Mickey Reichert - The legend of Nightfall

These considerations flew through Nightfall’s mind in an instant. He glared into Kelryn’s face with a menace he believed she would not dare to challenge. "Play along. Make a mistake and my torture will make the Father’s hell you find afterward seem merciful." Without awaiting a reply, or even a change of expression, he partially turned to open the door. Any attempt by Kelryn to feign innocence or surprise might drive him to the very violence he had sought and failed to dredge forth moments earlier. She lived now only by the grace of two things: a sorcerer’s magic and Nightfall’s growing devotion to his master. He tried to convince himself the first reason remained the more important of the two.

Nightfall pulled the door open, and Prince Edward stood outlined in its frame. Though he hated the need, Nightfall resumed his proper role, taking care to keep his attention and his warning stare on Kelryn. "Prince Edward Nargol of Alyndar." His arm traced the appropriate flourish, though with hurried awkwardness, "Master, this is Kelryn. We grew up in the same town."Kelryn curtsied, still graceful despite her obvious bewilderment.

From the edge of his vision, Nightfall could tell Prince Edward had not moved. His silence seemed so uncharacteristic it became worrisome. Nightfall routed more of his direct attention on his master.

The prince gawked at what was, apparently, the first near-naked woman he had seen. He squirmed, trying valiantly to tear his gaze away, propriety battling pleasure with a frenzy that seemed unwinnable. "Oh," he managed, averting his eyes with impressive self-control. "I’m sorry. I didn’t know you needed… I mean…" He stepped inside, closed the door, and politely kept his back to Kelryn.

Nightfall flicked his gaze deliberately to the dress on the floor. Kelryn raised her brows in question but picked up her clothing and shook glass fragments from the fabric. She pulled it over her head, adjusting the seams. She broke the silence. "I apologize for my dress, noble sir. I wasn’t expecting company. I hope I didn’t offend.”

"Offend?" Prince Edward took a surreptitious peek to ascertain that Kelryn had used the moment to make herself decent before he turned around fully. “Dear me, no. I’m sorry we barged in on you. I had no idea." He looked, at Nightfall for an explanation, but his eyes betrayed him, slipping back to examine Kelryn’s firm and slender figure through the close-fitting material.

Nightfall knew a twinge of what felt maddeningly like jealousy. "Master, I’m sorry for my long absence. I saw Kelryn for the first time in years and thought I should greet her."

"You would have been remiss to do otherwise, Sudian." Although he addressed his squire, Edward’s attention locked on Kelryn’s eyes. He shuffled toward her, heavy boots crunching glass shards to powder. "I’m so sorry about disturbing you, and I’d like to make amends. Would you have dinner with Sudian and me tonight?"

No! Nightfall shook his head, gesturing briskly for Kelryn to decline.

The dancer hesitated momentarily. Then a smile curled onto her face, and she shrugged slightly for Nightfall’s benefit. "Noble sir," Kelryn said softly. "I would be honored.”

Nightfall perched on the broad window sill of their inn room, staring through the wavy glass. It overlooked an alleyway, and the wall of the opposite shop had become tediously familiar while Prince Edward bathed, dressed, and groomed. Nightfall believed he could picture every weathered mortar chip and splotch of dirt on building stone with his eyes closed. His mind worried the situation no matter how hard he tried to thrust it from his thoughts, and the same conclusion rose repeatedly. An association between a betrayer and the man whose safety determined the lot of Nightfall’s soul could only lead to disaster. He needed to halt the dinner before it began. Barring that, he would make it an experience neither wished to repeat. Once they separated, he could find a way to slaughter Kelryn without Edward’s knowledge or interest.

The prince’s voice jarred Nightfall from his inescapable contemplation. “Sudian, what do you think of this?"

Nightfall swiveled his head to study his master. Edward wore a blue silk shirt beneath a supple leather tunic, and his breeks matched the shirt so perfectly in shade they had obviously been dyed, if not tailored, together. In lieu of his usual travel boots, he had donned lacing doeskin dress wear colored to match his clothing. He had combed his wet locks back, and they now fell in rakish, blond feathers around the straight and sturdy features. Nightfall had to admit his master looked appropriately princely, and it only added to his annoyance. "What do I think about what, Master?"

"This." Prince Edward made a gesture that spanned from his neck to his feet. The movement sent the spicy scent of perfume wafting to Nightfall.

Nightfall scowled, determined to place the dinner back into proper perspective. "I think it’s wonderful, Master, if you’re attending a court feast. For guzzling ale and spoiled meat in a dirty, southern tavern with a whore, it seems a bit formal."

"Whore?" Edward blinked, expression bewildered. Then, his eyes narrowed, and a red flush of irritation arose. "Sudian! That’s a horrible thing to call a lady.”

"A lady, yes. A prostitute, no."

"Stop it, Sudian! What happened to the manners I taught you?"

Nightfall spun around on the sill, drawing one leg to his chest and allowing the other to dangle. "Master, Kelryn accepts money from men to have sex with them. I believe that’s the definition of whore."

Edward smoothed back stray hairs. "When did you last see your lady friend?"

Nightfall weighed the answer, trying to guess the intention of the question in order to give the best response. "A few years ago, Master.”

"People change, Sudian."

"With all the proper respect, Master, Kelryn seemed awfully comfortable nearly naked in front of two men."

"She’s a dancer." Prince Edward pushed his sundries aside and sat on the desk beside them. The room also contained a wash basin, a crate, and straw on the floor that served as beds. Their supplies lay propped in a corner. "And we surprised her. She probably worried more for her safety than her garb." He smiled, his expression whimsical. "When a woman has a body like hers, there’s little need to hide it."

Nightfall bit his lip. In response to the prince’s defense, annoyance flared, though Nightfall did not wholly understand the intensity of his own reaction. "Being a prostitute doesn’t keep her from being my friend. But it’s not a proper association for a prince."

Prince Edward smoothed nonexistent wrinkles from his clothing. "I appreciate your concern, Sudian. But I’m in a better position to judge my associations than you." He studied Nightfall who still wore the same fading livery he had donned for the dance show. "Did you want to freshen up, too?"

"Master, I just think…" Nightfall trailed off, realizing he should answer the question before making his point. “I mean no, Master. I’m ready enough for dinner with Kelryn." The words brought memories of the foolish lengths to which love had once driven him. Then, he had dressed in his cleanest and best to entertain this woman, carefully combing out the dirty tangles that defined the character of Marak. "I mean she… well…" He wanted to speak cautiously but wound up blurting instead. "She has the clap, Master."

"The clap?"

"You know, Master. Bad blood. The delicate disease."

“l know what the clap is, Sudian." Annoyance tainted Edward’s voice. "And I also know how it’s spread. Having dinner is not the way." His eyes narrowed. "And how do you know what she has?”

I gave it to her. At least if you ask her old roommate in Nemix. "She told me, Master. I know."