Nightingale and Eagle; Getting Into Trouble

I had thought that the 9th Nightingale story was going to conclude the series, but, apparently, the thief was very popular.  I have to write more.

I do not own the rights to the Nightingale character, that’s based on the Royal Thieves character of the same name in the Top Games game “Evony; The King’s Return.”

 Nightingale gasped as she woke up, looking around to find out where she was.  Nell met her. “You’re here.  Good.”

 Nightingale accepted his hand to get up. “Okay, what happened?”

 Duke laughed from nearby. “You died of blood loss.  Don’t you remember?”

 She thought for a moment, the thrill of the pain as her blood poured into the vials, knowing things were coming close, feeling it as she let more of it go.

 But why?  Yes, they got paid, and very nicely too.  Eagle had kept his word, and, now, with Nell and Duke playing their parts, acting all morose, they had no reason to stay.

 Still...”I want to go back.”

 Nell put a hand on her arm. “No Gale.  It’s not the way we do things.  You know this.  You died, so we have to move on.”

 Nightingale looked at him imploringly. “I don’t know how to explain it.  I feel like we need to go back.”

 Both Nell and Duke sighed.  They knew her and knew that, when she wanted something badly, she’d likely get it.  Their whole gang was based on the idea that they could get anything they wanted, but Nightingale was a truly special case.  Special because she was especially stubborn. “At least tell me why.”

 Immediately, Eagle’s eyes came to her mind.  They were kind.  He was kind.  He wasn’t like all those stuck-up other royals, he actually cared.  It was like, yes, he ruled, but also served.

 And the thought of him had her heart skipping a beat or two.  There was something there, something she needed to explore.  Something she had to explore.

 But how could she explain this? “I just don’t think we’re done back there.”

 Nell wanted to argue some more, but he knew she’d made up her mind.  Duke already gave in and was getting everything set to make the trip back.

 As they got near the kingdom, Nightingale suddenly slowed.  What was she doing?  They knew she’d died, but here she was, heading back.  They passed a smoldering remains of a fire, but the stench was too much and they just walked past.  Nightingale identified it as the stench of burning undead flesh, so they went through the invasion without much problem.

 They stopped by the gate, Nightingale taking the lead and knocking.  The guard looked at them only a moment, barely noticing a supposed dead woman in front of him. “Okay, you three are expected.”

 He opened the gate, inviting them in. “Wait here a moment for your escort.”

 As they waited, Nightingale had a number of questions come to mind.  Expected?  Did this mean they knew they were immortal?  What did it mean that they knew they’d come back?

 A couple of guards took positions around them. “Where are we going?”

 Duke had asked a fair question, but the answer surprised her. “The king wants to see you.”

 As they walked with the guards, Nightingale took stock.  They weren’t under arrest, or else the guards positions would be tighter.  They’d even likely be in chains.  They were, indeed, being escorted, as if they needed the protection.

 Or maybe it was because some of the people would really get a little freaked out seeing a woman thought dead walking among them.  Yes, that had to be it.

 As the guards flanked the door to the palace, one of them opened it.  She was expecting another guard to wait inside. “Ah, good.  You made it.”

 It was Eagle himself.  He gestured, inviting them all inside. “I’d wondered how long it would take you.  You made good time.”

 As they followed him in, he walked towards one fairly standard door, inviting them to precede him.  Nightingale found herself in a very large library, books extending to each wall and to the ceiling with a rolling ladder halfway up.  Eagle walked in front of them casually, but, before she could ask, Duke beat her to the punch. “You were expecting us?”

 Eagle nodded, smiling. “When I saw you,” pointing towards Nightingale, “give so much blood, I had worried it was too much, but you smiled as you closed your eyes, a smile that, besides being breathtaking, told me you were feeling very happy.”

 The compliment was offhand, almost a throwaway, but Nightingale caught it.  Over the centuries she’d been told she had a nice smile, even a beautiful one.  But, this time, it caught her off guard.  A catch in her throat caught her by surprise, but she recovered quickly. “I could just have been glad to do my part.”

 Eagle laughed, flashing a bright light in his eyes as he shook his head. “If that was the case, you wouldn’t have wanted the payment you got.”

 He went on, explaining that he’d studied the legend of the Royal Thieves, noticing that, every once in a while, for centuries, three people would do something extraordinary, sometimes even dying in the process, but they’d continue on. “So I got to thinking what if it were true?  What if there were three immortal beings that took up the art of thievery for some reason or another?”

 He knew.  He really knew.  Nell caught up with him. “Yeah, I’ve heard the legend myself, but what makes you think….”

 Eagle interrupted him. “The fact that this beautiful woman is here, right now, instead of dead somewhere does tell me that there’s something more to this.  I’m just wondering what.”

 Beautiful?  Her heart skipped a beat.  This could be very interesting.