Authors note: Thanks to meowSap for reviewing, I've taken in the advice given and will try to improve from it. It was meant to be a rarity! On to chapter 2!
Disclaimer: Same as chapter 1
Chapter 2: Memories.
It was a long time since Caellach had seen Joshua, about two years to be precise, but he still remembers when they met like it was yesterday.
That was over three years ago, back when Caellach was starting out as a mercenary working with a troop in Jehanna. Joshua was also new to mercenary work. They met while resting at an inn in Jehanna. Jehanna was a desert area known for mercenaries, swordfighters were most common. The desert conditions only made the fighters tougher as they learnt to handle there limited movement while outsiders approached such terrains with difficulty. The days assignment was an easy one, as many of the enemies were on horseback or covered in heavy armour, making them vulnerable to extreme difficulty moving. Caellach had been outnumbered by knights but due to the conditions had killed each one with a single stroke of his axe. He was, however annoyed. He considered this work to be beneath him. It was too easy. He was capable of more. Frustrated, he returned to the inn.
The inn was a fairly big building with many bedrooms and an area to buy drinks. Pretty much like the standard everyday inn. Caellach had paid for a nights stay at the inn and went to get a drink. He then saw a group of people. Mercenaries, by the look of them. There were bags of gold on the table. A tall, red-haired mercenary dressed in black, including a hat, flipped a coin.
'Well, well, well,' he laughed, 'Tails it is. Looks like I'm the winner again. Lady luck must be smiling at me today. Better luck next time, eh? I'll see you around again sometime.'
He picked up the bags of gold and pocketed them. His eye soon turned to Caellach.
'Hey, are you that mercenary who cut down all those knights in that skirmish today,' he questioned, 'You must have a lot of skill with the axe to do that.
'Yes, that is me,' Caellach said, with a smug grin on his face. He obviously had desire to gain respect from others. He'd seen this mercenary before somewhere.
'Well, Lady Luck seems to be on my side today,' the man said with a smile on his face, 'We're in the same mercenary group. I'm Joshua by the way.'
'Caellach,' he replied. They shook hands.
'Well Caellach,' Joshua said, 'I hope to see you around in work sometime. Now, here's a good way to get to know each other, want to make a bet?'
'A bet?' Caellach asked.
'Yeah,' Joshua replied, 'Gambling's my one true love in life. Even when I lose I never want to stop. Since we only just know each other we'll make the bet friendly, I've already won a lot of gold. We'll flip a coin, and the loser has to buy the drinks each time. Your call.'
This time it was Caellach who laughed, 'Heh, why not? I feel good today. I'll wipe that smug look off your face!'
'Confident, eh?' Joshua said, 'Well, what's your call?'
'Heads' Caellach replied.
Joshua flipped the coin and caught it. He opened his hand and, while laughing, said, 'Ha! It's tails! Lady luck really does favour me today. Well, these drinks are on you!'
Caellach groaned and then took out a bag of gold, took out 10 coins and paid for the drinks. That evening, they told each other about themselves. Caellach was born into a family of strong fighters with high ranks, including one of Queen Ismaire's royal guards. This had made him want to live up to their standard. Joshua was a swordman, who, although had no important relations, was trained by none other than Carlyle, Queen Ismaire's most loyal Swordmaster. Whenever the drinks were finished, they would bet on who would but the next round. Joshua won 5 times running when Caellach got suspicious. All of a sudden though, Joshua lost 3, totalling 8 drinks bought that evening. After finishing the eighth drink, Joshua stood up.
'It's starting to get late. A mercenary has to be up early, after all. Besides, I better quit while I'm ahead. We'll meet again, I'm sure of it.'
Caellach sighed, 'I guess you're right, I was on a winning streak as well, nice talking to you Joshua,'
After that he headed to his room, and fell asleep immediately.
The next morning, Caellach headed to the chief of the mercenaries for his next assignment.
'Ah Caellach,' he said, looking pleased, 'Excellent work yesterday, I saw the whole thing. Continue working like that and you'll go far. Now for a tricky job this time, as I know you're capable.
Caellach looked pleased, this was the sort of job he'd been waiting for.
'The job is this,' said the chief, now looking serious, 'A power-hungry bunch of pirates have shown up in Port Kiris. Usually, pirates would hardly be a threat but these are serious. They include wyvern riders and berserkers, not foes to be taken lightly. An army has been sent from Renais, but we've been asked if we can supply any additional help. Only skilled fighters will be sent, others will just get in the way and will most likely get themselves killed. Do you accept this dangerous task?'
Caellach replied, 'No problem, this is the right task for me!'
'Excellent,' he said, 'You won't, however be travelling alone. There is one other who has volunteered to assist you in completing this mission.'
Caellach turned around. He saw none other than Joshua walking towards him.
'Well, well, well,' he laughed, 'I told you we would meet again.'
End of chapter.
Well, what do you think, please can anybody reading send a review. It would be much appreciated.
