Page 116 of Guiding Desire

“I can’t. I’ll be the one with a gun, and if you dare stand in front of me, I will kick your ass.”

“Sen, did your Conduit just threaten to kick you in the balls?” Karmine asked.

“The ass,” Orrey hollered.

Senlas frowned at him. “Fuck. You’ve been corrupted, kitten.”

The wall behind which Argenteans are kept safe is not special among other cities’ walls. Its sturdiest parts are facing the outside and reinforcing its core, but the city-facing side is a façade, a later addition of shelf planters cared for by bots. Other than the fields outside the city, the wall itself is the source of much of the city’s fresh produce, berries, fruits, and vegetables engineered to handle the scarce room for their roots and still produce enormous quantities.

This green wall is beautiful to look at, and Argenteans have created paths along the wall that allow respite from city noises, if one lives close or decides to take a visit for a few days.

However, the green is interrupted by the gates the access point to which is itself walled and equipped with tight security. Above the gate, the three skyward-pointing arrows in a circle stand like a farewell to those preparing to exit.

(Becoming an Inter-City Guardian Games Champion, Guardian Barrik Taff)

Orreystaredatthearrows of the city’s seal from the back seat of the armored vehicle he was in with Vin in the driver’s seat, Senlas in the passenger seat. Col was next to Orrey and looked aggressively at ease in his combat outfit. He too was armed but carried the gun at his hip with more nonchalance than Orrey.

They were following two other vehicles, all a grayish black like theirs. Two Ferrean A-classers were in the front vehicle, and right in front of Orrey, Vin, and Senlas, it was Taros and Karmine.

All of a sudden, leaving the city to go on a mission with his Guardian seemed like a very bad idea. Orrey considered asking Vin to stop, telling them he couldn’t do this.

“This is mission lead to all; comms check. Report in,” Senlas said, and the other vehicles did, one after the other.

Senlas turned, and Orrey was afraid his Guardian might have sensed his unease. Senlas’s eyes fixed on Col though.

“I don’t like having the both of you out here.”

“And I don’t like it when you worry so much,” Col said. “We agreed, no splitting up. If I were Alesa, I’d want me alone, you know.”

“Don’t speak of that Hound-fucker,” Vin said. “Can’t stand it anymore. Can’t stand we couldn’t find anything to get him that demerit.”

Col huffed. “Plus side, I don’t think his team members were following me because he suspects we’re on to him. I think he just had them follow us as part of whatever his plan is.”

Orrey took a deep breath. “It’s strange that you have to go to specific buildings to get logs. As a regular and a former protector who could have reviewed such data with a few clicks, the way things are done on the Grounds occasionally feels not as forward as I would have expected. Not to mention the fact that murdering a Guardian seems easier done than getting him a demerit.”

Col chuckled. “So acerbically forward. Are you very nervous, little brother?”

“A bit.”

“It’ll be fine. On previous missions, I’ve rarely been bored. Senny and Karmine usually provided quite the entertainment. Although…I suppose Vin is on the quieter side. Vinnie, didn’t I hear one of your sisters say you have a beautiful singing voice?”

“Coldis, I will hurt you,” Vin said.

Senlas lifted a finger at Col. “Stop it. We aren’t even through the wall yet, and here you are, starting already. Aren’t you supposed to be a mentor to my Conduit?”

“Oh, right,” Col said and turned to Orrey. “See, when you are bored, what usually helps is riling them up a bit like I just did.”

“I don’t think I’ll get bored,” Orrey said and watched as ahead, the gigantic doors opened, sized to allow massive transport vehicles to enter the city, sized to dwarf a person.

Col sighed. “See? I tried. Vinnie, a coin for your song.”

“Grave pain. I will inflict grave pain.”

Col leaned closer to Orrey as the darkness behind the gates, the thick interior of the wall, approached. “He is a decent singer, just doesn’t want people to know.”

“Why?”

Vin patted the knife at his thigh, one of several Orrey had seen him carry. Vin was decked out much like the walls of his apartment were. “I like people to know and appreciate me for my knife skills.”