Reluctantly Rogue Pt. 01 Ch. 012

(Note: This is a long, ongoing story. It is a story with sex. It's a sexy story. It is in many ways a story about sex. But, it is not strictly a sex story. Many chapters may even be SFW.

This chapter is, however, very SFW!)

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CHAPTER TWELVE

Borrowing Time

In the morning, Atyr felt as though he had never been injured at all. He was completely refreshed: perfectly healed. Only the faintest of scars remained, and even those would be unnoticeable to anyone not searching for them. Pesky hadn't lied when she had said the wounds would be gone by morning. Then again, apparently she couldn't lie, so perhaps he shouldn't have been surprised.

After a lazy breakfast and a short walk, Atyr found himself alone, climbing the short winding path that lead from the main street up the wooded knoll to the Birdhouse. His stomach twisted around, his fingers tittered as they traced circles around his palms.

The morning was warm and breezy, and the door was open. He peeked into the front room. "Hullo?" He saw a young woman sitting on the bench, hands clasped tightly on her knees. Her cheeks flushed and she looked away when she saw him at the door, but, eyes fixed on the floor, she answered.

"They're both in the other rooms. They said they'd be back out shortly."

"Oh. Ok, thank you." Atyr walked in awkwardly, not sure if he was intruding. "Mind if I wait as well?"

The woman glanced up, brows tense. "Oh. Oh of course, of course. Not at all." Her face said that she definitely did mind.

"I'll just... I'll wait outside." He ducked back out, stopping short when he found himself face to face with a cheerfully glowing sprite.

Pesky tapped him on the nose. "Are you ready?"

Not wanting to appear to be talking to himself in the doorway, Atyr just rolled his eyes at her, and found a warm patch of sun, leaning against a tree to wait.

A short while later, the young woman came out the front door, stepping lightly, almost skipping, relief bright across her face. She caught his eyes again, and immediately looked down and way. She hurried off along the path, her cheeks flushing pink once more.

Atyr glanced after her, then turned to walk to the open door. Pesky chattered in his ear. "She seemed quite relieved."

Atyr looked over his shoulder at the young woman's back. "I suppose."

"And embarrassed. What do you think her visit was about?"

He sighed. "I don't know. I have no idea."

"You could ask Kella." She put her weirdness into Kella's name, causing a brief shiver of arousal to course through Atyr's body. He felt a slight pressure grow between his legs.

"Fae take you Pesky, stop doing that!"

She grabbed herself by the wrist and pantomimed being dragged away struggling. "I'm took! But seriously, I bet she's worried she's with child. Probably by some cute, young man with whom she's not supposed to be dallying, I bet--"

"Pesky," Atyr growled under his breath, "I'm certain that Kella and Bird did not go explaining the details of my visit to that young woman, and I don't expect them to tell me about hers." He glared at her. "Also, it's completely irrelevant to me. And to you." He poked her in the stomach and she somersaulted backwards though the air.

"Hey, dummy, let's not get grumpy, ok? I'll leave you alone." She stuck her tiny tongue out at him. "I have a feeling you'll work better without my interference this time. With luck, you'll need the time alone. I'll see you tonight. Enjoy your date with," she paused, drifted close to his face and whispered, in a voice drenched in erotic weirdness, "Kella." Before Atyr could recover or respond, she had zipped off into the trees, trailing giggles.

A moment later she flitted back out. "Actually, thinking about it more, how about I'll see you in the morning?" She pantomimed some passionate kissing, and danced away once more.

He waited a moment to ensure any lingering physical effects of her voice had subsided, then spun and walked in the door. Kella was in the front room now, putting away a few jars and satchels which were spread about the counter. She looked up, and her face broke into a grin, followed by a flash of embarrassment, before finally settling into an attempt at a professional smile. "Oh hello again! I'm so glad to see you up and still healthy and whole. I trust that you-- I mean I really hope you don't need our services again?"

He hurried to shake his head. "No, no, not at all, I just needed, well I didn't need, I just came to thank you and, well because you treated me here and I felt that I should and all, and..." He paused, trying and failing to imitate her pleasant, restrained smile. "Hi. I'm glad to see you too."

Dark eyes brightened. "I was really hoping you would say goodbye before you left town."

"Oh, I've already left."

She cocked her head at him.

"I left, I mean, but then I came right back, because..."

"Oh?" Her brows were questioning.

Suddenly, looking into her eyes, something about holding out the banner seemed incredibly crass. His lips moved around, testing out several different alternatives, before settling on, "I was hoping I'd be able to talk to Bird a little about my injury."

Kella's smile faded into something more polite. "Oh. Bird. Right, of course. Of course." She nodded. "I'll just go let her know you're waiting. She may be a few moments."

Atyr's chest tightened for no reason, no reason at all. He swore internally at Pesky. "Kella?"

She stopped, back to him.

"I, uh, I just have a couple questions about some things Bird said to me, some things I need to know a bit more about, but... but uh, if you don't have too many duties right now I was hoping to ah..." To what? To talk to her? Why? What for? What reasonable excuse could he have for needing to talk to her?

Kella was still standing in the doorway. She turned her head slightly, but not enough to look at him.

"I uh," he struggled on, "I had a couple questions for you too maybe if you have some time after. Or later. After. Whenever." Then he blurted out. "Oh, I wanted to make a donation too since I'm not part of the town so I obviously have never contributed to the collections for the Healing House."

The young woman remained back-to in the doorway, droopy grey robes completely still. "Ok. I'll just go tell Bird you're here." She disappeared into the second room.

It was several long moments before the elderly healer opened the door and stepped into the front room of the Healing House, a small grin playing on her face, her eyes crinkled up in a mischievous sort of delight.

"Kella has informed me that a young man is here with some questions about his treatment, and that he'd like to make a donation." She raised her aged brows at him playfully. "But surely, that man is not you? I haven't much experience with those of your... type, but I sincerely doubt you have any lingering ailments from that little cut that could possibly require my advice."

When he opened his mouth to explain, she cut him off. "And donations are right out. We are funded by the collection each season."

Atyr opened his mouth again to protest, and again she spoke over him. "The collection is anonymous."

His mouth still open, he attempted to speak once more, but she was ready. "The anonymity of our funding is very important to us, and we cannot accept your donation. Well intended though it clearly is."

Atyr closed his mouth and stood, fingers tapping his palms as he tried to think of a way to contradict any part of what she'd just said. "I like to pay my way." He fished out the banner from his pocket. "And honestly, I don't have much use, any use for this, where I live in the Brookwood."

Bird smiled, and gently pushed the offered coin back towards him. "I'm sure a use will come for it. And I do mean it young man. It is important that our funding remain anonymous. Now! Has your wound re-opened?"

"No, no, nothing like that, I--"

"Any lingering pain?"

"None, it's more that--"

"Fatigue?"

"No, definitely not, it's--"

"Dizziness? Vomiting? Forgetfulness? Other symptoms? New ailments?"

Atyr gave up trying to talk, and shook his head.

"Excellent! Well then, I'm very happy to see you healthy, and without need of my services. Since you won't be making a donation, and since you've nothing for us to treat, I presume you must be here for a quick goodbye." She stepped closer, taking both his hands in her gnarled fingers, and nodded graciously up at him. "Goodbye Atyr, it was truly a pleasure. I wish you a safe journey."

Atyr stood, unwilling to leave, but uncertain how, politely, to remain.

Bird's face took on a look of overly-dramatic confusion. "But you don't leave, surely there's no other reason for your visit?" Her aged eyes were dancing with mirth.

"Bird," he started. "Or, Mother?"

"Bird."

"Can you tell me more of the fae? I have only grown in my confusion since I left here. I still don't know what it means that I have a Class, or what this ghostly Experience is, or, or anything!"

"Atyr." Her smile was much softer now.

"Yes?"

"I didn't accept the quest I was offered."

"I know, but you seem to know about--"

"I know what you know. Probably less than you know. I met a man once, generations ago now, and he offered me an opportunity which I rejected. Everything I know about what such a quest may have entailed, I have told you." She patted his hand as she held it. "As I said the other day, you would be better off directing those questions to the fae themselves, if you can. I wish I could--"

She stopped, listening for a moment. Kella was opening the door behind her. As the younger woman stepped through into the room, Bird continued. "Yes, I'm sure Kella would love to spend some time with you this morning. It was so kind of you to offer."

The young woman stumbled and her head jerked up, meeting Atyr's fast-widening eyes.

Atyr stood frozen.

Bird forged ahead. "You know, I think that girl may have truly fallen for you while you were here; you may have more of a chance than you think. In fact, if you're as much a gentleman as I suppose you to be--"

"Mother!"

Bird turned, not even pretending to look the slightest bit surprised. "Oh, Kella, I hadn't realized you were back already."

Kella's eyes were nearly as wide as Atyr's. She looked back and forth between the Atyr and Bird. Artyr looked back and forth between Kella and Bird. Bird smirked at both of them.

"Well," the old woman carried on, "You two may as well take off right now, we haven't much that needs doing with immediacy, and I'm more than capable to handle those we have in the House this morning."

Kella made some sort of noise that may have been an attempt at speech, but Bird shushed her with her hands. "No, not a worry. As I said, I'm more than capable. Now, you two have a nice time together. I recommend you show Atyr some of the quieter, prettier parts of our town, since he's likely to have spent most of his time in the busy center." A wicked grin was across her face now. "Artyr has come into some coin and has no use for it; you two could have a lovely midday meal at Gant's I warrant.

"And Kella, while you're out, would you mind calling on the glazier? There's a broken windowpane in the Ending Room that needs fixing. I swear this old house shifts and sags and cracks more even than my aging body. Oh, and do hurry back after midday, if you would; I'll want some assistance with the poor young girl in the Healing Room this afternoon."

When the younger two remained silent and frozen, she shooed them out. "Go on, now! If you don't leave soon, I'll need you back before you've yet left!"

Atyr and Kella, not knowing what else to do, began, in silence, to walk down the path from the Birdhouse. Birds chirped. The warm breeze was still blowing.

Artyr spoke first, "I didn't actually, she just..."

Kella nodded without looking up. "I could tell. I really am so sorry. I should really just head back."

"No!"

"No?'

"No, I mean, I mean you can go if you want, obviously I just meant that I didn't actually say anything about you to Bird, but if you'd like to spend some time, or if you have time, and you wanted --"

"Time." A deep, refined voice cut in crisply. "Exactly that, Time."

Atyr's head snapped up, and he saw a tall man standing just off the path, richly dressed in midnight blacks and deep reds. "I do beg both your apologies for the interruption."

"If I wanted...? If I wanted what?" Kella asked.

The elegant gentleman bowed low. "My name is Helliot. Mr. Bracken, would you be willing to lend me just a brief moment of your Time?"

Atyr was already so bewildered from Bird's antics, and now further flustered at trying to explain himself to Kella, that he answered automatically. "Yes, of course." He stopped walking, and looked up at the tall, well-dressed man, clearly a wealthy merchant or landowner, if not perhaps even minor nobility. "I'm sorry, I don't remember meeting, but --"

"Oh, we haven't met before. But I am delighted to be doing so now."

"Of course, yes." Atyr really wasn't sure of how one was supposed to act in this sort of face-to-face conversation with the wealthier members of society. Normally he just smiled and ducked his head and minded his own affairs. "Ummm, this is Kella, she is a healer here at--" He stopped dead in the middle of gesturing to the young woman. She was completely still. An embarrassed look was fixed across her face. Her eyes were turned up and to the side, focused on where Atyr had been a moment ago. He stared at her. "Kella?" She didn't move, not a blink, not a tremble, not a flicker of anything. She wasn't breathing.

"Mr. Bracken." Helliot was speaking again, a tone of apology in his voice. "I am certain Ms. Thorn will be eager to continue your conversation as soon as we complete ours. You two must surely have some delightful plans for the day." He gestured gracefully around at the warm sun and the clear summer sky. "It is truly lovely out today, is it not?"

Atyr noticed the gentle breeze was now gone. Everything was entirely silent, aside from his heart, and the voice of the man in front of him. He was finding it difficult to take a full breath, as though the air didn't want to fill his lungs, or once there, to leave. He stared at the man, taking in the unusual cut of his black and red clothes, close fitting, but with odd drapes and streamers of fabric in places. It was somehow familiar...

"What are you? And what have you done to her?" He looked back to Kella, and tentatively touched her sleeve. The thick, grey fabric moved only slightly, harder to depress than it should have been. "What is this?"

"Mr. Bracken, please believe me that I fully understand your distress. It was abysmally ungracious of me not to have more fully explained the finer details of our agreement. Please forgive me the lapse in judgment." He looked down at Atyr, his expression earnest and searching.

"Our agreement?" Atyr glared at him. He felt that he should be more angry than he was, and more scared, but somehow the tall, dark figure seemed to inspire trust and calmness with every word. "What do you mean 'our agreement?'"

"Just now, Mr. Bracken." Helliot's face now wore a look of politely concerned confusion. "I asked you if you might lend me a brief moment of your Time, to which you replied, if I may quote, 'Yes, of course.'" The darkly dressed man smiled again, gently. "To more fully answer your previous, and may I say, very understandable, question, I haven't done anything to your lovely companion. Rather, you and I decided to take a moment of your Time. And that's where we are now, in your Time. Ms. Thorn's Time is currently continuing unaffected. So again, while your concern is both understandable and commendable, please put any worry for the young lady from your mind."

Atyr wasn't sure if he was entirely comforted, but something about Helliot's refined mannerism was soothing, and he felt the anger draining from him. "You're one of the Fae," he said.

The tall man looked up thoughtfully. "Oh, I am certainly no mortal, if that's what you mean. I thought that apparent."

"So you cannot lie."

Helliot nodded approvingly. "Much like your friend Pesky, I am unable to speak a direct lie."

"Right. Right. Ok." Atyr took a deep breath. "So, can I ask why you've stopped me?"

"Mr. Bracken, I really must point out that I haven't stopped you." When Atyr didn't respond, he opened his red velvet gloves apologetically. "I jest, please forgive my untimely wordplay. Mr. Bracken I have so crudely inserted myself into your lovely morning plans, because I wish to assist you. And I hope that, in return, you might also assist me in a small matter."

Atry nodded, cautiously. "Alright. So, what do you need my help with?"

"Well, that is an interesting story. However it is one which requires some amount of knowledge of the situation you lately find yourself in and, knowing your charming little friend the sprite as I do, I worry that you may not have been as fully appraised as we both might wish, with respect to some of the finer points of..." Helliot gestured vaguely around them. "Your novel place in this realm."

When Atyr nodded slowly once more, a hint of his sudden eagerness showing on his face, the taller man smiled and continued. "What I propose is this. A preliminary agreement. You may ask me whatever questions you might wish, and I will answer them honestly, truly, and to the best of my abilities, wherever possible. And, wherever impossible, I will inform you. I will agree to continue responding to your inquiries until you declare yourself fully satisfied. In return, you agree to listen to a brief summary of my own unfortunate situation, and to consider whether you will be willing to assist me with it. Only to consider, mind you. Should you decide against assisting me, I will consider our agreement complete.

"However, should you be willing to assist me, I propose we then discuss the possibility of a secondary agreement, in which you may, within reason, fairly name your desired recompense for the small task for which I hope to enlist you." Helliot smiled, and clasped his palms together in front of his chest.

Atyr blinked up at him. "Ok. Let me make sure I'm following. I get to ask you as many questions as I want, and you have to answer them fully and honestly."

Helliot broke in, "I do apologize, but I cannot promise 'fully.' The terms would be 'honestly, truly, and to the best of my abilities, wherever possible.' Please believe me that I should wish to offer 'fully' as well, were it not for the likelihood that some questions might be better answered in part, and the further possibility that some questions I may be unable to answer at all. Regretfully."

Atyr wasn't sure he was clear on the distinctions, but it seemed close enough. "Right. So you answer my questions the best you can." He looked at Helliot, who thought briefly and then accepted the summary with a tilt of his head. Atyr continued. "In return, all I have to do is listen to your story?"

"I do hate to offer so many corrections Mr. Bracken. I realize the fault lies entirely with my own initial explanation. However, I also would agree to inform you if I am unable to answer a question. You, in return, would be expected not only to listen to my story, but also to consider whether you might be willing to help."

"Right. Right. And, if I choose not to help you?"

"Then you have fulfilled your obligations in full. I will express my heartfelt gratitude for your consideration, and we will part ways with what I hope will be mutual satisfaction."

"And then the second agreement?"

"We need only discuss the details of a possible secondary agreement after the completion of the first. What I hope to ask of you is, I assure you, a small favor, though one for which I will be immensely grateful. Once you have heard my story, should you accept the preliminary agreement, I am certain you will understand why it is that I should desire so strongly your assistance in this matter, a matter which, I reiterate, will likely seem to you a trifle."

Atyr thought for a moment. The utter bizarreness of this situation, discussing details of potential agreements with excruciating precision, all while standing next to a frozen Kella...

However, it seemed a harmless enough deal to make? At the very worst, he would have to tell this pleasant gentleman that he couldn't help him, and that would be that. At best, he stood to gain a great deal of very important information that he seemed unable to get out of Pesky.

"Ok, I agree, with one more condition. You promise to unfreeze Kella right now."

Helliot laughed warmly. "I do commend your care for her. You two make a fine couple."

"We're not--"

The tall man raised his brows, and Atyr shut his mouth.

"But, you need not worry for her. For our young Ms. Thorn here, nothing has stopped. Were I to keep you here for a year, her life would continue without a hitch. Her conversation with you would even continue, as I said, without a hitch, though from your point of view it would take a year to get back to it, obviously." Seeing Atyr's eyes narrow, he held up a red-gloved hand in placation. "But, to set you at ease, I will promise you now that she will be, as you put it, 'unfrozen' the moment we finish our discussion here."

Helliot glanced at the sky. "And, given that our agreement was for only a brief moment of your Time, I fear that I am nearing the end of what I can, in good conscience, keep you for."

Atyr nodded. "Alright. I agree to the first agreement then."

"Excellent. Let us say we will meet back here at this spot this evening to convene your questioning of me?"

"Yes. Yes please."

"Well then, Mr. Bracken, I must thank you for an excellent chat. Allow me to shake your hand to seal the deal." He smiled broadly, and extended a red-velvet glove.

Atyr grasped it firmly, and they shook. Helliot didn't let go.

"And Mr. Bracken, I do hope you'll forgive a bit of playful behavior on my part, but please accept this small gift as an indication of my good will, and as an apology for interrupting your appointment with the beautiful young lady. Perhaps you can purchase her something nice."

Atyr frowned, uncertain what Helliot meant. He tried to draw back his hand, but the other man held it in an immovable grip.

"Oh, and Mr. Bracken. I hope I can trust you to keep our meeting private? I worry that your tiny, fae friend might bristle at the idea of my encroachment on what, if you will forgive me, she may view as her own territory."

Atyr began to feel a shiver of apprehension creeping up his back, but then they were apart, the breeze sighed across his face again, and his breath was easy once more.

"Yes of course?" Kella's voice came from beside him, and he whipped his head around to face her. She was looking at him, slight confusion in her deep brown eyes. "'Yes of course' what?"

"What?" Atry blinked at her.

"You said, 'Yes of course.' Do you mean, 'yes of course' I should head back inside?"

"What? Oh, no, no! I was just answering--" he gestured to Helliot. Kella glanced blankly in the direction he indicated, and then back to Atyr. Helliot shook his head at him, smiling, then waved a gloved hand, and strolled off down the path. Atyr watched him go. Kella seemed not to have noticed the tall, red and black figure at all.

Atyr shook his head, trying to clear it. "I um, sorry, I'm a bit flustered. Would... would you mind showing me around? I know Bird kind of forced it on you."

Kella smiled and nodded, and they continued walking down the path. Atyr blinked and shook himself again. He noticed a weight in his palm. Three silver banners gleamed up at him. He looked down the path, where Helliot's retreating back had just disappeared around the bend.

"Hah. Huh. Well, alright. I'm uh.... I'm actually pretty familiar with most of the town, I used to come in with my father every month or two. Since I was young. But I'd still love a chance to thank you for looking after me." He slipped the silver coins into his pocket, feeling the solid weight of metal now clinking there. Four banners and a kip, Over a month's wages for a laborer. It might be time to invest in a coin purse for himself.

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Hey, thanks for reading! Hope you liked Helliot as much as I do. He's around a lot in future chapters, as you may have guessed. :)

Chapter Thirteen will be up soon!

Thanks so much!

-ScryBells