Friends and Enemies (Gwen Farris Book 5) (24 page)

Fortunately she had a friend that actually taught that kind of thing. Clara, who was a bit simple minded, but an ex-whore, who had a side business doing that kind of thing. Giving lessons, not selling sex directly.

Of course she was safe, back at Park Street, and it was kind of clear that Bethany wasn't interested in, or allowed, to let her go back there yet.

What Katherine had asked at first was kind of telling, wasn't it? She knew enough to suspect at least that Beth and the others seemed to think she might be responsible for some kind of issue or another.

Perhaps even thinking that she was about to try and take over Gwen's body, full time.

There was just so much that Gwen didn't know. Really, she couldn't see how that would be that huge of an issue, except for the fact that she really
should
get to learning how to make radiatives, as soon as possible. Katherine wouldn't be interested in doing that, being too lazy. Besides, the skill was going to have to be hers, if she wanted it all to work right.

After that though, would it matter who was living their life?

Kat wasn't perfect and did have some things to answer for, but in the last few days, annoying prank takeover's aside, the girl had been fine. Not
great
, or pleasant all the time, but she hadn't tried to take over the world, or sell anyone to the Elder Gods, which was an improvement.

If she could learn not to be evil, which shouldn't have been all that hard, then maybe it was just right for her to end up having the body she'd been born in.

Gwen didn't want to give it up, but the entire time she'd been there it had been clear that she didn't really belong. Her lot in life was to be a cripple, living like a hermit. What she'd gotten was nice, but didn't really fit her, did it?

It was great to have friends though. She'd miss that, later, when the other girl took over from her full time.

'No. That won't be happening. Miss Farris, you're too good for me to do that. I'm truly sorry I teased you like I just did. It really is just boredom. I won't do it again. Forgive me? I beg it of you.'

She felt odd for a bit, but nodded, not saying anything.

It was almost like the other girl really
wanted
her to feel secure. Gwen didn't, and probably never could with Katherine being involved, but they were almost at the hotel, which was a good enough distraction. It was a nice looking place, inside and out. Expensive enough that the Vernors were actually paying for it, since the government didn't give that kind of lucre to Westmorlands, or their personal helpers. There were palm trees in the front, with giant flowers growing all over the place. The drive in front was even covered, which was nice, given that it started to pour buckets of water down on them suddenly.

The rain wasn't just hard, but nearly as torrential as anything that she'd ever seen in person. That included showers, and flows from water hoses. It clattered against the top of the lorrie, the driver, who was outside in it, sitting up top, stopping right in front of the place. Before the man could hop down to open the door, she climbed out on the right, and held out a hand on instinct for Beth. Her soft, very warm, hand lingered there for a bit, reminding Gwen of that thing Katherine had said.

That Bethany liked her more than she was willing to admit to herself.

Then, Gwen also knew that it might be a lot more about Kat
wanting
that to be the case. The woman was more than a little gay, after all. From what little Gwen knew on the subject she liked blondes, too. It was the kind of thing that she'd never thought about much. No men had ever wanted her, and that went double for women.

Now, here, things were different. Gwen liked men though, that way.

'You've never even tried girls, so how do you know? They could be the best treat ever, and you'd be totally clueless on the matter. Not that there's anything wrong with men. I like them all right, too. We shouldn't be going on like this, it isn't seemly. I think I'm rather randy. Sorry about that.'

There was some truth to the whole thing, but when she let herself dream at all, the person in bed with her had
always
been male. Oh, once or twice she'd considered doing a woman, but it hadn't ever been what called to her. That probably wasn't going to change now.

The doorman ran to meet them, and before she could turn to suggest to the driver that he wait out the rain there, the man drove off. He worked for the constabulary, so didn't need to be paid for the service that he'd rendered, she'd been assured.

Beth smiled at her, and looked away.

"We could get something to eat? It's time for an evening meal, and I do enjoy new cuisines. I'm adventurous that way." Her hand was still holding Gwen's as she said it.

Katherine laughed in her head.

'No, no. She isn't considering something along those lines at all, Miss Farris. Banish the very thought from your mind.'

She considered that the other girl had just claimed she wouldn't tease her again, and did it loud enough that there was a response.

'Tease? I'm not. Truly, I wouldn't even consider it as a dream to have. I'm just looking at the signs. She hasn't let your hand go yet, perhaps you've noticed? She also insisted that you both share a room, and she just said that she's adventurous. You know, if you want, you can let me do some things with her, and just watch?
If
she suggests it, I mean. It wouldn't do to be rude to your friend, or press her for things she doesn't want to give.'

Gwen looked at Bethany, and pulled her hand free. It wasn't done with any force though, and she made sure to smile. It was something to mention, later, when they were alone, since
Beth
was being innocent enough. Katherine Vernor was clearly crushing on her pretty bad, however. It was awkward, but not un-cute.

Like a little kid on a show that had a forced and inappropriate crush on a teacher. Nothing too threatening, but just awkward enough to be funny, from a remove.

The hotel had a restaurant, and while the portions were tiny, there were a lot of courses. Ten of them, which was a lot of food when you did the math and added it all up. It was also actually spiced. Not
heavily
, but the food, which was probably a local tradition, was a lot different than the Tex-Mex or even real Mexican, food that a person could have gotten at home.

For one thing, while there were things she recognized, like hot peppers and cheese involved, it all had a very different sense about it. The first dish was a cold salad, made up of finely chopped herbs with tomatoes. Heavy on the basil. It was pleasant to Gwen, but Beth's eyes watered.

The next course was a nectar drink, which was basically heavy fruit juice, and out of order, at least for a dinner if they were further north. Normally that would come first, as the aperitif.

After that was mixed beans and rice, served with an almost Italian seeming red sauce on the top. The main course was braised beef strips, and the first thing that tasted at all like she would have expected things from the region to be like.

When they got to the dessert however, it was very different than she would have ever expected. It was more cheese, in thin slices, coated with wild honey.

"This is... Surprisingly good. I know it
should
be gross, but the white cheese works with it."

She took a small bite, using a tiny fork to keep her fingers clean. Beth did the same, her eyes shining still.

"Finally, a dish not half made of fire. I don't know how you can eat these spicy dishes like this. I nearly cried when I bit that pepper earlier." She fanned her mouth with a hand, to show what she meant.

Taking another small bite, and chewing first, Gwen nodded.

"It's... you know, this food is strange to me, but it's
almost
enough use of spices. I haven't wanted to complain, but
everything
I've eaten in the last year has seemed so bland that it's hard to describe." She waved a hand, and looked around the space, which had ten tables, with only two other people, a man and a woman that seemed to be in their forties, and looked like the locals compared to her and Beth. They were about halfway through their meal, and the man nodded when she was caught looking.

She broke off the eye contact, in case it was rude.

"Where I come from things are very different that way. A meal like this, out at a nice restaurant, would be served in two, maybe three courses. It would also cost a lot more. It would come with more spices in it, especially salt, and there would be condiments and sauces on the table to add flavor to it. Some of the things I ate almost every day back home would make this seem like a dry cracker in comparison. It's just different. I miss that part." To her good food had a lot more flavor to it. This stuff hadn't been bad that way, but it wasn't enough really.

She wouldn't
kill
for a plate of nachos, but darned if it wouldn't have been nice.

Gwen was a bit surprised, since for once, when she mentioned home, Beth didn't look at her like she should be spending more time adapting than she did whining about where she came from. It was what she was doing. That was so clear she nearly changed the topic, but her buddy just took a deep breath and reached out to her, touching her arm lightly.

"I know it must be hard for you, adapting to new things like you have. Is the food there truly that spicy?"

"Yep. We also tend to eat a lot more, so I'm not saying that it's better in all ways. People tend to be a lot heavier there, unless they work out a lot. Here people walk for health, there they run ultra-marathons. Hundred mile footraces? Not that
I
ever did that, but it's a thing."

That started a conversation about competitive walking, which was similar in concept, as it turned out. People walked for days at times, heading around tracks for insane distances. They had marathon races too, but those were twenty-five miles, even. Back home they were Twenty-six and a bit, Gwen thought.

"Wait, people actually go and watch people
walk
around a track?"

"Oh, yes! People even wager on the outcome, and bring picnics. The whole family will often go and spend the whole day watching the events. You have to be careful what events you choose, since some are notorious for annual riots over the outcomes."

Gwen didn't want to judge, but it just didn't sound that thrilling to her. Then, people
did
love a reason to turn into a violent mob. Personally she'd have been embarrassed to do it over the outcome of a walking race. That sounded nearly like a bad joke.

When they were done for the evening, it being early still, at about seven in the evening, the meal having been hours of sitting and waiting, as such things tended to be, Bethany walked out the front door and looked around. There was a sense of purpose to what she was doing, though Gwen didn't know the reason for it.

She didn't get a sense of impending attack, so followed along, trusting that Beth would at least have a clue as to what they were doing.

The road wasn't even wet from the rain anymore, which would help save her nice shoes. The drainage was good enough that the stones weren't slippery as they walked, her friend not telling her what was going on. She got the idea when they got to the red district. It was literally all painted red, which was pretty, in a way. It was also clear that what went on there, on average, was a lot more adult than Gwen was ready for. There were silhouettes of what seemed to be nude women on the hand painted signs, for instance. A few of men, too.

The outside of the clubs, or whatever they were, each had a man standing there, calling to them as they passed. They were
all
male, and most of them had a patter down, explaining what kind of show they had going on inside.

"Ladies! Come, see our show! See a man twice the size of your husband. Just for you I can arrange a private showing? Or simply watch as your friend is entertained?
Eh
? Only three mets each!" Bethany kept walking, but smiled and gave a small nod to the first few men. When she stopped, the man was older, and spoke in a nearly subdued voice, compared to the others. Deep though, and friendly.

"Come to see the show? We have observation only here, our arrangement being rather less involved than some of the others. Is that what you want this evening? It's a
good
show. There are some better in the same vein, perhaps, but not on this street. Please, come in." He moved to the door and opened it, which was a good trick, as far as getting them to go inside.

It felt rude not to suddenly, which was the point, no doubt.

The door was a brilliant red, like they all were along the route they'd walked, and the inside dark enough that Gwen felt uneasy about heading in. She half expected to be grabbed when they went inside, and forced to perform on the stage, but instead there was only a box office, with a glass front on it and a scantily clad woman. She seemed to be about thirty or so, and was heavily made up, but still better than average looking. Her lips were too red, and her eyes just a bit too blue, but it worked for her. It was a striking thing, rather than delicate.

"Hello! Have you come to watch our special show? It's observation only, as I'm certain you'll understand when you see it... Is that want you want?" She sounded worried, which wasn't needed. Not for Gwen.

"Um, yeah, that sounds about right for me. Just watching, today, thanks."

That got a pleased smile, "two and a half mets each then, please?"

Gwen paid, and walked into the next room, when the woman signaled them to. There were others in the room, all of them men, but none of them from The Falcon, so at least there was that. She didn't really know why that was, but it didn't matter, as long as she wasn't going to end up being too embarrassed to survive the night. Gwen perched on one of the chairs, which was all made of wood, and looked like it had seen better days. Beth moved in next to her, the chairs set up in rows. Most of the others had spaces between the seats.