Spirits of the Earth

Einin always looked forward to her fencing lessons, and that day was no different. They were a much needed break from the toils and stresses of playing at being, well...proper. It was an escape, a moment when she felt like she could truly be herself--which felt so wrong and backwards to her, that she should so often feel like she couldn't be herself in her own home. But that was just her reality, so she clung to these moments when she had them.

And now, it would also be a nice, welcome break from the awkwardness Jarrett had brought into her life. She needed to deal with that, and deal with that fast, but for now...well, now she just needed to relieve some stress while she thought of what the hell she was going to do about that.

With her hair pulled back into a tail and her dress replaced with breeches, tunic, and boots, Owl donned her sword and headed outside into the courtyard. Her father had mentioned that she was getting a new instructor, and she was curious as to who it would be--and hopeful that they wouldn't be as stuffy as her current one. He was a good teacher, true, but sometimes she felt like he was holding back for her sake--which was the exact opposite of what she wanted or needed.

She needed to get better. She needed to learn how to fight like they did on the streets, because that sort of fighting wasn't proper--it was real and dirty, and if she didn't learn...well, she had gotten a taste of what could happen if she didn't, hadn't she?

Walking out to the center of the courtyard, she began her stretches as she waited.

Ryk Handelaar, wealthy merchant was wearing his usual boots and gloves, Aestival and Hiemal at his hip. The rest of his usual attire was replaced with brown jerkin over shirt sleeves, and brown breeches to match. He wore a black mask that covered his entire face, with a fine mesh across the eyes. He carried two sabers that he and Einin would be using today, and a mask for the young lady as well.

He couldn't help but admire her body as he approached her doing her stretches. Not just in a sexual way either. She was lithe and limber. Her flexibility and agility were that of a young, active, woman. With practice and skill she could rival him in swordplay, even if she could never match his strength.

When he reached her, he tossed her the mask, and then handed her the new blade she would be using starting today. Ryk had the two sabers commissioned as soon as the decision that he'd tutor Einin was made. He had only received them today. They were perfectly balanced, the pummel weighted exactly for the length and weight of the blades. As he held the wrapped tang in his hand he could barely tell that this was not one of his two magic weapons.

Without a word he waited for Einin to don the mask and as soon as she had assumed the proper stance for the local noble sparring style he began his fierce attack.

Einin finished up her stretches as her instructor approached and peered at him curiously, disappointed that he was already wearing his mask. She was getting a very no-nonsense vibe from this one, which was good--she was serious about her training!--but...really? No introduction or anything? No hello? Just straight to business?

She caught the mask and tilted her head as though that would help her see through the mesh, then took the sword he offered her and tested the weight and grip. Maybe he was disgruntled about having to teach her or something, assuming she was some high strung noble. Maybe he'd rather be teaching someone else. Or something! Because boy, this was a chilly greeting. But she pushed those thoughts from her mind as she slipped the mask over her head, raised her sword in salute (and marveled at how natural the new sword felt, like an extension of herself), and slid into the proper stance.

No sooner had she done that than she was on the defensive.

Gasping, she parried and retreated, for his attack was already fiercer than that of her old instructor. Damn man had been holding back on her! Barely, she managed to deflect his blade, but she also found it hard to make any forward progress as he kept her on the defensive--and at that rate, she would tire before she ever got on the offensive. Realizing that, she grit her teeth and slapped his sword to the side hard and went for it, lunging forward with a thrust.

It was obvious to Ryk that her previous teachers, however many there had been, had left Einin with much to learn. Her stance was proper, but her movements were blocky. Where she needed to be like reeds in the wind or a flowing stream, she was more like a fresh foal trying to get its legs under it. He could feel the mental flexibility there under the rigid movements she was making. Even with that natural talent he could feel from her, she would need work to undo the damage the fools before him had caused. At half speed he was easily pushing the young Lady back, and she would tire quickly, trying to keep pace with him. She needed to learn to read the body's movements. That was the purpose of the mask. It would teach her not to rely on reading emotions and expressions. A face could lie to you about a mans next move, the body could not.

Reading the body's movements was something Theodore Wrenthis had always been good at, even as a street rat. So when Einin shifted her weight to start her attack, he knew it was coming long before she even slapped his sword aside. As the thrust came forward, Hiemal was already clear of its scabbard smacking against the blade and turning it aside. Ryk dropped his own saber as he made the block, pivoting as he did so, reaching in to grab Einin's wrist, and pinning her forward foot with his. Pressure in just the right place had her blade dropping to the ground at which point he released her and pulled off his mask.

"Well, I see we have a GREAT deal to work on. It seems your previous tutors were cabbages," Ryk made a bit of a face like something smelled awful. "Half of our time will be dedicated to the formal sword play that is popular at court. The other half will be split between hand to hand combat and what I like to call improvised sword play or dirty fighting. And I will be harder on you than any other student I've ever had."

Whaaat?! He'd drawn a second sword?! By the time Einin saw it, it was too late; her instructor pinned her foot and grabbed her wrist and, with a muffled yelp when he squeezed, the sword dropped from her hand.

Panting from exertion, glaring at him through her mask, Einin rubbed at her wrist and knew, right then and there, that this was the instructor she wanted, needed. Despite the knee-jerk anger that flooded her because he'd cheated, she knew he was it. An instructor that would cheat, that would use trickery and cheap tactics, an instructor that would be hard and brutal. An instructor that would make her angry and frustrated because she had a lot to learn and he wasn't going to baby her. An instructor that--

...An instructor that was Ryk Handelaar?!

AKA Rufus?!

AKA the guy she wanted to beat?!

Einin's mouth dropped open and she froze, bent over in the process of retrieving her saber. She hardly heard what he was saying, or rather, she heard his words, but she wasn't sure they were registering because...because Ryk? Rufus?! This was her instructor?!

She was glad for the mask, because she must have looked like some sort of fish beneath it.

Finally, when she managed to close her mouth, she grabbed the sword and pulled the mask off. And then she just stared at him.

"Are you crazy?" she finally managed to say.

Sometimes Ryk thought he was crazy. Juggling two identities and keeping a third one, his real one, secret, could take a toll on a man's mind. But he certainly wasn't feeling crazy now. This was easy, simple. It was all memory that had been locked inside his body, his muscles. They responded without thought. Due to the frequency of combat, it had become reflex, completely instinctual. As hectic and crazy as sword play could be, it was pure. Teaching another these skills was less like work and more like art. You became the motions, you felt them through your soul. Ryk was not much for spirituality, but his feelings toward the art of war were comparable.

Einin's reaction was not unexpected, and as amusing as this situation was for him, Ryk always took this sort of thing very seriously. The look he gave her was stern. He glanced around to see if there was anyone in earshot before he spoke.

"I doubt there is a better swordsman in Arca. Perhaps even Serendipity," he bent to retrieve the Saber as he sheathed his long knife. "I am concerned with your safety. Your night activities are dangerous. When a little bird appeared on the scene of robbery, two people died that didn't need to. I'd like to prevent that from happening in the future."

It wasn't meant to be a jab at her, but he expected she would take it that way. That mattered little to him. She needed to learn to protect herself, and he was the best. If someday she surpassed him, then perhaps it would be time to retire. "You want to beat me. I can beat everyone else. Who better to learn from?"

Einin began to pace, hardly able to believe this twist of events. First Jarrett, now Ryk? This was crazy. This was utterly insane. This was madness. Or maybe she was the one going mad?

Ryk's words, however, brought her to an abrupt stop and she looked at him, a flash of wincing pain crossing her expression. It was like a punch to the stomach, that reminder that, yes...she had caused those deaths that night. Those people had died because of her involvement...

She sucked in a breath and crossed her arms over her chest, eyes downcast. "That's not fair," she muttered, rubbing her arm. "I was trying to help them. I thought they were going to be murdered." Then, steeling her resolve, she glared up at him and jabbed a finger at his chest. "If you really want to play that game, no one would have died that night if you hadn't been robbing them! And you ordered that brute on me! That guy was trying to kill me! What was I supposed to do?!"

Realizing her voice had risen in her sudden anger, she winced again and looked around, but they were alone. She lowered her voice again. "I do want to beat you.  So...why are you doing this? Why on earth would you train the person that you know wants to best you?" She raised an eyebrow. "That's not very adversary-like."

Ryk knew Einin expected snark, sass, and moxie. He was Ryk Handelaar, wealthy merchant after all, and she knew he was also Canis Rufus, the Red Wolf. His trademark, would have been to give a scathing remark. Or perhaps something disarming that he'd follow up with something salacious. Instead, he thought he'd give her stark honesty. It was time to monologue, as all the great villains in tales did.

"I run this city. The rich, the nobles, the guard. They all believe that they control this place, Arca, but I do. Kia's Court is my domain and no other man's. I have plans, I have aspirations. Like every mastermind, I seek greater power, greater control. I will make a great mark and be remembered in legend. But lets be realistic. I am a man. I am not an elf, not a dwarf, not a god. I won't live long by any of their standards. My empire will someday be in someone else's control. And it will likely happen in your lifetime. Maybe your existence will help me keep control that much longer. Perhaps I hope to mold you into the leader that will take my place. Or you could be the balance to the new Red Wolf that will come to take my place. Already I have plans to move on Cerenis. With Kia's Court and Whitesands in my grasp the rest of Serendipity will surely fall to me. I will control all the crime, and all the trade. I will be the most powerful man in the world. It's better that I know the greatest threat to me is you. I don't like surprises."

He pulled his mask back on and assumed the proper sparring stance. "In the mean time, I will teach you to stay alive long enough, that we can see that future together. Now show me all that those fools think they taught you."

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, went the old adage. Much of what he said made sense. But that her taking his place was even in that list--even hypothetically!--was crazy. As was him thinking he could control all of Serendipity--or the world! Of course, she really had no idea how far his hand reached or what went on in the criminal underground; she had grown up thinking it was all petty thieves and small gangs of brutes, not vast networks, and certainly not sophisticated networks that had any sort of political sway.

And yet, here he was. The leader of the Soot Wolves and one of the wealthiest merchants about.

She didn't know what to say to that. Any of it.

And didn't know if it was appropriate to feel a flush of pride when he stated, more or less, that she could be his biggest threat. Pride! At being praised by the antagonist!

Oi.

Without a word, she slipped her own mask back on, more determined than ever--and determined to his her blush, because she'd always handled criticism better than praise. The bar had been set and maybe it was strange, but she didn't want to be a disappointment--not just to herself, but to him.

"You don't like surprises? Hmph. That's a shame. I love them," she said, and she had barely assumed her stance before she launched herself at him, flying onto the offensive before he could startle her like last time.

Ryk stayed on the defensive, he wanted to see what Einin could muster. He did not draw Aestival or Hiemal either, and kept the match to the standard rules of engagement. He did not give ground easily, and counted the times he saw openings to go on the attack. Once again he could see the great potential she held within her. She was fast, and her reflexes were great. She adapted fairly quickly to his defensive moves, as she searched for an opening and tried to create others. Teaching her about telegraphing would have to be the first lesson though, as he could easily read her movements. Once she mastered all the traditional sword stances and techniques, she would easily outmatch any of the other nobles of Kia's Court. None of the tutors her father could have hired would ever have taken a woman seriously though, and her natural talent would never have the chance to blossom. It was a good thing Ryk took it upon himself to offer his expertise to her father. The ease at which he could keep up with her made it simple for him to speak to her as he blocked her advances.

"Your natural talent is abundant," Ryk said to Einin, knocking aside another thrust, "but the first thing you must learn is efficiency of movement. Swings and thrusts that start at the shoulder are stronger, but they are slower and easily read by your opponent. Begin your movements from the elbow or even the wrist. Speed is especially important for a smaller fighter like yourself."

Ryk demonstrated with three quick snaps of his wrist, knocking Einin's saber about easily. Then he returned to his defensive posture to see how quickly she would adapt to this lesson.

From the elbow or wrist? That went against every instinct Einin had, but as Ryk snapped his blade against her saber without swinging, she saw his point; she couldn't easily predict the direction of his blows, and it struck just as effectively. Hm...

Instead of acknowledging his words with speech, she snapped her blade back against his, moving from the wrist. "Like that?" she asked, and did it twice more on each side of his blade, testing it out. It didn't feel as unnatural as she had expected, and didn't weaken her strikes as much as she'd feared.

"Hm. Interesting! Very well, then, prepare yourself!" And then she went for him, snapping his blade aside to create an opening that she went for.

Einin could not see the grin spread across Ryk's face as she came at him. She was a quick study, this moment had proved it. Her use of the technique was a bit sloppy, but he was sure she would master it quickly. As she danced toward him, her blade trying to snake its way through his defenses, he found that already he had to step up his game. She was not only quick of mind and body, it seemed she had great endurance as well. Perfect attributes for a swordplay, and for a skilled lover. Ryk could not help but notice that even in her sparring garb, her feminine figure showed through. Einin truly was a young beauty. The mental cataloguing of her attributes as a potential lover brought to mind Dylanna. Why did this young woman make him think of the Lady Swinden. She was the only woman he'd ever loved, but he refused to admit that even to himself. The momentary distraction was enough though, and Einin's blade found its way through to strike a blow to his left shoulder.

The new blade Ryk had given her easily cut through the thin padding at the joint piercing into his flesh. The Ryk mask slipped and he quickly reacted as Rufus would. He dropped his own saber and pivoted, putting his back into Einin's chest. Still in his shoulder, he pulled her sword tip with him as he did. When it snapped lose, it tore the wound worse than he'd have liked, but he was in the heat of the moment, barely feeling it. His heels pressed down on her toes, and he threw his tricep into her masked face knocking her to the ground. As she fell, Ryk pried the blade from her hand and then turned putting the tip to her throat. It all had happened so fast, and as soon as he realized what he had done, his Rufus persona fell away, leaving in its place the man that he hid.

Ryk felt ashamed and appalled at his actions. He dropped Einin's blade by her side and stepped back, only now feeling the pain of the wound. His hand went up to it, clutching it tightly to stanch the bleeding. He reached up and pulled off his mask, he was feeling a bit claustrophobic, and tossed that to the ground as well. Then Ryk did something very unlike himself, he apologized with complete sincerity.

"I'm sorry for that. I don't know what came over me," his words colored with shame, Ryk turned away from the downed Einin. He pulled a kerchief from his pocket and pressed it into the wound. "Excuse me," was all he said as he walked into the garden to find himself.

It happened so fast that she didn't even realize she'd stabbed him.

Einin only had time to yelp in surprise before, for the second time since she'd met him that fateful night, she found herself knocked onto her back. For several stunned seconds she didn't even register the pain of getting smacked in the face, stomped on the toes, and landing hard on her tail bone--though at least this time the mask, designed for sword practice, absorbed some of the force so her face came out better than that first night.

The same kind of panic that had taken her that first night came flooding back at this familiar turn of events, and she stared down at the blade of her own sword, holding her breath and holding very still. What the...? She looked up at him, stuck somewhere between fear and anger, fear that he'd done this and anger that he'd...done this.

"Gods! What is wrong with--?!"

That was when he dropped her blade, and when he touched his shoulder and she saw the blood that she realized--oh.

Oh.

Still frozen, and surprised at his apology--something she had certainly never gotten from him yet!--she watched as he walked off into the garden. Once he was out of sight, she let out a breath and leaned her head back with a groan, partly out of pain (her tail bone was starting to smart now) and partly out of frustration. She'd stabbed him. She'd actually stabbed him. And she hadn't actually wanted to stab him!

To her surprise, she felt a pang a guilt. Why did everything have to be so confusing! She shouldn't feel guilty about wounding her arch nemesis! Who was trying to train her. To help her.

Gods!

After a few moments of collecting herself and winding down, she climbed to her feet with a grimace and threw her mask down by his. Then, rubbing her tail bone and walking a little stiffly, she set off into the garden after him.

"Uh...Ryk? You still here?"

Ryk was reeling. What was happening to him? Was it age? Was it this life he pretended to live seeping through to the man beneath? How could he let himself be distracted like that, and to lose control so completely? Dylanna had been on his mind more often after meeting the young Lady Einin. She had the same vibrance, the same stubborn independence. They were both strong and beautiful, two things he valued. It was rare that anyone challenged him, and rarer still that for it to be a woman. She awakened something in him that he could not ignore, and it came attached to memories of the Lady Swinden.

Perhaps teaching this girl the sword was too risky. The popular style in court was vary rigid and structured. It left little room for improvisation, but it would make a good base to build upon. She definitely needed the lessons. He didn't want her to die when he could have done something to improve her ability. For now he'd stick to it.

He sat on a patch of grass by a rose bush and fetched the potion from his belt. He only had the one so just a sip would have to do. The hole in his shoulder stitched itself shut nicely, but much of the tenderness remained. He massaged it, and rotated his arm, exercising the joint. It was best to keep it limber. If he went to easy on it, it would grow stiff, too rough and he could injure himself further. He soon saw Einin headed his way. It was good he had put a lid on his emotions, the mask of his identity back in place. He'd be as smooth as ever, no more mistakes.

Einin found him sitting on a patch of grass, the scent of roses strong in the air. She paused for a moment, wondering if she should bother him, but the thought didn't last long. Rolling her shoulders back, she strode over to join him.

"Hey," she said as she approached, waving awkwardly. She came to a stop in front of him and folded her arms over her chest to resist the urge to keep rubbing her sore tailbone. "Uh...so..."

She looked off to the side briefly, then back at him and grinned sheepishly. "I finally got you! Haha?" Too soon? She raked a hand through her bangs.

"Look, no hard feelings, alright? We're square here. I got you, you got me back, and I got you worse, so...ugh, what I'm trying to say is I wasn't actually trying to stab my sword-fighting instructor, alright? I still think this is crazy, but if you're gonna insist on doing this, I'm gonna save defeating you for after I've squeezed everything out of you. Also!"

She fixed him with a look then. "When are you gonna teach me how not get tossed down like that?"

It was much easier for Ryk to maintain his mask of composure when Einin was behaving so awkwardly. As adorable as some men might find it, it simply reminded him of her youth, and that made it easier to take her less seriously. Her scewering him had been mostly due to his own idiocy, and it was a good lesson for her, even if he had been the one on the recieving end of the blade.

"The fault for the blow is not yours," he explained, "I was distracted by my own thoughts. It shows that you can defeat an opponent that can outfight you, if you can outwit or distract him." He rubbed at the shoulder a bit more before rising. "As for teaching you to avoid being thrown about, well that will come naturally, as you learn to read your opponents movements. What I will teach you at that time will be how to reverse the advantage of that maneuver."

"You really know how to take the wind outta someone's sails, don't you?" Einin said, and flopped down onto the grass near him, cross-legged. She rested her elbow on her knee and propped her chin up on her hand.

"But heeey. Outwitting people by distracting them, huh?" She kicked the bottom of his boot. "So I was distracting you? How?"

It seemed like a good thing to know, so she could duplicate it in the future.

Ryk's eyebrow climbed at Einin's casual demeanor. How quickly her attitude had changed, treating him now like an old friend, rather than her greatest opposition. She was so damn cute too, budding into a really beautiful woman. He supposed her familiar treatment deserved some honesty, and so he shared his thoughts with her.

"It's not so much what you did as who you are and the person you remind me of," he looked her over, lying comfortably in her masculine cut clothing that did little to hide her form. "You are a beautiful and strong woman, determined and stubborn to make it in a male dominated world. You're quite like someone I once knew. She too is strong and beautiful, and quite stubborn."

That was last thing Einin expected. She blinked several times at that, both eyebrows raised.

"Oh..." How was she even supposed to take that? Once again, she floundered mentally at the compliment--no small compliment, either!--as she tried to figure out what to do with it, how to respond. It was so much easier when he was criticizing her! She could handle criticism, even if she might not like it. Strong and beautiful and determined and stubborn? Well, okay, stubborn wasn't so much a complimentary trait, but it didn't cancel out the others.

She rubbed the back of her neck, looking everywhere but at him. "That's, uh...that's...thanks." She cleared her throat and tugged at the front of her sweaty shirt to fan herself. "Should you really be saying things like that to your adversary? Unless you're looking to butter me up and disarm me! Which, by the way, isn't working. I'm wise to you, mister!" Yeah, it was time for a subject change!

"So...? Who was she?"

"You ask that like she's dead," Ryk said without any humor in his voice, though he did find the question amusing, "the only past tense was in the life of our relationship. She is the only merchant with as many holdings and power as I have. Hers is completely legitimate though. She is honest to a fault, as her father was before her. Your parents probably have dealings with her as well." He laid back on the grass, with his hands under his head like a pillow. It was rare that he let his guard down, but it was safe here. He had a constant patrol on her manse since he followed her home as Owl all those nights ago.

"She's a noble too, like you. Lady Dylanna Swinden. Her father Nammick was an amazing man. He's the only person that's ever figured out who I am, all on his own, and he didn't judge me poorly. Just tried to bring me over to his side, to legitimize me. He tried pretty hard to get Dylanna and I to marry. He said I'd be a great son-in-law," Ryk laughed at the thought, "could you imagine me playing husband and father? Wealthy merchant and filthy rogue are a hard enough combination to maintain. What about you," he rolled to his side to face her, "you're getting to that age when noble women are sold into marriages that benefit their fathers. I think I saved you from one the other night, by distracting that young suitor. Any other prospective husbands your mother is pushing on you?"

"You were with Swinden?" Einin blurted, and laughed. Indeed, she'd heard the name before, and her father had done business with that name in the past. "My gods! That is so weird! I mean, just...how small the world really is, and..." And no. No, she couldn't imagine him settling down.

She was still absorbing that when the conversation went to that subject.

"Gods. I never hear the end of it!" Einin said with a dramatic groan, flopping onto her back with her arms spread. "That's all my parents ever wanna talk about. Suitors this, marriage that, making myself pretty as a silly peacock to catch peoples' eye. You have no idea."

She shook her head, going quieter. "It's why I gotta get good at this, and fast. I don't have a lot of time. I have to get good enough and just...do something big. Make a name for myself. And then, when I've proven myself anonymously--I got to be anonymous, my parents would shut down everything if they knew! But once I've proven myself, and knights want to have me, once I'm in I can be like, aha! It is I! Einin! A lady! But by then it'd be too late because I'd be in, you know. An ordained knight! And then I wouldn't have to worry about just..." She shrugged. "Losing who I am."

She stared up at the clouds above. "But oh, yeah, that's right. So, uh, I'm kinda engaged now? Three guesses as to who, and three guesses as to how fast I'm gonna end it." She paused. "Though maybe I shouldn't? No one's been bothering me about husbands since the engagement, so...maybe I could stretch it out. Stretch it out a reeeally long time and not get married. And just keep it up and keep postponing the marriage until I'm a knight, and then call it off. Except...ugh. Except then I'll be pestered about when the wedding is and blah blah blah."

She shook her head. "This is so stupid."

"Be happy for family that love you enough to annoy you. My mother was a whore, and I don't know which of her johns was my father. Luckily for me she had been a looker in her day. I'd never have made it this far if I wasn't ruggedly handsome." Ryk returned to laying on his back. He never relaxed, it was nice to enjoy leisure, perhaps it was something he'd have to partake in more often. "Perhaps it's my fathers good looks I've inherited."

"This place is so much different than Zantaric. There the stink is in everything, the blood and corruption out for everyone to see it," he paused, remembering the boyhood he had barely survived. "Here they hide it behind perfumes and nice clothing, but the underworld is just as sinister. It may even be more dangerous here. They smile to your face and slip the dagger in your back. In Zantaric the blade goes in your back as well, but there's no false pretense. Everyone stabs everyone else every chance they get. You survive by your wits and the strength of your arm. Alliances only last as long as they benefit both parties."

"So you want to be a knight? Why not run away to Adela? The women there have all the rights of men. You'd thrive there with your natural talent. Of course you'd have to give up everything you have here."

Einin frowned at his story, grimacing. She remembered it, only the version she'd heard before had been far more graphic. He was right, though. She was privileged. She could have been born somewhere bad, like in Zantaric, or been born to peasants. It was only chance that saw her born into nobility where she had never had to worry about food, or shelter, where all her needs were provided for and she was safe. Where she had never known a day of discomfort. His story made her feel guilty for ranting about her parents, because as much as they aggravated her at times, they did love her.

Feeling a little chastened, she sat up again, wincing at her sore tailbone, and shrugged one shoulder. "You said it. I'd have to give up everything." She blew her bangs out of her face. "I love 'em, too, you know. Like you said, it could've been bad, but I've got it good. I know I do. That's why it's so frustrating, because I know they want what's best for me, but...it's not what's best for me."

She hugged her knees. "Anyway, I couldn't leave. I don't know a thing about Adela and besides...I wanna be a knight for my people. And if I'm somewhere else, I...gosh, this sounds so dopey, but..." She ran a hand through her hair. "I guess it's just, if I was gone, they wouldn't be around for me to make them proud."

She looked at him sharply then as though realizing who she was talking to. "Gods. Why am I telling you all this? Just...forget you heard that. It sounds so whiny after everything you just told me!"

"I cannot relate to your posh life, or having love of family," Rit's words were flat, unfeeling, "I can't say that I'm jealous either. The path I was set upon from birth led me to be perhaps the most powerful man in Kia's Court, certainly in Arca. Each of us has a role that we must choose for ourselves. I simply find it wise to appreciate everything you have, even as you fight to reach greater goals. I think it's admirable to see you reaching to be a Knight in a place where women are not viewed as strong. Just know, that with that feminine figure, it will be hard to hide your gender. You must learn to walk and talk as a man does. Or they will know, just as I did the first time I saw you, that a woman was beneath those clothes," he looked at her and smirked, "You have a bit of an alluring sway when you walk."

"...Alluring sway?" Einin turned her head to stare at his smirking face for several long seconds, then groaned and pressed the heels of her palms to her face, embarrassed. "Jeez. Thanks."

She feigned rubbing her eyes to give herself an excuse to keep her face covered a little longer, just long enough to make sure she wasn't blushing. Arch nemesis or not, he had a strange way of throwing her off balance--his compliments about her beauty and the way she walked, and...that one time when he'd kissed her. It was confusing, and about as frustrating as it was flustering. He was probably doing it on purpose, to throw her off guard or something, and thus far she hadn't figured out how to guard against it. Which was equally frustrating.

However, somewhere in there, he had a valid point. One she'd given a lot of thought about--but which had, painfully, fallen short. She'd thought she'd looked pretty masculine with her breasts bound and men's clothes on. Not a super rugged guy or anything, but a pretty guy, and Serenian men did run delicate. But Ryk--Rufus--had figured her out right away, and if he could see right through the disguise, there was no way she'd fool Serenian soldiers.

Looking at him again, she shrugged. "Well, you're a man. Got any tips on how to be more manly?"

Ryk barked out a laugh at such an absurd question. Tips on how to be more manly? Quite hilarious really.

"How does a bird learn to fly, a fish to swim? It's in the things nature," his thoughts working through the problem, Ryk's face grew more serious as he addressed Einin. "You musn't try to 'act' manly, you must think like a man, and feel like a man. There is no sway when I walk because I keep my feet apart. I strut with strength and pride to show I'm a predator, not prey. Some might say I am like a peacock with this action, putting myself on display. Even though I move with grace, it's that of lion, not a deer. I have practiced at refining the strut of a nobleman, but I have always moved like a predator on the hunt."

Einin glowered when he laughed at her, shoulders hunching defensively. She hadn't thought it a stupid question.

"Oh, ha ha," she said. "Look, I'm serious. I mean c'mon--you said it! Even birds have to learn how to fly. So...I could learn, too. The key's believing it, right? Not acting? Being predatory or whatever?"

She mulled that over and nodded to herself. "Okay. I think I could do that. I'm an owl, after all. Not a peacock like you." With a grin, she stuck her tongue out at him. "And owls eat peacocks."

The man that was truly Theodore Wrenthis smiled at Einin.

"Ryk can be quite like a peacock. Rufus however, is a wolf through and through."

"Pffft. Owls aren't scared of wolves, either," Einin said, stretching her arms over her head. "And there's probably some kinda owl out there somewhere that's big enough to eat 'em!"

"Birds of prey, like owls, have little to fear from wolves, as long as they stay out of reach," Ryk lounged, enjoying the feel of the grass. He'd never lay in grass if he were in one of his good suits. "But if a young owl falls from it's nest before it can fly, a wolf, or any predator, will not hesitate to snatch it up in it's jaws. We must be sure you can fly, before you encounter something out there that I've not brought to heel." He looked over at Einin again. It amazed him that she was oblivious to her beauty. Better that, than so full of herself that she was absorbed in her own reflection.

"You are an interesting find. Too bad your moral compass is so straight. If you lived in my world, with all these shades of grey, I'd gladly add you to my ranks."

"What? Me, one of your thieves? No way. I've got no interest in a world where it's okay to terrorize and rob people, and where...and where people die in the collateral and no one cares. What's gray about that?"

With a frown, Einin hugged her knees again. "I know, I know. You control the criminals and all that, so they don't do worse stuff. I've heard it before. And I wanna do that, too, so I guess we both want the same thing if you really wanna break it down. But I wanna do it the right way, 'cause there is a right way. And I want people to see me and feel safer because they know I'll beat up the bad guys, not see me and be scared because I am the bad guy. So..."

She shook her head. "So yeah. It's a shame. You could've made a good knight, y'know."

Ryk smiled. He supposed it was true, he would make an exceptional Knight, but he wouldn't be the man he was if he had not been thrown into the world in such a violent fashion.

"Well my main goal isn't to control crime, it's to be filthy rich, and powerful enough that the struggle to survive is made easier. I just happen to dislike rape and murder, and I'm not fond of children being hurt. So I use my power and influence to discourage unsanctioned crimes. Plus the Wolves are very territorial, we don't let other gangs or freelance criminals stay in Arca."

Einin's lips quirked into a lopsided grin and she plucked a handful of grass. "Heh, yeah. Not so noble after all, eh? And here you almost had me fooled for a second. Except not." She flicked some grass at his nose, then rose to her feet with a languid stretch, back arching until her spine popped. "I'll stick to the light, thanks. Your shades of gray are too dark for me."

Rubbing her sore bottom, which felt more sore from all the sitting, she glanced down at him. "So, uh, how's your shoulder?"

"Long since mended," Ryk replied, watching Einin rub her shapely bottom. He needed to get that under control. Perhaps he'd have to entertain a beautiful young serving girl from a tavern tonight. That would have to be enough to sate his lust for the evening.

"Perhaps we should get more into the training?"

"Hey, I've been waiting on you, old man," Einin said with a cheeky grin. "You're the one who slunk off to go all broody."

"Old Man? I'm not the one that's nearing the age when nobody will want to marry me," Ryk said, returning Einin's grin. This was going to be an interesting relationship. He rolled back and did a kick up to show off that he was keeping age at bay.

"Are you ready to be abused in the name of training?"

Einin puffed her cheeks out at that comment and blew air out the side of her mouth, making her bangs flutter. "Now that was just below the belt," she said, and stuck her tongue out at him. "Abuse. Pfft. You're the one's gonna get abused for that one." And what a show off, too! Not that she wouldn't be doing the same, if she knew how to do that.

...Maybe she'd practice in her room tonight.

Twirling on her heel, she marched onward, heading out of the garden and into the courtyard. She tried to follow his earlier instructions, walking like she owned the place to put a little "manliness" in her stride. Glancing at him from over her shoulder, she arched a brow. "How's my walk, by the way?"

"Like a cat in heat. Is that what you're going for? I can keep watching if you like," Rufus grinned at Einin in a way that was obviously exaggerated. "You have the owning the place down, but you haven't lost your sway. Walk with your feet set apart a bit more, and migrate that hip movement up toward your shoulders."

Einin spun around to gawk at him, face flushing red with embarrassment. "A cat in--WHAT?!" She rubbed her face. She supposed she had set herself up for that.

"Jeez. I suppose I should commend you for brutal honesty. Now if you don't mind, I'm just going to...wait here a moment. You just--" She gave a frustrated wave of her hand. "You just go on ahead. Walk ahead of me."

"Walk ahead of you? I guess it would make sense that ladies would like to watch a man walk as much as we like to see ladies sway." Ryk smirked at his own comment , and strode passed Einin. He fetched up his blade and mask and quickly stepped into the proper starting position.

"Ready when you are."

"Yes. That is exactly the reason," Einin muttered, and would have rolled her eyes if she wasn't watching him walk passed. Realizing she was watching, she jerked her eyes skyward. Gods be damned. Insufferable man. But so what? It wasn't like that mattered! Even she could recognize that he was attractive--her and basically the entire rest of the noble court, right?--but that didn't mean anything! Anyone with eyes could see it, and see that the cut of his clothes suited him.

It was just basic facts!

Just like how his breath smelled good when he kissed her.

Bloody, literal bastard.

She marched after him with a scowl, putting a little more sway in her shoulders as she went (and feeling rather ridiculous, like a monkey) and snatched up her sword and slipped on her mask. Without even waiting for his signal, she launched into an attack, lunging forward fiercely with a sharp thrust at his lower left.

Einin was fierce in her attacks, and she was learning fast. This pleased Ryk greatly. He showed her basic ways to disarm her opponent and some dirty tricks to use when fighting 'villains' on her adventures. If he had any unexpected business that took him away from the city, he would be happy knowing she could handle herself a bit better. That didn't mean he wouldn't have a detail tailing her all the time anyway.

A few hours of training, and Ryk had really worked up a thirst. He was thinking it was time for a liquor break. He paused after Einin successfully showed she could handle the latest disarm maneuver.

"I think that's enough for today. How about we get a drink?"

"I think that's the best idea you ever had," Einin panted, wiping her face off on the back of her sleeve. She felt about ready to drop and thought she had sweated most of the water out of her body, and she felt utterly disgusting and probably smelly, but cleaning up could wait.

Stretching her arms and rolling her sore shoulders, she tossed her sword to Ryk and peeled off her mask, damp hair tumbling out. "Ugh. Gross," she muttered, and pulled off her gloves to let her hands air out. He'd worked her hard and she had the bruises to show for it! And, more invaluable, the knowledge. She felt confident that the next time she headed out, she wouldn't get her ass handed to her quite so badly.

Hopefully not at all!

She undid her hair and tied it back again to fix it and flapped the front of her shirt to get a breeze going. "Were you thinking here or elsewhere? Because I'm kinda hoping for elsewhere. Y'know. Staying out of the house for as long as I can?"

Because things were awkward indoors.

Ryk caught the sword by the hilt and slid it into a sheath that was laying nearby.

"Well I was planning on going to a seedy tavern later, but if you want I can clean us up and we can go now, in our great nearly matching sparring outfits."

He handed the now sheathed sword back to Einin. "This is yours now. It's far superior to the one you carry at night normally."

"I get to keep it?" Einin repeated, taking the sword from him and looking at him in surprise. She hadn't really expected that, and the blade was beautifully made, fitting her perfectly. It felt a little wrong in some ways, though, accepting it from someone she planned on besting one day. "Ah...thanks..."

Come to think of it, she probably shouldn't even go to the tavern with him, all chummy-like. He was the enemy! She needed to remember that, no matter what kindness he did her. Though...on the other hand, know thy enemy, right? Right! She could learn more about him, gather more information, and perhaps learn a bit more about his world. Yeah! That's all it was.

"Anyway, sure. Clean us up with your cleany doo-dad! I can handle seedy. I ought to, if I plan on doing this correctly--get used to what the people are used to, and seedy seems a rather good place to find evil-doers and such!" And probably corpses, she remembered with a shudder. Gods.

Buckling the sword to her belt, she waved a hand at him. "Well, go on! Do your thing!"

Ryk always had his, cleany doo-dad, with him, so he fetched it out and gave himself a tap. He was strongly against being gross and dirty when he was Ryk. In his Rufus persona, he could care less, but he had appearances to keep as Ryk. He then gave a tap to Einin as well, and they were both fresh as daisies now.

"You might wanna work your magic once we depart. It would not do well for people to see you about town dressed as a man, with your bright hair and eyes giving away that you're a noble lass."

Ryk adjusted Aestival and Hiemal on his hip after tucking his magic trinket away. It was rare for him to go about the town dressed down, but it would matter little. His face would be easily recognizable, and his gold would spend as easily no matter his attire.

"Gods, I love that thing," Einin said when she was fresh and clean again, and she gave herself a sniff under the armpit to check, always amazed that that thing worked. "I really need one. But ah! Good point! Magicking it up, I go."

Changing her hair and eye color and hiding her beauty mark was second nature at this point; she had done it enough times now that she no longer had to look into a mirror to cast the illusion, she just needed to feel it. Pulling her hair to the side to check, she saw it was a mousy brown instead of its usual bright pink, and assumed her eyes were the same. Reaching around, she loosened her ponytail so it hung low and scruffed up her hair, not that it needed any extra help at this point.

Gods, one day she would love to figure out how to change more of her appearance with illusion, but unfortunately, superficial things, things that could already be changed naturally, was about as far as she could get. It was harder to trick yourself.

"Alright, I think that should do it," she said, and turned briefly away from Ryk so she could adjust her binding under her tunic, to make sure everything was still there and bound. "Do I look alright? No random pink patches or anything?"

"The most pink I see is the flush in your cheeks, and the pleasant color of your lips," Ryk told Einin as he turned to lead the way. Rather than pass through the house, he walked through the gardens around the side of the manor and out to the front of the grand estate. Along the way, a Wolf servant fell into step alongside him. He handed the man his sparring blade, gloves and mask as they approached the front pathway. There were two more of his Wolf servants there waiting and they came up to him quickly and gave him reports on the patrols that were watching the grounds. They didn't know he was Rufus, but they had been appointed by The Red Wolf to serve Ryk, the greatest financial backer of The Soot Wolves.


"Quiet on all fronts Mr. Handelaar."

"That's good to hear. Myself and the Lady Einin here will be going to a dangerous part of town. You should inform whomever you report to on my whereabouts."

Einin handed her gloves and mask to another servant and, ever nosy, listened in as best as she could. Not that there was of value to pick up, but it kind of amused her, this charade. Ryk had Wolves for servants, and they didn't even realize he was Rufus?

When the servants were gone, she pressed onward, heading toward the garden gate. "I suppose I should have let my family know I would be gone," she said, as she found one of the hidden ditches that lead under the gate, which she often used on her excursions. She dropped down and began to wriggle under it, crawling on her belly and brushing the dry dirt off once she'd reached the other side. "But I'm sure we can come up with a good excuse later."

Ryk raised an eyebrow as Einin squirmed her way under the gate. He found the act mildly amusing. There were much easier ways to pass through a gate, like opening it. The lock wasn't even magical, he could have it open in a moment with the right tools, if he had need of them. It was more in his style to go over a gate, rather than waste time picking a lock, or crawling under it. Instead, he simply nodded to his remaining Wolf and they produced the key. There were very few locks in Arca that the Soot Wolves did not have a key for. With it unlocked, he opened it and stepped through.

"Indeed, I'm sure we can think of something. You are managing to keep everyone out of that blood soaked room. This should be a simple matter to cover up."

"Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa! Two things!"

Stepping around to face Ryk, Einin poked him in the chest. "One, how do your people have a key to my gate? Two, how do you know about the room? And three, I need that key, you can't have that!"

"That's three things not two," Ryk smiled at Einin, then he signaled for the Wolf to give Einin the key. "I'm sure Rufus has more than one copy," he gave her a wink at that. "As for the room. Rufus has you constantly watched, for your protection, and as on every nobles staff in Arca, there are Soot Wolves in your employ."

Einin stared at Ryk, key in hand.

"How 'constantly watched' is constantly watched, because there was like no one around when that happened and if we're talking like peeping I'm really not okay with that!"

"Peeping? Don't be silly. He would not allow anyone sleazy to watch over you while you undress and bathe. You are watched always though. At every moment of every day, you have a minimum of two shadows." Ryk waved off the remaining Wolf.

"None of my Wolves have seen the bloody mess, but the two of you were quite loud that night. Luckily a Wolf played interference with the servant that was going to check on the ruckus. Another one overheard the entire conversation though. That man truly is an enigma," Ryk leaned in to be sure only she could hear his whisper. "I have him followed as well. I'm still not sure if he's friend or foe, but he will likely prove useful either way."

Ryk tugged at his collar to adjust his vest, and rested his hand across Aestival as he stepped away from the safety of the garden. His coach pulled up next to them, ready to deliver them to wherever they desired.

"Shall we?"

...Okay, that was a good point.

Maybe she had gotten a bit loud in panic and frustration, though she'd thought she'd been rather quiet. Either way, she was relieved "Rufus" was at least being classy about the whole tailing her deal, and supposed, in that case, it wasn't as creepy as it first sounded. Ryk was mentoring her, after all. He'd mentioned wanting to keep her safe. Alright. Made sense, she guessed.

Relaxing a little, Einin snorted when he mentioned Jarrett. "Ha, neither! He's a pain in my ass, is what he is," she said before she headed for the coach and slipped inside.

"Take us to the Lifeless Lech," was all Ryk said to his driver as he climbed into the platinum inlaid ebony coach. It was expertly crafted, sleek and elegant, with the most posh and luxurious interior of black silk cushions. A small magic light in the center of the ceiling, lit the carriage in a gentle orange glow. The scent of cinnamon and vanilla was faintly present, and quite pleasant. Ryk spared no expense when it came to luxury.

"So how do you plan on dealing with your faux fiancé?"

Leaning back in her seat with her arms folded behind her head, Einin arched a brow at the name of their destination and gave Ryk a dry look. Lifeless Lech? That...

Sounded like some place Jarrett would frequent. Gods, she would scream if there were corpses there.

Speaking of Jarrett...

She shrugged, took in a deep breath to take in the scent of the coach. "Soon, and discreetly. We'll 'break up' due to something like differences, something normal and natural. I was seriously considering stretching the engagement for the sake of not being pestered about husbands, because it's been nice having a whole day where that hasn't been the primary topic, buuut..." She shuddered.

"It was creepy enough dealing with his corpse...obsession...outside my home. Waking up to a mysterious, blood-covered room? Gods, no. So the only issue now it making the fake split to our fake engagement believable. I suppose I'll have to pick a petty fight with him in view of my parents."

"Well that sounds thrilling, I do not envy you, surely," Ryk looked out the window as they rolled along.

The day's light was fading. Night would be on them soon. By now the Lifeless Lech would be filling up. It was a popular establishment, that boasted a third floor entirely devoted to Ladies of the Evening, and a basement in which high stakes fights were bet on. There was nothing lifeless about the place at all. It was a favorite watering hole of The Soot Wolves.

"Well if I can help in some way let me know. Perhaps, I could ask your father for your hand? I'm sure that would get your parents off your back after you break it off with Jarrett."

Einin snorted a laugh at that and rubbed her face. "Oh dear gods, are you serious?" she said, and been about to discount the idea completely, because what, but...

Actually, it wasn't such a bad idea. After all, she had been thinking the same thing about Jarrett--except the problem was that it wasn't safe to keep him around. He was too obvious, he damaged everything in his path, and he apparently had a creepy mistress that wasn't happy with her. Plus, the corpse issue. She really couldn't reconcile the corpse issue.

Sitting up abruptly and turning toward Ryk, her expression turned serious. "No, seriously, are you serious? Because actually...yeah. Sure. I think my parents would be over the moon if Ryk Handelaar, ludicrously wealthy merchant, asked for my hand. They're not overly fond of Jarrett, but they were pretty happy when I danced with you. And you've actually made a legit name for yourself." Unlike Jarrett. She was worried about what would happen if her parents decided to dig.

She rubbed her chin, brow furrowed. "That could actually work. I mean, what the hell, right? Then we just call it all off whenever."

Sure, the guy was her arch nemesis and all, but it wasn't like she had men lining up to pretend to be her fiance.

"Who said anything about calling it off? True love conquers all." Ryk gave Einin a sweet, charmingly innocent smile. Of course he was serious about the proposal. He had never had a fiancé before though. It would be a huge deal to Arca. He didn't actually plan on marrying the girl, as lovely as she was. Now that the thought was in his mind though, the wheels started turning. He was already so powerful, but he was not a noble. In Essyrn it wouldn't matter, his power would be increased by his wealth and status as a merchant. Here in Serendipity though, a title made all the difference. Einin wasn't his first thought for claiming a nobles title, Lord Handelaar instead of Master Handelaar, he liked the sound of that, but she was an option. A thought for later scheming perhaps. Secretly, his heart still held out for Lanna.

"I'd have to be much more discreet with my evening encounters if we were to be engaged. I do not enjoy an empty bed, but I try to maintain a gentlemanly appearance in public. A gentleman does not take another lady to his chamber when he is betrothed."

"True love? Tchyeah. Anyway, I'm sure you'll be able to figure something out with regards to, uh...sleeping stuff." Einin lowered her voice. "Just be Rufus when you got an itch to scratch. I dunno much about him, but uh, he seemed pretty okay with kissing random girls."

Reclining back in her seat again, her mind ran over the crazy plan. This many engagements and break-ups would certainly not make her...popular, and ruin her chances of a serious marriage, but honestly, she didn't care. She wasn't planning on getting married off, anyway; the idea of marrying someone she scarcely knew and praying they could learn to at least care about each other was...well, maybe she'd been ruined by too many epic stories. Still, if everything went well, she could become a knight, and then all this stuff wouldn't matter so much.

If she was going to ever have a relationship at all, she wanted one on her terms, not something that was dictated to her.

Which posed an interesting question. She would be getting an awful lot out of Ryk doing this for her. But Ryk...

Looking at him sidelong, she tilted her head. "Wait. What are you getting out of this?" she asked. "I mean, are you honestly just offering out of kindness and concern? That's kind of a big, crazy jump to make. Jarrett didn't even offer, it just accidentally happened."

Ryk looked at the beautiful young woman sitting across from him. What did he get out of it indeed. If only he'd thought that far ahead. This was a new plot to play with, an idea he'd never had. There was no answer to give at the moment, but he found himself being honest with Einin again.

"My reputation will not suffer for being engaged to one of the most beautiful young Noble Ladies in the city, one that has an influential family. I haven't yet figured out how I'll play this to my advantage, but I'm sure I'll find something." Rufus gave the young lady a charming grin, "and I wouldn't at all be opposed to marrying you," he said with a wink.

Einin snorted a laugh in a most unladylike fashion, and through laughter she hoped to hide the flush of embarrassment his words and wink brought forth.

"Don't get too excited," she said with an awkward grin, brushing her bangs aside and glancing down at her lap. "I never said anything about marriage. Just. You know. A very lengthy engagement."

"With all the time we will be spending together, I can't promise you won't fall in love with me. I am charming and good looking." Ryk flashed Einin another grin, playful and friendly. She seemed to respond better to teasing and joking than to feigned charm and flattery. She fit in her world about as much as Theodore did. Good thing he had Ryk to pretend to b"Are you looking forward to a night of debauchery?"

Einin laughed again, shaking her head, and had been about to make some wise comment when he mentioned a 'night of debauchery'.

She blinked, eyebrow raising. She knew the tavern they were going to was 'seedy', but she supposed she should have asked just how seedy. "Umm...I was just planning on a drink or two, so..."

"Well you needn't worry. The potions I carry with me always don't just heal wounds, they flush you of toxins and poisons. You can get drunk and then swig one back and be sober as a preacher." Ryk tapped his belt pouch. "Drink as much as you like, I'll make sure you get home safe Einin."

"What? Really?" Einin looked at Ryk with fresh interest, sitting up a little straighter. "No headaches or anything?"

She pursed her lips, then sat back, arms folded over her chest. She looked at Ryk again, seeming to be considering something for a moment, and then said, "You won't tell my folks, will you? You know, if something like that were to happen. Not saying it will, but..." She shrugged. "I've kinda always wondered what all the fuss was about."

Because while she'd drank her share of wine at dinner, she'd never been more than a little tipsy. Her parents certainly wouldn't let her drink enough for that. And while she'd sneaked out plenty, she'd never drank while out, because it wasn't safe.

Not because she wasn't curious.

"Really," Ryk grinned at Einin's eagerness, as hidden as it was. His first time getting actually drunk had not come until he was in Arca. It had never been safe to be intoxicated in Zantaric. He dared not dull his senses. Even so, he never found what could be appealing about losing yourself in drink. Dulling the memories of a tortured life was something he found even less appealing. It was those memories, those experiences that had molded him into the powerful man he was today. There was no reason to try and forget them when they were like a badge of honor to him.

"Drink all you like little bird, on me, and I'll get you home without anyone the wiser. Even now Wolves are delivering a dinner invitation to your parents with another noble house. You're not invited though, so they won't even notice you're not at home."

"Like I said, I'm not saying I will, but..." Einin shrugged, gave a nonchalant smile without really meeting Ryk's eyes. This felt terribly forbidden, even with permission given and the promise of safety--and even with Ryk's clever set up to send her parents away. It was an effort to keep from grinning, because she felt downright rebellious.

"It always seemed like fun. The off duty guard always looked to be having a rollicking time, so there must be something to it, right? Oh!"

Leaning forward again, she looked at Ryk. "I'm gonna be a boy while we're here, alright? I need to practice, so...critique me!"

"It can be fun at times," Ryk had enjoyed some drunken romps with noble ladies. He wouldn't be sharing that info with Einin, but it was true. Inebriety made some situations more, pleasurable. Of course he never had to deal with the consequences of over drinking anymore. He would be right as rain as soon as he quaffed one of his potions. It was probably not fair to let Einin escape the headache of her first drunken night, but he wasn't sure he should let her get that drunk if she was gonna be a boy. She wouldn't likely be able to keep up the charade. He'd slip her a few drops once in a while to keep her sober enough.

"I will gladly help you master your manlier side. Should be entertaining."

Einin kicked his foot. "Pfff, don't laugh! This is serious! I'm not gonna be able to do this if I can't pass, and if you could tell two seconds in, so can everyone else. Ahem."

Clearing her throat, she uncrossed her legs and leaned back against her seat, arms resting along the back of the seat and legs sprawled apart. She'd noticed men tended to like to take up a lot of space and sprawl whereas women seemed to want to compartmentalize--as she had been doing minutes ago, sitting with her legs crossed and hands in her lap. She tilted her head and flashed a lazy grin. She usually tried to pick someone to imitate when she attempted this, and right then it was Jarrett.

"I think I've got sitting down okay, yeah?"

"I suppose so," Ryk said, looking at the way she was all sprawled out. "The way you are sitting now sends two messages. It puts out an air of claiming space, showing strength. But the leaning back with your arms and legs apart also is inviting. So it's like sending a message to the room that you can take on any comers."

Ryk sat back, crossed his legs in that wide, masculine manner, placed a hand on his knee and rested the other across the hilts of the blades at his hip. "This sends the message that I'm relaxed, but confident, showing I don't want trouble, but I'm ready for it if it comes." He looked out the window to see where about they were. They'd arrive at the establishment shortly. "A table gives you something else to work with to tailor the message you send. Body language is very important, especially in sword play. You must be able to read every signal in every twitch of a muscle. Tonight you will learn to see who is prey, who is predator, and who pretends at being what they are not."

Einin's eyes widened. "Whoops." Yeah, definitely not the message she wanted to send! She wanted to have fun tonight, not end up accidentally picking a fight. Adjusting herself, she mimicked Ryk, crossing her legs ankle-over-knee and resting her hand on her knee, other hand going to the hilt of her sword. She relaxed her posture. She supposed imitating Jarrett was a bad idea; the man was a rather strange assassin.

"Better?" she asked, taking mental notes. "And you think tonight will help with swordplay, hm? Is that the real reason we're here? Another lesson?" Not that she minded!

"Actually, the plan was to take you out, get you drunk and seduce you," Ryk winked at Einin and gave her a droll grin, "but Ryk Handelaar, wealthy merchant, can't be seen kissing boys." He let out a mirthful laugh. "What would the people say if they saw such a thing? But of course I jest. The lesson is but a pleasant bonus, we are truly just out to relax, maybe get to know each other a bit better."

Einin's cheeks reddened, but she rolled her eyes skyward and shook her head with a laugh. "I suppose that would put a crimp in your womanizing, wouldn't it?" she said with a quirked smile. "Lucky for me. Seems playing at being a guy is its own armor. And who knows, maybe I'll do a little flirting. I could. Wouldn't it be funny if I got all the lady-attention instead of you?"

Of course, she was joking. She didn't know the first thing about flirting, and she was far too prudish, anyway. But the thought was funny to her, and some deep part of her wished she could be so brave.

"I don't think it fair to accept that challenge, as I am well known for my ways and will get plenty of attention just because they know of the gold in my purse" Ryk seemed to lose a bit of his humor at the statement. He looked Einin over. She was not very manly in her getup, more androgynous than anything else. It would do well enough if she behaved somewhat mannish. She could certainly pass for a dandy, which would be well enough he supposed, she was just too pretty to easily pass as a man. She needed to work on the illusion magic, make her face less feminine.

"Rufus gets a bit more loyalty and love when he goes out. He's loved for who he is, not the weight of his purse. I will show you sometime."

Einin's smile slipped as Ryk spoke, expression becoming more subdued at the truth of that statement. With a low sigh, she folded her arms and glanced down at her knee.

"Yeah. I get you," she said with a little shrug, leaning an elbow against the window and resting her cheek on her hand. "That's Einin's life too, you know. Just in a different way. I dunno if Owl'll get much love, 'cause she hasn't really done enough yet to deserve it, but people like Einin because of her connections. They don't really like her, because they keep trying to make her something she's not."

She glanced back at Ryk. "But anyway...uh. Sorry. Don't wanna steal your vent. So Rufus doesn't just get fear, huh?"

Ryk laughed with real mirth.

"Rufus is adored by the poor and middle class. Many have better lives now that he runs the Wolves, and more or less the whole city. Nobles fear The Soot Wolves, and those who would go against us, know fear. But the people are my people. Even the city guard often defers to the Wolves in a crisis now. We've saved their hides a number of times. That doesn't stop them from trying to catch us anyway. We are the villains after all."

Owl blinked at him. If he was telling the truth--and honestly, he hadn't lied to her yet--then...

She cocked her head. "I'm pretty sure I've read stories like that. The whole robbing the rich to help the poor stuff..." She furrowed her brow. Loved by the poor and middle class, feared by the rich?

Leaning forward a little, she peered at Ryk. "So...wait. Are you telling me you all think we're the bad guys? Nobles, I mean?"

Ryk gave Einin a crooked grin, "I don't see nobles as 'bad guys', I just exploit the gap between social classes to my own benefit. Nobles are well known for not caring about the lower classes and exploiting the poor. That's a big reason the Wolves get so many recruits. I have my fingers in nearly every business not run or controlled by the Swinden's," he looked out to see they were finally pulling up to the tavern.

"And I don't steal from the rich to give to the poor, not at all. I just employ the poor, and teach them, and pay them with money stolen from the rich."

"Really..."

Einin glanced out the window, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. Because he was right; there was a trend of nobility not caring about the poor, and she didn't particularly like it, but she'd also never really had to think about it much. She wanted to become a knight so she could help and protect people, and because she felt more at home behind a sword than at a party, but...was she going after the wrong people?

This sounded downright charitable. Heroic, even.

But then she remembered those men that had been robbed and died, and her heart clenched. Nope. Criminals often wanted you to believe they were doing the right thing, right? That was what they did. Crime was still crime. Even if it was to fight crime? And...assist...the guard...?

She rubbed her temples, abruptly confused, but was saved from commenting further when they pulled up to the tavern and came to a halt. Straightening up a bit too eagerly, she jumped to her feet.

"Ah! We're here!" she said with a wide grin, and didn't wait for the doorman before she hopped out of the coach. "Hurry up! I need a strong drink after all that."

Ryk stepped off the coach after Einin, and entered the Lifeless Lech on her heels. The bouncers were about to stop the young 'boy' when Ryk signaled that he was his companion. The Lifeless Lech was in a dangerous part of Arca, and it's exterior reflected that fact. It was just as run down looking and dirty as all the other buildings on the street. Inside however, the multifaceted business was brightly decorated and full of life. A full band of bards played on a raised stage on the eastern wall, in front of which, was a modest dance floor. A long bar ran along the northern wall, lined with high-backed stools, stocked with an impressive collection of alcohol, and decorated with an even more impressive mirror. The central area over to the western wall was filled with tables for diners and drinkers alike. Working girls milled about, finding johns, and coaxing reluctant patrons into buying more. The myriad smells of cooking food, booze, burning tobacco, and perfumed doxies, swirled in the air as the two newly arrived patrons made their way inside. The music was loud, and the tables were full - all but one. A coin and a nod to the host of the establishment had Ryk and Einin being led to that table, which was always reserved for him.

"My friend Tanin and I will each have a mug of the special brew," Ryk handed the host a few more coins as they sat, "we'll also have the venison, mutton, and coney with chips and boiled cabbage."

Ryk looked to Einin. "Hope you're hungry Tanin," he said with a wink.

"Whoa..."

As Einin headed inside with Ryk, she could honestly say she had not been expecting this! Maybe she should have, considering "Ryk" was a bit of a fop, but considering the bad location and the shady name, she'd figured it would be equally dingy inside. Inside, though? It was lively! Full band and everything. Without meaning to, she gawked--and simultaneously tried not to sneeze as her nose was assaulted with so many competing smells.

Fortunately, she didn't get so distracted as to forget to practice her more masculine stride.

"After that work-out? I'm starving," she said as she took her seat. She flashed Ryk a grin, pleased that he was playing along with her act. Tanin, eh? Clever!

"You know, this place is surprisingly nice. It's not nearly so shady as the name made me think. And look! They even have a dance floor! It can't be all that bad if it's got a dance floor and great music."

A woman came by then, a foaming mug in each hand, and set them down on the table in front of them. She leaned down a little, hands on the table, and looked them both over in turn, a pleasant smile on her lips. But Einin couldn't help the way she pressed her arms inward to push her amble breasts out even more, so they looked about ready to spill out of her low top. How were they even staying in?

"Can I get ya anything else while yer waitin'?" she asked with a sly smile and a tilt of her head, but her eyes were all on Ryk. Einin took a swig of her drink and tried not to snort.

"Hi Trixie," Ryk gave the hetaira a wink, she was a wily one. Smart as her face was pretty. "My friend Tanin here, has never been to a brothel before," it was good to have a distraction to deflect Trixie from himself. She was a bit too inquisitive for Ryk's tastes. Of course, Rufus utilized her talents at getting information from her clients. "Perhaps you could send over one of the younger girls to say hello? Lulu, or Sally maybe?"

Trixie's smile grew, lighting up her face with its brilliance. She gave him a knowing look and a wink, and gave Einin a sidelong glance. "You got it, sugar," she said, and sashayed off to fetch a girl or two.

Einin's face was flushed. Eyes wide, she leaned in close to Ryk. "Hold up. You brought me to a brothel?"

She'd figured where they were going, it would be a seedy tavern with maybe the odd working girl or two, and that people might take advantage of the tavern's rooms. But a full-blown actual brothel? The distinction was huge in her mind! A tavern might have people buying sex, but it wasn't its entire purpose, and there would be regular old folks there. A brothel? That was the main thing being sold, and that's what everyone was there for!

So they thought she was there to...to...

She watched as Trixie approached another, younger woman and whispered into her ear, pointing at their table. Oh jeez. Her ears burned and before she could say more, said woman headed to their table. She had black hair, fair skin, dazzling green eyes, and the gait of a dancer--really, she was enviously gorgeous--and as she approached, she placed a light hand on Einin's shoulder.

"I heard this is your first time," she purred with a smile, and Einin kind of wanted to throttle Ryk. "How are you liking it?"

But she pushed the urge away. She was supposed to be practicing.

She put on a winning grin. "Oh, it's my first time in a brothel," she said, leaning an arm back on the backing of the chair. "But it's not my first time."

Ryk was thoroughly amused by Einin's performance. He'd let her contend with that for a while, as he observed her, and the room around them. The Lifeless Lech was not just a brothel, it was a hub for Soot Wolf activity. Rufus held the deed for the property, and most of the girls were on his personal payroll, as were the musicians and the bartenders. It was time for a report, so it was convenient to bring Einin here for her chance to finally let loose. It was also a part of his plan to get her at ease with him. In time, the familiarity and comfort between them, plus the eventual engagement, would give him an in to seducing her. He felt a little guilty. She had little chance, and her heart would probably get broken. He might actually convince her to marry him though, and bare his children. He wouldn't hold her back, and her nobility would be useful to him. It was mutually beneficial. At this time though, he would just watch her.

Lulu, as it turned out, wasn't nearly so scary as she'd first seemed. In the beginning, Einin had felt a little unsettled and off balance, because she was gorgeous--and that sort of beauty was intimidating!--and she was a prostitute--equally intimidating! Lulu, though? As it turned out, she was a rather sweet woman with a pretty laugh, and she knew how to carry a conversation. She also hadn't once been pushy.

Of course, she also hadn't let Einin's mug go empty.

And true to what Einin had said earlier, she hadn't let the mug stay full, either. Nope. She'd come here with the intention of letting loose, and so with Ryk's blessing, let loose she did.

Several mugs of the 'special brew' later, and Einin was drunk. It didn't take much. The stuff was stronger than she was used to, and very much not watered down.

And so it was that somehow, sometime during her conversation, she wound up with Lulu in her lap. The woman was only a little smaller than her so it was a bit awkward, but Einin only flashed Ryk a teasing, triumphant grin and didn't push her off. She wasn't wasted, but she was definitely drunk enough that her boundaries were less rigid and more flexible. And she figured, hey, she must be pulling the act off well enough!

Petting the woman's long hair (she didn't know why, really, it was just so soft and pretty) she shook her head. "You're way too pretty for this job, Lulu. Pretty and nice. Y'know that? You're better than this. So that's why when I'm a knight--which is a thing I'm doing, by the way, I forget if I told you. Anyway, when I'm a knight, I'll getcha outta this!"

"Oh? You will?" Lulu said, an amused smile on her lips. Einin had indeed told her that she planned on becoming a knight. She had told her at least five times, not counting this time. But Lulu was used to drunken rambles and drunken promises. "Charge in on a white horse and whisk me away from here?"

"Yup! Oh, except I don't know if the horse'll be white. I mean, it could be any color. That doesn't really matter. But the whisking. Whisking will happen."

"I like the sound of that," Lulu said, and slyly cuddled in closer. Einin blinked, stiffened a little, but promptly relaxed, and flashed Ryk another grin as though to say, 'look whose got the ladies now?' Teach him to make fun of her man-walk. "So you'll whisk me away. Where will we go?"

"On an adventure, of course!" Einin laughed, for she hadn't thought that far ahead.

Lulu leaned in close, close enough Einin could feel her warm breath against her ear. "We could go on an adventure now, you know," Lulu whispered, and with a secretive smile she rose to her feet and offered her hand. "Would you like to join me?"

Einin was up in a heartbeat--and the fast motion, which got her blood rushing, nearly made her topple over. She grabbed onto the table for balance. Wow. She hadn't even felt drunk until she stood up! Now the world was moving independently of her. "Hah! Sure! Let's go! See ya, Ryk! Me and my new friend Lulu are going on an adventure."

And she stuck her tongue out at him, snapped a mock salute, and offered her arm to the lady like a proper gentleman would.

Ryk looked at Einin's expression, her tongue of triumph, and his face quirked into an expression of amusement. He turned to Lulu, and gave her a very tame smile.

"Sit the boy down Lulu, and come here. I have a spot on my lap just for you." He patted his thigh and gave her a wink. "Tanin, has not a coin on his person, all the jingle hangs from my hip." Would you like to help me count it?" Ryk gave Einin his own triumphant look. Lulu, may think Tanin pretty, but every working lady of the night valued coin above pleasure.

"What? Ryk!" Einin whirled around on him and just about fell over when the world turned violently with her. She grabbed onto Lulu's arm for support. "Ryk, you are being absolutely cross! Crass! One of those! How dare you talk to a nice lady like that. And interrupt our adventure. That's rude. C'mon, Lulu, who needs him."

But Lulu only gave her a sweet smile and a peck on the cheek. "We'll pick up that adventure when you've got a little coin!" she said, and winked. "It's a paid excursion, I'm afraid. Come now, let's sit you back down, honey. Easy does it!" she said as she lead Einin back to the table and sat her back down.

And then, promptly, she made her way over to Ryk and plunked herself into his lap with a girlish giggle.

Einin glared at Lulu, and then at Ryk. "Traitor," she huffed. "I was about to do my first heroic deed, you know. I was gonna rescue her!"

"Rescue her?" Ryk asked with an amused grin, "by letting her take you upstairs to her room? By showing her how well you perform in bed when you're falling over drunk? Silly Tanin, the only rescue she'll get from you now is one where you fall asleep drunk on her bed and have to pay for sex without getting any." Ryk let out a small laugh. "Perhaps you should let a bit of the ale burn off before you take one of the ladies up stairs. That way when I pay for your time with her, I can feel confident that you got your monies worth."

Ryk stroked Lulu's hair gently, and tickled his fingers along her neck. "So Lulu, lovely girl, how long have you been here at the Lech?" Of course Ryk knew she had been here for just under two months, but it was a good opportunity to show Einin how to lead the conversation, "and how did such a beauty, escape parents and men that would keep her from the freedom of this line of work?"

Einin blushed at that. Really, she was blushing because she was just now realizing what Lulu had meant about 'adventures', but the timing was right enough that it looked like she--"Tanin"--was blushing about the little insult.

So she tried to work with that.

"Pfft, I'm not that drunk, man!" she said, crossing her legs, knee resting on her ankle, and one arm hanging over the chair's back. "It's only when I stand up that's a problem, so laying down wouldn't be!" And then she laughed at her own "joke", which sounded awfully clever right then.

Right then, though, Lulu had eyes only for Ryk. She giggled politely, but then turned her attention back to the money source and tilted her head into his hair stroking with a little purr of enjoyment. "Oh, when you're a wild heart, you have ways of avoiding capture," she said with a sly smile as she trailed a hand up his chest. "Me? I ran away some two months ago. And I kept running until I found my place here. Ain't been tamed yet, but every now and then..."

She leaned in to brush soft lips against Ryk's ear, fingers plucking at the front of his shirt. "...I let myself be captured."

Einin's eyebrows raised. This was...she felt kind of like she was watching something she shouldn't be, but she was supposed to be Tanin, so was she supposed to like...look away, or keep watching, or what? She was too drunk for that kind of decision. Instead, she coughed into her hand and cleared her throat.

"Sorry. Something, uh, went down the wrong way or--wait. Lulu? You sayin' you wanna work here?"

Lulu blinked and raised her head, then gave a pleasant smile. "Of course. I wouldn't be here otherwise!"

"But I was gonna rescue you..." There went that.

"Lulu my sweet," Ryk said, addressing his lap candy, "would you be so kind as to get me a deck of cards. I'd like ones with painted ladies. Be sure all the cards are there before you pay." He pressed a silver coin into her hand. She planted a kiss on his cheek before she rose, and as she was walking away, Ryk gave her a strong smack on her behind. He turned to Einin, and looked at her with a bemused expression as food was piled on the table before them.

The Lech was a bit busier than usual tonight, so it had taken a bit of time for his food to be prepared. Not to mention they always made his orders fresh. He likely spent more money here than any other patron. Owning the place as Rufus though, did soften the blow. The profits, and information, far outweighed the expenses.

"I think it's a good idea you fill your stomach well if you plan to drink more," Ryk said to Einin. "Put a few drops of this into your next ale," he handed the girl one of his potions, "It'll help clear your head."

Well. This was...certainly an interesting new world, that was for sure! Einin met Ryk's look with a disapproving look for slapping Lulu's bottom, even though Lulu didn't seem to mind--in fact, her laughter pointed to the opposite. It was completely baffling to Einin, who couldn't fathom letting someone treat her so, but also kind of absurdly funny in her current state. It was so different from what she was used to.

With the food piled in front of them and fresh ale on the table, Einin took a long sip of her ale--while taking the potion from Ryk with her other hand. Setting her mug down, she wiped foam from her lip. "Don't that defeat the whole purpose of drinkin'?" she asked, words beginning to slur together, before she dug into the venison.

Buuut he was kind of right. There was that whole issue of how she'd feel tomorrow, and the whole issue of not wanting her parents to know what she'd been up to, which they would if she didn't take the potion. And so after a few bites of food, just long enough to be a little stubborn, she uncorked it (though it took several tries) and shook a few drops into her ale before taking another long sip of it.

The difference wasn't enormous, but it did clear her head a little. It no longer felt so fogged, and the world no longer felt so spinny. Oh, she was still tipsy, but her head at least worked now. "Ahaha. This is so weird. Ryk, I'm literally drinking to get less drunk."

Ryk pulled a throwing dagger from his boot and began carving into the mutton. He loved the texture of the lamb as it melted in his mouth. He'd have his fill of the rabbit and dear as well, but he couldn't wait to eat the mutton with baked apples and boiled cabbage.

"Try not to talk so loud Tanin. I don't advertise my magics." He stuffed a bite of a potato in his mouth with the partially chewed mutton, apple, and cabbage that was already in there. He did not display the best manners while in the Lifeless Lech, but nobody her was concerned with etiquette. "Eat up boy."

Though it felt a little wrong to be eating without utensils at first, but Einin took to it quickly--because it was fun. It felt nice to just get to let it all go for a time and not have to worry about being all  proper, and once she saw how Ryk was eating his meal, she took to it easier. If it was okay for him, it was okay for her!

Besides, she was a guy. Guys didn't pluck at their food all dainty-like. So, realizing she was kind of handling her food cautiously and picking at it with her fingertips, she shrugged and dug in, tearing the meat apart and stuffing her face.

"Sorry," she said, quieter, around a bite of apple. Whoops. She hadn't noticed her raised volume. Then again, it was loud inside so it felt like she had to practically shout to hear herself. She glanced around them as though to check that no one had overheard, and then returned her attention to Ryk. She swallowed before she spoke again.

"This better? Hey, speaking of better, this is pretty good!" A bit of juice trickled down her wrist, and she licked it off before it could get too far. "Definitely not a bad place for a brothel, though that dance floor is looking awfully lonely..."

Ryk watched Einin eat, and it was amusing. He had mastered the art of eating this way. He looked dashing even now, not a drip of juice or gravy escaping him. How a man could eat with such lack of grace and yet appear to have everything under control, with cheeks slightly bulging even, was a feat for the ages. Ryk was truly an artist, in everything he did. Lulu returned as he was scooping coney and carrots onto his plate with his dagger. She set the deck of cards next to his elbow. The girl gave him a kiss on the cheek as he slipped her another silver coin, then pranced away to find a man to proposition. The cards were bound by a piece of twine, and Ryk hoped Lulu could count well enough to have gotten a full deck. Drinking and whoring wasn't all he enjoyed. He doubted Einin would be up for five finger fillet, so cards would have to do. She had nothing to bet, but it was more a distraction for others as he watched the room.

"When we're done with the food, we will play cards," Ryk sucked the fat of the rabbit from his fingers, and somehow, without effort, made it look sexy. "Do you know the game of Caravan?" He pulled another deck from his own pocket and set it next to the one Lulu had fetched. "If not, I will teach you."

Where Ryk was neat, Einin was a hot mess, her hands greasy--and even having spilled a little ale down her front when she missed her mouth. Of course, being tipsy didn't help matters, either. She wasn't trying to be messy. How Ryk could pull it off without a drop out of place was...mystifying.

She suspected the primper was at work. Or something.

Equally mystifying, though, was how he could make finger-licking look...so...

Einin stared. If she weren't tipsy, she would have caught herself staring and broken the trance, but instead she just watched him, intrigued, a piece of mutton half raised to her parted lips. How did...? Why was...? And how was that attractive?!

She jumped when he spoke, abruptly realizing he'd been saying things, and her face colored. "What? Oh, uh." She shoved the meat in her mouth. "Caravan? Nope. Never heard of it. Never got to play many card games." Her mother always claimed it was gambling, and gambling was a terrible vice.

Ryk pulled another dagger from some hidden spot and used the two blades together to cut away a piece of the venison, and serve himself more of the potatoes that came with it. Another serving girl soon brought him another mug of the special brew, and a took a few of the empty dishes away with her. Soon he was full and he snapped for service. Trixie herself came over at his call, and she leaned in, in her usual manner, to receive whatever orders he had for her.

"I want everything remaining," he motioned at the remaining feast with one of his daggers, "wrapped in waxed parchment and delivered to the usual place."

"Of course Master Handelaar," Trixie beamed, "so kind of you to feed the little orphans." She was sure he must have some ulterior motive. The rich rarely did anything kind for the poor without it benefiting them. Ryk Handelaar couldn't be the exception, especially not when he was here whoring so often. Why he would never take her services though, baffled her. She was the most requested girl in the place. If she get something good on Ryk, Rufus would be so thrilled with her. Nobody ever got anything on Ryk Handelaar, as much as the Red Wolf encouraged it. She signaled for some other girls to come help her cart the food away to be wrapped and delivered. They would be prompt too. Once, a kitchen worker had kept the food for himself. Ryk Handelaar came into the kitchen the next night and cut off the man's thumb himself. Nobody knew how he'd found out about the theft, but they never stole from him again.

When all the food but Einin's plate had been taken away, Penny, a girl too young to take a room upstairs, brought over a still hot peach pie. Ryk cut into the crust to let some steam escape, and then began shuffling the deck Lulu had acquired for him.

"You gonna work on that food much longer Tanin? You seem to have a proclivity for eating like a lady. A messy lady, but just as slow as all the rest."

"Feeding orphans...?" Einin repeated slowly, watching the food get taken away. It was like he was trying to prove to her what a good guy he was! First everything he'd done for her, all his talks about his more noble acts, and now he was feeding orphans. As the table emptied, the food turned flavorless in her mouth. She wanted to gorge herself on the rest, but now she just felt guilty, like if she ate more she would be depriving some orphan from a meal!

Besides, that was also when the pie came out. And how could she focus on her meal when there was pie?

Swallowing down what was left in her mouth, she pushed her plate aside and lightly kicked Ryk under the table.

"I'm sorry if I actually want to taste the food I'm scarfing down!" she said with a teasing grin, though she took that as her cue to eat faster next time. She licked her fingers clean of juice and bits of food and waved down another girl to take her plate. "If you wolfed that down any faster, you might as well have been eating off the floor."

And her grin grew as she stared at him expectantly and waggled her eyebrows, hoping he caught the joke.

Ryk caught her joke, and only gave Einin the slightest of grins as he shook his head at her. He'd love to see how ridiculous she got if she was truly inebriated. Perhaps some drunken sex was in order. After he had taken her maidenhead while she was fully in control of course. It was never a good idea to exploit a woman's loss of control due to intoxication if she wasn't already on the record as being willing. Tonight would not be the night for that. Einin needed a little more time to warm up to him before he could convince her to join him in bed.

Ryk drew Einin's attention to the cards, and demonstrated how to shuffle them a few times. He did it slowly and rotated his hands so she could get multiple angles on the process. She was bright, surely she could catch the technique quickly enough to not look like a total novice. Most men knew how to shuffle cards. Well, most men dressed as she was now. He passed the cards to her and began shuffling his own deck quickly, and precisely. He loved this game, and once she could shuffle decently, Ryk would explain the rules.

Leaning forward with her elbows on the table, Einin watched Ryk shuffle, and then took the offered cards and split the deck. She watched him again as he shuffled his own deck and, when she thought she had the idea, she gave it a go.

Her first attempt ended with the cards flying everywhere, with most landing on the table and a couple on the floor, and Einin scrambled from her seat to pick them up before anyone could step on them. Returning to her seat, she rolled her shoulders back.

"That didn't happen," she said with a nod, and tried again, putting less force into it this time. Take two went much better. She managed to get the deck shuffled, if without the finesse of Ryk, and with one success under her belt, she did it again.

After a few more tries, she had a decent handle on it. No flare, but she thought that she was doing a good job at this, especially tipsy as she was. "Hah. That wasn't so hard."

Einin's grasp on shuffling was rudimentary, but sufficient. Ryk shuffled a few more times, cut, and shuffled, cut, did a few quick shuffling tricks, and then shifted his focus to explaining the rules. All the while his eyes wandered the room, watching the other patrons, as well as the employees of the establishment.

"Caravan decks are composed of at least thirty cards from one or more playing card sets. The deck may have any number of cards of any type, although it cannot have duplicate cards from the same set. For example, a King of Spades with this flowered design on the reverse," Ryk held up one of his cards with an orange and white flowered design, "and a King of Spades with this bleeding skull design on the reverse," he held up a card showing her the bleeding skull art, "is acceptable, but more than one King of Spades from the bleeding skull deck is not." Ryk paused to be sure that Einin caught all of that.

"Prior to beginning a game, a player is allowed to alter their deck in any way as long as there are at least thirty cards, and there are no duplicate cards of the same design." He continued shuffling his cards as he explained the rules to Einin. "Caravan is played with two players building three opposing caravans, or 'bids', of numbered cards. The goal is to outbid the opponent in all of the three caravans by keeping the number of points on each above twenty and below twenty-seven, so twenty-one to twenty-six, while preventing the opponent from doing the same." Einin seemed to be following well enough, even if she was tipsy, so he pushed through. If she had any questions, she'd surely let him know before they played. "The game begins with each player taking eight cards from their deck and placing either one numerical card or Ace on each of their caravans," he tapped his finger on the table in three spots, indicating the imaginary caravans. "A player may not discard during this initial round. Once both players have started their three bids, each player may do one of the following on their turn," he held up a finger for each of the three choices of moves, "Play one card and draw a new card from their deck into their hand," he lowered a finger, "discard one card from their hand and draw a new card from their deck," he lowered a second finger, now holding up just one that he pointed with for emphasis as he told Einin the third move, "or disband one of their three caravans by removing all cards from that caravan." Ryk decided that now was a good time to pause and see if she had any questions.

"Anything there you didn't quite catch Tanin? Or should I continue?" He reached for the pie now that it had cooled. They had supplied forks this time and he took a bite of the dessert.

It was a lot to take in right then, but Einin followed along until Ryk paused for questions. She got most of what he'd said, though she had a feeling she would struggle with their first round. She had a good memory, but it was hindered by drink--and the fact that the card games she did have experience with had been simpler ones.

"I'm probably going to need some reminders as we go," she said, scratching the side of her neck. "That's a lot to remember. But I suppose it'll make more sense once we get going. Ah, what's the benefit of disbanding a caravan? Why would you choose to do that if the point is scoring points on them?"

Ryk was glad Einin caught that. It meant she wasn't too intoxicated to think. He hadn't explained the uses of different cards yet, so she didn't know that they could sabotage each others caravans.

"Keep that thought, and if the next set of rules doesn't answer it for you, I know that it'll be especially easy to beat you." He smiled at her with that, and then jumped into his next explanation.

"Okay, so after the initial card is played, the next card played determines the direction of the caravan. Either ascending or descending numerically. All subsequent cards must continue that numerical direction or match the suit of the previous card. In this way, playing a same-suit card will change the direction of the caravan, if applicable. So if the first card was an eight of clubs and the second card a four of spades, the next card must be lower than a four or be a spade. If its, lets say, the six of spades, the next card must be higher than a six, or be another spade." He paused a moment, fearing his explanation had taken too many turns, but there was not much that could be done about that. So he continued.

"Cards of the same numerical value cannot be played in sequence, regardless of suit. So no eights on eights," that was simple enough to grasp with no deeper explanation. Which was good, as the complicated part was coming up. "Face cards and Jokers can be attached to an Ace or numeric card in a caravan, including your opponents', and affect them in various ways," he stopped to take another bite of the pie and then slid it to Einin as he carried on with the rules, "A total of three cards may be attached to any given regular card, after which the only way to remove that card is through the use of a Jack or discarding the entire caravan," hopefully that would be the beginning of her understanding of discarding caravans. If the score on it was too high, you had to throw it away. "Now for card values or mechanics," or the fun part, as he thought of it.

"An Ace adds one to the caravan bid, and two through ten add their number to the value of the bid as well. Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Jokers, like I said before, are attached to an ace or number and do different things," Ryk gave Einin a moment to enjoy a bite of pie, then continued telling her how to play the game.

"A Jack removes the number or ace card you play it on and any other face cards, jokers, kings, and queens, along with it. A Queen changes the suit of the card it's played on and reverses the direction of the caravan if played on the lead card. For example, playing a Queen of Hearts on the lead card in a five, seven, nine caravan will change the nine to Hearts and make the direction descending. Multiple Queens may be played on the same card to a maximum of three face cards. A King doubles the value of the number card it's played on. For example, a King played on a four adds four to that caravan. Multiple Kings may be played on the same card for multiplicative effects; thus, a second King will re-double the value resulting from the first King, so four times two equals eight then eight times two equals sixteen. Now Jokers are a bit special," he smiled as he readied his explanation. Jokers could be crazy game changers, and he loved plotting how to use them to best effect.

"A Joker played on an Ace removes all non-face cards of the Ace's suit from both sides of the table. A Joker played on an Ace of Spades, for example, removes the two through the ten of Spades in both your and your opponents' caravans. This has no effect on cards whose suit has been changed by a Queen, nor on any cards played after the Joker. When played against number cards a Joker removes all other cards of this value from the table. For example, a Joker played on an eight of Hearts removes all eights, other than the card the Joker is played upon, from the table. This also only affects cards played before the Joker."

A large grin spread across Ryk's face as he finished telling Einin all the rules of the game. He loved this game, played frequently by merchants and caravan drivers. He hoped she'd come to love it too.

"Any questions now?"

Oh gods. Einin dug into the pie as he continued, and it was an effort to follow. Yeah, if she was sober she didn't think she'd be able to remember all that off the top of her head, and though she had the gist of it, when he finished she couldn't help but laugh.

Finishing up a bite of pie, she pointed at him with the fork. "One question. Can we play a practice round before we play for real?"

Ryk laughed with Einin, he knew her head must be spinning after all that. Well It would be fun.

"Of course we can practice," he smiled at her and stopped his shuffling. He drew the appropriate number of cards and prepared to trounce her over and over. "One more thing, a player's caravan is considered sold when the cards are valued from twenty-one to twenty-six. The opponent may still outbid by increasing the value of their opposing pile while staying within the twenty-one to twenty-six range. So of course, twenty-six beats twenty-five, but twenty-seven loses to twenty-one. The game ends when a player has an in range bid on all three caravans and at least two are better than his opponents'." He looked over his hand. The cards in his custom deck were suited to his play style. The cards of Einin's deck were the standard fifty-four. She had little chance of winning.

"In the event of a tie between any two matched caravans, those are the opposing caravans right across from each other, the game continues until one side has a better bid. The player with two or more sales on their side at the end of the game wins the pot. If either player runs out of cards to discard before a winning condition is met, the player will not be able to discard and will be declared the loser regardless of how many winning caravans they have," Ryk arranged his cards in his hand a bit.

"Ready when you are."

"Alright. Like I said, no guarantees I'll actually remember all this just yet," Einin said as she shuffled through her deck and tried to recall what he'd told her. "But I do plan on beating you at least once." She grinned at him "I've gotta beat you at something. Anyway, I'm ready, and I'm going first!"

And so she laid down her first card, and took a strong swig of her ale. "Your move, old man!"

Her cockiness was short lived. The practice round went predictably bad, with more than several embarrassing flubs. She practically set Ryk up for victory, and at one point she messed up one of her caravans when she forgot it could only go in one numerical direction. Instead, she'd thought she was being pretty clever when the numbers had been going 4, 5, 6, and she put another 5 over the 6 to try to reverse it. Another time, she tried to use an ace as a one, because it made sense in her head. But since it was a practice round, she also asked questions as she played--whether playing a certain card would be a good idea or not, and asking for reminders on rules or what certain face cards did.

All in all, it was an easy victory for Ryk, and Einin had demanded a rematch--a real match, even though they had no money to bet. It made more sense after the practice match.

But she still lost by a landslide.

Frustrated, she set up the third game, and they were halfway through it when she encountered another issue she hadn't given much thought to before.

All that ale she'd drank (and she'd been nursing more during their matches)? Yeah. It caught up to her in another way. At first, she tried to ignore it. But then she couldn't, for it was like it decided to hit her all at once, and when she was on the verge of squirming, she had to say 'uncle'.

Throwing down one of her cards onto a caravan, Einin looked around them to make sure no one was listening and then motioned Ryk in closer as she leaned across the table. "Ryk, I don't know how else to put this," she started, and grimaced, "but I'm having a bit of a situation. You know. Drinking." Oh, bloody hell. She really needed to work on her manly vocabulary.

"I gotta piss like you wouldn't believe," she finally blurted. "I don't think I need to explain what the problem with that is." Namely, that most public places tended to be rather public, and it wasn't like she could just head to a bush like a man.

Explaining parts of rules and card uses to Einin over and over didn't bother Ryk at all. Showing her that they both played three cards each, one for each of their own caravans, to start the game, was an important first lesson. Pointing out later that an Ace was indeed valued as a one when she played it as such and then second guessed herself, was amusing. There was little challenge in defeating her, but she'd improve, as she did at all things.

When she leaned forward and told him that she needed relieve her bladder, he almost fell out of his chair with the amusement. He reached into his vest and pulled out a brass key. He handed it to her as a swigged from hi own ale. He pointed up to the third floor, north-east corner. There were double doors there. "That's the largest sweet in the place. I have a standing reservation. It's always locked when not in use, and it has a private indoor privy. Enjoy." He smiled again as he took another sip from his mug. She'd head up and enter the room he paid a regular fee for. Inside she'd be alone to use his privy, but she wouldn't remain alone long. Entering the room would set off bells downstairs and the Madame would be along shortly to offer the choice of girls for companionship. What Ryk wouldn't give to see the look on Einin's face when she came out of the privy to find seven nude girls standing in the room, waiting for inspection, the proprietress standing by to take notes of preference. It would surely be a riot.

"Oh thank Kia. You are amazing!" Einin said, and snatched up the key, scrambled to her feet, and took the stairs two at a time, flying by patrons and prostitutes alike. She found the suit easily enough and let herself in, and that privy was the most beautiful thing she'd seen right then.

What she didn't hear through the door was people entering the suit several minutes later, while she was still in the room checking herself in the mirror to make sure her illusion magics stuck.

Feeling much better, she stepped out of the privy--

And startled so hard that she stumbled back and slammed her shoulders into the privy door--which made it slam shut behind her. She threw her hands up as though to shield herself. "W-wha...?!"

Seven women were in the room. Seven naked women, with varying body types and assets. Standing nearby was an older woman who was fully dressed. All eyes were on her, though the older woman looked a little surprised, as though she wasn't who she'd expected to see. "Hmm...you must be Master Handelaar's boy. How lucky for you. Well, now, go on. Take a look. If these ones don't suit you, I can fetch some others. Your pick."

Einin's mouth hung open. Her mind didn't seem to want to work. How did one even respond to something like that. "O-oh...I...wow...uh..." She was going to murder him. She was going to absolutely, positively murder him. Her face was on fire, and even though she was the clothed one here, she was the one that felt most vulnerable for some reason. She cleared her throat loudly and glanced at the exit, which was past them. Of course.

"That's...wow. That's awfully...that's awfully sweet of you all, and you're all--you're all lovely. I couldn't...haha, how could I choose?"

"It'll be extra, but Cinder, Rose, and Ash are all willing to perform as a group," the woman said, and as though on cue, the women in question began to get really friendly with each other, one even groping the other, who squealed playfully, while Einin stared with saucer-large eyes.

Ohmygods. "Wow. That's so...wow. That's so, um...nice. But I--uh...Ryk's...IgottagoRyk'swaiting!" The words came out in a rush so that they were one word. And with that lame excuse, she rushed past them and out the door, then bounded the rest of the way down the stairs.

She marched stiffly up behind Ryk and smacked him hard upside the head, face still flushed and an expression of angry mortification written in every line. "That was not funny!"

Einin approached Ryk with little stealth, and he could practically see the anger evaporating off of her as she stalked toward him. He accepted the smack to the head, it helped Tanin be a bit more believable, and burst out laughing when she moved toward her seat. When he quelled his laughter he pointed back at the cards.

"Had you been more perceptive and aware of your surroundings," Ryk commented, "you'd have heard Madam Palfrey and her girls enter the room." He shuffled his cards a bit again, watching the room for anyone paying extra attention to him and Einin. "Are you feeling relieved?"

"Relieved to be outta that room!" Einin took her seat and leaned her elbows on the table, still glowering at him. "So sending them up there was to keep me on my toes, is that what you're saying? Hilarious!"

"I didn't send them," Ryk informed Einin, "they come when the door to the suite is opened." He chuckled lightly as he drew his cards. "You should always be on your toes though. Always."

"They...awww man." Realization dawned on Einin then, and she pulled a face. "I so didn't need that little peek into that aspect of your private life!"

Because that meant that what they'd just done, and the exact things they'd offered her, were things they did and offered Ryk whenever he entered that room. That thought had her sinking her face into her hand and shaking her head. That was a visual she didn't need.

Ryk smirked at Einin's comment about peeking. "Don't you worry friend, I'm not here too often. Never more than once a week." he arranged the cards in his hand, "but when I am here, I have a reputation to live up to."

"And what a reputation that is. Seven girls. Seven. Really..."

Staring down at her cards, then at her caravans, and then at Ryk's caravans, she couldn't help but pout a little. She could already see that she had no chance of winning this round. At this point, they were only drawing out her defeat, like a cat toying with a mouse. She took a long swig of ale, now that she had somewhere to put it!

"I swear it's the cards," she grumbled. "The next time we play, we're trading decks."

Ryk raised an eyebrow at that. Trade decks? Not possible. "I don't let anyone handle these cards. They are expensive and rare, and the deck is customized. Only thirty-two cards, where as yours is a standard fifty-four card deck," he played a second king on his solitary six, making his third caravan bid twenty-four, winning the round. "If you like the game though, I can help you build a deck to your liking. I'm just surprised that the nude ladies on your cards doesn't distract you more."

Einin gave Ryk a pointed look. "After getting accosted by seven such ladies in the flesh--the very literal flesh--you think a deck of flat, drawn ones will distract me?" She laughed, and focused on channeling some Tanin into her words, even though Einin was still appalled. Right. She couldn't keep acting all shocked and horrified about things. A real Tanin, in fact, would have probably stayed in that room.

She needed to try to save a little face here. "I have to get the other distraction out of my head first."

Not that it hadn't bothered her earlier. But she had been trying hard not to show it, because a guy like Tanin would appreciate it the deck!

Putting her cards down, she gathered her deck up, shuffled them, and then piled them neatly together. "Hmph. Well, I'm all played out!" she said, and finished up her ale, already starting to feel the affects of it. That ale was new, and untreated by Ryk's potion. "I've taken enough of a beating for now, so pardon me while I lick my wounds and find solace in the arms of a beautiful girl!"

With a wink his way, she rose to her feet. "You may have money and sex appeal, Ryk, but Tanin's got charm and chivalry." And with the aid of a little liquid courage, she headed for the dance floor.

Ryk watched Einin go. She walked, in a fairly mannish way, out to the dance floor. The slight sway of her hips could be attributed to inebriation, so no trouble there. There was the problem though, that there were almost no men on the dance floor. The few dancers there were, were women of the night. They were there, trying to lure men in. They'd drink, and dance, and forget their troubles. Then the girls would lead them to rooms where they would pay for their company. He sat in his seat, back to the wall, and watched her dance.

It would be dull dancing alone, so Einin managed to snag the attention of one bored looking prostitute who looked a little miffed that an older, more experienced, and more buxom lady had swooped in on the man she'd been trying to seduce. She gave the lady a courtly bow while the lady looked at her in mild amusement, and she even offered her hand like so many gentlemen had done with her.

"Care for a dance, m'lady?" Einin asked with a wink and what she hoped was a boyishly dashing smile, doing her best to mimic some of the grins Ryk had flashed her. And when the lady placed her hand in Einin's, she even pressed a light kiss to the back of it before, grasping her hand, she lead her to the floor.

With alcohol and her disguise emboldening her, this whole night had actually been a lot of fun--embarrassing moment in the suit aside. It was fun pretending to be someone else, and kind of interesting to see the world through a different set of eyes in a secret world she would have never gone to on her own. It was also eye-opening to see how differently she was treated in this guise--as a man, even a young man, versus as a young woman.

Of course, the problem was that there were still many things she didn't know how to mimic.

Like dancing.

It was only when they took the floor that Einin realized, through her drunken giddiness, that she didn't know how to dance like a man. She only knew the woman's steps! She froze for a second when she realized she was holding the woman like she would hold a man, and then she coughed, grinned sheepishly, and quickly adjusted to place her hand on the woman's waist, while the lady giggled politely. Thank gods she could blame inebriation!

"Hah, sorry! It's been a while!" she said with a laugh, and froze again. Uh. Well. She knew men were supposed to lead, so...they'd probably be okay if she just did the same thing but took charge? With a shrug, she pulled the lady into the dance, never mind that the upbeat tempo was right for a quicker one, and not the slow dance she'd started--and which ended in a lot of tripping over each other's feet. It wasn't that she didn't know faster ones. It was that she couldn't remember them at the moment!

At least the lady seemed to think it was funny, because she laughed along with Einin and eventually drew her to a stop. "Sir, please!" the lady--who Einin had learned was called Chastity--said between breathless laughter as she caught them from falling over. "Why don't we try something else, hm? Something a little more--ah!"

Einin practiced dipping the lady, and by the grace of Kia she didn't send either of them to the ground. "Faster? Yeah, I know, this wasn't really the right dance for this. But sure, I'm up for another!"

The lady gave her a bewildered look, still upside-down, then smiled and caressed Einin's cheek. "I was thinking something a little more private."

Oh. She knew this old trap.

Einin pulled the lady upright again. "Oh, I wish I could! By heart is with another! I couldn't possibly--hey. Where ya going?"

And off Chastity went, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she marched off the dance floor and back toward the group she'd previously been among.

Whoops.

She stood there dumbly for a moment, confused. They'd just been having fun! She thought. But then the band picked up another song, and Einin rolled her shoulders back. Spoilsport. And now she was down a partner!

Not for long.

Heading back to the table, Einin grabbed Ryk by the hands and tugged. "Hey, come dance with me!"

This was not happening. Men did not dance together unless they were dandies, and Ryk was no dandy. Einin must be drunker than he thought. Ryk grasped Einin's forearm in a very manly way and slowed the girl down. He then broke free and motioned for two harlots to come over from among the other patrons.

"Ladies," he said, addressing the young prostitutes, "my young friend wishes to dance, but he can't seem to recall the steps. He's asked me to refresh his memory, so if you ladies would help us, I'd be very grateful." Ryk palmed a coin into each of their hands, and they were ready to dance all night. "The better dancer of the two of you should join Tanin here, so you can compensate for his inebriation. Your names ladies?"

Einin grinned and leaned on Ryk as the ladies approached, thoroughly amused by his deflection--and then bursting out laughing when she realized why. Oh, right! Hah! Because it would have looked like two men dancing. That thought only tickled her more, and it occurred to her that she might be able to embarrass him that way--which would be well-deserved revenge for not warning her about the naked ladies!

"Haha, I see how it is. Too good to dance with me, eh? I'm wounded!" Einin said, elbowing him in the side before a pretty lady saved them both.

Said pretty lady introduced herself as Ebony, and she pulled Einin to the floor and started to show her the steps, and while she did, Einin entertained drunken thoughts of retribution. Fortunately for the both of them, she soon forgot about that as the dance picked up and she was forced to think about what her feet were doing, with little room left for scheming. She wasn't doing a very good job of it, for she was unsteady and off balance, but by gods was she trying.

Ryk danced about with Cherry, a delicious fruit, and delicious girl by the look of her. She moved gracefully along with him. If Ebony was a more talented dancer, then she was very talented indeed. Spinning Cherry, pulling her back in close, dipping her low. She was smiling broadly and laughing, clearly enjoying herself. It was unlikely anyone ever danced with her like this.

"You're mine this same night every week. I'll pay you a fort night at a time. Be sure to rest the day before so we can dance like this all night." Ryk twirled her again and when he snapped her back in close, he brought his face close to hers. He built the sexual tension, but he never kissed her, never groped her. He'd make her desire him, and promise her gold for dancing and no sex. She'd be his, and he'd never have to bed her.

"You doing okay over there Tanin?" Ryk noticed that Einin was struggling a bit with the dancing. She was not holding her liquor well. It had been her idea to dance, but clearly it was the decision of an inebriated mind. "If you're ready to throw in the towel, you and Ebony could watch Cherry and I burn the dance floor with all our sexy. Or you could take the girl upstairs, show her how you made my neice howl the other night," Ryk dipped Cherry. "You see, I brought Tanin here, so he'd stop screwing my relatives."

Any witty response Einin could have come up with was drowned by her sputtering, and Ebony, who had been listening, burst into laughter at her embarrassment. Mother Kia. It was great of him to help 'Tanin' out there, but could he be any more crude? Especially since she was trying to keep herself downstairs! It was going to get difficult making up excuses as to why Tanin, who was apparently good with the ladies, couldn't perform.

"Oh, is that true?" Ebony asked, obviously interested, as she showed Einin how to twirl her. Einin pulled her back in close and  wobbled a little, but held her ground.

"Well, yeah, but he didn't have to tell the world," Einin said, and then she raised her voice while tossing a look over at Ryk, "And he sure didn't have to stand there and watch! I get she's a looker, alright, but that was just weird!"

"What Tanin fails to realize," Ryk said pointedly, "is that I have no living blood relatives. She's the daughter of a dead colleague. I've thought of bedding her myself, but it seemed poor taste to do so. Especially since I've slept with her mother."

Ebony looked like she was interested in getting Einin upstairs. She was already getting paid, and she seemed intent to get a little pleasure for herself. "You performed well for a man of your age Tanin. Usually it's all fervor, no finese. I was a bit impressed with your technique. Of course the ladies here can attest to mine." Ryk pulled Cherry in tight and made several quick moves, then spun her out, and back in. Her chest was heaving with quickened breath, her heart pounding, her skin flushed. She was having a wonderful time, and it was clear that she was getting aroused.

"Well, I had some practice before that..." Einin said before she could stop herself, watching Ryk and Cherry for a moment as they moved like lovers before she had to look away. Oh shit. She was in deep now. She was in deep and she didn't know what the hell she was doing. Or why she was adding to it!

That had certainly backfired, and now Ebony was all into her--she could practically feel the change in how she moved. Whereas at first she had been the patient, long-suffering instructor, now she was...slinky. That was the best word Einin's mind could come up with as Ebony's touches began to linger longer and turn into caresses, and she began to move in a way that was more liquid than human. It was impressive, that dancer's grace, the way she could make a simple turn of the shoulder or roll of the hip look downright alluring.

Ryk was so not being helpful. That was supposed to embarrass him!

When Einin brought Ebony in again, the girl pretended to trip--Einin, who was surefooted when she wasn't drunk, had faked it enough times to know what it looked like--and Einin caught her with a gasp, her hands on her hips. With a breathless laugh, Ebony wrapped her arms around Einin for balance, her breath warm against her neck, and Einin couldn't help but shiver--and freeze up. Her mind was blaring a warning, but her body was a little too slow to react.

"My hero," Ebony panted, eyes bright and pulse pounding against Einin's chest. And then, before she knew what was coming, Ebony cupped her face and kissed her.

Cherry wasn't the only one getting all worked up. Ryk's story had done wonders for Ebony's libido.

As the quick paced song came to a close, Ryk leaned forward into Cherry, pressing his hand into the small of her back. This made her arch, their bodies pressed together. Ryk moved his face forward as if to kiss the young woman, but only lightly grazed her lips with his. This greatly heightening the tension Cherry felt all over, and he released her from his grip as the next, much slower song, began. Ebony planted her kiss on Einin, and as the music slowed, the prostitute pulled her dance partner in close intending to keep on dancing. Her hands began to wander toward Einin's behind, and would soon migrate from there to Einin's crotch, where she intended to grip the young woman's nonexistent manhood.

Ryk took Cherry in hand and led her back to their table, where he ordered himself another ale, and one for Cherry as well, who settled nicely into his lap. She nuzzled against him as she nursed her drink. The girls weren't supposed to drink, but Ryk had already paid for her for the night, so she was free to drink anything he gave her. As he cradled the young woman with one arm and held his drink with the other, Ryk watched Einin deal with the handsy Ebony.

Unlike that kiss with "Rufus" what seemed like ages ago now, Ebony was thorough and didn't hold back. Einin made a sharp, muffled sound of surprise against the woman's lips when she was suddenly tasting...yup. Yup, that was tongue, all right, and Einin didn't have the slightest idea what she was supposed to do with it! Well. Except that she should probably be reacting and ending it, not just standing there frozen up like an idiot as Ebony started to nibble her bottom lip.

And as her hands started to wander.

Gripping Ebony's hips, Einin pulled back with a start, face flushed and a little breathless, because she would have been lying if she'd said it hadn't felt nice, in a startling and confusing sort of way. She felt dizzy, heart beating too fast, and threw a helpless look Ryk's way, but he was all distracted by Cherry. Dammit!

Ebony peered at her in confusion.

"Mmm? What's wrong?" she purred as her hands slipped lower, and Einin jumped when she grabbed her ass. By the grace of Kia, she didn't squeak, and she didn't yank free. Instead, she managed a nervous laugh that came out a little too high-pitched.

"O-oh! Nothing, my lovely, you're a wonder! I was just thinking, um, maybe they have the right idea," she said, nodding to where Cherry and Ryk were seated, and fighting back a glare, because he was just watching this.

Ebony laughed and nuzzled against Einin's neck, then kissed her there. "I've got a better idea..."

That was when Ebony's hand slipped between her thighs, and Einin gasped and grabbed the woman's wrist before she could find out what she didn't have. Ebony pouted, and Einin's face heated. Good gods she was grabby! She glanced again at Ryk, looking for guidance or help or anything, and Ebony caught that.

"You don't like me," she said, sounding dejected.

"Whoa, what? Wait, no! Not true! You're gorgeous! Far too lovely for the likes of me."

"Then why--?" Ebony's face brightened again, turned a little sly as though connecting dots only she could see. "Ahh. You're just shy in public, then? I can work with that." And an electric chill went down Einin's spine when the woman's soft neck kisses turned into sucking. "Come to my room with me. Make me howl like that other girl."

Ohhhhh gods. Einin tilted her head away and wanted to die right then and there. THANKS, RYK.

"Uh, well, I'd love to! Really! But y'know, it's just, Handelaar over there. He has the money! I don't have any, so I can't pay you, and that'd be ungentlemanly and--"

"He gave me enough, and I don't care," Ebony said, hands again cupping her bottom. She brought her lips close to her ear. "Do you know how long it's been since a man has done that to me? Most believe just sticking it in and thrusting is enough." Einin's eyes went wide. As far as she knew, which wasn't much, wasn't that how it worked? "Make me a believer, Tanin."

"Ah, my sweet," Einin said, fighting back the  urge to squirm out of her hold and flee. Instead, she caught Ebony's hands as they went for another grab and threaded their fingers together, raising them up near her head. "I'm afraid I'm on Master Handelaar's time. I would have to plan for a much longer trip here! This isn't something you can rush, and I wouldn't want to cut your time short. A goddess like you is deserving of no less!"

Ebony was unconvinced. "Then give me the short version now, and the long one next time," she said simply, and leaned in to steal another kiss.

Einin turned her head just in time, and Ebony got her cheek instead. "Oh, hey, what's this song? I don't recognize it!" she said, and then found Ryk and gave him a desperate look, help me, dammit! clear in her eyes.

Ryk looked at Einin and her struggles with Ebony, and was quite amused.

"Cherry, could you go fetch my companion? Ebony seems to be keeping him from me, and we have business to discuss."

Sad to be leaving her seat, Cherry rose and headed over to the two and tapped on Einin's shoulder.

"I hate to interrupt, but Master Handelaar wanted to see you," she said, and Einin wilted with relief. Pulling away from the disappointed Ebony, she took one of her hands and kissed her knuckles.

"Next time, lovely," she said with a wink, before she turned and walked--perhaps a little too quickly--back to Ryk's table. Cherry followed and resumed her seat on Ryk's lap, for until notified that it was private business, she was all his.

Einin couldn't say thank you out loud, and she tried her best to act disappointed that she was taken away from the woman. She flopped into her seat and gave Ryk a frown. "What is it?" she asked, head tilted inquisitively and completely unaware of the hicky Ebony had given her.

Ryk noticed the hickey right away, and his eyebrows climbed. Then a lopsided grin spread across his face, and short laughed bubbled up from his chest, but he quickly pushed it down.

"Well it seems you've had a run in with a vampire. I think that's the first hickey I've seen you with. Good thing you're not a noble, with parents that view that sort of thing as distasteful."

Einin's hand flew to her neck as though she'd be able to feel it, and then she gave Ryk a dry smile. She tried to pour as much I am going to throttle you into that smile as she could. "Good thing, indeed! That would be just terrible. Do you have a mirror, my friend?"

She needed to cover that shit up.

Ryk reached into his vest and pulled out the tiny object known as the primper. He twisted the miniscule handle on the looking glass shaped item and it enlarged to a hand mirror. He gently handed it to Einin so she could see the mark Ebony had left on her neck.

"Be gentle with that. It cost more than the carriage we rode in to get here."

Taking the mirror, Einin turned her head and scowled when she caught sight of the darkening mark--and not only that, but how ruffled she looked on top of it, lips swollen from Ebony's fierce kiss. Lovely. This was a night of many firsts, that was for sure.

Touching the mark, she covered it with illusion, and soon it looked as fair as the rest of her skin. That taken care of, she handed the mirror back to Ryk. "There. It never happened," she cheerfully said, and finished off the rest of her ale.

"Cherry, could you fetch us a couple more drinks?" The girl complied, and as she rose, Ryk gently patted her bottom. She was a lovely creature. Perhaps he'd have to bed her, but not yet. Not for a few weeks at least. He wanted her to want it so much that she began to refuse other patrons advances. Then when he took her to his bed, paid or not, she'd be his, and every little secret she ever heard would find its way to him. That of course didn't mean that she wouldn't share his secrets with someone else. So he'd be careful, he'd come as Rufus, and he'd find out how loyal she truly was.

"So have you made good use of this trip? Have you observed the movements of the other men? They each move differently," he pointed out different types that were plain to see. "Strong, confident, solo predators, like me. Pack animals that require comrades for strength. Herd animals, that go where they are pushed. And the prey, men that are easily pushed around by every other man here, and easy marks for the working girls." Ryk checked to make sure Einin was following his gaze, "but there are variations to each, no man quite exactly what another is. And there are men that hide in all the different groups. Men that are more dangerous than the rest, unless you can see them." There was a particular man in the corner, that Ryk moved his eyes toward. He discreetly motioned for Einin to look at him.

"That man looks like prey. He appears weak, and is ridiculed by some of the other men," Ryk finished his drink and stood. "I feel we should leave before Cherry returns with more drinks," he dropped a few gold coins on his table, for the girl to find when she returned. "Rufus has a killer to hunt, and you're coming with."

And suddenly Ryk was her teacher again, and Einin wanted to laugh at his question. Had she made good use of the trip? Well, she'd seen a lot of naked women and kissed one, and learned she was rather bad at cards, and learned she had a painfully low tolerance for real ale, if that was what he meant by 'good use'! But as far as observing people went? Nope. She hadn't been really observing the crowds until he started pointing people out.

It had never occurred to her to think of people in animal terms like that, but she could definitely see the differences. Confident, bold men; men that were only bold as a group; men that were dragged around by their buddies and had to be egged on to act; men that looked lost and sorely out of place here. She could see the types and it was true, you could tell leaders and followers from body language, especially spelled out as plainly as Ryk was putting it.

But that man in the corner...

Einin leaned a bit more obviously than intended, still too tipsy to be very sneaky, and then gave a start when Ryk mentioned hunting a killer. "What, really? Him?" And then, realizing she wasn't exactly whispering, she clapped a hand over her mouth and turned back toward Ryk. "Sorry," she said, voice lowered, and rose to her feet. "But really? We're doing this? Now?"

She was grinning as she said it, face lit up, because this was exactly what she wanted. "Oh man, this is gonna be great! Should I get my mask? Do I need that? Probably, or something at least, gotta preserve the mystique and all!"

Ryk led Einin out a side door, and his carriage was there waiting for them. He opened the door for her and inside, neatly folded on the seat, was her Owl getup. The new sword he'd had made for her, and a thigh harness for potions rested nearby. As she cleared the door into the plush interior, Ryk gave her a well placed slap on her heart shaped ass, then closed the door and smirked at her through the window.

"Take the back stairs and meet me in my suite when you're ready," his grin grew with the ire he knew she likely felt, "drink half a potion and you'll be fully sober. Don't dawdle, ladies always dawdle."

Ryk himself then headed for the back stairs, and rushed up them, taking three at a time. His suite was the only one with an exterior entrance, even being on the third floor. His key went in the slot, and he was soon inside, pulling off Ryk, and putting on Rufus. Coming in from outside did not set off bells signalling his arrival or departure, as entering through the main doors were. It was meant for discretion. He hadn't originally planned on bringing Owl on this hunt, but he had planned on setting out from here to do it. That was the reason his armor and disguise kit were hidden in the room. He was thoroughly practiced in putting on his Red Wolf attire, and was putting the finishing touches on his hair in no time. Eye patch in place, blades at his hip, Rufus was ready for the night. As soon as Owl came, he'd tell her all he knew of the man they pursued, and she'd hunt her fiercest prey yet. A true predator.

Einin was gawking at her ensemble, already there and ready for her, when a slap on the ass made her breath hitch and her body jolt. It was lucky that Ryk closed the door afterwards, too, because Einin's next instinct was to whirl around, hand a fist, and she would have walloped him one good if the door hadn't gotten in the way. She met his grin with a glare. Being groped by Ebony had been strange and awkward, but somehow bearable, because Ebony didn't know any better. Ryk, on the other hand, knew exactly what he was doing, and perhaps that was why it embarrassed her more.

"I don't dawdle," she grumbled as he left, rubbing her bottom, and vowed again to seek vengeance. Later, though, because she needed to have her game face on!

She made sure no one was around to see through the windows before she started to change, and it was when she got tangled in her shirt that she realized she should drink the potion first. Half a potion later, and her coordination was much better! She switched her sparring clothes out for the more boring, muted men's clothes, donned mask and cape, and admired the holster, which she was quick to strap on.

She also decided it was best not to question how on Earth Ryk had managed to get her things.

With her sword at her hip and everything in order, Owl checked herself out in the window's reflection (okay, so maybe she dawdled a little) and was soon on her way, up the stairs and slipping into his suite.

When she entered and saw Rufus instead of Ryk, Owl froze just inside the door, a little startled despite herself. This was the first time she'd seen him as Rufus since that fateful night, and it was mildly unsettling, considering how that had ended. Weird, what just a little makeup could do. She gave Ryk--Rufus!--a weighing look that took him in from head to toe, then stepped inside the rest of the way and shut the door behind her with her foot.

"Haha, look at us! This is gonna be so weird, fighting side by side. Which doesn't change anything, by the way! Speaking of which."

Crossing the space between them, she reached up and smacked him upside the head. "I am not a whore, so I'd appreciate it if you'd not treat me like one!"

"I was showing proper appreciation to what Kia gave you," Rufus said with a grin, "When it's as nice as yours it really should be shown some appreciation." He walked around her, taking in her costume fully for the first time. It was a pretty good getup, but there was no way he'd wear a cloak for jumping across rooftops and squeezing through tight spaces.

"I like the theme Little Bird, but I'm thinking that drapery is gonna end up getting caught on something. If you learn to use it in fights, okay, but otherwise, it does not seem like a good idea." He lifted it to look at her britches, and noted that her backside was still apparent through the pants. "You may want to get a different tailor as well. From the front you look fairly androgynous, but that is a very lovely bottom."

Owl yanked her cape back down to cover up said 'lovely bottom' and crossed her arms over her chest, huffing at Rufus. "And maybe that is exactly why I wear the cape," she said, but indignation aside...he made some good points, and it was nice to get a second opinion--and an honest one, at that, even if it was presented in the most embarrassing way. If Rufus could so easily suss out her gender, so could everyone else. If her...bottom...was apparently that big of a tell, then she needed new clothes.

And as for the cape...

She looked down at it, fingers lightly stroking the material, and sighed. "I think the costume looks better with it, too. Honestly, that was why I picked it. Ah...I suppose that's not a very good reason, at the end of the day..."

With a frown, she reached up and undid the clasps at her throat. He was the experienced one, and her teacher. If he thought it a bad idea, she was going to follow that advice. Sweeping it off her shoulders, she folded it up. "How would one use a cape to fight, anyway?"

"Use a cape in combat?" Rufus parroted, "by blocking projectiles thrown at you. Or wrapping it around your opponents weapon, arm, or neck. Maybe even throwing it over their face. Practice, and when it's a weapon, it will be useful." He made another quick glance now that the cape wasn't covering her precious asset. Then he made his way to the exceedingly large bed and threw himself onto his side. He propped his head on his hand and told her of the man downstairs.

"He's very dangerous," Rufus was hoping to emphasize that well. Einin had never chased such prey. "The man I'm here to pursue tonight is a hunter. He's killed a few of the women that work here and women at several other brothels across the city. He's sly, and he's careful. We've been hunting him for weeks." Rufus sat up and looked at Owl then, she needed to be Owl, a predator. "You need to use your talons tonight Little Bird, no hesitating," he stood and walked over to her, standing inches from her, he hoped she could feel his anticipation. "And in case one of us dies tonight, you must have a good kiss," with no warning but that, he turned and dipped her like a dancer, and kissed her in a soft sensual way. He stood her with a quick snap, and as he quickly stepped away, he gave her another quick, but gentle, slap to the buttocks. "Lets get moving, Little Bird."

The man had killed working ladies? Anger threaded through Owl at that, of some bastard killing poor women like that, preying on them. She might not agree with their profession, but they were doing what they needed to do--and from the ones she'd met tonight, whatever her preconceived notions and prejudices had been, they had all been rather lovely. Perhaps Ebony had been...aggressive...but only because she and Ryk had given her that impression.

She tapped her sword. "Not to fear! I will shred that man! Shred him, eat him, and spit up his bones! Well, figuratively. That wasn't a very good owlish threat, that sounded kind of...um..."

Owl trailed off, because Rufus got up and was getting awfully close, purpose in his stride. Her heartbeat quickened before he'd even made his announcement.

"Wha--" That was all she got out before the blood was rushing to her head--for more than one reason. Partly because Rufus was dipping her. Mostly because his lips were on hers, his kiss warm and tender, far different from the fierce kiss the working girl had given her, and yet...Kia help her, it was better, too, and drew a low moan from her throat. Startled, Owl once again found herself frozen even as her belly fluttered nervously and her hands jerked at her sides as though not sure what to do, whether she should be grabbing onto him or shoving him away, and thus settling on neither.

And then she was upright again, her eyes snapping open--she hadn't realized she'd shut them--and she jumped again at the light slap to her bottom. Clapping a hand over her mouth and staring at Rufus, she wasn't so sure she could move after that. Her heart was pounding as she was once again struck with that strange realization that somehow, he got to her more.

And that realization pissed her off, for some reason. More than him actually kissing her did.

"Th...that was wholly unnecessary," she said when she'd finally found her words, and she wished they could have come out angrier, and not so shaken. She forced a little more venom into her words. "I already had a good kiss tonight, and it wasn't from you!"

"Ebony was practically gnawing at your face," Rufus said as he went out the door to the exterior stairs. "I don't have time to make you a woman proper, so if you die, I would like to at least know you've been kissed right. That was the sort of kiss dashing knights give young maidens." He waited for her to follow him out, and then locked the door behind them. While his room was the only one with a door outside, there were a couple windows to lower rooms that the stairs passed. It was a second story window that Rufus stopped at. He had left a note from the Red Wolf that this room be left vacant for the night, and it was through the window that they reentered the building. The balcony was full of revelers, as he stepped out of the room, the brothels nightly celebrations in full swing. He could see the killer, a very rodent like posture to him, as he talked to one of the working girls, showed her his coin. Lulu. Rufus nodded in his direction to make sure the Little Bird was watching.

"We will watch and we will stalk him like prey. When he is alone with her, and we are sure he is the one, we will strike."

Owl marched out after him. "I am a woman proper. Well. Perhaps not right now, but most of the time, whether or not I want to be," she said as she followed him. Oh, she knew what he meant, but she chose to pretend not to. That expression had always confused her, anyway.

She climbed through the window after him, fully intent on putting that...that moment behind her, at least for now. There were more important things to focus on than Rufus's lecherousness and her own confusion--

Like Lulu down below, getting purchased by the man Rufus had called a killer.

Her breath caught as she drew close to Rufus. "Not Lulu..." she whispered, hand going to her sword, voice filled with genuine worry. "Oh no...okay...no, she's gonna be okay. We came just in time, right? Right. Alright. So we're going to watch him. And follow them, and--" She paused and looked up at Rufus. "How will we know it's him?"

An awful thought struck her as soon as she said it. "Because he'll try to kill her, huh?"

Rufus just gave Owl a look. Just a look. She knew what it meant. Words were not needed. Then he watched.

Owl swallowed hard, and the excitement she'd felt about this hunt turned to something else--a nerve-wracking sort of tension as the very real stakes hit her. She'd promised Lulu she would rescue her, though, and she was not about to let anything happen to her.

It took all of her willpower not to leap over the balcony and take the man right then and there!

Instead, she waited, chewing on her lip.

After what seemed like forever, and after what looked like a lot of harmless small talk and flirting, the man suddenly rose and took Lulu's hand. Owl tensed and elbowed Rufus, though it wasn't necessary; he was likely watching as intently as she was. "They're leaving."

The rat down below, took Lulu by the hand and headed for the side exit that Ryk and Tanin had used earlier. Shortly after Einin had emerged as Owl, Ryk's driver had returned to the carriage and taken it home. He'd received a note saying Ryk would be staying at the Lifeless Lech that night. Without the gilded coach to block his way the sleazy little man would have free access to the alleyway. Rufus knew from reports that the killer took his victims into the alley beside their establishments to do his work. It was not uncommon for men who could not afford a room to pay a woman to accompany them to the alley. The Lifeless Lech was not known for this practice, but it did happen on occasion, especially with the younger girls. As they crossed the crowded barroom, hand in hand, Rufus grabbed Einin by the arm and pulled her back to the vacant room. He dashed to the window, flung it open, and dived through. He took the steps down four at a time, and came to a stop at the edge of the building. Figures flitted through the shadows, and Rufus signaled to one on the roof of the neighboring structure. Soon after, the little man exited into the alley with Lulu.

Rufus was too far to hear the exchange, but the man handed Lulu some coins, and she smile before giving him a very convincing kiss. He then turned her around and lifted her skirts. He struggled with his pants for a moment but soon they were around his ankles and he started his rutting. Rufus was beginning to doubt that this was the man, especially as his grunting began to increase in volume. As the little mans gasps and whimpering reached underwhelming proportions, he pulled a dagger from his sleeve and held it up to stab into poor Lulu's back.

Rufus moved quickly, whistling as he dashed into the alley. He pulled a throwing knife from some hidden place and it was flying through the air in an instant. It struck the mans hand and his dagger fell away. Lulu screamed as the man fell back, pants around his ankles. Wolves materialized out of seemingly nowhere, blocking off both ends of the alley. A particularly large Blood Wolf stood in the door back into the brothel. Nobody was leaving this place.

"Do you know who I am?," Rufus asked the quivering fool, "I'm the Red Wolf, and Arca is mine. Killing is a forbidden crime in my city. Nobody dies without my word on it first." Ryk stomped on the mans fingers. The breaking of the joints was an audible pop, and the man let out a scream. "Killing women and children are especially bad. Only weak men prey on the weak," Rufus kicked him in his gut then. "Your greatest folly, was that you chose this establishment to hunt at. I OWN THIS PLACE! YOU KILLED MY GIRLS!" Rufus lifted the wretch up off the ground by his tunic as he screamed the words. He then threw him back to the ground, and kicked him a few more times. There were some things Rufus would not abide. Angering him, was never a good idea. You didn't survive in his position without knowing how to be ruthless.

After his anger was sated he turned to his Wolves, then to Einin. "Do not kill him Owl. Instead, I suggest you make him a woman. And perhaps ruin his hands, or remove them. I don't want him to ever hold a blade again."

"Ohmygods," Owl whispered, hand over her mouth. The man and Lulu, they were...they were...

She didn't blush so much as blanch, and she stole an uncomfortable look up at Rufus. This was not something she wanted to see. And yet, horror aside, she forced herself to glance briefly at them. This was a test. Maybe not intentionally, but everything was a test in some way, and if she wanted to take on criminals, this right here was proof that in order to do that, she was going to have to face more than just fear, but also discomfort. The man was a killer.  He could kill Lulu if she looked away. And so she swallowed the sick feeling in her gut and tried to focus on some point that wasn't utterly raunchy, and couldn't help but notice that while the man seemed awfully enthusiastic, Lulu only looked like she was enduring.

Gods.

It was getting to the point where Owl wasn't sure how much longer she could do this, and maybe they'd gotten the wrong person, and that she really wished the man would just hurry up, when he pulled out the knife.

That changed everything.

Before Owl could yell out a warning to Lulu, the man had a dagger in his hand, and Owl darted behind Rufus. While Rufus confronted the rat, Owl went to Lulu, who was sobbing and had to be terrified out of her wits, for she had come so close to being just another girl laying bloody in a gutter. Even though Owl's heart was beating fast with the frantic, panicked rush that came from seeing the poor girl almost murdered, she found herself surprisingly calm as she put an arm around her and turned her away from the scene as Rufus beat the villain with a ferocity that shocked even her. No need for the traumatized girl to see that kind of violence, as much as that man deserved that much and more.

"It's okay, you're okay now! C'mon, now. Let's get you somewhere safe, alright?" Owl said as she lead her toward the blocked back door, stroking her back to try to calm her as she clung to her and cried. She paused at the sight of the large Wolf blocking the door. "Ah, hello. Can the lady come inside? She's been through an ordeal and should get somewhere safe."

With Lulu safely inside, Owl turned around just in time to see Rufus deliver some final kicks. Then he turned to her, and...

Oh, wow.

Owl came to a stop, her eyes widening at his rather brutal suggestions. She had been thinking a lot of terrible thoughts since the man had pulled that knife, things the man deserved and that, theoretically, she would like to do to him, but now that it was real and the man was right there, trembling and bloodied up on the ground, suddenly she wasn't so sure. A kick to the face? Sure. She had enough anger in her to think she could kick him in the face. But cutting off body parts? Maiming someone? He was a killer! A murderer! He had killed innocent people! He definitely deserved to be punished. He deserved to die.

But...torture?

Her stomach roiled. There were a lot of Wolves around. And Rufus, her teacher. And they were all watching. If she didn't do it, and with this big of an audience, would anyone take her seriously after? But...if she did, what kind of person did that make her? Heroes didn't maim and torture people. Should she really be concerned about the opinions of criminals?

She swallowed and shook her head. "No. We're going to turn him in to the guard," she said. The man began to snivel at that, and Owl shut him up with a swift kick to the face that broke his nose with a snap. There. That was satisfying. And hopefully a gesture that sent a message, that she wasn't afraid of using force. She was just choosing another route.

"I'm not a torturer or an executioner, Rufus. He's going to pay for his crimes, but justly and by the law."

Rufus whistled a pattern, made signals with his hands, and all the Wolves dispersed. Owl and he stood alone in the alley with the now crying man.

"Quit your sniveling fool," Rufus made as to kick the man, and he squeaked pathetically before ceasing his whimpers. "It's your lucky day. You'll be hanging from the gallows instead of living out a pathetic life without your manhood." Rufus walked over to Owl and stood close enough that only she could here his whispers.

"The guard will be here soon, and I will not be," he looked at her pointedly, "someone has gone to fetch Lulu. She must give her witness statement to the guard so that they know he is guilty. I would not have made this choice that you have, but I respect you for making it. And I'm oddly proud of you." He patted her shoulder before moving away. "I'll be watching from nearby. Let's hope the guard does not lag."

It was weird how his words made her feel, to hear Rufus--Ryk--say that he was proud of her. The entire thing was enough to make her head spin as she wrestled with what had just gone down, and wrestled with who that man was. He was insufferable. He made her want to punch him on the regular with the way he thought he could just touch her or kiss her whenever he wanted, and he was a criminal! Her enemy! He was vile! And yet, he was her teacher, and was trying to help her, and had just saved a woman few might bother to save. He took her out for some fun, kept her safe while she was drunk, even taught her how to play a card game in good humor, and had brought her along on this mission to let her dip her toes in safely.

And he might be a fake fiance?

It hurt her head, because she didn't know what to make of him. It had been easier when she had just known Rufus, as she had seen him that first night.

Owl waited with the ratty man until several guards came onto the scene, and she stayed there with Lulu as she gave her statement. Lulu played a little dumb for the guards, obscuring Rufus's identity, and Owl was questioned briefly as a witness, as well--who was in no way connected to Lulu's savior! Nope! Lulu wisely backed her up. The girl was certainly no dummy.

When all was said and done, the rat of a man was hauled up between two guards and dragged away, his cries and pleas echoing down the alley. It was strangely satisfying. Owl might not have done much that night--Rufus did all the work--but it was still nice to be involved, and see one criminal that would no longer be terrorizing innocent folk.

It also opened her up to a completely new way of seeing things.

When the guards were gone, Owl escorted Lulu back inside. The woman paused in the doorway to give her a kiss on the cheek, saying it was for Rufus, but since he wasn't there, his accomplice would have to suffice! She mentioned she would have given either of them a larger reward, too, but after that scare she really just felt like laying down.

"Ah! That's really alright!" Owl said, holding up her hands. "I really ought to get going, anyway!" Oh shit. What time was it, anyway? Ryk had never told her when that party her parents were going to ended!

Turning to leave, Owl paused only to grin at Lulu from over her shoulder. "Oh and Lulu? Told you I'd rescue you," she added with a wink, and then she turned and quickly rushed off before Lulu could put the pieces together.

Now to find Rufus.

Rufus watched the guards go, and once Owl was on her way, he crept out of the shadows.

"Time to get you home I think."

Owl jumped at the sound of his voice, then turned to face him. Letting out a breath, she nodded. "What time did you say that party went 'til?"

"You know how Nobles are," Rufus replied, "the wild ones will be at it all night, the prim and proper ones," Rufus looked to the moon, "will probably be heading home about now." He smiled at Owl from behind his eye patch.

"In other words, my parents are on their way home," Owl said with a grimace. "So, Red Wolf, did you have a plan for how you're getting me back?"

Since he had been the one to drag her out, and that carriage ride had felt a little lengthy.

"Well lucky for us there is a stable nearby," Rufus took Owls hand in his and dragged her along at a quick pace. "Can you ride?"

Owl tugged back against Rufus's hand to slow him and gave him a look, eyebrow arching. "That depends on how we're acquiring these horses."

"Do you want to beat your parents home or not," Rufus laughed, as he pulled Einin along harder. This was thrilling. He'd never experienced anything like this. Getting a young lady home before her parents knew she was missing was something young men did. Rufus never had that sort of life. "Don't worry about the horses. They'll be back before their owners know they're gone."

"I--ack!" Owl stumbled and ended up jogging to keep up with him, for his grip was solid and he was stronger. She smacked at his hand with her free one. "I want to beat them, of course! But not by stealing! What if we get caught? You know horse theft's a hanging offense!"

"Do you think I'd do something in my city if there was a chance I'd get caught?" Rufus asked as they hustled along, "I prepared for this ahead of time. The horses are saddled and ready, we just need to get to them." He released Owls hand and ran ahead of her. He slipped in through the open stable door, and disappeared inside.

"How did you--?" With a shake of her head, Owl followed after him into the stable. "How did you know? That I'd even come? How did you get my clothes? Was this entire night staged or something?"

"I make it a point to plan for contingencies," Rufus said as he offered Owl his help getting on a beautiful dappled filly. "Like your cloak that you left upstairs. A Wolf is already taking it to your home. The clothes you left in the carriage will be back to you before morning." Ryk himself mounted up onto a dark brown colt, that nickered as he settled in. "Ready to fly Little Bird?"

...Oh. Owl had completely forgotten about her cape and clothes. Whoops.

Settling in on her horse, Owl took the reins and turned her filly around, showing that, indeed, she did know how to ride. She had been taught as soon as it was safe to put her in a saddle, for practical reasons. "I'm ready, but I still feel weird about this," she said as she trotted out of the stable and toward the road. "You're sure you'll get the horses back? That this is okay?"

"The horse trader that owns this stable is a Soot Wolf anyway," Rufus told Owl, "If anything happens to the horses, I'll pay for them, and he'll be satisfied." He heeled his colt into action, moving down the narrow side roads of the city. "Try to keep up Little Bird," and he was off. Galloping at speeds that a less skilled rider would find frightening, Rufus dodged through the streets with ease. He knew Arca as well as he knew his own face, and he lead his horse with complete confidence. He avoided the stone steps of many of the side streets, though in a few places he had to take them. He slowed only for the areas of the city where the cobbles needed to be replaced. He didn't want to throw a shoe, that would slow his horse down far too much. He enjoyed the wind blowing on his face, and he pulled down his eye patch to better view the road as he rode.

"He's a Soot Wolf? Why didn't you just say that?" Owl said with a relieved laugh, and when he took off, Owl heeled her filly and took off after him. That made it justifiable to her. If Rufus was the owner's boss, then surely they had an arrangement?

It was good enough for her.

Though Owl wasn't as skilled a rider as Rufus, she didn't fall too far behind. She didn't keep up with him, but she didn't let him get too far ahead, either, and that was fine by her; she wasn't about to race him through the streets and risk damaging the poor horse or breaking her neck. Wind whipping her hair around her face and fluttering the feathers of her mask, she couldn't help but smile, for it had been a while since she'd last rode, and gods, it was always such a freeing feeling.

She caught up to Rufus when he slowed, and she fell in close behind him. They were making good time, and it wasn't long before she could make out the finer buildings of the noble's district.

"I suppose I should start thinking up some good excuses, just in case they're there," she said, trotting her horse up beside Rufus. "Speaking of, ah...I, suppose now is as good a time as any to say..." She shrugged. "Thanks. For tonight, and everything."

"No need to thank me," Rufus said with a grin, and a wink back in her direction. "It's all part of my master plan to show you, I'm just the kind of man you want to marry," he let a laugh bubble up from his chest. "I promise I'll be a good husband, Little Bird. I'll never leave you unsatisfied."

Owl snorted and threw him a sidelong look. "That's not going to happen," she said with a laugh. "Engagement? Sure. Marriage? No. And certainly not consummation. Alas, there will always be one area in which you won't satisfy."

Rufus only chuckled at Einin's response. He found her much more pliable than the front she put up. As far as he was concerned, it was only a matter of time. She was beautiful, and extremely stubborn, like Dylanna, but she was naive to the truths of romance. He rode on in silence, galloping over the fine paving stones of the rich part of Arca. As they crossed the main road he saw Einin's parents carriage, rolling on it's leasurely path home. He pointed at it to make sure she saw the cart, and took off at greater speed. His route would get them there faster, and the speed of the horses would only make it easier to beat the slow pace of the coach.

Owl's heart leaped into her throat when she caught sight of her parents' carriage, and she spurred her filly on and picked up speed. Shit! Why couldn't her parents, at least once, be the sort of people that stayed out late and partied?

Keeping close to Rufus's horse, it wasn't long before they galloped up to the estate's gate. Quickly, Owl reined her horse in and swung down from the saddle. "That key of yours will be really convenient now!"

"You mean the key I gave to you?" Rufus asked as he leaped from the back of his colt straight at the fence. His hands found the bars of the gate and he was up and over in a flash. Down he dropped from the top of the iron rods that separated Einin's gardened lawn and the narrow road that ran along the side of the estate. He was facing her now, waiting for her to enter, hoping she had the sense to keep the key and not leave it in her sparring garb.

"Yeah...that key," Owl said slowly, shoulders slouching as realization sank in. "The key that's with my other clothes..."

She sank her face into her hand with a loud groan, marveling at her own idiocy. "I can't believe I--oh, never mind! Haha, forgot I crawled, anyway!"

Heading around the gate, she found the hidden space beneath the gate, obscured by plants, and belly crawled her way through. When she came back out on the other side, her front was covered in soil. The air was damp, and so it had gotten a little muddy between the afternoon and now. "But I really need that key. Er, hopefully it won't fall out...hey. Wait a minute."

Brushing the dirt from her front, it was then that it registered that Rufus was here, on the wrong side of the gate. Turning to glance behind her at the road, she turned back to Rufus and pushed him back toward the gate. "What are you doing? You need to go now!"

Rufus couldn't help the blank stare that spread across his face. "Could you stop being absurd?" A Wolf leaped from the shadows and grabbed the reigns of the horses, leading them away. "There is an entrance to the tunnels under your house as there is under every noble residence in the city. Now hurry and move that perfect ass up your trellis before your parents arrive and see shadowy figures standing by the gate entrance." He turned from her then and ran toward the wall that her window looked out from. "Hurry Little Bird."

"...Oh my gods. Are you serious?" And Rufus said it so casually, too! Just oh, by the way, every noble house has an entrance for Soot Wolves! Just so you know! "Every noble house? That's what's absurd. And not at all unsettling or anything..."

But even as she spoke, Owl jogged to the foot of her window, grabbed hold of the trellis, and climbed up to her window. With one hand, she pulled her window open and flopped inside, landing a little less gracefully than she could have and cursing when she got her floor dirty.

Rufus enjoyed the view as Einin climbed the trellis. She likely did not expect him to follow after her but he wanted to chat a bit before he left. He heard her curse and popped his head in the room after her. "Silly Einin," he whispered. He rolled into her room, popping right to his feet and reached for the primper. A quick tap, and Einin was clean. He turned the small handle, in the opposite direction of how he did to make it a mirror, and the primper grew into a hairbrush. Rufus dragged it across the soiled areas on the floor, cleaning them up in an instant. After reducing it back down, he moved toward the door to Einin's room, and cracked it so he could see and hear out.

"Hurry and change girl. And don't forget to leave the illusions on your hickeys."

Einin about jumped out of her skin when Rufus came in through the window after her.

"Ryk! Er, Rufus! You! What do you think you're doing?" she hissed, her heart beating fast in panic, because he was now in her room, and her parents would be home any moment, and this was insanity! Sure, it was nice that he took care of the dirt problem for her and all, but he really, really needed to not be here!

Still seated on the floor, she peeled off her boots. "You really need to leave!" she said, and tossed her boots at him without warning. "Put those by the wardrobe! And get out!" She pulled up a loose floorboard, stripped off her mask, and deposited it in the space below. "Like, now. Right now. If anyone catches you here--and not only that, but this is my room! You can't just be here, in my room!"

She scrambled to her feet and rushed to her mirror even as she berated him. A few quick adjustments, and her hair and eyes were their usual pink, the mark by her eye was restored, and her hickies were still--thankfully--concealed. She pulled her hair from its tail so it fell about her shoulders and spun around to face him again. "Why are you still here?! If you think I'm changing with you here, you're mad!"

Changing screen or not, she was not about to do that with a man present. Especially Rufus.

"Young lady, you do not have time for this," Rufus said in a harsh whisper. He picked up the boots and hurried them off to the wardrobe. "Last summer, when your family went on holiday, before I knew you, obviously, I explored your house. There are a few secret chambers and passages, not many, but some. One in this very room, old, and unused for it seems a few generations. Now get behind that screen, and put on your night clothes. If I wanted to peak at you, you'd never know I was doing it." He returned to watch for her parents at her door. "If your mother or father arrive, I'd like to have time to hide, so we can continue our conversation before I depart." He looked over his shoulder at her for a moment before putting his eye back to the crack. "Where's Jarrett? I've been with you all night so I've not received a report on his movements."

"That it not making me feel better about this!" Einin said, throwing up her hands. "That means you could peek now, and I wouldn't know! If that--and people exploring my home when I'm gone!--is supposed to make me feel better about this, I don't know what to tell you!"

Though she was interested in knowing about those passages...

She crossed her arms over her chest and set her jaw. "As for Jarrett, I haven't the slightest idea. Maybe here, maybe not. I've been gone all day, same as you. Now do you mind?"

"I think you're failing to see that I am planning on exiting through your basement, where the sewage access is. Like in the manse that burned down," Rufus looked at Einin with a tired expression, "You have my word that I will not peek. And once I know your parents are safely off to bed, I will show you the secret room attached to yours." As he spoke to her, a servant came around the corner down the hall. He closed the door fast and quiet, and rushed for her wardrobe. "Someones coming damn it. I told you to hurry." He climbed quickly climbed inside, closing the doors as he slid behind her clothing. "I feel like a fool," he mumbled to himself. She'd likely agree had she been able to hear him.

Biting back a curse, Einin flew for her bed as Rufus rushed to the wardrobe. Tearing back the covers, she dove between the sheets and pulled them to her chin right as a servant stepped inside the room, carrying a fresh water basin for the morning and towels to clean and dry her face. The servant moved quietly, obviously trying not to wake Einin, and then she was gone, the door shut behind her.

Einin laid there several seconds longer, just to be sure she was gone. Then, letting out a relieved breath, she slipped back out of bed and headed for the wardrobe.

Opening it up, she smirked when she found Rufus, looking utterly silly all squished up inside, with several dresses, shifts, and nightclothes hanging over his face. With a shake of her head, Einin covered her mouth so as not to laugh. "You look ridiculous," she said. "But it's clear now, I think...wait."

She froze, for she heard noises outside--the sounds of horses, and the crunch of stone and dirt beneath wheels. Her body tensed. "I think they're home," she whispered, and with a curse under her breath, she snatched her nightgown from where it had settled atop Rufus's head.

"Peek, and I'll give you a reason for that eye patch," she told him as she made for the screen and slipped behind it. She tossed her Owl clothes and her bindings over the screen, for they would be joining the mask, and moments later she emerged in her nightclothes, a long white nightgown trimmed with lace and tied at the front with a ribbon.

She rubbed her ribs, because she had gone a little longer bound than she should have, and she was feeling it now. Collecting the clothes, she shoved them under the floor board, and then climbed into her bed again, tugging the blankets up and listening hard.

Rufus kept his word and did not peek out at Einin. From where he was, it was unlikely he would have been able to see her anyway, behind that screen. He sat, listening to her change, listening to her place her costume in it's hiding place. He heard the creak of her bed as she climbed in. There was silence for a while then, until he heard something from outside her window. Someone was climbing the trellis. Likely it was his Soot Wolf, bringing the feathered cape. Horrible timing. Hopefully they would wait, hanging outside. Likely they heard the Beirne's return home, and would make sure they were clear before bringing the cloak in. It would not be good if they were caught in the room when her parents arrived.

It was several long minutes later before Einin heard the sound of her mother's laughter and her parents' combined footsteps as they walked down the hall toward their quarters. She could hear her father grumbling something, and it sounded like her mother was playfully chastising him. Their footsteps soon passed her room, but Einin still remained frozen, and hoped Rufus would stay put, too.

Because several minutes later, her mother came to her room and cracked the door open to check on her, and Einin "sleepily" cracked her eyes open and looked up at her with a smile. She yawned, stretched. "Have fun?"

Anya chuckled and shook her head. "I hope we didn't wake you. Your father...ah, you know how he gets around his friends. He drank a little much. Sorry we left so abruptly, love. It was rather spur of the moment, and I know you were busy."

That was putting it lightly. Einin yawned again and nuzzled into her pillow. "I had some reading to catch up on, anyway."

With a gentle smile, Anya kissed her forehead and retreated. "I'll let you go back to sleep, love," she said, and shut the door behind her.

When her steps had faded away down the hall, and several more minutes had passed, only then did Einin sit back up. "Clear," she said.

At her signal Rufus gently pushed open the wardrobe as a Soot Wolf climbed in through the window. Rufus crossed to him and took the offered cloak, along with a rolled parchment. The Wolf quickly exited the way he came and Rufus tossed the cape to Einin as he pulled open the scroll and read it quickly. He pulled a tinder twig from some hidden place and lit the edge of the note on fire as he strode to Einin's chamber pot. He let the ash fall into the brass pot, and then dropped the remains in as well. Rufus then crossed back toward Einin and sat in what looked to be her reading chair.

"So, you have a good night?"

Another Wolf? Thank Kia she had at least been expecting more to show up with her clothes, and thank gods he didn't linger. Catching the cape, Einin rose from her bed and crossed the room so she could shove the cape under the floor board with the rest of her costume, and once that was dealt with, she sat back down on the edge of her bed.

With her elbows on her thighs and her chin propped on her hands, she flashed Rufus a little smile. "It was fun," she said. "It was...it was interesting! And I'd do it again in a heartbeat. With some changes here and there, but I think I'd know how to handle myself better next time. And I think...I think I don't really want to be known as a suave flirt after all." She shook her head. "I didn't realize how, ah, wrong that could go, I guess. But it was also really interesting to see things as a man--I mean, to be treated as one.  And...haha, no one else would have let me be a fool like that. I think I needed that."

Sitting up, she leaned back on her hands and tilted her head thoughtfully. "Thanks. Honestly. No one else would have trusted me on a mission like that, and...it was really nice to see a happy ending this time."

"Happy for Lulu perhaps," Rufus said soberly, "but that weasel will likely hang in a few days." Rufus cracked his back, eying Einin as he did. She was quite pretty when she smiled. He liked her happy, it was a good look for her. He stood, and went through a series of stretches, that he did regularly to keep himself limber. While he carried out the routine, he talked about the future.

"I'll be by tomorrow, and every day after, to continue your training. I'll let you know, at the latest, the day before if I'll not be by. Unless of course there is an emergency, then you'll receive a message as soon as I can send it," Rufus bent to touch his toes, his sheathed blades sticking out oddly as he did so. "Any nights you go out, you'll have a shadowed escort, but try not to get into any serious trouble."

Another Wolf arrived as he finished his stretching. Strikingly beautiful, even covered in the ash of a Soot Wolf, she brought Rufus Einin's folded clothes and gave the young Lady a wink and a grin before she quickly departed. Rufus checked for the key, and found it safely tucked in a pocket. He handed it over to Einin, and set her clothes on her bed.

"So would you like to see your hidden room? I think it was a sorcerers chamber. Did you have a sorcerer in your family? Maybe they kept it a secret."

"Happy for Lulu and every other girl we saved tonight," Einin corrected, smile fading with the gravity of the subject. "I know death isn't to be taken lightly, but I don't feel sorry for the man. He was a murderer. He sealed his fate when he started knifing women."

As Rufus began to stretch and talk, Einin pretended not to watch. She adopted a bored expression, but it was a little too forced as Rufus went through his routine, showing off his flexibility and the nice lines of his body. He was definitely a man in his prime, and one couldn't live such an active lifestyle without being fit. Honestly, she could see why women liked him--and, abruptly, she remembered how he felt when he held her, and the memories of that sensual kiss came flooding through. Glad for the darkened room, she cleared her throat and looked out her window.

"Since when do I get into trouble?" she said with a playful grin, right before yet another Wolf entering just about had her jumping clear of her skin. She pressed a hand to her heart, sucked in a breath, and let it out slowly as the woman departed.

"Gods. I really wish they'd give some sort of warning," she muttered as she took the key and slipped it inside a drawer in her bedside table. Raking a hand through her hair, she turned her attention back to Rufus. "Anyway, yes! Of course I want to see this, and any other rooms you know of. This is an old home, so I can't say I'm surprised that it has secrets--though I would be surprised if we had any sorcerers in the family."

Rising to her feet, she straightened out her gown. "I don't know if you've noticed, but while my family's old and important, magic is a little...fickle with us. It skips around." With a little shrug, she gave a lopsided smile. "I'm the first mage in a while."

Rufus knew the importance of human contact when building up a seduction, so he removed his thin thief gloves, and tucked them behind his blades. He then reached out and took Einin by the hand and led her to the wall behind her door, that 'T'-ed with the hall. When in the corner, he guided her to the secret panel with his hands on her hips. He moved her hand against the edge of the molding that ran up the height of the wall.

"Do you feel how it's slightly uneven there," he said the words softly, whispering right into her ear. "If you put pressure on that raised spot," he pushed on her fingers gently, and there was a soft click. The mechanism inside activated and the false panel moved in, then quietly slid down to reveal a very narrow passage. Rufus slipped passed Einin, and once again took her by the hand leading her into the dusty chamber. The room was at most, ten feet across, but ran the entire length of her room, all the way to the exterior wall. It had vials and jars and bottles of all shapes and sizes filled with so many different random things, most of them unknown. There were a couple shelves with dusty tomes, and small table with what looked like a scrying globe, or crystal ball. An assortment of other things sat on shelves and tables along both walls, and several staves stood in a corner.

"So, an interesting find?"

It was so stupid, but when Rufus lead Einin to the wall and showed her where the mechanism was, she couldn't help but tense, her heart fluttering nervously. He was...really close, his hands on her hips, his mouth near her ear as he whispered the instructions to her. She could feel his breath on her skin and the heat of his body, and a little chill went down her spine that she hoped he couldn't feel. Way too close. He wasn't even doing anything, but she felt on edge after that kiss, and when the panel opened and he walked past her and lead her inside, she felt she could finally breathe again.

Gods, this was ridiculous.

Thankfully, what lay behind the wall was enough of a distraction, and she rolled her shoulders and forced the confused muddle of thoughts out of her head as she took in the wonder that was this room, hidden right within her own room. It was...both amazing and unsettling, to think this had been here all this time, but from the layer of dust and cobwebs settled over everything, it looked like it had been unused for quite some time.

"Very interesting!" Einin breathed, tugging her hand free and stepping around to the shelves. She blew dust off the cover of an old book before flipping it open. It was written in Old Serenian, a language nowadays used primarily by scholars, of which she only knew a few words here and there. Enough to recognize the language.

"Wow," she said, went over to inspect the jars, wiping dust off one with her fingers and picking it up. She made a face, nose wrinkling, and held it out for Rufus to see. Inside was a dead lizard of some sort, preserved and floating in some clear substance. "Well, I'd say you're right. This place certainly screams sorcerer. Or madman."

"Well as fun as looking through all this stuff will surely be for you," Rufus said, as he looked at the preserved lizard, "I'm more interested in what a night time crime fighter could do with this space." He waggled his eyebrows at Einin, in her adorable nightclothes. "Outfitting it properly will be an undertaking," he stepped over and took the lizard, intentionally brushing her hand with his as he did. He pressed himself against her only slightly, as he reached passed her to put it back in it's place. The movement knocked a few stray strands of hair into her face and he tucked them behind her ear, his fingers grazing her cheek, before stepping away. "I have a few secret rooms of my own in the Wolves Den. They are very handy. The next time your parents are out, I'll be sure to show you the rest of the ones in this manor."

Rufus eyed a small wooden case sitting on a small writing desk. It was open, and a few wands were laying within. He again pulled a trinket from some hidden place on his person, a monocle, and placed it in front of his eye. The wands glowed to his newly enhanced vision, and he quickly glanced around the room, finding many other glowing items, including a few of the staves. "There's remaining magic in here. Perhaps we should bring in an expert to examine everything before we start moving it out to outfit as your Owl Nest."

Argh.

Cheeks coloring in the dark, Einin crossed her arms over her chest, once again feeling that nervous flutter when he touched her. The room suddenly felt very small and cramped, and she was suddenly very aware of the fact that she was just in her nightgown. Sure, the material was thick and it wasn't sheer or immodest or anything--heavens, no!--but it hit her in a rush, an odd sense of vulnerability that she didn't like, a sudden awareness of how much larger Rufus was (perhaps not in height, but definitely in build), and that he was fully clothed and armored in contrast to her.

She swallowed and shrank away, her bottom hitting the edge of the table and, unbeknownst to her, leaving behind a dark line of dust against the white.

"Owl Nest, hah! I like the sound of that!" she said with a grin, doing her best to play it casual. "This can be like my super secret crime-fighting lair or something! Hm. I suppose I should also do some research on the estate, see if there are any records that would explain this. Ah, the magic you're seeing? Is any of it dangerous, do you know? Or is that something for the experts?"

Rufus slipped the magic trinket away and turned back to Einin. "That thing just shows me there is magic, not its power or use," he walked over and tapped a couple vials of liquid gently. "Chora would probably be best for the oils and ointments. I call her my salve-master, she uses some fancy word. Kemist, I believe," Rufus scrunched his face at the word. "She says it's part magic, part art, all science. She's talented, and that's all that matters to me." He strolled over to the staves, and blew on them. He was careful not to touch them, you never knew what something might do. Even with the eye patch, some magic still worked. "I'll find a good wizard or sorcerer to come look at the rest of the stuff."

Rufus then walked back over to Einin and casually looked at few things on the shelves near her while he continued to chat. "I got your father and a few of the other nobles to endorse a faire across the city next week. I was hoping you'd give me the honor of your company in the morning."

Wisely, Einin kept her hands to herself at Rufus's announcement. If he couldn't figure out the type of magic, it was probably best not to fiddle with these trinkets until she knew what was what. She had been about to ask him more about it, like if he knew which items were magicked, specifically (because gods, she did so want to sift through this stuff!), but then he mentioned the faire.

"I don't see why not," Einin said after a moment's thought, and laughed. "Sounds like a lot more fun than what I'd normally be doing during the day! And I need a good reason to be out and about. I suppose it might be...a little strange to be with you and not around Jarrett, but I guess that will make our fake engagement--" She stressed the word fake. "--less of a blindside."

Brushing dust from her hands, she regarded him curiously. "So, what's the purpose of this faire? That's a rather big event to stage just for fun."

Einin had collected a little more dust than she was aware of. Rufus couldn't see the back of her, where she had bumped into the table, but she had acquired some on her sleeves and where her sleeves had brushed her front. Even after brushing it free of her hands, it clung to the fabric of her nightgown. He reached for her sleeves and brushed the dust away, then the dust from her front.

"If you're not careful you'll come out of here all grey instead of pink," all the dust he could see removed, Rufus told her about the faire. "A large event like that will make money for the city, taxes and permits will fill the pockets of the politicians. The middle class will mostly work, perform, or sell their goods. The rich will overspend, and overpay, filling the pockets of those of lower birth. It makes the money flow down." He didn't also include that there would be Soot Wolves everywhere, lightening the purses of many unsuspecting victims, and that many stalls would be selling counterfeit goods. The Soot Wolves would come out ahead on this one, and that was always an important goal.

Einin batted his hand away when he went for her front. "You know, you can point," she said. "That works just as well. Anyway, that is...a rather more mundane reason than I expected. And here I almost thought it was another hunt or some...some--"

She cut off with a sneeze, and waved the floating dust particles away. "Maybe we should continue in my room," she said, and headed back out the passage.

As Einin turned and exited, Rufus could see the dark smudge of dust across her butt. He followed her out, and once he closed the panel back up, simply by releasing the pressed in mechanism, he approached Einin. "No impropriety intended, if you please..." He half turned Einin and brushed the dust from her bottom. Likely drawing her ire, but at least it wouldn't be tracked into her bed, and he got a subtle butt grope.

Einin nearly yelped, but clamped her teeth together before the sound could escape her. Jerking around, she grabbed Rufus's wrist and glowered up at him.

"What did I say about pointing!" she snapped. "Or maybe try saying, 'Einin, you have something on your tush!' And then I can take care of it. Has that ever occurred to you?"

"It just seemed polite to remove the dust since I could see it and you could not," Rufus whispered to Einin. He paused to listen for footsteps in case her odd squeak drew attention. It seemed unlikely, as it wasn't very loud. "You need to not react so intensely from a little human contact. I was not crude in my removal of the dust from your very modest nightgown." He turned her grip on his wrist around on her, but holding her hand much more delicately.

"Well you have an intense day of sword training tomorrow," Rufus bowed in a very gentlemanly way, brushing his lips just barely across the back of Einin's hand. "I hope your sleep will be pleasant, and your dreams comforting. I bid you goodnight Lady Beirne. Until I look upon your beautiful face on the morrow." He leaned forward as he released her hand, placing a very innocent kiss upon her cheek. Then he turned and headed toward her door, his exit was in her basement after all.

"It's not the human contact," Einin said, keeping her voice down. "It's the point of contact. Which seems to be my bottom, all day long."

But even as she said it, she wondered if maybe she was overreacting in this instance? It wasn't like he'd smacked her as he had before, and he had been brief. But all those butt smacks, and that earlier kiss, had thrown her off balance. Now she was jumping at a touch on the hand, or the brushing of dust off her gown. Maybe because she wasn't sure what to expect from him anymore; that kiss, like the one when she'd first met him, had come out of the blue.

And now he was being rather gentlemanly, though her skin still tingled where his lips brushed her hand. And then, a kiss on the cheek. Einin blinked at him, face warm and once again feeling off balance, and as he turned to leave, she rubbed her face.

"You are so confusing," she said, just loud enough for him to hear.

"I'm glad you feel that way." Rufus smiled at Einin one last time before disappearing into the darkness outside her room. He hoped she would dream of him.

Einin scowled after him, and waited several minutes to be sure Rufus was gone before she crawled into bed. And though she felt exhausted after a busy day and night, it was a while before she wound down enough to fall asleep. She laid there for nearly an hour, staring at the shapes on her ceiling and replaying the day in her mind, trying to make sense of everything and failing--and trying to calm the strange, anxious flutter in her belly that kicked up whenever she replayed certain parts.

This was dangerous, and she needed to be careful. This was Ryk--Rufus--and both had reputations. She needed to be on her guard, and Kia damn him for her sleeplessness!

When Einin finally did drift off, her dreams were awkward, to say the least.

[Einin and Rufus's shenanigans continue HERE (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=16940.0)!]