Guess what? I've posted on time two weeks in a row! You have my sister to thank for that, she effectively told me that if I value my life then I should post on time.
The usual disclaimers: I don't own RA, Scorpion Mountain or chocolate. (or coffee)
I don't advise getting bitten by snakes or going in a sword fight against Gilan (or Edward) so please don't do anything stupid. ('Stupid' basically includes anything in this chapter and some stuff in previous chapters too)
Thank you for your attention.
~H~H~H~
Emily and Edward talked about various different things until Emily heard Bargo approach.
The tent opened and Bargo came in carrying two platters, two mugs and a pot of coffee.
He set the food down and hurried out again.
Emily served the food this time. She gave Edward the larger portion and poured him a cup of coffee before digging in herself.
They ate with purpose, the only sound being the chewing of food and occasional sigh of pleasure as they paused for a sip of coffee.
When they had finished Emily stacked the plates and poured them both another cup of coffee.
They sipped in companionable silence until Bargo re-entered.
Emily saw the blindfold and sighed.
Bargo grinned at her reassuringly and gathered the dishes.
He went out with dishes in hand.
Edward turned to Emily and forced a smile. "This is it. I'll do my best but it won't be good enough. Thanks for everything you've done for me and anyone else. I wish I didn't have to die a Scorpion."
Emily frowned at him.
"You can't do combat. Your arm hasn't healed yet."Edward shook his head.
"I can and I have no choice anyway. It's either try and save myself by fighting as best I can, or die without a fight."
Emily hugged him briefly and smiled,
"Well, I personally would choose to die without a fight, but I guess if that's not your style then good luck."
Bargo entered and blindfolded Edward, then led him out of the tent, closing it behind him.
~H~H~H~
Emily sat down and rested her chin on her hand. If only there was something she could do to save Edward. She racked her brain for ideas but couldn't think of anything.
Then a sound caught Emily's attention. It sounded like Gilan walking past but she told herself she was imagining things.
Gilan was in Araluen, not Arrida.
If it was Gilan then he was in a distracted mood, and Emily knew that meant he would be walking with his head down, staring at his feet and paying no attention to where he was going.
Then she heard a sound that confirmed Gilan's presence:
a dull thump and then Gilan's voice saying; "Gorlog's beard and nostrils! Where did that come from?"
Emily smiled to herself. Gilan was unusually tall and was prone to bump into overhanging obstacles when he wasn't paying attention.
Then Emily's smile vanished as she realized the importance of the situation. Her brother was undoubtedly going to fight Edward.
She had little doubt about the outcome of that combat, but there was always the chance that there might be uncertain terrain or some other unaccounted for factor.
She grabbed her necklace and clipped the three cylinders together with the knobs on either end forming a handle that would add sufficient weight behind any punch or other action she took.
Then she left the tent.
~H~H~H~
Edward found himself in a sort of open arena. Around him were about two hundred Bedullin people sitting on the sand outside a clearly marked circle.
He was inside the circle.
There was a path in the mass of people and he could see that it led to the camp.
Bargo approached him and handed him a sword which Edward awkwardly buckled on using only his left hand.
He drew the sword and slashed clumsily through the air, feeling the weight and balance of the weapon.
The clumsiness was acting. Edward was left handed and, although most Scorpions didn't use the sword, he did.
The weapon wasn't familiar but it was well balanced and razor sharp.
He looked up and saw the stranger approaching and entering the circle.
He nodded a greeting, and the stranger responded likewise.
The leader stepped forward and told everyone the rules and began the combat.
Edward met the stranger's gaze and they circled.
Edward feinted clumsily and drew back before they circled again.
The stranger feinted, showing expert swordsmanship. They carried on feinting and circling a few more times until both felt they had the feel for the other's skill.
Gilan launched a real attack with blinding speed; Edward parried the strokes with ease and then launched into an attack of his own, showing most of his true skill as a master of swordsmanship, but still holding back his full potential.
The onlookers showed their surprise at the prisoner's skill and the combatants withdrew and resumed the circling and feinting.
Edward was just about to feint when a movement caught his eye.
He threw his sword at the snake but he knew that it wouldn't arrive in time.
He dived at the strangers lower legs, pushing him back into safety.
The sand cobra sank its fangs into his arm a second before the sword landed point first in its midsection.
The crowd didn't know what had happened. Edward had moved so fast that nobody actually knew what had happened.
Gilan was rising to his feet after being knocked over and saw Edward lying on the ground, groaning in pain.
Edward's sword was point down in the sand with the sand cobra in between.
Bargo was the first to figure out what had happened.
He jumped into the circle and crouched beside Edward.
The snake was juvenile so the bite wasn't venomous, but there was still significant damage. The muscles and ligaments had been severely damaged and the action of diving to the ground had caused the right shoulder pain.
Emily came running onto the scene, first aid kit in hand, and knelt down beside Edward.
"Hello, brother." She said to Gilan.
Bargo looked at her in surprise. "Where did you come from?" he asked.
She shrugged and opened her first aid kit.
"I need some water, more bandages and a cloth to clean the wound." She told Bargo and he nodded and hurried off to find the requested items.
Gilan frowned. "Hello, Emily. I agree with Bargo; where did you come from?"
Emily shook her head at him. "Not now, I need to concentrate."
She took the painkilling salve and spread it lavishly on the wounds then waited for it to take effect.
She rolled Edward onto his back and spread her cloak to provide shade for him.
She examined his shoulder and looked at him. "Well, if your arm wasn't fractured before then it definitely is now." she commented.
Bargo returned with the water, cloth and bandages. Emily cleaned the snake bite and put various herbs and more painkilling salve on it before bandaging it.
Then she turned to the Bedullin leader. "I think we better put the combat on hold until his arm is healed, don't you think Umar?"
Umar nodded. "Maybe even cancel it altogether." He suggested and Emily raised an eyebrow. "You want to set him free?"
Umar shook his head "No, he's a Scorpion. If I set him free he'll just go back to it." Edward sat up suddenly. "Never. I hate being a scorpion!" he said vehemently.
Emily frowned at him. "Why did you go getting yourself bitten anyway? You undid all Bargo's and my hard work. In the future just kill it without trying to kill yourself as well." She scolded.
Edward hung his head guiltily. "Yes, Emily. Sorry, Emily. Won't do it again, Emily." He said meekly.
Emily accepted the apology and turned to Gilan.
"What are you doing here?" She asked before running into his arms and being swept into a massive bear hug.
Gilan put her back on her feet and asked teasingly, "Do you not enjoy my company?"
Emily grinned. "I enjoy your company, but you have an annoying habit of arranging for me to be taken prisoner and held captive for two or three days before giving it to me."
Gilan pretended to look offended. "It's not quite a habit. I don't really do it that often."
Emily raised an eyebrow "Oh? This is the sixth time in the last five years." she stated as if that ended the argument.
Gilan frowned and shook his head. "No, this would be the seventh time." He said as if that was any better.
Emily rolled her eyes. "Whatever." Was her answer as she flicked her hair behind her.
Gilan grinned at her. "Alright, sorry. That time I tried to get you myself didn't go so well, so I normally have that as plan B. let's go back to camp and I'll give your weapons back."
Emily perked up at that suggestion.
She turned to confer with Edward and found he had been taken back to camp already.
She smiled at Gilan and they walked back to camp together, catching up on everything that had been happening.
When they got to camp Gilan stopped and turned to Emily, "What do you want to do, continue tenting next to Edward or have a tent near Umar's, where I'm staying?"
Emily considered her answer before replying "I think I'll stay with Edward. I can come and go as I please and Edward could use some serious medical care. Don't worry, I'll be fine. If he tries to harm me in any way then I'll be armed and he won't."
Gilan nodded and they went to his tent to get Emily's weapons.
