Eternal War Book 1: Chapter 3

A sound startled me from my thoughts. Laughter. loud, raucous laughter. Ah… how lovely… the laughter of those too drunk to do anything else. Why was I staying here again? Oh. Right. Nice rooms, nice service, and, most importantly, nice price. Ah… if only the tavern was located next door to the inn instead of right under it… oh well…

I sighed and tried to return to deciphering my book. My very odd book. My very odd, apparently magical book that literally fell from the sky. I still had no idea what the hell it was other than that.

With an annoyed sigh, I stood up and stretched. Again, no luck. It's still being stubborn. All it says is that I absolutely need to find the five others with Items. Yes, with a capital 'I', as if they are really important or something. Yes, the thing has a personality. Don't ask me how the hell a book has a personality.

Okay… I'm just going to head down and down a few ales to ease my nerves a bit. Please, let no one be looking my way when I head down… please, Mayesa, I really, really would appreciate it if-

"Hey there, gorgeous! How much?" Damn. No luck tonight.

"Depends on how much your willing to pay for my funeral when I die from laughing." Not the best of retorts, but I had used all my good ones earlier in the week. Why must mortals be so immature? I sat down at the bar a good distance away from the other patrons and ordered a drink. A strong one because mortal standards on alcohol strength are very different from half-mortals.

"Hey, sweetheart? How about you play a few rounds with us? We'll go easy on you!" Ugh… cat calls from the gambling table. Again. Mayesa of Light… to think that I used to enjoy this kind of game… What was I thinking?

I glanced over at the table. A bunch of drunks sitting at a circular table, gambling away money that they could have been saving to buy their wives some nice little gifts. Their wives deserved a few gifts, for putting up with that ugly lot. The only handsome ones over there happened to be the only two who seemed sober: the flirtatious dealer and the calm peacekeeper.

The dealer noticed me looking at the table and flashed a grin. "Come now. No one here bites. Unless you like that sort of thing, of course."

Okay. Hear that sound? It's my patience snapping. I slid my empty glass back to the barmaid, smiled and winked at her, and languidly made my way over, making sure to expose my long legs through the slit in my skirt. Once there, I slid into an empty seat, leaned over just enough to pull my loose halter taunt, and smiled. "Let's play. I'm bored." With drunk, happy grins, the game commenced.

For the record, demons rarely fight fair. So… lesson one in demonic tactics: use your beauty to turn all those attracted to your gender into babbling idiots and then swipe all their valuables through simple gambling. It's a fun game that tends to end only when the money runs out, not the boredom. Unfortunately…

"I'd ask if you all wanted to play another round, but it appears that I have all the money. Too bad, boys." I laughed and winked while fanning myself with my cards about an hour later. "Better luck next time?"
They just wobbled away. Oh dear… that one guy just nearly crashed into that table… and that one ran into the wall… Mayesa above! What have they been drinking?! Maybe the drinks 'round here are stronger than I thought.

"Storm." I nearly jumped at the calm, low voice. I glanced to where the sound came from: the peacekeeper, who was watching the drunks wobble and crash into things with laughing eyes. "Please let the constables know that there are some inebriated men who are attempting to leave the tavern." Hmm… how serious… Who was he talking to anyway?

A white shape detaching itself from an equally white pillow-bed against the wall answered that question. The white shape yipped and quickly loped off. I stared after it. that couldn't be… yet it looked just like…

"A wolf?" I asked aloud. A wolf in the middle of a city?

"Yep!" I turned to the dealer. He seemed to be laughing at something. At me or at the drunks, I hadn't a clue. "Rieno's got two following him all over the place."

"Rieno?" who or what was 'Rieno'?

"My name, milady." The peacekeeper sat down next to me with a small half-smile. Ah, that answers that question. "I must say that tonight was one of the more interesting gambling sessions I have watched."

"I'll agree with that, Rieno!" the dealer laughed. "I'm Kivo, by the way. And you are…?"

"Wondering how I'm going to carry all the money I just won." I grinned. Ah… so nice to have a decent conversation, especially with such good-looking boys.

Kivo laughed and started counting the cards. "Let's see whether I can guess your name, then. Beautiful? Gorgeous?" Great… flirting… forget what I just thought.  "Or perhaps a much more lovely name, pretty flower."

"Leana." I snapped, my good mood gone. "Use it or do not talk to me." He seemed taken aback. Well… I did just suddenly snap at him… though I have my reasons. "Flower" names irk me, horribly.

"So… it is Lady Leana, then?" Rieno spoke, calm voice breaking the tension.

"Not 'Lady'". I turned to him. "I've no title among Clanners."

He smiled gently. "You have been here for the past two nights, correct?"

"Yeah. How'd you know?" Has he been watching me? Goodness, I hope I made a good impression…

"There tend to be less fights when beautiful women are in residence, which allows me to relax." I like him. It's hard to find a man who knows how to give a subtle compliment nowadays.

"Since when do you relax, Rieno?" there was Kivo, laughing again. "You're too uptight about things!"

"It seems that way to you because you are far too inclined to let things fall as they are wont. However, we all have our faults."

"I fail to see how it's a fault."

"Fools seldom do see their faults."

"Hey!"

I had to laugh. Kivo turned to me. "You have a pretty laugh. Of course, everything about you is pretty."

"Thank you for the compliment." Completely automatic response that resulted in him grinning. Why…? …Did I just give him a window? I think I did. Damn.

"Ah, good. I managed that. You're so gorgeous that I've-"

"Forgotten your normal string of lines?" I smiled sweetly as he went slack jawed. "Don't worry. Every other guy fell back on the same excuse two decades ago."

Kivo opened his mouth, probably to try again, when he yelped in pain and turned to glare at Rieno. Why would Kivo be glaring at Rieno?

Oh, who cared? My good mood is shot. I'd better go and cool off… hmm… should be chilly outside. I stood up.

"Miss Leana?" Rieno asked, politely.

"I'm going to go take a walk. It's such a lovely night."

Kivo opened his mouth, probably to say yet another cheap piece of flattery, but once again, he yelped in pain and glared at Rieno. Rieno, however, ignored him to continue speaking with me. "It is dangerous to wander around at night alone. I could come with you if you'd like."

Hanging out with a handsome guy? Sign me up!

"No fair, Rieno! I'm the flirt around here!" …He admits to being a flirt? Mayesa, have mercy… I loathe womanizers.

"I know not of what you speak of, Kivo. I have merely offered to escort her during her walk."

He pouted and glared. "You are walking around with a pretty little thing in the middle of the night. That spells 'date'."

"Kivo, I believe she is taller than you are."

"Details, details. They are so unimportant."

"I am forced to disagree. Details form technicalities, which form loopholes, which form ways to break rules or to manipulate people. Details are very important." Breaking rules? Manipulating people? How interesting.

"Still doesn't change the fact that you are going out with a girl!" I kicked Kivo underneath the table to shut him up. "Ow!" he looked to me, face twisted slightly in pain. Huh? His pain tolerance must be low.

"I wouldn't mind going out with Rieno." I smiled. "He certainly seems to be mature." I stood up, stretched, and glanced at Rieno. "If you will lead?"

He half-smiled, stood up as well, and, gallantly, offered me his arm. I took it and the two of us walked off. I glanced back at Kivo. He looked shocked before shaking his head and pulling at some chain around his neck. Most peculiar.

~*~

A nice leisurely walk, complete with the nice and completely pointless conversation, and I have learned… five things about Rieno. 1) he's twenty-three. 2) he's three years older than Kivo (just three?!) 3) He has two wolves following him around: a white one named Storm and a black one named Shadow. 4) he's half-wolf-Meuta. 5) He's very, very good at reading people.

What did he learn about me? …unfortunately, more than five things.

The serious conversations returned when we walked back into the inn-tavern. As soon as we walked in, Kivo spoke up, "Leana, did you by any chance come across a strange item that appeared out of nowhere and that won't leave you alone around… let's say, six or seven months ago?"

I stopped, stared, and then turned to Rieno. "Is he always this smart?"

Rieno smirked. "If he wasn't, I would have nothing to do with him." He chuckled at my shocked face. "Go on and sit. I need to check something."

"Okay." He left. Shadow followed him, but Storm stayed with me as I went to sit at the table where Kivo was. "You know… smart men are very attractive."

"Yeah, but fools live longer and healthier." He grinned before turning serious again. "So, did you?"

"Yeah. A Book. It's up in my room, though."

"Storm? Would you mind fetching it?" Storm looked at him and cocked her head to the side. "Have I mentioned that you look particularly lovely tonight?" flirting… with a wolf? Wow… she's smart, though, because she just kept staring at him. "I'll buy you those sweets you love." She yipped and rushed up the stairs.

"…does she even know what room is mine?"

"Yep. Rieno is required to know where every guest stays. Therefore, Storm and Shadow both know."

"I see…" not really. Why would a peacekeeper be required to know which rooms were occupied? I opened my mouth to ask, but Rieno showed up with a plate laden with food that he placed in front of Kivo.

Kivo looked first at the food, then at Rieno. "Uh… Rieno… I'm not…"

"You had twenty mugs while we were gone."

"I'm barely tipsy! And that's by the loosest definition of the word!"

"I've also ordered water for you. I expect you to have at least two glasses."

…I'm getting the distinct feeling that they've had this conversation many times before. Wait, twenty mugs and he's barely tipsy? He didn't act much like a demon, so I looked at his eyes. Ah, there we go. Heterochromatic: two distinct shades of green, one light and the other dark. He was careful to keep the lighter one under shadow, though.

"So…if your fairy parent is alive, I'd love to meet him or her."

Kivo and Rieno stopped their minor squabble and looked at me. Kivo spoke while Rieno sat down, shaking his head in disbelief. "What makes you think that-"

"Because only a half-immortal can have that many drinks and be sober."

"I could be half-demon."

"Your eyes are two different colors." Kivo set his jaw. I shrugged. "Sorry?"

"Kivo, be polite. If you do not wish to talk, occupy your mouth something else." Rieno sighed, then turned to me. "I-"

"No apology needed. I've seen how fairies treat their halflings."

Kivo laughed bitterly. "What treatment? They just ignore."

"Ignorance is more damaging than actual blows, Kivo. There is no shame in feeling pain from it." Rieno's voice was calm, soothing even.

Kivo, though, didn't look soothed. Let's see… what made Kaier get out of his slumps…? Ah… that's right! I grinned. "Keep that look up and you'll have a whole host of girls just begging to run their hands all over you. Girls adore the dark, brooding types."

Kivo stared at me for two beats before roaring with laughter. Rieno gave me an inquisitive, yet grateful look.

I shrugged. "It's what I said to my twin back home whenever he started brooding. I thought it might work for Kivo." Poor Kaier… he's not actually my twin, but we're so close that we just say we are. He's been so stressed lately because of the Courts… and my breaking up with Teiron last year didn't help him… really must apologize for that…

Rieno smiled a… I guess the best word for it is "true smile". It was bright, startling, and… wow… really brought out his handsomeness… damn, I think I might just get back into the game to try and snag him.

"Rieno, you really need to warn people when you are going to truly smile. I think the poor serving girl nearly fainted over there." Kivo seemed to have gotten his breathe back, though his face-splitting grin hinted that he might have another laughing fit at any second.

"Why in Sasha's name would she faint from me smiling?" …okay… that look of confusion doesn't seem to be faked.

"Rieno, Rieno." Kivo sighed and shook his head. "For someone so observant and skilled at reading people, you sure are oblivious about when people are flirting with you."

…You're kidding me. I held on a hand. "Hold up. You are telling me that this handsome man here." I pointed at Rieno. "Doesn't realize just how handsome he is?"

"I guess? Don't ask me. I haven't got a clue." Kivo shrugged. "But he can't recognize when people are flirting with him."

"Seriously?" Wow… hmm… definitely would make snagging him harder…

"Well… sometimes he notices. When they are over the top and everyone else is calling them 'desperate'. It's really amusing."

"Oh? Would you mind telling me a tale?"

"I'm right here, you two." Rieno cut in, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

Kivo noticed. "We're just talking about one of your few flaws. No big deal."

"Kivo, I am quite aware of my flaws and they number too many to be classified as 'a few'."

"This wouldn't have anything to do with that secret that you and your dad won't tell me, would it?"

"Kivo, if I told you all Pack matters, your ears would fall off. Let it go. Nothing in my pack should concern you."

uh oh… this looks like an old argument. Let's see… some way to distract…

"Except that you're keeping some big thing a secret and it wears on you. I can't tell you how annoying it is-" ah! Perfect! Storm just came down from the second floor, the Book firmly held in her mouth. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, looking uncertain. She probably didn't want to get in the middle of this.

"Uh, boys?"

Rieno glanced at me. "Yes, Leana?"

I pointed at the staircase. "Storm's here with my Book. Perhaps we should start talking about the weird items, now?"

Rieno half-smiled, relief evident in his eyes. "That sounds reasonable."

Kivo set his jaw and glared at Rieno. "Fine, but don't think you're off the hook, buddy." Rieno sighed as Storm walked up and plopped the Book in my lap.

I wrinkled my nose in mock distaste. "Ugh… wolf slobber."

Storm growled and stuck her muzzle up in the air, as if insulted. I laughed and reached out to scratch her behind the ear, which she submitted to readily enough. Then I placed the Book on the table, keeping my hand on top of it. "Well… this is it. the self-proclaimed 'Book of Knowledge'."

The three of us stared at the Book, expecting… something. But nothing happened. The three of us leaned back, Kivo visibly disappointed, I slumping slightly, and… how odd. Rieno looked pained, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Kivo sighed. "at the risk of sounding like a child, I expecting something from the fairy tales. Something like… a huge light show… or some weird being springing up from out of nowhere… or-"

"How about an incredibly high pitched noise?" Rieno's strained voice interrupted Kivo's rant as he pulled off a black ribbon necklace and dropped it onto the table. "I'm getting a headache from it."

My Book started to heat. I looked at the ribbon. Attached at the end was an ornate silver key with a small, intensely blue gem. What a pretty color… I reached over to touch it. It was very cold, a sharp contrast to the Book.

"I can't hear anything." Kivo cupped his ear and leaned over the table. "Nope nothing."

"Take your damn rings off!" Rieno snapped.

"Okay, okay! Sheesh!" Kivo took off his necklace and placed it ceremoniously next to the Book and Key. "no need to yell…" On the necklace were two rings: one white with a black opal and one black with a white pearl. I moved my hand over the two. The white ring was cold; the black one was warm.

I heard Rieno sigh and looked towards him. He had leaned back in his chair, almost slumped in relief. "Better?"

"Yes, thank you." He half-smiled. "My apologies for snapping. It was a rather high pitch."

"I'll say," Kivo cut it. "I couldn't hear it at all. How are Shadow and Storm?"

Ah! I completely forgot about them! If Rieno had been hurting then… I looked around and didn't see them anywhere. Where did…?

"Storm and Shadow decided that they needed to do something of great importance outside."

"Like making sure their heads didn't burst?" Kivo laughed.

"Something along those lines…" Rieno sighed.

"Well… at least we proved one thing…" the two boys looked at me as I spoke. "There's some kind of connection between these items…"

Rieno became thoughtful. "You mentioned that your item… called itself the Book of Knowledge?" I nodded. "How did it do this?"

"Simple. I opened it up and asked what the hell it was." Kivo laughed. "I'm not joking." I reached over to grab the Book. "Watch." I unclasped the Book and asked, "What are the other two items here?" It opened to a page. "Let's see… the rings are the Rings of Sin and Virtue. According to this, they give you the ability to make 'fairer judgments', whatever that means. The key is the Key of Secrets, which gives its bearers the ability to see through lies and illusions and to both lock and unlock memories."

Kivo picked up the rings and scrutinized them. "'the ability to make fairer judgments'?"

I shrugged. "that's what it says."

"What does it say about your Book?"

"The Book of Knowledge," I recited from memory, "grants its bearer access to vast amounts of information and to key events. Other than that, I can't tell you."

Rieno slipped the Key back around his neck. "Are there other items?"

I nodded. "It wouldn't answer me earlier about what they were, but we can see whether it's more cooperative this time round." I looked at the Book. "What are the other items?"

Kivo looked confused. "Why are you asking-"

"Because there are no words otherwise."

"ah…"

The Book flipped to a different page. "well… I do have a list… somewhat."

"Oh?"

"there is the Necklace of Unity, Crystal of Time and Space, and Bracelet of Body and Soul. That's all it says. Sorry?"

"Don't worry…" Kivo looked excited. "We know that we have to find three other people."

"…'We'?" hold up… when was it decided that…? not that I wouldn't mind companions… and the Book did seem urgent about finding these items…

"Kivo." Rieno looked sternly at Kivo. "We returned from a trip just four weeks ago. We are not leaving again so soon."

"Come on!" Kivo whined. "Look, we should look for these other three people! There might be something important about these items."

"You do not care about such things. You are only looking for an excuse to go wandering again."

"I am not!" Kivo snapped, flushing slightly… I'm guessing from indignation?

"Yet you flush. I hit a nerve." …or embarrassment. That works too. "No, your mother needs you here."

"My mother…" Kivo growled, "will be far better served if I was away."

"Your mother adores you. do not even try to deny that."

"I never said that! but she's only staying around because-"

"She loves the city where she raised her child with her husband. Now, Kivo-"

"Ah… here you two are!" I glanced towards the door. An older man leaned casually against the doorway, his eyes dancing. "They're gone by the way."

The argument instantly ended as both Rieno and Kivo smiled in relief. Okay… who are these "they" people? Rieno addressed the man first. "Hello, Father. That is good to hear."

"isn't it? that's not the only thing I came here for, though. I heard that you found a nice companion to walk around with under this lovely crescent moon."

"Heard? Yes, through your spies."

"Messengers, Rieno. Not spies."

"I'll remember that."

"Enough of the father-son interaction, Rieno! Makes me out of place." Kivo laughed, though a bit sadly. I wonder why?

The man, Rieno's father?, grinned. "Oh? I can tell everyone some of your childhood stories. Sasha knows that they're funnier than Rieno's; always so serious, he was. Will that make you feel back in place?"

"NO!!!"

"Thank you so much for yelling into my ear, Kivo. As if it didn't have enough abuse today…" Rieno sighed.

"Oh? That pretty hawk talk your ear off?"

"Um… I'm kinda right here, sir…" I drawled.

He started. "my apologies, then, miss. I am Adronir, Rieno's father."

I inclined my head. "I am Leana, a half-demon visiting from the South."

"Nice to meet you, Leana." He cocked his head to the side. "Ah… you are quite the pretty one. It's about time his hormones kicked in."

"Father," Rieno growled. Adronir laughed. "I just offered to escort her."

"Please, sir." I broke in to try and salvage the situation. "He escorted me, being the perfect gentleman, and answered some questions I had about the North." Adronir didn't look like he believed me. Well… I tried… subject change! "How did you know to find your son here?"

"Simple. I own this place." …what? "With that said, I need to check on some things. Wait right here." He walked off.

"Hey, Rieno? Kivo?" I shifted to face both of them. "What did he mean by…?"

Kivo slumped over sadly. "My father passed away recently. There's been fairies at my house everyday since the funeral to bring mom back 'home'."

Not what I was going to ask… but… Ah… I'm a softie… "I think Kivo's right."

"Huh?"

"I believe that finding these other item bearers is very important, so I must ask that you two accompany me."

Rieno nodded. "I see…" he sighed. "Once again, Kivo gets his way…"

"In a way, I suppose. Besides, I haven't liked traveling alone. Please?"

he half-smiled. "Very well. We can leave in about… would two days suffice?"

"Yes. Though, I should probably go and pay for those two extra nights. I'll be right back."

"Nonsense!" Adronir appeared next to me.

"Wah!!!" I jumped, actually falling out of the chair. Rieno immediately moved to help me up. Kivo and Adronir just laughed. "How'd you appear like that?!" I yelled as soon as Rieno had pulled me up.

"Meuta thing." Adronir shrugged. "Anyway, you can stay for free. Rieno, make the arrangements, would you?" Rieno nodded and walked off.

"But…" I don't like charity… "I have enough… and surely you-"

"Nah. I don't need to money. I own half the city."

My jaw dropped. Kivo slung an arm around my shoulder. When did he stand up? "All right! we're traveling together, lovely Leana."

"Leana. Just, Leana. No endearments if you want to have children in the future." I looked at Kivo and pointed at Adronir as he walked off again. "He owns half the town."

Kivo nodded. "yep. Mom owns the other." I gaped at him. Kivo grinned, delightedly before running off. He paused at the doorway to wave at me and shout, "Hey! We'll meet up with you tomorrow!" before running out the door.

Rieno came up then and smiled. "It's all arranged. I'll have Storm stay with you, if you don't mind. She'll guard you and lead us to you tomorrow."

I nodded, still shocked. He walked off, Shadow following closely, and I went up to my room with Storm leaping around in front of me. My now free room…

…I'm traveling with two handsome, rich boys? Mayesa above… Serasi and Shivra will die when they hear about this.