2.16 Bamboozled

Gordon knew this was going to happen.

I searched the forge for the backstabbing cat.

He was wisely cowering behind Esther’s leg.

“I thought we were friends,” I said.

“She made me do it,” he said in a small voice. "She told me to scratch your neck to distract you."

"Way to throw your friend under the bus," I said dryly.

Esther knelt down to pet Gordon. The cat purred in response.

“You played your part wonderfully,” she chimed.

Gordon nuzzled his head against her leg before scampering his way to a bowl of dried cat food near the entrance. He briefly made eye contact with me before burying his face into the bowl, ignoring me completely.

I shook my fist at him.

“You must forgive the cat,” Esther said. “He is not free to do as he wishes, much like you and me.”

She tossed her bow up into the air. It vanished into nothingness, much like a Remnant would.

Two Remnants, I thought, remembering the throne of javelins she wielded earlier. She must be a Weapons Master.

Esther motioned for me to take a seat at the metal table with her. I walked slowly, monitoring my symptoms with every step I took, half-expecting my heart to explode. I reached the table without incident, thankfully. I checked my seat before sitting down to make sure it wasn’t trapped as well. And though I was parched, I eyed the cup of nectar before me nervously. Its warm, amber liquid invited me to take a sip, promising refreshment. But I was terrified that if I did drink from the cup, the arrow lodged in my heart would react with something hidden within the tea and cause an untimely death.

Esther watched me quietly as she relaxed into her seat. Her smile never quite left her face, nor the did warmth in her voice. There was a serenity about her that made me feel at ease despite knowing that she was the one who had shot me in the heart.

She took a sip of her nectar, then motioned for me to do the same. I reluctantly took my cup, swirled its contents for a few moments, before taking a sip. This was my first time tasting nectar, and my first impression of it was pleasant. It was a sweet, honeyed drink spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. The honey nearly overpowered all the other flavors, but I didn’t mind since I loved honey to a fault. The drink also seemed to loosen my muscles almost immediately. My back, which was still sore after my fight with Priscilla, also hurt noticeably less. The drink most definitely had healing properties. It seemed like something I would become well acquainted with during my stay in the nightmare.

I took another sip of the delightful beverage before helping myself to the platter of chocolate biscuits. The first bite of that was also magical. It was made of very fine shortbread, quite possibly the best I've tried. I wolfed down a pair before taking my time with the third.

“You are taking a shot to the heart quite well,” Gordon said in between a mouthful of his food.

“Well, I assume Iris isn’t going to kill me just yet after all the trouble she went through to save me multiple times,” I said, not bothering to look at the cat. “And frankly, I’m too tired and too hungry to care about an arrow in my heart.”

I looked up at Esther, waiting to see any changes in her expression now that I had drunk the nectar and eaten her food. She maintained an even expression, her eyes betraying none of her thoughts.

“You have been pierced with a mercy shot,” she said.

“Those kill people.”

“This is different. It behaves not unlike your lord’s venom.”

I nearly choked on the biscuit I was eating. I washed it down with the last of my nectar. Esther quietly refilled my cup.

"That’s a tall claim,” I said, taking another sip.

“The venom won’t kill you right away, nay, not even harm you. You’ll forget you’ve even been shot.”

“Okay, that’s starting to sound like her venom.”

“But upon my order, the arrow will stop your heart.”

A glance at her face told me she was dead serious.

I reached for my heart instinctively. The moment my hand came in contact with the arrow, the arrow vanished immediately, leaving behind nothing but a small, red mark where I had been shot. The arrow’s magic was still active, I was certain of it, but I was glad I didn’t have to walk around with a giant arrow protruding from my heart.

I was beginning to see why Iris had recruited Esther as a servant. Having such a weapon as this was very useful in coercing people to work for you.

“Iris ordered you to do this?” I asked.

“A failsafe,” she replied.

“She doesn’t trust me yet.”

“Mages are dangerous,” Esther said, reaching for a biscuit. “Densus Knights, infinitely more so."

“You’re not wrong,” I said, enjoying the recognition for once. “But I mean, come on! She’s already got me under oath with a Lifelink. That’s like the most binding oath out there. This-”

I pointed to the red mark on my chest.

“-this is a bit much.”

Esther and Gordon looked at each other briefly but said nothing.

"You might not be a Seraph," Gordon said, "But you are no less dangerous to the average dreamer, or Host for that matter. Precautions must be taken."

I shook my head.

“Look," I said. "I’m just here to pick up my gear. If any of this is because I banished you to the other side of the island in the private dream, for the record, Iris gave no indication you were a friend. I would never do that to a friend.”

Esther popped a biscuit into her mouth before standing up from her chair. Gordon gobbled up the last of his dried food and ambled over to Esther’s side. I rose from my seat too, eager to be moving forward.

“That was by design,” she said.

Now I had even more questions than answers, questions I wondered would ever going to get answered.

Esther extended a hand toward me. It was worn, calloused, and covered with numerous scars. A warrior’s hand, no, a seasoned warrior's hand.

I did not trust Esther, not yet. But she now also held the power of life and death over me thanks to the arrow lodged in my heart. I would do well to remain in her good graces.

I took her hand and we shook. As I looked her in the eyes, I thought I saw them flare orange for a fraction of a second. I heard whispers of the last few notes of the melody she hummed when we first met.

Unease settled into my heart.

Something just wasn't right about all of this.

“Welcome to the forge!” Esther said cheerfully. “Let’s get you geared up.”