A Lesson For Louise 16

Chapter 16: Captured

<<<Louise>>>

Louise’s head was fuzzy, ringing, and her body hurt all over. But she wasn’t dead.

Just concussed and surrounded by debris.

The others seemed in a similar, or worse, state than her. Obsidia whimpered in… well, pain but also pleasure because Obsidia, Kirche was groaning and clutching her head, Tabitha was unconscious, and the inquisitor was bloody… but standing, his wand in hand.

Truly, Louise had half a mind to show whoever attacked them just what she learned in the Other world, but she wasn’t sure if she should. The inquisitor certainly seemed in a right foul mood at the ‘interruption’ of his duties. And as personally satisfying as it would’ve been, she didn’t want to well… stoke the flames so to say.

So, instead she focused on Kirche and Tabitha using what little healing magic she could safely use to help as best she could. Obsidia was obviously enjoying herself, and Louise wasn’t going to take that away from her, and Rei was Rei and she was confident that her troublesome familiar was safe and sound.

If anything she was more concerned about the driver…

“I’m half tempted to say that we should let them capture you,” Rei said, a fox tail just visible out of the corner of her vision in the treeline. “It could prove entertaining and enlightening.” It was clear that the inquisitor could hear her, by the way he tensed.

“Honestly, I am willing to bet this is somehow related to my mother.” Louise replied, “It certainly wouldn’t be the first time someone tried to get back at the Heavy Wind for some perceived slight or not accepting their courtship or something. Though it could be a bandit hold up…”

“I know you’re out there!” The inquisitor shouted, “Show yourselves and give a good explanation for this, your lives may be spared if you do!” It was a good threat… if he wasn’t bleeding from the face and leg, so instead of fear it earned laughter.

“We’re here for the pink haired brat!” Louise bristled at the slight, “Maybe if you hand her over as well as the rest of your valuables we might let you sorry lot go!”

The inquisitor blinked slowly at them. “You… realize who her mother is, right?” He asked, “Karin of the Heavy Wind? Are you guys suicidal? I am an inquisitor!”

Louise just sighed, “This a powerplay or some attempt at petty vengeance…” She grumbled, “You’d think they’d go after my ‘successful’ sister and not the Zero that’s going to be married off as a trophy wife…” No, she wasn’t still bitter… just annoyed.

“... Oi Roz… uh… you think this is a good idea?” One of the ruffians asked, “I mean… what if there is an Inquisitor in there? I don’t think the Lord will cover us if we get their attention…”

“With how much the so-called inquisitor is bleeding?” The man asked with a laugh, “He’ll die before he could ever reach civilization. None of these kids are even square class mages, the monster lady can’t cast magic, and the bitch we’re… well, we were trying to kill, but I think a ransom to the guy that hired us would make us more money. Anyway, she can’t cast magic at all.”

“...” Louise bit her lip and sighed before she looked at the Inquisitor, “I’ll go with them.” She said, getting a look from the man in question, “Make sure Kirche and Tabitha are alright,” She added.

He analyzed the statement for a few moments before nodding, “Alright, I’ll make sure they’re safe.”

Louise nodded, “I’m coming out!” She said before exiting the carriage and glaring at the ruffians, “I trust you will let them go?” She demanded as her eyes narrowed, already running through the… possibilities if they didn’t.

Truly, even basic Fundamentalism was terrifying.

“Hey, if we broke our word no one would hire us!” The mercenary replied, hands going out wide, “I’ll even put away my wand!” He did too, not that it changed that a few of the others had their wands still out.

“Honor amongst brigands and blackguards… how quaint…” She didn’t sneer, but only barely as she stepped away from the carriage, “Well, shall we get this farce over with?”

“Right this way, princess,” He replied, gesturing into the woods, “We’re all professionals here.”

She didn’t believe him for a second, but with Rei following her and her own magic… it wasn’t like they’d survive breaking their words. Still she followed the blackguards into the woods all the while trying to figure out which noble arranged the whole thing in the first place.

[hr][/hr]

“... You were hired by Florentin Plantier…” Louise muttered.

He was only mentioned once, about a year or so before she initially joined the academy. Her mother had more than a few glasses of wine, and in a… ‘airing grievances’ mood at the time. And Florentin Plantier often came up, her mother had called him ‘an ignorant pig that doesn’t understand the meaning of no and not interested’ as well as ‘being more interested in extolling his virtues and riches rather than proper courtship behavior.’ And those were two of the most civil complaints, as the wine flowed her mother became more vulgar and crass enough to make even the most cutthroat of brigands blush!

It must be said that seeing her mother in that mood shattered more than one pre-conceived notion she had. And made her fear for her innocence, something she’d thought lost long before that point!

“Well, yes,” He replied with a shrug, “Don’t know why, didn’t ask. He wanted you dead or captured, half payment up front and half on delivery. Simple is, simple does. That was… probably a week ago now?” He muttered, scratching his beard.

Or about a day after they’d departed, wonderful. That meant it could have been anyone informing the man.

“Anyway, we certainly didn’t know there were other people in the cart with you, just that you were heading up to the capital,” Roz shrugged, tossing her a bit of bread, “So just know; none of this was personal.”

It took her a moment to check the bread for any poisons, not that most would do anything to her but it was better to make sure than regret it. That there weren’t any surprised her, but it was a lot easier to transport someone that could walk around than a dead body too, she supposed.

“Mm, well this will be fun,~” Rei tittered, watching her from the top of a cart. Louise was quite certain that no one else could see her. “Let’s humiliate him.~”

“... The man is probably still sore over mom’s rejection of his ‘generous’ overtures.” Louise said with a scoff as she nibbled on the bread, “Never mind that when he first made him he could’ve been her grandfather at the time…” She added.

“... Nobles, amirite?” Roz quipped.

“Indeed…” Louise hated that she agreed with this blackguard but he wasn’t wrong.

Rei just tittered, “A tale as old as time, truly nobility, no matter what world, follows the same trends in behavior.” Her amusement rose for a moment, “Unless we speak of my family, of course. They’re much more simple to predict and far more direct.”

Louise just sighed as she finished her bread, “And the fellows I’m to be ransomed to?” She asked.

“Same person,” He replied with a shrug, “We’re going to be using the fact an inquisitor was there to raise the negotiated price.”

“Lovely,” Louise said. To be fair she would’ve tried to get a better price as well, though she wasn’t going to admit it.

“Course, if he refuses we’re just going to bring you to your mother and get a reward from her for informing her of his idiocy,” He said with a shrug, “Never deal with a client that cheats you out of a fair price.”

And while it was still self-serving, her opinion of the man rose a little at his admittance.

“... If only all nobles believed in that…” Louise muttered with a sigh, getting a curious look from Roz.

Though he didn’t question it, either that or just found himself in agreement with her comment.

“You know, girly, I used to be a noble,” Roz said, “Hence magic, but my family’s duchy no longer exists. So I had to make due. I’ve worked for people all over the place; hell, I’m pretty sure I’ve worked for your mother. So, in the interest of fair play, do you have any identifying features aside from your hair?”

Louise just grumbled, “When I was a little girl I stole my mother’s wand and tried to cast magic.” She said as she turned her hands over and exposed her palms revealing two star-burst scars on her hands, “It ended as well as you could expect.”

“Well. That would be rather hard to fake, I think,” Roz said with a shrug, “Ah well, I tried. Was gonna offer you a job, but if we can’t even fake your body it would be a little hard. And, well, I think kidnapping someone to behead them to fake just your head would be a bit… Well, I don’t want those kinds of political problems in my lap.”

Louise just thought. “You know, I could convince my mother to hire you on a more permanent basis,” She offered, “I’m sure this life can be rather exhausting and stressful.” She offered.

“More than you know, girly,” He replied, “Most of the guys I have here, well, let’s just say they need some pardons to get more… legal work, if you catch my drift?”

She was surrounded by criminals of the worst kinds, wonderful.

“Well, I can’t promise everything,” Louise admitted, figuring he’d appreciate the honesty, “But if your men could… curb their aggressive behavior and less reputable behaviors? It’s possible.”

“Maybe, maybe,” He replied with a shrug, “I’ll have to ask em, of course, but if they say no… nothin I can do, eh?”

A thought struck her, if they thought she couldn’t do magic… “What type of job would you have given me, anyway?”

“Oh, courier and negotiator,” He replied, “We don’t have enough people that can walk into a town and not risk getting arrested.”

“I like this one. He’s scum, but he’s scum I’d use for a revolutionary force… even if I’d ensure that his men would die horribly in a suicidal bait tactic,” Rei said, her amusement rising… and she wasn’t on the cart anymore, which didn’t say good things. “Now… how far away are we…”

“Are Kirche, Tabitha, and the Inquisitor alright?” She knew Obsidia would be fine… if anything she was probably enjoying herself too much.

“Oh, they’re fine. Though the Inquisitor is in a right mood. It would be absolutely horrible if he were to learn who arranged this whole thing,~” Louise almost snorted at that, “The other inquisitor is much healthier, and is following you at a good distance.”

“Maybe, especially if Plantier isn’t willing to pay and I’m ransomed to my mother.” It wasn’t an ideal way to visit her family but sometimes you have to roll with the punches, “I’m sure you wouldn’t mind passing the name along if things go as expected would you?”

“Of course, but… you know Obsidia would get rid of those scars if you just asked.” Rei commented, “If you’re curious about living outside of nobility, if for a short while.” She added.

Louise didn’t respond immediately, instead just rubbing her scars slightly. Remembering how her mother fretted and scolded her in equal measure. How she got the best Water mages she could to ensure the scars never impacted her ability to use either of her hands. How she told Louise that the scars would remain as a lesson, one which she never forgot and never would.

Was she curious about what life was like for people cast out by the nobility? Yes, but at the same time she couldn’t bring herself to get rid of the scars either. And honestly as much as she disliked certain aspects of the nobility, ever since Rei kidnapped her really, she didn’t think she would change it.

Well, aside from correcting the inadequacies and such of course. But she was content.

“Now, I’m going to have a gal I trust watch you,” Roz said as he stood up, “Don’t want you showing up bruised and raped, specially if the guy doesn’t want to pay.”

“Oh, I’d love to see them try,” Rei commented dryly, “You probably haven’t realized it yourself, but Obsidia turned you into a right hellcat when properly provoked.”

“... Am I really that bad?” Louise wondered.

“I never called it bad,~” Rei tittered as the man left. A few minutes later, a heavily scarred woman came in, one missing a hand, with a wand out.

One Louise recognized.

“Oh… that’s why they’d need pardons…” Louise thought, “Valyr the Bloody Baroness.”

To be entirely honest, she didn’t know Valyr beyond what she heard from rumors and hearsay. Beyond her being guilty of several killings and fleeing execution, which cost her hand, she didn’t know the specifics of Valyr beyond the reputation she’s garnered. Though, if she was ransomed to her mother, getting Valyr a pardon would be much more trying…

“I didn’t actually bathe in their blood you know,” Valyr said casually, “Just gelded them.”

“... I wasn’t actually wondering about that, but that’s good to know,” Louise said, not entirely sure what to even say to the woman.

“Of course, they were far too forward in their advances and I always preferred girls anyway,” The woman continued, “So really, I did the world a favor. Don’t you think?”

Remembering some of her suitors in the Other world and Obsidia’s reaction she snorted, “I’m fairly certain my girlfriend would agree and critique you on technique,” She said dryly, getting a snort from Valyr.

“Ah good, a girl with taste,” The murderess stated, “I’m almost sad we can’t hire you, and her for that matter. Ah well. It won’t go well for the idiot that hired us to grab you anyway.~”

Louise honestly wasn’t sure what to say in response to that, though she knew Obsidia would enjoy having someone to ‘compare notes’ with. She just didn’t think it would be a good idea to let her girlfriend off her metaphorical (and sometimes literal) leash. Especially with someone that would possibly understand her!

“But don’t worry, I’ll keep you nice and safe,~” Valyr giggled, “No one’s gonna lay a finger on you.”

“... good news, you’re only a day away. Bad news, that woman is completely insane and gets off on killing people,” Rei said, “So just… don’t do anything that would cause that.”

“... Wonderful…” Louise thought, “And honestly if her eyeing me is any hint, I’m more worried about her fucking me than killing me…”

“Oh don’t worry,” Rei started, “She needs to have killed someone to get in the mood and, well, while she doesn’t bathe in the blood… getting it on her is part of the kink. So you’ll know if she’s about to proposition you.”

… Honestly, that should’ve been reassuring but it wasn’t. Insane people did insane things after all, and somehow Louise felt that she didn’t differentiate between human and animal blood.

“Mm… we’re going to start moving again soon. I’ll be in the same cart as you, so don’t worry a hair on your head,” Valyr said, gesturing with her prosthetic, “No fresh clothes for you, sadly, we don’t have anything your size…”

“That’s fine.” Honestly, while she had moved into the city rather quickly, during her time traveling with Roc she learned to tolerate wearing the same clothes for days at a time.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe in your sleep my little Louise,” Rei whispered, appearing on top of a few crates nearby, “But if you simply want to burn everything to the ground, I’d support that too.~”

“... That’s my last resort…” Louise replied before she tried to make herself comfortable, or at least as much as she could anyway. “This is going to be a long day.”