Fable - Ask Among Strangers

[Nil]

Was he making the right choice?

A part of him wondered, but he didn't know. A few days past he might have simply grabbed her, tied her up, then delivered her to the local magistrate to be hung from the nearest tree.

Now he was the reason his King was dead. "Go."

He told her firmly. Standing as soon as she slipped out the door and walking to make sure that everything she had taken was really there. When he was sure Nil stepped over towards the table, taking one of the chair and jamming it into the door itself.

The Knight wouldn't take any more chances.

Not ever again.

His eyes wandered to Rosaline who was still fast asleep. His lips thinned for a moment. Did he even tell her when she woke? Fingers tightened, and for the moment he decided simply to let his body rest. The magic had helped, but he could still feel the ache of the drugs upon him.

 

[Rosaline]

The next morning, Rosaline groggily blinked awake. Her entire body ached, but she wasn't sure why. Every muscle was sore and her throat was parched. Her head was pounding, as if she was hungover.

A quiet, pained groan slipped from her lips as she sat up. She pressed a hand to her forehead, grimacing in discomfort.

Why did she feel so awful?

She glanced to her side and saw Nil sleeping next to her. Just the sight of him there was enough to warm her heart. A smile touched her lips and she leaned over to kiss his forehead.

 

[Nil]

Unlike Rosaline the effects of the drug did not last long on Nil.

Gift or curse, the markings worked better than he could have asked for. When she leaned over to press a gentle kiss to his forehead Nil opened his eyes. He reached out one hand, sliding his fingers onto her hips and feeling them with a smile on his face.

This time there was no intruder.

Fingers tightened for just a brief moment and he tugged her closer, his touch soft but firm enough that he dragged her against himself. He said nothing, simply burying his face in the curve of her chest and dotting soft kisses along her skin.

There was nothing else he would have rather enjoyed in that moment.

 

[Rosaline]

A soft chuckle escaped Rosaline's lips as Nil pulled her close. She nuzzled against his temple for a brief moment, enjoying the warm intimacy of the embrace. Even if she was miserable, she adored every moment she had with him. There was no where else she would have rather been.

Another delicate kiss was pressed to his cheek and then she lifted her head to glance around the room.

Something odd caught her eye: the chair wedged against the door.

Her brow furrowed a moment and then she glanced down at Nil with a puzzled expression. "I didn't hear you come in last night... why'd you barricade the door?"

 

[Nil]

"Paranoia." It wasn't a lie.

A lifetime of violence, training, and death had instilled a certain amount of care within Nil. He wanted to Keep Rosaline safe. He wanted to make sure that she would be okay. The incident the night before had only made that instinct worse.

He smiled at her and gently pressed his fingers into her hip. "I want to keep you safe."

There was no need to worry her.

Today they would leave this village, and that little incident would be left behind.

"I found us a map last night." Nil said quietly.

 

[Rosaline]

"You did?" She asked with a smile, tucking her head down to rest against his chest. Her eyes drifted shut again, enjoying the warmth that radiated off of him.

"One less thing for us to worry about. Now we just need to figure out where to go." She mused quietly, idly tracing her fingers along his collar bone while she spoke.

Truthfully, it didn't actually matter where the went to her. All she cared about was being able to stay with Nil. Staying in Cortos would mean they'd inevitably be separated if someone found them.

Nil would be killed if Aguilar caught them. She couldn't let that happen.

Rosaline snuggled closer to him, practically laying over his form in an effort to be near him.

 

[Nil]

Nil nodded. He'd thought it important to figure out where they actually were, and surprisingly the stable boy had been more than helpful. Locals always knew the most, that was what the Captain of the Guard had always told him. It paid to be kind, and go slip a coin in the right waiting pocket.

"We're on the edge of Aguilar's realm." At least what he had claimed as his realm.

In Cortos such claims were often as contested as the tide. Borders and the like constantly shifted and changed, moving every day unless they were stalwartly defended. Out here that was tough to do, especially when the forest lay in your way.

"No to South is Feìara." One of the other Free Cities, a Republic it called itself. "If we go north well go into the free realms, and to the west…"

He trailed off. "The west isn't an option."

The Radiant Church all but claimed those lands, and if the Solar Choire got a hold of him he wouldn't last long. In their eyes he was far more abomination than he was man.

His arm tugged her on top of himself, hands floating over her form.