Chapter Ten

Oridis’ room sat at the farthest corner to the left on the buildings second floor. It wasnt much, a simple bed and sheets, a desk & chair, candles for light, and a chest for clothes. Simple, bare, and uniquely luxurious for someone with so little experience staying in one place. She set her bag into the chest and then fell back onto the bed, exhausted. 

First day and i’m already planning to assassinate someone. What would he think of me now? She forced the thought aside and rolled over. Worrying about him did no good, and the thoughts still brought fresh streams of tears to her eyes. She needed to let it go, it had been over three years since the night they parted, and she felt no safer than before.

A gentle knock came at the door and Oridi sat up with a start. Who could be calling on me now? Khokke already said he and Ihigi

“Its open.” Oridi called. 

Moments later Albert stood in the doorway, he seemed happier than at the meeting but stil bore an expression of annoyance. He closed the door and made his way sit at the desks chair, stoping only to turn the object enough to face Oridi.

“Oridi.” Albert said

“Albert.” She responded. 

“I’d like to ask you a few questions, if thats alright. About what you can do that is.”

“Ah, its about what Khokke said, right?”

Albert nodded “I didn’t tell him much about who you were, that was also mostly because Ihigi didn’t know much either. There was one trait though.”

“Oh?” Oridis blood ran cold. How much does he know? Would he even know what I am? And if he knows, would it matter? Of course it likely Would matter, Changelings were rarer than mythical beasts. No one knew how they were made and only the worst and most vile were ever caught. “And what would that be?”

“Well, being honest the rumour said it was a child. So it surprised me when Khokke returned with you.” Albert paused as if to wait for a response. None came, so he continued. “But Khokke also mentioned that you looked like that guard. And that punch, from his description it sounds like you have a bit of training the arcane.”

“Yes!” Oridi yelped. She’d nearly forgotten. She already made the biggest mistake by using her real name. She didn’t need to give anymore of it away. “Studied in an Academy in Yuru.”

“The Capital of the Mountains?” Albert looked shocked “Such prestigious and reclusive training. To think they’d have let as Tsenfle attend, you must be very skilled.”

“Not the capital, just in a city in the region.”

“Ah, well no less impressive if I can say. So what were you trained as?”

“Arcanist.” Oridi said. Though her body felt the warmth of tension releasing, she didn’t allow herself to lower her guard. She didn’t know what Albert was after, but he had come with a purpose. 

“Good line of work, that. Every Nobleman has one they say.”

“So i’ve heard.”

“Study there long?”

“I suppose. It took a few years, yes.”

“Did you have a specific interest?”

“Well…” Oridi didn’t know what to say. 

“Sorry,” Albert sat back and raised his hands “I just remembered that a friend said it was bad manners to ask. Please forgive me.”

“No, you didn’t do anything…” Oridi muttered. “Was there something in particular, Albert?”

“Altering your strength, changing your appearance. You’re clearly talented, far more so than most of the officers I see.”

“Thank you?” A pit of despair was welling within her now.

“No, thank you. We needed someone with better skills in that field. Shosh is classically trained, but he never attended anywhere.”

“What about Tsep? She looked like she might have some training too.” She needed to change the subject, shift it aware from herself. He was prodding too much.

“She does, but not really in a fighting sort of way. Mending and healing really, some talent with minor elemental”

“That sounds handy. Was she a medic or something?”

Albert nodded. “Mhmm, Said she worked nearest to the coast. Cozy job, ignoring the disturbing experiments. She didn’t say much after that.”

“Experiments? What do you think she meant?” Was her heart racing? 

“Something to do with the Count I guess. Something she doesn’t want to talk about, and I didn’t really feel the desire to pry.”

“But with me you feel no worry?” she hadn’t meant to say that. 

“No, I-” Albert stopped. “You’re right. This was rude of me, but I need to know who you are and what you can do to best add you to the team.”

Oridi sighed “I guess thats fair, I can’t get paid if I dont help.”

“Ah! See, I knew we could agree on something!” 

She frowned but continued. “I have a little training in the physical stuff like strength and far less in elements. I’m much better with the mental work.”

“Farsight? Foresight?”

“Illusion, Deception, and physical manipulation” Those were the closest to the truth, no point in tripping herself up now. 

“Well, those will come in handy anyhow. Though it would have been nice to have someone who could read minds or… anyway.” Albert stood and began to walk to the door.

“What, Thats it?” Oridi cried “You come to ask me all these question and then just leave?”

“It appeared I had upset you. I had learned all I needed to,” turning to face her he asked “would you like me to stay?”

“No!” the words left her lips before she could stop them. She’d need to tighten them from their many recent betrayals. “No, thats fine. I was confused is all.” 

He smiled and nodded, then continued towards the door. Nearly out he called back, “By the way, I’ll be gone for a few days starting tonight. You’re welcome to stay here, the others will either be here or stopping by regularly. Don’t be followed.” He shut the door and silenced the world around Oridi.

The hideout had a kitchen, pantry, dry food storage, and a myriad of empty rooms, it was bar none the most extensive location she’d ever been housed in before. None of the others were home, even if they were they’d have most likely been asleep. Oridi had chosen to remain in her room until well into the rising of the moon. This was a new environment, and one she didn’t trust yet, she wouldn’t let her guard down now. 

The pantry was filled with odds and ends, barrels and shelves lined with ingredients that needed for strange northern recipes. The storage wasn’t much better, overflow from the pantry lined the walls, and spare chairs and crates filled gaps. Each room was laid out exactly the same as her own, no variation is design or furnishings. The house was meticulously uninteresting, and so Oridi found herself heading out the front door to bathed in the subtle glow of the moons light. 

The city at night was far different, the roads were quieter for one. Mist Mile, the usually overcrowded main square of the reclusive city, now showed the beauty of the cobblework designs trampled upon each day. A few taverns lights still flickered with life as bellows of woops and revelry escaped, but otherwise the city slept. The moon granted her a clear path through the winding alleys and raising streets. 

She eventually found herself staring at the winding path leading up to the enclosed walls of the Keep. The gate was lowered and torch light glinted off the metal helm of the occasional patrolling guards atop the battlements. From this distance it almost looked like living flames dancing atop a wall, but only from this distance. 

Oridi wasn’t sure why she’d decided to leave so late, other than that she couldn’t stand to be in that house right now. It made her feel cramped, and a weight pressed on her lungs as she had stalked the halls. Instead fresh air seemed the best solution, or so she had hoped. Now she stood hundreds of feet away from the home of the Bastard she had attempted to kill that morning, apart of a group of people planning to do just that. 

“Fate is strange.” She said. No one responded. “What do you have planned?” 

She fell back onto the stone and stared into the void of darkness above, eyeing each glowing light with innocent wonder. There were so many out there, and with the lamps fading the image only grew more brilliant. The expanse above calmed her, made her feel so small, like she could disappear and hide forever among them. It was a comforting thought. 

“Open the Gate!” A distant voice called. 

Oridi shot up and fixed the now rising barricade with all the attention she possessed. A carriage was departing. Who could be leaving this late? Her instincts told her to follow, see if it was the Count himself out to enjoy himself with a whore. Or perhaps it was someone she could steal the body of and use it to get closer to the bastard. 

Just as her lazier instincts were about to win out, she saw the carriage turn and make its way towards the Mile. It wouldn’t be odd for a Noble to want to shop, but to head to Mist Mile so late? There wasn’t much there besides the taverns, and most would be closing soon anyway. With Interest sufficiently peaked she rose and began the steady jog to catch up. 

The carriage arrived outside the large, strangely squared building that comprised the Peres’ Hall. The home of the Kings Loyal Killers. Pere were nothing but murders that nobles could hire to handle their dirty work. Every now and again one would help a village or save a commoner, but they worked mainly for the “betters”.

Oridi noticed two figures depart the cabin as the carriage pulled away. They both looked normal, one was tall and blond wearing what appeared to be a dress. The man was shorter but still average, and he too wore traditional clothes befitting someone of moderate stature. Neither were visually armed, though from the distance across the square it was hard to tell. They open the central doors of the building and disappeared within, leaving Oridi with the vagest sense of disappointment. 

So now I know the general looks of the Counts new Pere, I guess that something. She sighed, posting up on a bench nearest the squares outskirts. What a waste of a perfectly good night, seems like I can’t win today. 

“Oridi?” The slurred words of Khokke drummed the thoughts from her mind. She turned to meet it, expect to see Khokke inebriated. She wasn’t disappointed, but she hadn’t expect to find Ihigi and Mogti swaying with the tall man and trying to support his weight. Ihigis face was flushed and looked to be barely holding it together.

“Oridi!” Mogti called “Quick, get rid of the shorter one, I can’t hold two mules at once.” 

Oridi blinked in surprise, stunned by the image. Ihigi and Khokke looked to be drunk beyond sense, but Mogti seemed fine. Surely she’d have joined, right?

“Oridi!” The mountain of a woman bellowed. 

Oridi lept up and obeyed, lifting the slumping form of Ihigi onto her shoulder. The peakman was heavy, he didn’t look as heavy as Khokke but there was still a heft to the man. He was toned, she could feel that through his shirt and see it in his arms now. Were they all like this? Nearly every man or woman from the mountains seemed to be invested in strength, the two prime examples were nearly unconscious before her. 

“What happened?” Oridi asked

“...lost...bet” Ihigi seemed to gasp the words.

“Too much,” Khokke yelled “Shisn s’a Mogdleo”

“Mogti?”

“They challenge me to drink. I win. He calls me a hole now.”

“It just… vanished into her…” Ihigi spoke as if traumatized by the experience.

“Vanished? Hang on, they challenged you to drink?” 

“Yes”

“They thought that was smart?”

“Peaks do crazy thing to mens heads. Make them think they higher than others, like the Tsene.”

“Yeah, I guess it must.” She didn’t know what to say to that. Like the Tsene, sure I could get behind that, but I don’t think I can agree while i’m living as one.

When Mogti and Oridi finally arrived back to the hideout it was with panting breathes accompanied by lough snoring. Their companions had finally succumb to the seductive call of sleep, Khokke with Mogti’s gentle assistance. They dragged the pair into the meeting hall they’d used only a few hours past and left them in a pile to the side of door. 

“I dont… Think I… Can carry… any farther.” Oridi panted

“Yes… this good…” Mogti took a deep breathe and slowed her gasping “Thank you for the help.”

“Well, they looked to be quite a handful. Is it okay to leave them here though?”

“Should have thought of that before challenge.” Mogti huffed “Good night.”

“Night” Oridi said. She was tired too, tired and exhausted, carrying a drunk man home had not exactly been her plan of getting fresh air, but then she’d ruined that by chasing those peres Carriage. The carriage, thats right. I should mention this to Albert when he gets back, she thought. Waves of weariness crashed against it and dissolved it placement in her mind.  for now I should just rest. If today is any indication of the next few weeks, I think i’ll need every ounce.