7/5/337

Vasuki

Pulse quickening, ears ringing, the wind howled through the trees, Vasuki’s sword swung. The first of the five Goblin’s fell limp, his blade had been jammed deep into it’s chest. Blood seeped out of the first one as a second jumped at him, knife in hand it let out a scream of pain as he batted it away with the back of his shield. He punched a third with the edge of his shield, right in it’s open jaw, a loud pop rang out as the connection was made. Too busy with the first three he had failed to notice a fourth readying to pounce onto his back, digging it’s claws into his shoulders and biting deep on the top of his right shoulder. He retaliated by backing into a tree and introducing it’s brain with the sharp end of his blade. When he felt it go slack he pulled it off of him and threw it’s lifeless body to the ground. He looked into it’s green hazy eyes, he saw fear; terror, something he had experienced so many years ago. He looked up and saw a fifth helping up the second one looking his way before beginning to run. The third had a broken jaw but it was still getting up to fight, Vasuki was about to turn and run from his problems when the voice that had been abusing him for the past hour spoke.

“They only run because they know you can’t avenge your mother, that you failed her. They don’t wish to die from a pitiful creature that doesn’t know how to move forward.”

“Shut up!” Vasuki yelled as ice erupted from the ground at the fleeing Goblins feet impaling them on two stalagmites of ice. The amount of magic that took was much more than he should have spent on killing them, he was too angry to care about restraint. He ended the fight by smacking the goblin to the ground and stabbing it in the gut as he held it’s head in the dirt with the sole of his boot, he pulled the blade from the panicking Goblin with a quick and sudden twist.

8/5/337

Vasuki sat up quickly in bed the nightmare of killing creatures like that still fresh in his head, the bite mark was more than enough evidence of what he had done he didn’t need to think about it in his sleep too. After washing his face and checking his bandages he started to get dressed, he had the day off so he went with a short sleeved beige shirt and brown breeches. He had just sat down to put his boots on when there was knock on his door, the smell told him who it was. He considered staying asleep so he didn’t have to face Audra but he had a feeling she already knew he was awake. He stood up and decided to slowly open the door to let her in.

“Come in.” He said monotonously. She was shivering from the cold, she hadn’t dressed for winter in the middle of summer and he wouldn’t blame her for that, he could lie and say he wasn’t amused by that side effect of his out of control powers..

“Are you sure I can? It’s freezing in here!” Audra claimed, Vasuki smiled before opening his wardrobe and handing her a black thick fur jacket. He pulled the blanket from his bed and gestured to it.

“Wear the jacket and get in bed, you won’t be nearly as cold.”

“Yeah, I’m not the type to get in other people’s bed like that, I thought you had a different impression of me.” Audra teased.

“Do you want to get warm?” He retorted, not in the mood for her game. She rolled her eyes, kicked off her shoes and got comfortable in the bed as she pulled the blankets up to her chin, she looked concerned.

“Why isn’t this bed as comfortable as the one in my room?” She asked. Vasuki replied, first, by exhaling air through his nose and giving a small smile.

“You have one of luxury, not many people have your bed. Or a self heating bath. Just because I work and live here doesn’t mean I get the royal treatment.” She looked at him annoyed.

“So I’m just lucky? Is that it?” She wasn’t wrong on that argument. Giving her that room was extremely lucky on her part. Vasuki couldn’t count, on his hands, how many people had haggled for that room in the past year alone. He wasn’t sure why he had given her the key to such a luxurious room, he had done the same for Mai when she had showed up on their doorsteps shivering in the winter storm.

“You are lucky but it’s a bit more than that. My mother would have done the same thing.” Vasuki claimed, Audra shivered under the blanket.

“Yesterday when you showed me to my room, why did you lie to me about the cold air?” Audra asked.

“Who said I lied? I told you I didn’t feel a difference, because I don’t feel the cold air around me. It gets cold when my emotions get the better of me, and it takes everything I can to hold it back.” Vasuki claimed.

“Do you want to talk about it?” It wasn’t her place to meddle but she knew that he needed an outlet that he clearly wasn’t getting. He chuckled heartily.

“No.” He said tying the last lace of his boots. “Let me get you something warm to eat so I don’t make you catch a cold.” And without another word he got up and left her alone in his room.

Making his way down the stairs he was surprised to see Mai with a large smile wide on her face. That wasn’t common, not one this genuine.

“Good morning night owl, what’s got you in such a good mood.” Vasuki asked, she looked up and began to approach him. Her mood soured when she shivered.

“Well I was in a good mood because I got to cuddle with my date last night. what’s got you going?” Mai asked, now with a frown and a concern written on her face.

“I went out and killed a group of Goblins last night, that’s part of it. Other than that I have no idea what’s going on with me.” His voice was lacking in the emotion department but it wasn’t directed at her. Her eyes went wide with something akin to surprise but he wasn’t sure that was all it was.

“Can I get a hot soup to bring to my room? I have cold lady in there trying to talk to me about something but I haven’t got that far yet.”

“Warm soup, gotcha any specific kind?” Mai asked writing the order on a small piece of parchment.

“Well she liked the fish yesterday let’s get her that.”

Vasuki was just about to enter his room when he heard Audra speak on the other side. “Who said that?” she asked. He slowly entered the room and didn’t see anyone other than her.

“Is the voice in my head contagious?” Vasuki wondered, he was grateful he didn’t receive a response. “Who said what?” He asked, handing her the bowl of soup, steam still rose from the contents so he was careful not to spill it on her.

“I heard someone tell me to stop complaining, that it was getting annoying.” Audra claimed.

“Well as you can see it’s only us.” He gestured to the lack of people in his living quarters. “So what did you come to me for? Besides another free meal that is.” He did not intend to have that much venom in his bark. She looked down at the soup, like she had been filled with regret.

“I’ll pay you back. I came here to ask if you could help me find Cabana.”

“Is it business or pleasure? You don’t seem the kind to go and do that with a stranger so I’ll say it’s business.” Vasuki assumed, the roll of her eyes and the smile told him he was correct. “Meet me downstairs, after you eat, then I’ll lead the way. But she might find us before we find her. And she’s going to be extremely hungover.”

After strapping the shield to his arm and the longsword around his waist he made his way down to get food for himself. After eating a helping of meatloaf he waited for Audra with a mug of water. She had went to her room to gather her own things but kept his jacket by his own orders. Exiting the tavern Vasuki led her down the path that would take her to the most powerful person in the entire town.

Vasuki knocked on the door three times before waiting a bit.

“Why does she live way out here? Isn’t she in danger with monsters?” Audra asked.

“If a monster showed up on her doorstep it’d be lucky to see it’s killer. She has a knack for showing up out of nowhere...as you saw in the tavern yesterday.”

“She was really a Royal Knight then...just how dangerous is she?” Audra queried.

“The most dangerous thing in the town by a long shot. We’ve seen demons run from her. Don’t ask because I have no idea.”

“You’ve seen demons before?” Audra felt a shiver go down her spine.

“No, I was too young to remember it, it’s been a long time.” Vasuki claimed before knocking on the door again, this time much harder.

“Whaaaatt?!” They heard her ask on the other side of the door. “Don’t talk so loud, my head is throbbing!”

“We didn’t say anything Cabana.” Vasuki claimed, a smile being drawn to his face. Audra began to take the jacket off of her, his cold aura was beginning to fade quickly.

A loud “Shit!” came from the other side of the door just before a loud thud. The most dangerous thing in Nevenal opened the door with bed head and an open bathrobe. Sleep was still evident in her eyes and they were only half opened. She pulled the robe closed but not quick enough for them both to get a quick look at the scars that decorated her body.

“What do you three want.” The smell that came from her mouth was one of death itself.

“Maybe you should take Vasuki’s advice and lay off the hellhound whiskey.” Audra claimed as she swiped the smell away while holding her nose. “And there’s only two of us.” She added.

“I’ll lay off the Hellhound whiskey when their bite marks stop burning me! Now for real what do you want, it’s too early for this shit.” Cabana claimed. Vasuki looked up at the sun, it was mid-day.

“I wanted to talk with you.” Audra claimed.

“Cabana...how long were drinking last night?” Vasuki asked.

“Not long enough I’ll need a refund.” She replied to Vasuki. “Come in so I can get properly...dressed.” She said with a yawn.

Audra admired the décor of Cabana’s home. Just by the look of things anyone could tell she was a battle-hardened warrior. Vasuki knew that whatever concerns Audra had of Cabana’s abilities they were quickly starting to fade. He made himself comfortable after he picked the chair up from the floor.

“So...what did you want to talk about Audy?” Cabana asked. “No I don’t like that nickname...Dragon Girl? Vasuki’s Lizard Boy so I don’t know about that either...maybe.” Vasuki looked at Audra and found her worries returning. This was going to be entertaining.