Chapter 1: Snake Charmer
First, there was a feeling of vertigo as he fell from the bridge. Then, shock as he hit the cold water of the river below with a large splash. After that came confusion while he tried to get right side up, soon followed by pain when the rapids pulled him into hard, jagged rocks. Panic began to set in. For a brief moment, there was hope when he managed to get his chin above water, but it was dashed when the river pulled him down a short waterfall and back under. His body fought a losing battle against the rapids. Water started filling his lungs, and with it came deep paralyzing terror as his throat closed up. The man reached upward, desperately begging for his life, utterly helpless. Consciousness was fading, his will to survive growing weaker, left with only the pain and terror of drowning. His worst nightmare.
Everything seemed to stop. All was black, the sound of rushing water gone, his body felt like it was floating. Was this what death was like? Suddenly, his body felt like it was being lifted, as if his soul were rising to heaven. At least, that's what he thought until he felt cold, brisk air on his face when he breached the surface. The next thing the man felt was being laid down, on what must have been a sandy bank by the river. He tried to breathe, but his lungs were still full of water. Fear began to grip his heart once again, until a firm hand pressed against his abdomen. He felt his throat open back up as the air was pushed out. The man rolled to his side and coughed up the water that had flowed in. He shivered and trembled while gasping for air; it tasted sweeter than ever now.
Before he had time to truly savor being alive, he heard loud, high pitched, and incredibly arrogant laughter coming from behind him. "Oh hohohoho! You were almost a goner there." The man finally opened his eyes, and turned around to look at his savior. Long dark hair with an outrageously skimpy leather outfit, she seemed to tower above him, exuding an aura of complete and utter confidence while she smiled and laughed. On any other day, he would think of this woman as the epitome of eccentricity, but right now he couldn't care less what she looked or sounded like. In that moment, she was an angel sent from heaven whose laughter was like a siren of hope.
"You saved me…who are you?" The man asked, staring up at her as he sat on his knees, eyes filled with awe. The woman smirked with all her smugness and placed a hand on her hip. "You have been rescued by the world's most powerful sorceress of course! The great and beautiful Naga the Serpent!" She beamed proudly, filling the man with wonder. He was completely swept up in the moment, and without thinking clasped her free hand and bowed his head. "Naga, I owe you my life."
The sorceress was a bit surprised at the sudden physical contact. She took a moment to get a better look at the former drowning victim, soaked to the bone. He appeared to be a blond, though a bit hard to tell while his hair was dark and wet and sticking to his face. He wore a red leather jerkin, along with a white shirt underneath, tight dark pants, brown knee high boots, a leather glove on the right hand and steel gauntlet on the other. At his side was a sword, a rapier with a silver cup hilt and a wide knuckle-bow fitted with a topaz jewel, and a short dagger on the other side to match. Overall, he reminded her of some sort of swash buckling pirate, but minus the hat and bandana and more handsome than the many she encountered in her travels.
The man tilted his head back up and looked into Naga's eyes with his own piercing teal eyes. They looked very serious, and she knew whatever he was about to say next would be completely earnest. It unnerved her just a bit, but Naga made sure to hide it underneath her confident demeanor. "Yes well, you certainly wouldn't be the first, heroic deeds are all part of the life of Naga the Serpent." The sorceress said casually. "Now if you'll excuse me, I shall be off," She turned to leave, but not too quickly. In truth, while saving people's lives was the right thing to do, Naga didn't do good deeds for nothing. After just a few slow steps, Naga smirked mischievously when the man called out to her.
"Please wait!" The young man said as he stood up and went after Naga. The sorceress turned around, happy to see this was going where she hoped it would. "My name is Errol Elwes, and I am in your debt Ms. Naga. I have to pay you back somehow," The blond said with all honesty, as predicted. Naga raised an eyebrow and tilted her head up and to the side. "No no, that's quite alright, the great Naga needs no reward for so small a deed," Naga simply loved reverse psychology, milking the situation to its fullest.
Errol shook his head and stared at Naga with those piercing eyes, "I insist. At the very least allow me to buy you dinner, whatever you want." Naga's eyes lit up and she could not help but grin. "Hook line and sinker," She thought before composing herself. "Oh hohoho! If you insist, then I shan't deny you an opportunity to treat Naga the wise to dinner. Come on, I know the perfect place!" Naga took his hand and led the blond back to the road and towards the closest town.
Errol could not help but gawk as Naga steadily wolfed down the mountain of food and gallons of drinks placed in front of her. His own dinner paled in comparison, a simple pork chop and a mug of beer. Now that he was dried off, it was easy to see that his hair was indeed a bright gold, along with a well trimmed goatee with the hint of a scar beneath it. The swordsman briefly considered what he was getting himself into, now that the surge of emotion he felt after being saved had passed. He pushed the thoughts aside for now. This sorceress, however strange she may be, saved him from a terrible death and he owed her.
Errol cleared his throat before addressing Naga. "So, um, you said you were a sorceress?" He asked, feeling awkward just watching Naga eat. She swallowed some lobster meat before washing it down with ale, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Yes, the most powerful sorceress there ever lived." The scantily clad woman answered. "All others pale before me, even the Lina Inverse! Oh hohohohoho!" Naga laughed loudly, scaring everyone in the restaurant. Errol realized just how grating that laugh could be, but for some reason he found it oddly appealing.
"Really? I've heard of Lina, she's legendary. Have you met her?" Errol asked, intrigued. Naga merely scoffed. "I've more than met her, she is my rival! Or at least that's what she thinks. She's more of my sidekick really." Naga said arrogantly and began to chug rum straight from the bottle. Errol took her words with a huge grain of salt. The initial image he had of his savior was slowly beginning to deteriorate, but he kept telling himself that it did not matter. All that mattered was that she had saved his life. "So, why isn't Lina with you now?" The blond asked curiously.
Naga wiped her lips with her napkin after finishing the whole bottle, much to Errol's amazement. "Well, Lina ran out on me when it was time to pay for dinner," She said, then slammed her fist against the table. "That flat chested brat owes me money, but she's a fool if she thinks she can outrun the likes of me! Ohohoho!" Naga's eyes were filled with fire and determination as she said those words, and Errol could not help but feel a little impressed by her attitude. "I see…" He said, sipping his drink.
The two continued their respective meals until Naga was finally full. Errol wondered if all that food went into Naga's breasts. The sorceress sighed happily, patting her stomach and stretching before standing up to leave. "Thank you for paying for this excellent meal. I'd say your debt has been repaid," Errol looked to Naga, a small wave of disappointment flooding his stomach. "I must be off now to find that treacherous Lina Inverse and make her pay what she owes. If only people were as generous as you, Mr. Errol. Goodnight!"
Naga began to walk towards the exit when she was stopped by a hand on her wrist. She looked down to see it was Errol's, and then to his face to see him giving that same piercing stare of his. "No, it isn't enough," He began, his voice grave. Errol's eyes seemed to waver as he thought back to when he was trapped in the rapids, unable to breathe. The sorceress frowned nervously when the blond got out of his chair and went down on one knee, earning some stares from other patrons, not that Naga minded the attention. "Ms. Naga, let me come with you on your travels. One meal, however large, is nothing compared to what you've done for me," Errol stood back up and clenched a fist to his chest, eyes level with Naga's. "I hereby pledge my life and loyalty to you and whatever endeavors you pursue. Will you accept me as your chevalier?"
Things were going much further than Naga had anticipated. That stare the blond was giving her and the tone in his voice told her he was being dead serious. Naga took a moment to think of some way to get out of this mess, and came up with an idea. The purple haired sorceress cleared her throat and put on her most queenly aura. "That's quite presumptuous of you, to think you can simply make yourself the chevalier of the mighty Naga the Serpent," She took her hand from his grasp and crossed her arms under her chest, sticking her nose up at him. "I would only accept someone of the utmost skill and talent, a true warrior worthy of being my follower." Naga did feel just a twinge of guilt at having to let him down, but it was for his own good, and more importantly hers.
Errol frowned, looking down at the floor, dejected. He tried to think of what to say, when a passing waiter carrying a tray with a whole roast chicken and glass of wine bumped into him. The waiter let out a horrified yell as he stumbled and the food went soaring into the air. Errol knew this was his chance to shine, and thanked the gods for the opportunity. In a flash of shining steel, the blond man whipped out his sword and slashed at the chicken in mid air. He caught the tray in his left hand, and the plate of chicken landed neatly on it before separating into fine cuts of meat. To top it off, he caught the wine glass on the flat of the blade, without spilling a drop.
Naga and the patrons all watched the display in awe before clapping in applause. Errol handed the food back to the waiter, who graciously thanked him. The blond sheathed his sword and turned back to Naga, unable to keep himself from smirking. The sorceress silently blinked a few times before speaking up. "Im-, Impressive." She said feeling a little stunned. Errol simply shrugged. "Eh, I suppose I am pretty good with a sword," He replied casually. "I was taught by Antonia Montoya after all. Maybe you've heard of her?"
The name did ring a bell to Naga, and she remembered where she heard it. "You mean the best female swordsman alive?" The sorceress asked, taken off guard. "How did you become her student? I heard she never took disciples." Errol just smiled and turned away from Naga. "Oh, the great Naga shouldn't concern herself with such trivial matters as my life story," Now he was the one using reverse psychology. "A lowly wandering swordsman such as me doesn't deserve the attention of someone as gifted and famous as you. Now, I believe it's time we parted ways…"
Errol began to head for the door, making Naga give a short, panicked gasp which in turn made him smile proudly. Sometimes he just loved showing off. Meanwhile, Naga was regretting sending him away. Swordsmen were a dime dozen and typically were not of much use compared to her skill in magic, but if this blond was a student of the great Antonia Montoya as he said (and after that display of speed and precision she was inclined to believe him), then that was an asset worth hanging onto.
Naga cleared quickly cleared her throat and addressed Errol in her queenly voiced. "Stop right there! I never gave you permission to leave!" She ordered, pointing a finger at the swordsman. Errol did so, but without turning to face the sorceress. "After careful consideration, I believe that you have proven your worth, if only just barely." Errol turned around to face Naga, smiling hopefully. "I accept your offer of loyalty and shall take you under my wing. You will follow me and do as I wish for as long as you live, for your life is now in my hands. Understood, chevalier?" Errol proudly stood up straight and placed his fist over his heart in salute, "Understood ma'am."
The two exchanged satisfied smirks at each other, although Naga could not help but feel as though she just got hustled as a small bead of sweat rolled down her cheek. Regardless, she now had a talented blond swordsman completely loyal to her, something she was sure Lina would be jealous of. "Now then chevalier," Naga said and turned away, her cape whipping behind her. "We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow as we search for the infamous Lina Inverse, so I want you to get a good rest and be up early." She looked back to him, and Errol nodded, "I will. Let's go find an inn to stay at." The two exchanged one last smile, but before they could leave, their waiter tugged at Errol's sleeve and showed him the check. He was snapped back to reality upon seeing how costly all that food was. The swordsman also noticed how everyone's eyes were glued on him and Naga after that scene of theirs, and he turned pink with embarrassment.
"Ah yes, and be sure to pay the bill," Naga chimed happily as she sauntered past Errol. "I'll meet you here for breakfast, which you're also buying me. Goodnight! Oh hohohoho…" The sorceress left the swordsman with her signature laughter and some second thoughts. What had one good deed gotten them into?