The Volunteer
Miri entered the dining room first. She nodded at George as a way of hello before sitting in a seat across from him.
"Not a very productive morning?" George asked, corner of his mouth raised in amusement as he watched Brecc and Evin also take a seat around the table.
"Three chess games." Brecc said with a shrug.
"With me winning two and Brecc winning one." Evin said mischievously.
Brecc rolled his eyes. "Chess wasn't the only game you tried to win, Evin."
George raised an inquiring eyebrow at that. "Oh?"
"He used a pulling the flower out of the ear trick on her." Miri said, shaking her head.
"That old trick?" George scoffed.
"Not that old, George." Evin said with a grin. "After all, you're still here."
"Oh, oh, oh!" George laughed. "So what does everyone think of the girl?"
"Well," Miri said first, "I don't think she's that bad of a person."
Brecc gave a disbelieving snort.
"She reminds me of an unhappy caged animal." Evin offered musingly.
"A dangerous caged animal."
"But that doesn't necessarily mean that she's a bad person." Miri pointed out. "After all, she carefully treated our wounds didn't she? We owe her for that --"
"So what? She's great at treating wounds. It doesn't mean she's a good person." Brecc interrupted. "And we don't owe her anything. We got our own healers to heal her injury, didn't we?"
"She did more than treat my injury, Brecc. She defended me when the bandits tried to…" Miri's voice faded into silence. "I'm still indebted to her." she finally said.
"So am I." Evin agreed. Then he shook his head ruefully and gazed at Miri. "She did more than defend you, Miri. She was absolutely furious. You should have seen the way that bandit flew off the his horse." Evin said with a glint in his eye. "He was lucky that she struck him in the chest where he was covered with clothing. Otherwise, he would have had some nasty injuries because of the thorns on her staff."
"Yes, she has a very interesting staff." George mused.
"We need to get her out of her shell." Evin said. "There's something about the bandits. Some reason why she won't just leave." He brooded.
"Maybe she is in love with one of the bandits." Miri guessed.
Evin shook his head. "No, it isn't that. She would not have reacted the way she had if that was the reason why she wanted to go back. She wanted to go back because she was frightened. It was not the kind of anxiety and worry one would feel because of a lover."
"Frightened?" Brecc scoffed. "Of what?"
"That's what we need to find out." George said. "You're right, Evin. We need to bring her out of her shell so she could speak with us. Not just because we need to know why she is so attached to the bandits, but also to lighten her up for when the others come to talk to her. Whether she will be proclaimed a criminal or not, all sits on the impression that she makes on them."
His statement was followed by a contemplative silence.
"I could try to --" Evin started.
"Evin, don't turn this into one of your conquests." Miri said sharply.
Evin turned to glance at her. "This is too serious a situation for me to be making any conquests, Miri." He shrugged. "Besides, is anyone else volunteering?"
Brecc shook his head fiercely. "Not me. She'll tear me to pieces if I try to speak with her."
Miri didn't look very willing either. "I don't think she really likes me…" she said softly.
Brecc shook his head. "She doesn't seem to like anyone." he said.
"And I guess that leaves me with the job of bringing her out of her shell." Evin said. He stood, nodding at everyone at the table, and walked out of the room.
There was a short silence.
"The flirt." Brecc finally said, shaking his head. "If he breaks her heart, she'll probably try to break him. Literally."
~~~~~~~
A.N. - What do you think? Would Thorn really 'break' Evin if he broke her heart? Would he even be able to get into her heart? Does Thorn have a heart???
Share your thoughts with me, whether they are about my questions or just on what you thought of the chapter. Thanks for reading!
~Krizsta
P.S. - No way, Larzdinn. I will never get tired of reviews, even if they're repetitive. Besides, even repetitive ones are good. It lets me know that people are actually taking the time to read my story. Without reviews, I wouldn't have any motivation to finish my story. And finishing stories is a very prominent problem with me and my writings. So what's my point? Reviews = motivation. Motivation = finish of story. Finish of story = …..uh…happy readers? (I know I'll be glad that I was actually able to finish a story).
