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Rogues Paid Gold: Riffraff and Runaways Ch.7
Riffraff and Runaways is the first in (hopefully) a number of book-length stories in what I am calling "Rogues Paid Gold". It is a fantasy story taking place in a world that I have been working to develop for over three years (and I'm still not done yet) I hope you enjoy it and are interested in going through the journey along with the characters.
Things are still in the drafting phase right now. This is by no means the final form of the chapter. Critique is more than welcome.
Other comments such as what worked and what you enjoyed are also a big help to the development of this project.
Chapter 1 can be found here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/47108770/
Chapter 2 can be found here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/48752162/
Chapter 3 can be found here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/49597363/
Chapter 4 can be found here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52304327/
Chapter 5 can be found here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/53094343/
Chapter 6 can be found here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/54478623/
Chapter 7
Daphne’s Refuge
A young deer, around thirteen years old, held the knife at the ready, but a dumbfounded expression contradicted his aggressive stance. A once-white, roughed-up shirt hung slightly too large for his lean frame and was paired with brown trousers tied to fit him with a length of rope. As if trying to hide within a bush of brown hair, the tips of two immature antlers poked through his scalp.
“Oh, uh, pardon me greatly, sirs and misses.” The deer brought his arms behind him to hide the knife from view, “I thought you were someone else, I did.”
“Eh, I’ve had ruder welcomes,” Amber said from behind Cade.
The deer scanned the group, his eyes growing into a wide gawk as he took in every detail of their attire. “Weapons? Equipment? You look like proper adventurers, you do. What’s it like, eh? Please tell me. That sword looks like it can cut down a whole army, it does. Have you ever...”
“Gabe, I told you children that you are not to open that door.” A stern female voice admonished from within, rushing pawsteps against wooden floorboards accompanying the frantic words. A tall, middle-aged vixen appeared from the interior and took hold of the deer’s arm. “You are to wait for me, not act on your…Oh, good evening.” The vixen unhanded the youth, pleasantry swiftly masking her authoritative tone upon noticing the company. She wiped her hand against her nice sapphire blue dress before straightening the glasses on her muzzle, clearing her throat.
“May I ask what brings you here at this hour?” She stood straight and proper, fingers pressed together at chest level, eyes looking down on the troop from behind the spectacles.
Cade removed his hood. “Apologies for the late-night disturbance, ma’am. I am called Cade. My companions and I have had quite the unfortunate night, leaving us weary and in need of shelter.”
“And who’s fault was that?” Amber snarled, prompting Syrus to clasp a hand around the desert fox’s muzzle.
“Of course. Come in, come in.” The vixen grabbed Cade’s arms, practically dragging him inside. “Great sun above, you lot must be chilled to the bone out there. No worries, I’ll make sure you are warmed up. Gabe, get a fire going for our guests, would you?”
The deer nodded before scampering off to do her bidding.
The light from newly ignited wood in the hearth joined that of scattered candles to reveal an interior mimicking that of a generic tavern. Large circular wooden tables accompanied by plentiful seating lined the floor in three vertical rows while a notice board standing along the left wall completed the crude attempt. To the left of the fireplace, at the far end of the great hall, a twisting wooden staircase spiraled to the level above. Beside the stairs stood a metal pole from which a small bell dangled at the top.
The vixen strode up to the bell, taking hold of the rope connected to the brass bauble and giving it a few swift pulls, filling the chamber with its shrill chiming.
“Up. Up, you all. We have company.”
The trampling of paws on floorboards thudded overhead. Before long, a multitude of children of varying ages and species began their hurried descent down the staircase. Filing into the hall, they stood with impeccable posture and attention in rows before the elderly fox. Fifteen in all, once Gabe joined the ranks, they gave off an air of rehearsed professionalism save for the weary blinking and quick eye rubbing of the youngest in attendance.
“Children.” The fox held her arms behind her back, striding back and forth in front of the youths, “Ensure that these travelers have their needs seen to. I want provisions brought to them and water drawn for washing. They’ll also need places prepared for the night.”
“Yes, Miss Daphne,” the children chanted in unison. The vixen clapped her hands twice, and the gathering dispersed in all directions to see to the tasks at hand.
“Sit down, I insist of you.” Placing her thin hands on Cade’s shoulders, Daphne nearly shoved him down into one of the chairs. While the others took their seats, two rabbit girls rushed by, placing food in front of each of the guests.
Cade eyed the culinary curiosity. A manner of cake, the weasel supposed, rested before him, constructed with a flat bottom and sides curved upwards to meet as a dome. A variety of seeds and nuts enveloped its form, fitting together like a puzzle so that no part of the surface lay uncovered.
“Leilani, Jasmine, wait,” Daphne said, her tone wrapped in authority. The two rabbits froze mid-step. A second of silence passed between them before they turned around to face the fox. Daphne approached them, harsh green eyes peering down at the pair from behind her glasses.
“Those aren’t fresh. You simply pulled them from the pantry shelves, didn’t you?”
The girls looked at the floor, heads drooping. One of them, the older looking out of the pair, stammered out a “Y-yes, Miss D-Daphne.”
The vixen shook her head. “These are our guests, girls. They deserve to have freshly prepared meals, don’t you think?”
A vicious rumbling from within his abdomen interrupted Cade’s attention on the scene. Throughout the day, his priorities were so stacked on top of one another that he never stopped to consider that his latest meal was before leaving for Swenborro in the late morning. Now at who-knows-what-hour at night, Cade took up the food before him.
“That won’t be necessary, miss, er, Daphne, is it? This’ll do just fine.”
At a separate table across the room, Amber tore at her portion, taking in extra mouthfuls before the previous bites could be properly chewed and swallowed.
“Yeah, what’s wrong with ya, lady?” Broken-up bits of food still packed in her mouth made her words hard to decipher.
Cade bit into his, surprised to find that his teeth sank into the hard amalgamation of an outer shell with more ease than suspected. In fact, it wasn’t a shell at all, nor did a cake lie beneath. The nuts and seeds that nearly made up the treat’s entire composition were not packed as dense as one would expect. A concoction of cream and honey held it together, presenting a delectable combination of sweet and salt to the weasel’s tongue.
“By the blade, that’s good,” a satisfied Cade said after scarfing down his first few bites.
Gabe piped up from his post at the fire. “We call it a mound of strength. All those nuts and seeds are just the thing to give you a kick of energy when you’re feeling drained, they are. Add cream made from the invigorating milk from the Pakra outside and these ensure that all the day’s work around here gets done.”
“Yes,” Syrus said, “and what kind of work goes on here, exactly.” The wolf’s gaze moved to rest on Daphne, hooded eyes piercing into the vixen’s own. “I see an establishment in the Outlands of all places housing several young ones. None of whom, I may add, look to be your own. So, forgive me for wanting to make sure the operations aren’t cause for concern.”
Daphne’s visage lay unwavering in the face of his scrutiny. “You seem to have knowledge of how this part of Aridesca operates, wolf. Therefore, you must also know how hard it is to make a comfortable life here in this king-forsaken land. All the misfortunes that might befall a child that would leave the young one wayward. What hope do you think they have? I’ve put in the effort to care for these children when nobody else will. I provide stability and safety for these unfortunates. But if you need verification of that, I suggest you travel along the nearby gorge. That’ll take you to Theosis in the mainlands where you can ask the sentries all about Daphne’s Refuge, and they can reiterate everything I have told you and more. Besides, I think I should be asking what you lot are doing with that child yourselves, hmmm?”
She pointed to the sleeping Elysia who slumped against the table. Syrus wrapped an arm around the mouse, pulling her in close.
“We were hired to bring her home,” Syrus said.
Cade stood from the table, “Yes, and as you can see, the girl requires a bed. I think that should be taken care of, if you would, miss.”
Daphne nodded and walked over to Elysia, but Syrus stood to impede her advance.
“I can take her. Just lead the way.”
Daphne exhaled before regaining her composure and giving Syrus a smile. “Very well. Come.” The smile dropped once she turned to lead him up the staircase. As Syrus carried her up, Elysia gave a slight murmur. She opened her eyes but soon returned to her peaceful state upon seeing the wolf’s face.
Cade eyed his companion. Syrus being the cautious type was no secret to him, but his behavior of late called for rumination. The wolf always put off action unless necessary, so to have Syrus insist that he be the one to take Elysia to bed contradicted his nature as far as Cade was concerned. He turned his attention to the remainder of his meal when a rustling came from inside his cloak.
Vlakas, now awake and catching the new scenery around him, bounded from the folds of the lowered hood, landing on the table. The dragon swiveled his neck, glancing around the room and taking in the sights and new faces of the children who gasped and shouted at the arrival of Vlakas’s obsidian body. Cade grasped for him, his fingers clutching empty space as the dragon scrambled off in the direction of the fire.
The younger children gave cries of fright while they fled from Vlakas’s path. Cade bounded from the table, reprimanding the dragon and hurling insults his way. Gabe, unlike his fellow residents, remained rooted at his position by the fire, holding a fire poker at the ready and staring intently at the creature in front of him. He watched the reptile’s sleek build as Vlakas stretched his back end out, chirping before summoning up an emerald aura around his scales. The young deer stepped back as the dragon’s size increased threefold, but his grip on the makeshift weapon remained firm. Vlakas flopped over on his side, producing a prolonged gurgling groan while the fire’s heat restored the warmth that the brisk air of the Aridescan night had robbed.
“Apologies, young one.” Cade made for the hearth, gripping the dragon around the loose, leathery skin of his neck. “You can’t just leave whenever you fancy it.” He drew close to Vlakas’s face. “Pull a stunt like that again, and we might get tossed back out on our tails.”
Vlakas shuffled his wings about, giving a chirp, before dragging his tongue along Cade’s face in a long, wet lick. Mocking laughter from Amber joined with the sound of Gabe’s mirth while Cade sputtered and wiped at dragon’s drool clinging to his fur.
“I can’t believe you own a real dragon.” Gabe’s voice quivered with enthusiasm. “You guys just get more and more impressive, you do. Never read about any who could change sizes like that, though.”
After salvaging his dignity, Cade stood up and glanced at the young deer who, in all the excitement, still held the fire poker poised for a strike.
“Put that down, lad. I won’t have you threatening my dragon.” An authoritative finger shot out at the iron instrument.
Gabe dropped the poker as if it scalded his flesh, muttering apologies with his head cast to the ground. He looked up when a hand fell on his shoulder to meet the face of the weasel.
“But I see you are the only one here who has any guts,” Cade said, sending a wink the lad’s way.
The creaking of wood sounded from above, and Daphne made her descent into the room followed closely by Syrus. The elderly vixen glanced over at the fireplace, raising an eyebrow at Cade upon noticing the addition of Vlakas. She opened her mouth as if to commence with an admonishment, but after lingering open for a moment, she closed her mouth and adjusted her glasses while clearing her throat.
“Your beds are all made up for you tonight. If any of you would like to wash up beforehand, I can show you to the place.”
Amber dismissed herself from her seat, taking up her sword, and walking over to the stairs. “Psh, no thanks. I’m gonna need all the sleep I can get. After what I’ve been through with these two, these beds better not be a pile of scat.” She brushed past the others, making a point to give Syrus a shove with her shoulder on her way up the stairs. “And no one touch my sword unless ya wanna git real personal with it.”
Daphne eyed Cade without turning to him, her face laden with disapproval. “Charming friend you’ve got.”
“Apologies, miss, but I keep her around for a reason.”
“Yes. Well, would any of you care for my offer? Forgive me for being forward, but your fur and gear seem to have collected much in the ways of…earth.”
“That’s very generous of you,” Syrus said, “but do you think it wise to be offering water for such a purpose to strangers during the dry season?”
“You’ll find that we are very comfortable here, wolf,” Daphne said. “There's a nearby gorge that serves as a natural basin during the wet season. Our well takes care of the rest.”
The room which Daphne led Cade to rested underneath the main building, accessed by a hatch in the floor that led into a basement that lay barren save for a wooden chest resting beside a substantial crater in a floor of rock. The vixen strode over to the wall and took hold of a metal ring affixed to it. The rock shifted as she pulled up, sliding the makeshift floodgate open and releasing a torrent of water that spilled from the cave wall and into the crater. Once satisfied with the volume of the pool, Daphne locked the gate back into place with a grinding slam before heading back to where Cade stood.
“You’ll find washcloths in the nearby chest,” she told him. “Once you’re done, you can make your way back up, and I’ll show you to your quarters for the night.”
Cade nodded, and Daphne made her exit. Once alone, he stripped himself to the fur and waded into the pool along with Vlakas, who followed his master in without hesitation. The dragon wasted no time in splashing and diving through the water, chirping with delight while Cade contrasted that enthusiasm by savoring the wetness against his bare fur. Though the temperature in the subterranean bath chilled him, he could not deny the satisfaction the refreshing liquid offered after his long day.
Slipping in near the far edge, Cade lowered himself into a seated position, allowing the water to envelop his body up to chest-level. He exhaled and leaned back, closing his eyes and tilting his head toward the basement roof. For an extended period, Cade kept his eyes closed, a slight smile on his face that did not waver even with the imbecilic splashing of Vlakas reverberating off the walls.
“Would you mind if I used this as well?”
Syrus stood at the opposite end of the pool with Kairi perched on his shoulder. Cade met the wolf’s question with a nonchalant handwave before leaning his head back once more. “Nah, make yourself comfortable, mate. Mind your proximity, though. Don’t make this weird for either of us.”
Cade’s eyes remained closed until the unbuckling of leather straps and gentle thudding of cast-off armor against the rocky floor gave way to the soft rippling of water. As the wolf lowered himself into the water, even in the dim light, Cade could make out a multitude of lines across Syrus’s body where his long fur refused to grow.
“How does a layabout as useless as you come to be marked by the blade so significantly?” Cade teased.
Syrus met his companions stab and fired back a verbal shot of his own. “I had a life before meeting you, as hard as that is for one such as you to comprehend.”
Cade scoffed. “True, but in the three years I’ve known you, I haven’t seen you do anything unprompted other than sleep. So, does your ‘mysterious past’ explain why you seem to be trying exceptionally hard to protect a mouse girl you barely know?”
Syrus’s ears perked before folding back against his head as he sunk lower into the bath. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Syrus.” The finger Cade pointed at him might as well have been a dagger against the throat. “You never fail to voice your displeasure when I tell you to see to anything that requires effort on your part, and you’d rather starve than go hunting. Now you’re taking it upon yourself to carry a tired child without instruction and personally seeing Elysia be put to bed when Daphne could have done it fine on her own. Feh, stick to archery, because you’re clearly not skilled in lying.”
Syrus closed his eyes and sighed. “With the perception of a Ranger why choose to become a Rogue?”
“Eh? Fortune decided she wanted to slap me across the face and spit in it for good measure. Had to adapt to the dagger I was leant and make use of what skills I possessed.” Cade leaned back against the rock, spreading his hands while giving a shrug. “Now, I’ve answered your question. When are you going to return the favor?”
Kairi hissed a warning from her perch on the stone rim upon picking up the weasel’s increasingly aggressive tone.
“Easy, girl. It’s alright.” Syrus placed a hand on the bird’s chest and caressed her throat feathers with his index finger.
“Fortune has been cruel to both of us,” the wolf said. His lips quivered as he fought against them beginning to pull back into a snarl. “I had to escort a kid before. Back in Fjordren.” He paused, stoic countenance restored and leaving silence except for the aquatic frolicking of Vlakas. In time, Syrus breathed out two words that gave way to a silence even more somber.
“I failed.”
Things are still in the drafting phase right now. This is by no means the final form of the chapter. Critique is more than welcome.
Other comments such as what worked and what you enjoyed are also a big help to the development of this project.
Chapter 1 can be found here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/47108770/
Chapter 2 can be found here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/48752162/
Chapter 3 can be found here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/49597363/
Chapter 4 can be found here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52304327/
Chapter 5 can be found here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/53094343/
Chapter 6 can be found here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/54478623/
Chapter 7
Daphne’s Refuge
A young deer, around thirteen years old, held the knife at the ready, but a dumbfounded expression contradicted his aggressive stance. A once-white, roughed-up shirt hung slightly too large for his lean frame and was paired with brown trousers tied to fit him with a length of rope. As if trying to hide within a bush of brown hair, the tips of two immature antlers poked through his scalp.
“Oh, uh, pardon me greatly, sirs and misses.” The deer brought his arms behind him to hide the knife from view, “I thought you were someone else, I did.”
“Eh, I’ve had ruder welcomes,” Amber said from behind Cade.
The deer scanned the group, his eyes growing into a wide gawk as he took in every detail of their attire. “Weapons? Equipment? You look like proper adventurers, you do. What’s it like, eh? Please tell me. That sword looks like it can cut down a whole army, it does. Have you ever...”
“Gabe, I told you children that you are not to open that door.” A stern female voice admonished from within, rushing pawsteps against wooden floorboards accompanying the frantic words. A tall, middle-aged vixen appeared from the interior and took hold of the deer’s arm. “You are to wait for me, not act on your…Oh, good evening.” The vixen unhanded the youth, pleasantry swiftly masking her authoritative tone upon noticing the company. She wiped her hand against her nice sapphire blue dress before straightening the glasses on her muzzle, clearing her throat.
“May I ask what brings you here at this hour?” She stood straight and proper, fingers pressed together at chest level, eyes looking down on the troop from behind the spectacles.
Cade removed his hood. “Apologies for the late-night disturbance, ma’am. I am called Cade. My companions and I have had quite the unfortunate night, leaving us weary and in need of shelter.”
“And who’s fault was that?” Amber snarled, prompting Syrus to clasp a hand around the desert fox’s muzzle.
“Of course. Come in, come in.” The vixen grabbed Cade’s arms, practically dragging him inside. “Great sun above, you lot must be chilled to the bone out there. No worries, I’ll make sure you are warmed up. Gabe, get a fire going for our guests, would you?”
The deer nodded before scampering off to do her bidding.
The light from newly ignited wood in the hearth joined that of scattered candles to reveal an interior mimicking that of a generic tavern. Large circular wooden tables accompanied by plentiful seating lined the floor in three vertical rows while a notice board standing along the left wall completed the crude attempt. To the left of the fireplace, at the far end of the great hall, a twisting wooden staircase spiraled to the level above. Beside the stairs stood a metal pole from which a small bell dangled at the top.
The vixen strode up to the bell, taking hold of the rope connected to the brass bauble and giving it a few swift pulls, filling the chamber with its shrill chiming.
“Up. Up, you all. We have company.”
The trampling of paws on floorboards thudded overhead. Before long, a multitude of children of varying ages and species began their hurried descent down the staircase. Filing into the hall, they stood with impeccable posture and attention in rows before the elderly fox. Fifteen in all, once Gabe joined the ranks, they gave off an air of rehearsed professionalism save for the weary blinking and quick eye rubbing of the youngest in attendance.
“Children.” The fox held her arms behind her back, striding back and forth in front of the youths, “Ensure that these travelers have their needs seen to. I want provisions brought to them and water drawn for washing. They’ll also need places prepared for the night.”
“Yes, Miss Daphne,” the children chanted in unison. The vixen clapped her hands twice, and the gathering dispersed in all directions to see to the tasks at hand.
“Sit down, I insist of you.” Placing her thin hands on Cade’s shoulders, Daphne nearly shoved him down into one of the chairs. While the others took their seats, two rabbit girls rushed by, placing food in front of each of the guests.
Cade eyed the culinary curiosity. A manner of cake, the weasel supposed, rested before him, constructed with a flat bottom and sides curved upwards to meet as a dome. A variety of seeds and nuts enveloped its form, fitting together like a puzzle so that no part of the surface lay uncovered.
“Leilani, Jasmine, wait,” Daphne said, her tone wrapped in authority. The two rabbits froze mid-step. A second of silence passed between them before they turned around to face the fox. Daphne approached them, harsh green eyes peering down at the pair from behind her glasses.
“Those aren’t fresh. You simply pulled them from the pantry shelves, didn’t you?”
The girls looked at the floor, heads drooping. One of them, the older looking out of the pair, stammered out a “Y-yes, Miss D-Daphne.”
The vixen shook her head. “These are our guests, girls. They deserve to have freshly prepared meals, don’t you think?”
A vicious rumbling from within his abdomen interrupted Cade’s attention on the scene. Throughout the day, his priorities were so stacked on top of one another that he never stopped to consider that his latest meal was before leaving for Swenborro in the late morning. Now at who-knows-what-hour at night, Cade took up the food before him.
“That won’t be necessary, miss, er, Daphne, is it? This’ll do just fine.”
At a separate table across the room, Amber tore at her portion, taking in extra mouthfuls before the previous bites could be properly chewed and swallowed.
“Yeah, what’s wrong with ya, lady?” Broken-up bits of food still packed in her mouth made her words hard to decipher.
Cade bit into his, surprised to find that his teeth sank into the hard amalgamation of an outer shell with more ease than suspected. In fact, it wasn’t a shell at all, nor did a cake lie beneath. The nuts and seeds that nearly made up the treat’s entire composition were not packed as dense as one would expect. A concoction of cream and honey held it together, presenting a delectable combination of sweet and salt to the weasel’s tongue.
“By the blade, that’s good,” a satisfied Cade said after scarfing down his first few bites.
Gabe piped up from his post at the fire. “We call it a mound of strength. All those nuts and seeds are just the thing to give you a kick of energy when you’re feeling drained, they are. Add cream made from the invigorating milk from the Pakra outside and these ensure that all the day’s work around here gets done.”
“Yes,” Syrus said, “and what kind of work goes on here, exactly.” The wolf’s gaze moved to rest on Daphne, hooded eyes piercing into the vixen’s own. “I see an establishment in the Outlands of all places housing several young ones. None of whom, I may add, look to be your own. So, forgive me for wanting to make sure the operations aren’t cause for concern.”
Daphne’s visage lay unwavering in the face of his scrutiny. “You seem to have knowledge of how this part of Aridesca operates, wolf. Therefore, you must also know how hard it is to make a comfortable life here in this king-forsaken land. All the misfortunes that might befall a child that would leave the young one wayward. What hope do you think they have? I’ve put in the effort to care for these children when nobody else will. I provide stability and safety for these unfortunates. But if you need verification of that, I suggest you travel along the nearby gorge. That’ll take you to Theosis in the mainlands where you can ask the sentries all about Daphne’s Refuge, and they can reiterate everything I have told you and more. Besides, I think I should be asking what you lot are doing with that child yourselves, hmmm?”
She pointed to the sleeping Elysia who slumped against the table. Syrus wrapped an arm around the mouse, pulling her in close.
“We were hired to bring her home,” Syrus said.
Cade stood from the table, “Yes, and as you can see, the girl requires a bed. I think that should be taken care of, if you would, miss.”
Daphne nodded and walked over to Elysia, but Syrus stood to impede her advance.
“I can take her. Just lead the way.”
Daphne exhaled before regaining her composure and giving Syrus a smile. “Very well. Come.” The smile dropped once she turned to lead him up the staircase. As Syrus carried her up, Elysia gave a slight murmur. She opened her eyes but soon returned to her peaceful state upon seeing the wolf’s face.
Cade eyed his companion. Syrus being the cautious type was no secret to him, but his behavior of late called for rumination. The wolf always put off action unless necessary, so to have Syrus insist that he be the one to take Elysia to bed contradicted his nature as far as Cade was concerned. He turned his attention to the remainder of his meal when a rustling came from inside his cloak.
Vlakas, now awake and catching the new scenery around him, bounded from the folds of the lowered hood, landing on the table. The dragon swiveled his neck, glancing around the room and taking in the sights and new faces of the children who gasped and shouted at the arrival of Vlakas’s obsidian body. Cade grasped for him, his fingers clutching empty space as the dragon scrambled off in the direction of the fire.
The younger children gave cries of fright while they fled from Vlakas’s path. Cade bounded from the table, reprimanding the dragon and hurling insults his way. Gabe, unlike his fellow residents, remained rooted at his position by the fire, holding a fire poker at the ready and staring intently at the creature in front of him. He watched the reptile’s sleek build as Vlakas stretched his back end out, chirping before summoning up an emerald aura around his scales. The young deer stepped back as the dragon’s size increased threefold, but his grip on the makeshift weapon remained firm. Vlakas flopped over on his side, producing a prolonged gurgling groan while the fire’s heat restored the warmth that the brisk air of the Aridescan night had robbed.
“Apologies, young one.” Cade made for the hearth, gripping the dragon around the loose, leathery skin of his neck. “You can’t just leave whenever you fancy it.” He drew close to Vlakas’s face. “Pull a stunt like that again, and we might get tossed back out on our tails.”
Vlakas shuffled his wings about, giving a chirp, before dragging his tongue along Cade’s face in a long, wet lick. Mocking laughter from Amber joined with the sound of Gabe’s mirth while Cade sputtered and wiped at dragon’s drool clinging to his fur.
“I can’t believe you own a real dragon.” Gabe’s voice quivered with enthusiasm. “You guys just get more and more impressive, you do. Never read about any who could change sizes like that, though.”
After salvaging his dignity, Cade stood up and glanced at the young deer who, in all the excitement, still held the fire poker poised for a strike.
“Put that down, lad. I won’t have you threatening my dragon.” An authoritative finger shot out at the iron instrument.
Gabe dropped the poker as if it scalded his flesh, muttering apologies with his head cast to the ground. He looked up when a hand fell on his shoulder to meet the face of the weasel.
“But I see you are the only one here who has any guts,” Cade said, sending a wink the lad’s way.
The creaking of wood sounded from above, and Daphne made her descent into the room followed closely by Syrus. The elderly vixen glanced over at the fireplace, raising an eyebrow at Cade upon noticing the addition of Vlakas. She opened her mouth as if to commence with an admonishment, but after lingering open for a moment, she closed her mouth and adjusted her glasses while clearing her throat.
“Your beds are all made up for you tonight. If any of you would like to wash up beforehand, I can show you to the place.”
Amber dismissed herself from her seat, taking up her sword, and walking over to the stairs. “Psh, no thanks. I’m gonna need all the sleep I can get. After what I’ve been through with these two, these beds better not be a pile of scat.” She brushed past the others, making a point to give Syrus a shove with her shoulder on her way up the stairs. “And no one touch my sword unless ya wanna git real personal with it.”
Daphne eyed Cade without turning to him, her face laden with disapproval. “Charming friend you’ve got.”
“Apologies, miss, but I keep her around for a reason.”
“Yes. Well, would any of you care for my offer? Forgive me for being forward, but your fur and gear seem to have collected much in the ways of…earth.”
“That’s very generous of you,” Syrus said, “but do you think it wise to be offering water for such a purpose to strangers during the dry season?”
“You’ll find that we are very comfortable here, wolf,” Daphne said. “There's a nearby gorge that serves as a natural basin during the wet season. Our well takes care of the rest.”
The room which Daphne led Cade to rested underneath the main building, accessed by a hatch in the floor that led into a basement that lay barren save for a wooden chest resting beside a substantial crater in a floor of rock. The vixen strode over to the wall and took hold of a metal ring affixed to it. The rock shifted as she pulled up, sliding the makeshift floodgate open and releasing a torrent of water that spilled from the cave wall and into the crater. Once satisfied with the volume of the pool, Daphne locked the gate back into place with a grinding slam before heading back to where Cade stood.
“You’ll find washcloths in the nearby chest,” she told him. “Once you’re done, you can make your way back up, and I’ll show you to your quarters for the night.”
Cade nodded, and Daphne made her exit. Once alone, he stripped himself to the fur and waded into the pool along with Vlakas, who followed his master in without hesitation. The dragon wasted no time in splashing and diving through the water, chirping with delight while Cade contrasted that enthusiasm by savoring the wetness against his bare fur. Though the temperature in the subterranean bath chilled him, he could not deny the satisfaction the refreshing liquid offered after his long day.
Slipping in near the far edge, Cade lowered himself into a seated position, allowing the water to envelop his body up to chest-level. He exhaled and leaned back, closing his eyes and tilting his head toward the basement roof. For an extended period, Cade kept his eyes closed, a slight smile on his face that did not waver even with the imbecilic splashing of Vlakas reverberating off the walls.
“Would you mind if I used this as well?”
Syrus stood at the opposite end of the pool with Kairi perched on his shoulder. Cade met the wolf’s question with a nonchalant handwave before leaning his head back once more. “Nah, make yourself comfortable, mate. Mind your proximity, though. Don’t make this weird for either of us.”
Cade’s eyes remained closed until the unbuckling of leather straps and gentle thudding of cast-off armor against the rocky floor gave way to the soft rippling of water. As the wolf lowered himself into the water, even in the dim light, Cade could make out a multitude of lines across Syrus’s body where his long fur refused to grow.
“How does a layabout as useless as you come to be marked by the blade so significantly?” Cade teased.
Syrus met his companions stab and fired back a verbal shot of his own. “I had a life before meeting you, as hard as that is for one such as you to comprehend.”
Cade scoffed. “True, but in the three years I’ve known you, I haven’t seen you do anything unprompted other than sleep. So, does your ‘mysterious past’ explain why you seem to be trying exceptionally hard to protect a mouse girl you barely know?”
Syrus’s ears perked before folding back against his head as he sunk lower into the bath. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Syrus.” The finger Cade pointed at him might as well have been a dagger against the throat. “You never fail to voice your displeasure when I tell you to see to anything that requires effort on your part, and you’d rather starve than go hunting. Now you’re taking it upon yourself to carry a tired child without instruction and personally seeing Elysia be put to bed when Daphne could have done it fine on her own. Feh, stick to archery, because you’re clearly not skilled in lying.”
Syrus closed his eyes and sighed. “With the perception of a Ranger why choose to become a Rogue?”
“Eh? Fortune decided she wanted to slap me across the face and spit in it for good measure. Had to adapt to the dagger I was leant and make use of what skills I possessed.” Cade leaned back against the rock, spreading his hands while giving a shrug. “Now, I’ve answered your question. When are you going to return the favor?”
Kairi hissed a warning from her perch on the stone rim upon picking up the weasel’s increasingly aggressive tone.
“Easy, girl. It’s alright.” Syrus placed a hand on the bird’s chest and caressed her throat feathers with his index finger.
“Fortune has been cruel to both of us,” the wolf said. His lips quivered as he fought against them beginning to pull back into a snarl. “I had to escort a kid before. Back in Fjordren.” He paused, stoic countenance restored and leaving silence except for the aquatic frolicking of Vlakas. In time, Syrus breathed out two words that gave way to a silence even more somber.
“I failed.”
Category Story / Fantasy
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 50 x 50px
File Size 21.9 kB
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