So. I'm back. Vacation was fun. We sorta had to make adjustments for the hurricane but other then that it was really nice. I bet you guys really want me to shut up and let me read you the chapter. Ok, shutting up now.
Chapter Thirteen: Calm Before the Storm
Wow. It's been a while since I was able to write something down. Yep; I'm alive. Aiden Jaeger is still kicking in this world. But no punching. Or doing anything really difficult for another week. I've sorta been bedridden for two weeks now. Mustafa really did a number on me so I had to be confined in the medical bay for the first week with a select treatment. A dose of a Heal staff every two hours so my lungs can get some aid while they repair themselves. At least the food is good. If you count bear stew all day, everyday as good then go for it! I ain't going to stop you. I literally cannot stop you seeing how I can barely run a mile without coughing out a lung. Not literally! Just in case you think like that.
But yeah; I just got my sword arm, also my writing arm, out of the sling today. Decided to exercise it by writing so here I am. I'm also getting the latest news that I didn't learn from Donny, Jack, Anna, and Sully while I was bedridden. Looks like news of the Exalt's death has traveled all over the continent and oh boy did it rustle a lot of people's jimmies. All of Ylisse is basically ready for total war against Plegian now and the army is now having to turn people away because the farms still need to be taken care of. Well, that is to say that when Ylisse first heard of Emmeryn's death, the massed a citizens' army and pushed the Plegian armies back to the original border.
Not only that but Ferox spies have been spreading rumors among the Plegian military about how noble and kind the Exalt was and Plegian soldiers have been defecting for a while now. Plus the generals in the Plegian army are starting to get discontent with the Mad King and his policies. Rumors are going around of the generals planning of a military coup de grace but luckily, none of these rumors reach Gangrel's ears. Or that busty woman's ears. I still wonder who that person is. Her name is probably something sexy evil. Probably. I'm wrong aren't I? Bet it's like Steve or something.
Anyway, Here I am; sitting in my room in Shepherd HQ, relaxing. Thank god my injures gave me an excuse to skip training. I heard ever since Emmeryn died, Frederick has turned his training regiment from brutal to sadistic. Or at least from what I've heard about it from the others describing it. I'm probably going to stop writing and just go talk with Donny or something. I'm getting pretty bored just sitting here, writing. Thank the gods that my legs didn't break or anything so I can walk around still.
I push my desk chair back and stand up, planting my good arm on the desk to help me stand up. I stand up, wobbling a tiny bit in the process. At least I didn't flip the table on accident. I walk out into the hallway and see Stahl, Ricken, and Vaike stumbling to their rooms; all of the drenched in sweat and bruises. I raise my good hand and wave hello to them. It's been a while since I last saw them. The wave me back before walking into their rooms. At least they know I'm still here. I wonder how my father's sword is doing? I bet the person in charge of the armory this time around is fixing it or something.
I start to walk to the armory, thankfully located near the bedrooms. I push the armory's door open with my shoulder and walk inside. I notice Anna; sitting and cleaning some weapons while writing something on a piece of paper. Looks like something to do with math. And when math is involved, it's money. Well with Anna's case.
"Hey Anna; how are you?" I ask her, smirking at her jumping slightly before turning to face me. My older sister would always try to scare me and my brother so doing it to someone else makes me feel happy. Because it didn't happen to me.
Anna looks at my arm before looking me in the face and says, "Hey handsome. How's the war wound doing?"
"It's doing pretty good. I can move it a bit but other then that it's same old same old. How's armory duty?"
"It's pretty good, just checking and cleaning the weapons."
"Cool. Whatcha writing?" Her eyes look at the paper before looking back at me.
"Oh nothing much. Just how much money I am going to need before I go back on the road again." Well this is a development.
"You're leaving? Why's that?" I say, walking over and sitting down on a box besides her.
"Well yeah. I gotta go and find some new stock. The Shepherds get around and we get some pretty neat stuff, but I want to go and see if there are some special stock a person sells to just a regular buyer; not the prince of a country." Wow. That is pretty smart.
"All by yourself? I'd think you hire someone to help you."
"Well that's what I plan on doing but all the mercenaries I've been looking at are just too expensive for my taste. Hey Aiden; what do you plan on doing after this war is over?" Holy shit, I did not think of that. What am I going to do after all of this is done and over with? I mean I can stay with the Shepherds but I can't really keep lying to them about the shoulder plate. Plus I can't handle the knight's life at all. Too many rules and stuff. I like mercenary work because of the freedom you can do most jobs in. Wait, mercenary work… I got it!
"Well. I think I just realized what I plan on doing after all of this is over." I say, turning to face her.
"What is it then? Don't keep me waiting!" Anna says, placing a finger on her chin while looking at me.
"How about I join you as your mercenary? I don't plan on becoming a knight or anything and you need a mercenary so it's perfect! Plus I offer cheap rates to friends. So what do you say?"
Anna strokes her chin using her finger, pondering about my offer. "Well; you do offer low rates and you are a pretty decent fighter seeing how this is your second time out of a fight. Plus it is always better to travel with friends so why not? I'll offer you 30% of all cash gained from my business!" 30%. Really?
"I want 50% from the cash!"
"How about 35%?"
"Let's do 40%."
"Deal! Pleasure doing buisness with you Mr. Aiden!" Well that turned out all right. I think…
Aiden and Anna have achieved support level A
After chatting with Anna for a little bit more; I decided to leave the armory and go into the mess hall. Before I went, I noticed my sword had been cleaned. Guess Anna is a pretty good at smithing. I wonder if she learned it from somewhere? Anyway, I walk into the mess hall; my mouth watering at the scent of pork being cooked in the kitchens. Gods, I want something else instead of bear. I swear the Shepherds have a fascination with bear meat. I don't get it at all to be honest. Well I sorta do considering how good bear tastes but I don't know anything else besides that.
Anyway, I walk into the mess hall, waving at anyone who waves or calls my name, and head over to the serving line. I as I wait in line, Gregor walks up to join the line. Gregor looks ok. If you count having a giant bandage over your nose and you constantly have your mouth open to breath as ok. He stands behind me for a bit, looking at me if I remind him of someone, before clasping my good shoulder.
"Ah! Rider! Gregor is happy to see you up and about! How is arm? Still can move it?" Gregor says, smiling at me while crossing his arms.
I give Gregor a tiny smile back and say, "Yep. My arm is still good. How's the nose?"
"Is itchy at times but doctor says to not scratch at it or it will never heal. Gregor also knows this from experience."
"Ok. Hey Gregor, I got a question."
"Tell Gregor question Rider man. Gregor will answer it!"
"How old are you?" I really want to know because Gregor looks old enough to be my father but is spry enough to be my age. I really want to know.
"You should know better then to ask one's age, yes?"
"That's only with women, Gregor, not men."
"You sure Gregor is really man and not woman?" Gregor says, completely straight faced. Wait; is he really a woman? If he is he is flatter the justice.
"Are you a man or a woman Gregor?"
"Gregor is man. A manly man from manlier men." Ok I guess he is a man.
"So will you tell me your age?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Gregor needs hard cash to let go personal information. Also appear in others dreams like in Jack's dreams."
"What-"
"But for you, Rider, I give something else for free. I like eating pork more than bear. That is all. Bye Rider!" Gregor then pushes past me while I'm am simply stunned. What did he mean by appear in Jack's dreams? What? I don't even- What?"
Aiden and Gregor achieved support level C
Well that was a very weird conversation. At least dinner was good. A ration of pork soup with a slab of bread on the side. I'm probably going to go and grab a snack later but at least I'm eating something that isn't bear. I swear bear meat is only food the medics serve the wounded. Glad I'm done with that. I hope…
Anyway, I walk out of the mess hall and just wander around. There isn't really much to do around here when you're wounded to be honest. I mean I could go writing in my journal but I did that for like, three hours already and I'm bored of writing. Also my hand hurts. But don't tell the medics that. I don't want to taste bear again for a long time.
I walk into the training room and see Donny. He is looking through a book that is labeled "The Weapon Triangle 101" while his spear rests on his lap.. I'd thought Donny would've gone home by now seeing the debacle of the Exalt and all that. I guess that farm boy is loyal enough to stay with the Shepherds when things go to shit. Like the situation two weeks ago. I better stop thinking and talk to him.
"Hey Donny, how are you?" I say to Donny. At my voice, Donny slightly jumps and turns to face me.
Donny sighs, closing the book and grabbing his spear while standing up. He says to me, "All the gods above Aiden; you gave me a darn good scare there. I'm as fit as a fiddle today, how are you doin'?"
"Oh you know; as good as one person can when they have their lungs shredded and their sword arm nearly disabled."
"Ah shucks that ain't a good thing-"
I hold my hand up and say, "Donny; I was being sarcastic. I am doing a good as I can right now. What are you reading?" I already know what he is reading but it's polite to let him say what he is reading.
Donny holds up the book and says, "Oh this ol' thing? It's just a book me Ma gave me the day I left the village. She said it to give me some good tips on how to keep my noggin' while fightin'. Neat huh?" That is a pretty thoughtful gift Donny's mother gave him.
"That's good. After this war I think you-"
"Pardon me Aiden but I gots me a question." Ok… That was rather sudden.
"Ok… What's the question?"
"Why are you hidin' somethin'?" Donny says, looking me in the eyes.
"What are you talking about?"
"You've been hidin' somethin' for the longest of time and everyone's been wonderin' what that is! What have you been hidin' Aiden?" OH SHIT! PLAN B, PLAN B!
"I haven't been hiding anything Donnel! You guys are worrying for nothing."
"No siree! Everyone's been noticin' that you have some bags under your eyes and they've been getting worse everyday since you joined! Whatcha hidin behind them lips?" I have bags under my eyes? I pat under my eyes and feel bags resting underneath them. How did I get bags under my eyes? I mean I haven't really gotten any sleep considering I've been staying up all night thinking of plans to live if Chrom found out about my lie. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't have any bags. I think… But does that have to do with my journal being a mess? I've been looking through my journal and notice a lot of mistakes like forgetting names and adding unneeded words.
"I'm not hiding anything-"
"Yes you are!"
"No I am not Donnel!"
"YES YOU DARN TOOTIN' ARE AIDEN AND YOU GOIN' TO TELL ME!"
"I DON'T HAVE TO FUCKING TELL YOU ANYTHING JAYDEN!" It's completely quiet after I yelled out my brother's name. Me and Donny stare at each other in awkward silence before I sigh.
"Fine. I have a secret. I just can't tell anyone, especially Chrom. It might get me killed."
Donny leans on his spear and says, "I reckon that even if this secret is mighty terrible; Chrom ain't going to stick you like some pig waitin' to be slaughtered for mornin' bacon."
"I doubt it seeing how Chrom has been pretty angry lately."
"Aiden. Tell him. Ain't nothing bad goin' to happen. You've fought for the Shepherds even before me! No way Chrom goin' to off someone who fought for him. He ain't like that."
"Really Donny? I can really do that?"
"Yes, I reckon you can."
"Ok… I'll… I'll think about it."
Aiden and Donnel have achieve support level A
So. I'm very tired right now. I literally woke up at 7am and I am finishing the chapter at 8:12pm. I am going to go play some video games and maybe pass out on my bed later. I'll work on the next chapter later. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Bye.
