Hahaha! A new chapter at long last!
Forgive me, Dumas!
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Chapter 17
“Now then,” Lance said, crossing his arms. “About the manner of payment. Well, when I was going to pay you two weeks ago, I put my purse down on the desk. There were sixty pistoles in it.”
“Yes.”
“That ought to cover the bill.”
“Well… the records office took it away. See, if the pistoles were false, I could get them, but since they’re real… well, we’ll never get them back.”
Lance threw his hands up in exasperation. “Then you’ll have to deal with it yourself. I don’t see how I can pay you.”
“Wait.” Red cut in. “Where is Monsieur Lance’s horse?”
“Still in the stables.”
“And how much is he worth?”
“Oh, I’d say about fifty pistoles.”
“He’s worth eighty. Take him.”
“What?” Lance turned to stare at Red. “You’re selling my horse? How am I to go to war now?”
“I’ve brought you another one.”
“A magnificent one!” The innkeeper enthused, bobbing his head up and down like a toy monkey.
Lance shot him a disdainful glare. “Oh, very well then.”
The man left, but returned a few moments later with ham, bread, and several bottles of wine. He did not say more and Red did not inquire to it. He was more concerned about other things.
“Lance, you were wounded?”
“Tricky bastard. I couldn’t see him come up behind me. Busy fighting off the others.” Lance told him. “So lucky that I managed to block some of it…”
Red did not bother to comment more as Lance sliced the ham for them and poured wine. For several moments, there was no talk.
Finally, Lance asked Red how the others were doing. Red replied that they were fine, and that was all he gave on the subject, because Lance had started to look decidedly sleepy. Or maybe he really was drunk.
“I’m worried though. I haven’t seen Whitney… I think something may have happened to her?”
“Do you love her?”
Red’s hot blood flared at the question, but he wasn’t quite sure how to answer. Was he? She was pretty enough, but…
“I… think so.”
“And now you’ve lost her.”
“Yes.”
“Well, you’ve lost little.” Lance commented.
“And how would you know? You’ve never been in love.” Red countered. For a second, something flashed in Lance’s eyes, but then they glazed over with the mirrored shields Red was used to seeing daily.
“You’re right. I’ve never been in love.”
“Well, can you at least pity me for getting my heart broken?”
“Tender hearts are meant to be broken, Red. But since we’re on the topic, shall I tell you a story?”
“A love story?”
“Of course. What else would have bearing?”
“One that happened to you?” That caught Red’s interest.
“Or to one of my friends. What does it matter?” Lance poured more wine for them and Red sipped. This was an excellent vintage…
“Now, let me make it absolutely clear that I am speaking of one of my friends, and not of myself.” Lance continued, thoughtfully. “My friend was perhaps eighteen or nineteen. He was one of the Counts of Blackthorn province, and from a noble line. On the eve of his twenty-first birthday, he fell in love with a breathtakingly beautiful girl of sixteen, who had recently moved to the region with her brother, a priest. He was the lord of his realm, and he could have seduced her – there would have been no complaint, but instead he married her, the more fool he!”
“Why, if he loved her?”
“I’m getting to that part in the story.” Lance said, taking another sip.
Red cut himself another slice of ham. It was delicious.
“She became the first lady of the realm, and in fairness, it must be said that she held her position admirably.”
“Then what was wrong with her?”
“One day, while they were out riding, she was thrown from her horse and fainted. Her husband, to help her breathe, cut her clothes off her shoulder with his dagger. You’ll never guess what was on her shoulder, Red!”
“What?”
“The Red sign of R! The Count’s angel was a demon! A convicted thief!”
“T-That’s horrible.” Red breathed. “So then what happened?”
“Well, he was a great lord, with the right of justice in his realm, so he finished with her corset and hanged her from a tree.”
Red nearly dropped his glass. “So he…he killed her?”
“Yes, he killed her!” Lance grinned viciously. His eyes were crazed with laughter. “That cured me of beautiful, amorous, poetic women! Lugia grant that you’ll be cured of them too! Let’s drink!”
Red goggled at his friend, but that was when Lance’s eyes glazed over and he fell asleep.
“My Lord…”
So that was Lance’s deep dark secret…
No wonder Lance didn’t like women! But even so, it was just one beautiful girl who had broken his heart.
Red felt kind of sorry for him, actually.
He had never had that happen to him before… Well, in any case, he put Lance to bed and poured himself some more wine.
There was nothing he could do to help though, and he soon fell asleep.
Elsewhere…
“So, no luck?”
“None.” Milady hissed. “I am sorry.”
“It is nothing. We have other plans…”
“Are you saying that the siege will soon begin?”
“Exactly… but until then, I need you on reserve. Do what you will. Keep your strength up, my dear.”
“Of course, Cardinal.”
Oak smiled, and no more was said on the matter as Milady quietly exited…
End Chapter
Completed 4/18/06