a little higher as she deliberately avoided her Master's eyes. Focusing on some distant point to the left of him she missed the nod of assent Jinn gave to the tubby man, who in turn nodded to his wife. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"The warm scent of roasted chicken made Eirene's mouth water as soon as the dish was placed in front of her. A quick glance revealed Jinn had turned back to continue talking to the blonde woman at his side, his head bowed low as he listened in earnest to whatever she was saying to him. Eirene reached for the small brown jug that had been set beside her meal and she drained it without bothering to decant it into the plain cup that had also been placed upon the table. The tavern owner gazed at her astonished; his pale fishy eyes had already been busily raking over the girl in a rather lecherous way. Eirene made good use of the eye contact as she raised the jug slightly, signalling for it to be filled again as she set to on the chicken, feeling the greasy meat still hot beneath her fingers. Considering it probably had been left over from lunch earlier in the day it wasn't half bad. The man strode from around the counter, blustering and flustered as he snagged the much larger jug from the wooden top and made his way to the back of the room where Eirene sat. His plainly woven tunic stretched taught across his belly, pulling tighter still as he stooped to look the girl straight in the eye. He put the jug down on the table-top and set a hand either side of Eirene's dish, causing the table to creak ominously beneath his weight. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Your Master has instructed us to give you anything you ask for. If you were mine,' he breathed the stench of rotting fish in her direction as his voice dropped to a much lower note, 'I know exactly what I'd be giving you.' He paused, the lingering of his eyes leaving Eirene in no doubt as to what that would be. 'It most definitely wouldn't be some of the finest meat I serve here and the best wine.' He lifted one meaty hand to fill up the smaller jug with the larger one. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Just leave that jug, please.' Eirene said. The man's thin lips parted in surprise, revealing a flat row of brown stubby teeth that almost put her off her food. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'You're lucky I've seen how fat your Master's purse is. I don't usually tolerate bad mannered slaves,' he sneered mere inches from her face. Eirene reached out for the large jug on the table, wrapping both her hands around the long neck as she struggled to lift the hefty thing to her lips. She took a long, noisy slurp of the wine, sloshing some of it down her chin to dribble onto her tunica. A guttural noise of disgust was emitted by the man as he raised a hand to strike her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Balbus!' barked Jinn, sharply, causing the man to spin from Eirene with that simpering look hastily pasted on his face again. 'You will bring my slave here; I do not think I can trust her to eat alone in the fine atmosphere of your establishment.' Amidst the flickering light of the lamps and followed by the few pairs of worse-for-wear eyes that had earlier tracked the motions of the golden Liviana, the man named Balbus swept the jug of wine and dish of meat from the table and led Eirene towards the front of the tavern. He placed the items down again on a smaller wooden table-top to the left of where Jinn and the mysterious woman were stood against the counter. Jinn nodded at Balbus./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Is there anything else I can get for you, emmi amicus/em?' the rounded man asked eagerly, rubbing his large hands together with his fishy eyes swimming around the heavy purse hanging from Jinn's belt, as though he could already feel the coins in his palm. Jinn smiled though Eirene could see from the table she was now sat at, almost at his elbow, that the smile never reached his dark eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'No, no, emmi senex/em, please do not concern yourself with me now.' Balbus inclined his head and turned his attention reluctantly to a new patron who had ducked into the entrance of the tavern and was rapping on the countertop gently with his knuckles. Jinn turned at once and fell upon the seat beside Eirene, who was busy taking another long drink from the huge wine jug. He was shocked to see the girl had already half drained it during his brief exchange with Balbus. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Eirene,' came his quiet and disgruntled tone, his fingers snaking out to catch the handle and lower the jug which caused the girl to spill a little more of the red liquid as she hurriedly tried to swallow whatever was in her mouth before the vessel could leave her lips. 'What do you think you are doing? Are you trying to force my hand?' /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Force your hand to what?' she enquired, her tone emboldened by the copious amount of wine she had already consumed in a very short space of time. The sudden warmth of his palm resting on the back of her neck, beneath the thick curtain of her hair sent a delightful shiver down the length of her spine as Jinn leant in close to breathe into her ear./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'If you will not let me free you and you continue this blatant disregard for your status in public I will have no option but to punish you as befitting a slave, before somebody else does.' His eyes flicked to Balbus, who had finished serving his new customer and was now lounging against the counter and openly staring at the two of them, his thin lips slack to reveal the stumps of his rotting teeth again. Eirene glanced up at Jinn, finding that his eyes were just as serious as his tone had been. The haze of half-numbness that had begun to settle upon her shoulders with each draught of wine glazed her sapphire eyes and she leant into Jinn as he sat beside her, feeling his warmth through her thin tunica. Eirene silently nuzzled her head against his cheek, her raven hair surprisingly soft against his skin despite its tangled state. In her haste to get downstairs Eirene had not thought to tidy herself up from their long journey. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Eirene, you're drunk already.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I do believe I might be, Master. I don't think there's much water in this wine,' she tilted the jug towards herself to peer with interest into the darkest depths of the pottery. Jinn gently pushed it away from her, moving it to the edge of the table as he pulled the bowl of chicken closer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Eat,' he said firmly to her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Oh, you remembered I need food then?' she muttered, scathingly, with a quick glance at the blonde woman still hovering at the counter with wary eyes fixed on Jinn. He followed Eirene's gaze./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Of course. I'm sorry, I got distracted. I had meant to bring you some food.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"Eirene tore a piece of chicken from the bone with her teeth, finding the meat had now gone cold and tasteless but she chewed it automatically and reached for another piece as she took a longer look at the woman who was now fiddling with the blonde hair that had been coiled on top of her head and secured with a thin silver thread. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'She is very pretty, Master, I can see why you were distracted. Especially following your encounter with the Mistress.' She went on chewing her food, carefully extracting a tiny bone from between her teeth. Jinn inhaled sharply and noisily, as if trying to control his emotions through breathing alone. He raised his hand and motioned the woman to come closer. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Eirene, this is Aelia Fabius Flava,' Aelia drew herself up a little taller with a semi-haughty glance at Eirene as Jinn introduced her. 'Aelia, sit please. This is my slave, Eirene.' Aelia sat stiffly opposite Eirene who reached out for the jug of wine with two hands and deftly pulled it towards herself to wash down the cold chicken she had finished chewing. She thought she heard Jinn sigh softly beside her, but couldn't be sure as she was intently studying the woman before her. Aelia, now that she was closer, appeared older than she had first thought, perhaps in her late thirties. Her alabaster skin was faintly lined, stormy grey eyes creased with worry and her lips that once may have been full were now stretched into a thin line that drooped at the corners which lent the air of permanent disgust at everything when coupled with the angular jut of her turned up nose. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Would you like to continue our conversation, Aelia? Or would you rather we talked another time?' Jinn asked gently, choosing to ignore Eirene's quiet mutterings that were lost amidst the depths of the wine jug. Aelia continued to study the girl for a moment, with a bemused expression, before clearing her throat. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Oh, you've been so kind to be concerned as it is, I couldn't possibly expect you to give up any more of your time.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Please, I insist. I wouldn't have interrupted your conversation with our good friend Balbus over there if I didn't believe I could help,' he said, motioning with a nod of his head towards the counter where the portly figure of Balbus was firmly ensconced, continuing to stare at the three of them with such intensity that his eyes appeared to have glazed over and the tiniest amount of drool escaped slickly from one corner of his mouth. Eirene sat back in her chair, feigning disinterest in the conversation as she inspected a fingernail, though the frown she wore was not because of the smudge of dirt she had found settled at the tip of her index finger. Aelia nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I understand that, but your offer, it's so generous and kind, I really don't know how I would repay you.' /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I told you, I don't require any repaying. I see this as an investment, a very good investment, not a loan. I'm sure your husband would be very proud of what you could achieve with this opportunity. What are your other options, to beg for employment in places such as this? Or to see your family, your children enslaved?' Aelia twisted her hands in her lap, the knuckles of her thin fingers growing white with the tension as her grey eyes flashed indignantly back at the slave beside him. Eirene stiffened at Jinn's words, eyes narrowed as she cast a glance at him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I know it's a good idea, my husband thought it was before he passed on. His father was meant to be offering the main investment, he even found the premises, but after Fabianus died he refused to acknowledge the deal. Without this my children and I are destitute and I have no one else to turn to.' Eirene swayed gently, listening intently, though the words didn't make a great deal of sense to her. Perhaps she had overdone it on the wine. She pushed the jug away, silently offering the contents to Aelia, who sniffed delicately in disgust, turning her attention back to Jinn. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I can have a contract drawn up if you would like to prove my interest is honourable and that I am expecting to see no returns from the investment. If you can find the premises I can have the required amount sent to you tomorrow,' he said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"Aelia blinked rapidly, fighting back the tears that misted her grey eyes. She shook her head, causing loose tendrils of her pale blonde hair to fall down around her angular face and soften her sharp features. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'My son, Fabianus Faustus, is looking at a shop tomorrow. He wrote the address down for me, here,' she slipped a small scroll of papyrus out from the folds of her pale blue tunica and handed it to Jinn, who unrolled it and nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I do not know these parts well, but I will have the amount we discussed ready and waiting at this address before the sun reaches the highest point in the sky tomorrow, unless the premises is unsuitable and I hear otherwise from you. I do believe that my slave and I will be residing here for at least one more night, so if I can be of any further assistance to you, please do come back.' Eirene's eyelids were drooping heavily, despite her best efforts. She was unused to the rich wine and the hushed, earnest conversation between Jinn and Aelia rolled rhythmically over her like the gentle waves she could hear just outside the tavern, lulling her though she couldn't really grasp the deal that was being passed. It seemed as though Jinn was lending, no not lending, giving money to the woman for something. Her eyes jerked open at the sudden movement as Aelia reached across the table to grasp Jinn's hands in her own. She pressed them tightly, fighting back tears again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Thank you, oh thank you, kind sir. If your words are true then I owe you my life, the lives of my children. This could save us. I never believed that when I walked in here to beg for some form of employment that I would emerge with my lifelong dream about to be realised.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Do not doubt my word; I am a man of my honour, Aelia.' Both Jinn and Aelia glanced at Eirene as she snorted softly, and seemed to scoff, 'Yes, honour,' under her breath. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I have no doubt at all and I am truly, truly grateful. Take this, please.' Eirene watched as Aelia pressed something unseen into Jinn's hand before she stood up and left without a backward glance at either of them. Eirene turned her bleary eyes to Jinn. His lips were pressed into an unrelenting line./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Upstairs,' was all he said to her, but the quiet simplicity of his order caused a sudden wave of shame to colour her cheeks, despite the fuzziness that buzzed gently in her head. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I don't think,' Eirene began, carefully, frowning with concentration as she formed each word slowly. 'I don't think I can stand up, Master.' Jinn's hands cupped her elbows as he stood up himself and helped her to her feet beside him. Without any warning he had scooped her up effortlessly into his arms and cradled Eirene to his solid chest. Eirene closed her eyes as a sudden urge to be sick swooped upon her at the rocking motion as he began to walk across the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Are you ok?' he asked, quietly as he noticed her wincing in his arms./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I don't think I should have eaten all that chicken.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Oh, the chicken? Nothing to do with sinking enough wine to drown Bacchus?' Even with her eyes closed, Eirene could hear the hint of a smile in his tone. She felt the cooler air of the stairwell and knew they'd left the main tavern. Eirene relaxed into Jinn's warmth just as she felt the firmness of the straw mattress beneath her. She sat up, clutching her head as her vision swam and her bare feet met the floor. Jinn sat beside her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'What was tonight about, Eirene?' he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I'm not exactly sure, some secret deal I think.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I wasn't referring to my meeting with Aelia. And there was nothing secret about that, it was just unexpected. Aelia happened to be looking for a way to support her family, she was begging Balbus to employ her and I could just imagine the sort of employment he had in mind. I offered to fund an investment opportunity that would see her family taken care of so that she has no need to worry.' He could see his explanation was just as obscure to Eirene as it had been downstairs, as she'd tried to work out what was going on. The wine still had an iron-grip on her conscious thoughts, so instead, he held out his hand to Eirene, palm up, so she could see something twinkling, balanced precariously there. She reached out, lifting it up to catch the glow of the lamplight. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'It's a ring. A gold ring.' She fingered the delicate filigree that wound around a hollow to create a perfect little circle. She could make out tiny little leaves attached to the miniscule golden vines. 'It's so pretty, so unusual.' Jinn nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Aelia makes them, she makes jewellery. It's the business I'm paying into to help her get established.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'How generous of you.' /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'It's what I do. I'm a Guardian, Eirene. I'm here to help people.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Then why won't you help me?' she demanded, suddenly, her eyes blazing with all the confusion and anger she felt from the moment she'd opened the window shutters to see the two angelic figures below. 'You know where my brother is, Jinn. Why won't you tell me? What do you know that will hurt me beyond reason?' /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"Jinn glanced sharply at her, eyebrows raised for a moment as he caught the phrase Liviana had used earlier. He knew then that Eirene had been listening. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I am a Guardian,' he said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'So you keep saying.' Jinn began to pace the small room, his gaze intense but settled on nothing as his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'But I haven't been entirely honest with you about my responsibilities as a Guardian.' Eirene settled back on the bed, leaning against the wall as she slipped the gold ring onto her thumb, rubbing it with the tip of her index finger as she watched Jinn take long and measured strides from one end of the room to the other and back again. 'I help people on their journeys from this life to the next, that's what I meant when I said 'ultimate transcendence'.' He paused for a moment, turning around to study Eirene as she frowned at him deeply, concentration etched in her wine-sleepy eyes. For a moment Jinn was worried Eirene was too drunk to get his true meaning, but her blue eyes widened slowly as her fuzzy brain unravelled the truth. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Death. You mean death. You lead people on a journey to their death.' Jinn nodded, silently, his dark eyes fixed on her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'And,' Eirene swallowed hard, eyes drifting down to settle on the band of gold she twisted absently around her thumb. 'And… You were sent here for me, to be my Guardian. To lead me to my death?' She looked up at Jinn for confirmation, the blood draining from her face as she stood shakily on her feet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Yes,' he said flatly, with a nod. Eirene raised a hand to her head to try and steady the dizzy wave that washed over her. Jinn crossed the room in three long strides and stood before Eirene before she could take a hesitant step, which was just as well as she swayed dangerously on her feet and probably would have fallen over if he had not guided her firmly back down to the bed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'But I told you, things are different this time. I love you. I've never felt like this about anyone before. I don't know how many times I need to tell you that. It was my duty to lead you to the next life but I swear I will do everything in my power to protect you. I'm not ready to give you up.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"Eirene looked down at where his large, warm hands covered her own much smaller ones as they lay on her lap. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I don't understand what this has to do with my brother, though. You said you would help me find him. You promised me.' Jinn gazed deep into her eyes for a moment, registering the hurt and confusion that simmered below the wine-glazed sapphire surface. He seemed to be silently weighing something up within his own thoughts. When he spoke his tone was low and steady./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Everyone has a set path to follow and as a Guardian it is my duty to lead you on that journey. The terms of your life, trials and tribulations are written already. I am not permitted to change what has been decided, but I cannot let it be. I can steer you off the course that has been chosen for you, even though it means trouble for the both of us.' Eirene blinked slowly at him, his soft tone lulling her weary senses and stripping the meaning from his words. A smile touched his lips as her eyes half-closed. Jinn stood up and with gentle hands lifted Eirene's feet from the floor, carefully swinging her legs around so that her whole frame rested on the straw mattress of the bed. With a light, yet firm nudge to her shoulder he made the girl lay down and he covered her up with the plain spun woollen blanket. 'Sleep now; you've had too much wine. We can talk more tomorrow.' She answered with an enormous yawn and obediently closed her eyes, finally letting the deep pull of alcohol claim her consciousness./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"Jinn had forbidden her to leave their room before he had ventured downstairs with the promise of acquiring some form of dinner for Eirene. She hadn't been bothered by the instruction at the time, from what she'd seen of the large public room below on their way in it wasn't really a place she would choose to spend her time in anyway. But now, that instruction rankled her greatly as she saw the tall, striking form of her Master leaning against the countertop deep in conversation with a pretty blonde woman; though her prettiness paled in comparison to Liviana's haunting beauty that still etched itself upon Eirene's lids whenever she closed her eyes. Her stomach growled at the rich smell of roasting meat and stewed fish, reminding her that Jinn hadn't bought anything up for her as promised and, by the looks of it, he didn't plan to anytime soon. She narrowed her eyes, feeling her anger towards him bubbling even more fiercely as she caught a fold of the tunica of a passing woman who had her arms laden with used dishes and an earthenware jug. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I'll have a bowl of whatever meat you've got and a jug of wine please.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"The woman, a rounded middle-aged lady with straggly brown hair greying at her temples and a heavily lined face eyed the girl for a moment, taking in the gleaming collar at her throat with a sour expression. She twitched her tunica out of Eirene's fingers with a swift jerk of her hips and stalked off towards the counter where the tavern-keeper, possibly her husband watched the exchange silently. Jinn, on the other hand still hadn't noticed Eirene as his back was turned towards her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"The woman said something to the man behind the counter, nodding her head in Eirene's direction as she filled up the empty jug she had collected with one hand, from a much larger jug, and tidied away the used dishes at the same time with the other, adding a few more stains to her already grubby tunica as she did so. The man was as stout and robust as the woman, ruddy cheeked with narrow, suspicious eyes that Eutopia didn't like the look of. Especially when they raked over her in such a brazen way as they were now. He gestured to the woman briefly before Eirene saw him hesitantly approach the end of the counter where Jinn remained deep in conversation. A simpering look that sickened Eirene clung to the man's face as he interrupted whatever meaningful discussion Jinn was having, gesturing to where Eirene sat. Jinn straightened up at once and Eirene caught the surprise and perhaps anger that flashed in his dark eyes as he spun towards her. He had whirled around so quickly that Eirene hadn't been prepared for his beautiful features, made all the more striking by the gentle light of the oil-filled lamps placed about the room for illumination. There was a sudden fierceness to his expression that Eirene wasn't expecting but she caught sight of the woman he had been talking to, who leant around Jinn's broad shoulders to follow his gaze. Eirene swallowed whatever doubt may have been creeping up on her then, tossing her head to shake the loose hair from her eyes, her chin raised a little higher as she deliberately avoided her Master's eyes. Focusing on some distant point to the left of him she missed the nod of assent Jinn gave to the tubby man, who in turn nodded to his wife. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"The warm scent of roasted chicken made Eirene's mouth water as soon as the dish was placed in front of her. A quick glance revealed Jinn had turned back to continue talking to the blonde woman at his side, his head bowed low as he listened in earnest to whatever she was saying to him. Eirene reached for the small brown jug that had been set beside her meal and she drained it without bothering to decant it into the plain cup that had also been placed upon the table. The tavern owner gazed at her astonished; his pale fishy eyes had already been busily raking over the girl in a rather lecherous way. Eirene made good use of the eye contact as she raised the jug slightly, signalling for it to be filled again as she set to on the chicken, feeling the greasy meat still hot beneath her fingers. Considering it probably had been left over from lunch earlier in the day it wasn't half bad. The man strode from around the counter, blustering and flustered as he snagged the much larger jug from the wooden top and made his way to the back of the room where Eirene sat. His plainly woven tunic stretched taught across his belly, pulling tighter still as he stooped to look the girl straight in the eye. He put the jug down on the table-top and set a hand either side of Eirene's dish, causing the table to creak ominously beneath his weight. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Your Master has instructed us to give you anything you ask for. If you were mine,' he breathed the stench of rotting fish in her direction as his voice dropped to a much lower note, 'I know exactly what I'd be giving you.' He paused, the lingering of his eyes leaving Eirene in no doubt as to what that would be. 'It most definitely wouldn't be some of the finest meat I serve here and the best wine.' He lifted one meaty hand to fill up the smaller jug with the larger one. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Just leave that jug, please.' Eirene said. The man's thin lips parted in surprise, revealing a flat row of brown stubby teeth that almost put her off her food. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'You're lucky I've seen how fat your Master's purse is. I don't usually tolerate bad mannered slaves,' he sneered mere inches from her face. Eirene reached out for the large jug on the table, wrapping both her hands around the long neck as she struggled to lift the hefty thing to her lips. She took a long, noisy slurp of the wine, sloshing some of it down her chin to dribble onto her tunica. A guttural noise of disgust was emitted by the man as he raised a hand to strike her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Balbus!' barked Jinn, sharply, causing the man to spin from Eirene with that simpering look hastily pasted on his face again. 'You will bring my slave here; I do not think I can trust her to eat alone in the fine atmosphere of your establishment.' Amidst the flickering light of the lamps and followed by the few pairs of worse-for-wear eyes that had earlier tracked the motions of the golden Liviana, the man named Balbus swept the jug of wine and dish of meat from the table and led Eirene towards the front of the tavern. He placed the items down again on a smaller wooden table-top to the left of where Jinn and the mysterious woman were stood against the counter. Jinn nodded at Balbus./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Is there anything else I can get for you, emmi amicus/em?' the rounded man asked eagerly, rubbing his large hands together with his fishy eyes swimming around the heavy purse hanging from Jinn's belt, as though he could already feel the coins in his palm. Jinn smiled though Eirene could see from the table she was now sat at, almost at his elbow, that the smile never reached his dark eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'No, no, emmi senex/em, please do not concern yourself with me now.' Balbus inclined his head and turned his attention reluctantly to a new patron who had ducked into the entrance of the tavern and was rapping on the countertop gently with his knuckles. Jinn turned at once and fell upon the seat beside Eirene, who was busy taking another long drink from the huge wine jug. He was shocked to see the girl had already half drained it during his brief exchange with Balbus. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Eirene,' came his quiet and disgruntled tone, his fingers snaking out to catch the handle and lower the jug which caused the girl to spill a little more of the red liquid as she hurriedly tried to swallow whatever was in her mouth before the vessel could leave her lips. 'What do you think you are doing? Are you trying to force my hand?' /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Force your hand to what?' she enquired, her tone emboldened by the copious amount of wine she had already consumed in a very short space of time. The sudden warmth of his palm resting on the back of her neck, beneath the thick curtain of her hair sent a delightful shiver down the length of her spine as Jinn leant in close to breathe into her ear./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'If you will not let me free you and you continue this blatant disregard for your status in public I will have no option but to punish you as befitting a slave, before somebody else does.' His eyes flicked to Balbus, who had finished serving his new customer and was now lounging against the counter and openly staring at the two of them, his thin lips slack to reveal the stumps of his rotting teeth again. Eirene glanced up at Jinn, finding that his eyes were just as serious as his tone had been. The haze of half-numbness that had begun to settle upon her shoulders with each draught of wine glazed her sapphire eyes and she leant into Jinn as he sat beside her, feeling his warmth through her thin tunica. Eirene silently nuzzled her head against his cheek, her raven hair surprisingly soft against his skin despite its tangled state. In her haste to get downstairs Eirene had not thought to tidy herself up from their long journey. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Eirene, you're drunk already.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I do believe I might be, Master. I don't think there's much water in this wine,' she tilted the jug towards herself to peer with interest into the darkest depths of the pottery. Jinn gently pushed it away from her, moving it to the edge of the table as he pulled the bowl of chicken closer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Eat,' he said firmly to her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Oh, you remembered I need food then?' she muttered, scathingly, with a quick glance at the blonde woman still hovering at the counter with wary eyes fixed on Jinn. He followed Eirene's gaze./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Of course. I'm sorry, I got distracted. I had meant to bring you some food.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"Eirene tore a piece of chicken from the bone with her teeth, finding the meat had now gone cold and tasteless but she chewed it automatically and reached for another piece as she took a longer look at the woman who was now fiddling with the blonde hair that had been coiled on top of her head and secured with a thin silver thread. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'She is very pretty, Master, I can see why you were distracted. Especially following your encounter with the Mistress.' She went on chewing her food, carefully extracting a tiny bone from between her teeth. Jinn inhaled sharply and noisily, as if trying to control his emotions through breathing alone. He raised his hand and motioned the woman to come closer. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Eirene, this is Aelia Fabius Flava,' Aelia drew herself up a little taller with a semi-haughty glance at Eirene as Jinn introduced her. 'Aelia, sit please. This is my slave, Eirene.' Aelia sat stiffly opposite Eirene who reached out for the jug of wine with two hands and deftly pulled it towards herself to wash down the cold chicken she had finished chewing. She thought she heard Jinn sigh softly beside her, but couldn't be sure as she was intently studying the woman before her. Aelia, now that she was closer, appeared older than she had first thought, perhaps in her late thirties. Her alabaster skin was faintly lined, stormy grey eyes creased with worry and her lips that once may have been full were now stretched into a thin line that drooped at the corners which lent the air of permanent disgust at everything when coupled with the angular jut of her turned up nose. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Would you like to continue our conversation, Aelia? Or would you rather we talked another time?' Jinn asked gently, choosing to ignore Eirene's quiet mutterings that were lost amidst the depths of the wine jug. Aelia continued to study the girl for a moment, with a bemused expression, before clearing her throat. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Oh, you've been so kind to be concerned as it is, I couldn't possibly expect you to give up any more of your time.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Please, I insist. I wouldn't have interrupted your conversation with our good friend Balbus over there if I didn't believe I could help,' he said, motioning with a nod of his head towards the counter where the portly figure of Balbus was firmly ensconced, continuing to stare at the three of them with such intensity that his eyes appeared to have glazed over and the tiniest amount of drool escaped slickly from one corner of his mouth. Eirene sat back in her chair, feigning disinterest in the conversation as she inspected a fingernail, though the frown she wore was not because of the smudge of dirt she had found settled at the tip of her index finger. Aelia nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I understand that, but your offer, it's so generous and kind, I really don't know how I would repay you.' /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I told you, I don't require any repaying. I see this as an investment, a very good investment, not a loan. I'm sure your husband would be very proud of what you could achieve with this opportunity. What are your other options, to beg for employment in places such as this? Or to see your family, your children enslaved?' Aelia twisted her hands in her lap, the knuckles of her thin fingers growing white with the tension as her grey eyes flashed indignantly back at the slave beside him. Eirene stiffened at Jinn's words, eyes narrowed as she cast a glance at him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I know it's a good idea, my husband thought it was before he passed on. His father was meant to be offering the main investment, he even found the premises, but after Fabianus died he refused to acknowledge the deal. Without this my children and I are destitute and I have no one else to turn to.' Eirene swayed gently, listening intently, though the words didn't make a great deal of sense to her. Perhaps she had overdone it on the wine. She pushed the jug away, silently offering the contents to Aelia, who sniffed delicately in disgust, turning her attention back to Jinn. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I can have a contract drawn up if you would like to prove my interest is honourable and that I am expecting to see no returns from the investment. If you can find the premises I can have the required amount sent to you tomorrow,' he said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"Aelia blinked rapidly, fighting back the tears that misted her grey eyes. She shook her head, causing loose tendrils of her pale blonde hair to fall down around her angular face and soften her sharp features. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'My son, Fabianus Faustus, is looking at a shop tomorrow. He wrote the address down for me, here,' she slipped a small scroll of papyrus out from the folds of her pale blue tunica and handed it to Jinn, who unrolled it and nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I do not know these parts well, but I will have the amount we discussed ready and waiting at this address before the sun reaches the highest point in the sky tomorrow, unless the premises is unsuitable and I hear otherwise from you. I do believe that my slave and I will be residing here for at least one more night, so if I can be of any further assistance to you, please do come back.' Eirene's eyelids were drooping heavily, despite her best efforts. She was unused to the rich wine and the hushed, earnest conversation between Jinn and Aelia rolled rhythmically over her like the gentle waves she could hear just outside the tavern, lulling her though she couldn't really grasp the deal that was being passed. It seemed as though Jinn was lending, no not lending, giving money to the woman for something. Her eyes jerked open at the sudden movement as Aelia reached across the table to grasp Jinn's hands in her own. She pressed them tightly, fighting back tears again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Thank you, oh thank you, kind sir. If your words are true then I owe you my life, the lives of my children. This could save us. I never believed that when I walked in here to beg for some form of employment that I would emerge with my lifelong dream about to be realised.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Do not doubt my word; I am a man of my honour, Aelia.' Both Jinn and Aelia glanced at Eirene as she snorted softly, and seemed to scoff, 'Yes, honour,' under her breath. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I have no doubt at all and I am truly, truly grateful. Take this, please.' Eirene watched as Aelia pressed something unseen into Jinn's hand before she stood up and left without a backward glance at either of them. Eirene turned her bleary eyes to Jinn. His lips were pressed into an unrelenting line./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Upstairs,' was all he said to her, but the quiet simplicity of his order caused a sudden wave of shame to colour her cheeks, despite the fuzziness that buzzed gently in her head. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I don't think,' Eirene began, carefully, frowning with concentration as she formed each word slowly. 'I don't think I can stand up, Master.' Jinn's hands cupped her elbows as he stood up himself and helped her to her feet beside him. Without any warning he had scooped her up effortlessly into his arms and cradled Eirene to his solid chest. Eirene closed her eyes as a sudden urge to be sick swooped upon her at the rocking motion as he began to walk across the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Are you ok?' he asked, quietly as he noticed her wincing in his arms./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I don't think I should have eaten all that chicken.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Oh, the chicken? Nothing to do with sinking enough wine to drown Bacchus?' Even with her eyes closed, Eirene could hear the hint of a smile in his tone. She felt the cooler air of the stairwell and knew they'd left the main tavern. Eirene relaxed into Jinn's warmth just as she felt the firmness of the straw mattress beneath her. She sat up, clutching her head as her vision swam and her bare feet met the floor. Jinn sat beside her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'What was tonight about, Eirene?' he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I'm not exactly sure, some secret deal I think.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I wasn't referring to my meeting with Aelia. And there was nothing secret about that, it was just unexpected. Aelia happened to be looking for a way to support her family, she was begging Balbus to employ her and I could just imagine the sort of employment he had in mind. I offered to fund an investment opportunity that would see her family taken care of so that she has no need to worry.' He could see his explanation was just as obscure to Eirene as it had been downstairs, as she'd tried to work out what was going on. The wine still had an iron-grip on her conscious thoughts, so instead, he held out his hand to Eirene, palm up, so she could see something twinkling, balanced precariously there. She reached out, lifting it up to catch the glow of the lamplight. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'It's a ring. A gold ring.' She fingered the delicate filigree that wound around a hollow to create a perfect little circle. She could make out tiny little leaves attached to the miniscule golden vines. 'It's so pretty, so unusual.' Jinn nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Aelia makes them, she makes jewellery. It's the business I'm paying into to help her get established.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'How generous of you.' /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'It's what I do. I'm a Guardian, Eirene. I'm here to help people.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Then why won't you help me?' she demanded, suddenly, her eyes blazing with all the confusion and anger she felt from the moment she'd opened the window shutters to see the two angelic figures below. 'You know where my brother is, Jinn. Why won't you tell me? What do you know that will hurt me beyond reason?' /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"Jinn glanced sharply at her, eyebrows raised for a moment as he caught the phrase Liviana had used earlier. He knew then that Eirene had been listening. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I am a Guardian,' he said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'So you keep saying.' Jinn began to pace the small room, his gaze intense but settled on nothing as his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'But I haven't been entirely honest with you about my responsibilities as a Guardian.' Eirene settled back on the bed, leaning against the wall as she slipped the gold ring onto her thumb, rubbing it with the tip of her index finger as she watched Jinn take long and measured strides from one end of the room to the other and back again. 'I help people on their journeys from this life to the next, that's what I meant when I said 'ultimate transcendence'.' He paused for a moment, turning around to study Eirene as she frowned at him deeply, concentration etched in her wine-sleepy eyes. For a moment Jinn was worried Eirene was too drunk to get his true meaning, but her blue eyes widened slowly as her fuzzy brain unravelled the truth. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Death. You mean death. You lead people on a journey to their death.' Jinn nodded, silently, his dark eyes fixed on her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'And,' Eirene swallowed hard, eyes drifting down to settle on the band of gold she twisted absently around her thumb. 'And… You were sent here for me, to be my Guardian. To lead me to my death?' She looked up at Jinn for confirmation, the blood draining from her face as she stood shakily on her feet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Yes,' he said flatly, with a nod. Eirene raised a hand to her head to try and steady the dizzy wave that washed over her. Jinn crossed the room in three long strides and stood before Eirene before she could take a hesitant step, which was just as well as she swayed dangerously on her feet and probably would have fallen over if he had not guided her firmly back down to the bed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'But I told you, things are different this time. I love you. I've never felt like this about anyone before. I don't know how many times I need to tell you that. It was my duty to lead you to the next life but I swear I will do everything in my power to protect you. I'm not ready to give you up.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"Eirene looked down at where his large, warm hands covered her own much smaller ones as they lay on her lap. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'I don't understand what this has to do with my brother, though. You said you would help me find him. You promised me.' Jinn gazed deep into her eyes for a moment, registering the hurt and confusion that simmered below the wine-glazed sapphire surface. He seemed to be silently weighing something up within his own thoughts. When he spoke his tone was low and steady./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 42.55pt;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"'Everyone has a set path to follow and as a Guardian it is my duty to lead you on that journey. The terms of your life, trials and tribulations are written already. I am not permitted to change what has been decided, but I cannot let it be. I can steer you off the course that has been chosen for you, even though it means trouble for the both of us.' Eirene blinked slowly at him, his soft tone lulling her weary senses and stripping the meaning from his words. A smile touched his lips as her eyes half-closed. Jinn stood up and with gentle hands lifted Eirene's feet from the floor, carefully swinging her legs around so that her whole frame rested on the straw mattress of the bed. With a light, yet firm nudge to her shoulder he made the girl lay down and he covered her up with the plain spun woollen blanket. 'Sleep now; you've had too much wine. We can talk more tomorrow.' She answered with an enormous yawn and obediently closed her eyes, finally letting the deep pull of alcohol claim her consciousness./span/p