<b>Rule </b><b>10</b><b>–</b><b>The </b><b>best </b><b>way </b><b>to </b>win <b>a </b><b>fight </b><b>is to </b><b>avoid </b><b>it </b><b>altogether</b><b>. </b><b>It’s </b><b>like </b><b>winning </b><b>by </b><b>default</b><b>, </b>but <b>with </b><b>significantly </b>fewer <b>bruises</b><b>.</b>
to
We both fall silent for a minute or two <b>as </b>we continue eating. It doesn’t take long for me begin to feel ufortable with the quiet. Ashton is still looking around the room and I’m <b>well </b>aware that neither my dad or I have vacuumed in a few days.
“So, will you tell me a little about these criminals you are supposed to be hunting? You said they killed your king and escaped here, which I would guess implies that they are either tough, sneaky, or just really lucky. But then again, you came here to catch them all on your own and there are three of them which implies that you are either tougher, sneakier<b>, </b>or luckier than them. You don’t really seem the type to rely on luck though, so I am curious.” <b>I </b>snap my mouth shut again, realising that I am once again running my mouth. Ashton looks very solemn. He was serious when he spoke to the Mayor and my dad, but this is different. He was acting very formal then; now he is rxed and himself, and I am asking him proper questions, although I do think it was odd that neither the Mayor nor my dad thought it was weird that the fae would send one guy to catch three criminals. I suppose Ashton must have
some kind of skills I don’t know about.
“I suppose I should tell you a little about the bastards I am trying to catch, if only so you know what to look out for. As you said, there are three of them. They worked together as a group to break into the fae castle, take out the guards, and kill the king. I know a little of their particr abilities, although I do not know their exact species of fae so I cannot be sure that I know theplete extent of their powers.” I nod; this is sure to be interesting and
slightly terrifying.
“One of the fae seems to have some kind of affinity with fire. He helped provide the others in the group with an escape route. They were not terribly subtle, which is why I know that they ran here. The second of the group must have some knowledge or ability rting to poisons<b>. </b>That is how the king was murdered. The final member of the group has some kind of power over people’s actions, convinces loyal guards to go take a break or to go to sleep. I do not
really know much more about them. I cannot even be sure that I know what they look like as it is entirely possible that they wore mours, and those who saw them do not have the ability to see through mours.” Ashton seems frustrated.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.
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Rule 10–The best way to win a fight is to avoid it altogether. It’s like winning by defau…
“So some people <b>can </b>see through mours then?<b>” </b><b>I </b>ask, catching on to that interesting detail. That means there probably aren’t a lot of fae just wandering around the human realm, right? Unless seeing through mours is a purely fac skill. Ashton nods.
“Yes, although it is not amon ability. It is not connected to any specific species of Fae but rather the personality and intellect of the individual as well as their level of awareness.” I
just stare.
“Okay, you lost me, I don’t really know what you mean.” I admit.
“Well, the only way to see past a mour is to find a w in it. Noticing things like this is a skill most people don’t really have or if they do then they don’t really take the time to refine it.” Okay, so it’s a practice type thing and a little bit a personality sh natural skill I conclude.
“Can you do it?” I ask. Ashton shrugs one shoulder.
“Sometimes. If I am aware that the person is in a mour and am looking for ws, I might find something. But I don’t really take the time to check every person I meet, and I am not naturally observant enough to notice when I am not truly searching.” He seems a little embarrassed at this fact..
Ashton considers me for a moment.
“You might be good at it, actually. You are quite observant.” I frown.
“I didn’t notice that you had a mour on.” <b>I </b>point out.
“You did not know that mour existed, so why should you notice? Here.” Ashton blurs again and his mour reappears. I hope changing back and forth like this doesn’t wear him out or whatever. But I suppose he knows his limits. I shouldn’t worry.
“Try now; it should be easier since you know what I actually look like. Find a w in my mour, and you should be able to see past it.” He encourages<b>.</b>
“I don’t really know what you mean by w.” I admit. Ashton shrugs.
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Emergency calls only
Rule 10–The best way to win a fight is to avoid it altogether. It’s like winning by defau…
“Anything that seems unusual or doesn’t make sense.” I think about it for a moment, look him over, studying his features and try to remember to <b>focus </b>and not drool. His eyes. Ashton’s eyes are wrong; they don’t seem to have a colour. Or if they do, it is changing. The moment I realise this, Ashton’s mour seems to melt away. When he doesn’t react, I realise that he hasn’t done anything; he is still waiting for me to say something.
“I did it, I think. Your eyes were weird, but you look like you now.” Ashton beam at me proudly.
“Very good! Most people cannot see through a mour so fast. I am still moured right now, <b>but </b>you cannot see it correct?” I nod.
It will remain that way until I remove the mour and put it on again; then you would have to find a w again, although it would likely be the same thing. I always did have difficulty imagining myself with different eyes, so I struggle to show them in my mour. Still, you did very well.” I shrug, a little embarrassed at all his praise.
“You already told me which parts of you were moured to look different, and I knew what you should look like. I basically cheated.” Ashton shakes his head in disagreement.
“Regardless, I think with some practice you would be quite skilled at seeing through mours.” I give him a small smile
“Thanks, I guess, although I doubt I will actually get much of a chance to practise. You are the only far <b>I </b>know, after all.” I point out
“At least for now.” I raise an eyebrow. For now? When would I meet another Fae? Unless he is referring to the criminals, but I am fairly sure that he intends to keep them as far from me as possible, so that can’t be it. Maybe he is just throwing it out there that it is actually possible.
it Or maybe he pictures a lot more human and far interactions in the future.
“Right… so… if you don’t know what the criminals look like and they could be wearing mour, how are you nning to find them?” | wonder #loud:
“I find their magic, or the effects of it at least. They are not ustomed to this realm, and it is unlikely that they will simply stop using their magic. They will not know how to fit in or hide it well. You should be able to assist me in determining if someone is disying
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Rule 10–The best way to win a fight is to avoid it altogether. It’s like winning by defau…
particrly odd behaviour or if there is some urrence which <b>is </b>outside the norm. I will be able to determine <b>if </b>magic has been used in an area, and that will hopefully lead me to them.” Ashton hesitates a moment before speaking <b>again</b>.
“There is also a slight chance that they may go on the offensive and try to attack me themselves. Should this be the case<b>, </b>I will do my utmost to ensure that you are <b>not </b>endangered in any way. It would be quite useful for you to be able to see through mours actually, although I doubt you will be able to do so without assistance right away. Still, if you should happen to notice <b>a </b>mour and see a Fae, please inform me immediately. And <i>do</i>
make contact with them<b>; </b>try and avoid being noticed if you <b>can</b>.” I nod.
“<b>Sure</b>, I’m no fighter. Hiding, running, and backup sound like good ns to me.”
not
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