Curses

CHRISTOPHER

Another win under my belt. Honestly, I could not have had a more perfect setup, that guy had no idea how to play - especially against me. I stand up from my seat and collect my winnings, the dark tavern illuminated by the few red torches in each of the booths. "It was a pleasure playing you good lads, but I must be on my way now" I say, my grin wide and showcasing my teeth. I take pride in my smile, it is how I got my last name. They weren't very creative about it, unfortunately.

"Go on, Grinway, you cheated and you will be punished for it" Says the man who's just lost. I can't remember what they call him. Perhaps they don't call him anything. It is more likely that he does not have a surname. I've never known him to do anything other whine and complain anyways. Perhaps that will be his last name. Maybe... I will give it to him.

"What ever you say..." I start, My smile growing as I come up with the perfect thing to curse him and his bloodline to forever be known as ungrateful. "...Whinfull. Continue your cries out of the bar. No one will care enough to heal you." I finish. The tavern laughs, he'd made a spectacle earlier and had everyone's attention. I only knew how to turn it from me to him, and keep it on him. Hopefully it sticks, and his children must be called Whinfull, and his children's children and his bloodline will go down in history as one who whines.

As I continue walking out of the bar, I pray once more under my breath to my Goddess of Fortune, to my savior of today, to my Fortuna. I know he will be angry, no doubt praying to his God of Anger, Polemos. I know my Goddess will protect me, just as she is reliable to. I am proven right by his angry stomps to me strong, misplaced swing. He swings so hard and so wide that I have enough time to step aside, the lack of impact throwing him off balance and crashing into the bar, the glass breaking and shattering along his chest, leaving small pools of blood where he has gotten up. By the time he is steady again I am out of the door and fast down the street, my sack of coins neatly concealed in my makeshift cloak of rags stolen from the cart right outside the tavern.

The cobblestone is loud underneath my heels, though not louder than the busy streets of the Glaives. He will not find me, certainly not in his pathetically drunken state. I continue down the streets, taking lost of turns and periodically checking behind me until I get to my home. My lovely, sweet home.

I open the doors to the Brass Jewel, welcomed by it's familiar patron's and performers. I sit at the bar and wave down a bartender. She is quite beautiful. New. Young. Not that young, actually. "What can I get ye for, kind sir" She says, leaning on the bar, a gap between her two front teeth and big blotchy freckles across her face and on her shoulders. I look down at the bar's surface to see her thin hands are painted with them too.

"Just a pottage will do for tonight, and a slice of bread if you wouldn't mind" I say. I don't get anything extravagant, it would be too clear of my winnings and the others would ask questions. She goes back behind the dark oak doors of the Inn's kitchen and comes back to nod at me and let me know that the kitchen has started my meal. "Could I get ye anyfin' to drink?" She asks me, leaning again in front of me. I nod in response.

"If you wouldn't mind, just a mead will do. The sweetest one, preferably" I say, and she turns to get it. She is quite well versed for her to be new. Or maybe she isn't. Perhaps she was staff in just another area? Or a regular patron? Couldn't possibly be the case, I would have seen her before, after all I do live here. She comes back with my mead in hand, the cup full. "Say, I've never seen you before. Are you new to this part of town?" I ask her, genuinely curious of origin.

She blushes and tucks a strand if her tangled brown hair behind her ear, smiling and showcasing her gap again. "Yes, I am actually. My cousin is on of th' cooks and said 'e could get me a job 'ere" She says, skipping over many of the syllables in her words. It's such an interesting way to speak, but I do recognize it. She's from of the coastal cities, judging by accent I'd say north. There aren't many and seeing from tan and deep brown hair she was living in one of the trading cities, not commercial ports. There are only two of those up north, what with all the nobles living there.

"Are yo by any chance from Haikkin? Or perhaps Bekure?" I ask, listing the only two. I could be wrong, though it isn't likely. Her blue eyes widen and so does her smile.

"Yes, I actually am. Haikkin. How'd ye know wher' I'm from?" She asks, curious and leaning closer. Yes. Young, but not. Old, but not. But very, very beautiful.

"Your accent. I guessed you from a trade port city from the north." I say, telling her and smiling as I take a sip of my mead. She lets out an impressed chuckle. My Goddess has blessed me again with a correct answer. "You can't be working all day can you?" I ask, implying for her time off.

She shakes her head and looks at me, as if she knows something that I want. As if she wants to give it to me. "No, I'm off as soon as the second moon rises tonight." She tells me, and leaves me no chance to reply as she goes to tend to the other patrons. Not long after she comes back with my Pottage and a folded piece of paper. It is a map, with an 'X' over the cities square. I smile and fold it back up. I finish my pottage and head back upstairs to my room, lying down for a nap.

When I wake again, the first moon has risen, and I see that I have about an hour before the second one follows. I use this time to bathe and clothe myself properly for my outing with the beautiful lass. I go through the exit opposite the barside of the Inn, so as to not risk her seeing me. I get to the square and sit on a bench by the stone fountain. The fountain no longer gushes water, most of it's bowls and spouts clogged with mold and algae. I use this time to look into the water at my reflection. Am I overdressed? Underdressed? Dear lord, I've never been so conscious of my appearance before. I've worn my best tunic, white with embroidered cuffs perfectly fitting my wrists and my pants sitting under them - not a single stain. My boots reach just below my knees and they are pure black leather, and fit my feet. I have not bothered with a hat, that would have been too much. I stare at my reflection and give my trademark grin. I realize my outfit is perfect.

A few minutes go by and I am still string at the water when I see the lady's reflection beside mine. She's done her hair in a braid that goes from the front her head to the back, leading to several smaller braids sprinkled through loose hair. She wears a white tunic as well, the sleeves falling off her shoulders and exposing the large freckles spattered across her collarbone and cleavage. Cleavage. Heaven's, she has quite a bit of it. Over the tunic, her blue vested corset and skirts, thin but beautiful. She wears a thin veil over her shoulders. I've never seen something lie that before, though I'm sure it is common in the trading port cities, for ladies to wear a veil over their bodies and protect them from the relentless sun. I look back at her smiling face, now noticing more details now that I am closer. Her roots are blonde. Barely noticeable, but I see it. Her eyes are grey, with a green hint. I smile back at her and hold out my arm for her to take. "Did you have a plan for tonight?" I ask her and she shakes her head.

"I'd only plan'd to walk 'round some." She says, taking my arm and coming closer to me. She is wearing perfume, which shocks me. There are not many fragrance shops in this part of the Glaives and those that are here are quite expensive. Of course, she is from a Trading port where goods such as these are almost disgustingly common and as such I would assume cheap. But surely she knows how rare it it to find a scent like this inland?

"I like your perfume" I start. "It must have cost a bit. Elore and Eplus flowers I think I smell." I say, recognizing the scents. "I understand you are from a port city and have been exposed to many goods, but even then these are rare flowers and as such rare scents, it must have cost you at least four specks" I say, thinking out loud. She laughs again, impressed at my knowledge. I blush.

"How's it 'at ye know so much 'bout so much" She says, making me smile with the way she speaks again. It is interesting to hear anyone speak this way. It is usually off-putting but her voice is smooth and makes the jarring improper English almost inviting.

"I spent lots of my life run- traveling" I say, stuttering over my own memories. "I tried my best to remember everything about the people and places I meet, but I've come to know the Glaives as my home in this past decade." I tell her, looking down at her grey-green eyes.

We keep walking and talking until my feet hurt from the heels of my boots. I spot a tavern and suggest we go in. Once inside we sit down and continue our conversations, once she's in front of me it gets a bit harder not to focus on her... chest. I spend the rest of the evening memorizing the wood lines of the table. The shape of the bowl. The contents of my soup. After we finish I pay and stand, walking over to her side of the table and offering my hand for her to stand up and I push in her chair when she does. I smile and wave to the staff as we walk out of the door. I hail a cab. I cannot take this insufferable walking everywhere. If I'd known I wouldn't have dressed in such a fashion, but I suppose it was still worth it for the company.

I help her up the steps of the carriage and pay the driver. I let her tell him where he should be off to as I must make sure the lady gets home. And I realize. "My, I must seem so rude - what is your name?" I say and blush out of embarrassment.

She giggles at me and places a soft hand over her collar. "My name is Akun. Akun Annan." She says and smiles. She has a last name, but I do not know that language.

"I am Christopher. Christopher Grinway." I return and the Carriage slows to a stop. I step out before her and I walk her her door after letting the driver know I would be back for another ride. I give a short bow as she steps to her door, I dare not step another foot. "I wish you a good night, fair lady Annan" I say after my bow, raising my head to see her curtsy. It's horrible. But it's nice to see her try.

"Th' same to you sir Grinway" She says, standing straight from her atrocious bow. She takes a single step closer to plant a small but firm kiss on my cheek. Immediately, I can feel my face burn. "Sleep well sweet'art" She giggles before closing the door of her house. I turn and step to the carriage, staring at the cobblestone paths as my heels click furiously. I tell the driver where to go, pay and ride in a strange type of silence. There is not a word uttered but my mind will not stop speaking. It stays this way until I get back to the Brass Jewel. When I get out I do not greet anyone and instead go straight to my room. I lock the door, put away the rest of my money and shower.

I can't remember anything but I remember everything at the same time. I think my Goddess has blessed me once again. She has never failed to bring me the best of fortune, always, my Goddess Fortuna. I walk over to my shrine, taking off my shoes, socks and all of my overclothes, leaving nothing but my Chemise and Braies as I knelt on the yellow pillow and prayed. Today, I thanked my Goddess, and put a handful of the coins I'd earned earlier. I then pray for another day of good fortune. "Thank you, Fortuna, for your generosity and for the blessings of good luck you continue to bestow upon me, Belir" I finish. and stand, walking over to my bed and settling beneath the covers. I stare at our moons as my eyelids close. My last few moments of consciousness of the fine lady Akun Annan.