Rorri

　　The seamstress`s shop was on the Plateau, naturally. Any talented tailor would want to set up where rich people were purchasing clothes. Most of Iridan`s poor wore rags stitched together at home; fashion was hardly important when one could barely feed their family, and Rorri doubted if anyone on the Wall would be attending any galas any time soon. The seamstress apparently had a secret side entrance for her special customers,` if Adar recalled correctly, but, he said, if they couldn`t find it, they`d just go in through the front. The worst she could do would be to throw them out. They could go see Shacia`s tailor if that happened, Rorri suggested, though he warned him she wasn`t cheap. His outfit had cost a few Stars`. He was gobsmacked all over again just thinking about it.

　　After some time spent searching, slowed by Rorri`s insistence upon sticking with Adar - he couldn`t bear to wait alone on a bench without Poppy, especially on the Plateau - they found the entrance, tucked into an alley so narrow that they couldn`t walk in it side-to-side. Rorri had to follow behind Adar, hanging onto his waist for stability. Five sharp knocks and a moment later, a gruff voice speaking Human barked something from the other side of the door. Rorri waited for Adar to respond, but the silver elf stayed oddly quiet. He nudged him with an elbow, but still, he gave no response. The voice on the other side barked again.

　　"What is he saying?" Rorri whispered.

　　"Uh&"

　　The human barked once more, his tone rapidly losing its patience.

　　"He`s asking if we have an appointment&" Adar sounded disoriented, producing a light green whorl in Rorri`s mind. "Do you& Do you recognize that voice?"

　　Before Rorri could respond, the human switched to Elvish.

　　"D`ya have a bloody appointment or wot, mate? Ain`t got all fuckin` day!"

　　Rorri`s jaw dropped. Could it really be&?

　　"Um&" Adar started to speak, though he still seemed lost for words. "No, but... I`m sorry, is this&?"

　　"Bilge?" Rorri finished for him. A few beats of silence passed before another voice rang out from farther beyond the door.

　　"Reggie? What`s going on?"

　　"One sec!" the gruff voice stammered with a notable leap in pitch. Rorri heard frantic scraping, sliding and clicking - deadbolts and locks, he guessed - and the air just in front of them shifted as the door crashed into the wall.

　　"C`mere, ya bastahds!"

　　A set of thick, hairy arms swept Rorri and Adar into a tight hug. Rorri stumbled, smushing his face into the human`s chest, and a dense whiff of whiskey lifted from his clothes. Still, he smelled cleaner than Rorri remembered. As a glimmering sunset over the sea drifted into the void, Rorri realized that his friend lacked the fishy aroma he`d always carried away from the docks, and he even detected a faint note of cologne.

　　"You`re alive!" Rorri said, swallowing the lump in his throat.

　　"What happened to your beard?" came Adar`s muffled voice from somewhere inside the hug. The human instantly released his hold on the elves, sending Rorri teetering back, but someone grabbed him just before he would have otherwise fallen to the ground.

　　"Wasn`t that sweet of you boys?" came the small singsong voice from before. "Oh, you`re the one that Rosari girl fancies, aren`t you? What`s my periwinkle silk tied to your face for, now?"

　　"Wait - what?"

　　"How the hell d`ya know him, Mum?"

　　"Go get some tea on the stove for us, Reggie, would you?"

　　The human gave a heavy sigh. "Yes, Mum," he said, footsteps thumping noisily down the hall.

　　"Come in, loves, and lock the door behind you, they`re calling for high winds tonight and I can`t have it blowing open again."

　　Her light, pattering footsteps followed in the same direction. Rorri and Adar shuffled in and locked the door as the Small woman requested. As they went down the hall and Mum`s perfume rang a bell of nostalgia in Rorri`s mind, he let himself pretend that it was Shacia beside him, as it was when he`d first come to this house, albeit through the front entrance and without actually clinging to her arm. The flimsy illusion vanished as Adar spoke up.

　　"So he`s going by Reggie now?"

　　"It`s Reginald to you, ya sod!" Reggie shouted from the next room.

　　"Reginald Taylor," Mum said. "Don`t tell me his deadname, love, I don`t want to hear it! Now, I`ve only got floor seating, and it might be a bit cramped for you boys, so if you can see under there, sweetheart, you might want to take your blindfold off."

　　Rorri stayed quiet, hot with embarrassment.

　　"He can`t," Adar said.

　　"Oh, I`m sorry to hear that," Mum said, though something about her tone suggested she already knew. "Well then, just take care not to knock anything over while you get him settled. And watch your step, there, Reggie still hasn`t got to fixing the moulding."

　　As they entered the next room, Adar paused, catching what sounded like a laugh in his throat.

　　"That`s adorable," he said.

　　"Piss off, mate."

　　"What is it?"

　　"He`s got a little apron on."

　　Rorri chortled. He pictured the apron with frills and hearts, perhaps matching the Small woman`s kitchenware.

　　"Can`t have him getting his clothes dirty," Mum chirped. "Hours of work, down the drain, thanks to his shaky hand on the coffee pot!"

　　"Could we fuckin` not right now, Mum?"

　　"Language, dear, we have guests!"

　　The kettle began to whistle as Adar led Rorri to a floor cushion, and the whistle transitioned into a rush of hissing water, quickly filling the air with the sweet scent of tea. His knees grazed the hard edge of what must have been a comically low table, just like the one he remembered from Mum`s workspace. He sat as tightly cross-legged as he could, though he still had the sense that he`d never fit comfortably there. He heard something click just in front of him.

　　"She put the teacup on a saucer," Adar explained. He`d gotten quite good at identifying sounds that might be puzzling to his friend. "I love the clean-shaven look, by the way."

　　"You would. Movin` on, how`d you lot find me, ay?" Reggie asked, his voice suddenly booming, much closer than before. "Can`t be havin` any loose ends&"

　　"That sounds incredibly sinister," Adar said.

　　"We`re actually here to get me fitted for the art gala next month," Rorri said.

　　"Heard the Widow`s s`posed to be at the Gala," Reggie said, a few steps away from where he was.

　　"Of course you did."

　　"Small world, isn`t it?" Mum chimed in. "I suppose you boys are from Reggie`s past life?"

　　"Mmhmm," Adar hummed, punctuating with a loud slurp. "You know you`re basically harboring a fugitive, right?"

　　"Course I do, I`m not naive. Careful not to bump the table, love, that tea`s very hot." She tapped Rorri`s knee, causing him to flinch and scoot further back.

　　"Y-yes, thank you," he said, rubbing the spot that she`d tapped. "Erm, I don`t really understand what`s going on here, but I`m glad to know you`re still alive, Bil- I mean, Reggie."

　　"You an` me both, ay!"

　　"Don`t-"

　　Before Adar`s warning could stop it from happening, something collided with Rorri`s shoulder, sending him rocketing forward and flooding his body with adrenaline. He instinctively threw out his hands, but Adar caught him before he crashed into the table. It took a few seconds for the shock to wear off before Rorri realized what happened: his human friend had brutishly clapped his back, just like the good old days.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

　　"You& What the-!"

　　"Reggie, by god, if you keep on with this nonsense, I will drop you at the King`s doorstep myself! Do you understand me?"

　　Reggie stayed unusually silent. A deep purplish-red color spilled into the void like ink into water, coming from somewhere just ahead and to Rorri`s side. He recognized it as the color of shame, taken aback that his friend even had the capacity to feel it.

　　"It`s fine," Rorri said. "I know you didn`t mean to nearly knock a blind man into a table, you`re just the same ape you`ve always been. I wouldn`t ask you to change."

　　"Preciate that, mate. I, uh&" Reggie sniffed and cleared his throat. "I really thought you was a gonah when I saw wot happened to the grand entrance."

　　"He did that," Adar chimed in. Rorri`s face flushed.

　　"What happened to you, anyway?" he asked, quick to change the subject.

　　"Ha! First olesome job I ever took nearly got me killed, that`s wot," Reggie said. "Kicked the shite outta that prat wot started shootin` at us, but he got in a cheap shot. Nex` thing I know, I`m cuffed to a fuckin` hospital bed wif the Guard breathin` down my nighty, arrested on suspicion of aidin` an` abettin` enemy forces`."

　　"What?"

　　"That& that doesn`t make any sense."

　　"Swot I said! Firs` time I been arrested on legitimately false charges, too," Reggie said. He broke to slurp his tea, then lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "If y`ask me, nuffin` about it seemed right, an` I`m not entirely convinced it was the Du-閚 wot really attacked us, neither."

　　"We had the same thought," Rorri said.

　　"What is this, by the way?"

　　"Chamomile," Reggie said with the same dark inflection. "Wot made you think so?"

　　A chill rolled over Rorri`s back. A vivid impression of the empty street outside the opera house stuck to his mind, with the building still blazing around him. He could see the patrons` screaming streak through the air like crows. The vision zoomed into the empty box seating, the leading lady`s corpse, and the bodies piled up in the theater. He shook his head and groped for his tea, relieved to find its warm, delicate handle, rooting him to the world once more.

　　"It just seemed staged," he said. "And the Du閚 don`t fight like that. I would know."

　　"I still haven`t figured out how they could have gotten to the center of the city undetected," Adar said. "Haven`t heard a good explanation for it, either."

　　"At`s cause the Guard ain`t got one. Wish I got a betta look at the prick at stuck me. But I tell ya, mate, he didn`t seem right. Medics didn`t, neither. They was all shifty-eyed, the ole time they locked me up innare. And how`re they tellin` me I was aidin` the enemy if one`a them Guardsmen didn`t see me fightin` him fore the Guard even showed up? I was up the damn stairs, fergodssake!"

　　The table rattled, startling Rorri.

　　"Don`t kick the table, Reggie."

　　"Sorry, Mum."

　　"Why don`t we put a pin in all that for now?" she continued. "You said you need fitted again, didn`t you? What in god`s name did you do to the set I already made you?"

　　"Ruined em jumpin` off that balcony, I`d wager."

　　Rorri bristled.

　　"You mean that really happened? Goodness, Reggie, I thought you were trying to pull the wool when you told me all that&" She tisked. "Boys and their stunts. Well, I`m sure I`ve got your measurements laying around here, somewhere. I`ll just have to check your belly again. Looks like you`ve gained a few since last I saw you. Oh, don`t look like that, you needed it."

　　"He definitely has, since he`s been off the-"

　　"Adar, please don`t..."

　　"Kicked the Snow then, have ya?" Reggie said. "Shite turned ya into a mean ol` bastahd if I`m bein` honest-"

　　"Oh, shut up."

　　"Now, now, no reason to get nippy about it," Mum said. "You boys play nice, I`ll be back in a tick." She gave Rorri a light pat on the shoulder before her quiet footsteps disappeared behind a shutting door. The men sipped their tea.

　　"Wish I knew wot t`do. It`s bin eatin` at me since Trisman bailed me outta the ward& I known the Guard`s been crooked fer a long time, lads, but this&"

　　"Wait - Trisman bailed you out?"

　　Reggie cursed under his breath.

　　"We heard nothing," Adar said. "You`re losing your touch, buddy."

　　"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled. "Anyway, the way I sees it, the Guard wouldn`ta bin actin` unless the King, or someone way up are, ordered it. My guess is they`re tryin` to get people wantin` in on the War&"

　　Shacia`s voice stirred in Rorri`s mind.

　　I know things, Rorri& things I shouldn`t know&

　　"Well w-what can we do about it?" Rorri stammered.

　　"We could stage a coup," Adar suggested.

　　"That`s enough of that, now," Mum`s voice rang out just as a door nearby scraped open. "If you boys want to conspire against the powers that be, I won`t stop you, but you won`t be doing it in my house!"

　　"Nobody`s conspirin`, Mum&"

　　"Come now, dear," Mum said, shockingly close to Rorri. He could have sworn she was still by the door. "Let`s check your waist and pick your fabric, it won`t take but a moment."

　　"Okay&"

　　Adar helped him stand and walked him up the narrow flight of stairs that led to Mum`s workspace. After getting him situated on the pedestal, Mum demanded for Adar to leave them be, which he obeyed without questioning, apparently somewhat afraid of her, if Rorri interpreted his faint pulse of yellow correctly.

　　"So what do you know about that Rosari girl?" Mum asked.

　　"Erm& what do you mean?"

　　"Just what I asked, love."

　　Rorri scratched his head. "It`s a vague question&"

　　"So don`t feel bad for giving a vague answer," she quipped, sliding her measuring tape around his waist.

　　"Right&" He hummed. "She`s a noble, obviously. She`s really good at magic. She`s& betrothed, or whatever. Her mother is a damn harpy. She loves cats, and she`s too smart to be some arsehole`s trophy&"

　　"Best not to meddle, love," Mum said.

　　"Can`t imagine how I would," Rorri mumbled. "Why do you ask, anyway?"

　　"Oh, I`m just nosy," Mum said, but something about the color she impressed into the void put him off. With as pathologically honest as Adar was, Rorri had almost forgotten what it felt like to sense deception coming from someone else. It had a smokey gray tint, obscuring the color beneath - orange, perhaps, or maybe pink, though he didn`t understand what it meant.

　　"Looks like you`ve put on an inch," she said. "Now, what color would you like this time?"

　　"...It doesn`t matter," Rorri said. "Not as if I`ll ever see it. How much will this cost me, anyway?"

　　"Depends on the fabric. Might be best to keep off that silk if the cost`ll be an issue, but I can knock it down a bit for you, since you`re Reggie`s friend. And a hero, sounds like!"

　　Rorri scratched his neck with a sheepish smile. "If you say so."

　　"Course I do, love. I had a few dear friends there for the show that night that were spared an awful end, and I`ve been thanking the Spirit every day since. Least I can do for you is a discount!"

　　Mum called Adar over to help Rorri off the pedestal and discuss the details of the arrangement. Adar helped her pick a fabric, and, overhearing the discussion, Rorri managed to veto the bright yellow cotton they`d been mulling over, not wanting to look too conspicuous. Adar was surprisingly picky, and after a lengthy back-and-forth, they agreed upon a sage green cotton tunic with tan linen pants and set a reasonable price. She even included a matching blindfold for free.

　　Finally, they returned to Reggie, who had made little sandwiches for everyone. Rorri sensed him blushing about it. The gesture warmed his heart, and even though the sandwiches were a bit dry, he still ate them with thanks and compliments he`d never imagined giving to his old friend.

　　The three chatted about all that had happened in the past months, though they left out the mysterious magic, or whatever it was, affecting Rorri`s eyes. It was just too much to explain. Reggie relayed how Trisman had set him free - again - utilizing his access to the city`s dysfunctional bureaucracy and his contacts within the Guard. Trisman was actually Mum`s nephew by marriage, and she needed an assistant, so he arranged for Reggie to take the role. It was the perfect cover. Nobody would think to look for him on the Plateau, and he was barely recognizable without his beard. Still, it was his last favor, and for it, he had to agree to give up his life of crime - if not for himself, then for Mum, who had taken him in without judgment or fear. Reggie suspected she had a past of her own, he said hushedly when she was out of earshot. But, past lives are not to be discussed, as anyone with one would know.

　　"So I imagine you won`t be coming around Arbiter`s Way any time soon?" Rorri asked as the conversation dwindled.

　　"Fraid not, lads," Reggie replied. "Once a bloke`s bin reborn, he can`t show himself round the old waterin` holes. Too risky."

　　Rorri cleared his throat. "Well, erm& if you`re ever nearby, there`s an elf-run tavern we went to. What was it called?"

　　"The Sweetgrass Swill," Adar said. "Terrible name, but the servers were friendly."

　　"Anyway, maybe we could get a drink or something," Rorri said.

　　"Their fruity drink is to die for," Adar added.

　　The void filled with a deep, sorrowful purple, lightly dusting Reggie`s stocky silhouette, not unlike how he`d seen Shacia and Adar: dim light drifting in the sea of nothingness.

　　"You lot prob`ly best be off, then," Reggie said with a sniff. "I`ll send a bloody courier once she`s done wif yer fancy threads&"

　　His voice trailed off. Adar helped Rorri stand, and Reggie escorted them both to the secret back entrance.

　　"It was lovely meeting you, Reginald," Adar said as they crossed the threshold. Reggie snorted.

　　"Piss off," he said, then unceremoniously shut the door behind him, though Rorri was sure he heard the human choking up. He saw it in the darkness, too, a soft lavender wave, and he felt it in himself just as strongly. But though they`d never share a house nor a life of crime again, at least his friend was still alive. That certainly counted for something.