The two were already several blocks away before they began to hear the horns of the city watch. The horns meant that a member of the watch was requesting assistance from any watch members in the area. Victor knew it wouldn't be long before they began hunting for the two of them, but he thought they were far enough ahead to not get caught. It would take a few minutes to find out that something had been stolen, and then where they had entered and exited. By the time the dogs were chained up and put on the trail it would be hard for them to distinguish the smells within the cities alleys. It would take at least until morning to get a Shaper to the manor most likely, and by then everything except where he climbed the wall would have lost all memory of their brief contact. The wall wouldn't be a problem either he didn't believe because the parts he had come in contact with had blown away as dust. Victor felt sorry for anyone they caught in the alleys tonight, but figured most would either be let go quickly, or deserve to be caught for one thing or another.
Even with his legs enhanced it only took about a half hour before Victor began to fall behind. Noticing this Nim lightened their pace, Victor still had to run to keep, he just didn't have to sprint. The path Nim took them on led them through the Nobility District, through the Hall of the One god(A large open area that also contained the temples for the Gods of Terrazil), and into the Market District near the Protectorate Grounds.
Victor was tired nearly to the point of exhaustion when the man finally stopped at The Dragon's nest. The place was of newer construction that many buildings in Safeharbor, and had the distinction of being near the area where the Market District, Protectorate Grounds, Docks District, and Civilian Sector met up. The Dragon's Nest was too nice to be called a tavern, and yet was too rowdy and active at all hours of the morning to be called an Inn. Most people when asked to describe it would look at you for a moment and say, “It's... well... it's The Dragon's Nest...” Tired as he was he knew he should probably not go into such a place looking like himself so Victor through his hood up and paused for a moment, using the last of his reserves to change his form into that of a Gnome before following Nim in.
Nim sauntered up to the bar, obviously comfortable in the place, and looked at the man that, Victor was pretty sure, owned the place. “Hey barkeep, get off your butt and get me ale!” Nim said in a voice slightly lower than his usual one.
The barkeep spun around glass in hand and looked like he was about to throw it at whoever it was that had the audacity to order him around like that in his own place. When he noticed who it was though, his posture changed and a smile lit his face. “Nim! You old scoundrel, could have used you here a few hours ago, the place was packed.”
“I was here a few hours ago, and so was my friend.” Nim gave the man a knowing look that the bartender returned, and then pointed towards Victor inquisitively.
Victor threw back his hood and hopped up onto one of the stools in one smooth motion. “Vic at your service, Vic Tor'Deus.” His voice had a gravelly quality like that of the Gnomes, and was much deeper than Victor's own voice.
Nim surprised for a moment before giving a small chuckle. “I knew something was odd.” The bartender raised an eyebrow, but Nim just waved it away. He held up two fingers and the bartender poured them two ales before they found a seat in a back corner of the room away from the other patrons.
Nim stared at Victor for a few minutes, before he shrugged and shook his head.
“What?” Victor asked.
Nim leaned in, making sure his voice didn't travel to any unwanted ears. “Which you is the real you?”
Victor understood the shrug and the headshake at that point, and couldn't help but laugh. He then thought it a grand idea to play with Nim's mind a bit. “Now that is an excellent question! Which me is the real me? Hmm? Well I'll tell you. I've been wondering that for a few years myself. Then again, when I figure out that question I'm going to have to figure out the question, what am I doing here? And who are all these other people? Does anyone show their true self? Aren't there things that everyone keeps hidden about themselves? Can we ever know if someone is their true self?” Victor was repeating some of the things Shaylyn had said after he had asked his mysterious ward about herself for what must have been the hundredth time.
Through it all Nim's wry smile began to grow. “You defiantly sound like a gnome, but something tells me that the other you is the truer you.”
“Ahh now truer me, that's getting down to the heart of it. We all act like different people around different crowds. One person I might be rude to, another person I might be as sweet as a kitten to. Some people I will be strict to, and some I'll let get away with more things than I'd let anyone else get away with. So you see, the only way to be your true self is to be completely alone. So really, neither of the forms you've seen are my true self.”
“Wow, that's too deep for this early in the morning. How about this, how old are you?” Nim stated, his gaze foggy as he processed all of the things that Victor just said.
“There we are at a much simpler question, with a much simpler answer.” Victor leaned in and whispered “Eight, as of a little after midnight this morning.”
Nim burst out laughing so loud that the few people in the common room stopped to stared at him. He waved apologetically towards them, and after a few moments they went back to their drinks. “Is Vic your real name?”
“Is Nim yours?” Victor retorted.
“Fair enough Vic Tor'Deus. Now tell me a little about yourself and I'll tell you a little about me.” Their conversation went on for quite some time as they meandered through the city streets. Victor realized that they were heading to a part of town that he had yet to explore in any guise. This part of town was called Cliff's End, and in many ways it was the most beautiful part of the city. Cliff's end was where the top of the Protectorate's social class lived. There were only five villa's nestled on the top of the cliff, and three of them were owned by the Royal Family. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, welcoming the New Year, and Victor thought the sun slowly lighting the sky from the East on a crisp winter morning gave the place a surreal feeling.
“What are we doing now?” Victor asked for what he guessed was probably the fifth time that night. The changes to his appearance had started to dissipate shortly after they left The Dragon's Nest, telling Victor that he was even more tired than he thought.
“I told you, we are going to my house.” Nim's voice only had a hint of exasperation.
“Yeah, but why are we at Cliff's End?”
“Because, that is where I live.”
“Really? Are you a servant?” Victor said trying to make it sound as innocent as possible.
Nim looked at Victor like he was crazy. “Am I a servant? He asks if I'm a servant... Have you seen the clothes I'm wearing?”
Victor hadn't really, it wasn't one of the things he noticed unless he was somewhere he wasn't supposed to be, and trying to avoid rich people. Nim's outfit was black at first glance, but it had silver and gold embroidered throughout, the material the clothing was made from was smooth and shiny. Victor had seen a handkerchief like it once at Ol' Man Walkins, and the old man said it was called Silk. The dagger at the man's side had an overly ornate hilt, Victor thought it looked like it was made from some sort of bone, and inlaid with rubies. Even Nim's belt buckle looked as if it was made from Platinum. Victor knew that only the extremely wealthy could own an outfit made from that silk stuff, let alone have a platinum belt buckle. He decided he wasn't done messing with the man yet however, and whistled softly before saying, “Wow, that is a nice outfit. You must be the head servant.”
Nim had been strutting like a peacock a moment before, and his grin slipped when the words registered. The boy's face had the most innocent smile that Nim had ever seen on a humanoid being, and he knew the lad practiced it in a mirror regularly. If Nim hadn't already realized the boy was sharp he might have actually believed that Victor thought he was a servant. “Vic my friend,” he said with a laugh, “you are a
very dangerous person.”
Still holding his look of innocence Victor smiled, “I know.” That simple statement combined with that look of total innocence sent a chill down Nim's back.
Nim pointed down the road they were walking towards a two story Villa laid out along the cliff's edge. “That's my house Vic, one of the best I've got.” The house itself was beautiful, it had four columns lining the front entrance, for a entryway larger than most of the houses in the Docks District. Every window on the first floor had a box attached to the outside that contained different flowers in full bloom. There were fountains on both sides of the walkway up to the house, and several large shrubs cut into the shapes of various animals Victor had only read about. If it wasn't for the Winter chill Victor would have sworn it was spring time as they started down the walkway. Sitting on what Victor would call a porch on any other house were two figures that appeared to be sleeping. One appeared to be a pretty well built man in his prime, and the other Victor recognized.
“Shawnrik!” Victor Yelled.
Shawnrik awoke with a start, before looking around like he didn't know where he was before he remembered, and then saw who called his name. “Victor! You're alive! Ashur said you would be.”
“Yeah I did, now can everyone quit yellin'?” The man Shawnrik had referred to as Ashur said before taking the pillow behind his head and dropping it on his face, before mumbling, “Accursed Sun!”
Meanwhile Nim mouthed the word “Victor” quietly to himself, and shrugged.
“He seems a cheery sort… Of course I'm alive, but I had to keep waiting for this guy all night, I tell you what, if it hadn't of been for me he would have never got out of there.” Victor pointed at Nim, which caused the man to start laughing again.
Ashur's head shot up, pillow falling to the ground. “Wait a second, was that a laugh? An actual laugh? Not a maniacal chuckle, or even a halfhearted guffaw?”
Victor looked at Ashur curiously. “Yeah, he's been doing that all night.”
Ashur pretended like he was fainting. “Kid, if you can make him laugh, you're hired.” Ashur looked at Nim. “I haven't heard you laugh since Erin left. She could always make you laugh. Remember the time…”
“That's enough reminiscing for right now I think Ashur.” Nim said, his chipper mood suddenly soured. “Why don't we all go inside and get some rest, we can all talk later this afternoon.”
Victor and Shawnrik looked at each other and then looked at Nim, before they both asked in unison, “us, stay here?”
Nim looked at the boys, his mood lightening a bit once again. He chuckled. “Yes you can stay here, but you two really must take a bath before getting into one of my beds, and I have to get you both into better clothing. Ashur, why don't you tell the tailor to meet us on the back veranda at Mid-Afternoon?”
“Yes sir.” Ashur said with a mock salute. Then, in total sincerity he walked up to Nim and put a hand on his shoulder. “And might I say that it is good to hear you laugh again.” Then he ducked, acting as if Nim was about to swing at him, before he left to find the tailor.
“The maids should be up, I'll have them draw you boys a bath. They can even wash you if you'd like.” Nim watched both of the boys go as red as a ripe tomato. “No? Oh well, I'm sure they are probably busy anyway. Just remember that I gave you the opportunity.”
Nim walked up to the door, pulled out a key and unlocked the door. “Gentlemen, welcome to my home.” He opened the door and the boys both drew in air. Victor had seen quite a few mansions in his exploits, but he had never seen an entryway quite like the one at Nim's Villa. There was a staircase on both sides of the entrance leading up to the next level. Where the stairs led there was balcony that could probably hold fifty people comfortably. The floors were polished blue marble, and there was a giant chandelier hanging from the glass-domed ceiling. It appeared to be crystal, with rubies and sapphires sparkling throughout. There was a statue of a giant cat looking regal while standing over it's fallen prey. In front of the statue stood an older gentleman man in a black suit, and directly behind him were three women in black and white maid outfits. The man bowed and the three women behind him curtsied in unison.
“Good morning Master Nim. I see we have guests?” He looked at the boys with reproach, and Victor thought that might be the man's usual look. “So we are bringing home street urchins now Sir? Isn't Master Ashur bad enough Sir?” He quirked a brow, his well trimmed mustache twitched, it's color now more gray than the brown it once was.
Nim took the man's attitude in stride. “Thank you for the greeting Bartholomew, this is Victor, and Shawnrik. They will be staying with us for a while.” Nim pulled the manacles out of his pack and handed them to Bartholomew. “Here, put these in the safe room.”
“Very well sir.” Bartholomew said his tone dry. “Lia and Megan why don't you go draw these young men a bath?”
The two young women moved towards the boys. Victor and Shawnrik both realized immediately that the girls were half-elven twins, both rather striking. As far as the boys could tell at that moment, the girls were identical, except for the ribbons in their hair. Their Elven features were apparent throughout, having long limbs, and pointed ears. They both had long red hair, and green eyes. Victor thought they couldn't be a day over sixteen, if that.
“Shawnrik, please do close your mouth.” Nim said, a grin on his face.
The girl with the Blue ribbon in her hair walked up to Victor. “Hi I'm Lia.”
“Hi I'm Megan.” The other girl said, throwing a quick grin to her sister. The ribbon in her hair matching her eyes.
Both boys followed the two girls sedately, grinning like idiots.
As the twins led the boys up to their rooms Nim walked up to the third woman. “Jenn, why don't you see who our little friends work for. I'm fairly certain the little one is named Victor Deus, and the other one is Shawnrik, no last name given. They live in the Docks District. See if you can get the girls to coax it out of them through some lighthearted conversation. I think they will both be nervous enough to get some information out of.”
She looked at him, her piercing blue eyes displaying a keen intellect. She had a grip on her long blonde hair that flowed over her left shoulder. Intelligence was not the only thing that could be seen in those eyes to anyone who bothered to look at that moment however, they also possessed a deep admiration for the man in front of her. “Yes sir, I'll tell the girls while they are getting the boys some towels, and I'll head straight to the Docks afterward. You should have an answer by early evening.”
Being left alone in the foyer Nim looked up at the sculpture of a Lion standing over a deer that he had made himself. That's what he thought of himself as, an artist. Whether he was creating something, or dabbling in politics, finances, or martial activities, Nim was an artist. He thought about Victor and the potential he had seen in the boy, and how he could mold him for his own uses. It wasn't like the boy wouldn't benefit in the exchange, or that he had a malicious intent; It's just that he had learned long ago that you had to use people sometimes to get ahead in the world. He would teach Victor all that he knew about Politics, and finances, but he would also mold the boy into his own personal weapon. It's just the way that Nim's mind worked, and if the boy was who Nim thought he was, it was his right. She had said that he would be one of his teachers. Feeling exhausted from the night's outing, Nim went up to bed.
Chapter 5
Not So Rude Awakenings
Year 3043 AGD
Month: New Year
First Day
Continent of Terroval
City of Safeharbor
Cliff's End
Nim's Mansion
Shaylyn?” Victor asked, as he awoke in a soft warm bed, something soft and moist pressing into his forehead. No, not Shaylyn, she's been gone for over a year...
“Who's Shaylyn? Is she pretty?”
The voice was soft and melodic, but definitely not mature enough to be his old teacher. Victor's head shot into the air, suddenl
y wide awake. It took a moment for the previous nights adventure to run through his mind and remind him where he had gone to sleep. He was at Nim's Mansion, and directly to his left stood a beautiful young woman. The blue ribbon in her hair told Victor that it was Lia, and not her twin sister Megan. That was of course, assuming that the girls didn't switch ribbons occasionally to play tricks on people. He had been unable to notice any significant differences between the two young ladies in his few short encounters with the twins. It didn't help that his face had turned bright red whenever one of the two had caught him studying them either. She was wearing the same outfit as she had been when he had gone to sleep, which made sense, because it had been early morning at that time. Lia was holding a blue robe that looked a little too big for him, and yet it still looked like it would be comfy.
“She's the most beautiful woman I have ever met, but you're a close second.” Victor said, without hesitation, before smiling at the young maid. He really wasn't all that interested in girls yet, but Shaylyn had always told him, “Kindness has it's own rewards.”
“Aren't you just the cutest thing? If you were ten years older I'd make sure you believed those words.” She winked down at him and held the robe open for him to put on.
“Uh…” Victor eloquently stated as he realized that he was naked underneath the blanket. He had heard Bartholomew tell the girls to burn his and Shawnrik's clothes as soon as he had gotten into the tub. Lia rolled her eyes before tossing the robe on the bed and turning around. This gave Victor the chance to wrap the oversized robe around his body and tie it in place.
“It's the smallest one we could find…” She said talking to the wall, before turning her head slightly so that he could see the smile on her face as she continued. “… It's mine.”
Victor Deus (Heritage of the Blood Book 1) Page 11