During the silence, I could tell Ruby was upset. She complained about hard work but told me she was getting better. I smiled and told her it’s better than starving in a forest. She smiled at my lame joke while I told her about my time with Smithy. Ruby was excited to see the design. When she asked about my training partner, I shrugged.
“She’s tough, but fair so far. Gretel’s pretty easy to read.”
“So’s her brother,” Ruby grumbled.
I was about to ask about the problem when Hansel suddenly showed up and joined us. The bastard gave me a triumphant glance before starting into a long-winded explanation of his day. Ruby stared daggers at him across the table.
“You interrupted a private conversation,” she finally interjected.
The man didn’t take a hint. Instead, he told her about the next day’s training he planned for them. It was an unnecessary conversation. When the man finally finished, I watched as Ruby nodded her acknowledgement.
“That’s great,” I smirked at him. “Since you can’t take a hint, I’ll spell it out for you. You’re not welcome to listen to our conversation. Get your ass out of here.”
The round of soft chuckles coming from other tables told me I was loud enough to get my point across to Hansel. His redden face pleased me.
“There’ll be a time when your tongue gets severed,” he growled as he stood.
“Maybe, but it won’t be you doing it,” Ruby suddenly spoke up as she slammed her mug down on the table. “I’ll kill you if you try to harm Covan.”
The icy tone coming from the woman next to me caught everyone’s attention. Hansel’s eyes widened at the outburst. I wasn’t sure what he was saying to Ruby when I wasn’t around, but I knew when she was angry.
“Calm down. We’re all guild mates here,” Gretel’s voice carried over the silence as she conveniently arrived at the table behind me.
“Then you can train me tomorrow,” Ruby said. “Keep your brother away from me.”
“I’m the one who makes that call,” Eva’s stone-cold voice came from out of nowhere.
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We turned to see her standing right next to Gretel.
“Then, tell pretty boy to quit laying his hands on me,” Ruby calmly stated. “Otherwise, I’ll cut them off. I’ve dealt with his mouth for a week. Trying to separate me from Covan will not happen. Hansel is not half the man as the one sitting beside me. He’s wasting my time, and that means he’s wasting yours as well, guild master.”
Ruby took another sip of her wine while watching the rage fill Hansel’s face. Eva wasn’t doing much better after being called out in public. I winked at Hansel and smiled at the guild master. I could tell they both wanted my head at that point, so I kept my hand on my dagger. Still, it’s easy to act like a jerk when you know the score and a public fight was unlikely to break out.
“One other thing,” Ruby interrupted the silence of looks. “We got through your test, and I’ve spoken with many in the guild to learn my rightful place. As I understand it, the guild master requires the support of a majority of the guild members. Those I’ve spoken with despise nobles who look down at others. Also, they also hate those who stand in shadows to push their people into things just like nobles. It’s something you should remember.”
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Ruby kept her fake smile on her face. I heard an undercurrent of agreement with Ruby’s words rise from the nearby benches. Eva’s bitter expression gave us our signal. Ruby rose from the bench, and, for the first time, I noticed her shaking hands. Happy at the amount of courage she displayed to confront the guild master, I stood with her as well.
Well, something’s going to come out of this!
“Yeah, I think it’s time for rest. I know those golems will be tougher tomorrow,” I stated wryly.
Nodding to the silent guild master, I walked by her with Ruby at my side. As we headed to the cots, we felt the eyes of the other guild members on us. I looked at those who held my gaze. Letting out a breath of relief when I noticed a few expressions of support. Apparently, the guild master’s manipulative ways didn’t please everyone.
Yes, Ruby made things more difficult, potentially even more dangerous. However, jerking us around for a petty game of control made me angry. We’ll handle the backlash; I told myself without a shred of proof.
“I know it wasn’t a smart move, but that felt good,” Ruby whispered to me.
“Yeah, but I loved it,” I whispered back.
After a moment of thinking it over, I noticed she appeared to have second thoughts. I patted her shoulder.
“Seriously, I don’t think there’s any other way to play it,” I said. “We have each other’s backs.”
She leaned against me with a frown, and I put my arm around her shoulder. As we talked, I hunted for items inside the guild which we could use to protect us. Unexpected accidents or encounters could become a problem for both of us. It’s not paranoia when people are probably going to target you.
“First, we’ll start sleeping in shifts. One of us will sleep while the other one remains awake. I don’t trust the twins as far as I can throw them. We’ll need to keep an eye on Eva as well,” my thoughts came out as we reached our cots.
“Though, since this was very public, the guild master will remain careful. I don’t think she’ll try anything obvious.”
“Are you sure?” Ruby’s voice became hopeful.
“I don’t have a crystal ball,” I replied carefully. Then I gave her a reassuring smile.
“Let’s get through training, then find a place to live together.”
~~~
As Eva walked past Hansel, she chuckled to herself for her mistake of pushing too quickly. Ruby definitely carried more brains than the guild master expected. However, Eva wouldn’t forget the exchange. She always remembered her slights.
The guild master recognized Hansel’s anger coming from his foul stare at the couple on the other side of the room.
“No retaliation,” she told Hansel. “The guild must remain calm. In a few weeks, you can challenge him to a duel. But be careful. He’s not an easy kill.”
“I’m not worried,” Hansel scoffed.
Eva smiled bitterly as she looked at the long-term advantage over petty thoughts of instant revenge. She held the guild together through her manipulation. She could play off one group against the other with practiced ease. However, Ruby’s announcement of the guild master’s need for support by the guild members was an unexpected reminder to everyone in the room. It told Eva to adjust her plans for Ruby and Covan. If they became useful, as she expected, she would find another way to isolate them.
The leader of the guild didn’t care about lovers. Romance and sex happened all the time in the guild between members. However, she knew the look in Ruby’s eyes. The guild master also recognized Covan was the same way. Committed relationships made things difficult for her to manipulate and control. Eva needed Covan to rely upon the guild, not Ruby. She knew about the design of the weapon Covan showed Smithy. Instantly, the guild master recognized the value of this thing he called an air pistol. The Queen of Hearts made it clear. She wanted Covan’s knowledge. But Ruby could make that go away. The weakest partner got the stronger one killed since heroes wanted to protect their lover.
“It’s never good to have two opponents,” Eva reminded Hansel. “Ruby will have your head. She’s made it clear she doesn’t take prisoners, and her temper won’t stop until she has her revenge.”
The man visibly pressed his lips together.
“Then I’ll make the bitch pay as well,” he growled.
Suddenly, Eva was behind him, and a chill filled the man’s spine where the tip of a blade rested against his skin.
“You don’t talk about a woman who humiliated you because you’re inept. You proved unable to complete the task given. Worse, they placed the blame on you in front of everyone. How many other guild members will trust you in a party now? There are plenty of contracts you will lose with your stupidity. Learn and become stronger from today’s experience. Otherwise, your sister will no longer have a twin brother.”
Then, the guild master disappeared.
Gretel came over to her twin, who remained shaken by the threat. Eva dueled against three of the strongest assassins in the guild before and won. Her magic prowess and speed made her a threat that few in the kingdom could handle.
“She’s right, Hansel. Forget about the red-hair bitch. It was something Eva wanted, and she threw us into the mix. You know how she is. They’ll pay after they shamed Eva in front of the guild. That’s why she gave you the next instructions.”
Gretel knew her brother. He was hard-headed and vain at the wrong times. Plus, he carried grudges. He nodded shakily, then looked at her.
“Oh, don’t worry about me, sister. There are plenty of opportunities for them to die after taking a contract.”
His sister smiled.
“That’s what I wanted to hear.”