Chapter 12: Where are you hiding your sword?

Irin stared at the dress that Jasper's staff had given her. There was no way she was wearing that, she decided. She was used to her lilac tunic with a blue cloak. She had dressed in it since she became a cleric. It was convenient, with no need to think about what to wear each day. The dress she was supposed to wear was nothing like those clothes. It was deep green, had no sleeves, slits that went far too high up her legs, and gold coloured wires sewn to the top to resemble some sort of harness.

“We need to get the amulet,” she said aloud, reminding herself that she was brave – brave enough even to wear something like this. She took a deep breath and went for it. Once she was dressed and looked at herself in the mirror, she realised two things. The cleavage was far more revealing than she had imagined; you could see part of her breasts. And there was no way she could fasten her sword harness on top of the dress and make it look good. She would have to go without her sword, which made her feel even more naked than the dress. She looked in the mirror and adjusted the curls that had been set into her hair, before pinning them back. She was ready, but she felt a strong urge to remain in her room. If she went out, Koth and Jasper would be there, and she didn’t know if she could handle that. A few moments of deep breathing later, she decided she could do it.

“Women always take long to get ready. It doesn't mean something is wrong,” she heard Jasper say as she approached the living area.

“I’m ready,” she said as she walked into the room. The two men turned towards her, and then there was silence. Okay, this isn’t uncomfortable at all,she thought as the two brothers stared at her without saying anything.

“Where are you hiding your sword?” Jasper finally asked. Irin giggled; it felt like a nice change, and she needed something to take the edge off the situation.

“Nowhere, it’s in my room. I can’t hide it wearing this; the harness will be noticed,” she said.

“You can’t go in defenseless,” Koth objected. Irin rolled her eyes. She knew she should be grateful that he was looking out for her, but him treating her like a little child rubbed her the wrong way.

“I’m not defenseless, I’m without my sword,” she corrected him. “You aren’t wearing one either,” she pointed out.

“It’s not allowed to be armed at the casino, and I don’t need it. I have my magic,” Koth said.

“That makes two of us then.” The two of them stared at each other.

“Okay, good to know the spirits are high. You look amazing, Irin,” Jasper said, walking up to her and kissing her hand. Irin hated the fact that she blushed.

“Thank you, Jasper. You look quite handsome,” she told him. He wasn’t the only one, she thought. Koth had forgone the usual open robe and bare chest for a dress tunic in bright red. He had braided his beard and added decorative pearls at the end of the braid, with the same in his hair. But she wouldn’t tell him, not when he was grumpy like this.

“I’ll go and see if everything is ready for us outside,” Koth said, turning around and marching out of the room.

“Are you sure the two of you can’t trade places?” Irin asked Jasper.

He laughed and then gave her one of his disarming

smiles. “Regretting not going on a date with me? Sorry, but Koth really is better at playing the charming noble than I am. And I’m definitely better at being stealthy,” he told her. “Hey, don’t let him get to you. My brother is an expert at putting on his charlatan cloak and enveloping himself in fake smiles, flirtatious behaviour and that ridiculous manner he has. But when it comes to interacting with people he actually cares about, he just gets grumpy and difficult.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I think he is about to make a big mistake, and I care enough about him to make sure I do my best to try and stop him.”

“And me knowing he is grumpy towards his family will help him not to make the mistake? I don’t get it,” she said.

“No, he will still make the mistake, he is stubborn that way. I’m just hoping you knowing more about him will mean it won’t become a disaster,” Jasper told her as Koth walked into the room again, ending the conversation.

“They are ready for us,” he said, holding out a hand toward Irin.

“Go on, pretend to have some fun. No, scratch that, actually do have some fun. I will see you in a couple of hours,” Jasper said as he walked out in a different direction. They would make their way to the casino separately. Next time they saw him, they would hopefully be close to getting the artefact from Mohind. Koth helped Irin up into the carriage they had hired for the evening. It was getting dark and Irin looked at the city as they travelled through it. The dark stones the buildings were made of deepened the shadows cast by the lanterns. It was as if the city had been built for sneaking around in the shadows.

“What are you thinking about?” Koth asked.

“I’m just watching the city. It’s so different from everything I have seen before,” she said.

“It’s one of a kind,” Koth agreed.

“What was it like growing up here?” she asked.

“I didn’t grow up here; I moved here when I was fifteen. That was just after Krim, that’s my other brother, Jasper and I met our father. He thought we would have a better chance of making it in this city. He was right. It was easier for people like us to thrive here,” he told her. Irin looked at him. He hadn’t met his father until he was fifteen? She wondered what the man looked like. She guessed he was human as he seemed to be the father of both Koth and Jasper.

“It must have been quite an adjustment to move to a place like this.”

It was, but in a good way, mostly. My family was more accepted here, and I was as well. People here don’t put that much store in your family lineage or whether you were born into the right one. All they care about is if you have money and power, or if you are strong enough to get some. It suited us." Irin hummed and nodded. She could imagine it would be nice to feel like you weren’t an outcast. "We are almost there; it’s the big building up ahead." Irin looked to where Koth was nodding. It almost looked like Koth's family’s residence, but this one was lit up by lanterns, torches, and fire pits. A steady stream of carriages and people were going in and out of the gate.

"Ready?" she asked as they drove through the gates.

"I am if you are," he said. She nodded and gave him a nervous smile. Irin hoped she was ready. The carriage stopped, Koth got out, and helped Irin out. At the door to the house, there were several warriors. They looked intimidating and wore crisp navy-blue tunics, black trousers, and metal breastplates, and carried swords.

"The security is strong," she whispered to Koth as he offered her his arm.

"Yeah, there is a lot of money in circulation on these nights. They need to at least keep up appearances so that the guests are safe," he told her. They walked inside a large, open room. The walls were white but draped with red, amber, and yellow fabrics. Tables were set up throughout the room, and people stood or sat around them, playing different games. Piles of money were being gambled away or won. Along one wall, there was a bar set up. Everyone in the room, except for the people who were clearly staff, looked wealthy and as if they belonged in the upper echelons of society.

"I thought there weren't any nobles here," Irin whispered to Koth as she saw several guests flaunting their riuon.

"I said that they aren’t treated any differently; there are still plenty of them. Is that an issue?" he asked.

"No." Irin felt herself straighten her back, holding up her chin and pulling back her shoulders. It was as if her old etiquette teacher adjusted her pose. She had mastered the art of being around other nobles and ignoring every word that came out of their mouths. She could do the same here.

"Koth? Is that really you? Where on earth have you been hiding?" someone exclaimed. Koth turned towards the sound, and Irin had to move along as he held her hand.

"Moreag," Koth smiled towards a dwarf. "He’s Mohind’s youngest brother," Koth told Irin in a whisper.

"It has been too long, friend. You are looking good. I didn’t think I would see you here of all places," the dwarf told him after shaking Koth’s hand.

“We were visiting my brother, and Irin was bored. What better way to cure it than to come here?” Koth smiled.

“So true; a beautiful woman like you, my lady, should never feel bored,” he said to Irin, taking her hand and placing a kiss on it. She wanted to draw her hand back and wipe it against her dress as she felt his gaze run over her body. Koth cleared his throat, and Moreag seemed to come back to reality.