Thieves' Gambit
Chapter 27 (last chapter)
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XXVIII.


     
     Kelain moved slowly down the stairs to his Guildmaster's
office, still silent, but without the casual grace that had always
marked his stride.  The slender half-elf seemed almost wraithlike
as he drifted down the narrow hall.  He was only glad that his
grief might end tomorrow, if the gods were with him.
     He opened the door and froze.   An illusion stood confronting
him, a cruel mockery of his heart's desire.  He opened his mouth to
scream, to curse Alun, or to blaspheme the gods, he knew not which;
and she spoke to him.  "Gods, Kelain, you look like hell.  What
happened to you?"
     His heart refused to be believe what his eyes were telling
him.  He turned to his Guildmaster.  "Alun?"  His voice was
shaking.
     The Guildmaster was smiling.  "She's alive, Kelain.  She made
it.  Alea was our Mages' Guild liaison, and they didn't send her in
without protection.  As soon as she lost consciousness, the amulet
she was wearing teleported her straight to the best of their own
Guild Healers."
     Alea gave him a dry look.  "I was dead when they got me,
actually.  Thanks to my father's amulet, they started the Healing
fast enough to force me back into my body.   Since the bastard also
used poison on his crossbow, as if that damn hollow-shaft wasn't
enough, it took them nearly a week to finish the job."
     Kelain nodded dumbly.  Alun continued.  "She's the
Guildmaster's daughter, in case she hadn't told you.  Her father
developed that particular amulet not too long ago, and I think I'll
order a few for us if he can spare the time.  They've certainly
proved their worth."
     Kelain continued to stare at Alea, his hungry eyes drinking in
every detail of her face and form.  He didn't trust himself to
speak for a long moment.  When he did, his voice was hoarse.  "I
hope that you are feeling better now, Alea.  I apologize for
putting you into danger."   He heard footsteps behind him, but he
ignored them, recognizing Raak's distinctive tread.  
     Alea looked hurt.  "Kysk shit.  I chose my own path, and I'd
do it again if I had to."  Her tone was defiant.  "Don't you know
why?"
     He never heard what she was saying.  "I'm sorry if I've
offended you.  That was not my intent."  
     What he wanted to do was to take her in his arms and hold her
to him tightly enough to reassure him that she was really there,
but he didn't dare.  He was too afraid that she wouldn't want him,
especially after what he had put her through.  His old, vicious
self-doubts gnawed at him with a renewed intensity.
     Kelain tried to take a step backwards, and he found himself
pressed up against the warm and solid body of his friend Raak.  The
half-ogre had moved his massive self in front of the door and was
standing there with his arms folded in front of him.  His homely
face wore an exasperated look.
     Alun leaned casually forward in his chair.  "Kelain, if you
don't find something nicer to say to the woman who saved your life
because she cared enough about you to tell two Guildmasters to go
to hell, I think that I may throw you out of this Guild for real. 
Do we understand one another?"  Raak grunted loudly in accord.
     Kelain turned a bewildered glance on Alea, who was smiling
gladly at him.  He felt a large and firm hand give him a push from
behind, and he moved towards her.  "My lady, I believe that I still
owe you a dinner?"  She nodded.  "Then perhaps you would care to
join me this evening?"  Hesitantly, with an odd and gentle
courtliness, he took her hand.
     She clasped his careworn fingers in her own.  Perhaps someday,
he would be ready to accept that he could do more than this, and
that she would not refuse him.  Alun had told her of the depths of
his bitter self-hatred, and her heart ached with the need to
reassure him.  But until then, she would be content with this
simple touch.  "I thought you'd never ask.  Shall we go?"  
     Raak met their eyes before he stepped aside from the door, and
his look was a quiet triumph.  He nodded to the two of them, and
his silence was as eloquent as any words could have been.
     "Good luck.  Good luck to both of you."  The Guildmaster was
smiling as they left the hall together.   "And may the Goddess
bless you both."
     They turned and saluted him a final time before ascending the
narrow stair to the bright world above.