A/N - Just to let everyone know, this is will become a romance story. Korin has to go through some tough times to make the love for the person stronger. I hope yall are enjoying the story so far. I will continue to TRY to post at least once a week if not every other week. :) I did change the rating from "T" to "M" because there is some graphic violence so far and chapters to come, some love scenes and language. Just in case. :) Thanks for the advice and comments!
Come on Korin, this is the best for James.
She placed her hand on her heart and vowed to see him again one day.
She climbed down the steps from Reginald's temple. Sebastian had his back turned towards the building and was brushing his horse. Next to his horse there was her horse tied to a tree.
"So Sergeant Sebastian, how did you get my horse?" She asked as she began to untie the reign that was tied to the tree and began to pet the horse.
Sebastian continued to brush but his eyes didn't move. "We found him running away from the town about a couple hours out. Tyler got worried when you were not with him. He led the horse back to the town and took care of him until I took over him when I went to the temple to get you."
"Oh… well, thank you." She sighed.
"It wasn't a favor for you; it was more like I didn't want to share my horse on the way home with you." The last part it sounded like he hissed out. "Come on, the platoon is putting out the last of the fires at the town. They'll be waiting for us."
Korin hoisted herself onto the saddle and nodded. He cleared his throat and kicked the horse into a gallop. Korin followed suit.
No words were really exchanged except the occasional warning that he decided to change directions.
About mid day he slowed his horse down and put a hand out for Korin to slow down as well. "We need to keep going but I'm hungry and the horses need to slow down for a bit so we don't wear them out."
He reached into a saddle pouch and pulled out some jerky. Korin's stomach growled. She realized that she had not eaten in over a day, just the tea from the night before at Reginald's.
He looked out of the corner of his eye and smirked. "Oh I'm sorry this is for me. I guess when you were breaking orders you forgot to pack rations. Huh?" He bit a piece of jerky and yanked at it.
"Are you kidding me sir?"
He continued to chew and shrugged. "If you had waited for your comrades you'd have something to eat."
"Sir if I had waited my nephew would be dead! I did what I felt was right. I may have broken a rule, but I refuse to apologize. You can punish me with whatever hell you decide, but I would do it again!"
A thick sense of tension hung in the air for a while. Her anger hid her hunger. I will not let him see the hunger. I will not see the pain.
Soon Sebastian clicked his tongue and got his horse to return to a glop. She let out a low growl but followed behind him.
Korin began to smell the scent of fresh water. Then the sound of flowing water was soon heard. "We will stop at the creek up ahead for the horses to drink." He yelled out in front.
They reached the creek and they both slowed the horses to trot. Korin hopped off the horse and lead her horse to the creek. As the horse drank, Korin kneeled down to the creek and cupped her hands to took several gulps.
"Oh geez you didn't even bring your water skin? Are you just that stupid?" Sebastian chuckled as he kneeled down to fill his skin.
With the rage at its boiling point she stood up and walked back to her horse. She grabbed the reigns and hoisted herself back onto the saddle.
"Oi, where are you going solider?"
"Why do you care?" She asked as she turned her horse around.
"Because you are under my command, that's why!" He growled.
"You said you don't want a woman in your platoon. I refuse to leave the militia, but I just lost 99% of my family. I want to hit something and right now you are the closest target. I do not want to hit you, yet I know it would make me feel so much better. Since you continue to tell me what I already know I will choose to continue on ahead so I don't have to listen to your… issues." The last word was through gritted teeth.
His mouth dropped opened. "Korin, get off that damn horse and wait until I say it's time to go." He was so angry his vines popped up on his forehead.
"Look I saw my mother cradling her grandson in her cold… dead… arms. I had to step over my father who was trying to protect his family who had a gash across his back and neck. I saw my neighbors, friends… everyone I loved, dead in homes and streets."
His shaking from anger lessoned, but his face of anger did not change.
"I think I have a right to be a little pissed and you yapping at me about the rules I broke, which I will take punishment for when we get back, but right now that shit is not helping right now. So please let us just go. I want to say goodbye to my family."
He didn't move for a moment and didn't break eye contact. Then he grabbed his horse's reigns and hoisted himself onto a saddle.
"You will be going through hell when we get back to the center, do you understand?" He said as kicked his horse to begin to trot then began to gallop.
She nodded once firmly. She followed suit as soon there was enough space where she didn't feel the urge to run him over with her horse.
This time, the hours of travel there were no words exchanged.
Night fell and we still had another half day travel ahead of him so we silently stopped.
"I'll start the fire, why don't you find feed the horses."
She rolled her eyes once he turned around. As she fed some feed to the horse she heard him curse and a crack of wood splinter. She turned around and she saw he was having issues with starting the fire.
"What?" Korin asked as she walked over to Sebastian. "I can't find my stone to start the fire and the wood is wet."
Korin sighed and pulled out her flint stone she's had since her father started teaching her how to be a blacksmith. She called it her lucky stone. With a quick single swipe of piece of wood against her stone, a flame began.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "That's amaz... wait you remembered a flint stone but not your water skin or rations?" She shrugged and put the stone back in her pocket.
"It's always with me. I never leave it." She walked back over to her bed roll. She unrolled it and started untying her boots and bracers.
"Ok that's just odd." Sebastian said still confused.
"Not really. Should I take first watch?" Korin said bluntly.
He shook his head, "No, I'll take the first part. Get some rest."
She nodded and rolled on her side facing away from the fire. Korin tried to sleep, but James was on her mind. It was going to be a long night.
"Korin, please be careful." Her mother said as she hugged her daughter goodbye.
Wait, didn't I already do this?
Her siblings took their turns and said goodbye. Her brother in laws said goodbye only way guys/brothers could. One held my arms and one gave me a noogie. After her sisters laughed they pushed their husbands away from Korin.
Yes, I've already done this painful good-bye.
Her father chuckled a little and wrapped his arm around her neck then pulled her to the side so they could talk one on one.
"Remember my teachings Korn." Her father said in a serious tone.
"I will father. I promise. Are you sure you and mom are going to be ok without me?" She hugged him and furrowed her brows. "Something is in my gut saying that I should stay, but I don't know why."
"Go on deary. Your mother and I will be fine." He stroked his daughter's hair.
No Korin! Stay, for the love of Kord, STAY! You must stay or else you will lose everything you hold dear!
"Im sure its just nerves telling you to stay. Go on and make those military stories the bards will tell about."
No! Don't leave me! Don't leave me!
"Korin, what's wrong you look lost in thought? Korin? Korin? Korin!"
Suddenly she sat up and screamed, "No, don't leave me!" There was a hand on her shoulder. She gasped for air. There was a thin layer of sweat on her body. She looked around and saw she was back at the campsite.
A dream. It was just a dream. I wished I had that warning when I was leaving. I might have stayed home.
She noticed that the hand still rested on her shoulder. She looked at who it was and it was Sebastian. He must have been the person that yelled my name.
"Korin? You ok?" He asked as he eyed her from the side of her.
"Yes sir, I guess it was a dream."
"Nah, Korin, I think it was a nightmare. You were yelling so loud I think you woke up the dead." He said as he sat fully down beside her.
"Sorry about that." She mumbled.
He shrugged. "I was already awake because of the watch. In fact originally I came over to wake you to switch."
"Oh, ok. Go ahead and get some rest." She stood up and stretched. As she stretched, her stomach showed. It revealed her bandaged bottom half from the wound and right above that was a six pack abs set. Sebastian couldn't help but noticed it then quickly looked away.
He slowly stood walked back to his bed roll when she noticed was messed up like someone had stumbled out of it or ran over it.
Odd, I thought he said he was already over here when he woke me. Oh well, probably just a messy person.
As she leaned against a tree and looked around to get a look at her surroundings, she noticed Sebastian. He smoothed out his bed roll and as he took of his boots and wool socks, he folded them neatly and put them in his boots. Then he stretched out on the roll.
OK, not a messy person. Huh.
The rest of the night passes without more interruptions. She found out that he is a snorer. She desecrated herself throughout thru out the night of the two dreams she had had over the last two nights, but it just made her sad so she just worked on her sword movement and exercised.
Her side burned a little as she practiced. It was mostly when she stretched to far certain ways.
Pivot on your right, shield on your left. Ha! Look to your right and not loose your sight. Ha.
She continued for hours and did some basic work outs as well.
Dawn broke. Korin wiped her forehead with a cloth tucked in her pants pocket. She looked over to the horses and decided to get a start on things. So she led the horses to the creek to get fresh water and fed them some feed from Sebastian's bag.
Sebastian began to stir.
Good time to work on my hiding skills.
She jumped onto a nearby tree branch and swung herself up a couple of branches and leaned against the trunk. Ugh, that hurt. It better be worth it.
He seemed to struggle with something as he rolled over and over on his bed roll then suddenly he pushed up on his arms and yelled out, "Back off dumb ass!"
"Wow and women are missing that lovely morning wake up call." Korin chuckled from the tree.
"Yeah, yeah whatever Korin. We better begin to head out soon."
He didn't get a response back and furrowed his brow and turned as he talk. "Oi, ditsy did you hear m… Korin? Where are you? Oh come on. When I get my hands on her I'll…"
She gracefully hopped down from the tree, "You'll what sergeant?"
He nearly jumped out of his skin when she spoke.
"Oi, Korin. What the bloody hell do you think you are doing?" He said with an angry tone.
"Practicing." She said lazily as she began to pack up her things.
"Practicing what?" He said with utter confusion.
"My father used to say, 'if you have time, make it count'. By that he usually meant practice, exercise or help out someone." She spoke as she hooked her bed roll to her horse.
"Huh, so the whole hiding thing was practicing was for your enjoyment or what?" He asked as he put his boots on.
"If your comrade can't see you neither can your enemy. Again something my father taught me." She placed her foot in the stirrup and swung her legs over the large horse.
"Huh, your father was a wise man." He spoke as he also hoisted himself into his saddle.
She smiled with pride and said, "Thank you. He was indeed."
Wait, you're suppose to be mad at him remember? The memories of the past day were starting to come back to mind. Her heart sank a little.
"Oh, by the way, I went ahead and watered and feed the horses as you slept so peacefully." She said sarcastically.
"You weren't the typical sleeping beauty either." He chuckled.
With the camp packed, they began to ride towards town. As they rode he started to dig in his bag. "Here." He stuck out his hand and it was holding a piece of jerky.
"What?" She asked in confusion.
"Look I can't have you passing out of hunger and you did give my horse some food and water while I slept. So just take the damn thing before I change my mind."
She took the piece and began to chew on it. She didn't know if was because she hadn't eaten in over a day or it was just that good, but it was incredibly good tasting. As she finished, she licked her fingers and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Thank you." She quietly spoke.
"Heh, you are not the typical girl. You're an odd freak." He laughed and continued to ride silently.
The site of the town came into view. She smelt the smell of lingering smoke and the specific smell of death and blood. Her stomach turned as she rode closer to her hometown that now sat mostly burned down to the ground. She saw the familiar uniform of her militia. She reared her horse to a halt.
"What is wrong Korin? Do you see an enemy?" He drew his sword and looked quickly around with focused eyes.
"I can't..." She spoke softly and looked straight ahead and didn't move a muscle.
"What do you mean you can't move?" He actually sounded concerned. "Is there a spell on you?"
"No you simpleton. I can't see my family's dead faces again! I can't see my friends I used to play ball with bleeding in the streets. I can't see my neighbor that taught me how to work hard. I… I just can't."
Sebastian rubbed the back of his head and sighed. "Ok I understand your issue…" He sounded like he actually had a feeling of understanding, but that must have been her mishearing.
"… but this is part of war. This is part of the life a soldier. You have to go. Maybe not to your parents house, but you have to make sure the city is secure so civilians that DID survive can rebuild. This is your job from now on. Come on. You have to do this." He snapped the reigns and galloped towards the town.
Come on Korin, he is right. You also have to say goodbye and make sure they find their resting place. Show the men that women can do the same thing and not be all "damsel in distress".
She slowly trotted to the town. She hopped off her horse and led him to a post that was still intact. She took in a deep breath and slowly released it. She saw the other's carrying bodies to carts. She looked away from the cart because she saw many scared faces that she knew. She walked towards her parent's house. Tyler had walked out of the neighbor's house with another comrade. Tyler was holding an average sized man by the shoulders that wore bushy beard and only wearing his pants at and the other comrade was holding the legs.
"Oh my, Master Fredrick! Is he…" Korin spoke sadly to Tyler jumped a little and turned to see Korin and he quickly looked away from her saddened eyes.
"Yes Korin, I'm sorry but he has past. We are taking him to the cart right now. We figured we wait for you to come back to your house before we took the bodies. William and I will come back in a few moments with some others and give you a hand with the bodies. I'm so sorry Korin." With that he nodded at William to continue walking to the cart.
She stopped at the entrance stairs and looked at her house. The windows were broken, blood was on the porch, muddy boot prints that her mother would have never put up with were everywhere. She took in a deep breath and took the first step. This time was different because she knew no one was alive in there, unlike last time where she thought she had a chance to help someone. She slowly entered the house. All she was there for was to say goodbye.
Good Korin, keep it up. Say your goodbyes and leave.
First was her father. His hand still grasped his sword and shield as he lay on the floor. There was blood trail as if he tried to get closer to the kitchen. She knew he was trying to reach her mother, but couldn't make it. She spoke softly, "Father, I wish I was here so I may have protected you and everyone. I pray you forgive me father. Forgive me. I will find the person who did this to you and I will avenge our family's death."
She shook as she walked to the kitchen. Her mother still lay in the corner clutching her young grandson Jackson in her arms. She had her eyes closed and almost covered the child with her body. There was rips in her dress and blood down her back. I similar strike as her father's wound. Dried blood covered her hands and arms.
When Korin walked forward she noticed there was a blood soaked rag on Jackson's stomach. The blood was mostly from him. She had tried to stop the blood but the attacker had killed her as she held him. Jackson had one hand clutching her mother's favorite necklace. Both boys loved to play with that necklace when she held them.
Her mother looked at peace and so did her nephew. She kissed them both and tears began to fall as she whispered 'good bye' and 'I love you' to them.
Sebastian said earlier that he had found her sister and brother in law in the backyard near the chopping block was.
As she walked to the back door, she past the closet she found James and she said to herself, at least I saved one life. The pool of blood had now dried in the closet and she noticed several bloody hand prints on the floor and walls.
She continued to walk to the back door and the door lay in the grass with the hinges still have pieces of wood still attached.
She heavy sighed and stepped out the door. She walked to the chopping block and sees her brother in law grip onto an ax. There was blood on the ax, but there was more blood on his chest. There was part of his chest looked caved in. There was a gash on his leg and blood came out of his mouth. She squinted and shook her head. Only feet away laid her older sister. She had a long slice on her back. It looks like she tried run, but didn't get far. Her eyes wide open in terror.
I guess he tried to protect her, but they killed him then her beautiful sister as well. Those son of bitches messed with the wrong family blood line! There will be hell to pay!
She kissed her sister on the cheek and closed her eyes. She whispered the same "I love you" to the both of them. Then she looked at her brother in law who looked as if he put up quite a fight.
She said, "Thank you for trying." She went back inside and opened her door to that her sisters and she once shared. Bunk beds undone, clothes ripped off the clothes rail and on the floor. Everything was disorganized. She shook her head and headed her parent's room and sat on the bed.
She grabbed a pillow and clutched it to her stomach. The pillow smelled like home and smelled like the soap her mother used to wash her hair. She let a few tears fall and then began to gather her strength. Korin left the pillow and began to leave the room when something caught her eye. A golden necklace that had a heart shaped locket. She remembered that locket her father gave her mother. It was for their wedding anniversary. She opened the locket and it spread to three painted picture slots. One painted picture of her mother and father, one of her and her sisters and one of the three grandchildren. She clutched the necklace to her heart and decided to cherish it.
Mom, I will keep this necklace to remind myself what I am fighting for.
"Yo Korin, are you here man… I mean girl… I mean… ugh whatever, are you here Korin?!" The sound of Tyler carried through the house along with several boots that followed the sound of him.
"Yeah I'm here, unfortunately." She walked towards the living room. Tyler, William and a couple of other comrades were waiting and looked around the room.
"I guess let's get this over with. Please be gentle." They nodded and started to remove the family towards the cart.
Korin reached down to her nephew and cradled him in her arms. She said she would take him herself. She walked outside and began to silently walk to the cart. She passed her sister's house which had been burned down and it was now soaked with water and rubble moved around and she saw her sister and niece lay among the rubble.
The two comrades that were removing rubble nearby, Korin asked why they were not on the cart yet. "Sergeant said that you might want to see them before we took them."
That was almost thoughtful? It's a trap.
Korin jumped a little as a hand was placed on her shoulder. "Ok, I see you see your family and have said your goodbyes. Yo can take those to the cart now."
She was about ready to cry but she refused to show her pain. She didn't get to hold her princess's hand to say goodbye but it might be for the best.
Korin hugged her nephew tighter and bit her lower lip to hold the tears. Conceal don't feel. Conceal don't feel. Don't let your pain be exposed.
She arrived at the cart of dead bodies. She hugged Jackson one more time and gently covered his face with the blanket he was swaddled in then placed him on the cart. She quickly turned around to not look at the other faces.
She wiped blood that was on her hands on her pants. She looked around and saw her comrade's continued to put the last of the embers out and carry out bodies. She remembered what Sebastian said to her "this is your job now."
Well I better get to work. She gave a hand to one of the men carrying water to a still simi-alive fire burning a house that was burned to the posts.
She said, "I'll take this water, why don't you get another bucket and we can start a rotation of water buckets."
He raised his eyebrow and looked at her oddly. "No, I've got this. Why don't you go cry in a corner somewhere you stupid woman. You need to leave this platoon. Now move, I've got MANS work to do."
What the hell?! You son of a bitch!
She would not give him the satisfaction of arguing. "Well you can go do your work, but I wouldn't call it 'manly' work, I mean come on your carrying a bucket of water to a mostly out fire. That's like a stable boy bringing water to the horses, so good luck with that. I'll go help a man over there."
He growled "You calling me a stable boy woman?" He roughly put the water bucket down on the ground.
"No, I said your JOB was like a stable boys. Whether or not you decide you are one or not it's up to you." As she turned around to walk away, the man called out "come back here bitch."
She ground to a halt. She stood there to try to remain calm.
"I'm not about to let a woman insult me!" She just stood there back to him. She heard the crunch of the gravel walk towards her. She slowly turned around and saw a fist flying towards her. She tried to dodge it, but the fist landed squarely on the left eye instead of the right.
She stumbled back and clutched her eye.
"What you going to cry. Go ahead, cry like the woman you are. No one wants you here so get the fuck out of here!" She stood up and removed her hand as she felt the eye swell.
"No. I'm staying." She stood up straight and said with pride.
He pulled back for another punch and when he let it fly she dodged it quite easily but then he kneed her in the stomach. She crumpled to the ground, but didn't say a word.
He began to punch her again when she heard an angry voice. "What the hell is going on over here?" The sound of many feet came to the two of them.
"This woman called me a God damn stable boy and the fact that she is even in our platoon is to make any man angry."
A couple pair of hands offered to help her up, but she waved them away and stood on her own. A pair of hands turned her around a slight gasp was heard among a couple of the men. She saw it was Tyler who turned her around.
"Did he punch you?" He asked worriedly. Another man said also, "Then what did you do to her stomach. She's holding it."
The man spat on the ground and growled, "I punched her then I kicked her. So what? If she wants to be in the military, then she needs to be tough."
"I could care less." Korin spoke softly because her ribs were sore from the kick. The men went silent. "I'm not leaving this platoon no matter how much he or any of you hit me. It just makes me stronger." The guys looked at the man who punched her.
"She needs to leave and we all know it!"
A different voice came loudly among the group. "What is going on? There is work to be done and I don't recall giving a break." The group parted and let Sebastian walk through.
Great, this is just I needed. I wonder how many push ups' I'll get this time.
He looked at the group and his eyes caught her and he did a double take.
"Miss Stern, were you in a fight?" Korin said with power behind her words, "I merely said I would not leave this platoon."
"Who threw the punch?" Sergeant asked her in a demanding tone.
She looked straight ahead and said, "Doesn't matter sir."
"Why are you protecting your attacker?"
She said firmly, "Because they are my comrades whether they accept it or not. I do."
Sebastian looked around and said loud enough for them to hear, "Ok since she actually has a backbone unlike the man who punched her, I'm going to ask you guys on who punched her."
Some of the men glanced at the man who attacked her and he looked at the man. His hands were still gripped tight. "Sir, she called me a stable boy!"
"… and? What does that mean?" He looked back at her as he asked the question.
"Sir, I offered to help and he said no because it was man's work to bring water to the fire. I just compared the work to a stable boy's work as bringing water to the horses."
"You lying bitch! You are so dead!" The man took a step towards her. Sebastian stuck his hand out to stop the man.
"Kevin calm down solider." Kevin stopped and his knuckles were white from anger.
"Ok so since you are odiously like a teenager with sexual frustration I need you to give me push-ups until you calm down or until we are ready to return back to the center. And you…" he looked back at her. "You need to return back to work."
"Sir, shouldn't she get looked at?" Spoke up Tyler.
He turned around, "She needs to get used to that. Because this is a first of many fights he going to have to face. Return back to your duties NOW!"
All the soldiers scattered like cockroaches and scrambled back to their jobs. Tyler was the single man that stood by Korin still one hand on one of her shoulders. Sebastian looked down at Kevin who was doing pushups and walked away.
"Come on Korin, let's help Deacon over at the house over there." She didn't even look at Kevin as they walked away.
"You ok?" Tyler asked while he rested a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine really Tyler. Come on lets help the group."
She helped the group carry out several bodies and the time the sun began to set her shirt had stuck to her back from sweat.
"Listen up!" Sergeant Sebastian was on his horse in the middle of the road where most of the soldiers were. "We are heading out first thing in the morning. Right now, let's take a break for dinner and then work for a bit longer until we are finished with the bodies bless their souls. Then we will sleep. You have thirty minutes to eat and rest." He hopped off his horse and walked towards Korin. "You! Come." He said as he walked past her.
She sighed. What on earth could he want? I did what he asked.
They walked away from the group so that only he and she could talk. "Look…" He abruptly said as he turned to face her. "You got into a fight today. I mean what I said earlier far as it will be the first of many more fights. Hopefully less punching but I can't promise. We still have to deal with your punishment when we get back to the center. Once we are there, you will put your horse away and immediately go to Master Mark's office. He was pretty pissed you left and even threatened a guard to get out. This is without a doubt one of the stupidest thing you could have done as new cadet."
She just stared without expression. "I understood when I left. I understood when I got my horse. I understood when I sadly had to threaten to the guard to leave. I understood when I arrived in my town and when you found me. On the other hand, if the same situation came up again… I would do the exact same thing again. It's like I said before, I wouldn't have been able to same James if I had waited. I have learned to have rations and a water skin in my bag."
He actually cracked a tiny smile. "You are going to be difficult woman aren't you?" He asked as he crossed his arms.
"Only if you get between friends, family or moral values will we have a problem. Otherwise I think you'll find I'm a good fighter and a determined to do the best to protect me fam… well my country."
He just rang his fingers through his coal black short cropped hair. "Oh by the God's don't start doing the whole crying thing that most women do."
She overly rolled her eyes, "I'm not going to cry. Crying solves nothing. Does it mean I'm not in severe pain losing most of the family? No."
He heavy sighed in relief. "Well… there, there." He gently patted the top of her head.
What am I a dog?
"ANYWAYS! Do we have any idea on who did this?" She looked thru squinted, angry eyes.
"We have an idea, but no proof."
Her stomach turned. She remembered what the shadow had said in the dream. "If you had been here they would be still alive."
It might be my fault.
Sebastian turned to the town. "There have been a couple of incidents like this nearby and the turnout was similar."
"Oh yeah I remember. Two towns over was destroyed. My father and I went to help out in the recovery period." She said shaking her head.
"We just can't figure out why the group is doing this though."
"I might sir."
He absentmindedly asked, "oh yeah".
"You remember that dream that I had? The shadow said that if I had been there they wouldn't have died. They are looking for me for a reason, but I don't know what."
He shrugged and said, "I'm sure it was just a guilt dream."
"Guilt dreams don't make you bleed in reality." She sighed and rubbed at her hip where the cut was.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Did you change the bandage yet?" He asked as he turned back towards her.
"Yeah when you were asleep, but I think when he kicked me earlier, I think it began to bleed again." She lifted her shirt and she saw the wound began to bleed again.
"Look, let's not let the other's know about this. Come on, let's go change that that." He said as he walked to an abandon house.
"I can do it myself sir." She said as she followed him.
"It'll be hard to change the whole thing without help. Just let me help you."
She rolled her eyes, but did as she was told.
We closed the door and put his weapons down. As he did that, Korin took off her over shirt so all there was left was her long undershirt and that was over her bindings on her breasts. She rolled up the blood stained shirt and revealed the bloody bandages. As she held up her shirt, Sebastian cleared his throat and grabbed a knife from his boot and began to cut the bandages off her.
She looked down at him and saw him concentrate on to not cut her skin.
Finally he cut the final strip and began to unroll it. Her abs was exposed along with her wound. He stared for a moment at her exposed area, but quickly began to look for the bag that Reginald gave her when she needed to change it.
"It looks like it opened a little. Here let me sew you up again."
He asked her to hold the clean cloth to stop the blood. He grabbed a bowl he found and filled it with water. He spoke, "Move the cloth Korin and I'll clean it."
The wound burned from the cleaning solution mixed with the water. She never once flinched though. He handed her a flask while he grabbed a sew kit.
"What?"
"It'll help with the pain."
She shrugged and took a swig. He began to repair the wound.
"So, I take it you were not the typical girly girl in your household, am I right?" Sebastian asked as he closed the scar.
"Not really. I hung out with the guys more than the girls. So I learned how to be tough."
"I see that. The whole not whining pain because of the needle, I have to say, I would not have excepted that when I first met you. Then again, you still have a lot to show me."
Silence hung as he finished the stitches. He then began to clean the area again. She stood up after he was done with the cleaning. He unrolled a new roll of bandages and begins to wrap it around her waist. She felt his breath every time he went to hand the roll to the other hand when it would go behind her back. She liked the feeling.
Gah Korin, pull your head together. He hates you and you are not exactly fond of him either.
He grabbed his knife and cut the wrap and tied it to make it stay put.
"There, that's done now." He stood up and found himself really close to her face. They stare at each other for a moment.
Why can't I look away? I never noticed the scar right under his eye. Look away or else it will get more awkward.
Then she quickly broke the gaze and pulled her under shirt over her bandage. She quickly pulled her over shirt on then spoke softly, "thank you sergeant."
He spoke in a rough tone, "Well, don't get used to it."
He turned on his heel and walked out the door. She sighed in relief.
That was awkward.
She walked out the door as well then she walked to the area Tyler was. They were still on their break when she walked over. Tyler scooted over on the wall ledge. He patted the stone beside him and she hopped on the wall.
When she squinted from the sting he asked if she was ok. She lied and said she was fine.
They make light conversation and Tyler shared part of his rations with Korin. They trade funny stories about boot camp.
Sergeant came by and told everyone to get back to work. So the soldiers finish up the rest of the work that needed to be done.
At one point Korin moved a piece of wood and found a charcoal black jagged dagger lying under the wood. She picked it up. Then without warning, her wound burned like someone had poured boiling hot water over it and mixed it with salt. Her eyes were blinded by white light.
She screamed out in shock pain. She doubled over in pain and fell to the ground. She thrashed on the ground to try get rid of the pain. The few guys that were around her came over to lend a hand.
Soon she heard Tyler's voice, "Korin? What's wrong? Korin, speak to me. Someone get the sergeant!" Tyler commanded.
The pain made her get sick to her stomach. She heaved on the ground and gasped for air. The pain grew lighter. She shook everywhere. There was a glisten of sweat on her body.
She heard the crunch of hurried boots on the pavement grew louder. She tried to focus on the world around her, but it was proved to be difficult. She collapsed to the ground. She felt warm, but strong hands roll her on her back. She tried to focus on the person, but it was too blurry.
"Korin, hey stay with me. Korin. Korin!"
