1 Sword For Hire

In the main square, Kalina placed her hands on the fountain, and with a slight jump, she landed sitting on the edge of polished stone. It smelled of freshly baked cake, and with a calm look, she sighted the large counters of the most extravagant pastry shop in the city.

After a short sigh, Kalina lazily crossed her legs and looked back at the regal carriage rumbling down the street. It was a boisterous and annoying day, so the murmur of the water fountain was remarkably calming at that moment. Then, Kalina's attention was drawn to a group of poorly dressed children for a few seconds. They were running around the pink stone promenade as they played a game of catch between the lampposts.

Just as the carriage was no more than a cloud of dust passing through the citadel gates: the fluctuation of power warned her that Irion was approaching.

He appeared next to her, accompanied by a soft wave of heat. Strands of the palest blond wavered before Kalina's eyes, and she wished she didn't have to breathe to avoid smelling the scent of another woman on him. This time it had been Zarya. ¡Damn him!

"How good is the payment?" He asked.

"I'm leaving in a week." - Kalina said, snorting and frowning. This was what she could do to contain the desire to pulverize the fountain along with the square and all the buildings surrounding the place.

"Kalina." Irion sighed warningly. The sound of his voice, dropping a decibel, was all it took to make her swallow dry. The unfortunate man did not know all the power he had over her. He knew that she respected and feared him, but that was all.

"As you suspected, it's a job for the royal family..."

"Let's get to the point."

¡For all the mighty power! Kalina gave him the sourest of looks. But she answered:

"It's a full-time job for a long term, and they want your best mercenary. They need an escort for the first princess."

"So the rumor about the treaty is true." - Irion confirmed in a low voice.- "¿For how much time?"

"Two years."

"¿The pay?"

"We will fill the guild hall with gold shields. They will give you ownership of a mine in the mountains of Uruma."

Kalina didn't even watch his reaction, choosing not to look at him and remain silent. So there was a short pause and a snort next. Then, she searched his face.

A blinding pair of golden eyes met Kalina's gaze solemnly. Just like gold, those were the typical eyes of their people. Kalina couldn't help noticing his lips were swollen, and she felt her stomach turn at the discovery.

"I can't leave the guild for so long." - Irion began to say. She already knew it. She also knew what he would say next: "Indeed, it will have to be you, Kalina. I guess you already knew that." - He finished making a face.

In fact: she had known it from the moment Irion had told her about the request and confided his suspicions about the peace treaty between the two empires. So, Kalina nodded in response. She had almost resigned herself after her meeting with the royal mediator.

She got down from her seat and straightened up, trying to appear nonchalant. But it was as if her partner could read her thoughts:

"The truth is I do not want to send you. But you know I can only trust you for this kind of job. ¿Do you understand? Kalina." He finished speaking heavily as he stood tall over her.

For her part, Kalina couldn't ignore the reflection of both of them in the windows of the most popular boutique in all of Sacra Cita. Being of medium height within a race noted for its imposing size hadn't helped with her youthful complexes at the time. Now, if she squinted at the projection of her and Irion on the luxurious glass: they could pass for a very handsome young father and her teenage daughter at first glance.

"Worry not, Irion." She forced herself to smile as she answered: - "Two years go by in a blink of an eye. Besides, a change of scenery won't hurt me, and I've always wanted to visit the lands across the sea."

"That may be true." - He agreed, giving Kalina a suspicious look, but then he gave her a twisted smile that made her long for things. - "It reassures me that you think that way." - His golden eyes contemplated the water on the fountain for a few seconds until he returned to evaluate her with a look for just a moment: - "Come, we will have to celebrate."

Saying this, Irion took her by the elbow: it meant that he was going to transport her along with him.

Feeling the warm touch of him, Kalina couldn't help but shudder.

"You should be used to this, don't resist."- He told her before releasing his power.

Irion used to think she loathed transportation, but he was wrong.

You don't know anything... Kalina sighed as she felt the familiar pressure in the air and her entire being.

In a blink of an eye, they appeared in front of the imposing guild building. Kalina let go another sigh. To Irion, she was nothing more than a weapon for hire. The second-best sword he had, to rent to the highest bidder. He appreciated her as a trustworthy companion on missions and second in rank of skills in his organization. But, in reality, Irion didn't know anything about her.