Behind the Mask | Garroth x Reader

| Part Thirty Three | Guards and Intentions |

"So," Lady Aphmau shifts to lean against the helm of the ship. "I spotted that look on your face when Garroth gave you that ring." This woman did not waste a single moment. As soon as we had pulled away from the docks she started up.

I glance back to the shore, spotting Garroth standing on the dock watching us as we sail towards Brightport. I turn my attention to the ring he had put on my finger.

"It's not what you think. He said it was for protection." Lady Aphmau laughed and left her spot at the helm to make her way over. She took my hand into hers and lifted it to look at the ring.

"This looks like a wedding ring if I've ever seen one. Maybe he was protecting you from any unruly men." Her giggles only made my face burn at the thought. She would take a seat at my side and lean against me.

"I am going to be honest with you, Y/N, there is something special between the two of you. I don't want you to rush anything but you should take advantage of the opportunity while you have it." She looks down at our hands and gently squeezes them. "Our little village is always quite busy and I feel like things are never guaranteed. We should take advantage of these peaceful times when we have the chance."

She was right. Between Zane, the attacks on the village, and the threat that Garroth may be taken away from us, I shouldn't hesitate. With his situation, I doubt Zane would stop his pursuit even if Garroth were wed. I might actually be hunted down and sent to an early grave if it meant ensuring Garroth could marry this mystery fiancé of his. Maybe we should take another step.

"Wait, 'we'?" I turn my head towards Lady Aphmau who put a finger to her lips.

"Since Laurance has been staying with me, I've gotten to know him more, and even though he was blind, he was rather open when he spoke with me. It felt genuine unlike his flirtatious remarks before." She tilts her head back to look up at the sky. "I don't know what it is, but I do enjoy our talks. He makes even the heaviest thoughts seem lighter. I think I'll get to know him better. He is a bit bolder now that he has his sight back, and Garroth isn't too keen on keeping a shadow knight around, but something inside me says that I can trust him."

I didn't give her a chance to just walk away after she let go of my hand. I had known that Garroth was skeptical about letting Laurance stay. But not that they had gotten closer. Memories of the attack on the village still lingered. I could still feel the heat from the flames.

"Lady Aphmau, you must be careful. Shadow Knights are powerful, Hell, Garroth had even struggled against Zenix and was injured in the process. Laurance is already a well-trained guard, who knows what that power mixed with prior experience will do." She smiles and nods her head.

"I know you're worried, I have people who rely on me. I can't just throw my life away. Levin needs a mother, the village needs their Lord. And Laurance needs a friend, a light to guide him fully out of the darkness Ungrth pulled him from." She keeps her attention on the water, keeping the ship steady. There was more to her words that she wasn't sharing.

"I'm glad you're thinking logically." I make my way to her side and nudge her arm playfully. "You will tell me if anything develops, right?" She lets out a chuckle and nudges me back.

"Only if you share your developments with Garroth."

"Deal."

---

Lady Aphmau has never been the best at docking ships. I was reminded of this as she scraped the side of the boat into the docks of Brightport. A memory of a far worse crash had briefly come to mind. The day I left home Lady Aphmau had brought us to Phoenix Drop by boat. I'm honestly surprised I fell back asleep so quickly after. I don't think that boat still exists anymore.

I loop my arm around Kiki and approach Lady Aphmau and Azure who were already speaking. Their words didn't come through to me as I realized how warm Kiki was. Her fever was getting worse and she seemed more exhausted than before. 

"Lady Aphmau, we must hurry to the wolf tribe." Once we are there I can properly treat her. I know she won't relax again until she gets there, so we will have to make that our top priority. Lady Aphmau turns and sees Kiki's paling complexion.

"Right away. Thank you Azure." She waves goodbye and joins me to carry Kiki. "Don't panic, but Zane has been here. He left with Lord Burt for a village called Pikoro and left his guards here to 'protect' Brightport after an accident happened during a training exercise." I can tell by Lady Aphmau's tone alone that she knew there was more to it if Zane was involved.

"Kiki needs help. And honestly, I don't know what these guards will do if they see the three of us." The lord of the village his brother serves, the woman who holds his heart, and a woman Zane possibly might be interested in. If I were these guards we wouldn't be leaving this town once we step in. "We should go around if possible. Being spo-"

"What are you three doing outside the gates!" A commanding voice boomed. The two of us quickly turn our heads and see an O'khasis guard approaching us. "It is past curfew, return to your houses at once." Lady Aphmau steps forward to grab the guard's attention.

"We aren't actually from this village, we are just passing through to the wolf tribe." The guard shook his head and blocked the way.

"There was an incident and we are under orders to keep everyone in the village under our watch." He turns and waves over a few guards who begin to surround the three of us. "We will find you a place to stay, but we can't let you leave until this issue is resolved."

I shot Lady Aphmau a concerned glance. She was calm and looking around at our surroundings. Sometimes I forget that Lady Aphmau gets into trouble when she is out and has to find herself at times. She didn't look pleased, but she was thinking about something.

She wraps her arm around Kiki and makes her way into Brightport and to a house near Lord Burt's guarded home. She pulls out a key from her pocket and unlocks it before heading inside. "Take her to the bed." She calmly ordered. Before she could close the door and lock it, an O'khasis guard put his foot in the way and pushed his way inside. His eyes followed me, examining every inch of me.

"You say you aren't from Brightport, do you know of a woman by the name of Y/N? The high priest spoke of a woman with exceptional skills in medicine and is looking to give her work in O'khasis." I could feel the warmth leave me. Zane was planning to take me away to O'khasis... Surely there are better-trained doctors in O'khasis, he shouldn't need a student. But it's not me he wants, but rather Garroth. Does he plan to use me as bait?

My thoughts continue to spiral as I stand there frozen. The guard was about to step further into the house when Lady Aphmau stopped him. "I don't think I've met a Y/N. I'm sorry. Now we'd like to get some rest after our long trip, please excuse us." She practically shoved the guard outside and locked the door quickly.

She didn't waste a second, quickly covering all the windows and making sure all the entrances were locked. No one was going to peer in at us or get in without us knowing. She comes back to me and helps get Kiki on the bed to rest.

"Treat her, I will try to find a way to get us out of here." I couldn't help but admire Lady Aphmau, protecting us and doing it without any hesitation. While she searched the home I would turn my attention to Kiki. Without access to my full medical storage, it wouldn't be easy, but I will make do. We just need her to get back some strength before we try to make our escape.