The Exiles
Chapter 2
Aka awoke to the smell of fish cooking. Breathing still caused pain, but not as badly as before. She would heal. She would live. She sat up, and realized her captor had covered her with a blanket. The human was kneeling by a fire, several fish cooking on a small grill over an open fire. She took in her surroundings quietly, and noticed the sun was in the western sky. I must have slept all day. Not surprising, seeing how badly that human wounded me. Thanking of her wound, she looked down her borrowed shirt. She bandages around her stomach were stained crimson, but not as badly as she had expected them to be.
"You've been asleep for two days," Robert said startling Aka. "I was afraid you were going to die. The last time I changed your bandages you didn't move at all. I'm glad to see I was wrong. I suspect in another day or so you will be strong enough to move about." The knight walked over to Aka and handed her a copper plate with fish and bread. He poured tea into a small cup and handed placed it on the ground next to the demon. "You need to try to eat."
Aka looked dubiously at the food and for a moment pride warred with hunger. Hunger won out. She devoured the food and drank the tea with a gulp. With a smile playing at his lips, Robert gave his prisoner more food and tea, with similar results.
"I don't understand," Aka said after finishing her third helping. "Why are you doing this? I am your enemy. Why are you tending to me?" "Well, there are a couple of reasons," Robert replied. "First, you surrendered. You asked for mercy when I brought you down. Second, you looked like hell. You were filthy and in rags, which leads me to believe something happened that forced you and your flock of demons onto the run. I am honor bound to care for you, until such a time as you are no longer my prisoner."
"I would not have shown you such mercy if I had defeated you human," Aka said coldly. "If I had won, you'd have fed my birds, along with every other human in that village. Your mercy is a weakness….even so, I thank you." She tried to stand, but her legs wouldn't support her weight. Robert went over to her and offered a hand. Aka glared at the outstretched appendage and once again she fought an internal battle with her pride, and once again, her pride lost. She took the offered hand and was surprised by the strength this human had. He helped her to her feet, and steadied her. Aka knew she would have fallen to the ground without Robert's help. "Thank you," she muttered. "I need to bathe and…!" She stopped speaking when she saw her old clothing folded neatly on the ground. The only clothing she had on was the overlarge tunic. Aka snapped an angry glare at human who would dare to undress her.
"I apologize Lady Aka. You were sorely wounded and I undressed you to tend your wounds. I washed your clothing clean and mended your garments as well as I could. I meant no offense."
Aka shook her head and said, "Help me to the lake." Robert did so, and once they reached the shore with a hiss of pain removed the shirt. Robert promptly turned his head from the female as she did so, and she barked a laugh. "Such foolishness human. You've already seen me in the nude." Robert didn't answer and walked into the water with Aka. Once he was waste deep she stopped, and with a laugh in her voice say, "I'm deep enough in now to wash. You may return to the shore unless you intend to wash with me, though how you will in your armor escapes me." Robert flushed brightly as he turned and returned to the shore. He sat on a nearby log, his back to the demon as she washed.
Aka felt better in the water. It was late summer, so the days were still warm and the water was pleasant. She grabbed a handful of sand from the bottom and washed her body, all the while eyeing her captor. He was a most peculiar man she thought. His armor is unlike any I've ever seen. His sword isn't curved like a Japanese blade, and his manor most odd. Where is he from? How did he learn our language? So many questions I must have answers for. She took a breath and knelt under the water, submerging herself completely. Aka vigorously washed her long hair and stood spraying water all around. Robert turned his head slightly at the splashing sound, and Aka grinned in response. He is a tall one, the demon mused. His shoulders were broad and was obviously quite strong. She also had noticed that his eyes were a deep blue. She had never seen a human with blue eyes or blonde hair before. She began to make her way slowly back to the shore and called out, "I am coming human if you still feel the need to advert your eyes." Robert didn't answer, but he did hold out a second towel for her to use. "I am still feeling weak human. I could use your assistance." Robert stood and turned to the demon who was now waste deep in the water. He did his best to look everywhere but at her nakedness as he stepped to Aka and held out his hand to her. "Fool. How can such a warrior as yourself be afraid of seeing me this way?" Again Robert did not answer, but the flush on his pale face was unmistakeable. She gripped his hand and carefully walked from the water. She took the small blanket he had left on the log and wrapped herself in it. "Come human," Aka said quietly. "I need to rest, and more food would be welcome. And I have questions." Robert simply nodded and looked much more at ease now that Aka was covered. They walked back to the camp in silence.
Aka donned her usual outfit while Robert used a small ax to cut more wood for the night's fire. She noticed his horse was tethered to a nearby tree and was contently eating grass. If the beast had a care in the word, it didn't show it. Aka also noticed two saddle bags and a long lance in a neat bundle near the lean-to. The evening was cool and pleasant. The sky was clear and the night seemed destined to show every star in its glory. I could have killed the human and made by escape when I was coming out of the lake. His eyes were closed, his head turned and his neck exposed. Aka sighed and shook her head at the thought. But to what end? I am weak and unable to defend myself…and I am alone. I have nowhere to call home. The sound of Robert returning brought her from her musings as he approached camp, a stack of wood in his hand. He lay the bundle down and stacked them to burn, and retrieved flint and steel from his bags to start the fire.
"Wait." Aka pulled herself over to the small bundle and lay her hand on the wood. A moment later there was a flash and a small fire was burning. She looked at Robert who nearly smiled and gazed at his companion in wonder. "Now lets eat, nearly dying makes a lady hungry, she purred.
'I come from a land called England which is very far to the west from here. I am, or rather I was a member of an Order of warriors called the Knights Templar."
"Why are you here," Aka asked. She didn't miss the look of sadness in Robert's eyes as he spoke about his Order.
Robert was oiling his armor and was dressed in his normal clothes. Supper had been eaten and the sun had long since slipped behind the mountains. He and Aka had begun talking. True to her word, the demon was asking questions, and so far Robert had been answering. How however his face bore a frown and his sad eyes grew hard with suppressed anger. Finally he spoke. "The king of France accused us of treason. Almost all of my brothers were captured and tortured to death. I was fortunate and able to escape. The only way I could go was to the East, as far east as east goes. I can never return home. Everything I loved and fought for has been taken from me." The exiled knight stood and began to pace like a chawed lion. "I followed the Silk Road and worked as a mercenary for the caravans headed east. From city to city I went. Through Persia and into Mongolia, and into China. I kept hearing from merchants of an island nation to the east, across the sea. Finally I met merchants from this place and I worked for them for a year. They said they came from a place called Japan ruled by warriors called samurai. Two months ago my contract with them expired and I took a ship east to this place, this Japan. It is my hope that here maybe I can start over, have a live of service and purpose." He sat back down angrily staring into the ground itself or so it seemed. "So far that's not what I've found. All I've discovered is a land infested with bandits, greed, and petty feuds."
"You're not the online who's lost something," Aka said. Robert looked at her and she continued. "Half a year ago a powerful demon named Naraku killed my clan's queen and princess. With our two most powerful defenders slain we Phoenix demons were all but defenseless against our enemies. Our nests were destroyed and my people hunted down and killed. I am the last of my kind. My flock and I were on the run for months. The birds you killed when we met were the last of their kind, and I am the last of mine." She looked defiantly at the human who killed her birds and nearly her. "You killed the last of them."
Robert looked at the demon. After a moment he said simply, "I am sorry. I had been hired to protect the village from you and your flock. I make no excuses or apologies." For a moment he thought she would attack him. However, Aka took a deep breath and shook her head. "The fault lies with that bastard Naraku. In the end though, it doesn't matter now. My clan is dead. I have nowhere to go."
"You could always travel with me, Lady Aka. Two vagabonds roaming the countryside together is better than being alone." Aka looked at the human as if he had lost his mind. "Me? Travel with a human? To what end? What would we do? Where…what…"
Robert began to chuckle, and finally burst forth with belly laughs at the confusion on the demon's face. For a moment Aka glared at him, but the laughter was contagious and after a moment her voice joined his. The horse looked at his two companions as if to say, What fools. Aka noticed and pointed at the horse who snorted and began to eat grass again as laughter filled the small clearing .
"Very well, human," Aka said when she finally stopped laughing. "I will come with you. It's not as if I have anywhere else to go. But I have conditions. First, I go freely and not as a prisoner. Second, my name is Aka. Not Lady Aka. Simply Aka."
Robert stood and knelt down before the demon. "I accept your terms. And my friends call me Rob. I think it's a better name than human, don't you agree?" He said with a smirk. Aka laughed again in reply.