Grey (Part 4 - A New Trick)

While the strange man sitting across from him, who had said his name was Bane, put him off a little, he Had just saved Grey's life, not to mention given Grey his little pouch of money back. He couldn't think of any good reason Not to buy him a drink, so he simply nodded at him, opening his pouch for the second time. Emptying out a couple of coins into his hand, he waved for the barmaid to come over.1

"This should be enough, no?" Grey asked, holding out five of the large gold coins in his palm. He honestly had no idea. His uninvited companion's eyes widened slightly.2

Plucking one coin from Grey's hand, Bane narrowed his eyes suspiciously at him, as if expecting some kind of joke. "Don't be stupid," he said, "one of those is enough to buy a large meal, rent a room, and have plenty left over."3

Grey chuckled for a second, feeling exceptionally stupid, and slipped the other coins away. He considered leaving after he bought the man his drink, but his mention of a large meal was far too tempting. When the barmaid finally came, he asked for two plates of whatever had been served for dinner, and two glasses of their best liquor. 4

Bane's eyebrows rose slightly. "How do you know I didn't already eat?" he asked. Grey let out a short, sarcastic sounding laugh.5

"Who said I ordered the second plate for you?" he replied. "If you want to stick around, that's fine, but if not I'll have no problem finishing off both on my own."6

The man stared at him for a second, before he burst out laughing. It didn't have any of the mocking feeling he'd gotten from the man since meeting him, but was warm and contagious. "I think I'll stay after all," Bane said, "I don't think you have it in you to try poisoning me.7

Grey found himself laughing genuinely at that. "I suppose that happens often?" he asked jokingly, but while Bane still smiled, he had a serious expression on his face. 8

"You can never be too careful with strangers," Bane told him, looking up as the barmaid stumbled over, balancing two huge plates stacked with potatoes and some kind of meat, and two mugs of opaque blue liquid, and set them all on the table.9

Not wanting to have a hassle over the change, he handed the girl the one large gold coin still in his hand, and asked to rent a room for the night as well. When she still fumbled in her apron for his remaining change, he told her to keep the rest, which resulted in her positively beaming at him as she hurried away. He turned to see Bane looking at him curiously.10

"What?" Grey said, responding to the odd look, but Bane just shook his head and picked up his drink, taking a long, measured swallow. Shrugging, Grey picked up his own drink, sniffing it. He could recognize some kinds of liquor, like rum, though he had no memories of actually drinking it, but the drink he was holding was completely new to him. It had a very pleasant, sweet smell, and like the color, reminded him slightly of blueberries. Taking a sip, he was surprised when there was no burn going down.11

"You came from the Haven side of the pass, didn't you?" Bane asked him, a small smile forming on one side of his mouth. Grey nodded, surprised.12

"I can tell, you don't seem to know what you're drinking," Bane continued with a chuckle, "anyone from the other side would know."13

"Why is that?" Grey asked, taking a larger swallow from his mug. The liquid had an almost milk-like consistency, and soothed his throat, leaving him feeling warm and fuzzy.14

"That's usually called ambrosia, because it has all the effects of good alcohol, but barely any of the bad. Unfortunately, it's brewed magically, and magic doesn't work very well on your side of the mountains," Bane told him, "apparently something in your area sucks up all but the most powerful magical energy, so Haven's mostly a non-magic region."15

He avoided anymore mention of Haven, not wanting to answer too many questions and risk revealing how little he actually knew. Still, he stored this information in the back of his mind, finding it interesting. Not to mention convenient. This little gem of information told Grey that he wouldn't look too suspicious due to his overall ignorance. It also meant, though, that he still had no clue where to go next, or even what he should be doing at all.16

"So what brings you out into the real world?" Bane said, picking at his food slowly.17

Thinking fast, Grey said the first thing that came to mind. "A friend went missing, so I'm trying to find out whatever I can about where he might have gone."18

Grey regretted his words once they'd left his mouth, and he saw the interested look on Bane's face. This Bo person that he'd apparently once shared a room with was probably dead, and even if he was alive and had answers for Grey's many questions, Grey had no idea what he looked like. It was dangerous to let this conversation continue on the topic, because it could lead to questions he should be able to answer, yet couldn't. Surely he could lie to this man, make up a vague description that could match any number of people. In the end though, he knew he couldn't bring himself to be that manipulative, especially to someone who'd been so nice to him for no reason.19

"Tell me about him," Bane said, sipping from his mug, "I've been to most of the bigger cities, maybe I can help you figure out where he's gone." He seemed genuine, and looking at the cold black eyes, Grey felt somewhere inside that Bane was entirely serious.20

Swallowing the nervousness he felt rising through him, Grey made a final decision. "I wish I could.. but there's a reason I can't right now, and if you decide you want to come with me for a while, I'll tell you why... when we're alone."21

Bane was silent for about a minute, calmly and deliberately finishing the rest of his plate before he finally answered. "Would you mind staying the night here? I haven't slept in a couple of days, and I need to. I'm sure you could use someone who knows his way around."22

He had no idea how right he was. Grey agreed to wait the night, so Bane went and rented them two rooms next to each other. 23

The sound of overly soft footsteps in the hallway outside woke him up. He listened closely as they passed by his room, and crept quietly to his door. Opening it a crack, Grey spotted a large figure in a cloak sneaking into Bane's room. He started after the stranger, but a creaking floorboard behind him alerted Grey just in time to avoid a second man's knife.24

He reached for his sword, only then realizing he'd gone after these men with no weapons on him. A horrible scream came from Bane's room, but he could do nothing but duck and dodge his own opponent as he continuously lunged at Grey. His luck was bound to run out though, as a kick came in from nowhere and smashed Grey to the floor, taking the breath from him.25

Grey watched, barely able to move, as the man's knife came down towards his chest. All he could think of was how stupid he was for not keeping a knife on him, after being attacked just earlier in public. 26

It struck him again that he would die, nothing accomplished, in some shack of an inn. Instead of feeling helpless, Grey simply felt angry. Who were these people to decide when he should die? To stop him from learning who he really was? Looking at the man, he wanted nothing more at that moment than for this petty assassin to die. 27

The knife seemed to move in slow motion, but it wasn't really, and Grey raised his arm in a last useless effort as the knife came down. He closed his eyes waiting for the blow, but instead heard the sound of metal hitting metal.28

When Grey opened his eyes, he thought he might have gone crazy. The man stared down at him, eyes wide open, the knife dangling uselessly from one hand. A wide, ebony colored blade protruded from the man's chest, and Grey felt a huge sense of deja vu. The difference now though was that the blade hadn't come from behind the man, but rested comfortably in Grey's previously empty hand. It felt cold, but grew warm fast to the touch.29

Watching the man's eyes as the life slipped away brought on a strange rush, almost even a high, and Grey found himself smiling as he wrenched the black sword from the man's body. 30

Hearing more footsteps, he stood, the strange bloodlust exciting him. When he saw that it was Bane, he began to calm down and his heart slowed it's jackhammer pace. The black sword in his hand crumbled to ash, but he barely noticed, staring awestruck at his new friend.31

Bane stood, staring down at the man Grey had killed, an unfamiliar, almost maniacal glint in his eyes. He was shirtless now, and his barely tanned skin shone like silver in the light streaming in from the small windows. He would have scared any sane man already, but blood dripped from his bare hands and chest, and he reminded Grey of nothing more than a feral wolf, basking in the kill. Large scratch-like scars covered most of his stomach, adding to the wild image. In that light, Bane was a confusing blur of crimson and silver, and the black eyes shone like a predator's might.32

"Conjuring swords?" Bane asked, in a voice that sounded far too calm to match his appearance, "You'll have to show me how you do that sometime."