"Are there places where they teach the art of monster-slaying?" Amon asked with interest. "As far as I understand, it's a rare profession."
"There are," Alexandra became more serious and a bit more sober. "And not rare at all, it's just a matter of the quality of the training. Let's not talk about that, alright? Better talk about you. Don't you want to? Then tell me about your people. What do you value?"
There was a hidden agenda in the question, though it was quite naive. The girl intended to learn about Amon's people's traditions and values, then act in such a way that the knight would see something familiar in her.
Amon looked up at the ceiling, as if refreshing his memories.
"My people were exterminated, only a few survived. You rarely meet my countrymen at the edges of the empire, but the elders passed on some information about our lost homeland. Its capital was Tizka—a city of pyramids, a city of scholars."
"You don't seem like the scholarly type," the mercenary noted, casting a heated glance at the knight's muscles.
"I found a balance: education and martial skills don't hinder each other, they complement one another. Above all, our people valued knowledge and wisdom accumulated over millennia. That's what ultimately led to our downfall. Had they paid more attention to strength rather than philosophy, the imperial soldiers would have bitten the dust. But what happened, happened."
"I think so too," Alexandra agreed. "What good is knowledge if you can't stand up for yourself?"
"Both are needed. If you didn't know what each of the monsters is capable of, could you really fight them?"
"I didn't think of that," the mercenary readily agreed.
"In unusual situations, it's better to use someone else's proven experience rather than trying to come up with something on the spot," Amon continued. "That's why knowledge is important if it makes you stronger. Unfortunately, my people paid attention to useless things. They later rid themselves of that flaw, but at the cost of total defeat. I've drawn conclusions from the lessons of the past, and now I only read what helps me fight. If you want, I can teach you a few moves."
"Great!" the girl responded sincerely, happy. The knight trusted her enough to share his skills. And trust was the first step to...
***
They chatted a bit about martial arts, and Amon revealed such deep knowledge of various weapons and fencing that the mercenary was amazed. It seemed like the knight had fought for hundreds of years, although his appearance made it hard to believe he was older than thirty-five.
'We have so much in common…' Alexandra thought tenderly through the wine haze.
The room darkened. Amon got up and lit some lamps with the candle burning by the door, then sat back down beside the mercenary. The light played on his face, just like the night before by the fire, and the girl sighed softly.
"Do you want me to be a goddess and predict your future?" Alexandra suddenly offered. "Give me your hand."
"Local magic?"
"Yes, yes! Come on, don't be shy!"
Amon extended his open palm. For a few seconds, the girl carefully examined the lines, then lowered her voice and began to speak:
"I see, I see! You will heal. You'll fully recover and become stronger than you are now."
"I like the beginning," the knight smiled.
"Don't interrupt me. So, what next?" she gently and lovingly traced her finger along his skin. "Aha! You will return to your lands and win the war. You see, you'll grow stronger and win. You'll overthrow the evil emperor, and peace will come."
"Sounds good, keep going."
"And then, then…" Alexandra hesitated and blushed. "You will find yourself a worthy girl and marry her. What do you like in a woman? The palm lines don't quite say."
"I don't know," Amon said thoughtfully. "I've never thought about it. I didn't have time for personal life."
"Really?" the mercenary asked, genuinely horrified.
"Really. Day after day, I spent my time training, fighting, and reading books."
"Just like me," the girl said with sadness. "Since childhood…"
"Then we understand each other."
"But still?" Alexandra asked stubbornly and looked Amon straight in the eyes. "What kind of women do you like? Hair color, figure, personality?"
Amon withdrew his hand.
"I don't know. The most important thing is that she is worthy and loyal."
"And cooks well, right?"
The knight laughed.
"That's the last thing I think about. Our war is called 'Long' for a reason. It won't end soon, and maybe it will never end. So, if I ever have a wife—she'll be a warrior."
Alexandra gasped in joy. Amon valued loyalty and warrior qualities! Maybe she had a chance!
"Seriously?" she asked, not believing her luck.
"Absolutely," Amon answered firmly.
Alexandra grabbed the pitcher and quickly drank the remaining contents. Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Who's there?" the mercenary yelled crossly. She'd been interrupted at the most important moment.
The door creaked open and Ali cautiously peeked inside.
"The water is heated, highborn! If you wish to bathe, the pools are in the basement."
The servant closed the door.
"Let's go quickly!" the girl jumped up, enthusiastically grabbing Amon's hand. "Let's bathe together! Come on... agree!"
The knight remained in place.
"Go alone. Sorry, I'm tired and want to rest and think. I told you, remember?"
"Then rest!" the girl exclaimed, blushing deeply. "Hot water is very relaxing for the body... And if you want—I can give you a massage? We were taught that, it really helps with fatigue! I'll work out your muscles, your back, anything you want!"
"Another time."
Alexandra sighed. Amon's tone clearly indicated that she wouldn't be able to convince him.
"Well, alright, I'll go alone," the mercenary said, her gaze dropping. "Join me if you change your mind. If you don't—I'll be in my room. Come, don't be shy."
Amon shook his head negatively.
"I'll lie down to sleep. This day has seemed very heavy. Thanks for the invitation."
Alexandra gave him a fiery glance and left.