Chapter 62: An Evening Borrowed From War

After the arena somehow survived long enough to officially declare our fight a tie, I returned to my guest room and made a profound discovery.

Everything hurt.

Not one specific thing.

Everything.

My shoulders hurt.

My back hurt.

My ribs had apparently formed a committee devoted entirely to complaining.

Even muscles I had never consciously acknowledged were submitting formal grievances.

I lay across the bed and stared at the ceiling.

The mattress felt wonderful.

Soft.

Warm.

Stationary.

Most importantly, it wasn't trying to crush me with miniature black holes.

I lifted one arm.

Pain immediately traveled from my shoulder down to my elbow.

I lowered it again.

“Excellent.”

My body had survived Rel.

My dignity had survived Rel.

Agran's arena had not.

Two out of three wasn't terrible.

I closed my eyes.

The fight replayed inside my head anyway.

Rel's tricks.

The anti-Blink field.

The black metal rain.

The magic-wing cancellation.

The scythe.

That ridiculous scythe.

Her nullification.

Her final transformation.

The moment her eyes turned red and that screaming black aura surrounded her had been particularly memorable.

There were intimidating people.

Then there were people whose presence made the primitive section of your brain start writing a will.

Rel belonged comfortably in the second category.

And somehow the moment Queen Firsa stopped the fight, she had returned to being the cheerful petite woman who wore cute dresses and smiled while eating cake.

Aphrodasia had a concerning number of women who could alternate between adorable and national emergency without needing time to change clothes.

I shifted carefully on the bed.

My ribs objected.

“Yeah, yeah.”

I had already been checked for serious injuries.

Nothing that required panicking.

Mostly bruising, magical exhaustion, and the physical consequences of allowing the Supreme General of Agran to use me as an ingredient in landscape redesign.

Rest would handle most of it.

Wonderful.

That was exactly what I intended to do.

Rest.

Sleep.

Possibly refuse to move until dinner arrived voluntarily.

I was just beginning to appreciate silence when someone attacked my door.

BANG.

BANG.

BANG.

My eyes opened.

I stared toward it.

That wasn't knocking.

That was a siege with manners.

BANG.

“Caled!”

I recognized the voice.

Of course.

Remgar.

I sighed.

“Apparently rest has been canceled.”

I pushed myself upright.

Everything complained again.

I placed both feet on the floor and stood.

Slowly.

Not because I couldn't stand normally.

Because every unnecessary movement currently came with an invoice.

I walked toward the door.

Another loud knock landed before I reached it.

“Yes, I heard you!”

“You are slow!”

“I fought your Supreme General this morning!”

“So?”

I stopped.

Stared at the wood.

“So?”

The man had watched the arena become gravel.

Apparently that was insufficient justification for walking slowly.

I opened the door.

A wall blocked the hallway.

I blinked.

Then tilted my head back.

And farther back.

Remgar stood there.

Massive.

Armored.

Smiling.

The Tigerkin general occupied so much of the doorway that the architecture looked apologetic.

His broad shoulders nearly filled the frame.

Dark armor covered most of his body, restored after his release from captivity, and his huge grin suggested he had arrived with absolutely no sympathy.

He looked down at me.

“For someone who fought the Supreme General, you look surprisingly well.”

I stared at him.

“Did you watch the same fight?”

“Yes.”

“The one where she repeatedly launched me across an arena?”

“Yes.”

“The arena that no longer exists?”

His grin widened.

“Yes.”

I pointed at myself.

“My entire body is screaming for sleep.”

“You're standing.”

“That doesn't mean I'm enjoying it.”

Remgar laughed.

Loudly.

The hallway probably learned about it.

Then, before I could retreat into the safety of my room, one enormous hand landed on my shoulder.

I immediately became suspicious.

“Remgar.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you holding me?”

“We're leaving.”

“That's not an answer.”

He pulled.

I left the room.

Not voluntarily enough for my preference.

My boots slid half a step across the floor before I caught myself.

“Hey!”

Remgar laughed again.

I twisted enough to look down the corridor.

Treez stood nearby.

She wore her proper mage attire again, posture straight, red hair neat, black eyes watching this abduction with far too much calm.

She gave me a small nod.

I nodded back.

“Treez.”

“Caled.”

“Are you participating in this kidnapping?”

“No.”

“Are you stopping it?”

She paused.

“No.”

“Then legally, I think you're involved.”

Her lips twitched.

Farther down the corridor stood Gia.

Of course.

She was nowhere near us.

The assassin had apparently established the maximum socially acceptable distance while still technically belonging to the group.

She stood near one of the tall windows, arms loosely at her sides, expression flat.

Black hair framed her face.

Her entire posture said she had not volunteered for any of this and would like the court records to reflect that fact.

I pointed toward her.

“Gia looks thrilled.”

Treez glanced back.

“She came.”

“That was not what I said.”

Remgar threw one enormous arm around my shoulders.

My ribs immediately submitted an emergency complaint.

“Ow.”

He loosened his grip slightly.

“Sorry.”

“Appreciated.”

Then he started walking.

With his arm still around me.

Which meant I started walking too, unless I wanted my diplomatic career to include being dragged through Agran's castle like stolen furniture.

“I know a restaurant,” Remgar announced.

I looked at him.

“A restaurant.”

“Yes.”

“That's why you assaulted my door.”

“You promised.”

“I promised?”

“You said if you won, I would buy you dinner.”

I raised one finger.

“Technically, the fight was a tie.”

Remgar looked at me.

I smiled.

“But I'm willing to ignore technicalities when free food is involved.”

“Good.”

“As much as my body wants to become permanently attached to that mattress…”

I glanced toward Treez.

“…I admit I want to try actual Agranian food.”

Treez nodded.

“Then the restaurant he chose is suitable.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“You approve?”

“Yes.”

“That increases my confidence significantly.”

Remgar looked offended.

“You don't trust my taste?”

“I've seen you fight with two enormous greatswords while covered in black aura.”

“What does that have to do with food?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to mention it.”

He laughed.

We reached Gia.

She looked at Remgar.

Then Treez.

Then me.

Her eyes settled on me for perhaps half a second.

Then lowered again.

She sighed.

A long sigh.

The sigh of a woman who had accepted that escaping these people would require killing them, and unfortunately she liked them too much for that.

I smiled.

“Good evening.”

No response.

Expected.

I looked at Remgar.

“We should bring Leyra.”

“That would have been good.”

“Would have?”

“She cannot come.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“Princess Leyra was already taken by the royal knights.”

My hand paused midway toward my pocket.

“That sentence sounds alarming without context.”

Remgar continued happily.

“She is having dinner with Queen Firsa and the Supreme General.”

Ah.

Formal royal dinner.

Made sense.

Leyra was the Crown Princess of Inizio.

I was the official diplomat.

Wait.

I stopped.

Remgar kept walking another step before realizing I wasn't moving.

I stared at him.

“They invited Leyra.”

“Yes.”

“Firsa is there.”

“Yes.”

“Rel is there.”

“Yes.”

“And they didn't invite me?”

Remgar smiled.

Not reassuring.

“At first, they did.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“At first.”

“Yes.”

Treez closed her eyes.

I looked between them.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing serious.”

That was exactly what someone said before explaining something serious.

Remgar leaned closer.

“The knight sent to collect you and I reached an agreement.”

I stared.

“What agreement?”

“He would not collect you.”

I stared harder.

Remgar grinned.

“He returned without you.”

“That sounds extremely bad.”

“Only if we're caught.”

I looked at Treez.

“Please tell me he's lying before I become responsible for a diplomatic incident after successfully preventing one.”

Treez sighed.

“He is lying.”

I immediately relaxed.

“Thank you.”

Remgar laughed.

Treez gave him an irritated look.

“Do you honestly think we would interfere with a direct invitation from Queen Firsa?”

I looked at Remgar.

“Yes.”

Treez paused.

“Fair.”

Remgar placed a hand over his chest.

“Your faith wounds me.”

“You opened with conspiracy.”

“I was joking.”

“Your joke involved obstructing royal orders.”

“The best jokes have risk.”

I pointed at him.

“See? This is why I believed you.”

Treez shook her head.

“Remgar asked Her Majesty whether you could dine with us instead.”

I blinked.

“He asked Firsa?”

“Yes.”

“And she agreed?”

“Yes.”

That surprised me.

I looked at Remgar.

The giant man appeared extremely proud.

“Why?”

He shrugged.

“I asked.”

“That wasn't the part confusing me.”

Treez answered.

“The queen accepted under a condition.”

I looked at her.

“What condition?”

Remgar immediately spoke.

“Don't ask too many questions.”

I stared at him.

“That makes me want to ask significantly more questions.”

“Exactly why you shouldn't.”

“Was the condition dangerous?”

“No.”

“Embarrassing?”

“Possibly.”

“For me?”

“No.”

“For you?”

Remgar began walking again.

“Restaurant.”

I followed.

“That wasn't an answer!”

Treez walked beside us.

Her expression became suspiciously neutral.

Gia followed farther behind.

Nobody explained.

Wonderful.

Apparently whatever bargain Remgar made with Firsa had joined the growing library of information everyone except me found hilarious.

We reached the castle gates without being arrested.

Strong sign.

The Agranian knights stationed there recognized all three generals immediately.

They bowed.

The massive gates opened.

No one tried to stop us.

So apparently Remgar really had permission.

Good.

My diplomatic career survived another ten minutes.

Outside, the day was ending.

Sunset painted Agran's capital in warm orange light.

Dark stone buildings caught streaks of gold.

Red banners hanging from balconies moved gently in the evening breeze.

The city felt completely different from the way it had during our arrival.

Then, I had been approaching the castle with the emotional comfort of someone entering an examination where failure caused war.

Now?

No royal carriage.

No formal procession.

No assassins jumping from buildings.

Just four people walking through the city.

Well.

Three people walking together.

Gia maintaining plausible deniability several steps behind.

Remgar immediately transformed into an enthusiastic tour guide.

He pointed toward a broad street lined with shops.

“That district has the best weapon smiths.”

Treez corrected him.

“Some of the best.”

“The best.”

“You say that because yours works there.”

“Exactly.”

I nodded.

“Unbiased testimony.”

We continued.

Treez pointed toward a distant tower with red lanterns climbing its outer walls.

“That tower overlooks most of the eastern district.”

“Can people go up?”

“Yes.”

Remgar shook his head.

“Boring.”

Treez looked at him.

“You take visitors to blacksmiths.”

“Blacksmiths are interesting.”

“To you.”

“To everyone.”

Gia remained silent.

We crossed a bridge over one of the narrow waterways I'd seen during our arrival.

Sunset reflected across the water.

Small boats moved below.

Street vendors were beginning to light lanterns.

The smell of food became stronger.

Grilled meat.

Spices.

Something sweet.

Something fried.

Something that smelled like it had once been capable of defending itself.

Excellent.

I was suddenly much happier about leaving the room.

Remgar pointed out another square.

Treez explained a historical monument he had incorrectly identified.

They argued for nearly two minutes.

Gia followed.

I listened.

It was strangely normal.

These were three people who had tried to kill us at Dahera.

Remgar had fought me directly.

Treez had blasted me with enough magic to remove several peaceful interpretations of her intentions.

Gia fought Nemris.

Then we'd locked all three in a dungeon.

Now they were showing me restaurants.

Life had no respect for genre consistency.

Eventually Remgar stopped outside a large building filled with warm light.

“This one.”

The restaurant was busy.

Very busy.

The moment Remgar entered, several people recognized him.

Heads turned.

A few customers raised cups.

Someone called his name.

Remgar returned the greeting.

Treez received more restrained bows.

Gia received a sudden increase in people pretending not to look directly at her.

Interesting.

We were shown to a private section.

Probably because three famous Agranian generals and one foreign diplomat eating in the main room would turn dinner into public theater.

We sat around a broad wooden table.

Remgar took the seat beside me.

Treez sat opposite.

Gia sat beside Treez.

Naturally choosing the position that placed maximum furniture between herself and unnecessary interaction.

Food arrived.

Then more food arrived.

Then more.

I stared.

“Did you order for a military unit?”

Remgar smiled.

“You wanted Agranian delicacies.”

“I wanted to taste them, not inherit the restaurant.”

Platters covered the table.

Roasted monster meat glazed in dark sauce.

Thin slices of another creature grilled with peppers and herbs.

Stewed vegetables.

Spiced roots.

Flat bread.

Rice-like grains colored with saffron-red seasoning.

A bowl containing something with small horns sticking out of it.

I pointed.

“What is that?”

Treez answered calmly.

“Don't ask.”

I slowly withdrew my finger.

“Good advice.”

Remgar was already eating.

Happily.

Aggressively.

The man's dining method resembled his combat style.

Direct.

Heavy.

Committed.

Treez ate with careful, formal movements.

Small portions.

Perfect posture.

Gia ate silently.

Slowly.

Almost delicately.

Then there was me.

I tasted the first piece of roasted meat.

Stopped.

Chewed.

“Okay.”

Remgar looked at me.

“Well?”

“This is excellent.”

He slapped the table.

“I told you!”

Several plates jumped.

Treez closed her eyes.

“Please stop attacking the furniture.”

I tried another dish.

Different flavor entirely.

Spicy.

Smoky.

A little sweet.

Agran apparently took food seriously.

Good civilization.

Treez took a drink.

“The negotiations went well.”

I nodded while chewing.

“Better than I expected.”

“Her Majesty seemed satisfied.”

“So did I.”

I swallowed.

“Until she added surprise combat to the treaty process.”

Remgar laughed.

Treez's expression softened.

“King Viar still needs to accept the terms.”

“Yeah.”

That was the final piece.

We had the framework.

Firsa agreed.

Now Viar needed to come here, review it, and sign.

Given everything we'd negotiated was reciprocal, I liked our chances.

Remgar pointed his utensil toward Gia.

“See?”

Gia looked up.

“I told you he would succeed.”

Gia stared at him.

Then briefly at me.

No response.

Her gaze returned to her food.

I smiled.

“Powerful endorsement.”

Remgar laughed.

Gia ignored both of us.

While she looked down, I got a better view of her face.

I hadn't really had opportunities to study Gia before.

In battle, she had mostly been a blur of daggers and murder.

In prison, she had been suspicious, restrained, and understandably uninterested in becoming friends with the people holding her captive.

Here?

Closer?

She was ridiculously cute.

Black hair.

Soft features.

Dark eyes that weren't simply black.

Depending on the angle of the lantern light, subtle shifts appeared in them.

Dark gray.

Almost brown.

Then black again.

Interesting.

I watched perhaps one second too long.

Remgar noticed.

Of course he did.

“Don't stare.”

I looked at him.

“What?”

He nodded toward Gia.

“She embarrasses easily.”

Gia's utensil stopped.

Treez's eyes immediately moved toward Remgar.

Bad choice.

I laughed.

“Useful information.”

Gia slowly looked at Remgar.

He continued eating like a man who had not just betrayed classified intelligence.

Her eyes narrowed.

Remgar finally noticed.

“What?”

Gia looked down again.

Her ears, however, had become slightly red.

Oh.

He wasn't lying.

I smiled.

Very cute.

Treez shook her head.

“You truly don't know when to stop talking.”

“No.”

“Obviously.”

Remgar finished another piece of meat.

Then looked around the table.

“How about drinks after dinner?”

Gia immediately shook her head.

Silent.

Firm.

No.

Remgar pointed at her.

“You never enjoy anything.”

Gia kept eating.

Treez took another bite.

“I wouldn't mind.”

I leaned back.

“I have one condition.”

Remgar looked interested.

“What?”

“Your alcohol needs to be strong enough to actually affect me.”

He stared.

Then laughed.

A deep booming laugh that turned several heads beyond the private section.

“You underestimate Agranian alcohol.”

“I've heard that before.”

“Our strongest drinks are famous.”

“Everyone says their country's alcohol is strong.”

Remgar leaned closer.

“No.”

His expression became mock serious.

“Agran's drinks are strong.”

“How strong?”

“Some will kill you.”

Treez looked at him.

“Do not exaggerate.”

Remgar raised one finger.

“I said some.”

“You said kill.”

He grinned.

“Kill the mind.”

Then he laughed at his own statement.

I nodded.

“Ah. Good. For a moment I thought the tasting menu included funeral arrangements.”

Remgar slapped my shoulder.

My entire body screamed.

I winced.

He immediately pulled his hand back.

“Sorry.”

“Still injured.”

“You hide it well.”

“I have years of experience pretending bad decisions are fine.”

Treez gave me a curious look.

I ignored that.

I looked at Remgar.

“Seriously, though.”

He waited.

“I'm glad you're this comfortable around me.”

His expression became calmer.

I continued.

“Considering our first proper meeting involved trying to beat each other into the ground.”

Remgar shrugged.

“We were soldiers on opposite sides.”

“Technically I'm not a soldier.”

“You fought like one.”

“Fair.”

He took a drink.

“We are not enemies.”

Simple.

That was exactly what Treez and I had talked about in the dungeon.

People serving opposing kingdoms.

Not personal enemies.

Remgar continued.

“And I like you.”

I smiled.

Gia didn't even look up.

Remgar laughed.

Then pointed across the table.

“Treez likes you too.”

Treez froze.

Completely.

I looked at her.

Remgar continued, apparently choosing death.

“Actually, I think she likes you more than I do.”

Treez's face turned red.

Not slightly.

Red.

She slowly turned toward him.

“Remgar.”

“What?”

“Stop talking.”

He blinked.

“I was complimenting him.”

“You were not.”

“I said you like him.”

“That is precisely why you should stop.”

I leaned back.

Well.

Interesting.

I smiled.

“For what it's worth, I like Treez too.”

Treez's head turned toward me.

She froze again.

Her black eyes widened.

Just slightly.

The red in her face somehow deepened.

Remgar's grin became enormous.

I realized immediately that whatever innocence my statement had contained was now dead.

Treez cleared her throat.

Once.

Then again.

She straightened her posture with the desperate professionalism of someone attempting to physically wrestle embarrassment back into prison.

“We should finish dinner.”

I smiled.

“Agreed.”

“And then…”

She reached for her drink.

“…find those strong drinks Remgar mentioned.”

Remgar laughed.

Treez glared at him over the rim of her cup.

He stopped.

For approximately three seconds.

Dinner continued.

And somehow we finished everything.

I still don't understand how.

The amount of food originally covering the table could have supported a small siege.

But between Remgar's appetite, my enthusiasm for trying everything, Treez's steady eating, and Gia quietly contributing without drawing attention, the platters slowly emptied.

One by one.

Eventually only scraps remained.

I stared across the table.

“A miracle.”

Remgar leaned back happily.

“What?”

“We defeated dinner.”

“It wasn't a fight.”

“Everything can become a fight with the correct attitude.”

Treez sighed.

We eventually left the restaurant.

Outside, sunset had mostly faded into evening.

Lanterns now lit the streets.

Agran's capital looked different at night.

Warmer.

Red and orange light spilled through windows.

Street stalls remained open.

Voices drifted from taverns.

Somewhere nearby, music played.

Remgar walked ahead.

Energetic as ever.

Apparently consuming enough food to feed six people had given him more energy instead of less.

Treez walked beside him.

Perfect posture.

Measured pace.

The two began discussing where we should drink.

I fell slightly behind.

Gia was beside me.

Or rather, I was beside Gia.

There was a difference.

She walked quietly with her head slightly lowered.

Hands relaxed near her sides.

She hadn't spoken once during dinner.

Not one word.

Not unusual.

That seemed to be her preferred contribution to conversations.

Existence.

Occasional eye contact.

Rare sigh.

I glanced sideways.

“You know…”

No reaction.

“I'm surprised you haven't disappeared yet.”

Gia's eyes shifted slightly toward me.

“Considering your profession, I assumed the moment nobody was watching you'd perform your mysterious assassin vanishing act.”

Silence.

“Poof.”

Nothing.

“Gone.”

Still nothing.

I looked ahead.

Treez and Remgar continued walking.

Neither seemed worried that Gia might leave.

I smiled.

“You must like those two quite a bit.”

That got something.

Gia's eyes lifted.

She looked toward Remgar.

Then Treez.

Remgar was gesturing dramatically about something.

Treez responded with visible exhaustion.

Gia watched them for a moment.

Her expression softened.

Barely.

Then she answered.

“A little.”

I nearly stopped walking.

She spoke.

Gia actually spoke.

To me.

Not during battle.

Not because someone demanded a military response.

Not because she needed to threaten anyone.

Just two words.

Her voice was soft.

Extremely soft.

Much gentler than I expected from someone whose career involved appearing from nowhere with daggers.

The sound hit my ears so unexpectedly that my brain almost turned around to make sure another woman hadn't answered from behind us.

I kept my face normal.

Very important.

No sudden staring.

No dramatic pointing.

No shouting, “SHE SPEAKS!”

That would probably reset progress by several months.

I nodded as though Gia talking to me happened every afternoon.

“Fair.”

She looked at me briefly.

Then lowered her eyes.

Her pace increased.

Just a little.

She moved ahead toward Treez and Remgar.

I watched her go.

Then smiled to myself.

Two words.

Not much.

But considering Gia?

I mean, this is progress.