Chapter 10: The plan

“Just tell us the plan you have in mind,” Koth told his brother. Koth hadn’t missed how his brother seemed to constantly flirt with Irin. For some reason, it irritated him, especially now since she had stopped shutting him down after a few words.

“We need to create a situation where Mohind is away from his bodyguards and distracted enough for me to nab the trinket,” his brother said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“I’m guessing you already have a distraction figured out?” Irin asked.

“Of course I have. It’s you.”

“Me?” she asked.

“I don’t like where this is going,” Koth interjected.

“You haven’t even heard the plan, why are you so negative? Relax and enjoy the high of planning a heist. Don’t be a desolate landscape of misery and grumpiness.” Jasper shot him an irritated look, and Koth grumbled. He really didn’t like where this conversation was going.

“So, what exactly are your plans for me?” Irin asked.

“I’m so happy you asked. You, my friend, are going to be the femme fatale that will make poor Mohind lose his marbles,” Jasper said with a huge grin.

“What?” Irin asked.

“Never going to happen!” Koth said, standing up.

“Irin, you proved that you can be quite alluring if you put your mind to it. What better way to lure an over-pompous head to lose his focus than a beautiful woman?” Jasper said.

“So it was just a test?” Irin asked. Koth didn’t know what she was talking about; he felt like he was missing an important part of the conversation.

“Of course not, the offer still stands if you have changed your mind.” Jasper flashed one of his brilliant smiles at Irin, and she scoffed.

“What offer? I thought we already told you she isn’t going to come and work for you,” Koth said.

“Dear, dear brother, there are other things in life than work. The offer doesn't concern you, nor does it extend to you.”

“So what? I’m just going to walk into the casino and bat my eyelashes and he will go all gooey?” Irin asked.

“Well, no, not quite. We will make sure you are dressed as a casino goer, we will make sure he notices you – I’m still ironing out the details on that one. Then you work that considerable charm on him, and I lift the amulet, and you say thank you, but no thank you, and we get out of there,” Jasper told them.

“Not going to happen,” Koth said again.

“Why not?” Jasper asked.

“We can’t send her into that place, into harm’s way, into the clutches of someone who has that kind of amulet.”

“I think she can do it; you saw the power she displayed at the temple. It’s not like we’re sending her in unarmed. That nifty little sword she has, which no one can see, will be a nice extra failsafe,” Jasper said.

“She’s too young; we can’t have her be involved in those types of things,” Koth insisted.

“What kind of things? Flirting? Sex? I promise you, brother, she will be out of there long before it comes to sex. Flirting, on the other hand, will be required. But I think she is more than capable of it.”

“No, we will find another way,” Koth said.

"Excuse me," Irin interrupted, "I don't know if you two have noticed, but I'm standing right here. I don't appreciate you talking over my head. I am more than capable of deciding for myself. I don't really like the plan, but if it's the best option, I will do my part. But I will need some kind of dress."

"I promise you will have a dress that makes every woman envy you," Jasper told her. Koth shot him a hard look.

"Irin, you don't have to do this. Just because my brother says it's the only way, doesn't necessarily make it true. Seducing someone like him takes practice," Koth tried to reason with her. She gave him a hard look.

"I don't care if you don't think I can do it. I am doing it. Now, I'm going to bed and contemplate my life and how it has led me to this new low point. Good night," she said, swirling around and walking out of the room. They had been given guest rooms in the family estate earlier in the afternoon, and Koth assumed that's where she was heading.

"You underestimate her," Jasper said. He had dropped his fun and carefree attitude; now it was just the two of them.

"I'm trying to protect her. She is innocent," Koth argued.

"According to you. Have you actually taken the time to get to know her? She is an amazing woman."

"I know that," Koth said. And he did. Irin was skilled, she had a good heart and somehow always saw the good in people. That's why this was such a bad idea.

"No, I don't think you do. You have decided she is some young woman who needs your protection, but she isn't. She is a fully grown woman; she has depth."

"So you talk to her for a couple of hours, and you know her better than I do?" Koth asked, his need to punch his brother growing.

"Maybe I do."

"Right, you are trying to make her into a seductress. She is dedicated to her temple; she shouldn't be doing things like that."

"Don't you think I know how dedicated she is? Do you think I got hit in the head when she threw me against a pillar, or was so drunk I don't remember how she threw me like a twig? A cleric with that kind of power is dedicated. But Alesseja isn't some goddess that demands celibacy or has some hang-up about purity. Why do you think her temple is one of the most popular in the city?" Jasper told him. Koth just looked at his brother. Had he really missed something about Irin?

"When you were busy flirting with my chef, I took the time to get to know your companion a little better. She is no temple virgin," Jasper said with a smirk.

"What on earth did you two talk about, if you know that about her?" Koth asked, growing agitated and starting to pace.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"I would, that's why I'm asking. Does it have to do with the offer you mentioned?"

"If you must know, I offered to take her out on a date tonight. And before you go crazy, she turned me down. Do you know how rare that is?"

"My heart bleeds for you. What were you thinking, Jasper? She is far too young and far too innocent to go on a date with you," Koth said, genuinely surprised his brother had asked Irin out.

"Not really. You just think she is. But she really isn't. And she turned me down anyway. I don't think I have a chance with her, which is a pity. I think she would be quite an experience."

"Jasper!"

"Just saying. You need to take another look at her. And you need to stop being so blind," Jasper said with a sigh.

"You're insane. But now she has decided she will do it, there's no way to persuade her otherwise. Now it's up to us to keep her safe," Koth said.

"Yeah, you just keep believing that. What we need to do is come up with a good plan to get Irin noticed by Mohind." Koth sat down at the table. With both his brother and Irin set on this plan, the best he could do was make sure it was as foolproof as possible. No matter what his brother said, Koth would protect Irin. That was the whole reason he had come on this mission.

Hours later, Koth was walking back to his room. Years ago, his family had offered him his own room in the house, but he had never accepted it. He knew back then he wasn't going to stay; he wanted to get back to Gahndas. Spending time with his brother had made him realise how much he missed his family. They weren't a typical family, they had their issues, but in the end, they were still family. And Koth had to admit he had been neglecting that relationship. He had been too engrossed in his studies and work. And then there was the nagging fear that if he came back here, he would be sucked back into the world he had tried so hard to leave behind.

"Koth." He turned towards the soft voice. It was the chef. Koth had forgotten her name. He smiled, feeling his old mask click into place like a well-worn pair of boots.

"Hi there," he said.

"Heading to bed?" she asked.

"Yeah, it's been a crazy day. Most days with my brother are. But I guess I don't need to tell you that," he said.

She laughed and walked up to him.

“No, you’re right, there’s always something going on. He’s always planning something. Never a dull moment,” she agreed.

Koth kept his smile in place with almost no effort; he had trained himself to give off a carefree smile no matter what. But his thoughts were elsewhere. “Do you want some company?” she asked.

It took Koth a moment to realise what she was talking about. It had been a while since he'd flirted with a woman, and even longer since he'd taken one to his bed.

“I would enjoy that,” he said, letting his hand fall to her waist to tug her a little closer.

She put a hand on his chest, and it felt warm against his skin. Koth bent down and felt her tug on his hair to pull him closer as their lips met. She had soft lips, and the kiss was nice. Nothing that was setting his world on fire, but it wasn’t bad.

Koth heard a door closing nearby; it closed with a little more force than one would expect. He ended the kiss and looked up. The corridor was empty, yet he had a feeling Irin had been there recently. The thought of the cleric made his thoughts take a path which almost had him forgetting the woman in his arms.