When the door opened, an extremely strong Doberman, as tall as me, with newly cut hair, entered the kitchen. With a brief nod and a smile forming on his face, he sat down at the table.
"Good morning, Uncle Duncan."
I smiled back and patted his muscular arm twice.
"Boy, every day you get bigger and more like your dad.
Clutching the silver bracelet on his wrist, he replied with an awkward smile.
"I still have a long way to go to be like him."
As I was about to reply, Lina brought in a large jug of orange juice, and Gineviv put the cheese and some butter on the table. They both sat down, and we began to eat.
"So, Lina, have our pointy-eared friends already woken up?" I asked as I poured myself some juice.
Lina looked at me.
"Yes, and they left quite early. They asked me to leave a message: 'Ask him to meet us after breakfast.'"
Gineviv looked back and forth between Lina and me.
"Trouble?"
I took a large sip of juice. Damn, I was thirsty.
"Not for you guys."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing special. Please pass me the cheese."
She handed me a few slices, but didn't take her eyes off me. Those droopy Beagle eyes... They get me every time. I let out a big sigh and said, putting as much calm as I could into my voice.
"You worry too much, Gineviv. You know I would never bring trouble to you guys. If that ever happened, I would take the problem far, far away."
Lina sighed heavily.
"But that's exactly the problem, Duncan. I don't want you getting into trouble for your own sake."
I took another sip of juice and saw that they were still looking at me. With a look that said they knew I was in trouble. The worst part is knowing that they must be afraid, not of me, but for me.
I swallowed hard and tried, once again, to put all the calm I could muster into my voice.
"It's okay."
I poured myself some more juice and finished it in one gulp.
I didn't want the conversation to continue in that direction, so I turned to Zannen, who was focused on finishing his breakfast as if the cheese breads were going to run away from the table.
"So, how's your swordplay? Still having trouble fighting without a shield?"
He looked at me awkwardly. Things must be really tough in the army, after all, a sergeant must have a lot of responsibilities with his unit.
"Oh, no. I'm completely used to fighting with just a sword now. Your tips fit like a glove. In fact, I was promoted to
warrant officer due to my success in besieging some bandits in the demonic lowlands."
Gineviv smiled so widely that the wrinkles around her eyes appeared. But instead of making her look older, it only made her more beautiful.
"Zannen, that's amazing! Son, why didn't you told us before? I would have prepared something to celebrate. Lina, get the mugs and fill a jug with dwarf beer!"
Lina got up and hurried out, leaving an extremely flushed Doberman at the table.
"It's just that... I wanted to tell everyone, and since Uncle Duncan wasn't here when I arrived, I decided to wait a little longer."
I slapped his arm even harder and let out a hearty laugh.
"You really are your father's son. Congratulations, kid! As a gift, today I'll teach you a new stance."
His eyes lit up, and he jumped to his feet.
"Thank you so much, Uncle! I'll go get my sword right now!"
Then he jumped up and ran off to his room, his tail wagging from side to side.
These kids, they have so much energy. I went back to the table to finish eating, but I noticed something unexpected.
Gineviv was crying. Of course, she was so happy for her son's promotion, it's normal to cry on such occasions... but why did she look so sad?
"...it's your fault..."
I dropped the bread and got up in an instant and crouched in front of her.
"Hey, hey, what's wrong? Aren't you happy for your son?"
She quickly wiped her eyes and forced a smile.
"I am, of course I am... it's just..."
Her fingers gripped the edge of the table.
"Thank you so much, Rucas. For everything."
I stopped. Why was she calling me by my name? A few years ago, when I was very drunk, I had told her a few things about my past. Not much, but one of those things was my real name... But hearing her say it... like that, it hit me like a sword, piercing my heart.
"...you don't deserve..."
I slowly got up and took a few steps back.
She also got up and walked in my direction. Then she placed her delicate hand on mine. Her touch was light, but it seemed to shock me, as if it were charged with static electricity.
Her voice came out low amid the twitches of her snout.
"If it weren't for you, I don't know if we could've done it."
I let out a low sigh. Of pain... Pain because I couldn't think of returning her touch.
Gently, I took her hand off mine and took a few steps back toward the door.
"You know that's not true. You did very well. Zamar would be proud of you."
I heard a sob catch in her throat. Instinctively, I grabbed a glass, poured some water, and handed it to her.
She took it, looked at the bottom of the glass, and said.
"Zamar was such a great man, and I loved him, but... he left us too soon."
Gineviv's voice was low, almost a whisper.
"Lina and Zannen... they respect you so much."
She took a deep breath before continuing.
Somehow, I knew that the direction this conversation was taking would hurt, both of us.
"It's thanks to you that today we are able to keep the inn, that Zannen got his position in the Queen's army... that our family is happy..."
She raised her head and her eyes, as green as the sea, met mine. I felt a chill down my spine.
"Rucas, you..."
No, please, don't make this worse for both of us.
"Gineviv..."
My voice came out low. I took a deep breath and tried to control the knot in my stomach. I turned toward the door and said,
"I just did what I had to do. Besides, you guys would do just fine without me around."
Once again, I felt her hand on my arm. But this time her touch was firmer, her nails almost digging into my skin, which gave me goosebumps...
She pulled me closer and once again I stared into her green eyes, which sparkled with a weight I knew well.
A weight that, if I let it, could crush me.
She moved dangerously close to my face, speaking in an extremely seductive manner.
"You know that's not true..."
Closer and closer, I could feel her breath. This was getting dangerous, for both of us. My eyes closed and I almost... I almost...
"You know that I..."
"...kill her..."
My eyes flew open, and my nose was already touching hers.
"Gineviv, no..."
My hand wrapped around hers and gently pushed her away. The silence between us was deafening.
Then I turned to the door and walked away without the courage to look back.
"Rucas... I..."
She hesitated. Her voice was filled with sadness, but I didn't wanted to hear it. Something she shouldn't say.
I stopped at the doorframe and turned my head just enough to see her over my shoulder.
"Please..."
She lowered her eyes.
And I did what I always did... I took a cigarette and left.