They made good time from leaving the town, the roads were well maintained and there were few points of concern for ambush as open farmers’ fields stretched either side of the road toward Lowhaven. Taking the lead of their little column helped River remain vigint without the distraction of Celine and Cassandra. River’s vigince paid off as he spied a figure on horseback riding slowly toward them; suspecting a potential trap, he held up his hand to stop the others, although it didn’t take him long to recognise the figure coming down the road as Njal. Once Njal noticed that the group had stopped he kicked his horse into greater speed to come before them.

  “Fucking Guild Master! No fucking work except a cushy escort job given to a wet behind the ears prick like you!”

  “Good morning to you to Njal, could you kindly move aside as we are in something of a hurry.”

  I really didn’t want a confrontation with him in front of a client, but it seemed he was going to give me no choice.

  “Fuck that and fuck you! Oi, rich guy, you want real protection, ditch this fucker and take me. I’m twice the bde he is!”

  Balthazar remained seated in his horse and remained calm.

  “I find my current escort agreeable thank you, I cannot yet vouch for his swordpy, though it comes well recommended, he at least speaks with a certain degree of curtesy.”

  Njal’s face turned beat red, and he just stopped himself from speaking, clearly having some kind of internal battle.

  “I apologise… sir. My manner of speaking may be crude next to this pampered boy, but my manners are rough from a life of trial. Let me and ‘im… him… fight. The winner will be the escort.”

  I turned to Balthazar to cut this off.

  “I’m not sure we have the ti-“

  Cassandra, with a wicked smirk, jumped in.

  “I think it’s an excellent idea father, for what we are paying we should have the very best, am I right?”

  Balthazar sighed, a sound I think I would associate with him more than any other.

  “What say you, River?”

  I was trapped, to back out would not reflect well on me yet any confrontation with another guild member was hardly an ideal reference either. I gave a sigh of my own.

  “Very well, I’ll try and make this quick so as not to disturb your journey.” I leaned close to Cassandra, who was looking triumphant, and whispered;

  “If he wins, you will have him for company for the next three days… he does not hold a high opinion of women. You may want to wish me luck.” There was at least some satisfaction in seeing her expression sour.

  With that, I swung down from my horse, and drew my sword, leaving my shield attached to the saddle bags. I wanted to be light on my feet and wasn’t sure how well the shield would stand up to blows from Njal’s greatsword which he was now swinging back and forth. Moving away from the horses and off the path, River kept facing him. Njal wasted no more time and lunged forward, relying on the greater reach of his sword, River took a half step back and one to the side to evade the blow, but Njal reversed the swing to follow me. River didn’t want to block the heavier sword directly so used his own to strike the point of his bde and send it off course. Attempting to use this distraction, he stepped forward with a downward stroke, but Njal recovered in time, grabbing the bde of sword with one hand, he parried River’s attack and staying in the half sword stance attempted an unorthodox stab. Grabbing hold of his own bde River stepped into the thrust, parrying it with his own bde and shing out with the hilt, scoring a small hit to Njal’s head before stepping back out of range. Rage fshed across his face, but the man was 15 years River’s senior at least and had been doing this awhile; he might be quick to anger but he knew how to control it. He advanced with measured steps and professional strokes of his sword, allowing no gaps in his defence and utilising the greater weight and reach of his bde to keep River at bay. For River’s part, he maintained his poise, avoiding going straight back, simply parrying the attacks that he to while moving small circles.

  Both men were breathing a little heavier, River judged he was the more skilled, but Njal greater experience seemed to be giving him the edge in the exchanges. The guild master’s words rang in River’s head about fighting dirty and wondered if that might be the prove an unexpected boon. He moved forward at Njal, just before he came into striking range, he again rushed forward but rather than unching an attack, he used the sword more as a ward, intent on closing the range even further. They again found themselves in half sword stances, almost chest to chest. Njal attempted to unch a headbutt and this is what River had been anticipating; goading even. Expecting the move, River threw himself down and into Njal’s legs shoulder first. The impact and Njal’s own forward momentum sent him spinning over River’s back who turned calmly around and, before Njal could stand back up, River kicked his supporting hand away and then kicked him in the face for good measure. Thank you, Guild Master. River pced my bde at Njal’s throat and stared him in the eyes.

  “I believe you are beaten Njal.” With that River stepped back and watched him with wary eyes. He didn’t say anything, simply gred, spat some blood and a tooth on the ground before getting back on his horse and riding away. River heard light appuse behind him.

  “Bravo, Sir River. An exceptional dispy.” Balthazar offered with a smile. Cassandra had her customary sneer fixed in pce.

  “Yes Father, most impressive. Two apes beating one another with sharpened sticks.”

  “I thought it was thrilling!” Celine favoured River with a smile of her own though strangely her eyes kept darting to the retreating figure of Njal with an expression I could not make out.

  “I must apologise, as you can tell Njal, and I have something of a history, and he wouldn’t have bothered us if I wasn’t here. I will understand if you need to deduct something from my fee.”

  “Nonsense my boy. Good to see you in action and to know we made the right choice. In spite of what my daughter may say, I appreciate that the pair of you operated with an exceptional level of skill.”

  They mounted back up and got under way, the remainder of the day was uneventful, and the Travellers Inn came into view just as the sun started to go down. River wondered idly if Njal had stopped off there but shook the thought away, he would not want to meet so soon after his defeat and would probably sooner sleep rough. A sign directed them to the Inn’s stables and indicated that they would need to care for the horses themselves. River volunteered himself for the task if Balthazar could get the rooms sorted. Cassandra could not resist a parting shot as she left the stables with her father.

  “You may be next to useless for protecting us, but you make a fine stable boy!” She ughed at her own joke and walked away before River could reply, Celine offered a sympathetic look as she passed. Balthazar simply looked embarrassed. River ground his teeth a little, it had been a long day, but he took his time with the horses. They would be carrying them on their journey, and he wanted to make sure they were in good health. It was full dark by the time he had finished and hoped that he would still be able to get some cooked food from the Inn’s kitchen. The front door led directly into the common room, which was pretty sparse, a few tables, mostly unoccupied with a bar at the far end past the staircase. In a corner River spied Balthazar, Celine and Cassandra finishing a meal. River waved to acknowledge them but headed directly to the bar tended by a plump innkeeper, sweating profusely; his squashed features were set in a scowl but seemed he seemed to brighten when seeing River.

  “Greetings young man, you the one with the generous gentleman over there?” She indicated Balthazar

  “I am yes.” Generous? That would expin the shift in mood, although it was Celine that his eyes lingered on rather than Balthazaar.

  “Good, your room is all paid for, and he asked me to keep some broth hot for you.”

  “That’s the best news I’ve had all day! Thank you, could I get a tankard of ale to go with that?”

  “Sure, enough d, I’ll grab your food and then get the ale sorted.”

  My evening meal taken care of I walked over to the table carrying m drink and food. Cassandra gave me her usual warm welcome.

  “You took your time, maybe you won’t make a stable boy after all.”

  River had endeavoured to be polite, but he was a warrior not a doormat and had hit the threshold of how much he would take, wealthy client or no.

  “Those horses are what make this a three-day trip and not a fortnight, they will save our feet and potentially our lives. I would insist on you helping sort your own animal as your own safety depends upon the beasts, but I wouldn’t want you to break a nail!”

  Cassandra stared at him in mute fury while Balthazar burst out ughing.

  “Good for you boy! I wondered how long it would take for you to snap!”

  “Father, will you allow this ape to insult me? Celine?”

  Celine was hiding her mouth behind her hand and was shaking herself. Honestly, River didn’t think it was that funny but perhaps Cassandra didn’t get it back that often. Following an awkward silence Balthazar got them back on track, they once again went over the route and some finer details of potential threats along the way not least a set of hills surrounding the road that they would come to the following day. With the necessary details discussed Balthazar let out a loud yawn and stretched.

  “Well, it has been a long day, and it seems we are in for a couple more, so I am going to take the opportunity to make the most of having a bed and get some sleep. Try not to stay up too much ter you three.” With that he got up and headed to the stairs leaving me with the two daughters. A short silence ensued before Celine asked:

  “So, River, what led you to become an adventurer?”

  “Hmmm, you want the long, heroic version or the short and sweet version?”

  Celine answered, “Long and heroic” just as Cassandra said, “short and sweet please.”

  River had to ugh.

  “I’ll aim for somewhere in the middle but will need to know how two sisters ended up so different afterwards. Where to start? Well, I come from the east side of the Kingdom, I grew up in Scarston-“

  “I thought you would stick a bit closer to short and sweet.” Cassandra interjected.

  “There won’t be much after this I swear. Anyway, my dad is Captain of the guard there so I kind of grew up with a sword and spear. Adventuring seemed a good way to see some of the world, learn a bit, do some good and get paid in the process.”

  “Some good, ha!” Cassandra snorted

  “That’s rude!”

  “Don’t worry Celine, we are not always understood”

  “What’s to understand?! Barbarian man children running around with chunks of iron putting holes in one another.”

  Again, Celine went to reprove her sister, but River raised a hand, before answering himself.

  “There is the misunderstanding Cassandra, right there. The Adventurers Guild was formed by the Living Saint himself. We avoid wars much like the Mage Guild, we set out to protect trade routes, hunt monsters and demi humans, we police cities when needed such as Lowhaven now that it’s guardsmen will be getting called to arms. When the Great Tsunami hit the coastal city of Tide it was the adventures guild that responded first, we built shelters, tended the wounded and reunited families. We fill the gaps in society, protect the weak and yes, sometimes, we put holes in other people with chunks of iron. “

  Cassandra spluttered for a second but was not one to back off from a fight.

  “And what of your ‘friend’ Njal? Is he alone, an isoted incident, the only rotten apple in the barrel?”

  “It’s true the likes of Njal skirt the lines of our order yet he has yet to outright break any of them. If he had he would be removed from the order and be nothing more than a mercenary. He is not the only member to of the order to focus more on the combative side of our role but even those members can only take the contracts that are given.”

  Cassandra stared at River hard for a second, she was not happy with the response and still not willing to drop her prejudice but then again had to accept she was not going to get the man to renounce his entire livelihood on one conversation, and with that she downed the rest of her drink and stood up with a slight wobble.

  “I’m going for another drink, would anybody like anything?”

  River and Celine both demurred and Cassandra made her way to stand in growing crowd to the bar, held up by one rather rge patron who kept changing his order. River smiled as another punter made to grab Cassandra’s arse before seeing the expression on her face and thinking better of it.

  “So, Celine, you and your sister couldn’t be any more different.”

  “Please don’t think ill of Cassandra, she has a lot to bear. My father is a good man but also an important one. Our mother died young and since I have no magic at all it fell to Cassandra to pick up where Mother’s support left off. She’s always looked out for me though, even with all that pressure.”

  “How so?”

  Cassandra looked undecided for a second, a somewhat shy smile forming on the usually bold girl’s face. She leaned forward conspiratorially, gncing over toward the bar although oddly it did not seem to be Cassandra that she was looking at.

  “Weeeellll… when I was fifteen, I found a book in the guild library…. Erm I’m not sure why it was there…”

  “What kind of book.”

  “… … … it was instructions on exotic dancing-“

  “WHA-“ River stopped himself shouting further although a few heads turned.

  “Yes, well I had a lot of free time, especially since I ducked out of sessions with Father’s tutors any chance I could get. So, I took the book and started practicing. I got pretty good too. As a treat to myself, on my eighteenth birthday I went to a local tavern and… well… performed. People went wild!”

  Looking at the beautiful young woman in front of him, River could well imagine!

  “I was basking in it right up until I saw Cassandra’s face in the crowd. Everything fell away; I remember the panic. She left before I could get to her. She found me the next day and rather than telling Father or chastising me, she gave me this.” Celine reached into her blouse and pulled out a small, silver amulet, it was a simple looking piece at first but on closer inspection you could see tiny ruins engraved upon it. River knew what it was, known as the Whore’s Friend it was an increasingly common charm that prevented pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.

  “From your expression I can see you have come across these before, Cassandra simply handed it over and said ‘if you are going to be doing that kind of thing then at the very least you should stay safe’ she never said anything to Father, and I think she may even have covered up my whereabouts to him. Still, it’s been nearly a year now and I haven’t dared do anything like that again, although I stayed in practice. “She gave River a rge smile. “I’ve not had many chances to make use of my amulet either.”

  Cassandra picked that moment to return, smming three drinks on the table.

  “Put that away! Do you want to draw every sex starved peasant in the pce over here with nothing more than this waste of space to protect your virtue?!”

  In spite of himself, River let out a ugh.

  “Thank you for the drink although I have still not finished my first one.” And then, just because he couldn’t help himself added: “And have no fear, your sister’s virtue is safe with me!”

  Celine who had just been taking a drink from her mug let out a snort and sprayed ale across the table before holding up a hand in a pcating gesture.

  “Sorry Cassandra”

  Again, her eyes went back to the bar and seemed to linger on the Innkeeper. Surely not?

  The three recovered from this and finished their drinks in retively easy conversation although Celine continued to flirt with River, perhaps a little too obviously all the while looking elsewhere. It dawned on River that he was being used as a kind of shield; he did not mind and even offered a wink to show he was in on the game and was ok with it; life was short, and people had to take what pleasure they could. Then again, where she seemed to be taking it was a little unsettling.

  Once inside his room, River wasted no time in pulling off his brigandine and undershirt, his Guild amulet resting against a broad, powerful chest. He was just about to pull off his breeches when he heard a small, gentle rap at his door. River allowed himself a small smile as he moved to open it, and it was little surprise when he saw Cassandra on the other side. For her part she wasted no time in marching herself into the bedroom, pausing in the centre to stair disdainfully around before nding on River and lingering a little longer than she intended on his bare chest.

  “Can I help you?” River asked.

  “Yes, you can, you can stay the hells away from my sister!”

  “She is a grown woman and from what I can see, one very capable of making up her own mind on such matters.”

  Cassandra stared at River again this time meeting his eye.

  “She is a strong-willed girl for sure which brings enough problems without her risking getting love struck on a degenerate sellsword.” River went to object, but Cassandra forestalled him with a raised hand. “For you this may be an opportunity to bed a beautiful girl, maybe you think it could lead to more. Frankly, she can do better than you.” For just a moment her eyes strayed back to his bare chest. “She may not have magical talent, but she is from good standing with wealth and influence coming her way. I don’t want her to waste that. And so- “She hesitated, blushed and River remembered how attractive Cassandra herself was. She coughed and seemed to make a decision.

  “And so, I will offer you what you obviously want and in exchange you leave her alone.”

  River considered her then, he knew this was rgely driven by a need to protect her sister and yet the way her eyes lingered on him made him realise that beneath the haughty exterior, she perhaps had desires, the same as anybody else.

  “And what is stopping her making advances on me?” River asked, knowing now he was not quite her type but wondering if Celine’s little game might yet work in his favour.

  “Celine will know I am here. She will- “She paused, her blush deepening “She will know what happened and she will let the matter lie for whilst I look out for her, she will also look out for me.”

  “It’s a tempting offer but no.”

  “NO?!”

  “No.” River repeated

  Cassandra spluttered at him for a moment.

  “YOU ARROGANT, EMPTY HEADED- WHY- URGH! I COME HERE AND PRACTICALLY THROW-“This time it was River who raised a hand in the air to stop her speaking.

  “The answer is no unless you admit that this is something you are doing at least in part because you want to.”

  “So, you what, want me to beg like some dockside whore?!”

  “No, I want you to be honest with me and yourself. And quite frankly, I don’t want to bed a woman who is not interested.”

  She spluttered for another moment, calmed herself. Then, suddenly, she smiled. It was a small smile, and it gentled her face.”.

  “Ha! You know not many men can get so far under my skin sellsword.” She took a small step toward him “Perhaps you need to be a little more honest yourself.” She took another step, reaching to the top of her dress. “Not sure you want to bed me?” Another step forward, unhooking the straps as she moved. Another step and the dress fell to the ground leaving her in just her underclothes and a neckce very simir to her sister’s. She did not have the wide hips of her sister, her breasts were not quite so pert not did her waist pinch quite so much yet if River had not seen Celine earlier today, Cassandra would almost undoubtedly be the most beautiful woman he had id eyes on and he drank in the sight of her as she closed the remaining distance and carefully pced a hand on his chest. He stared down into the deep, blue eyes and smile. She smiled back, thinking him trapped.

  “You are beautiful, and I am happy to admit I would love to bed you” She began to smile in triumph. “But only if you admit that you want this as well.”

  She gaped up, made to pull away from him but he grabbed the hand still on his chest. Not a firm grip, she could get free if she wanted. River said no more, simply stared into her eyes.

  “You are a brute, uncultured, uncouth and unsuitable for just about anything. But you just might at the very least be suited for a night of passion. Yes, you horrible man, I do not find you unappealing.”

  “Hmm I suppose that will have to do.” She let out a small shriek as he caught her by surprise, lifting her by her buttocks and marching to the bed. The bed was small but suitable enough for what River had in mind as he gently y Cassandra down upon it. Cassandra was still a little guarded, River proposed to ease her in. Pnting small, delicate kissed across her skin; he was indiscriminate in their location, across the tops of her breasts, along her sides and then, slowly, he worked his way down her stomach listening keenly for reactions and working those areas a little more when a small gasp or moan was elicited. All the while his hands worked her free of her undergarments until she y naked beneath him, now trembling hands clutching at the bedsheets. He continued his descent, pcing kisses along a soft, toned stomach and down to the carefully trimmed thatch of her sex. He lingered here for a while, kissing the moist, slightly parted lips as if they were the mouth of a lover before he worked his way back, noting that Cassandra’s breath was coming in short shallow bursts, he whole body now trembling like a leaf in a storm. He paused his kisses, taking hold of her hands and moving them above her head before pinning them beneath one of his own, powerful callused hands. She strained against him on instinct, they locked eyes and River held that pose, enjoying his dominance over the haughty mage, she seemed to enjoy it herself as her usually stern features become soft and docile; wide eyes pleaded silently with him, in a final show of defeat, she lowered her gaze and River chose that moment to impale her, his full, rock hard length went almost all the way in to her slick womanhood and she gasped beneath him; he did not allow her any chance to acclimatise, with one hand still holding her arms in pce he used his free hand to grasp her buttocks and lift her hip up; with this, he drove her into her mercilessly. She whimpered beneath him, rocking her abdomen back and forth, desperately trying to match his pace; then, in a show of submission she made to roll over, River pulling back and allowing the motion; when she was free, she tried to wriggle away only for River to easily drag her back and pcing a small smack on her arse. She looked over her shoulder and offered perhaps the first true smile that he had seen on her face before getting onto all fours, arse in the air. River wasted no more time and seized her hips before ramming back into her over and over. Suddenly she clenched tight around him shuddering, a drawn-out moan escaping her lips and tipping River over the edge as he exploded into her, followed by a few, gentle follow up thrusts. As he pulled out, she colpsed face down into the bed, lying a still sodden mess. River sat next to her, running a hand gently along the length of her back. They stayed that way for a few minutes when, without a word, she got up, got dressed and slipped out toward her own room. River idly wondered if Celine would be there or still off on her own liaison. Deciding it wasn’t his problem; he y back and drifted off in a satisfied sleep. He had a big day coming up.