KARI
Lana kissed Sylis on the cheek as she gathered the rest of her things and left. Her spirits were higher than had been in a long while, but it still didn’t mean she was going to return to the guild.
Earlier in the day, Lana had entered the Bringers of Hope to retrieve her items. No longer in debt, and expecting a child, she was happy to be free of Rasuvius. However her leaving was much to the displeasure of Sylis.
It had been three days since the King’s Hunt, a banner still hanging in the entry hall in celebration of the guild’s win that Lana and her guild mates had achieved. The past few days, Sylis had been trying to persuade Lana to return, at least at night. But she refused.
“What about us?” he had asked the first night after her stay at Rin’s.
“What about us?” Lana questioned back. She knew if she stayed, she’d get roped into further missions. “I’m not forcing ya to sleep at the guild. That’s your choice if ya want to stay here.”
“Well, it’d make me feel better if you stayed or at the least didn’t sleep at his place,” Sylis muttered bitterly, avoiding Rin’s name. He continued to make his opinions known as Lana laced up her boots. Once ready to leave, Lana grabbed Sy’s face and kissed him firmly. He relaxed at her affection and when she withdrew she told him she’d see him in the morning.
Lana made sure to spend time with the Wizard each day. She still had her training, let alone whatever antics they found themselves in. Yesterday they had reached the top of a clock tower. The view was breathtaking, though Lana’s lips curled as she recalled Sylis’s kisses along her neck. Still, she returned again to Rin’s at the end of the day.
It annoyed Lana that the one person who could anger her so quickly was someone she somehow needed. Like a drug, she thought as she shouldered her pack and quietly left the room. She was still in her fancy dress, her hair a mess from their bedroom games. The entire day seemed surreal.
Lana was making her point more clear about her desire to be as withdrawn from the guild as possible, by gathering her gear from her room. Sylis had an appointment and Lana took that opportunity to get in without another argument of staying.
As she entered the room, she was surprised to find gifts arranged for her. A box wrapped in a tulle ribbon laid on the bed and a bottle of cider with a single flute and card were on the bedside table. Lana snatched the card up, wondering what new antic Sylis was up to in his attempts to reclaim her in his bed, but was surprised to find the note a mere invitation from the new guild member, Kari Fayre.
Lana read the note twice, perplexed by the invitation to join the Tiefling for dinner. It was refreshing to have had another lady fight alongside her during the King’s Hunt, but she had thought she left a terrible impression upon the woman.
“You are to return to the guild now!” Kari had instructed when Don revealed the truth of her pregnancy to the group.
“I can’t,” Lana responded through gritted teeth, “If I don’t participate, I won’t earn my share of the winnings that’ll pay off the debt I owe.”
“You can have mine,” the Tiefling insisted.
“I don’t take charity,” Lana lied. She mostly didn’t want to be told what to do. She was fully aware of the risk she was taking with her child.
“And if you die, the child does too! We might not be able to resurrect both you if that happens!” she said adamantly. Part of Lana was touched that she cared about her and the baby’s safety, but at the mention of being spared death, Lana’s fury erupted.
“Good! If I die, I don’t want to be resurrected! It was resurrection that has me in this hell right now!”
Lana hadn’t meant for the words to be implied about the child, but about the madness she had endured since Rasuvius administered a potion to her over two months ago. Her emotions had a mind of their own and her enjoyment of killing folk warred for control within her. Lana couldn’t bare another revival if that was the price to pay for renewed life.
Kari seemed to hate Lana or thought that she was unsuitable for a mother. So it made her nervous to be asked on a date by the Tiefling. Still, she couldn’t help but look at the dress that the note implied was in the box.
It was of extraordinary quality. Silks embroidered with intricate details and exotic beads shimmered up at her. A pale green dress, that complimented her eyes, with silver accents, fit for someone rich, someone noble. As Lana held it up, a few ladies knocked at the door. They were there to help her prepare.
The gown hung from her slim form perfectly. Lana almost didn’t recognize herself staring back when she looked in the mirror after the work the girls had done. It was as though she evolved into a princess. If only...
Lana then went down stairs to the carriage awaiting her. She climbed in, Kari already seated inside.
“Well aren’t you a pretty thing,” the Tiefling commented with a faint smile. Lana rolled her eyes a little. How could someone not be beautiful in the dress she wore? "I hope you are ready to feast and be entertained,” Kari continued after a long drag on her pipe. She blew a puff of smoke out of the window before adding, “There is a show being played at the De'Maurus La Frunn tonight and I couldn’t think of a more fitting place to get to know you.”
Lana furrowed her brows questioningly. Thoughts of caution lit her mind up. Was this a friendly ‘get to know you’ or an interrogation? Her nervousness worked up, but she figured she’d put on an act. With a smile she replied, “Well that sounds fun! This is rather generous of ya to go to all this fuss on me.” Kari laughed, Lana’s facade dropping.
“Tell me then, why are ya getting into guild work when you’re clearly loaded?” she asked icily.
“Oh child, I have yet to spend a silver coin,” Kari chuckled. She then explained to Lana that she is the first born of the House of Fayre, a fashion empire that Lana somehow managed to not know. Then again, she was still very new to the big city, having only had her freedom for a little over six months.
Their chit chat continued back and forth, melting the initial tension between them. Lana found herself feeling rather comfortable with Kari. She had only known girls, and even then, girls with varying mental illnesses. Kari’s maturity and wit was something to be desired.
“I think I’m really going to enjoy having another lady around to talk with,” Lana commented as she leaned back in her seat, “I might actually miss the guild some. It’d be fun to show the guys up. The two of us.”
“So you have quit? You were rather brave out there the other day, despite that pit you fell in. I was rather impressed,” Kari complemented, “A bit feral, but none the less fearless.” Lana had smiled brightly at the praise, but her face became sullen.
“Hardly fearless,” she mumbled.
“You took down two Centaurs with a dagger.”
“Don’s friend was in trouble.”
“Deary, we all saw your fit of madness. You enjoy stealing life from the living,” Kari pointed out. Lana felt ice form inside her. Was this the reason of their date? Did the Tiefling single her out to blackmail her? Lana vainly attempted to keep her composure.
“N-no I don’t,” her dry mouth spoke.
“Sure you don’t.”
“I don’t,” Lana said more indignantly.
“Hey, you’re welcome to use the mask of ‘killing bad guys’,” Kari went on, emphasising her statement with her fingers, “but to be honest, I don’t think it’s a flaw against you either. It’s what makes you so fascinating. A feral beauty.”
“I’m not feral!” Lana snapped. Her mind worked rapidly. Where was Kari going with her observation? She didn’t want to be thought of as a cold blooded murderer. There was nothing enjoyable about the torture she conducted on her victims- though with the stress of the situation, part of her began to entertain the idea of stabbing Kari a few times. Maybe then she’d feel her anguish.
Suddenly her mother’s words came mind: The truth will set you free. Lana swallowed hard and, coupled with a look, let out a sigh of defeat. Carefully, she divulged what had happened to her, explaining further all she knew about her post resurrection. “If things keep going as they are... it’ll be the asylum again for me.”
A mirthless laugh escaped Lana as she realized what she had confessed. “Well, I guess there ya have it. I’m crazy by the way.”
Kari sat composed, looking regal as her champagne colored gown glowed against her skin. She looked out the window, letting another puff of smoke escape and commenting that they were nearly there. Lana’s stomach stirred with anticipation. What did the Tiefling think? What judgement would she pass?
“I was sent to spy on the guild,” Kari announced. Lana cocked her head.
“What?”
“Your first question. I never answered it. And with the secrets you’ve divulged, it’s only fair I share some of my own. You and your group have accomplished some great feats. My family wants to see how serious you all are.”
“Right... Seems odd for people in fashion to worry over us, doesn’t it?”
Kari chuckled, taking another drag from her pipe. “You’re welcome to ask me any questions you want,” came the Tiefling’s reply, “You’ve earned that right.”
Lana thought for a bit. She wanted to pursue more information about the spying, but at the same time, there was something familiar in Kari’s eyes that Lana knew all too well. She was hiding something.
“What do ya regret most?”
A stiff smile formed on Kari’s lips as she withdrew into her thoughts.
“Being born a Tiefling,” came her curt reply.
The carriage came to a stop as Lana asked, “Why?” Sure Kari was different in looks, but for all Lana cared, she was beautiful and stood out.
“Don’t worry your pretty little mind about it. For tonight, we are celebrating you.”
The carriage door was opened, preventing Lana from pestering. To further distract her, Kari summoned in front of Lana a tiara and adorned her head with it.
“Tonight, you get to be whoever you want to be,” Kari instructed.
Childlike giddiness warmed the insides of Lana. Whatever intent Kari had didn’t matter, for it was the escape she had been desiring. Even if it was temporary, when she stepped from the compartment into the twilight, she was Lana, sister of Kari Fayre, heiress to the noble House. No longer was she the crazy orphan girl, desiring to kill. For the hours she was with Kari, her old self was dead.
The euphoria of forgetting her faults lingered well into the night. When Sylis returned to the guild, he walked in to find the pair of women in a fit of giggles as Kari painted Lana’s nails. Upon seeing the Wizard, the Tiefling quickly made her exit, leaving the lovers to their time of bliss.
Lana explained that the fanciness was all Kari’s doing. “She just wanted to get to know me better. Have a girls night really. I think she’d like it if I remained apart of the guild,” she said.
“As would I,” Sylis responded. Lana smirked not bothering to answer. Dinner had elevated her mood and she wasn’t about to let it be soured with a redundant argument.
Only when Lana knew Sylis was deeply asleep did she get out of bed. She felt bad to leave him without good bye, her heart full, but she really didn’t want to stay any longer in the guild than she already had. It was unfortunate Sylis didn’t like Rin better. Maybe then they could share the Halfling’s place. Maybe then everything would be perfect.
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