Cascade
Seven years later
Life is the orphanage was lovely. In Spring, the flowers outside and on the balcony's of the children's room flourished, and the sun would warm her face, when she looked out of the window. Patricia, the owner of the orphanage, had a few people, wanting to adopt the young child. One had much experience, and had adopted five children in her lifetime, and all of those went on to lead productive lives. The woman lived in Capua Torim, and when she visited the young girl, she took an instant liking to her, and decided to adopt her.
This made the girl ecstatic and very thankful. She was a lucky girl indeed. Being rescued by Alexei, and now adopted by a wonderful woman?
Lucky indeed.
Present day
Rose sat, with her hands tied behind her back, on the dock. A violent gang of thieves were loading their ship with stolen loot from the townspeople.
She was supposed to protect them, the people, who had looked after her, given their time and medicine to her. The innkeeper also given her a permanent room, and meals for free. She owed them dearly.
And yet currently, she was incapacitated, and these snickering, dirty handed ruffians were taking things not rightfully theirs. She had to break free.
"Are we there yet? I'm tired".
Karol huffed and puffed, dragging his feet along the wet grass, in short strides. Rita clipped him around the ear and he yelped. Yuri rolled his eyes, but smiled, when he saw the bridge that led to Capua Nor. He looked up at the sky, and jumped, after hearing a crack of thunder.
"Guys, it's daytime, and yet, the sky is black. Don't you think that's strange?"
Estelle looked up at the onyx, depressing looking sky, and a drop of rain hit her on the nose. She squeaked, prompting Yuri to spin around, and draw his sword. Everyone looked at him, before giggling.
"I'm okay Yuri. Thank you for your concern though. It's raining".
Repede starting sprinting towards the bridge of the port town as the rain started to become heavy.
"Repede's got the right idea. We need to get to the inn before we get soaked".
Karol's head moved up, as if to begin a nod, but as it moved down, he sneezed. Rita crinkled her nose in disgust and stepped away from him.
Rose wriggled her hands out of the binds, but kept them behind her back. The leader of this ragtag group walked up to her. In response, she spat in his face. The man moved back, growled and raised his hand to slap her. She then stood, and punched him in the gut. He keeled over, grunting. The other men looked at her, and fear flashed in their eyes.
The woman smirked.
"Boys. I've enough experience to know how to untie my hands".
The men gasped, and their sacks of loot fell on the deck with a thump. Their captor was free, panic hit them like a ton of bricks.
Rose stood up, and flexed her wrists.
"Leave, now. I don't want to have to hurt you".
One of the men scoffed and waved her off.
"Yeah, what are ya gonna do huh? Ya tiny thing, you couldn't hurt a fly".
The woman's laughter bellowed, and that visibly angered the man. When she finally stopped laughing, she ran at him, and punched him in the face, before throwing him over her shoulder.
"You can be my flies then, huh, boys? Come on then, who's next?" She walked around the others, some of whom were shaking. "No one? No? Shame. Scram, all of you".
The remaining three men were confused, they thought they'd be arrested. It seemed they were getting away with their raid. They subsequently turned on their heels, and ran, as fast as they could. But Rose had other ideas. She ran after them, and was close, before they shot around a blind corner. Rose misjudged the turn and skidded to a halt in front of a group of soldiers. She fell flat on her face, and hit her forehead, hard. Her head span for a good long while, and she couldn't hear the voices around her properly. They sounded muffled.
A deeper voice came next, arms parted the crowd of men.
When Alexei looked down, recognition hit him, and he felt a smile quirk his mouth.
It was the little girl he had rescued multiple times, now an adult. It had been twelve years since he had seen her last, and a feeling he could not distinguish latched onto his heart. He dismissed it, and held out his hand. When the woman did not take it, he realised that she was more injured than he first thought.
When Rose's head stopped spinning, she looked up, and saw a man, with a quizzical expression on his face. When she saw the banners held by his men, and the red armor he wore, she jumped to attention.
"Ah, excuse my disrespect Commandant. I've had a strange day and am completely out of it".
Alexei felt a twinge of sadness. Didn't she recognise him?
Come to think of it, he still didn't know her name.
A villager shouting it alerted him too it.
Rose...
He was brought out of his thoughts by the woman, tilting her head at him. Her burnished gold eyes seemed to shimmer, and he was more than a little intrigued.
Rose moved up and onto her knees, before smoothing her hair down and adjusting her ponytail.
"Thank you, Commandant, but I'll be okay".
She went to stand, but wobbled. The ivory haired man's arm shot out, and he took her hand, steadying her. She looked at him, and smiled. As she looked around, she saw the three thieves, cornered by Alexei's men. That made her feel a little better.
Footfalls behind him, and a familiar, gloat dripping tone had him close his eyes, masking his annoyance.
Cumore...
He ruined the moment. What he said angered him, it did Rose too. She narrowed her eyes, and refused to look at the Captain.
"Please do not tell me that you still wish to know this beggar, Alexei?"
Rose scoffed, eyes on the ground in disgust. He was ignored by his superior. He, the woman and his men walked away towards the town. The Captain followed, but was stopped by Alexei before stepping foot into the town.
"Are you done Cumore?"
Cumore was more than a little amused. "Does she not know who you are anymore? That has to hurt. After all, you have helped her many times. Surely she would know, no?"
Alexei put his head in the palm of his hand.
"Leave. Now, I need to talk to the villagers. Take the prisoners into custody".
Cumore nodded, bowed, and walked away.
Alexei felt strange as he walked through the town. It had been a long time since he had seen Rose, and yet, she didn't recognise him. He had to know what happened. He decided to ask the doctor of the town, to see what happened. Her polished gold eyes would glimmer in the Commandant's presence, but that was it, and he would be lying if he said he didn't feel disappointed.
After talking with some people, and reassuring them, he spoke with the doctor, and he confirmed something that the Commandant dreaded.
Rose was found in a coma, with a bleeding head wound, in the field where the roses grew in the Spring. When she awoke, she had no idea where she was, who she was, or why she was there. It took her years to adjust her new surroundings. During that time, she had decided to learn how to fight, to pay back the people, as they saved her life. Alexei had to admit, he was rather proud of her. She had done well for herself, turning out to be a bright, intelligent, tough woman.
Rose walked back over to the docks, and hauled up one of the unconscious thieves bodies. She started walking up the stairs, when she spotted four drenched people, and what appeared to be a dog running into the town, seeking shelter from the now vicious torrent of rain.
"Commandant? This is another of the thieves, and another is still on the deck".
Alexei was amused by the man over her shoulder's arms, swinging around, behind her back.
Rose looked a little nervous, and coughed before she spoke. "I, er, I knocked them out. They hurt me, tied me up, tried to take the villagers possessions, their gald. I could not let that happen. It was self defense".
She put the man down, walking back towards the dock.
Shortly after that, the gald had been redistributed among the townspeople, their possessions had been returned. Rose returned to the inn and saw these newcomers, who were shaking themselves off, spraying water droplets everywhere as they did so. The innkeeper's face said it all. He was livid that these people were ruining his inn.
But, one look at Yuri's sword, Rita's scowling face, a snarling Repede, and a sneezing Karol, threatening to drop his massive hammer from the force of his sneezing, had him decide not to say anything.
Yuri walked up to the desk and straightened up his clothes.
"We need two rooms. And what's with the weather here?"
Rita walked behind him.
"Something's up the barrier blastia. The aer it's giving off is imbalanced, and it shouldn't be. How long has this been going on?"
The innkeeper shook his head.
"At least a few weeks. No one's been able to stop it. And it's permanently dark too. It's frightening everyone. I have two rooms available now. You're lucky. We've had quite a few travelers recently. Oh, hello there Rose! Thanks for dealing with those scoundrels earlier".
The gang all turned and jumped when they saw Rose, standing behind them. Karol fell over, and Estelle ran over to him, before casting a healing arte.
Rose shook her head.
"I'm sorry, did I scare you all? I didn't mean too. You guys need to dry off, or you may get sick".
Rita glared at Karol, crossing her arms.
"It's too late for the wuss over there. I swear, if I've caught a cold off you...".
Estelle gasped. Yuri growled.
"Rita, stop. Rose is right. Is there anywhere we can wash our clothes, and get some spares?"
Rose nodded.
"I'll get you some and wash your clothes for you. Mercurio, they're alright, okay?" She walked off to the laundry room.
Mercurio nodded and pointed to the bath-house.
"You can get washed there. And if the boy is sick, I recommend using this tea. It won't cure him, but it will make him feel much better, and will warm him up. Here". Yuri took the little bag from the man's outstretched hand. "Free of charge, of course".
Yuri nodded and handed the bag to Karol, who was still huffing at being called 'boy'. He may have been young, but he detested the term 'boy'.
Rose came back with a bundle of clothes in her arms. She handed some to each of the group.
"Just leave your clothes outside the bathing house and I'll take them".
Everyone nodded, grateful to get out of their wet attire. The girls (Rita exclaimed, making the guys shrink back) decided to use the bathing facilities first, so the boys went to their rooms, getting changed into the spare clothes.
Alexei was heading back to his convoy of men before Cumore stopped him.
"The men have been detained at your request. So, tell me, Alexei. What is it with this woman, hmm? Highly inappropriate, don't you think?"
His superior glared at him, rusty bronze eyes defiant against bright purple.
"With Rose? Nothing. I simply wished to ask her if she were well. But it seems an accident purged her of her memories, and so, she does not know me, or you, for that matter. I believe that she is lucky that her memory of you has gone. You were always uncouth toward her. Just because you are miserable, it does not mean that you should drag everyone else down with you".
Cumore knew the man hadn't yet forgiven him for his actions. Both of the Captain's eyebrows rose up in suspicion.
"You are acting as if she matters. She does not. One person means nothing. You were appointed to help many. Many make you worthy of your post". He paused, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Would you rather save her, or the masses? Something tells me it is the former. Commandant, I strongly advise that you distance yourself from her. There is a reason why you shouldn't shackle yourself to someone. 'Caring' for one is overrated. You should care for your job, not some beggar, who is likely filthier than a sewer rat. She isn't worthy of anything other than contempt".
Alexei had heard enough. He walked away from the venom spewing attitude of the Captain, choosing to ignore rather than hit him.
That would not be condoned by the castle. It could jeopardize his position.
He did not work his way up the ranks to be dismissed for simply losing his rag after all...
