Grim stood tall. As did both Lady Renise and I as we faced the armoured man on the open terrace.
Below us, the fire was still raging. A plume of smoke rose in the near distance, its black claws reaching into the night sky.
I imagined it was not the first time Grim had stood before a backdrop of smoke and fire. This man had the poise of a veteran. A soul scarred by warfare. Even among the soldiers tasked with the defence of the Royal Villa, few could boast stature like this man did.
He stood watchful, less like a knight and more a hound, his eyes alert for danger even as he faced a girl and a young woman whose combined weights didn't even match the mace that was digging into the tile beneath him.
“Lady Renise,” he said, his voice reverberating from within his thick helmet. “I heard you were dead.”
“Grim,” replied the noblewoman with the convoluted history. “I heard you were my father's trusted ally.”
“Then I suppose we both get to be disappointed. If it makes you feel any better, I took no enjoyment from betraying him.”
“Thank you. That makes me feel better.”
“Does it?”
“No.”
“Figures.”
Grim nodded … as he drank through a pink straw through one of the breathing holes in his black helmet.
Frrfffftttttttttt.
The sound of slurping pierced the solemn atmosphere.
Indeed, this man was dangerous. And not only for his weapon and armour.
Those were merely embellishments to his true strength. That of his experience. And his excellent sense for drama. Anyone with a tasteful knack for timing was a foe worth acknowledging.
However—
Frrrrrffffffftttttttttttttt.
It was all undone by the smoothie in his hand.
I wasn't certain what to feel more aghast by. The fact that a pink straw could tarnish such a powerful image of a monster of the battlefield so easily, or that Coppelia had paid out of her own pocket to ensure it would happen.
Coppelia, who I noticed, was not stood upon the terrace, facing the armoured veteran in an act of camaraderie with her princess or her client.
No, she was taking advantage of the fact we'd left our seats.
“How's the smoothie?” she asked, now happily monopolising the entire bench as she lay on her side across it. “It's a special. The stall keeper made it just for me~”
“It's excellent,” replied the deep, rumbling voice behind the helmet. “Not overly sweet, with a good amount of pulp and zest. The texture and citrus bite is indicative of its freshness.”
“Guess the fruit.”
“Grapes and mandarin?”
“Bzzzt! Wrong.”
Grim slurped from his straw again. As did Lady Renise, who was enjoying her second cup of orange and honey cocktail.
Two adversaries facing each other with keen, unyielding eyes.
One with a pink straw. The other with an orange and white twirly one.
A duel of wills destined for the storybooks.
“Why, Grim?” asked Lady Renise, her voice soft despite the firmness in her eyes. “You were my father's rock. The guild's rock. You held the shadow of the Thieves Guild at bay when they were in their ascendency. You fought and bled for us.”
“I fought. I didn't bleed. Daggers and knives fare poorly against 12 gauge hardened black steel. While my contributions aren't overstated, I'd prefer it if you didn't think I overly suffered for the cause.”
“Fear not. I do not think that for a moment.”
“Good.”
“Does your black steel also deflect questions? I asked for a reason. Why did you betray us?”
Grim shrugged.
“Everyone has a price. Mine was 10,000 gold crowns, a year's supply of Witschblume Red and a weapon from the Tolent armoury.”
“So, just business, then?”
“Just business. You know how it is.”
“... Unfortunately, I do.”
Lady Renise's shoulders fell as she turned her gaze to the fire burning below.
I was under no doubt from her expression that the cause of that fire was related to this conflict. An indication of the price of divisiveness. One that's paid for by the sweaty hands of peasants as they struggled to turn the city's wells upside down.
I took another sip from my orange and mint cocktail.
“So, you've come to kill me, I take it? Or will you just send me to bed, without hope of ever seeing the waking daylight again?”
“Actually, no. Your presence is an unexpected complication. I only came here to enjoy a refreshing beverage.”
“You're welcome~” called out Coppelia.
“The estate was too stuffy for me. All that pomp. All that gloating. To me, it's business. To others, it's pride. I wanted somewhere nice to see the stars.”
“Hard to do it in the lower districts, isn't it? What with the safehouses on fire.”
“Yeah, that.”
Lady Renise slurped the rest of her drink. As did Grim. There would be no more refills. The conclusion to this meeting would come soon.
“I don't suppose you'll be content to accept your business as complete and endeavour to enjoy the stars in peace?”
“Unfortunately, no. You're a liability. Especially since you're going around hiring adventurers. I would have demanded more if I had to personally take you into my custody. But unexpected duties are always the price of new contracts.”
“Then I suppose I need to offer you a new one.”
Somewhere, I could feel Grim scoffing behind that helmet.
“You would buy my loyalty again?”
“It's not your loyalty I desire, for you have none. It's your silence. Lady Lucina's scheming will come to an end. Take her coin as well as mine and leave. There are finer places in the world to witness the stars than from the bloodied streets of Reitzlake.”
“And how much would you offer for that silence?”
“When I've access to the treasury—”
“None,” said Grim simply. “A poor negotiating position. Especially if you won't use what you have on hand. I see the bag of crowns. Not enough for my loyalty. But enough for my silence. An hour's worth.”
Grim motioned his head towards the end of the market district. Beyond the rooftops, the city gates waited.
“You would do well to stretch that hour as far as you can,” he added.
Lady Renise shook her head. The firmness in eyes now matched her voice.
“These crowns are due for the adventurers beside me. I've seen their strength. They would be a match for any of Lady Lucina's stooges … even you, Grim.”
“Not an adventurer,” called out Coppelia. “Assistant librarian~”
Grim turned his gaze on me. There was a spark of interest in his dark eyes. The look of a hound who'd found a rabbit to stretch his bored legs.
“Then I suppose we'll just have to negotiate.”
“Oh?” I replied. “You would negotiate? With me?”
I raised my hand to my lips.
It was the most I did to hide my amusement at the obtuseness of the idea. Perhaps this man thought that the colour of his armour would obfuscate my ability to think as well.
Indeed, why should I negotiate, when there was no conflict to be feared? I wasn't in the business of charity.
“You may put your empty threats aside, Grim,” I said. “This is not the sewers you're so familiar with. We stand in the heart of the merchant's quarter, surrounded by some of the most cowardly people to live in this city. If you raise arms against us, they would call every guard in Reitzlake running to stop the disturbance.”
Grim shrugged. He downed the rest of his cup, then lifted his mace with one hand.
“I won't be long.”
I leaned away slightly from the very large mace. Unlike these two, I wasn't finished with my cup and didn't need it being swiped away.
Moreover, there was now the serious issue of this man being quite disregarding with my public image.
I had to avoid a conflict in the open. I was here to quench disorder, not cause more of it!
A confrontation in the heart of the merchant's quarter had to be prevented. These were the very same walking bags of coin ... I mean, people I needed to promote the royal capital's stability and security to!
Yet … the resolution in this man's eyes was clear. His loyalty could be bought. But what he sold, he delivered. A troublesome opponent.
“It's unseemly to fight in public,” I warned.
“It's also unseemly to betray one's closest friend,” he replied. “I'm flexible.”
I frowned, considering my limited options.
Indeed, if I couldn't swat him away into somebody's stall, then I had to utilise every morsel of my considerable diplomatic wit to make this man stand down.
However, as long as I displayed my full dignity as a princess, it should be fine! Violence begets violence! As long as I remained calm and serene as a spotted fawn grazing in the meadows, I would be able to charm this man into a peaceful withdrawal!
“Thanks for the drink,” he said, casually dropping his smoothie cup to the ground. “So, will you try to convince me to leave? Or will we get straight to the sharp end of our negotiations?”
I looked down at the cup rolling on the ground. A dribble of liquid seeped between the cracks in the tiles, feeding the weeds below.
In my mind, I saw a premonition of creeping thistles, stinging nettles and docks bursting to life, spreading as an irremovable layer of unwanted growth beneath the tiles.
After several moments, I sent my withering gaze towards the dark pupils behind that black visor.
“Pick it up.”
“What?”
“Littering is a serious offence. Retrieve the cup at once and dispose of it in the proper manner.”
Grim's eyes flashed with amusement.
“Really? That's what you're concerned about?”
“Yes. Pick it up.”
The man let out a chortle.
“Or what? You're going to arrest me?”
“No.” I stepped towards him, my hand going to my side. “I will ask you again, with slightly more diplomacy.”
“You can't be serious.”
I smiled.
“I am always serious.”
And then—
I drew Starlight Grace from its sheath.
Grim stood tall. As did both Lady Renise and I as we faced the armoured man on the open terrace.
Below us, the fire was still raging. A plume of smoke rose in the near distance, its black claws reaching into the night sky.
I imagined it was not the first time Grim had stood before a backdrop of smoke and fire. This man had the poise of a veteran. A soul scarred by warfare. Even among the soldiers tasked with the defence of the Royal Villa, few could boast stature like this man did.
He stood watchful, less like a knight and more a hound, his eyes alert for danger even as he faced a girl and a young woman whose combined weights didn't even match the mace that was digging into the tile beneath him.
“Lady Renise,” he said, his voice reverberating from within his thick helmet. “I heard you were dead.”
“Grim,” replied the noblewoman with the convoluted history. “I heard you were my father's trusted ally.”
“Then I suppose we both get to be disappointed. If it makes you feel any better, I took no enjoyment from betraying him.”
“Thank you. That makes me feel better.”
“Does it?”
“No.”
“Figures.”
Grim nodded … as he drank through a pink straw through one of the breathing holes in his black helmet.
Frrfffftttttttttt.
The sound of slurping pierced the solemn atmosphere.
Indeed, this man was dangerous. And not only for his weapon and armour.
Those were merely embellishments to his true strength. That of his experience. And his excellent sense for drama. Anyone with a tasteful knack for timing was a foe worth acknowledging.
However—
Frrrrrffffffftttttttttttttt.
It was all undone by the smoothie in his hand.
I wasn't certain what to feel more aghast by. The fact that a pink straw could tarnish such a powerful image of a monster of the battlefield so easily, or that Coppelia had paid out of her own pocket to ensure it would happen.
Coppelia, who I noticed, was not stood upon the terrace, facing the armoured veteran in an act of camaraderie with her princess or her client.
No, she was taking advantage of the fact we'd left our seats.
“How's the smoothie?” she asked, now happily monopolising the entire bench as she lay on her side across it. “It's a special. The stall keeper made it just for me~”
“It's excellent,” replied the deep, rumbling voice behind the helmet. “Not overly sweet, with a good amount of pulp and zest. The texture and citrus bite is indicative of its freshness.”
“Guess the fruit.”
“Grapes and mandarin?”
“Bzzzt! Wrong.”
Grim slurped from his straw again. As did Lady Renise, who was enjoying her second cup of orange and honey cocktail.
Two adversaries facing each other with keen, unyielding eyes.
One with a pink straw. The other with an orange and white twirly one.
A duel of wills destined for the storybooks.
“Why, Grim?” asked Lady Renise, her voice soft despite the firmness in her eyes. “You were my father's rock. The guild's rock. You held the shadow of the Thieves Guild at bay when they were in their ascendency. You fought and bled for us.”
“I fought. I didn't bleed. Daggers and knives fare poorly against 12 gauge hardened black steel. While my contributions aren't overstated, I'd prefer it if you didn't think I overly suffered for the cause.”
“Fear not. I do not think that for a moment.”
“Good.”
“Does your black steel also deflect questions? I asked for a reason. Why did you betray us?”
Grim shrugged.
“Everyone has a price. Mine was 10,000 gold crowns, a year's supply of Witschblume Red and a weapon from the Tolent armoury.”
“So, just business, then?”
“Just business. You know how it is.”
“... Unfortunately, I do.”
Lady Renise's shoulders fell as she turned her gaze to the fire burning below.
I was under no doubt from her expression that the cause of that fire was related to this conflict. An indication of the price of divisiveness. One that's paid for by the sweaty hands of peasants as they struggled to turn the city's wells upside down.
I took another sip from my orange and mint cocktail.
“So, you've come to kill me, I take it? Or will you just send me to bed, without hope of ever seeing the waking daylight again?”
“Actually, no. Your presence is an unexpected complication. I only came here to enjoy a refreshing beverage.”
“You're welcome~” called out Coppelia.
“The estate was too stuffy for me. All that pomp. All that gloating. To me, it's business. To others, it's pride. I wanted somewhere nice to see the stars.”
“Hard to do it in the lower districts, isn't it? What with the safehouses on fire.”
“Yeah, that.”
Lady Renise slurped the rest of her drink. As did Grim. There would be no more refills. The conclusion to this meeting would come soon.
“I don't suppose you'll be content to accept your business as complete and endeavour to enjoy the stars in peace?”
“Unfortunately, no. You're a liability. Especially since you're going around hiring adventurers. I would have demanded more if I had to personally take you into my custody. But unexpected duties are always the price of new contracts.”
“Then I suppose I need to offer you a new one.”
Somewhere, I could feel Grim scoffing behind that helmet.
“You would buy my loyalty again?”
“It's not your loyalty I desire, for you have none. It's your silence. Lady Lucina's scheming will come to an end. Take her coin as well as mine and leave. There are finer places in the world to witness the stars than from the bloodied streets of Reitzlake.”
“And how much would you offer for that silence?”
“When I've access to the treasury—”
“None,” said Grim simply. “A poor negotiating position. Especially if you won't use what you have on hand. I see the bag of crowns. Not enough for my loyalty. But enough for my silence. An hour's worth.”
Grim motioned his head towards the end of the market district. Beyond the rooftops, the city gates waited.
“You would do well to stretch that hour as far as you can,” he added.
Lady Renise shook her head. The firmness in eyes now matched her voice.
“These crowns are due for the adventurers beside me. I've seen their strength. They would be a match for any of Lady Lucina's stooges … even you, Grim.”
“Not an adventurer,” called out Coppelia. “Assistant librarian~”
Grim turned his gaze on me. There was a spark of interest in his dark eyes. The look of a hound who'd found a rabbit to stretch his bored legs.
“Then I suppose we'll just have to negotiate.”
“Oh?” I replied. “You would negotiate? With me?”
I raised my hand to my lips.
It was the most I did to hide my amusement at the obtuseness of the idea. Perhaps this man thought that the colour of his armour would obfuscate my ability to think as well.
Indeed, why should I negotiate, when there was no conflict to be feared? I wasn't in the business of charity.
“You may put your empty threats aside, Grim,” I said. “This is not the sewers you're so familiar with. We stand in the heart of the merchant's quarter, surrounded by some of the most cowardly people to live in this city. If you raise arms against us, they would call every guard in Reitzlake running to stop the disturbance.”
Grim shrugged. He downed the rest of his cup, then lifted his mace with one hand.
“I won't be long.”
I leaned away slightly from the very large mace. Unlike these two, I wasn't finished with my cup and didn't need it being swiped away.
Moreover, there was now the serious issue of this man being quite disregarding with my public image.
I had to avoid a conflict in the open. I was here to quench disorder, not cause more of it!
A confrontation in the heart of the merchant's quarter had to be prevented. These were the very same walking bags of coin ... I mean, people I needed to promote the royal capital's stability and security to!
Yet … the resolution in this man's eyes was clear. His loyalty could be bought. But what he sold, he delivered. A troublesome opponent.
“It's unseemly to fight in public,” I warned.
“It's also unseemly to betray one's closest friend,” he replied. “I'm flexible.”
I frowned, considering my limited options.
Indeed, if I couldn't swat him away into somebody's stall, then I had to utilise every morsel of my considerable diplomatic wit to make this man stand down.
However, as long as I displayed my full dignity as a princess, it should be fine! Violence begets violence! As long as I remained calm and serene as a spotted fawn grazing in the meadows, I would be able to charm this man into a peaceful withdrawal!
“Thanks for the drink,” he said, casually dropping his smoothie cup to the ground. “So, will you try to convince me to leave? Or will we get straight to the sharp end of our negotiations?”
I looked down at the cup rolling on the ground. A dribble of liquid seeped between the cracks in the tiles, feeding the weeds below.
In my mind, I saw a premonition of creeping thistles, stinging nettles and docks bursting to life, spreading as an irremovable layer of unwanted growth beneath the tiles.
After several moments, I sent my withering gaze towards the dark pupils behind that black visor.
“Pick it up.”
“What?”
“Littering is a serious offence. Retrieve the cup at once and dispose of it in the proper manner.”
Grim's eyes flashed with amusement.
“Really? That's what you're concerned about?”
“Yes. Pick it up.”
The man let out a chortle.
“Or what? You're going to arrest me?”
“No.” I stepped towards him, my hand going to my side. “I will ask you again, with slightly more diplomacy.”
“You can't be serious.”
I smiled.
“I am always serious.”
And then—
I drew Starlight Grace from its sheath.
