Curse of Eternity

Chapter Eleven

Maliki walked alongside the girls as they walked through the city gates. The guards eyed the group skeptically. Maliki thought it was because they could smell what he was but he soon realized their eyes were on Alys. Unlike the shifter and fae, the assassin held her head high and walked forward with confidence that screamed "look at me." Well, that and because she seemed to always have a swing in her hips.

Maliki pulled the hood of his cloak further over his head, thankful for the rain that struck last night. Anna wore a similar cloak but hers was more to hide her ears and weapons rather than hiding from the gazes of others.

"Lighten up," Alys said from ahead of the two. "We're in Kindling now, my favorite city. Only reason I don't live here is because of the lack of action. Everyone's too peaceful and calm."

I like peaceful and calm, Maliki thought. He looked up a bit and saw that even on a cloudy day like this, there was a sort of upbeat livelihood to the place.

"Not all of us are big city people," Anna said softly. She looked cautious like Maliki with her hands near the twin daggers at her hips but from the smile on her face it was obvious that she was accustomed to more than just campsites and unpopular roads. Then again, after two weeks stuck in the forest and living near rivers, creeks, and ponds, anyone raised in mortal civilizations would be. "But she's right. You'll attract attention. And take your hood off. You can pass for human."

Maliki thought for a moment before sighing and doing as advised. The hood came down and almost immediately after, Alys moved back to put her arm around the boy's shoulders. No matter how long he spent with the girl, Alys' lack of personal space was unsettling. "Look at that handsome face. Maybe we can find an inn and you can share a rook with me." She leaned especially close to the boy, gaining pleasure from his discomfort.

"Alys," Anna said. The one-word-order came easily but there was obvious amusement in her voice. Maliki slipped out of the girl's embrace and slid back to walk behind Anna, using the girl as a shield. They both laughed and Maliki's hood went back up.

They kept forward, walking across a large stone bridge and entering the city. Kindling was built out of a mountainside. Seriously. Half the buildings were carved from the mountain itself, the rest built from the stone mined out of the massive feature. As they crossed the bridge, Alys gave the duo a quick history of the city.

It started off as a small town, undeveloped and unknown but rich with prime timber. For decades the locals made their living off this wood but once they found out how rich with minerals the mountain was, they shifted gears. When a noble from some far off land bought the town, he made it into the bustling city it was. It's true name was Dortram, after the noble, but everyone called it Kindling in honor of the city's roots.

The place was alive and bustling. People called out to each other from across the streets, children ran around and played games on the street corners, and there wasn't a patrol or guard battalion in sight. The smell of wet oak and roasting meats was heavy on the wind. It reminded Maliki of home. He put his head down and kept walking, letting the sudden sadness and realization of how far he was distract him and cause him to walk into someone.

Maliki and the man he bumped into both stepped back and said nothing for a second or two. Next thing Maliki knew, the man's massive fist was holding him in the air by the front of his cloak. He smelled of alcohol and coal. A miner if Maliki had to guess. "Watch yourself kid," the man said. Spittle launched onto Maliki's face and it was an effort not to reach up and wipe it away.

"Sorry sir." It was obvious that politeness would have little effect on the man but he had to try regardless. Maliki was raised higher and braced himself as the man's fist rose with the boy. Then the rage slipped from his eyes and was replaced with cold fear.

Something dark and sharp caught Maliki's eye. He looked down at the object, a black blade in the hands of an assassin. "Now, why would you go and start something you couldn't finish? Put our friend down and we'll let you leave with your little boy bits."

Maliki was slowly lowered until his feet met the ground. Anna was at his side in an instant, making sure he was okay and rubbing the ruffles out of his cloak. "Now," Alys continues, "come with me." The man nodded and they started walking back towards the city gates. "Go on! I'll find you two soon enough!" He watched them retreat until they passed the city gates and entered the woods. The scent of poss followed them all the while and Maliki was certain it didn't come from Alys.

That girl is terrifying. How has she not killed me yet? Something nudged his shoulder. "Come on. Let's go find a place to stay for the night and hopefully some food too," Anna said. Maliki nodded and let her lead.

Maliki shut the door quickly and leaned back against it. "A warning would've been nice!" Wet footsteps could be heard through the door followed by a quick musical knocking on the wood.

"Oh come on," Alys drawled. "We slept next to each other before. What's the problem now?"

"You weren't wet then!"

"Are you sure about that?"

He shook his head to keep the image from his mind. "And you had clothes on!" The doorknob turned against Maliki's back and he quickly grabbed it, pushing harder against the door.

"I wish I hadn't." This time Maliki wasn't fast enough to stop the images from flashing in his mind. Or to stop the blood from flowing through his body.

This can't get any worse.

"Ahem."

Lunaris. Why do you hate me?

Alys pushed against the door again, managing to open it slightly only to have Maliki throw his shoulder into it and grip the doorknob righter. He looked over his shoulder and found Anna sitting on a bed big enough for two and looking at him as if she had been waiting for him to show up. "There's a lock you know," she said. Maliki looked down at the doorknob and saw the hole right below it where a key would go. The key hanging right next to his head.

As fast as lightning, he took the metallic salvation and locked the assassin out.

"I hope you know she fully expects you to warm her bed by the time we part ways," Anna said from the bed. He nodded, silently accepting his fate. "Good. Now come over here and warm mine. The latch on the window is broken so it's cold in here."

A groan escaped Maliki's throat but he obeyed. Between the two of his companions, Anna was the far better choice.