Jack, Ein and Talon are riding the carriage through the streets of Arinvil. People clutter the roadways with barely any room. The city was overcrowded with people. Everyone was yelling, the old people, the parents, the kids, everyone seemed to be screaming at each other.
'Yup, this is like medieval New York,' Jack thought.
Ein was hanging off of Jack. First she was sad when he killed people but now that he saved her from monsters and bandits it's like all those feelings went away over time. Instead, she seemed to ask more questions of how I trained and how to use knives and guns. He gave her basic explanations but didn't want to give too much details in front of Talon.
Talon brought them to the nicest inn in the city called The Diving Hawk. At least that's what Talon said. Once inside, Talon went to speak with the innkeeper leaving Jack and Ein behind. As they waited there like Talon asked, Ein pulled on Jack's shirtsleeve. Jack looked down at her showing she had his attention.
"I am going to rip your clothes off as soon as we get to the room" Ein whispered to Jack.
Jack's ears went red and hot, he could see Ein's face was red as well. They stood there blushing when Talon returned to them.
"Why are you both so red? feeling sick from the journey?" Talon asked. "You should both get some medicine if you are feeling under the weather, but never you mind that! I wanted to inform you both that I have paid for your rooms for as long as you are staying here".
Jack looked shocked and didn't understand why Talon would do all of this for them. Jack narrowed his eyes at Talon. Jack was trying to see if Talon would show any outward signs of hiding something, lying or secrecy. To Jack, no one was this nice to strangers for no good reason.
Talon said his farewells, supposedly he had a meeting to attend at the castle, Jack thought that was convenient timing. Talon took his leave and went with the carriage toward the castle leaving Jack and Ein alone for the first time in a week.
"We should bring our things inside and take a look around town, I want to see what this place is like". Jack said to Ein.
Ein agreed with Jack offering to help carry their packs in the room. As they went up the stairs and into their inn room, Jack dropped his pack by the door and went further inside. Jack took a quick look around noting a desk in the corner with a candle. There were two beds separated by a night table with another candle on it. There was an area separated by a portable paper wall with a bathtub behind it. Jack walked further in, the room smelled as if it was just cleaned with chemicals. Ein dropped her pack next to Jacks and while Jack wasn't paying attention she closed the door and locked it.
Jack heard the door lock and looked at Ein. She began to undress herself slowly, starting from the top. She took off her coat and then her shirt, revealing her bare shoulders and stomach. She then untied the strap to her pants and pulled them down her legs revealing her soft, fair skin. Her body was slender and soft yet slightly muscular, like a woman who worked for a living. Her cheeks and ears were red. Her feet turned inward in embarrassment. She had small breasts but they were perky.
Jack gulped, he was not prepared for this, he knew she had been making remarks like this but he didn't think she would catch him off guard this way. Jack was beginning to feel hot under his clothes.
Ein walked over to Jack seductively, she got close to him and then pushed him back onto the bed.
"I will undress you Jack, I will do all the work. I just want to make you feel good" Ein whispered in his ear.
As much as Jack wanted to resist, he couldn't. Jack succumbed to the seduction of Ein once again. As Ein took each article of clothing off Jack, his excitement was no longer able to be hidden. After Ein had taken it upon herself to completely undress herself and Jack, she climbed on top of Jack and fulfilled all the promises she had been making to him for the past three weeks.
Once they were finished, they both got dressed and left the room, happy and satisfied. Jack wanted to go look at the shops and see what was available for sale in a world like this. Ein went with him so she can explain things he may not understand.
Just walking down the street Jack found a general store that sold all kinds of things such as food items, medicine, herbs and more. Jack went to a blacksmith, an armorer, and a mage shop. The different stores this world offered seemed to never end. In Jack's world there were chains and franchises that sold most things but here, each shop was owned by individuals. The only thing Jack was worried about now was making sure he could find someone and show them how they can make bullets. Jack was starting to worry about his weapons considering there is no way to buy ammunition in this world, all he has on him is all he's got. He needed oil too, a well oiled gun wont jam on him.
As Jack and Ein meandered around the shops, Jack could feel it. The hairs prickling on the back of his neck, they were being watched. He didn't know by whom but he had a feeling that Talon may have had something to do with it.
'There is no coincidence that Talon takes them to an inn of his choice and pays for it, then has a meeting at the palace directly after,' Jack thought.
As Jack and Ein walked around some more, Jack continued to feel it. The feeling of being watched everywhere they went. He couldn't tell who it was, but he knew someone was there watching them. Jack didn't want to warn Ein yet, he didn't want to scare her and he also didn't want her reaction to give it away to the person that he knew.
As the sun was setting and day turned to night, Jack lost the feeling of being watched. As if whoever was doing it decided it was enough for the day. Jack and Ein began to walk back toward their inn. They walked around the perimeter of the city mostly, trying to stay away from highly populated areas, until Ein led him directly for the town square.
The town square was at the center of the city and was the most packed with people. Jack hated crowds. His years in the military have taught him that being in big crowds like this is a death wish for terrorists. Jack stopped in his tracks.
"Come on Jack, the inn is right across here, it's faster this way". Ein started to say until she saw Jack's face.
Jack was pale and sweating. His hands were clammy and his heart was racing.
"Are you okay Jack?" Ein asked, concerned.
Jack shook his head and went right back to normal, "I'm fine, we will go around the perimeter of this place, I don't do crowds like this".
Ein agreed and followed him around the long way.
Once they were back at the inn Ein tried to ask him about it but Jack just ignored her when she brought it up, claiming it was nothing and she was imagining it. But Ein knew she wasn't, she knows every detail about Jack, he was the love of her life after all. She knew something was off but decided he would share it when he was ready. That's what lovers do after all, take care of each other.
Jack knew that Ein saw him and she knew something was off but Jack knew better than to reveal any of his weaknesses to anyone. You can't trust anyone but yourself, was what Jack always thought. But Jack could feel it again, that watchful eye was back on him in their room. Jack looked out the window to the roofs of the other buildings but couldn't see anyone.
Ein decided to go downstairs and bring some food up to the room for Jack and herself. They enjoyed and shared a hearty meal of potato and lamb stew together before going to sleep.
There was two beds in the room. Regardless, Ein wanted to sleep in the same bed as Jack and refused to sleep on the other bed. She wanted to be as close to Jack as possible. So they went to sleep sharing one bed.
Except Jack never went to sleep, when Jack could hear the change in Ein's breathing signifying she was sleeping. Jack got out of bed, placed clothes and pillows under the blanket making what looks to be like a person where he should be sleeping. He walks over behind the front door and waits. Jack knew someone was coming, he didn't know why but he knew that whoever it was wasn't coming to sell cookies. Jack hid in the shadows behind the door, and waited. After what felt like an hour to Jack, he saw the window open slowly. Jack hid deeper into the shadows of the room waiting to see who came in.
It was a man, a small man crawled through the window into the room and tip-toed over to the bed where Jack was supposed to be sleeping. Jack could see the man raise a knife over his head and that's when Jack decided to step out of the shadows.
"Looking for something?" Jack said.
The man was caught off guard that he clumsily attempted to throw the knife at Jack but Jack easily side steps it. Ein shot up, awake from the noise and began to scream from fear.
Jack closes the distance with the assassin so quickly he had no time to react before Jack punched him in the sternum and had him in a headlock with a knife pressed to his neck.
"Who sent you and why are you trying to kill me? Was it Talon?" Jack demanded.
"That fool could never do something like this, he is too straight laced and holier then thou. Just know that there are eyes on you. You are being watched everywhere you go Jack".
Jack was surprised that the assassin knew his name. Where did he hear it, who was speaking of him and why?
"How do you know my name?" Jack asked calmly, not showing any sense of surprise or emotion, just asking.
Ein was huddled in the corner watching fearfully.
"I will not answer that question, but know that we know all about you" the man began to laugh.
Jack knew the assassin would share no more information no matter what. So Jack did what he felt like he had to do. Jack took the knife and pressed it against the man's neck.
Before Jack could finish what he started, he realized Ein was standing in front of him, the knife that was thrown at him by the assassin was in her hands. Ein thrusted the knife deep into the assassin's chest. The blood spurted out of the man's chest and splattered her face.
Jack dropped the man to the floor and looked at Ein.
"You didn't have to kill him, I was going to do it".
"I wanted to show you my devotion Jack, I am so deeply devoted to you. My life is yours. I will kill if that is what you want from me. The blood from this man will solidify my pact to be by your side as your lover and tool for as long as I live Jack. Please teach me to fight like you".
Jack eyed her heavily, she has blood on her hands now, there is no turning back at this point.
"Do you swear to follow my orders no matter what".
"I do"
"Do you swear to kill if I ask"
"I do"
"Do you swear to die if I asked"
"I do"
Jack would never ask her to die for him, but he needs to be sure that this is someone he could trust, the only person in this world that he could trust right now.
Ein's eyes were locked on Jack, her face flushed again and breathing heavily, this is exciting her. She seemed to get excited every time Jack showed his abilities. And each time they had to kill, she devoted herself more and more to him. The complete surrender to Jack is making her unbearably happy. Jack couldn't tell if she really loved him, or was attaching herself to his strength.
"I am your slave Jack, I will do your bidding forever, master".
"Don't call me master," Jack huffed and held his head high. "I don't want a slave, all I want…. is a good soldier".