Quincunx Ch. 20

"I know, but he'll have real guards and lots of spells so you need to practice, he might even have his own wizard there. You'll need to be careful."

"I will be, he might have a wizard in his employ but I doubt that he stands guard in the vault and I'm not afraid of any spell, I can counter those with ease."

"Perhaps you can but practice never hurt anyone."

"Okay, if you're that concerned then I will show you tomorrow how much practice I need."

"Thank you, and now shall we get on with tonight's business?"

We walked over to the main building and up the side stairs to Rash's rooms, I was feeling a bit self-conscious about the sword dangling at my side, the scabbard slapping my thigh. I knocked on Rash's door but got no answer.

Boldly I opened the door and called out. "Rash!"

I strode across and knocked on the bedroom door.

"Rash?" I called again.

I waited a few seconds and then turned to Xen.

"We'll knock again," I said. "And if there's no answer you go in and see if she's sleeping or something."

"Me, I don't know her well enough, you ought to look."

"A gentleman never enters a lady's bedroom uninvited, you should go just in case."

"Did you only make love to her in the dark then?"

"No, but I'm not her lover still." I turned and knocked again.

As the moments stretched on I turned back to her. "Go on, just peek around the door."

She gave me an uncomfortable look but reached for the door handle. She inched the door open and popped her head in. She drew her head back quickly.

"She's asleep on the bed, you stay here and I'll go and wake her."

I stepped back from the door as she entered. If I had come alone that would have been me waking her, I wondered how she was dressed.

"You can come in," shouted Xen.

I opened the door to see Xen and Rash sitting on the side of the bed. Rash was dressed in only her vest and knickers, the short kind they wore here that showed off her lovely long legs. In my trousers my prodder twitched at the sight of her exposed flesh.

"I didn't expect you yet, what hour is it?" Rash asked.

"The last eighth of the sun,"Xen answered.

"Well I'm glad you're here, Xen can help me dress now, if she doesn't mind" Rash said. "I can never get all the buttons at the back."

"I'll leave you to it then." I said turning to leave.

"If you wish," Rash said as I walked back out into the sitting room.