Kieran raised a brow in amusement. " Ahh, you want to fight me?" He asked, his lips tugged up in utter disdain.
Tyron's face hardened in anger, " you might be a dark…"
" Shut up" Kieran cut off, his eyes holding a dark glint and ….fear.
Allistair frowned, confusion settling in his expression. What were they hiding?
He glanced at Tyron who returned the gaze to him. He smiled at him, his gaze flashing with something….it was ..pity. He was certain it was pity but–why pity him?
" I won't fight you old man" Kieran waved nonchalantly. He scraped a chair from a table and sat down cross legged. Tyrone clenched his hands and flung a punch his way.
Kieran didn't dodge and the punch landed on his face kicking him off the chair. The wooden chair screeched loudly and tumbled down.
Tyrone flicked his tongue, swinging his dark hair back in satisfaction. " You might be a…a merchant, but you are no match for me in battle" he sneered.
" I can use my brains better. You know that better than anyone" Kieran said, wiping blood from the corner of his lips, his lips tugged up.
" You..bastard!" Tyrone yelled in anger and threw another punch.
The punch was powerful, it cackled through the air like wildfire ready to burn down traces of wood in its part. Just when it was about to land on Kieran's face. A palm intercepted, taking on the impact of the punch.
" Enough!" Allistair barked, surprising Tyron.
Kieran smirked, about time he stepped up on his behalf.
" He is weak, no need to fight him" Allistair said, lowering his head. He knew better than to fight Tyron especially when he was annoyed.
He withdrew his hand, his face pale from the painful impact.
Tyron didn't seem too pacified, he glanced at Alistair while flashed him an apologetic look. He inhaled, trying to contain his emotions. His gaze fell on Kieran who had a smirk on his face.
" Don't bring strangers to my arena next time Pevensie" he gritted out, obviously not satisfied with the fight.
" Noted"
Tyron exhaled sharply, one of his men brought in a piece of towel for him to wipe off his sweat and surprisingly one for Kieran too.
" What do you want Pevensie?"
Allistair turned to look at Kieran who froze in place as if waiting for him to speak. He didn't want to ask any question in front of Kieran.
" Hmm, do you mind? Your office?" He requested, gesturing towards the tiny pathway. He noticed that Kieran smirked and then looked away coldly.
Tyron passed a glance towards Kieran and then nodded, " let's go then" he said and went away.
He followed up instantly, but he remembered tonjab at the onlookers who were yet to disperse, " tournaments over. Y'all got jobs, don't you?" He mocked.
They mumbled as if displeased that everything ended. He didn't care and just followed after Tyron.
The pathway was tiny, with clothes hanging on each side. The smell of burnt rice wafted in the air accompanied by grumping sounds and groans.
Tyron stopped and turned around, his gaze held something dark, " Tell me Pevensie, why do you help the dark…the merchant" he corrected.
It didn't slip by Allistair as his brows furrowed, " I can't possibly let you kill him, I need his help"
Tyron sighed, " not once but twice. Do you even know who you are dealing with?" Tyron asked, his brows gathering.
Allistair exhaled. What was the point in knowing? Kieran had already sank his fangs deep into him. He might not know what his uncle really paid him to do but time always revealed the truth.
"All I know is that I need his help and …yours"
Tyron exhaled, his eyes darting around in exhaustion. " Fine" he breathed out, " what do you need my help for?"
" I want to know everything you know about a man named Caedmon, everything"
Tyron frowned, " Pevensie, what business do you have with the shady man?" He asked.
Allistair shook his head, " just tell me Ron, tell me everything about him and about Lila's disappearance"
Tyrone shook his head in exasperation, his lashes fluttering in shock. He grabbed onto Allistair's collar, " do you want to get killed? Stay away from all of this! You are better off writing those stupid books than involving yourself in shit"
" I'm already in this mess and I need to know" Allistair insisted.
" You…." Tyron strained, his veins bulging out. " Look, having that Kieran guy around you is already a death sentence but…Caedmon Poe? That's disaster. Stay off!"
Allistair pulled his hands from his collar, his jaws tightening. " Ron, I respect how much you have cared all these years but right now, I'd benefit more from real information rather than advice"
Tyron looked at his face, his eyes darting from his face to his jaw. He sighed. " Merchants, Pevensie…you can't trust merchants. Never!" He said with a fleeting gaze as if remembering something.
After few hours, Allistair walked out with Kieran trailing behind him.
" What did that old man tell you?" Kieran asked for the umpteenth time.
" About Lila but no reasonable clue" he lied, but Kiera didn't give up. It was like he wanted to be sure if something.
" Just Lila? We spent the morning and noon waiting for 'no reasonable clue' about Lila? Are you serious Allistair?" Kieran asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm, mockery and anger.
" I didn't ask you to come with me"
Kieran grabbed him on his collar pinning him to the wall. Allistair's eyes widened in shock. His strength was surprisingly not ..weak.
Kieran's chest rose, his eyes cold with anger. " Didn't ask me to come? You came running to me for help, slept with me for help and here you are, saying you didn't ask me to come?"
Allistair's face fell, blood draining from his face at the mention of their night of intimacy.
Kieran sneered, " tell me, if I leave you here and now, can you pay Caedmon? Can you find Lila? Can you survive alone?"
Allistair pushed him away, yanking his hand off his collar. His neck had red lines from the pressure Kieran had used.
" If you hadn't listened to my uncle and slipped this locket to me, do you think I'd be involved in this mess?" He probbed, his face flushed.
Kieran scoffed, " mess? Your words are too contradictory Allistair. A moment ago, this was all your fight. Now, it's all my fault? Keep your shit together and admit that you need me" he said and walked ahead.
Allistair clenched his hands, his eyes examining Kieran's back. Tyron's words echoed in the back of his mind.
" I warn you Pevensie. He has no friends. They are either foes or missions. Once you get involved with him, you are sure to die"
He exhaled, he might not know wh
at this locket held but since he was already involved. Alliances must be made….even the most dangerous ones.