Fire Ch. 08

"What do you mean? How much like me?" His smile vanished in a sigh. She thought she felt his arms tighten around her once more.

"What does it look like?"

She looked at his face curiously, just beginning to wonder what he meant when all at once it came to her. She could feel the surprise written on her face. He confirmed the fact with a wry chuckle.

"You're Huroth!" she breathed.

"Was." He corrected. She frowned again.

"You're not anymore?"

"I was turned...so I'm not technically a human of any sort." There was another pause and she noticed his eyes darken slightly. "We also disowned one another."

"How long ago was that?" She pressed softly, "How old Are you?" He raised a brow at her.

"Well, I left just before the war broke out."

"Which war?"

His ghostly smile reappeared.

"The war with the empire, of course." She gasped.

"That was almost three centuries ago!"

"Very near."

She shifted in his lap to look him more directly in the eye.

"You're three hundred years old?"

"Give or take. I wasn't much older than you when I left."

"Don't you remember?"

"It was a very long time ago."

She looked down at her hands which had made their way to his chest and now lay palms down against him.

"There...wasn't there a son...an heir who..." she stopped when she glanced up and caught the expression forming on his face. It was a subtle shift, a twitch around the jaw and mouth, a narrowing of the eyes, but it spoke volumes to her and effectively answered her unasked question. She blinked up at him, stunned.

"If you're...then doesn't that make me...make you..."

"Your uncle?" He smirked down at her, his eyes glinting. Hers widened that much more and she stared at a total loss for words. "If it makes you feel better," he offered, still smiling, "it has to be at least a dozen times removed. And who can say how many of those wives were actually faithful. If they were anything like their husbands...then they weren't very." He added dryly.

"Fourteen." She corrected softly without thinking, still blinking in surprise.

"Fourteen what?"

"Generations."

"Ah." He shrugged slightly. "I was close." He cocked his head at her. "You really have been doing your reading."

She returned his look, coming back into reality. She hadn't thought her life could become anymore twisted and bizarre than it already was, but there is was, one more thing to add to the mountain of strange that seemed to comprise her recent existence. But his words awoke a remembrance of other reading she had done. There was something else she wanted to know now, though part of her feared to ask. She sighed internally.

At this point what could it hurt? She was already as good as dead, and he was already unhappy with her. She might as well satisfy her curiosity. She tilted her head at him.

"Were you really a traitor then?" He snorted and looked away.

"That all depends on your definition of the word. In some ways I was, I suppose." His eyes found hers again. "I had argued to join the Empire, knowing we didn't have the resources or discipline to win in battle against it. The tithe they required was nominal, irritating at worst, and the capital so far removed that they could not help but leave us to our own devices." His mouth twisted into a mockery of a smile. "The Huroth pride would not allow for even that. Good land was lost, and countless died unnecessarily."

He turned his dark gaze on her, and she was forced to look away, more than conscious of the accusation in his gaze and in his words. She tucked her hands away into her skirts. 'This was different though,' she thought, 'this is just me. I'm not dragging anyone else into it.' Then again he was here, he was being dragged along.

"You don't have to come with me." She said softly to her lap.

"That's true, I am a traitor, after all." She looked up sharply.

"No! I...that's not what I meant..." She flushed and looked down again, "I just mean, that is, you've already saved me once..."

"Yes," he drawled, "and look how you repay me, by trying to get yourself killed all over again."

Her cheeks burned, though this time with irritation rather than embarrassment.

"I didn't start this, they did. It's not like I went looking for this."

"You're looking for it now. You can just as easily walk away." She could see his jaw tightening in anger. Well, she was angry to.

"No, I can't." She sat up and twisted again so that she was facing him. "Why can't I make you understand why I need to do this?"

"Because you don't need to do this." He hadn't raised his voice, but his anger was alive in his eyes and she fought the urge to cringe away from it.

"I do." Her voice was a fierce whisper. Her jaw trembled and she turned away sharply, moving to get off his lap. She couldn't stand to see that look in his eyes or feel the tension which made rigid his body. His grip stopped her and instead he pulled her tightly into his shoulder as his other arm snapped his cloak out to wrap it around her, effectively cocooning her body against his.

She sat in stiff surprise for several silent moments waiting for another response. But he remained quiet and still, simply holding her possessively and with an almost fierce insistence.

She glanced up to his face. His eyes were shut, but the lines of his face were still tight. Not sure what else to do, she lowered her eyes with a frown and lay her cheek against his shoulder. She felt his fingers squeeze gently as he pulled the cloak more snugly around her.

It was the faintest gesture, but it felt like having her heart ripped out. He didn't want her to go, to die, he wanted her to stay with him. She knew it then, indisputably. She cringed inwardly at herself, feeling suddenly foolish, and selfish, and blind. And he was right, wasn't he? That this was idiocy and suicide on her part? Even she couldn't say why she needed to do this...though only a moment ago she had been so certain, so sure, that this was what she wanted and needed to do. She opened her lips, but the half formed thought died on her lips. Her throat felt too dry for words, her lungs empty and limp.

Utterly useless.

She buried her aching head deeper into the cocoon. Come what may, she had made up her mind. If it was all stubbornness, all 'Huroth pride,' well at least she came by it honestly.

**

When night fell once more, Jairus extricated them from their shelter and delivered them safely to the gates of the city. It was more like a great arch then a gate, a massive structure of white marble. It had made Thea gape so obviously that Jairus had to remind her not to act like the country girl she was, though she had been happy to note the laughter in his voice as he did so.

She had never been to a city, and the milling crowds and noise, still bustling into the long night, fascinated her. She had to work hard not to stare. It enchanted her to watch the people, as they moved past one another, jostling and sidestepping, and yet behaving for all the world as if no one else was there. It left her with a strange sense of anonymity— as though she was welcome to be part of the chaos, and so long as she didn't get in anyone's way, no one would care. No one would even notice. It felt a little bit like freedom. The only people who dared make eye contact were the a few women she saw lingering in their doorways, their painted lips curving dangerously each time she accidentally met their gaze. Even with her lack of experience she could see what they must be. Their made up faces and clothes...or occasional lack of them, were clear indicators to even the most innocent visitor.

Despite all this delightful invisibility, however, Jairus had to warn her to keep her head down.

They had both agreed since she was dressed as a boy, it was best for her to keep her hood up and do what she could to appear so.

Now they found themselves sitting in a dark tavern of some kind, apparently waiting for someone Jairus had sent a message to. Thea was careful to keep her head down so that the deep hood cast her face in shadow, assisted in part by the dim lighting of the shadowy corner he'd chosen for them. She also slouched slightly into her chair to give the impression of a gangling youth rather than a proper woman. She had offered to just extricate herself while he met whoever it was he didn't want knowing she was a woman, but he'd just given her a hard look and shook his head. She sighed. He had no intention of letting her out of his sight, that much was clear.

"What are we doing here again?" She asked under her breath when he'd waved a serving girl off for the second time. She'd been tempted to order something just to stop the bar man from eying them in annoyance for taking up a table. Though, she thought, glancing about, there were more than enough empty tables, and she couldn't see why anyone should want to drink there. The atmosphere was less than wholesome, and it struck her as the sort of place where one would find unwelcome articles floating about in ones beer. She crinkled her nose at the thought. Perhaps it was better he waved them away after all. She glanced up when he chuckled.

He hadn't answered, but he must have seen the way her eyes had wandered over the place and the expression on her face.

"don't worry, it won't be long. Marcus is usually a minute or two late."

She smiled slightly in response. "I was asking who we were waiting for and why, but your consolation is appreciated." She turned her eyes to meet his only to see the smile had faded from them and were turned pointedly towards the door.

She found herself looking at the cold smooth unreadable face she had almost forgotten was his. It seemed alien to her now, devoid of any flicker in the eyes, any quirk of the lips to tell her what he might be thinking. He was like a pane of ice, and just as chilling. Assassin, he had said. Yes, she could see it. It was not a face one should wish to encounter in a dark alley late at night. Or anywhere for that matter.

Her eyes followed his and watched as a non-descript, but friendly seeming fellow casually called for a drink at the bar then strolled over towards their table. For a moment he hesitated, his blue eyes focusing on her, but he continued on again after a second glance at Jairus, collecting himself enough to join them and smile charmingly.

"Well, who's this then?" He smiled, if tightly, at Jairus and gestured to her with his free hand as he sat. Jairus only tipped his head in a manner which indicated nothing.

" A friend."

Marucs raised his brows. "That's a new one." He muttered into his drink. "Friend, eh?" Thea noted that the man seemed relatively unfazed by Jairus's hard expression. Either he was made of steel, or he was just used to it. She decided it was the later. She could relate after all.

The man slouched in his chair and she got the sense he was trying to get a better look under her hood. She bent her head low, taking a sudden interest in the floor boards, effectively lowering the hood farther over her face. Of course it also kept her from seeing his expression as she did so. Better safe than curious.

"You may speak freely Marcus. I came back to conclude the most recent engagement, but I also have possible information for the Huroth Darius about his heiress."

She couldn't see his face, but the man put his drink down.

"The first lot? Is she dead then?"

"Practically."

Thea resisted the urge to shoot him a dirty look.

"It's rather complicated, unnecessarily so perhaps, I'm not quite sure what's going on half the time myself. But they want information, so I'll give them what I have. The issue is sensitive so you'll have to forgive the mystery. It will all be made plain shortly, I'm sure." His tone was impassive and dry, giving nothing away. He sounded bored and slightly put out, if he sounded like anything at all. She was impressed.

"When do you want it set up for?"

"Not tomorrow night, but anytime afterward would be fine."

"And him?"

She could feel their eyes on her and did what she could to mimic Jairus's boredom, thought the curiosity and suspicion laced in those two words did little to calm her nerves.

"An apprentice...of sorts." He made no impression of intending to offer anything more than that.

"I see..." there was a long paused before the man smacked his open palm down on the table, recovering his joviality, and tossed back the remains of his drink with the other. "Best get off then. I'll see if I can't get her all set up right for the night after next. Unless I get message otherwise, look for us in the usual place at the usual time."

She angled herself just enough to see Jairus tip his head in acknowledgment. The unassuming fellow went off, and once again they were left alone at their table. When she was sure there was no one in ear shot she turned to look at him.

"Don't you think he'll suspect, since you were so unwilling to answer his questions?"

He turned his gaze back on her, his hint of a smile reappearing as well.

"Actually, I'm more worried he thinks it odd I gave him as much as I did." His eyes shone slightly. "Normally I'd just glare, and if they're lucky tell them it's none of their business. She chuckled.

"And here I thought I had it rough. Compared to that, you're practically giddy at home." She smirked, but her smile faded somewhat as he gave her an odd look. She couldn't put her finger on what that look was, but it made her avert her eyes back to the table in discomfort. "So," she offered, "What now? Do we have anyone else to meet?"

"Now we find a room and stay there until this nonsense is over with."

She couldn't help but be disappointed. She was sort of hoping they could look around. She had never been to the city before. She told him so as they left, apparently for somewhere with less questionable hygiene. He gave her a very unimpressed look in response. When she pressed a second time, after he'd found and procured the room he was looking for, and for that matter bolted them inside of it, he turned a hard stare on her.

"I'll happily give you a guided tour of any city you like...so long as it's not this one." He advanced on her again, reminding her of his behavior the previous night in the woods, as well as the fact that it was not his idea to be there.

"Say the word and we'll go." She could only stare back, unwilling to acquiesce and not particularly eager to start another argument. He gave her another inscrutable look and turned away, tossing his cloak over a hook on the door and quickly stripping down to his pants with his back to her.

She did likewise, turning away and folding her shirt carefully before climbing onto the narrow single bed, slipping under the covers and pushing herself near the wall, her back to the room. She heard him check the lock one more time. The bed dipped next to her a moment later. She closed her eyes.

"If you even think about sneaking off during the daylight, you better hope they find you first."

He growled deeply. She could feel a smile threatening at the edges of her lips. "And don't smile...death will be a blessing compared to what I'll do to you."

He sounded serious, and angry, but the way his body turned to meld so perfectly against hers and the arm the slid around her waist and hugged her tightly against him completely ruined the threat, and she smiled anyway.

**

Jairus had gone to sleep virtually crushing her body with his. It was something he might be inclined to do anyway, but through the day it had also served the purpose of making sure she didn't try running off as she had previously. At least this way she was trapped between himself and the wall. She couldn't leave, and no one could touch her without his knowing. Safe.

It was the only way short of tying her up that knew he'd get even a moments rest, though as the afternoon turned to evening, that idea rapidly gained appeal.

He was going to finish his last accepted assignment: the prison warden job. He couldn't imagine it taking too much time, so long as he was efficient about it. Regardless, leaving her here unattended for any period did not appeal to him. It was clear that she was anxious to escape the room and explore, and who knew how many people were in the city still, looking for a girl matching just her description. What's more he'd particularly chosen this area of the city to hide in because it was so easy to disappear here and the locals are very good about not noticing much of anything. Even Marcus would be hard pressed to track him down here. That also meant it was incredibly dangerous. It was especially so for a lone and inexperienced young woman.

He had explained this earlier, but watching her now, he felt certain she had been placating him when she nodded her agreement. He gave an internal head shake. She was absolutely infuriating. He was sitting at a small table in the corner, watching her, and she sat on the bed, her arms wrapped around her bent knees. The position made the material pull tightly across her hips and thighs and the plainly feminine shape they revealed made him wonder if she could pass as a boy even with a cloak hiding most of her figure. Boyish wasn't exactly the word coming into his head just then.

"What?" She asked petulantly, clearly still irritated that he had told her she was under house arrest. The tone of her voice suddenly made up his mind for him. He stood and removed his cloak and the accoutrements beneath and approached her, dropping them next to the bed and sitting down at her feet.

He looked straight ahead rather than at her, but one hand snaked out and caressed a bare ankle, feeling supple skin pulled taunt over bone. He wondered briefly how her skin was always so warm.

He kept exploring her leg with the tips of his fingers until he heard the soft intake of breath he'd been waiting for, then turned to her with a soft smile.

"You can still leave you know."

Her heart fell. For an instant his suddenly gentle behavior had made her hope he was feeling sympathetic, that he might give in a little. No such luck apparently.

"I can't."

"Won't." He corrected. She went rigid again, but his fingers continued to trace lazy figures up and down the length of her leg as if their bodies had nothing to do with their conversation.

"It amounts to the same thing."

He nodded, his smile vanishing. "Someone will die Thea. I hope you understand that. That's the only way this will end if you follow this path." Her stomach twisted in knots. Was he trying to test her resolve? Did he not think she could go through with this? Her jaw clenched.

"Then I'll have to make sure it's them and not me, won't I."

He arched a brow at that, his expression becoming one of appraisal. For a split second she almost thought she saw amusement as well. She could feel her own mouth twitch. His eyes shone.

The hand on her calf moved back to her ankle, the fingers teasing beneath the hem of her pant leg. The long cool fingers closed around her with a pressure made meaningful by his watchful eyes.

The briefest spark in those eyes was her only warning before his grip tightened and she found herself pulled forward and laid out flat on her back. She opened her mouth to protest and froze mid breath as she stared up into his almost smirking face. Some small part of her resisted the urge to melt beneath that little smile, if on principle alone, but that voice was no match for the flush of raw heat which permeated to the very core of her at the sight of it. Instead of being defiant, the tilt of her chin became an offering, an invitation.

His expression shifted once more. He had expected resistance, she was sure, and she almost smiled at his surprise, as subtle as it was. He never gave her the chance to express her amusement.

His mouth was over hers, devouring her with a hunger that made her falter. The kiss was rough, and heated, and it tore a soft moan of surprise and supplication from her throat as she surrendered to it.