Forget the Clouds

Chapter 2

It was raining in the highlands. The inky shadow of storm clouds and hazy rain clearly visible from the hills just outside Saur. It was a perfect background for a dazzling battle and that was actually what Chris suspected Dennis had had in mind. The silver-haired Obstinate Arrow member had a taste for pleasing aesthetics, a thing at odds with the simple way in which he approached everything else in his life: direct and deadly. Of all the Arrows, Dennis was the closest to him, his blunt sense of style in matching contrast to Christopher's more subtle way of dealing with things.

Unfortunately, Dennis' disregard for any kind of restraint could be aggravating.

"You're faster today," his friend commented easily, hindered not at all by the fact that they were engaged in a heated practice. Chris disengaged his halberd and sent it flying in Dennis' direction who reflected it back with an angled sword stroke. Chris snapped the axe back together. "If I didn't know better, I'd say the rumors are true."

"You know better," Chris replied smoothly, flipping backwards as Dennis surged forward, sword slicing through the air. His friend smiled.

"Don't you want to know which rumors I'm talking about?"

Chris smiled calmly back. "Not really." Sparks flew as Dennis barely evaded a hard stroke by his captain's axe. He retreated a few steps and raised his sword in defense.

"It has to do with Winnia-san."

There was a second's worth of hesitation, a brief flicker in the dark eyes but Dennis had been watching for it and he lunged forward, his blade swinging in low. Chris was forced to move aside, his axe handle turning Dennis' sword away from his ribs at the last moment. Dennis pivoted quickly, his expression one of victory.

"Really, Chris, those orders you gave us were a dead giveaway. Not that we mind keeping an eye out for her," Dennis added quickly as Chris charged, slamming the flat of his axe against Dennis' sword so hard the blade shuddered. Dennis locked his knees in order to keep his place as Chris pushed against him but his boots still slid backwards in the grass. A puzzle in Dennis' mind came together. Have you found something to protect at last? "Wow. She really does have you, doesn't she."

It wasn't a question.

Chris moved away so fast that Dennis fell forward from the lack of resistance, falling face first into the ground. After a moment, he pushed himself up again, pulling grass from his hair as he looked at his friend ruefully.

"That was really low."

Chris glanced at him. "You should have expected it."

Dennis climbed to his feet. "I did expect it, I just didn't think Winnia-san would be the trigger."

"She's not a weapon," Chris replied, and Dennis was surprised to hear a certain amount of steel in his superior's voice. Dennis nodded, satisfied.

"You should tell her that."

Winnia was picking out ripe tomatoes when it began to rain. It fell quietly at first, just a gentle shower that didn't bother her much. For that reason, she didn't dart under the nearest overhang when the first drop fell. Instead, she waited while the lady put the tomatoes in her basket and counted out her change. By the time she had finished, the rain had begun to fall with more intensity and Winnia wondered if she should wait it out or continue on back to the manor. She had a marvelous dinner planned, one that had never failed to bring her compliments on her superb cooking. Of course, that was not the reason she wanted to make it that evening, as Chris never said anything one way or another about her cooking except to say 'thank you', but the other Arrows, if they were present, would clamor for second helpings and the joy of making something good for someone else was a feeling Winnia was addicted to. It made her feel useful and as she was best at menial tasks like cleaning and doing the laundry, cooking was the one thing she excelled at above all else. And if it coaxed a smile from him, it was well worth the effort.

Suddenly decided, she hurried out into what was quickly becoming a downpour, her cherry-pink locks instantly becoming drenched. Splashing through puddles, she keep her head down, ducking away from the rain, so it was not much of a surprise when she ran into someone. Reeling backwards, she looked up at the hooded gentleman and bowed slightly.

"Sorry." She moved on by him but was stopped when he reached out and grabbed her arm, the basket banging against the back of his hand.

"Hold on there, missy."

With a twist of his fingers, he slipped the basket right off her arm and into the folds of his cloak before she blink. In the next instance, as she stood in shock, he pushed her backwards and she hit the side of a building hard, a small surprised cry escaping her throat as she sank to her knees.

The thief didn't even glance at her and neither did any of the people passing by. Most of them were hurrying somewhere out of the rain and only spared her a sympathetic look. Anger rose at her own helplessness and she flung out a hand at the man as he started to turn away.

"Wait!

For some reason, or perhaps to do her further harm, the thief did move slightly towards her and so he did not see the disjointed chain of a special halberd come flying out of nowhere to wrap around his legs, pulling him off his feet. He fell flat on his back in the mud, her basket landing with a heavy thump right beside him as a dark streak appeared a few feet away, retracting the chain calmly as if he did it everyday. The thief gazed at him in surprise.

"Dennis," Chris said quietly, and the silver swordsman stepped up from behind him.

"Yes?"

"Please take this man to the magistrate."

Dennis bowed. "As you wish."

As he dragged the would-be thief away kicking and proclaiming his innocence, Chris stepped forward and bent to pick up her basket, his eyes flickering over to her.

"Winnia-san?"

She rose unsteadily, blinking raindrops from her eyelashes as he came to her side slowly, his dark eyes noticing her thoroughly drenched clothing. Without a word he reached up and unclasped his cloak, draping it over her shoulders and head with his free hand. She held the two folds together automatically, her hand brushing his as he pulled away.

"You shouldn't be so careless. You're going to catch a cold," he said, matter-of-factly, tucking her basket under his arm.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, her fingers tightening on the fabric of his cloak. "I wanted to get home quickly." Chris' head swung to look at her completely and she blinked at his sudden attention, golden eyes widening as she realized what she had said.

…get home…

Chris smiled his calm, perfect smile. "Ah, then let's go, shall we?"

They walked back with their shoulders touching.

"Sutton!"

Sutton winced when she saw him coming, her shoulders slumping as he drew even with her. He fixed her with a flat stare.

"Why did I find Winnia-san in the market alone in the middle of a rainstorm?"

His voice was patient but Sutton reacted as if he had shouted at her. "Chris-sama, it's wasn't my fault! I tried to get her to stay but she was determined!"

He remained impassive. "Then why didn't you go with her?"

Sutton gave him a smile that was a bit too wide. "It was going to rain?" she offered.

Chris was not amused.

"Ah, is Chris-sama worried about Winnia-chan?" Fafal mused, sliding up beside Sutton. The swordslinger grinned at him as if she were delighted about knowing something he did not.

Chris gave them both a neutral look and turned on his heel, heading to the dining room. Fafal giggled to herself, a knowing glint in her eyes. Sutton only watched her in confusion.

"What?"

The dinner turned out to be delicious.

Winnia sat in her chair, surrounded by the glow of candlelight and the flash of silverware, a warm blush on her cheeks as Dennis, Sutton, and Fafal begged for seconds and even thirds, each one of them seemingly intent on stuffing themselves silly. Jill ate with a quiet relish, obviously pleased, and the Baroness smiled at Winnia whenever she caught her eye. Chris, though, said not a word, but ate with his usual politeness, never glancing at her, never speaking.

Surprisingly, Winnia was not upset. She knew what sort of person Chris was and had not expected any sort of outward emotion from him. It would have been nice, of course, but she hoped he was at least happy inside that locked heart of his.

As the dinner died down, Winnia rose from her chair, laying her napkin on the tabletop. "If everyone is finished, I'll go and get the dessert."

Dennis and Fafal agreed heartily with this and Winnia smiled as she moved towards the kitchen. She had taken only three steps when her head suddenly began to spin, the world sliding around her. Before she knew it, strong arms were catching her as she collapsed, her knees buckling as energy drained from her.

Voices were calling her anxiously and she blinked, trying to resolve her blurry vision.

"I'm sorry," she murmured automatically. "I must have tripped."

And then a sleepy sort of haze fell over her and she closed her eyes, sinking into darkness, never hearing the smooth voice that called out to her with cracked constraint.

"Winnia."

To Be Continued…