Chapter 9 — A Bold Kidnapping Plot

The cat-kin was wearing different clothes, but without a doubt it was him. Ayla’s hand went to her sword, but she hesitated.

These two likely knew where her cousin was… and if the shopkeeper really was a master and a cultist, her chances of incapacitating them or escaping were slim. The impressive collection of artifacts certainly added weight to the claim.

“Oh? I see you three have met before, huh,” the cultist master commented, sounding amused.

“It was a misunderstanding due to cultural and language differences,” the elf quickly offered.

The man nodded sagely. “Ah yes, I’ve had many such misunderstandings.”

Ayla closed the leather-bound book still in her hand and decided, “You two are going to kidnap me.”

“Huh?!” the elf blurted out.

“Okay,” the cat-kin readily agreed, looking relieved and happy about something.

“What?! No, Xyn, we can’t do it!” the elf sputtered. “They execute people for kidnapping nobles in this country!”

Her plan was crazy, but she steeled her resolve to not show her nervousness. “It’s too late for that, elf. I’m mainly interested in finding my cousin, and you two will take me to him. After that, if he’s not been harmed, I will make sure to inform my father that the kidnapping was all a ruse of my own devising.”

The cat-kin nodded agreeably. “We’d be happy to take you to him.”

“Damn it, Xyn!” the elf groaned. “Not even a week has passed since we left Shir`lyn, and we’re already going to be wanted criminals throughout all of Ester! At this rate, by the time we become journeymen the only jobs the guild is going to offer us will be dangerous cullings in lost lands!”

“I think taking her along will help with our assignment from Master Arienos, Yillian,” the cat-kin insisted.

The elf threw his arms up in frustration. “Fine. But when everything goes to the thirteen hells, just remember that I warned you.”

“Good.” Ayla declared, surprised that they were going along with her ridiculous demand, but if she was doing this, there was one more matter that she needed to assert, “And remember, if either of you try anything funny, I’m going to cut your manhood off.”

The cat-kin tilted his head and blinked at her in confusion a few times, which was not the reaction she was expecting.

Sighing, the elf said something to him in Elvish, and the cat-kin still had a blank expression, so he tried a different language that Ayla wasn’t familiar with. This time the cat-kin’s eye-brows raised and he glanced down at his crotch before asking something back which caused the elf to place his head in his hand and mumble to himself before emphatically denying whatever it was that had been asked then explaining things again.

The cat-kin finally seemed to understand and turned back to her with a bit of a sheepish expression. “Don’t worry, trust us.”

Ayla could only stare.

The elf groaned. “Isn’t that exactly what you would say if you were up to no good?!”

The old master chuckled and adjusted his spectacles. “As amusing as all this is, I’ll have to ask that you pay for that book before getting kidnapped, if you don’t mind, milady.”

Ayla jumped a bit at being directly addressed by the dangerous man but nodded. “Of course.” She turned back to the elf and slapped the hefty book against his chest. “Carry this for me.”

The elf’s arms came up to receive the book as if by reflex, and as if used to such treatment, he stowed it in his pack without complaint while she was taking care of paying the master for his work, which was likely to be highly relevant considering the current situation.

“Mind if we use the back exit, Master Valence?” the cat-kin asked.

“Probably for the best. You’re not going to get far going out the front. Just make sure Lady Ayla drops something identifiable for her guards to find outside; I don’t want trouble for my store.” The spectacled master unlocked one of the glass cases while he talked and took out the four medallions she had been looking at earlier. “Since I’m feeling generous, I’ll give you these. Wear them.”

The man tossed them each one of the medallions. The fourth, he slipped into his pocket. “I’ll tell you what they do later. Now get going, I’ll give you a head start before informing the lady’s guards.”

Ayla wasn’t sure whether she should be thanking the man or not, considering he was part of the reason she was backed into this insane course of action, so instead, she haughtily motioned for the elf to lead and followed him through the hallway leading out the back of the shop.

Her heart thumped loudly in her chest the whole time she was in the confines of the hallway, trapped between the two cultists, only easing a bit when she stepped out into the shadowed back alley.

This was her chance if she wanted to escape or capture one of the cultists. Neither of them seemed particularly on guard against her, and she could probably kill one if she acted quickly enough. Waiting until they met up with the other members of their group might be too late.

The elf would be the easiest, but he would also be easier to control. The cat-kin worried her. She had no confidence in defeating him or preventing him from escaping. In a way, she was lucky that he had chosen to flee instead of pressing his advantage with that strange sword technique of his; dazed as she was by the reflected light, she would have been hard pressed to stop any of his attacks—a reality that she had grudgingly come to accept after the heat of battle had left her.

The elf pointed to where the end of the alley met with a side-street. “Lady Ayla, let’s put what you’re leaving to be found over there. That will make it less clear where you are being taken.”

Ayla nodded and followed the elf to where he had indicated, making use of the time to consciously suppress her fight-or-flight instincts and calm her thoughts. “Just ‘Ayla’ is fine.”

The elf nodded. “As you’ve probably figured out, I’m Yillian, and he’s Xyn.”

She would go along with them for now and try to get them to further lower their guard. The Xyn one, he apparently thought she would be useful toward their nefarious purpose. Maybe they would even invite her into their secret organization if she played her part right.

“Here should be good,” Yillian suggested.

Ayla pulled a kerchief with her initials and house crest from a hidden pocket in her dress’ skirt, and her eyes followed it all the way to the ground as she let it fall. In a way, the kerchief was symbolic of the choice she was making.

She was scared but also maybe excited. This was like an adventure, hopefully one she would survive, and maybe for a while it would lead to freedom from the obligations to her family. Perhaps she could even escape the marriage being arranged by her parents. First things first, she needed to find and rescue her cousin.

Her cousin, who had encouraged her to take up the sword but became discouraged when she surpassed him, becoming moody and withdrawn, turning instead to the path of magic—she worried that the mental strain of captivity would take a significant toll on him. That was assuming that worse hadn’t already befallen him. Either way, she had to find out.

“Ayla, you can use a movement technique, can’t you?” the cat-kin, Xyn, asked.

She suppressed a grimace at hearing him call her name like that. Though not on guard or acting particularly wary, Xyn had been watching her constantly. Could his lack of guard actually be intentional? The way he dodged her strike even when she though he was caught flat-footed… suggested his lackadaisical approach was an illusion. Was he watching her so carefully to evaluate or intuit her martial skill from her movements?

“My mastery of self is sufficient to improve my strength and speed,” she answered vaguely, not wanting to give away too much information. “Why?”

Xyn nodded. “I expected as much. If your guards can also use movement techniques, then I would need to carry you if you didn’t.”

Ayla's face turned red at the thought of the tall and muscled cat-kin (or any man) carrying her, like a sack of potatoes or otherwise.

She had used Master Garrin’s Quick Step to close with him the prior night, so it wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen her technique before. Even so, letting an enemy see one’s techniques too often was not ideal, but in this case, it couldn’t be helped. “I can keep up just fine.”

“Ayla, before we go, there are some things you need to know,” Yillian spoke up, his eyes glancing nervously back down the alley. “But first, lets move out of view.”

Ayla had to resist the urge to roll her eyes when he motioned them to a space in the shadow of a stall’s awning. She kept an eye on his cat-buddy just in case, though.

“What?” she asked imperiously once they were tucked into the shadows.

The elf nervously looked to the side before meeting her gaze. “We're not cultists. We’re Explorers working for the Cartographer’s Guild.” He grimaced at her visibly growing irritation and hurriedly continued, “We’re investigating the cult activity together with Master Arienos.”

Whether he thought he could trick her or whether the odd pair of demi-humans really weren’t cult members and had no idea where her cousin was, either way she was beginning to become furious. That the shop back there did have maps for sale was a point in favor of him telling the truth. The odd spectacled master had said something about explorers and mapmaking as well. Was it just a cover?

“I’m sure Xyn really does want to help you find your cousin. It’s just that, while there’s still time for you to change your mind, I thought it important to make sure you really want to go with us,” the elf added.

Ayla scoffed, “Why would he want to do that? Didn’t he say he wants to claim my heart, so he can eat it and gain my power?” She’d read a story where tribal cultists did things like that, and she was supposed to believe they weren’t cultists?!

The elf made an awkward expression. “Not that kind of heart… this kind.” The elf placed his fingers together and looped them apart and back together, drawing a shape that any girl would be familiar with.

He had to be kidding.

Noticing her disbelieving gaze, the cat-kin, cheeks reddening, shyly nodded. Shyly! He even looked nervous as he watched for her reaction.

The pieces fell into place, and she was flabbergasted. Tension drained out of her as she realized her life wasn’t in any danger, and probably never had been.

Maybe she was even a little bit flattered, and judging by his earlier clothes and his sword, his status probably wasn’t a problem. And messing up her parents’ marriage plans for her would be a bonus. But, with a cat-kin? Not happening.

Her maid had once told her about a friend who liked cats and was curious. The friend had said that the cat-kin guy was really nice and tried his best, but between his tongue covered in tiny hooks that flayed skin like sandpaper and his… other important part, that her experience was terrible and that she actually felt sorry for the guy. So, um, no thanks?

She was saved from the awkward moment by irate voices coming from the alley.

“You’d better not be lying to us shopkeeper! Or we’ll turn your place upside down!”

Yillian was still waiting for her answer. If she let Sir Devin and Liam find her after this, they probably would put an end to her search. She’d get sent back home, and that would be the end of her adventure and any further attempts to delay her marriage.

Fixing her determination, she gave the elf her answer:

“Let’s go.”

Xyn’s mood had improved a lot since the debacle at the House of Flowers. Seeing his first hidden guild branch and meeting its master had been exciting. Making his membership badge had been an interesting process. And now, the human female he most desired was together with them as they investigated House Arden.

He snuck another glance at her vivid mane and her warrior’s grace. Maybe it wasn’t too late to prove his worth and win her attention-

His legs suddenly hit an obstacle, and his face met the ground and bounded off as he flipped over and spilled onto his back.

The sound of Yillian’s laughter faded into focus as the world stopped spinning and Xyn was able to gingerly pull himself back to his feet, his bare skin scuffed in places—something that wouldn’t have happened when he still had fur to protect his skin!

“That was so awesome!” Yillian wheezed out while doubled over and clutching his stomach as he tried to hold back further chuckles at Xyn’s expense. “I’ve never seen a cat-kin trip before, but that was by far the best!”

The commotion was attracting disapproving gazes from the locals, and a pair of children were cheering from the other side of the road:

(He was like: Flip and BAMM! Hahahahah!)

(Hahahah! Too cooool! Do it again!)

Yillian tossed Xyn an ointment jar, barely suppressing his still twitching smile. “I know you’re hot for Ayla, but maybe sneaking looks at her ass while using a movement technique isn’t the best idea.”

Don’t say it like that, you stupid elf!

“Hmph, serves you right,” Ayla scoffed and turned away, her skirt swishing.

Gah!

“Anyway, this should be far enough. There’s an inn nearby that won’t ask too many questions,” Yillian told Ayla. “We should get a room and come up with a plan for how to get inside the castle.”

“I’m not keen on being alone in a room with you two, particularly in the kind of place that won’t ask too many questions, but I suppose it can’t be helped. Lead on.”

Why was he suddenly the odd one out?! How did it end up like this?!