Pawn, volume 1 of Different Worlds

26. Buds night out

POV: Aisha

The intense pain and slight blood loss proves to be troublesome as I feel the need to lay down or puke from time to time. After further inspection, I still didn't understand how I wasn't dead because of the projectile whilst Kalatril was mostly relieved. He has already tried convincing me to make a detour to a temple but I placate each argument: even the priests that presume being loyal cannot be trusted in those times.
It's only when Kalatril's nagging started to hurt my ears that I finally accept staying at an in for a while. Not only would we both get proper rest and maybe some treatment under the pretense of a bad fall, no one would expect us to stay around the area so we'd lay low for a bit.

If it were up to Kalatril, I would be keeping my mouth shut whilst he wonders why no one is taking us in. If being key here because I intend to not get either of us caught. Contrarily to my travel companion I am more aware of all different kinds of procedures within military operations—even if he was a soldier—and not taking them under consideration has landed us behind bars with a sadist and a high ranked officer. Not making that mistake again.

-What do you mean I need to be a woman?

Ah, yes. That is the one part of my trustworthy plan that makes it trustworthy. Since by now a general alert has been sent out that a boy and a girl are on the loose, no one would let us in even with our usual disguises—in fact, they would even report us if we were to suspicious. Why Granny taught me all this is not of my concern right now but if we were on good terms and I could talk to her, I might thank her for the harsh lessons I have insured. I didn't like the idea of reading over and over History books at the time and still don't but if I've learned anything, it's that women are nearly always underestimated. Proof? People are assuming without question that Kalatril is the chief—not saying I am— when it's his hand that was found laying in the woods and not mine.

-Well since you're so good at the divine arts it would work better and I've already told you disguising as two friends that strayed from their village is better than two men that got lost hunting.

-But I don't have clothes adapted for that, whereas you could easily pose as a slightly scrawny guy if you button up your jacket and hide your bra.

My choice of style seems to have been weighing on Kalatril's mind for a bit because he looks away like a prude when saying so and I'd probably tease him for blushing if we were in different circumstances.
But one fact remains, he is right on that point, our clothes don't look very "womanly" at all: they would be too baggy for Kalatrila and my outfit didn't outline my curves, at the exception, maybe, of my pants.

-Fine then Kalatril, lets just move on to our tour around the Empire and forget about this idea of yours.

Kalatril doesn't even say anything and glares at me in a way that gets me thinking he may not be as calm as he wants to appear. His expression represents a clear 'no' to my proposal and I regret letting him get the best of me a while ago and making me pinky swear. That damn kind-hearted individual.

-Do you even have an idea that might work in this situation? We cant show up together and you dont want to—realization dawns upon me and my friend sees it too as i do my best not to ridicule myself, which is why I will go a few hours before you do and we'll pretend to get to know each over later when we morning comes.

Kalatril does his best to hide a—dare I say—smirk, but fails miserably with for only answer a sharp hiss that takes the both of us off guard.
What that was I have no idea, but I silently promise myself to look into it later and think thoroughly about reasons, I'm not ready to become a cat.