Masques (Sianim #1)(11)

The thought of herself as an art object made her snicker. Even before she'd become battle-scarred she'd been short, plain, and too willing to speak her own mind.

The two men who had been following her were getting close enough to be bothersome. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed them slink behind a cart she'd just passed. Her left hand went automatically to her sword. Her right already held a dagger.

One of the thugs said to the other in a stage whisper meant to carry to her, "Runyons! She saw us again. I told you to change those shoes. They make too much noise."

She laughed and spun around to face them. "'Struth! You're getting better, though. This time I honestly thought that you were just a couple of thieves."

The second one pushed the first sideways with a playful punch. "See, Kai? I told you that we'd do better blending in with the environment. Who pays attention to a couple of hog-lovers in this place?"

Kai twitched one eyebrow upward, managing despite the muck to look aristocratic. "However, if you had worn the shoes I told you to ..." He let his voice trail off and flashed the snapping grin that made him look more like his twin, Talor. With practiced case he slipped out of his assumed character and flung an arm around Aralorn's neck. "Well, my dear, it looks like I have you at my mercy." Or at least that's what he meant to say. Actually, thought Aralorn, the last word sounded more like "eyah" than "mercy."

She turned to Talor and with a straight face remarked, "I need to bathe in muck more often. It seems to work better than throwing him on the ground and making him look silly like I did the last time he tried to kiss me, don't you think?"

Talor assumed a serious demeanor, but before he could say whatever he intended to, Kai broke in. "Tell me. Lady, what villain gave you that perfume? Surely it must be cursed. Let me slay him for you that you may once again be your sweet-smelling self."

She laughed. "The funny thing is that I had almost gotten use to smelling like this. I was going to go to the practice ring but I think that I'll head to the baths first. Interested in a little fun?" Kai brightened comically until she added, "In the ring, of course."

Kai bowed low. "To my sorrow I have a previous engagement." He slanted her a grin. "Do you remember that redhead in the thirty-second?"

"Uhm-hmm," She raised an eyebrow, shook her head and then in an exaggeratedly sorrowful tone commented, "Poor girl, doomed to a broken heart." Then she grinned and said, "Have a good time, Kai." He waved and sauntered away.

Aralorn looked at Talor and inquired, "Does he really have a date with Sera?"

He laughed. "Probably not, but he will. Especially if he remembers to clean up first. He just doesn't like being beaten by a woman. The whole squad ribbed him about it for two weeks the last time you beat him. I, on the other hand, have no pride and, after you rid yourself of the unfair advantage you now hold" - he grabbed his nose with a hand to show her what he meant - "I will await you at the Hawk and Hound when you get back from the baths."

"Done." She gave him a mock salute and headed for the baths, grinning.

* * *

IN ONE OF THE SPARRING RINGS THE HAWK AND HOUND TAVERN provided, they faced each other warily with the body-length staffs held lightly in their hands. Normally they were evenly matched, Talor being a better fighter than his brother, but Aralorn was still stiff. They fought together often, because no one else wanted to face them with staves.

Because they were sparring, they played with variations on training dances, and rather than hitting for body shots they tried to hit a small metal plate, which dangled from a belt. Normally there would be a third to call shots fair or foul and to award points at the sound of wood striking metal, but she and Talor were veterans and cared more for the sport than for the winning or losing. The ring that they had chosen was in the basement of the tavern, so they had no spectators. By mutual consent they stopped for a bit to rest before they proceeded out of the standard patterns.

"So, what was that smell anyway? It seems somewhat familiar but I just can't place it. Something tike a cross between an outhouse and a pig barn." Talor's voice was somewhat unsteady because he was stretching out as he talked.

Aralorn leaned, unashamedly panting, against one of the waist high walls that surrounded the ring; she'd recovered most of her normal strength on the ride home, but not all. She started to think up a reason for the moat smell, but decided that there was no harm in letting him know what she'd been doing. It would go no farther than his brother, and both Kai and Talor knew when to keep their mouths shut.

"Well," she said, "unless you've been visiting the Magician's castle lately it probably wouldn't be too familiar. I wish the ae'Magi smelled as pure as his moat ...." Conditioned reflexes were the only thing that brought her staff up to deflect his from her face. The sheer force of the blow numbed her hands, as she hadn't been holding the staff in a proper grip.

She ducked underneath his arm to come to the center of the arena and give herself some room for maneuvering. The move also gave her a chance to talk. "What are you doing?"

Talor's face twisted with wrath as he came after her. "How dare you! How can you be so disrespectful of the ae'Magi? You ungrateful witch!" Even as he swung he proceeded to call her, methodically, every foul name she'd heard. It was his rage that saved her, interfering with the timing and precision of his attacks. Time and time again she was able to block or turn aside his furious blows.