The Shieldbearer

Brakmar was an awful city. The nearby volcano left everything covered by a perpetual layer of soot. The streets were filled with decay. The buildings stood in shambles, never once renovated, Brakmarian lives too short to be bothered with such a simple investment. New buildings sprung up once the old one fell down like bodies sharing graves. Every Brakmarian knew that each day could be their last and lived accordingly. This city was made from the ground up by whores, warmongers, cutthroats and every other bit of riff-raff to be populated by the future generations of riff-raff. Every aspect of its day-to-day life was rotten to the core. But that's where the money was.

Cofcos was in the business of doing odd jobs where he could find them, and he considered himself to be quite good at it. His group of like-minded individuals was reasonably young, about three months since its formation, though he had known his companions for quite some time. The Fraternity had a rocky start, but things had been going smoothly for the last week or so; hopefully a sign of things to come. 'The Fraternity' sounded a little grandiose to Cofcos' liking, but the three friends thought quite highly of themselves. Cofcos was a Feca and quite comfortable with his calling; keeping his friends, and himself, out of harm's way. It wasn't quite as valorous as his friends' work, healing and harming, but he earned his keep and saved them a lot of trouble. Maybe having an Eniripsa /and/ a Feca was redundant, but it certainly didn't hurt. Anyways, working with his Fraternity left him in a better financial situation than before when working as an alchemist. Combining the mysteries of science and magic could be rather interesting, but it boiled down to long hours of studying or day-long hikes into the woods, searching for herbs and spices to keep Enutrofs' medical problems at bay. Now, at least, he could go hiking and searching as a hobby or afford to buy the raw materials himself and sell the finished product for a profit.

Cofcos found himself in the Brakmarian market doing just that, buying and selling ingredients and potions and whatever else he could turn a profit with. The Fraternity was in-between jobs, having just served as body guards for a minor noble visiting the city. The Fraternity was always searching for work, but it was a comfortable fact of life that there weren't opportunities constantly available. He enjoyed the days he spent out of work, trading and bartering, gambling and haggling. He was good with money and the Fraternity often trusted him with money problems; loans, investments, and basic math when Mortebarbe, their Iop, couldn't figure out currency exchange rates. Cofcos would've made a great Enutrof; or will make, if he still has his spirit for adventure all those years from now. He was inspecting some rings inside a glass case when he was interrupted by an Osamodas riding a dragoturkey out of the corner of his eye."Cofcos?" He turned around, his name sounding familiar, the voice saying it, not so much. The man's red uniform identified him as a messenger. "Yes?" he asked. "I have a message from Julian," he stated. There was only one 'Julian' Cofcos knew, their Eniripsa. She was a plucky young woman, eager for adventure and wealth. "Go on," Cofcos said. "Julian didn't have enough Kamas for me to relay the message, but said that you would be able to pay," he explained, "Forty Kamas." That struck Cofcos as odd, as their recent exploit should have been enough to pay for their lifestyles for a week or so, but Julian wouldn't have sent a messenger under the circumstances without good reason. And forty Kamas was rather steep. "Twenty up-front, ten more if I think your message was worth it," he haggled. "Fifteen more." "Fine." Cofcos dug into his purse, counted out twenty of the small, gold coins, and handed them over. "Julian would appreciate your companionship at the Burnt Cat Inn." "That's it? She wants to spend some R-and-R time at some hole-in-the-wall bar in the Brakmarian ghetto?" he asked incredulously, "Of course, Brakmar IS just one large ghetto." "I assure you, the Burnt Cat Inn is a fine establishment. It's that way, if you're interested," the messenger said, pointing back the way he came, "Fifteen Kamas." "Fif-teen," Cofcos emphasized bitterly, lamenting his further losses. He begrudgingly handed over the extra Kamas and contemplated his next move. The messenger's dragoturkey trotted off without another word.

He turned back to see the jeweler measuring a small pouch of Kamas against a 500-Kama weight. The scales balanced evenly and the Sram merchant looked pleased, as pleased as his skeletal features could reveal. He reached for the glass case as a Sacrier shopper began to pick up the case. "I'll give you seven-fifty!" The Iop shoved Cofcos to the ground roughly. "Too slow, pipsqueak," he said raspily, walking off with the case under his arm. Cofcos got up and began brushing himself off deliberately. "'Seven-fifty'?" the Sram asked lazily, jaw bones clattering quietly, "That makes ya fifty percent dumber than that Iop was; those rings were fakes; gilded bronze and glass for diamonds." "Oh. Thanks," Cofcos muttered. "Ya welcome." "Got anything that /isn't/ fake?" "Nothin' fah sale, no. Ya ought to go meet ya friend at the Inn." "You heard about that?" "I ain't got ears but I ain't deaf. Sun's setting. Brakmar ain't safe after dark." "'Ain't /as/ safe.'" "Right. Burnt Cat, three blocks that way." "You're pretty friendly for a Brakmarian. Especially for a Sram." "I'm out here swindling people and ya say I'm friendly?" "For a Brakmarian Sram." "Well, everyone's a potential customer. The name's Cairo." A skeletal hand reached out from under the dark robes in greeting. "Cofcos," Cofcos said, taking the hand and shaking firmly, "Maybe I'll see you again sometime." "Maybe ya won't. Bein' seen ain't usually in my best interest." Cairo began shoveling his wares into a large chest without another word and closing up shop and Cofcos headed south to the Burnt Cat Inn.

It was no fine establishment. The outside walls were stained with ash like everything else and a large, imposing sign depicted a singed black cat and a non-descript mug. An imposing wooden door crossed with large iron bands stood in the entryway; it looked relatively new compared to the rest of the building. Cofcos knocked twice. The sounds of various deadbolts clicking open came from within. The door finally cracked open, revealing the face of a mean-looking Cra behind a further chain lock. "This is the Burnt Cat Inn, correct?" Cofcos asked. The Cra grunted, closed the door, undid the chain lock, and opened the door again just wide enough for Cofcos to get in before re-doing the locks. An Eniripsa at the bar counter looked up at the new arrival; Julian. She was a healthy young specimen; straight, blonde hair, tanned skin, and a set of translucent, yellow wings. She put on a weak smile and patted the stool to her left. Cofcos walked past the Cra and sat down beside her. "Hi, Julian." "Hi." Her voice was soft and low, almost whispered; something was wrong, but Cofcos didn't want to bring it up immediately. "You're not drinking anything?" "Not yet. The innkeeper wanted my money first, but when I reached for my purse, all I found was a couple cut strings. Every last Kama." "One beer, one water, innkeep," Cofcos said, placing a few Kamas on the counter. "Two beers," Julian corrected. "Two? Just start with one." "One's for you." "You know I don't drink." "Please, Cofcos, don't be difficult." The unkempt innkeeper dropped two foul-smelling brews in front of them. Cofcos took a sip. It tasted like watered-down Bwork piss. Julian took hers and drank deeply without complaint, putting it back down with a satisfied "Aah." "So. What's the occasion?" Cofcos asked, taking another sip. "I quit," she said quietly. Cofcos put the mug back down and began coughing. Once he stopped, he cleared his throat and asked, "'Quit'?" "Yeah," she said emptily, "Quit." She let the words sink in. "Of course, you'd like to know why, but you're just being polite." "Of course," he said guiltily. She took a deep, shuddering breath and continued, "Mortebarbe." "What's wrong with Mortebarbe?" he pressed, "He's a good Iop." "I told him that eventually I'd like to settle down. Once we've had our adventures and made enough Kamas to retire. Raise a family with him and spend our lives together." "That sounds awesome." "He... Disagreed." "I see... I suppose he's a good Iop, but a bad person?" "Hmm, no. I think you need to be a good person before you can be a good Iop." "Or a good Feca." "Or a good Eniripsa." "I think you're a good Eniripsa." She looked up and smiled. He smiled back. "Thanks," she said, "Of course, you thought Mort was a good Iop." "I... Did.What do you think of Kamasburg?" "Bad person. No doubt." "What? She was a saint! She gave us the Kamas we needed to get started on our adventures." "'Gave'?" she said sarcastically. She lifted her mug to her face and talked to its contents, "Fucking loan shark bitch." "'Loan shark bi-' How can you say that?" Julian put the mug down and continued, "She agreed to give us the Kamas if I gave her half of my profits for the first month." "I... Thought you were just... Sharing." "I signed the contract, but I couldn't live like that. I had to suck up to Mort so I could afford to eat. Of course, that damn Enutrof's heart gave out the day I paid off my contract, so now all those Kamas are gathering dust in some hidden vault." "It's sad that we spend so much time together, but we don't get to know our life stories. Do you think it's because we figure we'll die together?" "That's... Pretty deep." "I think as a shield-bearer and a healer, we might be entitled to a little bit more longevity." "Maybe." "But Why Mort?" She looked at him with a pained look on her face. "I don't mean, 'Why Mort,' but-" "He was strong, handsome; he seemed like a provider, you know?" "He fooled me too." "So, you want to quit too?" "'Quit' is such a loaded word..." "I suppose I'm 'just' 'quitting' then. I'm not done adventuring by any means, but I think we'd be better off adventuring without Mort."'We'?" "Yeah." "I like 'We.'"

“Maybe… We should get a room for the night.” “/’We’/?” “Only got one room left,” the innkeeper interrupted from down the bar, “One bed. Fifty Kamas, great deal. You not sleeping in this room n’ you wouldn’t survive on the streets by youself. It’s you lucky day.” “We’ll take it,” Julian offered, leaping at the opportunity. “/’We’/?” Cofcos reiterated. “Fifty Kamas. Don’t make too much noise,” the innkeeper replied. Cofcos emptied a handful of coins onto the bar and began counting. Julian leaned in close to Cofcos and whispered, “We don’t /have/ to… You know…” “I wasn’t planning on it,” the Feca replied grumpily, “I’m sure Mort was /very lucky/ to have you, but we’re good people now, remember?” “Why are you so upset about Mort?” “I’m not upset.” “You don’t drink, you hate Mort, you’re so sweet and innocent…” “Thanks.” You’re a virgin.” “What?” “That wasn’t a ‘no.’” “What does /that/ have to do with anything?” “Oh, nothing… Virgy.” “Not funny.” “Virgy,” she said louder, knowing she hit him somewhere tender, “Virgy.” “Stop.” “Virgy.” Cofcos stood up abruptly, leaving his Kamas un-counted, and asked for the key to his room. The innkeeper handed him a simple brass key and told him, “Upstairs, last room on the left.” Cofcos walked upstairs without another word and left Julian at the bar. “What’d you do to set him off?” the innkeeper asked. “Called him a virgin,” she explained. “Yep. Total virgin.” “Yep.” “I’m not, if you’re interested.” “Fuck off.” The innkeeper reached for the Kamas left behind before Julian stopped his grubby hand. “He wasn’t done counting,” she challenged. “Fine, have it your way.” The innkeeper left her alone while she slowly counted the coins, wondering what to do next, wondering how to salvage what was left of the Fraternity; just say you’re sorry? Give him time? Get back with Mort? Find new friends? She finished the coins sooner than she had hoped for, five piles of ten Kamas each. Fifty exactly. “Fifty,” she said, going upstairs. The innkeeper began reminding her, “Last room on the-“ “On the left, I know,” Julian finished. “On the right,” he corrected, “My room.” “Fuck off.”

Julian arrived at the door and put her ear against it. Hearing nothing, she knocked twice. “Come in. It’s not locked.” Cofcos. She slowly opened the door and saw Cofcos sitting on the bed, reading a large book by candlelight. She walked up to the bed and sat down beside him. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Apology accepted,” he replied, not looking up from his book. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” she continued. “I’m not embarrassed.” “I would be, at your age.” Cofcos closed the book and stared at her. She reached for him suddenly and hugged him tight. “It just means you’re a better person than I am,” she continued, “You’re a good Feca, Cofcos.”

Cofcos set the book on the nightstand and wrapped his arm around Julian's waist. Remember what I said about you being a good Eniripsa?" he asked. She pulled away gently and put her hands to her side. Cofcos retracted his hand in turn. "Yes," she said cautiously. "I meant it." "Please don't-" "No, really." She let out an annoyed sigh. "It's okay, you've flattered me enough," she said, trying to settle the matter. "Hear me out," he continued, "But have you done anything bad today?" "Well..." "Nothing I haven't already forgiven you for." "No." "If it's any consolation, you were wrong. Anyways-" "Oh? No, no, go on." "I got drunk, things got complicated, I don't want to talk about it." "Why don't you want to talk about it?" "Because it's complicated." "Why is it complicated?" "Why do you ask so many questions?" "You were the one complaining that we don't know eachothers' life stories." "Maybe another time." "I can tell you about my first-" "As I was saying, you've already spent an entire day being good." Julian went quiet. "And you didn't even realize it," he finished. "Well, the day's not over yet. Besides, it's just one day." "It's never too late to start. I've only been clean for a couple years." "A couple years?" "And eight months." "It wouldn't have anything to do with your day-long hangover, would it?" "...Of course not." "And the night before, with that Pandawa bimbo?" "No." "Oh, damn, I'm onto something here, aren't I?" "I don't know where you're going with this." "No, no, it's okay, I've met a few charming Ecaflips before. I just wouldn't take you as that kind of guy." "I think it's getting late," he said, getting up, "You can have the bed." "And where will you sleep?" "...The floor?" "What, am I not furry enough for you? We can share a bed, it doesn't mean anything." "No, no, I insist." "If you're going to sleep on the floor, then I will too. Nobody gets the bed." "...Fine." "Fine." Julian stood up and laid back down on a dirty rug on the floor in the fetal position. "That's not what I meant by 'Fine,'" Cofcos said. Julian sat up and saw him sitting on the bed, undoing his shoelaces. One shoe off. Julian smiled and slowly began taking off her top. Cofcos looked up from his shoe and quickly looked away, closing his eyes. "That's not what I meant either," he explained, "We'll share the bed, but it's not going to mean anything." "Oh," she said disappointedly, "Sorry." "Apology accepted," he said, dropping his other shoe to the floor with his eyes closed. He crawled under the covers and scooted to make room for Julian. He laid on his side, facing away from her. She put her top back in place and blew out the candle. She climbed into bed after him, pressing herself against him gently, wrapping an arm around his body. "Don't get so friendly," he cautioned. "It doesn't mean anything," she complained. "Yes. It does. There's still time for us to stay on the floor." "I'm starting to regret this 'good' thing," she grumbled, rolling over to her half of the bed. "Goodnight, Julian." "Goodnight, Cofcos."