Hiya! Well, I'd like to thank () for reviewing me! And apologize for offending you. It was an off-handed comment that shouldn't have been said, I'd also like to thank you for letting me know, so I can't do it anymore. Thank you!
Things were quiet at the camp. Since Sir Ike had come in, the Daien army had retreated and they had finally been able to go back to base. The sun was setting, crickets chirping. The many sounds of an army base was by far the most beautiful song Tanith had ever heard, The pounding of a mallet as weapons were forged, multiple training weapons clashing, people talking, laughing. They were managing, just like any other camp. Except, this 'camp' happened to be a frozen over hell of a castle.
She sighed, but this is where she belonged. Not in the arms of a man like most women. No she belonged in an army camp. She looked around, Sigrun wasn't here and neither was her Pegasus, which had thankfully not been injured from the oil, just grounded temporarily. Or, at least previously grounded. The men had already washed the Holy Guard's Pegasus. This was a rare moment. Tanith was seated on a log, polishing her armor. Which of course meant that she wasn't wearing her armor, yes the woman who never took off her armor (Even to sleep) was now only in her dirty, white under shirt. (Of all the places to not be wearing her armor, she chooses a frozen waste land...)
There was a string of words in that sentence that was the cause for a certain red-headed cleric to approach her: Dirty. White. Shirt.
"Um, Lady Tanith?" The girl said her voice light and... Squeaky. She had the biggest blue eyes Tanith had ever seen, for sure. And something about her just radiated happiness. Another opposite of Tanith. "I could wash that shirt for you... If you want... There's a river, just outside were we get the water and..."
The raven-haired knight looked up at the small healer. She was ringing her hands with an innocent smile on her face. Tanith looked back at her armor. "I've got it." She mumbled. Her stone cold expression still lingering on her face.
"Oh... Alright. Well, goodbye Lady Tanith." She turned and walked away, waving at the no-longer-paying-attention-knight. Once she had fully turned around Tanith looked up at her, the girls shoulders were stiff as she hurried along. Obviously glad to be out of Tanith's presents. Tanith was aware she scared people, younger people for the most part, but she really didn't care. People should fear the one of the Holy Knights. It made them stay away.
Or so she thought. But today she had spoken with at least three people who didn't cower from her at all! The first one being a lavender-haired sage who had collapsed on the ground. Whom Tanith approached, asking if she was well. The girl had said she was fine, just hungry, and asked for, Mia, Lucia, or Heather. Saying that they 'liked to feed her'. Tanith, although finding the whole thing very strange, had found the nearest of the requested women. Lucia, the true blade, and informed her of the girls state. The woman had hurried off to take care of her 'fallen' ally.
That was two people right there. The third being Sigrun, of course. When Tanith had asked if anything needed to be done. Thankfully, Sigrun had asked that she go to the armory and buy a few of the soldier's new weapons. Including her...
She was now standing in the armory tent, paying for the required items, three steel great lances, two steel blades, a wind edge, a storm sword, a killer axe, and for herself, a silver blade. She thanked the man in charge and walked out of the room.
She crossed over to the next one, the shop. She entered holding her slightly large pouch of gold. The shop keeper, Aimee, widened her eyes at the size of the pouch. "Well, well. What can I get you?"
Tanith observed the one-of-a-kind items, A Killing Edge, a Beast Killer, and a Daunt. Not much and nothing she needed. All Sigrun had asked for was the previously explained things. "Ten Vulinaries." Oh! And ten Vulinaries.
The shop-keeper cocked an eyebrow and turned around to the many shelves, lined with multiple items. She scanned over the battle gear, finally placing a hand on the Vulinaries."Ah...! Here they are!" She grinned. Whirling around to face Tanith, her arms loaded with the healing drinks. She plopped them on the counter, holding out her hand she said. "That'll beee... 800, gold."
Tanith dumped the contents of the pouch on the counter. "This should be it exactly." She mumbled, watching the keeper count out the large mound of gold in front of her. That tell-tale clink-clink of the coins practically screamed, I'm-spending-money-because-I'm-in-a-war-and-my-boss-told-me-to. The sound most hated, unless they were the ones counting the money.
As she finished counting she looked up. "Yep, that's all of it." Aimee said, handing the other raven-haired woman the now paid for items. Smiling at Tanith as she walked out of the stone room. "Hope you don't have to use them!" She winked.
That just made four. A new record.
This bothered Tanith, four people who weren't afraid of her. Four people that smiled when they saw her, four people who didn't cower, run away and/or scream and beg her to go away. Was she losing her touch? She was supposed to be feared! A member of the Holy Guard must be scary enough to scare anybody far away from the apostle and strong enough to fight anybody who dared challenge them! People were not supposed to be smiling at her!
Ugh! She would just go to bed. Maybe tomorrow people would be more... like they should be. After all, she was much scarier in the morning...
Of course it was rather early... So walking through the hallways, passing different people and going to sleep while the sun was still up, would most likely lead to questioning. Then there was the option of NOT resting and continuing to aimlessly roam around the castle. Hoping not to run into any more people-who-weren't-scared-of-her.
Of course she most likely would...
Ah, to the gods with it! She would just head to her room, rest, wake up (with her luck just as the sun was setting and all else were headed off to bed) and continue her aimless stroll. Yes, a very nice plan indeed.
So now she was strolling, with a purpose, headed to her room. Hoping to pass the time with the age old short cut: Taking a nap. She couldn't seem to keep her mind away from the question she'd rather not be answering: Whether or not this was truly the right thing to be doing. Going to bed when there was a war going on? They could be attacked at any time! Or she could be training. Or-
"Tanith! There you are! Off to bed so soon? Are you well?" Sigrun came up behind her and ripped the wondering woman from thoughts from her thoughts, she then realized that she had subconsciously found her way through the maze of halls, to her room, and was now standing in front of it. She looked up at Sigrun; the woman was on her Pegasus. This causing her mind to fly to the only reason she would be on the winged horse in the middle of the castle.
"Are we under attack?" She asked, reaching into her room and grabbing for her lance. Sigrun chuckled at her light-heartedly. "Of course we aren't! In fact, I was just hoping that we could go for a ride. It is such a beautiful day..." She paused; a wistful looked in her eyes. Beautiful? Tanith would have said something about it being a death trap outside, of how only the men on watch were out there. Well... maybe a few men who just liked the cold... But this was Sigrun. She could talk back. "Of course, if you are not well I would never allow it." The woman's features changing into that of a worried mother.
Tanith hesitated before answering. "I am well. And if you wish to scout the area, I would be glad to help." She should be going to bed anyway. Sigrun chuckled yet again. "We are not scouting!" She laughed. "I was wondering if you would like to take a relaxing ride. What with the place so quiet and such." RELAX? In this weather? Had she gone insane?
Tanith hesitated once more. A ride? Just a ride? Sometimes she wondered how Sigrun could be the head of the Holy Guard. She was so laid back; did she even consider another ambush? What if while they were out joy riding in the clouds, the enemy came? They might come back to a ransacked camp and find the apostle either killed, of taken hostage!
"Don't fret about it." Sigrun smiled, reading the troubled mind of her comrade. "We won't go far. If the enemy comes, we shall know."
Tanith paused. "Is that an order, commander?"
Sigrun's eyes widened with glee. "Why... Yes, yes it is an order! Why didn't I think of that?" Of course, Tanith could not possible say no to an order. And perhaps a flight was just what she needed to pass the time...
So now, here she was, headed to the make shift stables they had set up for the mounts, wrapped in an old fur coat that was much too big for her. She walked in only to be greeted by the wonderful scent of hay. Hay and earth, it was by far the best smelling thing at camp. Tanith had never known why it was the best; stables weren't known to smell wonderful, perhaps just because it was... Natural. It didn't reek with the smell of steel, sweat or blood. No, it was just... Hay and earth, like it was meant to be there...
She stepped up to her Pegasus, the pride and joy of a Holy Guard. They had been using Pegasus since they're beginnings. A knight was to treat their Pegasus with the upmost care and respect, and train with it every day they could (Which should be everyday) for it was a considerable dishonor to fall off of ones Pegasus.
She mounted the animal with ease, bringing it to a slow trot as they came from the stables. Sigrun was already there, waiting for them. Probably making sure Tanith actually came. As if she would disobey her commanding officer, disobedience like that was completely out of Tanith's league.
Sigrun looked her over. "Are we ready?"
Tanith nodded as she twisted the reins in a certain way to tell her Pegasus that they were indeed, going on a flight. That steady thump-thump of wings beating the air filled the two knight's ears. Ever so slowly, they were lifted up into the dark gray sky. Dark gray. Perhaps this wasn't the best idea...They flew over the camp for a few moments, watching soldiers scurry back and forth several cowering at Tanith (finally!) She smiled to herself at the fear she so rightfully deserved.
Sigrun also saw the soldiers, only it worried her rather than bring her joy. She glanced at the raven-haired woman flying next to her, that strait, stone-cold expression that never seemed to leave her still plastered on her face. They continued flying over the white earth until finally breaking away from the sight of the castle.
Sigrun chose this time to speak. "The men, they look good. Do they not?" Tanith grunted a response. In all honesty, she could see them; all she saw was a bunch of white blobs. And she still wasn't sure why Sigrun had called her. It couldn't just be to discuss the conditions of men could it? Or just idle chatter? No, Sigrun wouldn't do that. There had to be a reason, but what in Tellius could that reason be?
"Tanith." Sigrun addressed, a more serious expression gracing her features. Still refusing to speak, Tanith turned to show her attention. "I've been... Worried for you."
This came as a bit of a shock to the knight. Worried? What could she mean by that? Perhaps she hadn't been doing well enough... Or maybe she was doing fine, just misunderstanding orders? Or maybe... Maybe she should just ask...
"Have I been... Doing badly, Commander?" She asked, trying to mask the hint of fear she felt slowly rising in her chest.
Sigrun quickly shook her head. "No, no, no! Not at all!" Tanith breathed an accidental sigh of relive. "But..." The fear came back... "That is just the issue. You've been doing well, perfect even! I am afraid that you're... Doing too well..." Sigrun never failed to confuse her, doing too well? Was that even possible? "Your mind seems too focused on war." Tanith had to fight the urge to speak up, saying that there was a war in progress! She should be focusing on it and it alone. "You train very hard to protect Empress Sanaki, and I am glad of this, but please try and take some time to just... Relax." She finished her speech and turned to get her response.
"Thank you, commander. For pointing out this flaw. I shall try to do as told." She mumbled. How could Sigrun say that she needed to relax? This was WAR you do not rest until the enemy is gone and you are the victor!
Sigrun studied her for a moment. "Are you... Angered, with what I've said?" A touch of concern lacing her voice.
Tanith widened her eyes, how could one be angered with what their superior officer had said? "Of course I am not. I accept anything you wish to tell me." Still keeping her stone cold-ness.
Sigrun continued to study her. "Hmmm..." She trailed off. After a moment's hesitation, she continued. "Well, it is getting late... We should be going." She turned her Pegasus back towards the camp. Tanith grunted another reply, as if she would hear, and turned to follow.
YAY! Chapter two! Please review, and I'm using this weird new spell-check program... I'm not sure what it's doing to the story, so I might have something wrong and not see it because the program just scans through... So yeah... Thanks for reading!
~TheTwilightWarrior