Mysterious Rescuer

Chapter 5 - Mysterious Rescuer

Astraea stopped for a moment, panting heavily as she was forced to double over from exhaustion, as well as from the pain of her wound that refused to stop bleeding. Worriedly she looked at the simple tourniquet she'd wrapped around her upper arm, blood now seeping heavily from the bandage, tracing a bright red line across her skin. She reached down and ripped another strip of fabric from her pants and tied it over the one on her arm, hoping that it would help keep in the blood while she tried to find her way through this seemingly endless prairie she was running through.

Apprehensively she glanced back over her shoulder, as she had done many times since she'd left Trollheim, afraid that the men who had attacked them had somehow managed to slip past Aquarius and were now after her. But again there was no one there, nor anyone before her. This road was as unused as it was devoid of life.

Astraea straightened up and groaned softly, her free hand coming up to her forehead. She was getting dizzy from the blood loss and every step she ran it became more and more difficult to move without wanting to fall over. She took a few hesitant steps forward to gain her balance, quickening her stride to a fast walk when finally the nausea had almost completely passed.

She had only been walking for a few minutes when a loud rustle came from the tall grasses at the edge of the road. Astraea cried out in surprise as a large, dark shape sprang out at her, knocking her onto her back. The back of her head struck an exposed rock and with a helpless moan of pain her eyes closed upon themselves, the heavy creature that had her pinned taking the opportunity to strike her body with repeated blows.

Suddenly though the monster gave a cry of pain and the suffocating weight was pulled off of her. Then there was nothing but silence. Painstakingly Astraea opened her eyes, squinting up at the graying clouds overhead. A dark figure stood a few feet away, a long sharp weapon held in their right hand. It turned towards Astraea, spikes of orange hair reflecting the sunlight, and heavy armor draped around its form. As the person stepped forward she was vaguely aware of a deep voice speaking to her, but by then the world was swimming dangerously before her eyes and she felt herself slipping into blackness. The last thing she saw before the darkness enveloped her were a pair of deep amber eyes staring into hers with concern.

* * * * * * *

Astraea awoke to the sound of a loud clatter and boisterous laughter. She opened her eyes and found them focusing on a dark ceiling, wood beams crossing through her vision. Slowly she sat up, wincing in pain though as she looked down on her cleanly bandaged right arm, then at the wide strips of fabric that covered her bruised torso and chest.

Suddenly feeling extremely modest she jerked up the sheets at her waist with her free hand, her eyes darting about the room as she sought to cover herself more properly. The handle at the door on the opposite side of the room turned just a moment after and Astraea squeaked in surprise, shrinking back farther onto the bed. A rustle of skirts entered the room and Astraea peeked over the top of the sheets to see an elderly woman carrying a small try of food trying to squeeze her way into the room.

"Aye! So ye're awake now miss. I thought ye might be a mite hungry when ya did so I brought ye a bite to eat," the woman declared as she set the tray of steaming food down on the table next to Astraea's bed.

"Excuse me, ma'm, but where am I?" Astraea asked timidly, tightening the sheets around herself.

"Ye're at my husband's tavern in Fort Mordu miss, best known for its beer and loggins. Now come, sit yerself right up and have a bite, I can tell when a body's had little to eat fer too long."

Astraea blushed when her stomach growled in agreement with the woman and gladly accepted the tray as it was placed on her lap.

"Now eat yer fill, and I'll fetch ye one of our spare cleanin dresses. Yer things er still soaked with blood and sittin in the wash."

"Thank you." Astraea smiled and picked up a piece of bread from the tray and began tearing into it slowly, ignoring the urge to ravage the food. "Ah wait, please," she called out as the woman opened the door. "How did I get here?"

"Aye me, of course ye don't remember. A young man, not one of our regulars, brought ye in last night all bloodied and ner dead. He's down in the pub at the moment, and I'm sure ye'll be wantin to speak te him."

"Yes, I would like to. Thank you again, for everything."

"Don't worry yer pretty little head my dear. Now eat up and I'll be back soon."

Astraea watched the door close behind the woman and laid back heavily on the pillows that had been propped up behind her. 'What happened?' she asked herself quietly, searching the ceiling for some answer to her lack of memory. "Oh no..." she breathed, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. 'Aquarius... oh goddess what's happened to you?' Suddenly her meal was forgotten as thoughts of her friend rose in her mind. With them came the memory of being attacked on the deserted road, and the mysterious rescuer that had slain the monster which attacked her.

'Perhaps he'll know something of Aquarius.. maybe even ran into her on the road!' With renewed hope Astraea dove into her food, determined to hurry down to the pub and speak to this strange man that had saved her life.

* * * * * * *

Astraea tugged awkwardly at the hem of the dress she was wearing as she tiptoed quietly down the narrow wooden staircase which led from the second floor down to the pub below. A brown corset was loosely tied around her chest and waist, matching the tan colored scullery dress she was wearing, short sleeved and worn from years of other servants wearing the same clothing.

She paused at the foot of the stairs, feeling like a shy child among a room of strangers. The room before her was large and noisy, filled with tables, men and women alike, all enjoying the food and drink that seemed to flow endlessly from the kitchen. Women clothed in outfits similar to the one Astraea was wearing darted among the tables carrying trays of beer and food, laughing and smiling along with the patrons.

The atmosphere was warm and welcoming but Astraea felt lost among the throng of strangers. She looked around for a moment, hoping to spot a familiar face.

"Oh there ye are miss, yer young legs are much faster then this old women can keep up with!" The tavern keeper's wife declared as she ambled down the stairs behind Astraea. "I'm sure ye'll be wantin te know who that youn' man was that brought ye in." Astraea nodded and the woman smiled. "Over there," she said, pointing to a table in the center of the room. "Ther one with the dern brightest hair ye'll ever see this side of the realms!"

As the woman laughed Astraea watched the table her rescuer sat at. The round table was seated all around by men, their faces red with liquor and each one laughing jovially. But the loudest of all was a young man with bright orange hair, spiked at the ends, a half full mug of beer raised in his hand as he laughed along with his table mates.

At an encouraging nudge in the side from the portly woman, Astraea stepped forward and slowly made her way over to the table. She paused just before reaching it, standing a few feet away from the right arm of her rescuer, watching the table of men before her nervously. However before she had a chance to think one of the men turned and noticed her, waving his hand impatiently for her to come closer.

"Oi! We need more beer here missy. We never want to see the bottoms of these glasses, right boys!" A cheer rose up from the table at the man's proclamation and all the mugs were shoved in Astraea's direction.

"Um..." Astraea stuttered, staring between the beer glasses and the orange haired man, who had yet to notice her. "I don't... work here."

"Huh?" The darker haired man's mouth fell open in surprise and suddenly the table quieted as all eyes turned to the brightly flushed girl.

At the sudden change in volume the orange haired man finally turned in Astraea's direction. "Wait er minute," he mumbled, looking Astraea up and down. "Dun I know you?"

Astraea smiled in relief and nodded, stepping closer to his side.

"Oi, Tasuki, you know this chick?" one of the men asked as all eyes became focused on the orange haired youth.

"Um... of course!" Suddenly one of his arms reached out and encircled Astraea's waist, dragging her down to sit on his lap.

Astraea squeaked in surprise and tried to stand back up, only to find that both of his arms were now strongly wrapped around her torso, preventing her to move. "Eek, let me go!"

"Now now, that's not what yer said last night," Tasuki slurred, eyeing Astraea through her dress.

Suddenly a loud slap rang out through the tavern. Astraea sprang from Tasuki's lap, her face red with embarrassment and anger as Tasuki stared up in surprised, a small red welt appearing on his cheek.

"Wh..." But his question was cut short as Astraea grabbed his wrist and dragged him from the table, weaving her way through the patrons and noise of the tavern to the back stairway.

"Hey if ya wanted te go upstairs ya didn have ta say it so painfully," Tasuki grumbled while his free hand rubbed his red cheek.

Astraea turned to the rude bandit and willed her breathing to slow. "Do you recognize me, at all?" she asked after a moment, leveling her gaze with his.

He leaned forward and surveyed her face, his alcohol stenched breath wafting to Astraea's nostrils and she backed away a step to escape the smell. However for seeming so drunk before his amber eyes shifted to hold a calculated stare on her features, no suggestively or rudeness lingering behind them. He straightened up after a moment and the two held each other in unwavering stares.

"You're the one I found along the road," he concluded, his voice low and sober.

Astraea nodded, slightly surprised by his quick change in attitude. "I wanted to ask you.. did you meet anyone else along the road? A woman monk, with long auburn hair?"

Tasuki shook his head. "I only saw you. I was on my way to Trollheim, but when I found you lying across my path I decided to bring you here. I'm glad to see you've recovered," he replied, a strange lack of emotions in both his eyes and voice.

But Astraea was too preoccupied with this new information about her friend to take notice of Tasuki's change in attitude. Her brow furrowed with worry and her lower lip being methodically chewed on by her teeth, she sat down upon the bottom step of the stairs, hands twisting together in her lap.

"What're ya goin to do?" The red-head asked, a brown eyebrow arching upwards in surprise.

"Find her of course," Astraea replied, looking up at the rouge as though noticing him for the first time. She stood up quickly and turned to walk back upstairs, but then paused and faced her rescuer once more. "Thank you." She smiled, then picked up her skirts and darted up the stairway.

Tasuki watched her leave, then with an imperceptible shrug turned and walked back to the table he'd been dragged away from, his face once more laughing and grinning at the questions his friends threw out at him concerning the young lady who'd seemed so determined to gain his attention.

* * * * * * *

Astraea readjusted her pack and stared down the expanse of road before herself with slight apprehension. The entrance to the fort lay behind her, the iron gates to her right and left, standing open to visitors or those just passing through. Crushed yellow stalks lined the edges of the road, wagon ruts cutting deep through the tan colored dirt. It swept out south from the fortress, the switched sharply to the right and out of sight, heading to that mystical mountain in the distance she had been to once before.

That was the only familiar thing around her though, and Astraea was feeling the loneliness weighing on her. She should stay and train in this place, but worry over Aquarius had made her decide to venture out from the safety of the fort's walls and search for her friend. That is, if she could bring herself to step outside.

Her feet seemed determined to remain rooted to the spot, and whether she consciously encouraged it she didn't know. A part of her somehow had come to accept that Aquarius was gone, and if perhaps she was still alive, would most surely come to this place where they had agreed to go to. And so her logical judgment was working against her, pushing her to remain within the shelter of Mordu's walls and advance with her training.

With a loud sigh Astraea turned on her heels to face the inner tunnel of the fort, and found her nose pressed up against a solid piece of metal armor. She glanced up in surprise and stepped back speechless.

It was the man from last night, Tasuki had been his name. He was staring down at her indifferently, though his amber eyes were watching her carefully, as though trying to decide whether she was friend or foe.

"Hello," Astraea greeted once she had found her voice, a polite smile on her lips.

After a pause the red-head grinned back, his eyes now flashing almost playfully. "Well hey there cute thing. What brings ya ta this end of the fort?"

Astraea flushed under his candor. "I, was thinking of leaving. But I've changed my mind. Why are you here?" she asked in return.

"People killing of course." His grin broadened. "Better stay inside fer awhile, could get bloody out there."

Astraea eyes hardened as she stared back at Tasuki, suddenly feeling her anger build at his confession of being a person killer. "Well," she snapped. "Better that I didn't go outside then, I might have been your next victim."

"Hey hey," Tasuki began defensively, shying slightly under her accusing stare. "I'd never go afta a pretty thing like you, jus' idiots and enemies. I ain't that bad of a guy, really."

However Astraea merely turned up her nose and walked past the slayer. "I'll be sure to warn everyone I see not to go outside," she shot back at him, taking long strides up the tunnel that led into the heart of the fort.

She heard feet running behind her and turned to see Tasuki jogging up next to her. "Oi, don't be mad or nuthin, I just said that ta, uh... show off, ya know." His face was flushed embarrassedly and Astraea paused, wondering if perhaps he had just been jesting after all.

When she remained silent Tasuki studied her for a moment. "What're ya gonna do now anyway?"

"Train, it seems," she answered flatly.

"Do um.. ya even know where the trainin grounds are?"

Astraea blushed suddenly when she realized that she didn't know and was indeed a stranger in this place. She'd only gotten to the entrance because the tavern's wife had personally escorted her there. Finding everything in this place would take awhile considering her lack of knowledge. "I don't," she admitted quietly.

"Well let me make it up ta ya and show ya around, ok?" Tasuki's eyes seemed sincerely sorry for what he'd said before and Astraea nodded her assent. With him leading the way the two of them headed back inside the fort.