by Jacob White
“I’m sorry for the accommodations. We never really had the need for more. I can sleep outside if you want so you can have to room to yourself?”.
“It’s perfect. Don’t be ridiculous. We both know what the other has, and I’m grateful it’s not the same.” As she looked to my waist. She could see that I picked up on her joke a bit too late and just rolled her eyes when I laughed.
“Come, I’ll take you to our tubs and show you the kitchen.” She followed and took in the rest as tour continued. Once we stepped into the small sleeping chamber, she pushed the beds together. She fell asleep after she had made us some food. I couldn’t help but look at the bed and miss Anna. I pushed the thought out of my mind and fell asleep after the long emotional day. I was just thankful that I didn’t make any more women cry that day.
We both woke up to the door being pushed aside and Anna walking through.
“Oh! Weaver, I’m sorry…” Her eyes widened with her arms rigged at her sides. Her feet made small steps trying to decide to stay or not making her turn slightly back and forth towards me.
“No, no, it’s fine. This is Les. Les, this is Anna.” Les stood in her night slip hardly covering anything in the light material. She and nodded to Anna and held out a hand.
“I'm pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Anna said tartly.
“Weaver, could I please talk to you outside for a moment?” She gave Les another look up and down. “Please?”
“Of course, give me a moment.” Anna left the room as fast as she came in. I put on some simple clothing to cover up with hoping she wasn’t going to lead me outside into the cold. I kissed Les and left with a smile. I walked out to the main room as Anna waited at a table. I was fast to notice two men were sitting in a far corner of the chamber. Both equipped with enough weapons to fight the gods themselves. They both acknowledged me as I sat down with Anna.
“Umm… Anna... what the hell are two armed men casually staring at me for?” I whispered to her.
“I brought them.” She said as if it was enough explanation. My blank face said otherwise. She rolled her eyes.
“The money you gave me wasn’t only wasted on the healers, I took it upon myself to hire these two men to help guard the Yezmon. I’m sure you have noticed my absence a bit over the past months.” I gave her a grunt of understanding.
“I was meeting with them negotiating a set price for their services. When I got the money, I instantly knew how to use it. I assumed you wouldn’t want Edmund’s money going to waste.” She said with a proud smile, but I just continued to give her a blank stare.
“Well, how long does the Yezmon have their, um… protection?”
“About two years. I figured that would be enough time for things to settle out. If not, you can cross that bridge when you come to it.” I wasn’t expecting to hear that, maybe a month but two years. The thought made me a bit reassured. As if they heard their names called, they both stood up and walked over. Not wanting to be looked down on, I stood as they came over. It didn’t do any good as I found myself craning my neck upwards to a burly man that was a head taller than me and twice as wide. I wasn’t considered to be short, but losing my thought, the one on the left who was my same height introduced himself as Dirk. He had light blond hair going to his ears and kept in a messily heap but trimmed enough to show he cared how it looked. He was skinnier than the other guard but was still taut with muscle. There were several knifes adorned to his body with a single sword hilt inching past his shoulder from the back. His crooked nose was easily seen past his full smile. He gave off an impression that I could instantly trust the man but at the same time watch my coin. His leather jerkin didn’t cover his underarms I assumed not to not restrict movement.
“So, as a member of this auspicious establishment, does one receive a bonus of the way of the warm comfort of a lady?” I looked at him with squinted eyes. Anna was the first to answer.
“No, you over sized bitch in heat. Unless you have the money to partake, but then you wouldn’t be guarding, now would you?”
The other man snorted. He was the one I was frightened of; he was bigger than Dirk, and had a shaved head. He carried an axe on his right side and a thick sword on the other. I could see he was the silent type but no less frightening thanks to a scar running from his top head, which curved around his ear to his bottom jaw line. I could still see the small hole scars that the needle had made. His dress was mostly the same, but I could see it was a bit thicker. It didn’t quite close at the top as his chest hairs escaped the top.
“This here is my companion of many words, Ralph. But fear not, he is as gentle as a flower.” At that mention, Ralph picked up his axe and threw it between two bottles behind the bar. All I could manage was a sigh.
“That was my favorite wall.” I said towards Ralph, and he shrugged and went to receive his axe.
“Well, Anna I’d say thank you if I wasn’t worried that my girls would become pregnant, and my walls littered with holes as the year comes around.” Both men laughed at that comment. Anna only looked them down with her fierce scowl.
“Please, Weaver, use them, if not for the Yezmon then for me.” I couldn’t argue with logic no matter how bad I wanted.
“Sure, if anything it will bring relief to the girls.” I turned to Dirk. “Relief as in protection.” Dirk’s grin only grew. The two men then walked back to the corner and sat down to give Anna and me some privacy. “Do you have to head off now?”
“Yes… I wouldn’t want to impose on your company.” She said as she looked away.
“Les? She would hardly care. Do you want something to eat?”
“No, it's fine, really.” Her demeanor suddenly changed as she noticed Les coming from behind where our room was situated. Her balance shifted from one side to the next and face grew a bit less friendly “I should go.”
“Anna, what you should do is not be rude and make another introduction.” Dirk said after he found his way back to us and went on a knee before Les. I’m not sure he saw the graphic gesture of Anna’s hand going through what I perceived as his backside.
“My fair maiden, where have you been all the past years? I feel as though my life is complete now that I have only been able to see your face.” He gently held her hand as Les leaned down a bit.
“My fair knight, your words do me a great honor, but now that your life is complete I fear that you shall die. Alas, I cannot commit myself.” she took her hand away as her face filled with slight victory over the man.
“I am wounded,” he said as he laid on the wooden floor holding his heart. Ralph and I could not contain our laughter, and even Anna had a slight smile on her face.
“Well I should go. I’ll write if I can.” Once again, she flung her arms around me, and kissed me on the cheek, and whispered ‘I love you’ just loud enough so Les and I could hear. She walked towards the door and opened it, looking as though she might never see the place again. She took another good look around and then looked back to me. At that exact moment, Les slipped her hand into mine and smiled but said nothing. Anna gave a grunt of frustration and stormed out.
“What was that for?”
“I don’t think she likes me very much.” Les said.
“You need not worry about that love. As long as I am around my dear. I shall not let you down.” Dirk yelled from across the room with a smile. Les ignored him, and placed a kiss on my lips, and walked behind the bar. “My heart breaks…”
“Good,” was all I could manage as I looked back to Les, who was now pointing at the hole behind the bar.
“Ask Ralph or the big one.” Ralph replied with one word, ’rat’ as if it explained everything. Les mouthed ‘okay’ and continued to fill mugs with ale and headed to the back corner.
“Weaver, I think we should get to know our new guests.” I felt no urge to mingle but I did and began to get to know our new residents.
CHAPTER SIX
Weaver's Threat
We opened our doo
rs, but before we could introduce our new additions, Dirk was racing around the room, kissing each woman’s hand. He assured them it was his sacred duty to protect them. What took me by surprise is that most of them bought into it, swooning at his lite light kisses at their hands.
“Do not let that brute of a man scare you. He is simply here to assist my efforts in protecting you all.” He pointed to an emotionless Ralph.
“What if I wanted more of the scary man?” Flo said to surprised faces “What?” Ralph quickly averted his gaze to the group. I was lucky enough to have Les by my side, so we could roll our eyes together at Dirks antics.
Half-way through the night, Les came up to me to make some small talk, and it was quite relaxing considering I had dealt with usual complaints.
“How do you think my introduction went?”
“Hardly an introduction, I was just letting them know who you are. The rest is up to you. I figured you would want to earn your own reputation, your own way, considering your last job.” I caught the smirk, so I reassured her. “I meant no offense, only that your last job didn’t offer too many freedoms, and I wanted you to have those.” I couldn’t help but smile when she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Before you go back to your work, can I ask about you and Anna?”
“What about?”
“How long have you known one another?” She inquired.
“Hmm… Since I was in my tenth year.” I then went told her of the story of finding Anna in the ally, pleading to my mother and her story leading up until now.
“Were you two ever…”
“Together?” She nodded.
“Several times. Almost every night.” Her eyes widened
“You told me you hadn’t.”
“I haven’t been with a woman. We just slept in the same back room.” I smiled at my own jest. Only to receive a cloth pitched at my head. “No, we haven’t. I always felt like she was family.” She must have been satisfied as she placed another kiss on my cheek and made her rounds clearing tables.
* * *
The next few weeks went by just as fast as they came. We were all settling in together well enough. But I could never have the good without the bad. Edmond walked through my doors as if he owned the place. He looked around and saw Les then instantly dropped his fake smile and mulled his way over. Ralph and Dirk exchanged glances. Ralph was already standing and Dirk standing from another table.
“Hello, boy. I had heard you were back and recovering from your... adventure. Then, much to my surprise, I heard my daughter’s debt had been paid off and here she lies. My own darling daughter with you behind the bar.” He turned his head to meet her gaze. Les looked away as if she was ashamed.
“Yes, she is here. If you have been following me around like the petty man you are, then you already know Anna has left and I needed a set of extra hands.” Just to push the limits a bit, I added, “And, Edmond, those hands are exquisite, I couldn’t have imagined you could make something so beautiful.”
I looked toward Les and could see her flushed face and a small smile as she looked away. I turned my head only to meet a slap across my face. Les gasped. Edmund’s voice began to hiss softly as if his message would be better received.
“You dare disrespect me, boy, she has a debt to be paid to me. Who are you to meddle in such affairs.” His head so much closer now I could smell his rank breath. Amazingly without gagging I looked up and saw Dirk sneaking from behind with a dagger. I gave him a slight nod to back him off. He obliged but kept a hand on a knife as he went to a better vantage point on the wall. “I would think you would have gained some smarts with our last meeting, but it seems not. I guess another is in order… to help with your education.” He snarled through his teeth.
I stopped leaning on the bar, and stood straight up, and motioned for the music to be started again as the room had gone silent. Thankfully as fast as the attention came, it had left again from prying eyes. Edmund’s eyes met Les’s own.
“You. Get over here, you worthless whore. I’m sure you cost me, even more money now that you have run off from Edgar.”
“Yes, papa.” She slowly made her way from behind the bar and received a backhanded slap to match mine.
“Edmund!” I yelled as his face immediately swung back to mine. “I have taken her debt as my own, so she is in my care now. You would do well to remember that.”
“If you think she can stay—”
“Shut your damn mouth!” His face froze in shock. “I have let you hit me, my girls, my girl.” I threw my head at Les. He grimaced at the last phrase. “But I warn you, if you touch her or anyone else under my care again. I will cut off a finger, then if you are stupid and dimwitted as I think you are and do it again, I will cut off an ear. Now, if it happens a third time, you pay with your life.” Annoyingly, a sardonic smirk lit his face.
“Well, it seems you do have a pair, after all, boy—” I cut him off.
“Also, if you call me ‘boy’ one more time or any other time I will ensure your nose is broken for the rest of your life, if you are still alive that is. Do you understand?” Before I could blink, he grabbed my collar.
“Now that you have said your piece. Boy!” He screamed. “You will hear mine.”
First mistake.
“I am going to burn this entire place down if you so much as think about talking to me like that again.” Les must have seen it before I did because she was wrapped up in Edmund’s' arm preventing him from hitting me. He got loose and slapped Les again.”
Second.
I motioned Dirk towards me. Edmund’s guards must have seen as they got up from the table but found themselves facing off with the silent giant. He simply unsheathed his axe to intimidate them. One was stupid enough to throw a punch, but Ralph just caught it and broke the man’s wrist, as the screaming began.
“Quiet!” I screamed, coming out a bit higher than I intended but the effect was still the same. Everything stilled. “I wish you all to witness this. I gave this foul creature fair warning of what would happen if he hit mine. Let it be known: I don't offer empty threats. Dirk, if you would be so kind.”
Dirk was there so fast it almost came across as magical. Edmund’s face and hands were pinned to the bar. “Like I said, you’re an idiot and did exactly what I said you going to do. Maybe I should also add free ‘seer’ services to the Yezmon’s description. However, now that everyone is watching I can’t go back on my word, can I?”
Dirk slammed a knife blade first into the bar. It teetered back and forth waiting for my hand. Being the dramatic person, I am I waited. I let Edmund look at it as it shifted back and forth. Dirks' face crept up with a smile as he caught on to my ploy. I slowly grasped the hilt. It turned quickly into heaving as my initial tug didn’t release it. With some embarrassing effort I finally pulled the knife out of the bar. Spit was seeped out of Edmund’s mouth like a rabid dog.
“Why are you so quiet now? Is it fear? Regret? Or planning something stupid to try again?”
“Fine! You win, I’ll go.”
“What’s my name? Is it still boy?”
“You bloody hell no know it isn’t. Let me go.” His usual false demeanor was gone completely now, only replaced with anger and fear.
“Sure, but first I will take what is due, I know how important debts are to you.”
“You son of a wh—” was all he managed to get out after I the knife slid into his pinky finger severing it. Blood squirt out, and it was all I could notice over the hushed whispers and Edmund’s screams.
I put my face near his. “Hmm, I’m not sure that was the best argument you could have made.”
His eyes lost all resemblance of sanity. “You will die. You won’t even see or hear it coming, you piece of shit!”
“Poor choice of words again, my friend. I might not hear you coming, but I’ll always know to sneak up on your right side.” Before he could say anything else, I grabbed his ear and sliced it clean off, only for the room to fill with
screams once again.
“Weaver, I like to think of us as friends. I can’t be if you continue bad jests like that. Just thought you should know.” Dirk said.
“I cut his right ear off… he said you wouldn't hear… never mind.” I sighed. “Now get out of here.” I threw a copper coin at him. “For the healers.”
Dirk let him up and only took one step back. Edmund tried to turn and run out. “Wait!” I saw the contempt in his eyes as he tried to prevent the blood from leaving his head. Keeping his gaze, the whole time, I walked up to him from behind the bar and punched his nose as hard as I could. As I connected, the bones snapped against the pressure. Blood pooled down his face but not without damage to my own hand.
“For the whole ‘boy’ part of our one-sided agreement.” He looked at me after composing himself.
“You enjoy this. I am coming for you and your entire existence will be purged from this world. This is no threat but an oath.”
“Well use the blood your leaking everywhere to seal your oath with, then get out.” Ralph threw the other two along with him. I was back behind the bar and looked out at all the shocked faces. I tried to keep a brave face as adrenaline ran threw me. I had to put my hands in my pockets to prevent them from shaking.
“What have I done?”
“Why are you all just staring at me when there are free drinks going around!” The band started playing, and cheers joining in.
I walked over to Les, and she flinched at my touch. I attempted to face her much slower, and gently this time, turning her towards me. She allowed the touch but kept looking away. I cupped her chin and made her meet my gaze.