Basia's tale

Peter wanted to shake the hand of the man who got the idea to put Basia to serve Nikolaus’s finest wines in the triumph. He had had his doubts about the Riders, but they sure knew how to throw a party. He raised his glass again when someone suggested a toast for a god the person probably made up since they had already toasted to every god known from here to Borderlands. After the glass was empty he threw it at Basia's feet. She didn't flinch this time. He would slap her to awaken her from her numb state if he was alone with her. She annoyed him. He wasn't sure whether she was born an idiot or if she just had no spine to stand up for herself.


Hardly anyone was suspicious when Arien skipped the toasts. He wished he could have something intoxicating, though, for it pained him to see how they treated her.

Peter grabbed fistful of her hair and pulled her closer. She smelled like smoke and beer that was spilled all over her dress. Her eyes were cast down and her hands holding the tray were shaking. It was harder to breathe and he felt how the world started to spin. He reached out to lift her chin, wanting to see her eyes but his hand was too heavy.
Basia still avoided looking at him when she placed the tray on the table and gathered some food for the trip. Miras was a day’s ride from here if they were careful not to leave a trace and avoided the obvious routes. She wasn’t sure how long the Riders would sleep and didn’t want to take chances in it.

Arien had wished for a second chance and this was it. Basia knew a memory spell, which would keep people from recognizing him unless he introduced himself. His dislike for magic was strong, but Basia had promised the spell had no effect on him. He had some useful skills and had taken whatever easily transported valuables he found from the Riders. They could spend a year without working if necessary. He doubted he would have left Riders if it wasn’t for Basia. She was a little strange but there was a connection between them.

“Good luck boy. I hope you find what you are looking for.” Ordys watched the couple ride away and then started sleeping for real. Noira had spilled his drink earlier, and when she did it for the third time he decided not to have the wine. It was sad to lose Arien, he was a good lad. Ordys himself was too old to change his course.

There was a lot of wild guesses in the camp regarding Basia’s and Arien’s absence the next morning. The wildest, however, was thrown by Peter who was one of the last to wake up. They all had passed out in different times so no one else had suspected foul play. If it wasn’t for him, they would probably have realized the escaping much later. He was furious, but relieved to wake up at all. He had experienced a terrifying moment before losing his consciousness, a moment when he thought Basia had poisoned him.

“Quite a show, really. I wasn’t sure if you still got it.” Silas had a rare smirk on his face.
“You weren’t half as bad yourself. Reminds me a little of the good old days.”
“You think the kids will be ok?”
“I know it; they will survive this. What they make of themselves after is not in our powers. Never was.” It wasn’t easy for Nikolaus to say this. Peter’s deceit stung but didn’t come as a complete surprise.
“Took you long enough to realize.”
“It’s a shame about the wine though.”
“Indeed.”

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Attack to the Tower, Nikolaus's show and Basia's and Arien's relationship still unwritten. Review and I will try to be quick ;D