Chapter 2

Reconciled with Aisling, Nash spent most of the first week with his head down, focusing on his studies. He’d never been a particularly diligent student, but he was determined to succeed. He tried his best to start the year off with a head start. He tried to keep his books in order, asked Aisling for help in managing his timetable and asked Nastasya for help with some taxing math problems.

All in all, he didn’t have much time to think about the strange angel, Tempest, or the ramifications of that encounter. Maybe he didn’t want to think about it. Besides, hadn’t she told him to go out there and chase destiny? Nash wasn’t sure what that meant exactly, but this seemed like a good start.

Saturday rolled around, and its morning brought his first D&D session with it. Nash helped Aisling set up a few pieces in what used to be the attic, but had been converted into a comfortable drawing-room.

Sandro whistled as he entered, arm in arm with Pavla. “Damn Ays, why were we always playing in my basement? Your place is incredible!”

Aisling smiled, scoffed and didn’t say anything as she set up behind her DM screen.

“I like the decor,” Pavla chimed.

“Mom has good taste,” Aisling said, as she began preparing a character sheet for Nash.

“She’s a fashion designer, right? Is she here?” Pavla plopped herself down onto a cushion.

“No, she’s always travelling, managing catwalks and whatnot. Anyway, let’s start!” Aisling had good taste but didn’t care much for high fashion.

Sandro connected his phone to the sound system and began to play some tasteful ambient music, and before long the entire party were sat on the floor around a low table. They made themselves comfortable on the thick rug, surrounded by cushions and scatter pillows. The windows had been thrown open, letting in a cool morning breeze.

“When we left off, you had just returned to Queen Ieysa’s court, having completed a quest for her.”

“And she STILL won’t tell us where the jewel is,” Sandro complained.

“Well, the good news is that help has arrived. As you stand in the queen’s court, you are approached by a new adventurer!”

Everyone turned to look at Nash.

“Uh,” he stammered.

“Introduce your character!” they all pleaded.

“But, what is my character?” Nash asked.

“Whatever you want to be! I’m Sylvian, the elven bard,” Sandro said.

“And I’m Petra, the tiefling warrior,” Pavla smirked, flexing her skinny biceps and rattling her many beaded bracelets.

Sandro liked music, so it made sense he’d be a bard. But Nash was surprised that Pavla played a warrior. Perhaps there was a side to the girl he had yet to see.

Nash took a look at the archetypes, and one, in particular, spoke to him.

“I’ll be a roguish assassin, named ... uh. Nikolai.” Nash followed the trend of naming his character with the same first letter of his own name.

“What’s his race?” Aisling began scribbling on the character sheet.

“Human.”

“Pfft. Boring.” Sandro laughed.

“Here, you’re still level one.” Aisling handed Nash the sheet, and after explaining a few rules and deciding on his starter gear and abilities, he was ready to go.

“You’re approached by Nikolai, the human assassin, who offers to help you in your new quest.”

“New quest?” Pavla asked. Aisling cleared her throat and stood.

“Adventurers,” she began to pace around the room. Nash became very aware that she was barefooted and wearing nothing but jean shorts and a yellow tank top, and the display of skin was far too alluring, to say nothing of her massive boobs, their shape almost entirely moulded through the thin fabric. “A group of bandits is holding a noble hostage. They demand a ransom. My army cannot be seen, or they will execute the hostages.” Aisling spoke in the lofty voice of Queen Ieysa.

“Besides,” she began to pace around the room. “My husband, the king,” her voice dripped with malice. “Refuses to send the royal guard. You’re an assassin of some renown, are you not?” she stood over Nash and began to rub his head delicately, fingers scratching at his scalp. “Show me what you can do.”

“And then you’ll tell us where the jewel is?” Sandro, or rather Sylvian the bard asked.

“As I said before-”

“You’ll tell us where the jewel is when you’re satisfied.” Sandro and Pavla chorused.

“We understand each other then,” Ailing’s voice dripped with sovereignty. She flicked a finger across Nash’s jaw before heading back to her seat.

“Right. Let’s go kill some bandits,” Nash said, desperately trying to hide his massive erection.

For an hour more they played, as Aisling described their traversal across the city of Aufhym, through markets and city streets packed with horses, peasants, and soldiers armed with sword and shield. And behind it all, a criminal underbelly, hidden just out of reach, scheming and plotting.

Nash was amazed at Aisling’s ability to tell a story. She’d close her eyes, and let forth words that washed over the mind and left a vivid image in their wake. Nash could scarcely remember the exact choice of vocabulary she offered, but the image left behind would stick with him forever.

Eventually, they tracked the bandits to a mansion just outside the city. It was isolated, and the sun was beginning to set. A perfect time to attack.

“How many bandits are there?” Asked Petra, the hulking brute of a woman. Her skin was a sooty tinge of red, burning for a fight. Her twin blackened horns added to her devilish charm.

“Roll for perception,” said Aisling. Pavla rolled her twenty-sided die.

“Nine.”

“You can see at least three through the windows,” Aisling said, adjusting her round spectacles. They paused for a moment, considering their actions.

“Well, Nikolai, you’re the rogue. This is a stealth encounter. You call the shots.” Sylvian pulled out his lute and played a tune, his elf ears echoing its beat.