Shadow Dance...Chapter Ten

Shadow Dance...Chapter Ten

The raucous din of the Flying Muses made it hard for Namir to think. Namir sipped his ale and reflected upon the trials that he had to face today. He heard Nurn’s laughter mingled with Halin’s tinny voice and knew that there was a story was being told and somewhere else Jaconis was brooding, he was certain of it. Aves and Hessa were probably off enjoying the market, trying to decide what they should buy, or they had sequestered themselves in their room to get ready for tomorrow. Either way they would not be bothering him with their problems right now. Belanui was fast approaching and within a few weeks they would have to be on their way back to Ellsted, at least some of them would be.

“So, what is the plan?” Nurn’s booming voice drew Namir once again from his thoughts and back into the present.

“Eh?” Namir questioned completely unaware of what Nurn meant.

“The plan for tomorrow?” Nurn reiterated.

“Ah…that plan.” Namir nodded as he looked down into his mug. “Well, I was going to have Aves, Hessa, Jaconis and you gain an audience with the mayor tomorrow.”

“What about you and Halin?” Nurn’s eyebrow rose as he asked this.

“We are going to wander through the town and spread word of Ellsted’s Belanui’s Festival, of course. Then, in the evening, all of us will meet back here to discuss how everything went.” Namir stated plainly. “Make sure that you take the wares with you, all of them. I want the mayor to know that our proposal is made with only good intentions.”

“Shouldn’t we take a few days to allow Aves, Halin and Jaconis more time to recover?” Nurn inquired.

With a deep sigh Namir reluctantly agreed. “Very well. If they need the time then so be it, but by this time next week you need to be focused on the trade meeting with the mayor. No matter what the rest of you do tomorrow, I am still going to spread the word of the fair while I wander around the city. Tell everyone else what our plans are when you get the chance, I’m going to see if I can find the local healer.” Seeing Nurn nod in agreement he added, “If you see Aves or Jaconis, have them go back to their rooms immediately. I’m going to have the healer meet them there.”

“Okay.” Nurn said as he rose to his feet and then disappeared into the throng of people around them.

As Namir finished his second ale as he saw Halin approaching. “I understand that you want me to accompany you for something?” His voice was as tinny as usual.

“Aye, but not now, in the morning. No, better yet, in a week.” Namir nodded. “For now, go to your room and wait for the healer. I will bring him to you, then you can take the rest of the week to rest and heal. After that meet me here and I’ll tell you what we are going to be doing.” Namir looked at Halin for a few moments just to make sure that Halin had understood him before Namir rose to leave. Namir walked to the door and stopped by the large man sitting just inside of it and asked, “Where can I find the nearest healer?”

The big man looked into Namir’s steel blue eyes and then pointed towards the wall on the other side of the room, “Go out to the street and go that way. After you get four blocks you should run into him.” The man’s breath reeked of ale and spirits, but Namir nodded his understanding and walked out into the street.

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The wind blew lightly against Jaconis’ back as the sun was slowly setting. The cool night breeze was a pleasant feeling after being forced to stay in a hot room for the last few days. ‘I wonder how they managed to retrieve the carriage.’ Jaconis’ thoughts meandered back to the morning’s discoveries and the realization that had startled him awake. ‘How did Namir and Nurn retrieve the carriage and why are they keeping it a secret from me?’ The point was moot now; they had retrieved it and they had entered the city with it. Hopefully he could find Tali and get some answers. ‘How did Tali mess this one up?’ He mused. ‘Everything was going perfectly.’ His thoughts raced through his mind as he calculated one possibility after another while he wound his way through the maze-like streets of Hornshir. “How can anyone stand to live here?” Jaconis cried as he narrowly dodged a stream of waste being flung from the balcony overhead.

“Very carefully, I’d guess.” A voice purred from behind him.

Jaconis jumped, much to his watcher’s amusement. He spun around to face the person that had snuck up on him and he felt his face grow pale when he saw the voice’s owner. “How…Where…?”

“I followed you from a distance…I think that is what you wanted to know.” She said as she arched away from him in a deep stretch.

“No…I mean aye...I mean…not really.” Jaconis replied as he stumbled on his words. “What I meant to ask was how did you manage to lose the carriage?”

Tali raised an eyebrow in irritation at his question. “I didn’t lose it. I decided to give it back them, so I placed the carriage in a very noticeable place. There is a difference.” Her soft lips settled themselves into a pout as she finished speaking. “Besides, you wouldn’t be able to succeed in Hornshir without the carriage…right?”

“Maybe…maybe not.” Jaconis frowned as rubbed the bandages around his neck lightly in order to draw her attention to them. “Did you have to do this?”

“Maybe…maybe not.” Tali mimicked his tone perfectly; a dark gleam lighting her deep brown eyes mischievously.

“Just answer me…why?” Jaconis was growing impatient and Tali knew it.

“Since Canges had captured Halin…I thought it might look better for you if we made another raid.” Tali soothed. “But it didn’t turn out as I had hoped.”

“What, exactly, did you hope for?” Jaconis demanded.

“Not the bloodbath that I received!” Tali’s glare withered Jaconis where he stood. “It wasn’t supposed to have happened that way at all. I envisioned a small encounter, just wounding the girl enough to make sure that the others would not come after the carriage again.” The look in her eyes shifted from anger to dread subtly as she recounted the tale of what had happened for Jaconis’ benefit. “I had Canges follow Namir and Nurn, so that we would know when they had found you. The rest of us were prepared to pay a quick visit to the ladies upon his signal.” She took a breath and continued before Jaconis could stop her. “Everything was going so smoothly too. We followed the girls in a clearing and we moved silently to encircle them so they wouldn’t hear us and to ensure that they could not run away. I made sure that all of your men did just as I had told them. We were just a few steps behind them, when I decided to stay closer to the trees than the others. I think that is why I survived and they didn’t.” Her voice faltered. Jaconis reached for her, hoping to ease her pain…to shelter her in some way, but Tali pulled away from him before his hand could even brush her skin. “I never quite saw it…the thing that killed them. We had just entered the clearing,” Tali’s eyes became vacant as she recalled the events nervously, “the whole place was silent…no noises at all, then a shadow flickered past where I stood. It moved across my path right in front of me. I turned to follow its movement when I saw the first one, Hetkinen, fall. All there was of him was a column of blood gushing its way towards the sky from his severed throat.” Her body shook violently at the memory of the moment. Jaconis grabbed her and pulled her tightly against him, as if he was trying to stifle her memories, but she continued oblivious of his actions. As she did her voice grew hollow and seemed small and distant. “I really didn’t see what had hit them…any of them. One after another they fell, all of them dead. Some died quick, but all of them died quietly. It was very surreal. The only real sound that I can remember hearing was the sound of laughter. At least I think it was laughter.” Tali shook again and Jaconis held tighter. Her voice escaped in shallow breaths as she continued. Her voice was so quiet now that Jaconis was forced to put his ear directly against her lips in order to make out any of her words. “It was as if the wind were laughing at us, like it was mocking us and our trivial concerns. I saw our attacker only it once throughout the whole fight. It flitted…no he flitted from man to man with his dark blade cleaving through their flesh and armor as if they were merely shadows strewn before the primal rays of the sun. He was elegant, yet dreadful. I saw him and he smiled at me. He winked one of his ebony eyes and wrought his fine white lips into a hint of a smile. And then he spoke…” Her body was wracked again violently and she slumped into Jaconis, her full weight forcing Jaconis onto his knees. Her eyes sought out his and she forced out the rest as if her life depended on Jaconis hearing the tale. “He told me, ‘Child, you are my messenger. Deliver me unto them…or I shall deliver you unto your doom! ’ I think he came closer to me then…but I fled. I ran from away him and the clearing as fast as I could manage, paying no heed to the forest or the paths that I was on.” Her voice cracked and she once again slumped against him motionless.

Jaconis held her silently for quit some time, rocking her gently back and forth in his embrace while he tried to sooth away her fears. When she appeared coherent enough to continue their conversation once again, he brushed her hair away from her face and resumed it where he had left it off. “I assume, then, that you chose to leave the carriage outside of the city?”

“Aye.” Tali pulled herself away from him and out of his arms slowly. “I left it where they might find it…if they looked. And it seems that they did.” A slight hint of confidence returned as she finished her statement.

“Who was the man from the shadows referring too,” Jaconis probed a little too eagerly as his curiosity bested him.

“I…I don’t know.” Tali lied trying to sound scared. She knew that Jaconis had probably seen through her ruse, but she didn’t care. ‘He can’t find out about them yet.’ Tali swore to herself silently, ‘at least not until I can be certain of him.’

“Fine, we can talk about it later.” Jaconis responded, obviously unsure of Tali’s answers and motives.

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The ale slid down Namir’s throat and it washed the unpleasantness of the week down with it. His muscles ached and he could feel the stiffness of unused muscles start to set in painfully all over his body. It had never occurred to him before how tedious and tiring his task would be once he had gotten down to it. The days that he had spent walking along the streets to spread word of Ellsted’s rapidly approaching Belanui’s Festival wore away at his stamina. The blowing dust carried in on the warm winds of late spring combined with the unfriendly animals that he had to encounter made the days long as well as a little exciting at times, unfortunately there is only so much excitement that one person can take. Not to mention that the stench of the streets caused by the amount of people and animals in it was as over powering as it was revolting. ‘I need to take a break from this soon.’ Namir thought to himself as he lowered his mug. As he thought about tomorrow’s tasks he felt the cold feeling of melancholy grip his heart.

“I can hardly wait until we are done with all of this.” Halin whined completely exhausted after his first day of walking the streets with Namir.

“You know. It’s going to a lot take more time than this, right?” Namir confided in his friend as he sipped at his ale again.

“It is?” The break in Halin’s voice was as audible as the one in his will and it was plain to anyone that looked at him that something inside of him had been crushed completely.

Namir fought his own emotions as he looked at Halin’s shocked look. It was a struggle to decide if the look on the boy’s face was more entertaining than the hurt sound in his voice or not. “Aye, it is.” Namir sighed as the maid delivered him another pint. “Just as soon as Aves wraps up her negotiations and Jaconis finishes composing the new trade agreement between Hornshir and Ellsted the real work is going to begin.”

“What do you mean by real work?” Halin gulped as he struggled to get the question out of his mouth.

“Well, the real work will be loading the wagons for the trip home. But it won’t be just loading the wagons, it will mean arraigning the supplies that we were to obtain in a way that all of them get to Ellsted safely.” Namir finished another swig of his ale before he continued. “Once all of that is settled we will need to decide who goes back to Ellsted and who stays here to ensure that word of the festival stays alight in the minds of Hornshir’s citizens.” Halin groaned and paled visibly as Namir continued listing the tasks. “But not to worry, I figure that we have at least half a week before any of the real work begins. Here take this and get us two more.” Namir handed Halin his empty tankard and motioned towards the bar.

“By the way, who is paying for all this?” Halin ventured, a little afraid of his answer, as he motioned to the surrounding inn.

“Why, the kind citizens of Ellsted of course.” Namir winked and turned to look at the dancers as they performed on the stage nearby.

Halin made his way to the bar brooding as Namir’s answer mingled with darker thoughts. He knew that the rooms were not cheap here and neither was all for the ale that the group had been consuming and he was very unsure about how long their funds would last. Halin hated to second guess Namir, but he had heard that the Flying Muses was the best Inn in town for artists and their ilk. This meant that although the atmosphere was very congenial to working on artistic endeavors, it was fairly expensive.

“Do you remember back in Ellsted,” Halin broached the subject hesitantly as he returned with their drinks, “when you told me that you and Nurn might teach me a few things?” Tears misted into his grey eyes unwanted.

“Aye,” Namir replied to Halin’s question completely distractedly by the ladies’ routine that he was watching.

“Umm…when do you think we will have time for more of it? I mean if we will have extra time at all, that is?” Halin asked hopefully as he stumbled over his words. Halin did his best not to sound too eager or urgent, but he knew that some of his dread had crept into his voice as he asked.

There was something in Halin’s voice that caught Namir off guard and jarred his mind back to Halin and their conversation from the dancers. There was an edge to it that it had lacked before and this startled Namir. “I’m not sure.” Namir rubbed his chin absently as he motioned to the barmaid for yet another ale, completely unaware of the one Halin that had set in front of him. “Maybe next week we could manage some time, after things calm down…or possibly the week after that.”

“No sooner?” Halin interrupted, still trying to hold his fear in check. Halin’s voice carried a tinge of pain with it almost as if Namir’s words had somehow wounded him.

“No. Next week would be the soonest. We do have duties hat we must make sure are finished first. Why are you concerned about it?” Namir’s curiosity was peaked now and he waited hesitantly for Halin’s response.

“Oh, no real reason.” Halin lied. “I was just hoping for a diversion from our duties.”

“I wish it could be different for us then.” Namir said as he laid a comforting hand on Halin’s shoulder. “I wish the way here had proved less eventful and adventurous for us.” A tear fell slowly from Namir’s left as it meandered its way across his cheek and down to his chin.

“There’s nothing I would have traded for it.” Halin looked into Namir’s glistening eyes as he said this. “Although it was tough and most of us barely survived it. I wouldn’t have forgone one single moment of our trip. I just wish I could have been of more help…”

Shaking his head to stop Halin in mid sentence, Namir replied, “Stop…there is no use in blaming yourself. Nothing else could have been done and although I still lay awake at night trying to find a different way that we could have gone…or a better path at least…or anything that might have made a difference.”

“Could haves can fill a well.” Nurn’s bass voice echoed Namir’s thoughts perfectly as it filtered through the crowded room.

“Nurn!” Halin leapt to his feet and embraced his brother heartily.

“How did the meetings go today?” Namir probed.

“Aside from Jaconis’ attempts at conniving more out of Hornshir’s Council of Elders in exchange than they are willing to give, they went well. Aves proved to be very shrewd and knowledgeable in Hornshir’s local politics and Hessa has shown herself as a valuable mediator between Jaconis and Hornshir’s Council of Elders.” Nurn said all of this as he deftly sat down in an empty chair he managed to pull to the table from another table that sat a few feet away. Absentmindedly he lifted the tankard from the table in front of him to his lips and drew deeply from it as the barmaid approached them.

Before the barmaid could rebuke Nurn for drinking someone else’s brew, Namir interject mirthfully. “It’s fine. Please bring us three more, we have a need to wash the day from our throats. By the way Nurn, where did Aves get off to?” As the barmaid left Namir noticed the two mugs of ale on the table and smile somewhat ashamed. He picked up his mug and drank deeply as Nurn reported his information to Namir.

“Hessa and Aves went directly to their room to bathe.” Nurn grumbled somewhat dejected.

“And Jaconis?” Halin piped up as he tried to draw himself into the conversation.

“He went to peruse the market.” Nurn finished the remaining ale in his tankard just as the barmaid arrived with three more. “Here you are.” He winked at her as he placed the tankard into her delicate looking hand.

“I think you are enjoying this a bit too much, Nurn.” Namir snickered at Nurn’s antics.

“Someone has to. Besides, if we are going to be here for another year or so we may need to make a few friends.” Nurn’s grin grew wider as he saw Halin’s face fall in a look of horror and astonishment. “Don’t tell me he doesn’t know yet.” Nurn said to Namir mockingly.

“Aye, he doesn’t.” Namir admitted somewhat abashed.

“What don’t I know?” Halin’s question was more of a plea than an inquiry.

“That a decision has been made.” Nurn confided to his brother with a somber air about him.

“A decision about what?” Halin’s features contorted even more in confusion as he tried to piece together what they were talking about.

“I’ll need you to swear a vow of silence before we can tell you anything else.” Namir looked at Halin sternly as he tried desperately to hold his laughter in.

With a deep sigh Halin nodded his agreement. “I’ll swear to anything that you two need me to if it means that I’m no longer left out of your plots and schemes.”

“Did he just say what I think he said?” Namir asked mockingly as he awaited Nurn’s reply.

“Aye he did.” Nurn’s smile subtly changed from one of mirth to that of appreciation.

“Well then, I think that deserves a drink before we formalize his oath.” Namir winked to Nurn as he raised his tankard for another draught. Confused, Halin raised his tankard with them although he still felt like he was being excluded somehow.

“And what’s to celebrate?” Jaconis cooed from behind Halin as he crossed the room to their table.

“Nothing much.” Namir confided to his cousin with a knowing gleam in his eye. “Halin here just volunteered to spread word of the fair in the market tomorrow…alone.” He couldn’t help but allow a wolfish grin to cross his face when he saw Halin almost choke on his ale.

“Is that so?” Jaconis asked as he directed his attention to Halin. His disbelief was as palpable as his unasked question.

“Aye.” Halin muttered as he saw the dark look shot at him by Nurn. “I just tried to breath my ale though, not a pleasant thing to do and I wouldn’t recommend it…even to you”

“Breathing is a thing that is best left for air, brother.” Nurn intoned trying to change the topic from their festivities.

“How did your day go?” Namir asked as he picked up on Nurn’s subtle change in conversation. This forced Jaconis into the conversation on a rebound as well as on the defensive.

“It went well.” Jaconis sighed. “But it would have gone better if Hessa had not been present.” He started to sit down, but was deftly stopped by Nurn’s sudden stretching. Jaconis watched as Nurn put his feet into the only empty chair at the table and then met his eyes as if a challenge. “She’s a tad infuriating. Whose side is she on anyway, Ellsted’s or Hornshir’s?”

“Both.” Nurn growled. His temper was obviously still frayed from earlier in the day. “She is trying to do what is best for both cities. This is something that you don’t seem to understand.”

“What do you mean by that?” Jaconis rebuked Nurn’s statement vehemently. It was clear to everyone there that Jaconis was somewhat taken aback by Nurn’s tone.

“What I mean is that it’s ultimately in Ellsted’s best interest if Hornshir can maintain the trade agreement once it has been accepted. If the agreement proves to be too much for them, they will stop abiding by it altogether.” Nurn spat back as his muscles tensed. Namir reached over and put a hand on Nurn’s forearm as a gesture to keep in his seat, but he remained unsure if it was going to would work.

“I expected you to side with her, Nurn. You have been casting your lot in with her ever since we left Ellsted.” Jaconis sneered at him as if Nurn were some sort of cur to be shunned or mocked. “But I was seeking Namir’s opinion on this and not yours.”

“Well, it seems that I am going to side with Hessa and Nurn on this as well. Although it is a bit of a surprise to me that you would even want my opinion on this matter, since I have no voice for the merchants of Ellsted that is.” Namir stated coolly as he locked eyes with Jaconis defiantly. “Besides, I know how you and Daffer can get when it comes to profits…”

“What does that mean?” Jaconis ruptured indignantly. Namir could see that Jaconis was at his ends as well.

“Just what I said,” Namir smiled as he saw Jaconis’ face get flush with anger. ‘If only Jaconis had the nerve to do something.’ The thought flitted through Namir’s head quickly as he continued where he had left his previous thought off at. “Both of you tend to be short sighted anytime there is money to be made.” Namir shot back at Jaconis sending him on the rebound again. “I have found that it is sometimes best to have things develop into your favor instead of forcing them to conform to your desire from the start.” Seeing that Jaconis was still not understanding his meaning, Namir decided to change his ploy. “Let me try and explain this a little differently, cousin. There are times when it is best to continually make a meager profit in order to gain a steady income from something, than to get a small sum all at once. Time can change the meager income into a greater benefit.”

“If you say so…but I disagree.” Jaconis fumed. He knew that Namir was trying to make a fool of him and Jaconis would not give him that satisfaction. “I need to go and wash the day off of me. Good bye.” Jaconis turned in a huff and stormed away from the three of them, leaving them to their mirth.

“Let the wind take your cares from you, Jaconis.” Namir called after him as Jaconis fumed across the room and over to the stairs. “Finally.” Namir turned back to Halin and Nurn as soon as he was sure that Jaconis was out of earshot. “That is why I sit here.” Namir quietly told Halin as he motioned to the distance from them to the stairs and the proximity of the musicians.

“And I thought it was just because you have a better, closer, view of the dancers.” Halin replied jokingly.

Namir smiled at Halin’s jest. “As for you spreading the word alone…I really am going to ask that of you.”

“Why?” Halin asked a little shocked.

“For two reasons. The first is that Jaconis is now expecting it.” Namir paused as he drank down the last of his ale. He slowly lifted the other tankard in front of him to his lips before he continued to speak.

“And the second?” Halin appealed unintentionally cutting off Namir’s train of thought.

“To further our stay in Hornshir of course.” Namir’s flat tone was sever and somewhat sterner than Halin had expected. “You see, Jaconis didn’t bother asking me what I’d be doing while you spread the word about the fair. This will free up some time for me to pursue accommodations for us as well as future employment. If we are going to be here for a while, Halin, we’ll need to find some way to provide for ourselves.”

“I guess that I can understand that.” Halin pouted as he gave way to Namir’s judgment.

“Our father has provided well for us.” Nurn confided to Halin. “We have enough gold to last for a few months, maybe longer if we are careful.” He placed his hand gently on Halin’s shoulder. “But we need to learn to be self reliant as well.”

“Who else is staying?” Halin asked as he started to cheer up a little.

“It will just be the three of us.” Namir replied after he finished the last swig of his ale. “I haven’t checked with Aves or Hessa, though and I might not. I’m sure that Aves’ father would not like his only daughter staying in Hornshir instead of returning to the safety of his home.”

“Are you certain?” Nurn asked. “He did surprise us with the usage of his carriage after all.”

“Aye that he did.” Namir started to raise his hand in order to beckon for the barmaid, but Halin pulled lightly on Namir’s sleeve to stop him.

“I don’t think that we need anymore. Otherwise we won’t even be able to stagger up to our rooms.” Halin grinned at Namir stupidly as he successfully over exaggerated his drunkenness.

“Very well. Let’s go then. We can talk about all of this tomorrow.” Namir attempted to stand and swayed for a moment before he sat back down. His second attempt faired a little better because Nurn had reached out his had to steady him.

“Aye Namir, I think Halin was right. You have had just a little too much to drink for today. Tomorrow is another day.” Nurn commented as he stood and helped Namir and Halin over to the stairs. ‘One of these days these two will learn their limits,’ Nurn thought bemused as he all but carried them to their rooms.

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“Tell me again why we have to put up with him!” Aves exclaimed darkly as she sat in the sudsy water of her bath.

“Because he was selected by the council as the head of Ellsted’s merchant affairs while we are here in Hornshir.” Hessa retorted bitterly. “Although they never said he had to make it back to Ellsted alive.” She shot back at Aves playfully in an attempt to break Aves’ foul mood.

“Oh what dark dreams are you trying to inspire in me?” Aves splashed water at Hessa from her tub.

“Only the ones that promise to get you into a better mood.” Hessa blew her a kiss as she finished her sentence. ‘Finally. I have been waiting for Aves’ mood to change.’ Hessa’s thoughts whirled through her head as Aves’ stood up and stepped lightly from her tub into Hessa’s. “It isn’t big enough for both of us you know.” Hessa complained when Aves leaned over her, Aves’ feet were between Hessa’s legs, while water dripped from her breasts onto Hessa’s brow.

“I know.” Aves said playfully. “I was just getting my towel.” She stood upright again and gingerly stepped from the tub while she tried to delicately dry her foot and leg before she stepped onto the cold wooden floor of their room.

“And here I was hoping you found my company that alluring.” Hessa lamented sarcastically.

Aves acted shocked by Hessa comment and replied wittily, “What evils are you speaking of?” She tried to hold back her laughter as she continued, but a few giggles slipped out against her best efforts. “Although I must admit that the thought had crossed my mind on a few occasions.”

“Eh?” It was Hessa’s turn to be surprised and she blushed marvelously.

“Well…you are so good at bathing me,” Aves winked flirtatiously at Hessa as she found new conviction in Hessa’s embarrassment. Aves was able to contain her laughter even more as she saw Hessa squirm a little at the direction of the conversation as she continued, “and it was a little thrilling back in Ellsted to have someone else in my tub with me.” Aves smiled coyly at Hessa as she watched her blush flood down from her face and spill onto her bosom.

“I…I never...never knew you thought like that.” Hessa exclaimed completely embarrassed and somewhat flattered.

Hessa’s comment bypassed Aves’ new found convictions and she burst out laughing. She giggled playfully as she blurted, “oh you are such a card love. I can’t say honestly that the thought didn’t pass through my mind before, but that is was all that it was. A thought, please don’t worry about it.” Aves said as she tried to sooth Hessa’s shock and dread.

“Who said I was worried?” Hessa commented as she tried to regain her composure. Aves felt Hessa’s eyes fall across her exposed flesh and was unsure if Hessa’s eyes moved unbidden or not. Hessa sighed deeply before she changed the topic of the discussion, “What is your problem with Jaconis? Why do you let him bother you so badly?”

“Why shouldn’t I?” Aves answered. “He’s a pig and he’s greedy to boot. I was there remember? I saw how he looked at you as we traveled to the council hall. He had the leering look of a jackal before it eats its prey. Not to mention how angry he got when you interfered with his plans with Hornshir’s council before he had a chance to really pursue them.”

Hessa giggled delighted at the memory of her exploits as if she was hearing about someone else. “Aye, it was a fun day in that respect. Did you notice the look on his face when I advised the head elder of Hornshir to regard Jaconis’ words with doubt and to weigh their true meaning before he replied? It was completely priceless!”

“That it was.” Aves smiled as she wrapped her towel around her hair. She heard Hessa rise to leave her tub and deftly moved out of her way to give her room, but she stayed close enough to be within easy reach of her. “Let me help you.” Aves offered and before Hessa could argue she had stepped over and placed a towel about Hessa’s waist. Aves’ hands moved swiftly over Hessa’s stomach and sides as she dried her former maid diligently.

“I can do this by myself you know.” Hessa commented as she looked down at Aves’ bare back and arms.
“
I know that, silly. I just wanted to see how it felt to be the servant instead of the mistress.” Aves smiled up at Hessa and sat down at her feet. Aves swiveled her hips as she was sitting so that Hessa’s feet were between her own legs. Once she was settled, Aves reached her hands up to Hessa’s pelvis and started drying her groin.

“Why?” Hessa whispered softly as she felt Aves’ caress. Images of half formed dreams raced through Hessa’s mind making her more confused than she already was.

“Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to be the mayor’s daughter?” Aves asked Hessa as she dried the inside of her thighs and then worked her way down her legs to her calves.

Hessa closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of being pampered as she answered Aves’ question. “Aye, I have often wondered that. But that is not how things are.” She steeled herself against Aves’ ploys and then stepped away from Aves quickly. She strode over to their bed leaving Aves on the floor by the tub alone.

“I’m sorry Hessa. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to see how it felt…to know what you go through…to experience things a little differently.” Aves confided, yet her tone betrayed her sadness. “I’m sorry if I upset you.”

“I know what you were doing…and I’m not upset.” Hessa drew her night shirt on over her head and then turned to face her mistress. She took in Aves’ nakedness and the hurt look on her face. Aves’ body was slumped almost as if she had been physically struck. She sat in a small puddle of water that had splashed out of the tub that her back was to and she looked up into Hessa’s eyes with a lost and wounded stare. “Stand up and let me dress you.” Hessa said as she allowed a small smile to crease her lips.

“No.” Aves replied obstinately.

“Why not?” Hessa asked, a little surprised by Aves’ answer, while she grabbed Aves’ night shirt from off of the bed. With night shirt in hand, Hessa turned and walked over to Aves.

“Because I offended you, that’s why not.” Aves retorted.

“Forget about it, please. Besides Jaconis made me feel worse today, but I’m not sulking about anything that he did to me, am I?” Hessa returned somewhat jovially.

“No…I guess not.” Aves stood up grudgingly and lifter her arms up to make it easier for Hessa to pull the night shirt over her head. Once Hessa was finished fussing with the night shirt, Aves walked over to their bed. “Besides we’ve had a hard day and another one ahead of us.” Aves said glumly as she climbed under the covers.

“Forget tomorrow for now.” Hessa cooed to Aves soothingly. “The next few weeks will prove to be hard enough without us dreading them before they even happen.” Hessa let Aves get comfortable under the covers before she crawled into bed beside her. A pit formed in Hessa’s stomach as she felt Aves’ arm wrap around her in a firm embrace. Hessa lay quietly listening to the steady rhythm of Aves’ breath. Hessa struggled with her own thoughts as she noticed her mistress drop off into a deep slumber. ‘Aves, how are we going to survive?’ Hessa thought to herself as she drifted off to sleep as well.