65 Regret

Siv is taken by surprise, which delays her reaction. When she realizes what is happening, she pushes Gary away and slaps him across the face as hard as she can.

"What the hell?" She is fuming. "How dare you?" Gary looks at her dumbfounded.

"I didn't mean to-"

"You didn't mean to what?"

"It was…" Gary wracks his brain to find the right words to use, but nothing comes up. He has no idea why he kissed her. "I am sorry."

"I think you should leave, now." Siv spits before stomping away from him.

'What did I just do?'

Gary stands in place for a while ready to facepalm himself. Then, he walks out of the palace not caring about the curious eyes that follow him. He doesn't care about his blood stained shirt either. All he feels is regret.

'What took a hold of me?'

He is still confused about how his body moved on its own. He knows that he is attracted to Siv, that she is one of a kind. But he was planning on taking his time courting her, making her trust him, helping her forget about Brandt, making her fall in love with him. He was planning on doing all of those things before even entertaining the idea of kissing her.

'I am such an idiot.'

Kissing her was a huge mistake, she just found out about her fiance's betrayal yesterday. Now she hates him. That slap was really hard. Gary rubs his cheek a bit.

"Gods damn."

He continues on his path until he makes it to Gustaf's shop.

"Hello, Gary. Just in time for-" Gustaf's words die when he sees the blood on his friend's shirt. "Are you alright?" Gary looks at him then follows his eyes to his arm.

"Oh, yes. It is just a graze."

"Why don't you come to the back and let me take a look at it?" Gary complies.

After Gustaf is done cleaning the small wound in silence, he gives him a clean shirt to wear.

"Could you do me a favor and send someone to do the rounds today? I am not feeling up to it." Gustaf looks at him oddly. It must be something serious since Gary always likes to distribute the food himself. He likes to see people's faces when they are smiling and relieved because they don't have to worry about supper for the next week or so.

"Sure, brother. I will take care of it."

"Thank you."

Gary pays for the goods and the men who will be helping before heading to The Blue Tavern, Ragna's place. When he enters, he notices that the place is a bit more empty than it is usually at this time of day. He walks to his usual table and sits.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ragna asks the short man trying to pin a paper on the announcement board.

"Offering my services." He answers nervously.

"I need to approve all announcements first, before they go on there."

"Ah, yes." The man hesitates for a moment.

"Well, bring me your paper." The red haired woman extends her hand from behind the bar.

"I think I am just going to go." The man starts rushing toward the door.

"I thought so, if I see your arse here again, I will burn down that brothel with you in it, you bloody bastard."

"You still get those announcements, I see." Gary asks his friend when she notices him.

"Rarely, but that bastard has been going to the taverns around town, advertising his whores. How dare he try to pin that shite on my board along with all the prestigious jobs up there?" Gary chuckles.

"How dare he."

"So, alone today huh? Where is your friend Siv?" Ragna asks as she places a tankard of ale in front of him.

"She will probably never come here with me again. Or anywhere, for that matter." The busty woman eyes him for a moment.

"What did you do?" Gary chugs half of his drink before meeting his friend's eyes.

"I think I humiliated her, and I am sure she hates me now."

"Oh for Gods' sake, what did you do?"

"I kissed her." Ragna bursts out laughing, making a few heads turn.

"This is a first, usually you come here bragging about your conquests." She teases between laughs.

"She is not one of my conquests, though." Gary takes another generous gulp of ale.

"Hmm." Ragna grins. "Why did you kiss her then?"

"I don't know. I just did." Gary slams his tankard on the table, a little louder than he has intended. "Before I could even register what I was doing, my lips were already on hers."

"Can't keep it in your pants?"

"Damn it Ragna."

"Sorry, Sorry." She chuckles. "It's not every day that I have something to tease the great Gary about."

"Any news?" Gary changes the subject.

"Not much, except for the lions recruiting more men." Ragna lowers her voice. "An officer visits the tavern at least once a day seeking more people."

"What about news from the East?"

"Nothing. Haven't heard anything in the last few days."

"Strange."

"Yes, very strange. I will send word as soon as I hear from them."

"That sounds good." Gary looks over at the announcement board. "I was hoping you had a job for me."

"A job?"

"Yes, I think it would be good for me to get away for a while."

"What are you talking about?" Ragna hisses as she leans in closer to him. "The East will declare war on Pyama any day now, and you want to go on holidays?"

"Not holidays." Gary presses his lips together. "I have been in the capital for too long, I feel like… I am suffocating." Ragna studies him for a moment before sitting back in her chair. He looks quite depressed, so she decides not to pester him anymore.

"Fine, I will try to find you a job. Hopefully one that won't take too long." Ragna pushes to her feet. "Want some food, Erico made beef stew."

"Yes please, I am starving." The tavern owner walks away and disappears into the kitchen.

'Going away will be good. I need to clear my head, and stay away from Siv for a while. I just hope she will forgive me by the time I come back.'