She giggled. “You can’t say that you don’t miss me, brother!”
“Shh!” Rufian hissed behind a finger to his lips.
“Oh, please! No one is paying attention.”
“You say that like you don’t know your own kind by now!”
“Well, if you’re back here, that means this must be a business trip?”
Rufian grinned. “Actually, bumping into you is a blessing in disguise. I left something in my chamber, and I—”
“Your bedroom has been emptied out years ago,” Jacidia quickly interjected. “Try again.”
Rufian sighed. “It is hidden.”
“Oh, I know all of your hiding spots, and I have vacated them.” She snorted. “So much smoot…”
Rufian pivoted his head to me, and growled, “This is what I meant when I said snoopy.”
She gave a smug little laugh. “How about we cut to the chase and you tell me exactly why you need to head back to the court all of a sudden? And don’t say it’s because you are home sick. I know you dreaded that place.”
“We need to get something for Jezz,” I said, hoping she’d believe me. With how the conversation was going, I could only suspect that the codex was hiding within Jezz’s old home.
She giggled. “Well, well, well, what a pleasant surprise.” She said behind the back of her hand with a pair of cheeky eyes. “You know my sister, personally.”
“Don’t be haughty, Jaci.” Rufian rolled his eyes.
“It’s Lady Jacidia, traveling priest,” she smirked. “And I’m not! I’m happy Jezz is out there making friends! Maybe even a boyfriend?”
Rufian scoffed.
“Brother, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”
“Jacidia, Syodas. Syodas, Jacidia, the family alchemist,” Rufian said with a painfully unenthusiastic voice, Jacidia elbowing him.
“Come on now, you can do better than that!”
“Enough, Jaci. The man answered your question, now, will you help us out, or not?”
“That depends,” she said, raising her chin. “What is in it for me?”
“Everything is always a give and take with you,” Rufian grunted. “What do you want?”
“In on whatever it is you’re really doing!”
My chest went tight.
“Why are you under the assumption that we—”
“Oh, quit insulting my intelligence! I know you better than you think, brother. You never travel with a companion. A solo arcane mage, that’s always been your thing. If you now have a partner in crime, I doubt the both of you are on a mission to help dear Jezzie. She’s always been able to take care of herself, and if in fact she is in distress, you are the last person who would step up and help her.”
I turned to Rufian at that comment, Rufian avoiding eye-contact with me.
“So come on, dish out the details! You’re not allowed on the premises, disguised or otherwise!” she whispered. “So this is a big favor I’m doing for you. The least you can do is let me in!”
Rufian straightened out his back and gave her a stoic serious look. “Like I said, a pleasure.” He bowed down and walked away, leaving Jacidia and I standing there confused.
“Wh-oa! Wait!” Jacidia chased after him, her temperament doing a 180. This time, Jacidia gave a small timid giggle, her eyes lighting up to Rufian. “Okay, okay, you win! I will help you!”
Rufian turned his head over his shoulder and looked down at her. “There is no exchange. It is either you help or not.”
“I know that!” she said as I approached them. “It looks like you need a win right now, so let me help!”
“Jaci, if this is a—”
“No, no trick! Just genuinely trying to help. After all, it’s for family, right?”
++++
After the exchange between brother and sister, I wondered why Jacidia suddenly changed her mind about helping Rufian and I out. Should I be feeling thankful or cautious? By the looks of it, Rufian wasn’t sold to his sister’s kindness. When he teleported us a half mile from the Alpinuer Court, he walked a distance behind her, pacing by himself. Jacidia would turn over her shoulder every now and again to glance at him, with a big smile etched on her face.
“Look at him,” she whispered, “Pretending to be afraid of me…”
I snorted. “Well, you are stronger than him, level wise.”
“I’m only a level 90 fae. The gap isn’t monumental.”
“He doesn’t exactly trust you, either.”
