Faerunners

The Counterattack

Bonnie took him all over the city. There wasn’t an inn, restaurant or bar that they didn’t visit, no music that they didn’t dance to, no stories they didn’t share. Day faded to night and the Fae made good on their promise; they didn’t let the night end. After a few drinks, stories fell from the gambler easily and Tallis listened as they told him all about growing up in the winter clans, struggling to find their path in life, and eventually settling on making a career out of cards and dice.

They sat together in the high branches of the city. The wood here had been formed into seats and railings overlooking the forest. Tallis smiled as the sun painted the tree tops in gold. “It’s hard to imagine that drinking and gambling is a real job out here.”

Bonnie rolled up their sleeve, showing off a tattoo on their forearm. It was a simple piece in black ink with heavy lines, but you could see from across the room that it was a joker from a standard deck of cards.

They slapped the tattoo. “Yup. The sages had a fancier name for it but I think I like professional gambler more. Makes it sound more official than following the Path of the Rambler.”

“I don’t know,” said Tallis, taking a sip of their latest bottle of wine. It was treating him much better than the hard liquor. “Path of the Rambler has a certain poetic feel to it, doesn’t it? It’s a bit more romantic. Professional anything just sounds so cold.”

They took the bottle from him and ran a thumb over the label. “Can’t believe the only wine you liked was the one we give to children.”

He shrugged. “Well, you said the one rule was that you wouldn’t take care of me if I made myself sick. Everything else you brew here is too strong.”

“So, tell me, what were you in your past life if the daintiest wines are too strong for you and the word professional makes your skin crawl?”

“I don’t know if I’d say past life exactly. It really wasn’t that long ago.”

“You’re dodging the question. I’ve done nothing but tell you stories all night. Your turn. You owe me.”

“And one answer will cover all of that? It doesn’t seem like a fair trade.”

“You can owe me for the rest. Answer.”

He took a deep breath and let it slowly, gazing out over the horizon and avoiding eye contact. “I was an Agent, an administrative assistant for Cold Iron if you want to be precise about it. Professional paper filer and form filler.”

“Sounds painfully boring.”

He took his children’s wine back and finished the bottle, shocked that they weren’t upset. “You’re taking the news well.”

“Should I get mad instead? Would you prefer I ruin the wonderful time we’ve had and throw you from the city?”

“I would really prefer it if you didn’t.”

“Right. It wouldn’t help anything. No sense getting upset over it. Before I found my calling I walked the Path of the Hunter, the Path of The Seeker, and the Path of the Corsair. It took me a long time to find what I was meant for.”

Setting his empty bottle down, Tallis leaned over the railing in front of him and shook his head. “At least you know. I just feel ... lost.”

“We can fix that. Wherever there’s Fae in any numbers, there’s a sage or two around.”

“What the hell, why not?” They stood and a scream like twisting metal echoed from the forest below. He caught Bonnie by the arm and stopped short. “Might have to wait on that. We need to find my friends.”