I'm alone in this
I'm as I've always been
Right behind what's happening
She's all lost in this
She's all like she'll always be
A little far for me to reach
-Jimmy Eat World, "Always Be"
This was foolish.
This was foolish and stupid, yet she was participating in it. That damn infuriating blonde. Gods above, things were moderately easier before she showed up. In the span of just days, just two of them! at that, she had managed to throw her plans and her world completely upside down with absolutely no regard for anyone. Not even herself, which made it all the more irritating, until it was like an itch you couldn't reach, just out of the way. She burrowed in under her skin, and it was something she didn't like.
Of course it was just a matter of time before they were found by a warlord yes, but she didn't want to consider that yet. It would give the blonde the ability to continue her means of brushing aside an established, even if it was loosely followed much less enforced, leadership. Phobos and Deimos did what she needed them to do without question, they looked to her for their taskings. Now Deimos was looking more and more to the blonde.
She wasn't jealous. Certainly not of a man. But it grated on her nerves all the same. How the fuck could this blonde just waltz right in and do this so. So… So damn easily.
Still she ran behind Phobos, hearing the sound of Deimos and that damn blonde shortly behind her. They might possibly make it out of town but then what? The chill of night would claim them. She admitted though she had to agree with the blonde; she would much rather freeze than be captured. Above all however, she preferred neither of those things to happen.
'Phobos! Horsemen incoming!' Deimos suddenly called out in Martian no less, causing Phobos to stop and turn about. She did the same, seeing that the blonde, for not understanding Martian at all, seemed to be poised and ready just as Deimos was. Horsemen would trample them alive, yet they had horses. If there was a way they might survive the coldness of night, it was on the back of a horse racing towards another safe spot.
One horse, then two, followed by a third thundered towards them, their riders bearing arms. Deimos readied his spear, Phobos both of his swords and she watched the blonde with both of her weapons. Though she wore her given short sword at her waist she refused to draw it. This was not a fight of advantages for them, only Deimos really had the advantage but that was just one spear against three, it simply wouldn't be much of one.
She quickly hurried to the side, not needing to be told such as the spear of Deimos took the first down, the blonde moving like this was some sort of fucking dance, and a flashing throw by Phobos' hand threw his sword at the third rider. Out in front she ran to them, slowing the horses to a trot then finally a walk by her presence alone, no longer being pressed to gallop forward. Gathering two of the reins she reached unsuccessfully for the third, looking up to see that more riders were approaching.
Shit. By that time Phobos had retrieved his sword, swinging up onto one of the saddles. Deimos collected the reins of the horse she did not, leaving the blonde who had the nerve to grasp her around the waist, hefting her up onto the saddle of the last horse. "Up you go Priestess," then further made it worse by mounting up behind her. Against her back she felt her, the hardness of her breastplate made it further uncomfortable but it was the arms about her waist, grasping the reins that made it unbearable.
She opened her mouth to protest but they were already off, heels pressed to horseflesh as more riders chased after them, drawn by the man's shouts that chased them from their room. With a grimace she forced herself to just endure this, ignoring the breath of the woman behind her in her ear, the way her body leaned against her, that her arms were unyielding to the notion.
A sudden realization dawned on her, if those following had archers, it would be the blonde that would take their hits. The thought did not settle with her as she thought it would. It sent her thoughts into a sullen silence, the sound of horse hooves striking against the ground in rhythmic tempo made it easy to ignore the landscape as it flashed by them. The blonde was ignoring her as it were, the snapping flutter of her cloak behind her was an occasional sound to add to the tempo. It wasn't until she heard the blonde quietly muttering under her breath that her thoughts returned, the horses straining under the grueling pace put before them but night was falling quickly, and with it the chill.
Drawn from her moody reverie she glanced around, an attempt to hone in on where they might be. It looked familiar to a point but at the same time did not, not used to seeing the landscape when the night painted it in so very many hues. Her eyes drew in front of her, where her hands were gripping the saddle horn for dear life. She knew how to ride but at the same time she couldn't say she knew how to handle this. It had been awkward at first, trying to deal with the blonde holding the reins but she finally found something they could agree on.
Her search was interrupted as the horse beneath them was brought to a slower pace, the canter changing to a gallop, then finally a trot. Whether she sensed it or not the blonde loosened her hold about her waist, one arm completely drawing away while the blonde leaned back. It could have been for any reason she did that, but it wasn't like she was going to ask much less assume Not a word was uttered, merely a draw on the reins to slow the horse completely to a halt.
Nimbly the blonde slipped down to her feet, saying nothing still as she looked up at her. There was something going on, but unable to dwell on it as she watched her dismount. Her feet refused to work for a moment, stumbling only for two arms to catch her, correcting her balance. Caught in the grasp of the blonde her own hands went to the arms that held her, meeting the blue gaze that seemed to dance between bemusement and something else she couldn't decipher.
"That helmet looks ridiculous on you." She finally snapped, listening as the blonde laughed and released her, collecting the reins of the horse instead. She refused to meet the eyes of Phobos or Deimos; one was outside still the other in the entrance to the cave they would have little choice but to call a place to sleep for the remainder of the night. Belatedly she realized no one seemed to be concerned about the fact that there had been riders after them, causing her to stop in her tracks and look between the two. "What about the pursuers?"
Deimos nodded his head towards the blonde, returning to unsaddling the horses that were in rather dire need of it. She wanted to scowl; the damn blonde was not in charge but she found herself looking at her anyway. For her answer she merely held up her cloak by the edge, a noticeable hole in in that contrasted sharply given the material was far lighter than the night sky. "They gave up." Her other hand held the offending arrow, a wonder it had not struck the blonde much less one of their horses. "I don't know what they were shouting to be honest, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was something along the lines of being fucking crazy."
With a grin she tossed the arrow to the her, returning to seeing to the horse before the three were led inside. Their saddle bags were quickly rifled through, looking for anything of value. Those with a horse learned quickly how much of an advantage it gave them, not only for warfare and travel but sheer carrying capacity. As any army, warlord's or not traveled on their stomach, they were fortunate that the three horses had some fodder for them to eat.
However, it would not last long and plant life was sparse here. They would need to reach another town and soon, else run the horses into the ground. Bedrolls and clothes, a few cooking items, a handful of coins and bland trail rations formed the rest of their find. Without even questioning it Deimos divided the coins first among himself, Phobos, and the blonde, before splitting it further for her own share.
The blonde waved it off, adding the coins back to the mix as she pulled off her helmet. "Keep it. I'll consider that a down payment for a bath. There is one coming up, isn't there?" She shrugged out of her pack, her cloak following for a slightly baleful look given to the rip now in it, before she looked back up at them.
"Aye. Be the temple. Should see that late tomorrow." Deimos answered, accepting the coins back to resplit them out before he looked to see if there was anything serviceable in the clothing. Some of it was clean, some dirty, the former could be useful and the latter was better for the fire, tossing the bundle of it by the fire that Phobos had started. From his pack he produced the loaf of bread from the inn earlier, ripping off a section to toss to the blonde before the rest would become their meal.
"Thanks." She replied, catching the bread with a slight sigh of disappointment before she made her way back to the entrance of the cave, leaving them to their devices as they saw fit.
She watched as she left, a glower following her actions. It was plainly written and obvious to be seen, warranting a questioning look from Deimos before the rest came. "What is it?"
"I don't know why you both speak so freely around her. Especially you."
The reaction didn't phase him, merely passing a third of the loaf to Phobos who was tending the fire, followed by the rest to her.
"She's fought and bled for you." Phobos' soft voice answered in turn for the other. "She means to do all that she has vowed to, and thus far has."
"Aye, she has." Deimos nodded towards the arrow that sat on top of one of their packs against the wall. "I be not agreeing with all her methods, but she be damnably effective in a fight. That arrow be sticking in her, she did take that for you."
Silence followed, just the sounds of the fire, quiet eating and the horses that had been brushed down and fed. The blonde still hadn't returned. "Who do you think she is?" She finally asked, staring at the flames instead of either of them for addressing. Neither had an answer, just a look to figure out who would take first watch and ultimately who would inform their absent ally.
The flames told her nothing beyond what they had before, the same sensation and knowledge. She will change your very soul. Right, probably by sheer annoyance factor. Who the fuck was she, why the fuck was she here. Maybe she was some Uranian; didn't they have blonde hair? Fuck she had no idea, a frown beginning to mar her features as her eyes lost focus to the flames. Why was she so concerned about some overachieving blonde when there were more important stakes at hand? Her people were in danger, the armies of the warlords were increasing, and here she was concerned over where some fucking blonde hailed from.
With a grumble she pushed up to her feet, ignoring the looks from the other two as she stepped around the fire. Without forethought she grabbed the skin of water with her, walking out towards the cave entrance. The heat from the fire chased her back, encouraging her to return to its warmth offered. It warred with the outside air, a chilling knife that cut through her despite the heat. She paused, finally stopping a few feet from the blonde just to watch her.
Unsuccessfully she shook her empty canteen for any further offerings, frowning at it. Behind a rock she had taken up her spot, out of direct range from someone or something wandering by, but still the first line should something come in. Her pack rested against the wall at her back, helmet off to the side along with her falchion. With nothing left in her canteen she set it aside, carefully returning to probing the side of her head where the mace had introduced itself to her with a lasting impression.
"Here." She thrust the waterskin forward at her, her body acting without the authorization from her mind. She was met with a look of surprise, one that melted into a smile, even small, of thanks. Accepting the waterskin she carefully refilled her canteen before offering it back. Refolding the bandage, she wound the length of red cloth back around her head, leaning back against her pack.
"Why are you out here? The fire is further inside." Why the fuck was she asking that? She didn't care where the blonde went.
"You know that's not what you want to ask me." Came the lilting reply, the piece of bread being used to punctuate her words before she ate.
Fucking infuriating…. "Who are you." She didn't bother to phrase it as a question. If the blonde wanted to play games, she could play them against a stubborn Martian and lose.
The blonde finished chewing, tilting her head back and at an angle to look at her for with that damnable expression from before, but said nothing.
"...Damn irritation…" She muttered, turning to go back inside where the fire roared. She just wasn't fast enough to miss the words however.
"Pet names already Priestess? I'll have to continue living up to being your irritation." A soft giggle followed in the wake of the words, stirring the boiling, rolling mass of conflict she felt just that much more.
Fuck it was going to be a long night.