dawn of ancient fire

Chapter 4

Cadoc watched Marlowe rush out of the training room.She was easily worked up. He looked over and saw Morana and the man whispering to each other.

" Well, that was fun. Anyone for another round?" he asked them both, pulling their attention to him. They paused, and morana looked him over again. The woman had been eying him all morning, though he couldn't tell if it was to eat or play with, he didn't like it either way, But he'd play along, see how far he could push to get info on Marlowe from her.

She smiled at him and sauntered over, placing her hand on his shoulder.

" How about we take a walk, sailor." she steered him out the training room doors,two guards following close behind as she directed him to an alcove in the hall outside.

" I didn't mention that I'm a sailor."

" You didn't have to; I've been to the north." she paused. " I met with the leader of the clan of stars once. I would've stayed if I could." her eyes were far away, like she was trying to find that place in the distance.

" Why didn't you?" he pushed

" stay? It's a long boring story that I'd rather not discuss right now."

" Well if you're worried you'll scare me off, I promise, if I run I'll take you with me." he gave her a wink and a smile.

" Oh honey, you won't be running anytime soon." They sat at the little table in the alcove, a garden sprawled outside the window beside them. Was there a single place here not covered in ivy and moss? he could appreciate the beauty, but it was like staying in a shrub. he expected to see bugs crawling from the bushes on the walls anytime he turned around! but it was better than the slums. ideally, he'd rather be sailing far away, back home. home wasn't an option for him anymore, however, not any time soon.

" So, Mor, why all the secretive talk?" he eyed the two guards now blocking them from outside eyes, coincidentally blocking them from leaving as well.

"I was hoping we could get to know each other better. " leaning forward on her crossed elbows. He let out a booming laugh and raised his eyebrow " you don't stop, do you? I like you Morana, you remind me of me."

"Your favorite subject I'm sure. I like this place, nice and quiet, empty, not many people come by the training rooms at this time of day." she replied, giving him a look from the corner of her eye. Reaching her hand forward to grip his own

" And why would you want so much secrecy?" he pushed further, she was dancing around the questions.

" oh, just so you and I can talk, make sure we're clear about a few things."

" such as?"

"Marlowe has worked very hard to get to her position, you will not ruin it for her." she dug her nails into his hand, the slight pain took him by surprise.

" Is that so?" he tried to pull his hand away, the pain increased with every tug.

" Yes, do you want to know why I think you won't?" she leaned closer to him, he broke eye contact to inspect his hand trapped in her claws. Actual claws! tiny blades were slipped over the tips of her fingers, sharp and precise. Digging further and further into his hand.

" Sure, I'd love to." he tried to stay calm but the pain grew worse, something had to be coating the blades, a sting started from the wounds, traveling up his hand to his wrist.

" she intrigues you and you want to find out more, and that won't happen if you fuck this up." she emphasized her words with little digs into his hand, droplets of blood swelled and spilled onto the glass table top. "You'll soon realize that being near Marlowe will have its benefits, very soon." she withdrew her hand with a flourish. He snapped it to his chest. Inspecting the four tiny wounds. Small black lines branched off of each, little lines of venom that stung as they kept making their way up his hand.

" don't worry, the venom will dissipate soon, the reminder will stay though, the venom was merely to insure scarring. A gift from me." she gave him another wink.

He huffed and looked out the window. A large tree stood at the center of the gardens, Easily half the size of the castle. thousands of fireflies weaved in and out from behind leaves and branches. huge fungi made a sort of natural staircase to a small temple to shinos within the branches. He had quickly learned that the people revered shinos for the gifts the god bestowed upon their royal family. no other god was represented or worshiped within city walls. worship of other gods was held under secret. As he observed the gardens he contemplated Moranas words. 'By marlowes side, we will all prosper.'

" What do you mean, about Marlowe?"

" The gods gave me a gift, albeit a weak one. I see glimpses here and there of what's to come, sometimes within hours, sometimes within years of the seeing. but they always come to pass, something sleeps within her." he recoiled from the woman, he had been too quick to dismiss her he realized.

" seers were put to death years ago, how have you survived?" He was suspicious of the woman, a snake yes but now a snake with a secret that could kill not only her but anyone associated with her. The law bade whoever found any persons practicing magic outside of the royal bloodline to do as they wished to the person with no consequence.

" Simple, only one person knows, and I have confidence she would never betray me."

" Marlowe..."

"Yes, consider this a gift, do with it as you will, turn me in or keep my secret, I trust your morals, although you're a crime lord, you have a secret as well, something worse than just the base pleasures you peddle and kill for. The olive branch has been metaphorically extended. Do you take it?" she had a point, telling him this gave him a power over her he didn't have before. And if he was being honest, he wanted to see how this played out.

" I'll take it but if I fucking die because of this morana ill haunt you." he turned and pushed past the guards. Leaving the weird dangerous woman to her schemes.

As he stalked down the hallway toward his shared rooms, he contemplated the information given. Whatever was sleeping in Marlowe had to be a pretty big deal. He had hoped anyway. He nodded to the guards as he approached and opened the door to her room, only to find it empty.
Where had his little dove flitted off too?
He called out for her but no reply came. No cold but lovely voice to be heard. He walked to her wash room but still no trace of her.

He hummed and flopped down onto her bed. The mattress was pointedly smaller than his, the room itself as well. Obviously, this room was still large by normal standards but was probably reserved for the lady in waiting for whatever noble lady was to occupy his rooms. He lay there for a while thinking of what he would do when she walked in, deciding to let her see him lying on her bed and watch her face flush red with anger. She had yet to actually yell at him, maybe this would do the trick. He imagined what he'd say to her

" Hello dove, I've been waiting for you, come lay next to me and we'll chat."
Then he would smile at her and she would probably throw him off her bed and into his room. He could be kinder to the girl. Aside from the knife in his ribs shed done nothing outwardly offensive to him. Besides, he had been held at knife point by many people. One of which he considered his closest friend here in Kavan. Oh, and the boot.... he felt the back of his head absently where a large bump had formed. He chuckled to himself. Of all the things. He had been treated with swords, Bested with pistols, hell a pissed off prostitute had thrown a hot iron at him once when he came up short on coin, But no one had ever thrown a boot at him. He supposed he deserved it. He wasn't always this roughish, however, the color that crept over her face when she was mad delighted him. Then there was the intriguing bit of information from morana. What was he to do about Marlowe, he would need to get a letter to his team about this new bit of info, and a way to stick with her for as long as possible, without the threat of his death. He had some sway with her, if for no other reason then he was starting to get under her skin. He'd have to find a way to strike a deal with her, she knew he would need his help eventually, and he knew she didn't really want to kill him, he just had to find his angle.

He meandered with his thoughts until they brought him to sleep. A sleep that was comfortable and dreamless for once. Eventually the sound of that god forsaken clock chimed the hour and woke him up. The sun streamed on through the windows. He slept in her bed the whole night. He looked around expecting to see her. But he was still alone.