Blue Blood

Mercenary for Hire

"Roman, you saved me! My hero!" Magnus cheered, darting out of the cell.

"Well, of course I did! I've always got your back."

My breath hitches as he gently cups my jaw. Such beautiful blue eyes crashing in me. I think we're both melting.

"You've helped me so much, there must be something I can do . . ." He whispers huskily, eyes half lidded and seductive.

I swallow hard, feeling my heat rise, "U-uh, n-no thanks necessary, sir."

We are slowly moving forward, lips getting closer and closer. I can feel his breath against my tongue. It feels like we're on fire.

"There must be some way . . ."

He leans closer and closer. His soft lips are just a mere inch away. His lips get closer and closer and then-

"Fuck you, Silnan! I do what I want!" Someone shouts from downstairs.

I bolt up out of bed sweaty and breathing heavily. I look around. I'm in the fucking tavern.

I groan and flop back down on the bed, fingers pulling at my hair. Dammit, it felt so real! You couldn't have waited to argue until AFTER I get my reward? Dammit.

I bounce my fist off the bed a few times and push myself off the bed before I'm able to fall back asleep. I stretch and pop my back a few times. While one of my arms is stretching over my head, I spot the scar I got so long ago.

I relax my arm and run my fingers over the patch of newly born skin. It doesn't hurt to touch it, but the memories it bring aren't very friendly. Damn, if Magnus hadn't been able to work so fast, I would have died. I know that memory tears him up inside too. What I would give to delete that memory for him . . .

I strap my armor on, tussle my hair a bit, and head downstairs to the bar.

It's surprisingly well packed for still being morning. All manner of people are gathered around drinking or eating or smoking. Gods, it smells in here.

I approach the bar to find the woman from last night serving drinks, still as calm and stern as before.

I clear my throat, "So, uh, hi. We met last night and you-"

"I remember."

"Right, sorry, I just-"

"Go to the back room, I'll be there in a second."

"Oh, uh, yeah, sure."

I awkwardly step into the back room and sit down on an old apple crate.

The room was old and musty. Dust lined every surface, it was clear no one ever came in here. Hey, at least there were some books in the corner. I grab the first book on the pile and flip it over to the cover.

'Love, Lust, and Lies.' a novel by Andy Waters. Splayed across the cover was what seemed to be a king and a butler in a promiscuous situation over looking the sea.

. . . Uh, yoink.

I sneakily stuff the book into a small opening on the inside of my chest plate. The road might be long, best have some good literature to keep me company.

I nearly jump out of my skin when the door opens, "I didn't do it!"

The woman from the bar closes the door and stares for a moment.

"Oh. Do you like those books too? The third book is especially well written. I would highly recommend them."

"Ha! What!? I didn't take no-yeah, you caught me. I couldn't help myself."

She smiles, the first smile I've seen from her, "You're welcome to take them after your mission is completed."

"Really? You don't want them anymore?"

She glances at the door, "I hardly have the time to read for enjoyment now a days . . ." Her eyes soften and smile fades.

" . . . You really like reading, huh?"

"Very much so, yes. But now is hardly the time to discuss such matters."

"Oh! Right, the quest or mission or whatever. What do you need me to do?"

She reaches into the satchel at her hip and pulls out a new-looking map, "You will go here, travel through this cavern, and retrieve a mechanical spider. The spider has been lost to me and my party for some time and a certain someone really wants it back."

"How big is it?"

"About the size of your palm."

"Really? Are you sure this is payment enough? It seems pretty simple just to pick up a little old-"

"It will not be easy, don't for one minute think otherwise."

I laugh nervously.

"Also, you are going to need this."

She hands me a small talisman.

"Uh, what is this for?"

"When it is kept on your person, it changes the appearance of your hair color."

"Ooh, right. Macedon are racist like that, that's gonna suck, I like my red hair. Wait, you have purple hair, why don't the guards come for you?"

"Every guard that has tried has been beheaded."

"Oh. Okay. Well . . . I'm gonna go get that spider thing now if that's okay."

"Good luck and safe travels. And don't die."

"I will try my best not to."

She waves me off and begins barkeeping again. As I'm about to reach the door, somethings tugs at my subconscious. I look to the booth from the other night where that strange person was. A shiver runs up my spine when I see no one is there. Well that's . . . Foreboding. Hope that doesn't come to bite me in the butt later, but that's just my luck, isn't it?

I come outside to find Edima fed and brushed. That lady must have helped her. Aw, what a nice friend! . . . Wait. I NEVER GOT HER NAME!

I shove my head back through the door, "Hey lady! What is your name!?"

"Just call me Val. Please leave."

"Okay, thank you!"

I close the door again and untie Edima. I pet her shoulders and give her big kisses all across her nose.

"We're gonna find Magnus soon, but first we have to do this teeny weensy little quest."

She huffs loudly.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Look, I'm in pain, you're in pain, and Magnus is DEFINITELY in pain, and we're all just shit out of luck right now, and I'm probably gonna pass out from the fucking roof falling on me literally yesterday, but things are going to get better. We are going to zoom through this quest, find where they are keeping Mags, and we are going to finish this stupid fucking 'coming-of-age' quest bullshit and go home. Now are you ready, or are you ready!?"

She bucks and neighs loudly. I slip into the saddle.

"And I am gonna stop talking to myself, woohoo! Or not."

I flick the reigns and we dart off to the left.

"Yeah!"

We ride for maybe 2 seconds before I turn us back around.

"Wrong direction! Now, we are on the right track, yeah!"

And off we went, having no idea how good, bad, and weird things were going to get in just a matter of hours. And all for a stupid spider.