Chapter 9: A pretty face

Jasper sat down next to Irin and watched his brother.

"He never could resist a pretty face," he told her. She smiled at him, even though his words stung her even more. "But he never means anything by it; he just goes into flirtation mode." Irin looked at him. Was he trying to comfort her?

"I don’t understand why you are telling me this," she said.

"I would hate to think that my brother's inconsiderate flirting with another woman in front of you would affect the way you see him."

"It’s okay; I can handle my friends flirting in front of me," she told him.

"Friends, is that all you are? You seemed quick enough to defend him when I attacked, and he really doesn't like me flirting with you," Jasper told her as Irin heard Jihane laughing at something Koth said to her. Shouldn’t the woman be in the kitchen preparing their lunch?

"I would defend anyone that was attacked in my lady’s temple. And Koth doesn't like you flirting with me because he knows I find it irritating."

"Hmm, interesting." Jasper looked at her and then smiled. The smile didn’t put Irin at ease; it was a smile that suggested he had a plan. "Then you wouldn’t mind if I asked you out on a date."

"I wouldn’t mind, but I would turn it down," she told him.

"Why? I will show you a good time."

"I’m sure you would. I’m sure you show all the women you take on dates a good time," she agreed.

"Are you turning me down because I choose not to settle down with one woman? I thought better of you, Irin," he told her.

"No, I don’t judge your lifestyle; if anything, I think Alesseja would approve of it. She isn’t known for her self-restraint," Irin said with a giggle.

"Then why?"

"Well, we will not be staying long in the city."

"That will at least give us tonight; we can have a lot of fun in one night," he told her.

"I don’t doubt it; I’m just not looking for fun."

“Why not? You should give it a try,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Irin had to laugh.

“Who told you I haven’t?” That made him look at her in surprise. “What? Did you take me for a temple virgin?” she asked.

“No, well, maybe,” he said. Irin enjoyed that she had caught him off balance.

“You didn’t invent the concept of a one-night stand, you know.”

“I’m aware,” he said, then looked at her more intently. “So why not have fun with me?”

“Because I grew out of it a long time ago. If a man, or woman, wants to have sex with me, they need to offer more than just a good time in bed for one night.” She smiled at him. His surprise at her outspoken attitude was quite adorable. “I’m going out for some fresh air; please call me when the food is ready,” she told him and walked out into the yard. It felt nice to get away from the brothers' flirtations. Irin needed a moment to centre herself before she got dragged into something she wasn’t prepared for. She knew she needed to examine her response to Koth flirting with another woman. That was just a disaster waiting to happen, but there were more important things to think about at the moment.

“Hello,” a small voice said. Irin looked to her left and saw Aarin standing there.

“Hello again, Aarin,” Irin said with a smile.

“Um, is the big uncle here? I would really like another ride,” the girl said.

“I’m sorry, honey, he’s a bit busy at the moment.”

“Oh,” Aarin said, looking down.

“Maybe I have something to cheer you up. Have you ever played knock down the stones?” Irin asked.

“No.” The girl shook her head.

“Then this is your lucky day. I’m a master at it, and I just so happen to have a bag of coloured rocks with me,” Irin said, sitting down and using her magic to conjure a bag full of round, colourful stones.

“Oooh,” the girl said, sitting down and looking at the bag in anticipation.

“You get a pile of stones, and I get a pile of stones. Then we take turns building a pyramid of ten stones. Then we both try to knock the pyramid down by rolling stones at it. The one that knocks the pyramid over gets all the stones on the field. The one with all, or most, stones in the end wins.”

“Sounds like fun,” Aarin said, clapping her hands. They started to play, and Irin couldn’t help but get caught up in Aarin’s excitement. Irin soon found herself laughing and losing track of time as the colourful stones covered the area they sat in.

“Irin?” She looked up and saw Koth standing in the doorway.

“Yes?”

“Jasper sent me to tell you the food will be served shortly.”

“Right, I’ll be there in a moment,” she told him. “Okay, Aarin, it looks like you win.”

“I do?”

“Yes, you do. Your prize is the bag of stones,” Irin told her as they put the colourful stones back in the bag.

“Really?”

“Really, but you have to promise you’ll teach the boy who was with you earlier how to play, and let him play with you,” Irin told her.

“My brother? Okay, I promise,” Aarin said, nodding.

“Good girl. Then take your prize and have fun with it.”

“Thank you so much,” Aarin said, and gave Irin’s leg a hug before she skipped off. Irin smiled and turned around to go back inside. Koth was still standing by the door, watching her.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you waiting,” Irin said.

“No problem.” They walked back inside together.

“You found her,” Jasper said as they sat down at the table.

“She was outside playing with the girl.” Jasper looked at Irin.

“She was bored, and I had the time,” she told him with a shrug.

“Is there anything you aren’t good at?” he asked.

“Plenty of things: needlework, fishing, singing, the list goes on.” Jasper laughed, and to Irin’s relief, he changed the subject. The food was served and as they ate, Irin let the brothers do most of the talking.

Later that evening, the first information came back to them. The casino night was being held as usual the next night, and Mohind was going to be there. Other reports said he most likely had the artefact on him at all times. He also had three of his most trusted men around him constantly.

“This will be a tough one,” Koth said as they sat around the table again. Jasper had made sure no one would disturb them.

“You’ve been out of the game too long, brother. This will be easier than stealing candy from a child,” Jasper said. “Not that I have ever done it, nor would I try to,” he added, looking at Irin.