Shapeless Hero

52 - Temporary Twins

"We cleared the caves.", one of the coast rangers announces at their return to the campfire. "But we couldn't find your quest assistant."

Sterl stands up and brushes off some dirt from the last few minutes of sitting. "Well shit. What now?"

"She either got kidnapped, escaped the assassinations, or was killed.", the ranger responds matter-of-factly. "Let's get back and take care of the paperwork. Quickly, if possible. We have a search to start."

Once everyone is done with packing, the coast rangers activate the stairs of light that lead back to the cave entrance and we ascend the vertical tunnel. The wall of rock partridges parts in the middle so we can exit. The biggest of the birds eyes me as I pass. I try to ignore it, hoping it won't care to investigate. Thankfully, it stays silent, but I notice its expression change from entertaining suspicion to just being entertained. Another loose end I can't do much about. How do spies get around with all this magic in their way?

I get to enjoy the warmth that comes with the fur of an arctic fox-kin while we head back to the guild. All the while, I experience Tyllat's cliff-side from the perspective of a yard-tall creature, making the rocky giants look even more imposing than they already are.

"Is there a way we could split off from the group before we enter the guild?", I ask Liszka in her mother tongue, making sure the rangers and Sterl's group don't catch what I say.

Liszka hums for a few heartbeats before answering. "I have nothing. At least in my experience, if they want us around during the paperwork, wandering off before that will just make us look suspicious." She pauses for effect. "But I can claim that we share a room at least?"

"Oh, that might work actually. They'll have to go through the guildmaster, before they can interrogate us, no?"

"That's how it worked where I'm from, at least."

I note, how she said "worked" and not "work". What in the name of the gods did happen to her home? I don't know much about her, besides her skills. And the fact, she new the wolf-kin assassins just spawns more questions. Not that I'm any better with my otherworldly origins though.

"Isn't the rest of the guild staff a problem?", I ask.

"Shouldn't be. I've been here for only a few days. And..." Her eyes wander off in sad contemplation. "The guild branch that would know a lot about me isn't around anymore." Her gaze returns to me. "So a twin sister of mine isn't too hard to sell as a story."

"If we follow that story, wouldn't they ask why you brought me with you?"

"Maybe, but it's not unheard of to bring additional help. The helpers just don't get payed." She grins. "So you won't get payed and the rest gets a better share, including me. Consider it the fee for being my sister."

"Gods! Who do I have to marry to escape your family fee?"

"Oh, dear sister! I could never disown and abandon you, no matter how horrid your taste in  partners is!"

#

Kella keeps a neutral expression. The coast rangers have returned. Alive. That doesn't bode well. She only sees Sterl's party and the new arrival, the arctic fox-kin, who for some reason joined them. That Fylka is nowhere to be seen though.

"I think I have bad news for you, commander.", Kella comments.

The commander turns around on her bar stool and leans with her back against the counter, eyeing the returning group. Her gaze rests on the two arctic fox-kin. She chuckles. "No, no bad news here. Just let the two fox-kins leave and everything will be alright."

Kella raises a brow. "Are you sure?"

The commander takes a sip of her drink before answering. "Absolutely. I'll stick around as backup, but prepare for a redecoration of your guild-hall, should it not work out."

Kella groans. All she can do is trust the commander's word for now. The guildmaster comes around from behind the counter to greet the coast rangers, her tone cold. "Found what you needed?"

"We found more than we wanted. Wolf-kin assassins in the beginner-caves.", one of the rangers answers. A couple of idling adventurers, plus Kella and the commander, show surprise.

"How the hells did they make it to the cave? And why?", Kella asks.

"That's what we want to know. We'd like to question the adventurers..." Noting Kella's glare, the ranger quickly adds: "...here in the guild. Can you make sure, they don't go anywhere for the time being?"

Kella shares the curiosity of the rangers, so she chooses to not resist their requests this time. "Will do." She turns to Sterl's group and the two fox-kin. "Sorry for that, but go to you rooms please."

Sterl salutes. "Yes, ma'am. C'mon guys."

The two fox-kin merely nod to the guildmaster after a small exchange of words in their native language and head to their lodgings.

"Well, as a commander, I should volunteer to guard the doors at least."

"Much appreciated.", one of the rangers respond, even bowing. Kella's world view almost crumbles, seeing the rangers being so humble for the first time.

The commander stands up to leave. "Can't sit and drink all day, can I?"

#

Liszka and I walk up the stairs. The silence is quickly dispersed by the heavy steps of the commander catching up to us, as I notice a bit late.

"Twins, huh?", she asks.

"Yep.", we both respond in unison.

The commander scoffs. "Good answer."

"Although, one is more hungry than the other.", I add. "As in, I'm so hungry, I could eat two legs and copious amounts of hair."

Both the commander and Liszka look at me like I turned inside out.

"I need biomass, so I can grow back.", I explain away the awkward line, I delivered.

The commander nods in understanding after a few heartbeats . "I see to it. An extra big plate for you then."

I sigh in relief. "Thank you."

We stop in front of Liszka's room. Liszka looks increasingly panicked, as she rummages her inventory, but eventually a relieved expression settles on her face. With the retrieved key, she opens the door and the two of us enter. I am disappointed to see the room void of decoration or touch of personality. Then again, this an inn meant for a few days of rest, not months. 

"It might have to wait till after the interrogation though. You both better figure out your story for the rangers.", the commander adds, before closing the door and leaving us to ourselves.

A/N Part 2: Time flew by and I haven't updated within "a few days" as I stated in the original Author's note below. I sincerely apologize for that. 

What was originally meant as a little polish for the existing chapters of the story turned into a rework of the whole thing. 

So yeah, I'm still working on it! However, I'll publish the rework as a new story due to the significant changes in plot etc. Doesn't feel right to keep the likes/stars if it changed that much either, haha.

A/N: I'll be revising older parts of the story, in hopes to up the quality a bit, before publishing new stuff. There might be a delay of a few days before the next chapter appears.