The Dragon Hunter and the Mage by V. R. Cardoso

Paladin with the annoying voice had drank. Aric looked behind him and saw Fadan dislodging a wooden box from the lower shelf, and then cross through to the other side. He looked at the entrance once again and saw a shadow growing into the storeroom.
    “Over there. I swear I saw something,” the annoying voice said.
    The one with the rough voice really didn’t care, replying, “Of course you did. A rat. Good luck finding it.”
    “Fire take the both you!” the sleepy one said. “Won’t you shut up!?”
    Aric saw the shadow grow bigger and bigger. He tried to find some place to hide, but all he could see were vials and more vials.
    “It wasn’t a rat,” the annoying voice insisted.
    “Right. If you won’t let me sleep, I’m getting myself a drink.”  
    “Good idea.”
    Aric heard a slap on someone’s back, followed by disappearing footsteps. The two men had clearly walked away, and the third must have turned around because Aric saw his shadow become thinner.
    “Bastards!” he cursed.
    Then, the shadow grew thicker once more, and Aric could see the contour of his head and shoulders again. He looked everywhere for a hiding place, but the only thing he saw was the box Fadan had removed from the shelf. He ran and placed himself behind it, but immediately felt ridiculous. A small dog would not have been able to hide behind it.
    At that moment, he looked up and saw the Paladin. He was a tall, thin man, and wore the black cuirass and red waistband of the Paladin uniform. For a moment, the Paladin did not see him and Aric walked back instinctively, trapping himself against the wall. Then, the man turned, gaze locking on him.
    The Paladin’s eyes bulged and his hand drew a long knife from his belt. He opened his mouth to yell something, but before he could, Fadan came out from behind another shelf case, a massive wooden board in his hands. The Prince smacked the man across the head and he collapsed.
    “Quick!” Fadan said, then dashed away.
    Aric didn’t need to hear that twice. He raced after his brother, the two of them running through the corridors. If someone had heard or seen them they had no idea. How they found the right way back to the trap door was a similar mystery. They opened it, dove into the sewer, swam to the walkway, and then kept running. They only stopped when they reached the railing they had broken on their way in.
    Panting heavily, they stood before it, collecting their breaths, hoping their hearts didn’t jump out from their chests. Aric felt his jacket pockets and removed the two vials. One was broken and its content had disappeared. The other, however, was as intact as when he had picked it up in the storeroom.
     

    Panting, Tarsus wiped a drop of sweat from his forehead. He looked at Cassia beside him and stared at her naked chest, rising and falling with her breath. He laid a caring hand on her arm, but she rolled onto her side, turning her back to him. What he would have given for her not to do that….
    “I love you,” he said.
    “I’m tired.” Cassia pulled a blanket and covered herself. “We should sleep.”
    Every man suffers the same , people had told him. It’s the curse of marriage , he had heard between laughter. Tarsus wasn’t so sure.
    “Everything I do for you, I do out of love,” he confessed.
    Cassia turned and faced him.
    “Everything you do… everything you did… that’s not love. That’s selfishness.” Cassia turned her back to him once again.
    Tarsus stared at the ceiling without an answer. If only she could understand.
    “Your birthday is coming,” he said.
    “I know. I’m sure you won’t spare any expense to make sure the festivities are magnificent.” There was no joy in her voice.
    “You call me selfish…” Tarsus said. “Very well. Ask for anything.”
    Cassia turned to the emperor. “What?”
    “I’m going to prove to you that while you are mine, I am willing to give you anything. As your birthday gift, you can ask me