The Payment

     "Huh."

     Iphri rolled head over heels through the dirt, just keeping hold of her twin daggers. She twisted upright, skidding to a stop in a crouch.

     "Impressive," her opponent said.

     He shouldn't have been able to touch her at all. She was slow today. Eyes narrowed, Iphri charged. She dropped, sliding into his legs. With a yelp, he clattered on the ground. Iphri spun and leapt. The man rolled out of the way. Her weapons hit earth.

     Both of them clambered to their feet, breath heavy. Her opponent smirked, gesturing for her to attack. Bouncing towards him, she dodged to the side, pirouetting. This time, he predicted her move and jerked, elbow catching her in the back. She slammed down face first, breath gone. She coughed once. Twice. Then rolled, catching his sword with her crossed daggers.

     He grinned, pressing down. "Say it."

     "Never." Her daggers slipped, the blade inching closer.

     "How long have you two been at this?"

     They looked over in unison. Hovering above them was a woman with a thick braid of red hair, hands on her hips.

     "Um. A while," Iphri said.

     "We got bored," Grez said.

     Selna rolled her eyes.

     Iphri kneed Grez in the groin, twisting her weapons. Groaning, he fell over, sword skittering away. Iphri rolled above him and thrust a dagger at his throat. "Say it!"

     "No." He squinted at her. "You cheated."

     Iphri leaned forward. "Say it. Or I'll tell everyone what happened at the McHayden job. Princess Squishems."

     An exasperated sigh. "You are the queen of fighting. I bow to your superior skills. I'm unworthy to even kiss the ground you walk on."

     Hopping up onto her feet, Iphri sheathed her daggers at her hips. "Damn right."

     "I forget why I thought this was a good idea," Selna said.

     "Did you really need both of us anyway?"

     Selna grabbed Iphri's hand, pulling her close. "I missed you, br'akteth." The kiss was soft and sweet.

     "And him?" Iphri jerked a thumb at Grez.

     "Enh, just in case. We're being paid well to recover this gem for the Admiralty. May as well do it right."

     Still lying in the dirt, Grez said, "Thanks. Nice to be appreciated."

     "Come on, kids," Selna said. "Let's get this over with."

#

     The morning sun bled through a thick mist, mountainous horizon ablaze with colour. Atop the edge of a crumbling tower, Iphri held Selna, who was resting her head on her shoulder. Grez was nearby, studying a deep red gem cut into a faceted tear drop. It glittered within its infinite depths.

     "That was no fun," Iphri said. "I didn't even get to stab anybody."

     Selna gazed up at her. "Just think of all the violence-free gold you'll be getting."

     "Fair point."

     Twisting the gem this way and that, Grez asked, "Are you sure we have to give this back to the Admiralty?"

     "Yes," Selna said. "Trust me, it's much saf--"

     The stone slipped from his fingers. They all watched it fall to the ground far away.

     "Oh--"

     It shattered. An electric flash of red light exploded around them. Then the world dropped away, tower and all.

     "--crap."

     It was dark as they lay among the stony rubble.

     "Grez," said Iphri.

     "Yes?"

     "What did you do?"

     "That's a very good question."

     Selna groaned. "Did I forget to mention that was a portal stone?"

     "You may have neglected that, yes," Iphri said.

     "Artifacts are your thing, lady," said Grez. "We're just mercenaries."

     Standing, Iphri dusted herself off. Then she helped Selna to her feet. "So. Beloved. Where are we?"

     "Well..."

     "You don't know?"

     "I have a theory?"

     Iphri glanced over to Grez. He was holding up a hand for help. She ignored him.

     "Okay. Let me think." Looking around, Selna said, "The shadows are too thick. What do you see, Iph?"

     "The remnants of an ancient tower."

     "Iphri..."

     "Fine. Some ruins, I think. Things skittering around. And then a whole lot of nothing else."

     Grez wandered up to them, straightening his tunic. "Let me guess. Into the ruins?"

     "To the ruins," Selna said.

#

     The soft grey stone of the fragile buildings was textured, characters from an unrecognisable language carved into their surface. Selna and Grez followed close behind Iphri, who navigated the treacherous environment with care. They passed through an arch of rubble and stepped into a large, open chamber.

     Torches burst into life. Iphri yelped, shielding her sensitive eyes. A booming voice echoed around them in a strange tongue.

     Selna said, "I think that was 'Welcome, travellers. State your purpose.'"

     "You seriously understand the language of some ancient underground portal dimension?" Iphri said, still blinking.

     "Apparently." Selna cleared her throat. "We're lost. We simply seek passage home."

     Mouth hanging open, Grez pointed across the room. "You two see that, right?"

     Iphri glanced over. In front of an ornate, gilded mirror was an apparition. Blue and wispy and in the vague shape of a... cat?

     "Ah yes, I recognise those words. I know the world of which you speak," said the voice. The cat's voice? It came from no particular direction. "Very well. Passage can be arranged, for the correct payment."

     "What payment do you require?" Selna asked.

     "Something of value. Something that cannot be replaced."

     "Anything?"

     "Yes."

     The trio looked at one another. "Give us a moment to confer," Selna said.

     Iphri furrowed her brow. "So, a life?"

     "No," Selna and Grez said together.

     "It went okay last time."

     Selna shook her head. "There's no coming back from here, br'akteth."

     "Then what?"

     Grez said, "A memory?"

     "Memories can be replaced."

     "Some can," said Selna. "Not all."

     The two women exchanged a glance. Iphri sighed. "The night we met."

     "No," Grez said. "No, surely there's something else."

     "You can't replace a first meeting like that," Selna said.

     Silence fell. Iphri's mind scrambled for alternatives. She could tell by their expressions that the others were doing the same. Nothing.

     "What will it do to our other memories of us?" Iphri asked at last.

     Selna pulled her close, burying into her chest. "I don't know, beloved."

     Lifting her chin, Iphri kissed her. Forceful. Desperate.

     When they parted, tears were falling down Selna's cheeks. She turned to the cat spirit... thing. "We're ready. We've decided."

     "Your offering is acceptable."

     Another flash of crimson light. The trio stood where the tower once did.

     "Some day. Some day a job will go as planned." Iphri was checking everything was in place, then caught sight of Selna beside her. "Are you alright? Why are you crying?"

     Wiping her face dry, Selna shook her head. "I... I don't know."

     Iphri's chest ached, so sudden it knocked the breath from her. As she stared into Selna's emerald eyes, she felt empty. Confused. She turned to Grez. "What's going on?"

     A wistful smile. "Just a normal day for the three of us."