Ch185: City Stress

The faintest of frowns flits across the Wood Elf’s face.

Which is a detail that the Drakling near immediately notices. “What’s the problem?” A tinge of concern underlines that question, only to quickly fade away as Krvavy looks her lithe lover over, the corners of her lips twitching upwards. “Is it not what you expected~?”

Beryl idly shrugs her shoulders, hardly reacting to that light teasing. Her gaze slowly sweeps across the horizon, glancing past fields and pastures and simple houses before finally settling on the city walls which stand a fair distance ahead. A rather pensive expression pulls at her brow, those thin lines of bark-brown hair knitted together. “Ah’m just realizin’ tha’... tha’ it ‘as been a while since Ah’ve left the wilderness.”

Krvavy wraps an arm around her Elf’s bare shoulders, pulling Beryl so close that the tanned tomboy’s caramel coloured cheek squishes into the fur pelt covering her pale tits. “I’d say that we left the ‘wilderness’ days ago.”

“Aye, true. Ever since we stepped foot on the road...” Those words trail off into a slow sigh.

Carnivorous teeth catch the tip of a long, inhuman tongue. Only to let it go a moment later. “Has this trip brought back some bad memories?” Krvavy gently asks, giving her sweet berry a soft squeeze.

“Ach, no no,” Beryl’s vaguely vulnerable voice grows firmer, sounding slightly scolding. “Don’t ya worry about me, my dearest love. Ah’m just feelin’ a bit thoughtful, is all.”

Hot air rushes through Krvavy’s nose, that snorted laugh accompanied by a shake of her head. “You do know that telling me not to worry doesn’t suddenly make me stop worrying,” a teasing twinkle finds its way into her emerald eyes, “right~?”

“Does it not?” The Wood Elf returns, her tone almost serious. “Why, tha’ doesn’t sound right at all. A few simple words should solve everythin’.”

“Ha. Ha.” Krvavy rolls her eyes. “If only...”

That conversation trails off into... relative silence. It has been a few days since they traded the sounds of nature for the noises of a road surrounded by farmland, though said road was pleasantly empty and isolated at first. But now, with each step they take bringing Raseyne’s partially constructed walls more into view, that is unfortunately not the case anymore.

An increasing amount of people are passing them by, carts laden with goods and animals herded with shouts. Loud and annoying. Chaotic. And somehow still calmer than what they’ll be surrounded by, once they pass through those walls...

“Ach,” Beryl speaks up after just a few short minutes. “Are ya doin’ alright?”

“Yeah...? Why would I not be?” Krvavy tilts her head and raises an eyebrow, genuinely a little confused by why her sweet berry is suddenly asking that.

“My dearest love,” a sigh underlines that reverent title. “Yer arm is wrapped around me. Ah can feel ‘ow tense ya are.”

“Tense?” A scowl worms its way onto the Drakling’s face as she... realizes that her Elf is right.

“Aye.” Beryl’s arm slips beneath the barbarian’s mostly-empty backpack, wrapping around Krvavy’s waist to return the casual embrace that she has been blessed with. “Are all these people makin’ ya anxious? Or are ya just worried because Ah’m ‘ere?”

“I was fine last time, so... I’m going to blame you.” Krvavy tries to keep her tone lighthearted in an attempt to ease the tanned tomboy’s concerns.

But, as she should have expected, that is immediately seen through.

“My dearest love...” Beryl briefly pauses, slowly breathing out and then back in again. “We both know tha’ yer worries are bein’ made worse by me bein’ ‘ere wit’ ya. Ya don’t need ta lie ta make me feel better, ta make it feel like Ah’m not ta blame.”

Krvavy lightly chews the inside of her cheek, holding back her words. There is no point in her saying something that would just end up amounting to ‘I told you so’.

“But we both also know tha’ ya shouldn’t be worryin’ so much.” A hint of exasperation underlines those words, growing more pronounced and a bit more biting as Beryl continues on. “Ah can take care o’ myself.” Her fingers press into the barbarian’s belly, touching the thin scar marring those well-defined abs. “Arguably better than ya can take care o’ yerself.”

A scowl serves as Krvavy’s only answer to that.

“Ya may be much tougher than Ah am, but tha’ doesn’t mean Ah’m just a delicate flower.” The Wood Elf lifts her firm and unwavering gaze, bright blue-green eyes piercing deep into an emerald pair. “Ah ‘ave lived fer over a century and an ‘alf. A great deal o’ tha’ time ‘as ‘ad me livin’ in the wilderness, relyin’ on the land and my own skills ta survive. So, Ah ask ya, just ‘ow many scars do Ah ‘ave, Krvavy?”

Tension lingers in the Drakling’s jaw. “We aren’t in the wilderness anymore. You said that much yourself.”

“Ach!” Beryl abruptly pushes herself back from the barbarian, completely severing their hugged embrace. “Kr.va.vy.” She tersely repeats her Draconic lovers name, those long and pointed ears of hers quivering and twitching, flicking front to back, as genuine anger fills her face. “Ah know tha’ just talkin’ isn’t goin’ ta ease yer worries. So let us cut ta the chase already: ya are afraid o’ ‘avin’ me near yer ‘ooded associate.”

“Of course I–!”

“Shut. Yer. Mouth.” This tanned tomboy of an Elf steps in front of Krvavy, stopping in the middle of the road to press a single finger against her Draconic lover’s collarbone. “Ya are bein’ unreasonable. And Ah’m not sayin’ tha’ just because Ah am more than capable o’ takin’ care o’ myself. No, Ah’m sayin’ tha’ because this ‘Shadow’ isn’t a complete and utter idiot. It is obvious ta even the most mentally deficient child tha’ even thinkin’ about ‘urtin’ me would put ya on the war path. So do you really think tha’ an obviously cautious schemer like tha’ is goin’ ta do somethin’ so monumentally stupid as puttin’ me in danger?”

The corner of Krvavy’s eye twitches as she stares down at Beryl. Her tail remains unnaturally still, hanging in the air behind her.

Beryl’s shoulders slowly begin to slump, the frustration and anger fading from her eyes. “Ach...” Exhaustion eats away at her will, causing her finger to slip away from the Drakling’s chest as that hand falls down to dangle limply by her side. “My dearest love... Ah’m just as worried about ya as ya are worried fer me. So please, Ah beg ya, at least try ta loosen yer nerves. Ah don’t want ya ta feel on edge the entire time we are in Raseyne. Ah don’t want ya jumpin’ at every shadow ya see. Tha’ kind o’ stress isn’t good fer ya.”

Krvavy slowly breathes in and out. In and out. “I... I’ll try, but...”

“My dearest love, tha’ is all Ah can ask fer. Just try ta relax a little. Ya don’t need ta lower yer guard completely, ya don’t need ta lose all yer worries. Just try ta loosen up and try ta stop bein’ so tense.” The tanned tomboy’s lips curl up into a smile, one that starts off rather forced but quickly gains an ever so slight bit of playfulness to it. “If it makes ya feel better, then why don’t we ‘old each others’ ‘ands? Tha’ way ya will know tha’ Ah’m by yer side, even if Ah’m not directly in yer line o’ sight.”

The barbarian bites her bottom lip. “No.” She shakes her head, wrapping her arm back around Beryl’s shoulder and pulling her sweet berry up against her side once more. “This is better.”

“Ach, we can’t exactly walk around the whole city like this, now can we?” More and more energy returns to that tomboy’s voice with every word she says, this half-hug enough to revitalize her. It is nearly better than any break that she could take~.

“Sure we can.” The Drakling disagrees, letting her dour mood get washed away by the warmth of the wonderful woman pressing against her. “Why wouldn’t we be able to? It isn’t like anyone will come up and tell us off for holding onto each other like this. And we won’t have problems walking through crowds either. All of these cowardly city people will make sure to give us plenty of personal space.”

“So, wha’ Ah’m ‘earin’ is tha’ ya don’t want ta ‘old ‘ands wit’ me?” Beryl exaggeratedly sighs, leaning her head against her Draconic lover’s chest as she (poorly) puts on a disappointed act. Her arm slips back beneath the barbarian’s bag, returning to its place around Krvavy’s waist. “If tha’ is wha’ ya wish...”

Krvavy sighs and shakes her head, resisting the Wood Elf’s wiles. “You know... for someone who likes it when I take charge, you sure do try to manipulate me a lot.”

“Do Ah?” Beryl innocently bats her eyelashes, though that display is entirely spoiled by the teasing smirk that has spread across her face. “Maybe tha’ is just my nature rearin’ its ‘ead~? Ah am one o’ the capricious and untamable forest folk, after all~!”

“Untamable?” Krvavy quirks her brow, trying and failing to keep a serious face. “That’s not a word I’d use to describe you.”

“Wha’, do ya think tha ya’ve got me tamed~?” Beryl playfully returns, idly trailing her dexterous fingers over the scar at the edge of Krvavy’s abs. “Would Ah be pullin’ yer strings so much if Ah were~?”

“So you’re admitting it now?”

“Admittin’ wha’~?”

Krvavy simply rolls her eyes as she tries to hide her smile. “Don’t make me regret bringing you along.” She sighs, unable to fully keep her worries contained.

“Oh~?” The teasing tomboy meets her lover’s gaze. “Ya still think tha’ was yer choice~?”

“Hah... come on.” The Drakling slowly shakes her head. “You don’t need to keep trying to make me feel better.”

“No, Ah don’t.” Beryl agrees, though her growing grin makes that less than convincing. “But Ah’m ‘avin’ fun ‘ere, and ya won’t stop me from ‘avin’ fun, would ya~?”

“Depends on just what kind of fun you’re talking about. For instance, this,” Krvavy taps the back of Beryl’s hand, which is threatening to slip beneath her loincloth. “This is the kind of ‘fun’ I’ll stop you from having.”

“Aww, why~?”

Rather than respond with words, Krvavy simply trails her gaze over the steadily increasing amount of people that they are sharing this road with, looking towards the city walls in the distance.

“Hmm~... So ya’re sayin’ Ah just need ta wait until we’re in the city proper~?”

The Drakling masks her amusement with an exasperated sigh.

A jolt runs down Krvavy’s spine, her heart skipping a beat as she suddenly jumps in place. “Can you not do that?!” She hisses down at the Elf clinging to her side.

“Do wha’~?” Beryl not-so-innocently asks, the tips of her nimble fingers idly trailing down the crease between her Draconic lover’s toned leg and pelvis.

Her patience at its limit, the Drakling grabs that rather touchy hand and drags it out from beneath her loincloth. “That’s it...!” She tries to keep her voice down to avoid making a scene in this busy city street. Well, more of a scene than her mere presence is already causing... “You have lost ‘arm around shoulder’ and ‘arm around waist’ privileges...!”

Beryl tilts her head to the side, looking up at the blushing barbarian with big, begging eyes. “Do Ah at least get ta ‘old yer ‘and?” An insincere sadness clings to that question, the hint of a smirk tugging at the corners of that Wood Elf woman’s nearly caramel coloured lips, hardly hidden away.

“Are... Are you going to behave yourself?”

“Nope~!” The tanned tomboy cheerfully replies, letting the p sound loudly pop. “But isn’t tha’ all the more reason ta ‘old my ‘and~? Wha’ better way is there ta keep me close and under control~?”

“I could carry you...?” Krvavy hesitantly suggests, only to immediately shake her head. “No... You’d enjoy that even more... Haah... Fine...”

“Aww, Ah love ya too, my dearest love~!” Beryl’s grin reaches from ear to pointed and wiggling ear, eyes gleaming light bright gems as her lover’s strong hand firmly grabs onto her own.

The Drakling simply sighs in defeat.

“Oh~? Nothin’ ta say, my dearest love~?” The tanned tomboy’s nimble fingers drum over Krvavy’s knuckles, dancing within their locked grip. “No grumblin’ about lettin’ me get my way~? No reprimandin’ words fer me bein’ so naughty~? Not even goin’ ta say ‘Ah love ya’ back~?”

Krvavy glares down at the Elf holding onto her hand, only for her dry and unimpressed expression to be met with the most beautiful of smiles. Which was expected, really. But still...

“Well~?”

“I love you too, Beryl...” The barbarian’s cheeks burn a little brighter, growing rosy and red, as she utters those utterly truthful words.

“Ah knew ya’d give in~.” That smugly whispered comment is hardly audible over the various noises coming from the people all around them. A mischievous gleam fills the Wood Elf’s eyes as she raises her voice to a much more audible volume. “Ya say tha’ ya love me, huh~? Then ‘ow come ya ‘aven’t proposed ta me yet~?” Her tone isn’t entirely playful, making it hard to tell just how serious she is being right now... “And speakin’ o’ tha’~...?”

The Drakling’s lips involuntarily curl up into a slight smile. “Oh, riiiiight... No.”

“Why not, my dearest love,” Beryl’s tone grows even more teasing as she leans up against Krvavy, “is this random street not a good enough place fer such an important question~?”

“Hmm...” Krvavy brings her free hand up, thoughtfully tapping her chin as she decides to play along. “Let me see...” She lifts her head up, slowly sweeping her gaze over the buildings that line the road, looking from home to storefront to –

Abruptly and without warning, she freezes in place.

“My dearest love...?” Worry fills Beryl’s voice as she turns to look at whatever it is that has caused Krvavy’s fading tension to suddenly surge back in full force. Her good mood goes forgotten, her lips twisting into a frown.

Standing in the mouth of a narrow alleyway just five buildings down from where they stand is a single person, face obscured by the deep shadows cast by an unremarkable hood.

Krvavy clenches her jaw, carnivorous teeth grinding together as she bristles with growing rage. Her expression hardens even further as the cloaked figure raises a gloved hand in greeting.

“Ah... Ah take it tha’ tha’ is the ‘Shadow’ ya spoke o’ before?” Beryl gently asks, both of her hands giving Krvavy’s own a reassuring squeeze. “Should we just ignore tha’ pest?”

The barbarian takes a very deep breath, keeping her attention locked on Shadow, and slowly exhales. “I would love to, but...”

“Tha’ bastard’d just send some orphan ta get yer attention?”

“Probably.” Krvavy grunts back, narrowing her eyes as Shadow’s raised hand beckons for her to come closer.

“Ach.” The tomboyish Elf doesn’t bother to hide her annoyance, her voice dripping with malice. “Ah should really give tha’ damn pest a piece o’ my mind...”

Even just the thought of that causes Krvavy to go tense. More than she already was, at that. “Don’t waste your breath. It’s not worth the effort.”

Beryl doesn’t seem particularly convinced, but she is willing to go along with her dearest love’s wishes.

Krvavy’s arm once again wraps around her sweet berry’s shoulder, holding on tight as she reluctantly makes her way down the road. Her face scrunches, lips twisting into a scowl as she watches Shadow step back into that alleyway.

The random city folk littering this street give the irate Drakling and irritated Elf even more space than before, whether they realize it or not. Those strangers collectively release a sigh of relief once that unhappy pair have stepped out of sight.

“What do you want?” Krvavy tersely snaps, her tail whipping against a plastered wall hard enough to dislodge some dusty flakes.

Shadow holds their gloved hands up, both of which are completely empty of anything. “To be on good terms with you, as I had said before.”

“Ach, ya’re doin’ a poor job o’ tha’.”

The cloaked figure’s hooded head turns towards Beryl. “I – don’t.” Whatever Shadow was about to say is cut off by that warning, a chill echoing throughout the alley. Like black blood seeping from a wound, darkness oozes from the cracks and crevices scattered across the ground, snuffing out a few growing buds before they can properly sprout.

Krvavy’s eye twitches, heat rising within her core.

Having accomplished its goal, the carpet of darkness quickly recedes. The cobbled ground is barren once more.

“I do not wish to be enemies.” Shadow plainly states, perhaps attempting to reassure the Drakling’s deep worries. Not that that helps much. “And, in the spirit of that, I have something for you.” Moving slowly and very carefully, Shadow reaches into their cloak... pulling free a heavy pouch. “Payment.”

“For what?” The barbarian growls back, making no move to grab the small pouch. Not even as it is held out to her.

“The ‘job’ I gave you.” If it weren’t for the impenetrable shadows obscuring this figure’s face, then it is likely that Shadow would have just glanced at Beryl. Or at least that is the feeling Krvavy gets from that brief moment of cautious hesitance.

Krvavy narrows her eyes, glaring down at the cloaked figure. “I didn’t kill the Patriarch for you.”

“No, you didn’t.” Shadow calmly agrees, covered arm still and steady as it remains outstretched, stuffed coin purse resting atop a gloved palm. “But our goals aligned in that matter. I stood to benefit from his death. So I believe it is only fair to give you what I would have paid, or expected to have been paid, for such a job.”

Krvavy’s pale lips press together into a thin line. It might be a bit petty, but she kind of wants to see just how long Shadow is willing to hold that money out for her... That said, she doesn’t really want to spend any more time around Shadow than she has to...

“Consider it a sign of goodwill. Proof that I am not trying to take advantage of you, instead ensuring that our potential partnership is fair and transactional.” The little pouch jingles faintly as Shadow gives it a light shake. “And if you do not trust these coins, then spend them. I presume that is what you are here in Raseyne for?”

With a forced sigh, the Drakling finally takes the offered payment, snatching it from that open palm with no care about coming across as rude. “Are you going to do this every single time I visit?” Krvavy grumbles, opening that small pouch. All of the coins inside appear to be silver, most of which have an image of a hawk, though a not insignificant amount depict a wolf head instead.

Shadow’s hood tilts slightly, clearly attempting to show some emotion despite their utter anonymity. “We have no other way to communicate. If there is something for us to discuss, we will have to meet face-to-face.”

“Ach, ‘ow convenient.” Beryl sarcastically states, unable to glare directly at the source of her annoyance, having been dragged backwards the moment she opened her mouth. But having the barbarian’s body blocking her sight doesn’t stop the tanned tomboy from spitting out another barb. “Ya can pester my dearest love as much as ya want, but she ‘as no way ta reach ya if she ever wanted ta.”

Shadow doesn’t visibly react to the Elf’s interruption, keeping their obscured face pointed directly towards Krvavy. “If you need to speak with me, simply head to one of the poorer parts of the city located near the outermost walls. Your presence will be noted and I will appear as soon as I can.”

That response only seems to upset Beryl, her expression growing dark and turning rather murderous. But before she can say another word, Krvavy gives her shoulders a firm squeeze and speaks up instead.

“Are we done here?”

“Unless you have any further business, yes.” The cloaked figure calmly nods their hooded head. “I have nothing more to discuss. So, as it currently stands, I will not intrude any further on your time in Raseyne. Have a good day.”

Not another word is spoken until Shadow has stepped out of sight, that deceitful Champion heading deeper into the maze of alleyways.

“Ah do not like tha’ bastard.” Beryl sharply exhales, air hissing through her clenched teeth. “Arrogant. Presumptuous! Ta ‘ave the gall ta even suggest tha’ ya wait around if ya want ta speak after ‘avin’ demanded yer attention!”

The Drakling slowly exhales, her tense gaze lingering on the corner that Shadow disappeared behind. After few long seconds, she glances back at her Elf. “What were you doing with those plants?” Krvavy’s curt tone is tinged with the faintest bit of exasperated worry.

A scowl fills that tomboy’s face. “Ah was goin’ ta threaten the bastard, just as they did ta ya in yer first meetin’. A few toxic thorns would’ve kept tha’ disrespect in line...!”

Krvavy’s strong fingers tighten their grip on her sweet berry’s shoulders, squeezing perhaps a little too tight. “That was reckless.”

“Aye,” Beryl admits, having the decency to look a little guilty. “But Ah couldn’t ‘elp myself. Everythin’ about tha’ ‘Shadow’ rubbed me the wrong way. Tha’ bastard just felt so... so unnatural...! Ah couldn’t feel anythin’ beneath tha’ cloak...! No ‘eart beatin’ wit’ life, just nothin’...!”

“Nnh.” Krvavy grunts and shakes her head. “That’s just Shadow hiding whoever they actually are beneath magic.”

“Ach, wha’ a trustworthy thing ta do...”

Krvavy takes another deep breath, gradually calming herself down. “Come on, there’s no point lingering around here.” She protectively and possessively pulled Beryl back against her body, before turning and beginning to head out of this alley. “I don’t want our whole day to get ruined because of this... meeting.”

“Ach,” Beryl voices her annoyance as they step back onto the street. “Ah’m not in the mood fer shoppin’ right now. Can we go to those baths ya mentioned? It’d be nice ta get ta relax fer a while...”

“Good idea.” Krvavy sweeps her gaze across the road, getting her bearings. “It’s a bit of a walk from here though.”

Beryl’s dexterous fingers find her Draconic lover’s hand. “Tha’ is no problem,” she softly sighs. “Not like we’re short on time.”