Page 32 of By the Horns
“Help me with what?”
I shrug. “Whatever you like. I can teach you the basics of Old Prellian glyphs. I don’t know many, mind you, but most artificers don’t. You just need to know some of the more common ones that you might run across scribed onto old buildings or on walls. I can assist you with training. Whatever you feel you need to brush up on, I can work with you. I don’t mind.”
She pauses, blinking up at me. “You’d help me with all of that?”
“Of course. It’d probably be on the weekends, since that’s our only free time.” I rub my chin, thinking. “Well, not this weekend, of course. There’s the wedding for Master Siskin and his partner, Tern. Everyone’s going…well, except Master Jay, but that’s just how Master Jay is.”
“Not everyone. I wasn’t invited to a wedding.”
Ah. I suppose I was the only fledgling who was invited. Tern is friendly with the Taurians in town, and I’ve worked with him several times on a variety of rescue missions. He probably didn’t think about my status when he invited me. “You can come with me. No one will think twice if I bring a date.”
Gwenna’s expression changes to a withering look. “Is this another bout of you flirting?”
Her wariness makes me choose my words carefully. “No, this is me suggesting you show up at my side so we can check out what you’re up against.”
Some of the tension in her frame eases. “What do you mean, what I’m up against?”
“We see which masters act offended because you’re female. We see which ones treat you like anyone else. We see if any repeaters or fledglings are invited and how they act. We chat with the masters and see what they say their teams are good at. In short, we collect information on everyone. Because we’re not going to be scouring the streets endlessly. After a few more weeks of preliminary training, we’re going to be doing team exercises, and then we’ll be pitted against the fledgling teams of other masters. Wouldn’t you rather know what to expect so you can train properly?”
She pauses, thinking. “I don’t have much in the way of dressy clothing.”
“Neither do I. We can linger at the back of the wedding so no one notices if we’re shabby. And after the wedding, they’re celebrating at a tavern. We can get dinner, a few drinks, spy on everyone. It’ll be great fun.”
“Mmm.” Gwenna considers this and then eyes me speculatively. “And what are you expecting in exchange for dinner and this information?”
“Companionship.”
Her brow goes up.
“Of the chaste, friendly sort. I wouldn’t expect you to suck my cock simply because you got a mouthful of bread,” I scoff. “Any male who does expect that should be hit over the head, and repeatedly.”
My cock isn’t working right now anyhow, thanks to the potion.
Gwenna’s mouth curves in a faint smile. “On that, we’re in agreement.”
I smile back. Damn, she’s prickly, but it doesn’t bother me. I understand the reasons behind her crabbiness, and it makes me feel a strange wave of affection for her. It also makes me want to protect her from idiots like Arrod and Hemmen more than ever. I like that she keeps me on my toes. Makes me think. Reminds me of Sarya, but in a completely different way.
Then I think guiltily of all the brothels we passed by and how I didn’t go hunting for Sarya. I won’t be able to this weekend, either. Or longer.Not with the wedding and Gwenna needing protection from Arrod and possibly Hemmen. I’m not going to let them trap her or be alone with her. She needs someone intimidating looking out for her. I know she’s close to the slitherskin, but he’s not very intimidating, and he won’t speak up if she’s in danger.
It’s up to me.
Surely Sarya would understand.
I wonder privately if I’m ignoring my hunt for Sarya because of the amount of knot-deadening potion I’ve been downing lately. It makes me pleasantly numb in all the right areas, but it’s possible it’s numbing other things, too. When I find Sarya, I can wean myself off the damned stuff. Until then, it’s a necessity.
Focusing on Gwenna, I gesture at the crowded street. “Come on. We’re in the right area. We’ll work on our mapping, but just slow enough that Master Jay can’t give us any new tasks before the end of the day. And once we’re done, we can talk about what we’re going to practice on weekends.”
She gives me a pleased look that makes me feel as if I’ve just climbed a mountain. “That’d be wonderful. What sorts of things are you envisioning we practice first?”
Her question is innocent enough, but my mind goes to hot, dirty places. So much for the potion deadening everything. I clear my throat, thinking. “Maybe…sword work?”
“Oh, you just want to see how tight my grip is, is that it? Or see me work a staff?” There’s a tease in her voice.
I stare at her in surprise. “Are you…flirting with me?”
“I’m not opposed to flirting,” Gwenna says, an amused expression on her round face. “But I like to be the one in control of the situation.”
“So I need to wait for you to flirt with me before I flirt back?”
