Bound By Madness

47. Asking Favors

"And why should I take the time to put a door up? Are you afraid someone will come by while you and the clown are doing something?" The way the man's lip curled into a snarl, showing teeth that were just a bit sharper than they should be, almost had me taking a step back.

It was only a mix of desire to do something for my Cicero and to now show the stupidly tall Nord how much he intimidated me that had me holding my ground. That and the fact I wanted to hit him for calling Cicero a clown.

He's a Jester, not a clown. There is a difference between the two, I will have you know. Jesters are held in respect even by the Emperor himself. The fact that our Jester is also an assassin and the Keeper should have you showing him some respect as well. That you treat him with such a lack makes me wonder if there is more wrong with our Family than just an abandoning of the Tenets. Tell me, do you treat your other Siblings so poorly?

"What is she saying now?" He turned to Babette, looking like he would rather she not answer but knowing better than to say such with the scowl on her face.

"The Keeper is a Jester, not a clown. Remember, Astrid requested you give him the respect his title of Keeper deserves. Also, she wonders if you would treat the rest of us as you do him," the Not Child said, sounding both bored and exhausted.

Not that I could blame the vampire child, the sun having risen hours before I dragged her from her room. I'd had to spend several minutes apologizing to her and promising to spend time answering more of her questions to get her to finally agree to play translator for the male Nord.

"I treat everyone with the respect they have earned. And right now, neither the fool nor you have done anything to earn respect. You haven't even taken a contract of your own yet, just tagging along with the initiate on his contracts. And even that was only because you were told to. So no, until you have earned your place in this Sanctuary, I will not be doing you any favors," the Nord growled the words out before turning back to his forge and ignoring anything else I tried to say.

Turning to Babette, I saw her shake her head before leaving to head back to her room. Frowning, I walked away, ignoring the sound of the bellows working as the man heated up his forge to work on a new weapon for the Family. Probably yet another oversized weapon. Didn't anyone use daggers around here besides me and the Jester Assassin? What was with all the swords and axes? And what kind of assassin used a two-handed weapon to kill his target?

Stupid wolf, acting like I hadn't brought good coin into the Sanctuary. Although, to be honest, I wouldn't be shocked if the Pretender didn't bother mentioning the coin to anyone, since it hadn't come from a contract.

Stupid me, expecting anything else from someone who has made it all too clear I'm not wanted here.

Sighing, I walked up the stairs, heading to the kitchens at a slow pace. It was only as I was passing the beds that I stopped and looked about before slipping a hand into my pouch and pulling it out again before sliding a small bundle under a pillow.

"You're spoiling people who haven't even earned your kindness," Ellery's voice came from nearby, a frown on his face when I finally saw him hiding in the shadows of a corner.

I don't care, Ellery. They are our Family and for now, that is enough.

Smiling, I skipped forward and made my way downstairs. Time to see what the Kitchen's Master has made today.

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Setting the fork down beside the empty plate, I smiled at my Jester Assassin, happy to be spending time with him again. I was determined not to leave his side so quickly this time. After having spent so many weeks beside him, the days away from him seemed to last far too long, although the company of the Initiate had helped a little. He was kind, but he just couldn't replace my sweet Cicero.

"So, did Faith have an easier time with the contract this time?" The Jester Assassin asked in a light tone, placing his own fork down after taking one last bite of the cheese-covered eggs.

Seeing the frown upon my face, he reached out and patted my head, not needing me to say a word.

"Do not worry, dear Faith. Cicero does not expect his kind friend to turn so easily into someone who kills without remorse. No, Cicero is glad that Faith would rather kill those she feels deserves it since that is what first caught his attention even more than her silent words. Cicero thinks that Faith is fine just as she is and if that means she will be picky with which contracts she takes, then that is okay. Not everyone becomes an assassin because they enjoy the kill, after all," he sang the words as he got to his feet and began clearing dirty dishes off the table and setting them on the small stand near the room's entryway.

Standing, I took a few steps toward the man, pulling mindlessly at the edges of the small hole I'd created in my shirt. I'd likely need to patch it at some point, but for now, I couldn't be bothered with such thoughts.

Won't the Fake kick me out if I don't take enough contracts, though? She might be a Pretend Leader, but she is still the one that the other's within this Family listen to and obey. If she tells them I'm not welcome anymore...

"If she kicks out kind Faith and they all follow her words, then we shall just have to look elsewhere for a Listener. Cicero is sure that Mother would not pick her Listener from someone who would be so cruel as to cast out someone who shows such love to Mother. In fact, he wonders at times why Mother does not simply choose sweet Faith as her Listener," he paused for a moment as the final words left his mouth before shaking his head and moving toward the shelves on the wall and grabbing one of the books I had added to the collection. "Ahh, but Mother will choose who she chooses! If she listened to Cicero's words, she would have chosen her Listener years ago and Cicero likely wouldn't even be here! Ahh, but that would be a shame since it would mean he wouldn't have met dear Faith... No, that wouldn't do at all, not at all. See? Mother knows best and that is why it is up to her to choose her Listener and not silly Cicero! Obviously Mother knew that Cicero was meant to run into Faith, just as Faith was meant to help Cicero and then join his Family! Yes, yes! Foolish Cicero, to even consider he could suggest-"

Reaching out, I gently gave the rambling man a small shake before pulling him into a hug, my hands running up and down his back as he slowly quieted. His voice had been getting so high, anxiety filling the words spilling from his lips. One hand began slowly combing through his hair as I felt his hands slowly slip around me, holding me close as he gave a shiver before leaning his head against mine. Warm breath caressed my ear as his lips brushed against skin.

"Cicero is sorry. He didn't mean to do that. Sometimes he has a hard time thinking about how long he was waiting by himself. But how he has Faith to keep him company and he can't thank her enough for being here! Mother was kind to bring sweet Faith to him when she did, when he was so close to losing his own. He hopes his Faith will be so kind as to stay by Cicero's side longer, even knowing that he might be a little... broken himself."

Pulling back just a bit, I stretched to press my lips against his forehead before pulling away again.

I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, my dearest Cicero. After all, my Home is wherever you are.