Bath, Shave, and Threat

Kieran followed the two young women through a hallway and then through another door. They came into a dimly lit room with a big tub in the middle of it. To the side was a chair in front of a big mirror and a table to the side, with countless flasks on top of it. The room was filled with a scent of wood and herbs. Kieran could feel his body relax as soon as his nose took in the smell. One of the women, the shorter one with blond hair and a freckled face, went to a nearby cupboard. She took a small crystal out of one of the drawers and placed it inside the tub.

Splash

Suddenly it was filled with water. Steam was rising from it.

“That’s convenient…” mumbled Kieran watching the woman get another crystal out of the drawer.

“Yeah, it is! One of Master Aduin’s creations. No more filling it by hand. And for the extra touch…”, she said and let the second crystal drop into the water.

Blop

Bubbles came rising from the bottom of the tub and a citrusy aroma mixed itself in with the other scents of the room, creating an even more soothing fragrance.

“Let’s get you out of these shabby clothes,” The other woman, with brunette hair, said softly from behind him.

She grabbed his cloak and gently pulled it off from him. Kieran noticed that the eyes of the shorter woman widened as she saw his scarred body.

“You have some interesting tattoos. I’ve never seen any like that before,” The women behind him said softly and Kieran felt her hand touch his back.

“And you probably will never see some like mine again…” he answered quietly, “Or I would hope so…”

“Why? Are they some special kind?”

“In a way…”

The shorter one came closer to him and placed her hand on his chest, right on top of his mark.

“You’re very skinny. You should eat more,” she said and traced around the mark.

“I will, when I get the chance to,” Kieran answered with a slight grin.

The shorter woman tilted her head slightly and looked up at him. Kieran felt the hand on his chest move downwards. He breathed deeply and grabbed it right as it reached the seam of his pants.

“You don’t have to do this, even if you’re told to.”, Kieran said with a bit of sadness in his voice.

“We were told to show you to the bath, nothing more…” the woman behind him whispered softly into his ear and he felt her body against his back. “What we do now, is our own decision.”

“You are lonely. We can see it in your eyes. Let us help you with that,” said the shorter woman in front.

“You can’t help me.”, Kieran replied defeated.

“Then let us ease it a little bit,” the woman behind him whispered.

Kieran stepped to the side, bringing both women in front of him.

“Thanks for the offer, but no. You can leave now,” he said with a sad smile on his face.

“Let us at least wash your back,” the shorter one offered.

“No, I’m fine on my own… leave me alone… please.”

Both women looked at each other for a moment and then did a curtsey.

“As you wish,” they both said and then vanished out of the room.

Kieran sighed deeply and then removed his pants, before stepping into the tub. The cozy warmth enveloped his body and he immediately felt relaxed. Kieran just sat there for a while enjoying the sensation, then he began to scrub his body and wash his hair. After he was done, he leaned back again and closed his eyes.

“How’s the water?”, someone said suddenly behind him.

Kieran jumped up and jerked around immediately.

“Woah, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”, Aduin said smiling cheekily in a corner of the room.

“I wasn’t scared…” Kieran said, slowly relaxing his body, “I was just surprised. Not many people are capable of sneaking up to me.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Aduin got closer, eyes wandering over his body. Kieran noticed that they stopped at two points for a few moments. The first was at the mark on his chest, the second one further down.

“You declined their offer and send them out…” Aduin began and looked back up in his eyes, “That’s good… I would hate it, if the first man my little Sophi introduced to me, would end up cheating on her on the spot… and in my house.”

“We’re not like that… we’re just… working together…” Kieran replied, “And I don’t think she even introduced me.”

Aduin blinked a few times confused.

“Oh, you’re right… she did not…”, he said and extended his arm, “My name is Aduin, pleasure to meet you.”

Kieran hesitated a bit before grasping his hand.

“Kieran,” he introduced himself.

Aduin’s hand was quite soft, but his grip was like a screw clamp. Kieran answered with equal strength. Aduin smiled widely and loosened his grip.

“Want something to drink, Kieran?” he asked and went to the cupboard.

“Yeah, why not…” Kieran answered and sat back down in the tub.

“You seem more of a mead guy than a wine guy, am I correct?”

“Correct.”

Aduin opened a drawer and got a bottle and two cups out. He then grabbed the chair and put it closer to the tub.

Aduin poured one cup and held it out.

“Thanks…” Kieran replied and took it.

“How do you like the scented candles? I made those myself,” Aduin asked while pouring one cup for himself.

“Smells good… Night Lemon, Rasen Wood, Lamis Herb, and a smell I don’t recognize,” Kieran answered.

“Dragon’s Bane… funny herb… the fumes when you burn it smell nice and relaxes the body. But if you make an extract out of it and take a drop, you’ll get paralyzed for a few hours and begin to hallucinate. But if you take two drops…”

“You die.”

“That’s right… and it’s completely color- and tasteless. The perfect poison.”

Aduin smiled and finished pouring his cup.

“Cheers,” he said and held out his cup.

“Cheers,” Kieran said as well and clinked with the cups.

He then downed the drink in one go. Aduin watched him without drinking from his cup.

“No hesitation at all… You’re either very trusting of people or have a death wish.”, he mentioned with a crooked smile.

Kieran looked at him and smiled back.

“Maybe both,” he replied.

Aduin began to laugh.

“I like that answer,” he then said and downed his drink as well.

The cups were then refilled. They both drank in silence for a while. Kieran closed his eyes and relaxed in the water. Aduin watched him closely the whole time.

“Do you regret some of your kills?” he asked out of the blue.

Kieran opened his eyes and slowly turned his head to meet his gaze.

“Yes…” he responded, “Do you?”

Aduin’s eyebrows went up and his smile vanished.

“Yes…” Aduin gave the same answer and took a sip.

His eyes wandered down to where the water touched Kieran’s body. It was right at the mark on his chest.

“That’s a quite curious mark you have on your chest.”, Aduin stated.

“I guess it is…” Kieran agreed.

“Can you tell me why my niece has the same one on the back of her hand all of a sudden?”

“I can’t”

“I see…”

Another few minutes of silent drinking followed.

“Can I ask you something personal?”, Aduin began again.

“You can… but I can’t promise that I’m able to answer,” Kieran replied.

“If you’re just working together with my sweet Sophi… why did you refuse the two of them earlier? Are they not your type?”

“No… they’re both very attractive, but… there is already a name engraved on my heart.”

Aduin clicked his tongue.

“That’s a shame…”, he mumbled.

“Why?”, Kieran asked confused.

“Because depending on your answer I would have asked If you mind me joining you inside this tub, but out of respect for your loyalty I’ll refrain… that’s a rare commodity these days… I hope the one, whose name is engraved on your heart, is worthy of it.”

“She isn’t…but…”

Kieran downed his drink without finishing his sentence.

“I understand…” Aduin said softly.

He wanted to refill Kieran’s cup but noticed that the bottle was empty.

“Well, I think it’s time I’ll give you a shave, you soaked long enough and the bottle is empty,” Aduin said, got up and placed the chair back in front of the mirror, “Come sit here.”

“I’m fine… I can shave on my own,” Kieran responded.

“I’m sure you can.”

Aduin did not move away from the chair and his posture made clear that he would not, no matter what. Kieran got up with a sigh and went to the chair. Aduin gently put shaving cream on his face and then grabbed a straight razor.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be gentle,” he said with a smile.

With skillful and gentle movements, he began to shave Kieran. When he went to wipe the shaving cream and hairs from the razor, his sleeve went up a bit, seemingly by accident. The tattoo on the inside of his forearm did not escape Kieran’s notice.

“A crow holding a dagger in his beak… You’re one of the crown’s crows. That explains a lot,” Kieran mentioned.

“Used to be… I’m retired now,” Aduin answered while continuing the shaving.

“Retired? I didn’t know they get to…”

“Usually, they don’t… I got lucky… But it’s good that you know what that symbol means… that makes the next part easier.”

“What do you me—”

The razor stopped right on Kieran’s throat, pressing just softly enough to not yet cut into it.

“Now listen very carefully, Kieran…” Aduin whispered right into his ear with a dark undertone, “I don’t care who you really are or what this mission is you’re on… The only thing I care about is my sweet little Sophi. If you hurt her in anyway whatsoever, I will hunt you to the end of this earth. You won’t be able to hide anywhere. Nobody is safe from my wrath, not even the legendary Mage Murderer, with whom you share your name, would be. I will find you and kill you. That I promise you.”

Kieran slowly turned his head, cutting himself slightly on the razorblade.

“If I do… I really hope you can keep that promise,” he said with nothing but truth in his voice.

They both stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. A drop of blood slowly rolled down Kieran’s throat and onto his chest, right over the mark. Aduin chuckled.