To Rhial

49

Desmond

I was in the clinic, pacing as Miriel finished fixing Brenden's hand. "We've gotta go, like, now. There's no time to bullshit around."

"Yes, I am very aware of that, but if Brenden will not wake, then you cannot leave."

"Dude, I'll throw him in the fuckin' wagon and tell him he passed out drunk, I don't care. I'd just like to know why nobody told me 'bout this Richard asshole."

"Desmond, will you please let me focus and fix Brenden. If Richard was coming straight for us in the city, we would know by now. We aren't in immediate danger, he doesn't know anything aside from your aliases and stage costumes. I've heard Madam Diona is leaving Fera in charge of her businesses here as she moves on elsewhere, but we're still not leaving until Brenden wakes up."

"I get it, you got no skin in the game but I'm not about to risk our lives 'cause he ain't awake yet. I ain't got nothin' against y'all, but if it's between bringin' the new friends along and gettin' out alive, Imma worry 'bout gettin' out alive. You guys can catch up."

She gave me a condescending look, the same kinda one that she always gave when she was gonna critique some frustrating difference between the jorlad and nyadin. "Rushing will do nothing for us here. Lord Hallax said we can leave tomorrow. Don't forget, Desmond, he saw my face too. I don't want to be here as much as you, but without Madam Diona here, he has no leads. We'll be out quickly tomorrow."

"Uh-huh. And Dex? Is he coming? He gonna be a dick the whole time?"

She sighed. "I know how you feel about him, but will it hurt to be civil until all of us are safe?"

"He's the one who attacked Brenden first. And now that y'all are a thing, he might have his panties in a bunch."

"He'll be fine. Zerick gave me his word that Dex would be civil."

"Good. This Richard guy... he say anything weird?"

"Everything he said was odd."

"Okay, I guess a second question. You ever heard of somebody named Richard before?"

"No, I haven't. Wait, do you think I know him?"

"That's my point. But you know who does know a shitload of Richards? These motherfuckers right here." I pointed to me and Brenden.

Miriel, looked up at me for a moment before returning to healing Brenden. "You think Richard is another person from your world?"

"You got a better guess? From what Brenden said, he sounds very old fashioned."

"Brenden said the same thing, but antiquated speech is considered a matter of prestige for Triali speakers."

"Oh, no. I was thinking that because of how he sounds like he hates women. It seems like that's a pretty foreign thing here."

"Is that common where you're from?"

"For someone who calls himself Richard, not a nickname of it, and is apparently old enough to be playin' SkyBlock up there, it sounds pretty on brand. Might also have somebody up there who recognized the music we're rippin' off and sent him to track us down or somethin'."

She nodded intellectually for the first part of that, then halted, raising an eyebrow. "Is none of the music your own?"

"Be real, Miriel. Do you honestly think we'd be able to come up with all that?"

"I did. I thought it was admirable."

Admirable. Fuck. I definitely lost some points for Brenden there. Why's that sting so bad, though?