A/N: The last time we left Astall, he was at the table after Dahlia went upstairs. Who is the guy in the portrait? As he ponders this, someone starts pounding on the door...
Yes, enjoy indeed... *evil cackle*
The visitor knocks again.
Rap rap. Rap rap rap.
Astall doesn't move a muscle. He can't, not even to run, not even to gulp down another breath. He is frozen in place by the worst kind of fear- the fear of the unknown. Who knocks on that door? Is it friend or foe?
The visitor moves on to pounding. It resonates through the mostly empty house.
Thump thump thump thump.
Then he starts yelling abuse.
"For the love of the bleeding Isles," he finally yells, "answer the thrice-accursed door!"
More swearing. The visitor's voice reminds Astall of granite- textured, coarse, but also strangely fine. Dahlia races down the stairs, totally ignoring him.
"I'm going to kick it," the visitor threatens.
Dahlia finally deigns to growl, "Don't, you Sense-blind idiot!"
She reaches the door and fiddles with the lock just as he starts kicking. Blam. Each jolt of impact seems to make the door leap upwards with the force.
"Bleeding hells, Riv," she grumbles as the door swings open and the kicking stops.
The rude visitor barges in with barely a glance in Dahlia's direction. He stares at Astall.
Astall returns the scrutiny.
The visitor is tall. Not as tall as that burly rioter from earlier, but taller than Astall and definitely taller than Dahlia. He looks to be the same height as the Basilisk- and he is a large man.
His blue eyes radiate danger, and his dark hair stick out of his head in all directions. The cloak he wears is dripping with... something. Mud. Astall hopes.
The stranger stares at Astall. He doesn't bother to conceal his hostility.
"Who, in the name of murder," he drawls, "is this guy?"
I'm in the room, Astall grumbles inwardly. "I could ask the same of you."
The stranger's eyes narrow. Beside him, Dahlia rolls her eyes.
"Relax, idiot. That's just... okay. Not just. That's Astall. And Astall, this rude shithead is Rivera."
Rivera makes an irritated clicking noise. "Astall. Khalry?"
Astall cannot stand it any more. "Yes, Rivera. Khalry."
Rivera gives him a sideways glance. "So why in the curses are you here, Khalry?"
He spits the name out, as though it is toxic on his tongue. Astall's annoyance only increases. "What about you?" he snaps.
Dahlia crosses her arms. "You two. Be reasonable."
"Astall is going to help me," she explains. Rivera tilts his head and nods.
There is something going on, something that I missed. Astall is certain. Dahlia turns to him next.
"And Riv is here to talk. Report."
Riv stares down at Astall, but Dahlia waves a hand. "It's alright, he can stay. He won't talk."
YOU ARE READING
Reidier
FantasyIn the bowels of a city called Reidier, Mella makes a mistake. She loses her temper. To avoid the oncoming shit storm that results from that, she finds shelter- with the secret Incognita revolution. But their leader is missing, and tensions are high...
