show his world to her and see the sparkle in her eyes when she discovered something new. He barely knew her, but it felt as if he’d been waiting for her to bring him to life.
They finally arrived at the warehouse just before eight. The street was dark and deserted, the only light coming from the small window near the warehouse door. Finn thought it was odd that the street lights were out. He’d been here before to pick up silver for Katie. Her supplier was a grizzled old dwarf with a grumpy nature, but an eye for fine jewelry. Finn had long suspected that some of the items he brought in for Katie came from the other realms, but had never really thought much of it. Katie didn’t traffic in magical items, so he never saw the harm in it.
As they approached the door, Finn smelled something odd—earth and rusty iron—dwarf blood. He turned to Crimson and knew from the look in her eyes that she smelled it too. Kicking into Guardian mode, Crimson drew a dagger from her boot. “What did Kate say her friend’s name was?” Crimson asked quietly.
“Garm, why?”
“Figures.” Crimson put her finger to her lips, effectively shushing him. “I think he may be in a little bit of trouble.”
“You think?” Finn said sarcastically.
“Garm!” Crimson cried out suddenly. “You old bastard, are you in there? You cheated me again!” With that, she burst through the door, knocking down the surprised Elf who was standing just behind it. Not knowing what else to do, Finn followed her in. He watched a she quickly disarmed the Elf who was standing over Garm, who was tied to a chair and looking a little worse for wear. He knew he should feel a little emasculated having a woman, especially one as tiny as Crimson, do all the heavy lifting, but God, watching her made him practically drool. Watching her hit that guy with an elbow and take his gun was the sexist thing he’d seen her do yet.
That was when he heard the click behind him and felt the barrel of the gun against his neck. “Crimson, baby, so good to see you,” came a voice from behind him. Finn saw the look in Crimson’s eyes go from fierce, to shocked, to hurt.
“Rickon,” she said with a weary look. “What are you doing here?”
“I got a tip that our old friend Garm here was selling black market goods again. Looks like I was right. The price on his head is a small fortune. What are you doing here, besides kicking the shit out of my useless associates? And why are you here with him?” Rickon motioned towards Finn. Finn felt Rickon sniff his neck, and then released him. Skin crawling, Finn wiped his neck where Rickon had sniffed him. Rickon looked sideways at Finn.
“Kate asked me to pick something up for her. I’m sure that she didn’t know he was selling anything illegal.”
“Working for them are we now? You really need to get your priorities straight. I heard they’d sent you out on some fluff mission. Protecting pretty boy here? I’d be careful with this one, smells a little fishy to me.” Rickon said, wrinkling his nose like he’d smelled something bad. “Anyway, I’m taking Garm with me. Take Kate’s silver. I’m really here for the more dangerous stuff anyway.”
“You are so kind,” Crimson said sarcastically. “And the pretty boy happens to be my boyfriend.” Crimson moved to Finn’s side and wrapped her arms around his waist. Finn didn’t mind the contact, but wondered at the gesture. Rickon’s eyes narrowed. He shot Finn a poisoned look.
“I suppose some like their women tall and frigid. Anyway, I really should be off. Good to see you again Guardian Thorn. I’ll be sure and tell Drella you said hello.” Rickon made a small gesture and all three Elves and Garm disappeared.
Crimson sunk into a chair and let out a sigh like she’s been punched. Finn wasn’t sure how to react. He knew he should try to be shocked by all the weirdness he’s just witnessed, but he was too
They finally arrived at the warehouse just before eight. The street was dark and deserted, the only light coming from the small window near the warehouse door. Finn thought it was odd that the street lights were out. He’d been here before to pick up silver for Katie. Her supplier was a grizzled old dwarf with a grumpy nature, but an eye for fine jewelry. Finn had long suspected that some of the items he brought in for Katie came from the other realms, but had never really thought much of it. Katie didn’t traffic in magical items, so he never saw the harm in it.
As they approached the door, Finn smelled something odd—earth and rusty iron—dwarf blood. He turned to Crimson and knew from the look in her eyes that she smelled it too. Kicking into Guardian mode, Crimson drew a dagger from her boot. “What did Kate say her friend’s name was?” Crimson asked quietly.
“Garm, why?”
“Figures.” Crimson put her finger to her lips, effectively shushing him. “I think he may be in a little bit of trouble.”
“You think?” Finn said sarcastically.
“Garm!” Crimson cried out suddenly. “You old bastard, are you in there? You cheated me again!” With that, she burst through the door, knocking down the surprised Elf who was standing just behind it. Not knowing what else to do, Finn followed her in. He watched a she quickly disarmed the Elf who was standing over Garm, who was tied to a chair and looking a little worse for wear. He knew he should feel a little emasculated having a woman, especially one as tiny as Crimson, do all the heavy lifting, but God, watching her made him practically drool. Watching her hit that guy with an elbow and take his gun was the sexist thing he’d seen her do yet.
That was when he heard the click behind him and felt the barrel of the gun against his neck. “Crimson, baby, so good to see you,” came a voice from behind him. Finn saw the look in Crimson’s eyes go from fierce, to shocked, to hurt.
“Rickon,” she said with a weary look. “What are you doing here?”
“I got a tip that our old friend Garm here was selling black market goods again. Looks like I was right. The price on his head is a small fortune. What are you doing here, besides kicking the shit out of my useless associates? And why are you here with him?” Rickon motioned towards Finn. Finn felt Rickon sniff his neck, and then released him. Skin crawling, Finn wiped his neck where Rickon had sniffed him. Rickon looked sideways at Finn.
“Kate asked me to pick something up for her. I’m sure that she didn’t know he was selling anything illegal.”
“Working for them are we now? You really need to get your priorities straight. I heard they’d sent you out on some fluff mission. Protecting pretty boy here? I’d be careful with this one, smells a little fishy to me.” Rickon said, wrinkling his nose like he’d smelled something bad. “Anyway, I’m taking Garm with me. Take Kate’s silver. I’m really here for the more dangerous stuff anyway.”
“You are so kind,” Crimson said sarcastically. “And the pretty boy happens to be my boyfriend.” Crimson moved to Finn’s side and wrapped her arms around his waist. Finn didn’t mind the contact, but wondered at the gesture. Rickon’s eyes narrowed. He shot Finn a poisoned look.
“I suppose some like their women tall and frigid. Anyway, I really should be off. Good to see you again Guardian Thorn. I’ll be sure and tell Drella you said hello.” Rickon made a small gesture and all three Elves and Garm disappeared.
Crimson sunk into a chair and let out a sigh like she’s been punched. Finn wasn’t sure how to react. He knew he should try to be shocked by all the weirdness he’s just witnessed, but he was too
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