The Inheritor of Light

Protection Detail (Part One)

Johnathan waved his hand. "Not in the least. Just a job, that's all."

The man set the tankard down. "Then why don't you have a seat and tell me all about it. Last I heard of you, you were off in the mountains fighting marauders."

"Yeah, I was on my way back when I picked up this one." Johnathan motioned to Sãra, who glared at him in return.

The man let out a rich laugh. "You always were one to find trouble wherever it could be found. Not that it is a bad trait, mind you."

"Look, Timothy, I've had a long day of travel. As much as I'd like to spend all evening keeping you entertained, I'd like a bed more."

Timothy shrugged. "Fine. If a bed is all you want, I can certainly manage that." He leaned under the counter a pulled out two keys. "Would you like a room with one bed, or two?"

"Two," Johnathan and Sãra said in unison.

This caused Timothy to smirk. "It is good to know you're of one mind on that." He set one of the keys down on the counter and slid it over to Johnathan. "I can bring something up for the two of you if you would like."

Johnathan picked up the key. "That'd be fine. Come on." He motioned to Sãra with his head.

She glanced over to Timothy, "Thank you." Then, she followed after Johnathan.

They walked up the stairs, turned a corner and walked down the hall, passing a couple of doors until they came to #8. It only took Johnathan a moment to open the door. He walked in and threw his pack on the first bed. Sãra collapsed on the second.

"I'm done," she said, wiggling out of her pack.

"Just like that? It's only been the first day."

Sãra rolled over onto her back. "No human was meant to walk that long."

"I made it just fine." Johnathan was too busy digging through his pack to look at her.

"That's because you're not human."

"A shocking revelation."

Sãra swung her pack off her bed and got all the way up on it. "If I had known it was going to be this bad, I never would have agreed to come with you. I was much better off back where I was."

"Which place? Back with those bandits, or back in that small town with the oversized buffoon?" Johnathan set his back by his bed and sat down on it.

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response."

He undid his belt with his daggers and set them beside his bed before undoing his gauntlets. "I'll make sure you're out of dignity before the end of this trip."

"I have to say, you're the worst bodyguard in all of Milzoc—scratch that—all of Alvirith."

Johnathan looked over his shoulder and flashed her a smile. "You're too kind."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I'll take what I can get." Johnathan kicked off both his boots and laid back in the bed.

Sãra decided she ought to do the same and started undoing her boots. "No woman, let alone a princess, should be subjected to your treatment."

"You're still on about that? I thought you were finally beginning to understand."

"Understand what? You had me walking all day! Any time I wanted to stop, you kept on walking, and I had run to catch up. What would you have done if I'd collapsed?"

Johnathan looked her up and down. "Oh, I probably could have carried you the rest of the way. You don't look like you weigh too much."

"Well, it's good to know that you're loyal enough to not abandon me."