Chapter 4: In Occupation's Shadow
After resting the night in the village, restocking our supplies, explaining all the messy details to Florina and Wil, taking a much needed bath, and successfully stopping Sain's attempts at Florina by tying him to his horse; we were finally on our way.
The Bern mountains are not at all easy to cross during the day, what with the uneasy terrain, boiling weather, and the roving thugs that wanted our blood. Our last fight with the Ganelon bandits had left them inraged with us. It wouldn't be at all surprising if they were to show up. Therefore, with these disturbances and more, traveling by night is merely a quick and easy way for us to die. So, after a day of traveling, we decided that we'd need to stay the night somewhere.
"You know, this would be a whole lot easier if Florina could just fly around and find somewhere. This land method is getting us nowhere," Sain complained from in front of Wil. Kent had stopped calling him a fool three dead trees ago which was about when he had kicked him of his horse.
Wil shook his head from behind the annoying knight, "She's an easy target, Sain. If we were to send her up it would give up our location and endanger her greatly."
Kent nodded and Florina's horse sniffed. Lyn was on the pegasus with its knight. She looked slightly amazed at being there. I turned to the rolling lands ahead of me. Mountains lined the horizon, which was an odd sight to someone who was accustomed to the plains of Sacae. I could also see something else coming up, it appeared to have once been a building but it only looked like ruins from afar.
I nudged Kent in the back, "There."
Sain was squinting to see it at that point, "You've good eyes, Touya."
Once we were up close to it I found that I was correct, it was a ruined fortress. "Ah, this should suffice! Tonight's bed!" Wil said happily as he jumped down from Sain's horse, but Sain didn't look to happy.
"This mildewy old thing? Is this the best we can do? Come, Wil! Surely you jest!"
"Sorry if it doesn't appeal to your finer tastes in things," Lyn teased as she and Florina walked towards it. "I just happen to like a bed, thank you," he sniffed.
Wil shook his head. "The bandits keep everything in turmoil around here. No one has time to worry about travelers, so this is the best thing we'll be able to find. And there are a rather lot of us. If we were to stay in an inn, how would we pay for food," he ticked them off with his fingers, "supplies, weapons--"
"This will be fine," Kent stepped forth and laid a hand on his partner's shoulder.
Lyn turned and smiled, "Who wants to be stuck inside, anyway? I prefer a place where I can feel the wind blow."
Sain was still wanting to protest, so he turned to Florina and pouted. She flushed and grabbed Lyn's arm, "As long as I'm by Lyn's side, I'll be fine."
"All right. You win, you win. But, for your protection, your man-at-arms Sain will be right here by your side, ladies," he bowed. The two of them turned as Kent sighed, "Sain, both you and I are to remain awake. We will alternate the watch."
At that moment Wil and I walked away before Sain could ask us to subsitute. "After you," I motioned as Wil used his elbow to knock in a poorly-boarded door. "Ladies and Kent, are you coming?"
"Hey!" Sain yelled but a smiling Kent restrained him. Lyn and Florina walked in after Wil, and I followed them. The light was extremely good, seeing as there was no roof, so it was easy to see that something was moving in the heart of the fortress. Lyn drew her sword, "Who's there?"
"Ah, your pardon, milady," a female's voice said, her accent told that she was from the Bern countryside. Sain raised his eyebrows and walked forth, only to be stopped by Kent who punched him in the stomach. Lyn repeated her question.
"I...forgive my intrusion," she was a pretty girl, no, woman; she had to be older than me, but her face was calm and free of wrinkles. Her cornflower brown hair was tied in a light blue bow that allowed it to fall delicately over her shoulder and she was clad in a bright blue gown. "My name's Natalie. I'm from a village not far from here."
Sain protested weakly about an inn but stopped immediately as the girl fell to her knees, "Ah! Ow..." Lyn kneeled down by her side, the woman was clutching at her leg and closing her eyes in pain, "Are you hurt? Hm? Your leg.."
"It's fine. Don't worry. It's from a childhood sickness..." Various bruises lined her leg as she pushed her dress out of the way to massage it lightly, "I can't travel far on it, but it doesn't trouble me much."
Lyn helped her up as Natalie patted her dress for dirt, "What are you doing here all by yourself?"
She looked at the ground and smiled weakly, "Well milady, I'm looking for my husband... I heard he was in this area. He said he was going to get some money to have my leg mended. He left the village and hasn't returned. He's a kindhearted man, but I think he might be involved in something dangerous. So, I got worried..."
I couldn't help but feel sorry for their plight, an illness is not good to have for a poor family such as hers. Natalie dug around in her dress and pulled a folded sheet of paper out, "Here's a sketch of him. It's a poor likeness at best, but... his name is Dorcas. Do you know of him?"
Lyn held it open and we all took a step forth to look over her shoulder, he was a burly man with small eyes and short hair. Our expressions were grim as Lyn answered for us, "I'm sorry. I don't believe I've seen or heard of him."
Natalie smiled nonetheless but I could tell that it was an empty one, "I see... If you meet him, please give him a message." Lyn nodded. "Tell him that Natalie's looking for him."
"I will tell him. I promise."
"Um...if you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here? And who are you? Your such a strange group..."
Lyn laughed weakly, "Oh, well, we're headed to Caelin and we decided to stay the ni--"
"Lady Lyndis!" Kent charged forth, "Outside the fortress! Bandits!"
"Persistent bunch, aren't they?" Sain laughed and drew his sword.
Wil approached Lyn, "What do you think? Shall we go out and face them?"
"No... Natalie cannot move well, and that would put her in danger. Let them come to us. We'll fight here, within these walls. All right Touya, you take over. The command is yours."
A walled in area is located inside the fortress. There is a gate that surrounds it. It has two open entrances, one to the east and a wide one to the south. The walls on the west side can easily be broken so it would be wise to guard them as well. "We'll need to hold them back until they tire and leave. Sain and Kent, you'll take the south entrance. Wil, you'll take the west wall, try to stop the bandits from breaking through it. Florina, you and Lyn take the east entrance. Okay, go!"
"Wa..Wait!" Natalie turned to me. "Relax, just stay here. We'll protect you," I advised as everyone took their spots. Lyn's enemy was the first to move in. He was a large man dressed in a green, ripped shirt and loose black pants and he threw an axe close to her. She quickly dodged, but the axe went through the crumbling wall behind her. Natalie shrieked, but the axe just missed her.
Lyn yelled out to me, "Touya! The fighter who just attacked me... Doesn't he look somewhat like that picture of Natalie's husband?" I looked closer and I noticed that he did, but the clang of swords drew my attention to Sain. He was fighting a brigand and appeared to be winning.
"Lyn, try to talk with him!" I called back to her. She nodded and carefully approached the man. My attention again faltered from them to Wil who was fighting an archer through the wall. "I got him," he told me. Some bandits took that time to run at our two knights.
"Good, go protect that wall, Wil! Sain and Kent, fend off those brigands!"
I could hear a man's voice over the fight, "How did you know my name? Who are you?"
I turned to see Lyn and the man she was talking to, who was looking at her in great surprise. "My name is Lyn, of the Sacae plains. Natalie told me. What are you doing with these rogues?"
He stared her in the eye, "I need money."
"That may be, but," she shook her head, "joining up with mercenaries?"
Dorcas defended himself as the sound of Wil's bow went off, "It's the only way to earn gold in these parts. I'll do anything...even this."
"For gold? Anything? Would you hurt your wife?" Lyn demanded. "Natalie is here! We're protecting her within this fortress!!"
"What?! Natalie's... She's here!" His expression changed from anger to concern in a split second.
"She was so worried about you that she came looking for you. Think, Dorcas! Would your actions please your wife?" Lyn argued. I noticed that she could probably convince anyone of anything if she knew his or her weaknesses.
"...You're right." Dorcas was completely defeated.
"Well?" Lyn placed her hand on her hip.
"I understand. I can't do this. I'm done with these bandits. Here and now. I would like to repay your kindness toward Natalie. Allow me to fight for you."
Lyn patted his shoulder, "Let's see what you've got."
He turned to any enemy nearby and with a quick turn of his wrist, sent his axe straight for the bandit. One hit knock out. "Can I see Natalie, now?" he asked weakly. Lyn lead him to her and she gasped at the sight of him.
"Natalie!" he ran at her and, being careful not to hurt her leg, embraced her protectively. She kissed him all over his face as he stroked her hair, "What were you thinking, coming out this way?"
She flushed and held his face in her hands as he held her close at the waist, "I was worried about you. Please, don't let my leg trouble you anymore. You mustn't put yourself in such danger. Please!"
He shook his head, "I'm sorry. I must have been out of my head. I didn't realize... That girl, Lyn, made me open my eyes."
"Lyndis brought you here?"
Dorcas embraced her again, "I'll tell you later. We've got to drive out these bandits first. Listen, stay put." He broke off from her and pressed his lips silently against her forehead, "Don't move from here."
She waved and smiled as he walked away, "All right. As long as you're here, I know I'm safe."
As Lyn and I watched I could see a small tear in her eye. I patted her back and she nodded. Time for the battle. With that I turned back to the Lycian knights.
Sain was fighting a swordsman as Kent attacked an axe-wielder. Wil was fighting off a mercenary that was trying the break through the weakened wall. "Lyn, move down the outer side of the fortress with Dorcas. If we can attack their leader we might be able to stop the fight. Florina, wiht Lyn gone you'll need to guard that entrance."
An archer and a brigand attacked the Dorcas and Lyn as they looked for the boss, Carjiga. Dorcas got hit by both and was in need of healing as Lyn finished the brigand off. Sain and Kent had defeated most of the incoming troops. Besides that, the battle went on unchanged.
That is, until Lyn stepped up to Carjiga. "Urgh! How? Why are they so tough? I need more men!" Lyn gripped the Mani Katti in her hands and exquisitely evaded the oncoming attacks of her adversary. After four crushing hits against Carjiga and none at all on herself, he fell, "Arrrgh... This isn't...Not me..."
"Curses!" A rat-faced bandit yelled and began to run, "They're not human! Listen up, rogues! Retreat! Pull back!"
Lyn walked back over to me from her earlier battle area, "The enemy's fled... Touya!" She jumped, full speed, on me. Her arms wrapped around my neck as she cheered happily, "We've won!!" I laughed as the others came over.
Sain elbowed Kent, "How come I don't get that type of attention?"
Kent sighed and slapped the back of his head, "Because, you fool, you'd take it as an opportunity to grope her."
"Oh yeah..."
Lyn let go as Florina walked forth, she was bleeding profusely from a wound on her leg. Lyn ran forth and began lecturing her on healing promptly in battle.
"..." Dorcas and Wil walked over to our group as Natalie came out from the confines of the fortress, "Dorcas!"
"I'm so sorry, Natalie."
"All's well that ends well. Right, Natalie?" Lyn smiled from Florina's side.
She nodded and turned back to Dorcas. "We might as well get settled for the night, guys," I shrugged at the knights and Wil.
"Mmm," Kent caught my drift and left with Sain.
Wil went to the knight's sides as they got down and handed him his stuff. They tossed mine to me and I lugged it on my back. Florina, who was completely healed by this time, began to build a fire for dinner. I sighed and approached Dorcas, "May I speak with you?"
He nodded and Natalie started to walk away, "With the both of you, please."
She gasped, stopped, and turned to her husband. The look on her face told me that she knew what I was about to ask, "I'd like to know if you'll stay with us?"
Dorcas sighed, he must've known too, "I--"
Natalie quickly spoke for her husband, "I think you should. Since you want to get money for my leg, well...this may the best for...the both of us."
The larger man looked down on his wife.
"Dorcas, Natalie--"
I could hear footsteps as Lyn appeared by the married couple's side. Dorcas turned and spoke to her, "Our village is close. I'll take Natalie home and return tomorrow."
At the last line he turned to me and I nodded.
"Hm? Why can't we just say our farewells today?" Lyn looked at him, her dirty face full of confusion.
"Well, I... I was speaking to Touya. I've...I've been invited to join your group."
"But we're going to Lycia.." but Dorcas shook her head.
"I have to go somewhere to earn money. If you think I'll be of use, I'd like to fight for you. You helped my wife... I owe you so much."
"Dorcas.." I couldn't tell whether Lyn was going to decline or not, but Natalie was determined.
"Please, Lyn. We are both in agreement on this," she stepped forward and clasped her hands on Lyn's own gloved ones, "Watch over my husband."
Lyn nodded.
"Well, it's getting late and I need to take Natalie home..." Dorcas uttered. Lyn hugged Natalie briefly, "It was great to meet you."
The other girl nodded and agreed, Dorcas looked over at me and issued his hand forth. I took it within my own, "She'll be fine."
He stared at me, "C'mon Natalie, it's getting dark."
They walked off together as Natalie waved good-bye to us.
Lyn staggered and slide onto a nearby wall to the ground just as Florina came in with a plate of food. "Let's eat," I suggested.
"Things have finally quieted down," Lyn whispered to me as we sat awake in the fortress. Florina had her head in Lyn's lap and Wil was muttering about thieves in his sleep. Kent appeared by the doorway, "We'll continue taking turns keeping watch. Please, get some sleep, Lady Lyndis."
"Is that all right? Are you sure?" Sain chose that time to walk in after Kent and Lyn addressed him, "Sain?"
"Oh!" he grinned and began walking towards the two woman as Kent stepped on his foot, "I mean...er, yes! Of course!"
"Let me warn you... If bandits sneak up on you, they'll cut down without mercy. Do you understand that?"
Kent nodded sternly and Sain slumped his shoulders, "What, do you doubt my bravery? Am I not a knight? There's no need to worry! Right, Kent?" He turned slyly to his companion.
"If there's anything suspicious, We'll take care of it. Rest assured."
"Well, good night then," Lyn muttered and rested her head against my shoulder, "See you tomorrow.." I flushed and looked over at the sleeping girl. Her hands were curled through Florina's hair and she looked extremely exhausted. I pushed my blanket over the two and crossed my arms. My eyes closed as I leaned back against the wall.
"Let's go," Kent ordered and the two exited the room. While Sain said something about no one ever trusting him as my brain became foggy with sleep.
Good Night
After resting the night in the village, restocking our supplies, explaining all the messy details to Florina and Wil, taking a much needed bath, and successfully stopping Sain's attempts at Florina by tying him to his horse; we were finally on our way.
The Bern mountains are not at all easy to cross during the day, what with the uneasy terrain, boiling weather, and the roving thugs that wanted our blood. Our last fight with the Ganelon bandits had left them inraged with us. It wouldn't be at all surprising if they were to show up. Therefore, with these disturbances and more, traveling by night is merely a quick and easy way for us to die. So, after a day of traveling, we decided that we'd need to stay the night somewhere.
"You know, this would be a whole lot easier if Florina could just fly around and find somewhere. This land method is getting us nowhere," Sain complained from in front of Wil. Kent had stopped calling him a fool three dead trees ago which was about when he had kicked him of his horse.
Wil shook his head from behind the annoying knight, "She's an easy target, Sain. If we were to send her up it would give up our location and endanger her greatly."
Kent nodded and Florina's horse sniffed. Lyn was on the pegasus with its knight. She looked slightly amazed at being there. I turned to the rolling lands ahead of me. Mountains lined the horizon, which was an odd sight to someone who was accustomed to the plains of Sacae. I could also see something else coming up, it appeared to have once been a building but it only looked like ruins from afar.
I nudged Kent in the back, "There."
Sain was squinting to see it at that point, "You've good eyes, Touya."
Once we were up close to it I found that I was correct, it was a ruined fortress. "Ah, this should suffice! Tonight's bed!" Wil said happily as he jumped down from Sain's horse, but Sain didn't look to happy.
"This mildewy old thing? Is this the best we can do? Come, Wil! Surely you jest!"
"Sorry if it doesn't appeal to your finer tastes in things," Lyn teased as she and Florina walked towards it. "I just happen to like a bed, thank you," he sniffed.
Wil shook his head. "The bandits keep everything in turmoil around here. No one has time to worry about travelers, so this is the best thing we'll be able to find. And there are a rather lot of us. If we were to stay in an inn, how would we pay for food," he ticked them off with his fingers, "supplies, weapons--"
"This will be fine," Kent stepped forth and laid a hand on his partner's shoulder.
Lyn turned and smiled, "Who wants to be stuck inside, anyway? I prefer a place where I can feel the wind blow."
Sain was still wanting to protest, so he turned to Florina and pouted. She flushed and grabbed Lyn's arm, "As long as I'm by Lyn's side, I'll be fine."
"All right. You win, you win. But, for your protection, your man-at-arms Sain will be right here by your side, ladies," he bowed. The two of them turned as Kent sighed, "Sain, both you and I are to remain awake. We will alternate the watch."
At that moment Wil and I walked away before Sain could ask us to subsitute. "After you," I motioned as Wil used his elbow to knock in a poorly-boarded door. "Ladies and Kent, are you coming?"
"Hey!" Sain yelled but a smiling Kent restrained him. Lyn and Florina walked in after Wil, and I followed them. The light was extremely good, seeing as there was no roof, so it was easy to see that something was moving in the heart of the fortress. Lyn drew her sword, "Who's there?"
"Ah, your pardon, milady," a female's voice said, her accent told that she was from the Bern countryside. Sain raised his eyebrows and walked forth, only to be stopped by Kent who punched him in the stomach. Lyn repeated her question.
"I...forgive my intrusion," she was a pretty girl, no, woman; she had to be older than me, but her face was calm and free of wrinkles. Her cornflower brown hair was tied in a light blue bow that allowed it to fall delicately over her shoulder and she was clad in a bright blue gown. "My name's Natalie. I'm from a village not far from here."
Sain protested weakly about an inn but stopped immediately as the girl fell to her knees, "Ah! Ow..." Lyn kneeled down by her side, the woman was clutching at her leg and closing her eyes in pain, "Are you hurt? Hm? Your leg.."
"It's fine. Don't worry. It's from a childhood sickness..." Various bruises lined her leg as she pushed her dress out of the way to massage it lightly, "I can't travel far on it, but it doesn't trouble me much."
Lyn helped her up as Natalie patted her dress for dirt, "What are you doing here all by yourself?"
She looked at the ground and smiled weakly, "Well milady, I'm looking for my husband... I heard he was in this area. He said he was going to get some money to have my leg mended. He left the village and hasn't returned. He's a kindhearted man, but I think he might be involved in something dangerous. So, I got worried..."
I couldn't help but feel sorry for their plight, an illness is not good to have for a poor family such as hers. Natalie dug around in her dress and pulled a folded sheet of paper out, "Here's a sketch of him. It's a poor likeness at best, but... his name is Dorcas. Do you know of him?"
Lyn held it open and we all took a step forth to look over her shoulder, he was a burly man with small eyes and short hair. Our expressions were grim as Lyn answered for us, "I'm sorry. I don't believe I've seen or heard of him."
Natalie smiled nonetheless but I could tell that it was an empty one, "I see... If you meet him, please give him a message." Lyn nodded. "Tell him that Natalie's looking for him."
"I will tell him. I promise."
"Um...if you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here? And who are you? Your such a strange group..."
Lyn laughed weakly, "Oh, well, we're headed to Caelin and we decided to stay the ni--"
"Lady Lyndis!" Kent charged forth, "Outside the fortress! Bandits!"
"Persistent bunch, aren't they?" Sain laughed and drew his sword.
Wil approached Lyn, "What do you think? Shall we go out and face them?"
"No... Natalie cannot move well, and that would put her in danger. Let them come to us. We'll fight here, within these walls. All right Touya, you take over. The command is yours."
A walled in area is located inside the fortress. There is a gate that surrounds it. It has two open entrances, one to the east and a wide one to the south. The walls on the west side can easily be broken so it would be wise to guard them as well. "We'll need to hold them back until they tire and leave. Sain and Kent, you'll take the south entrance. Wil, you'll take the west wall, try to stop the bandits from breaking through it. Florina, you and Lyn take the east entrance. Okay, go!"
"Wa..Wait!" Natalie turned to me. "Relax, just stay here. We'll protect you," I advised as everyone took their spots. Lyn's enemy was the first to move in. He was a large man dressed in a green, ripped shirt and loose black pants and he threw an axe close to her. She quickly dodged, but the axe went through the crumbling wall behind her. Natalie shrieked, but the axe just missed her.
Lyn yelled out to me, "Touya! The fighter who just attacked me... Doesn't he look somewhat like that picture of Natalie's husband?" I looked closer and I noticed that he did, but the clang of swords drew my attention to Sain. He was fighting a brigand and appeared to be winning.
"Lyn, try to talk with him!" I called back to her. She nodded and carefully approached the man. My attention again faltered from them to Wil who was fighting an archer through the wall. "I got him," he told me. Some bandits took that time to run at our two knights.
"Good, go protect that wall, Wil! Sain and Kent, fend off those brigands!"
I could hear a man's voice over the fight, "How did you know my name? Who are you?"
I turned to see Lyn and the man she was talking to, who was looking at her in great surprise. "My name is Lyn, of the Sacae plains. Natalie told me. What are you doing with these rogues?"
He stared her in the eye, "I need money."
"That may be, but," she shook her head, "joining up with mercenaries?"
Dorcas defended himself as the sound of Wil's bow went off, "It's the only way to earn gold in these parts. I'll do anything...even this."
"For gold? Anything? Would you hurt your wife?" Lyn demanded. "Natalie is here! We're protecting her within this fortress!!"
"What?! Natalie's... She's here!" His expression changed from anger to concern in a split second.
"She was so worried about you that she came looking for you. Think, Dorcas! Would your actions please your wife?" Lyn argued. I noticed that she could probably convince anyone of anything if she knew his or her weaknesses.
"...You're right." Dorcas was completely defeated.
"Well?" Lyn placed her hand on her hip.
"I understand. I can't do this. I'm done with these bandits. Here and now. I would like to repay your kindness toward Natalie. Allow me to fight for you."
Lyn patted his shoulder, "Let's see what you've got."
He turned to any enemy nearby and with a quick turn of his wrist, sent his axe straight for the bandit. One hit knock out. "Can I see Natalie, now?" he asked weakly. Lyn lead him to her and she gasped at the sight of him.
"Natalie!" he ran at her and, being careful not to hurt her leg, embraced her protectively. She kissed him all over his face as he stroked her hair, "What were you thinking, coming out this way?"
She flushed and held his face in her hands as he held her close at the waist, "I was worried about you. Please, don't let my leg trouble you anymore. You mustn't put yourself in such danger. Please!"
He shook his head, "I'm sorry. I must have been out of my head. I didn't realize... That girl, Lyn, made me open my eyes."
"Lyndis brought you here?"
Dorcas embraced her again, "I'll tell you later. We've got to drive out these bandits first. Listen, stay put." He broke off from her and pressed his lips silently against her forehead, "Don't move from here."
She waved and smiled as he walked away, "All right. As long as you're here, I know I'm safe."
As Lyn and I watched I could see a small tear in her eye. I patted her back and she nodded. Time for the battle. With that I turned back to the Lycian knights.
Sain was fighting a swordsman as Kent attacked an axe-wielder. Wil was fighting off a mercenary that was trying the break through the weakened wall. "Lyn, move down the outer side of the fortress with Dorcas. If we can attack their leader we might be able to stop the fight. Florina, wiht Lyn gone you'll need to guard that entrance."
An archer and a brigand attacked the Dorcas and Lyn as they looked for the boss, Carjiga. Dorcas got hit by both and was in need of healing as Lyn finished the brigand off. Sain and Kent had defeated most of the incoming troops. Besides that, the battle went on unchanged.
That is, until Lyn stepped up to Carjiga. "Urgh! How? Why are they so tough? I need more men!" Lyn gripped the Mani Katti in her hands and exquisitely evaded the oncoming attacks of her adversary. After four crushing hits against Carjiga and none at all on herself, he fell, "Arrrgh... This isn't...Not me..."
"Curses!" A rat-faced bandit yelled and began to run, "They're not human! Listen up, rogues! Retreat! Pull back!"
Lyn walked back over to me from her earlier battle area, "The enemy's fled... Touya!" She jumped, full speed, on me. Her arms wrapped around my neck as she cheered happily, "We've won!!" I laughed as the others came over.
Sain elbowed Kent, "How come I don't get that type of attention?"
Kent sighed and slapped the back of his head, "Because, you fool, you'd take it as an opportunity to grope her."
"Oh yeah..."
Lyn let go as Florina walked forth, she was bleeding profusely from a wound on her leg. Lyn ran forth and began lecturing her on healing promptly in battle.
"..." Dorcas and Wil walked over to our group as Natalie came out from the confines of the fortress, "Dorcas!"
"I'm so sorry, Natalie."
"All's well that ends well. Right, Natalie?" Lyn smiled from Florina's side.
She nodded and turned back to Dorcas. "We might as well get settled for the night, guys," I shrugged at the knights and Wil.
"Mmm," Kent caught my drift and left with Sain.
Wil went to the knight's sides as they got down and handed him his stuff. They tossed mine to me and I lugged it on my back. Florina, who was completely healed by this time, began to build a fire for dinner. I sighed and approached Dorcas, "May I speak with you?"
He nodded and Natalie started to walk away, "With the both of you, please."
She gasped, stopped, and turned to her husband. The look on her face told me that she knew what I was about to ask, "I'd like to know if you'll stay with us?"
Dorcas sighed, he must've known too, "I--"
Natalie quickly spoke for her husband, "I think you should. Since you want to get money for my leg, well...this may the best for...the both of us."
The larger man looked down on his wife.
"Dorcas, Natalie--"
I could hear footsteps as Lyn appeared by the married couple's side. Dorcas turned and spoke to her, "Our village is close. I'll take Natalie home and return tomorrow."
At the last line he turned to me and I nodded.
"Hm? Why can't we just say our farewells today?" Lyn looked at him, her dirty face full of confusion.
"Well, I... I was speaking to Touya. I've...I've been invited to join your group."
"But we're going to Lycia.." but Dorcas shook her head.
"I have to go somewhere to earn money. If you think I'll be of use, I'd like to fight for you. You helped my wife... I owe you so much."
"Dorcas.." I couldn't tell whether Lyn was going to decline or not, but Natalie was determined.
"Please, Lyn. We are both in agreement on this," she stepped forward and clasped her hands on Lyn's own gloved ones, "Watch over my husband."
Lyn nodded.
"Well, it's getting late and I need to take Natalie home..." Dorcas uttered. Lyn hugged Natalie briefly, "It was great to meet you."
The other girl nodded and agreed, Dorcas looked over at me and issued his hand forth. I took it within my own, "She'll be fine."
He stared at me, "C'mon Natalie, it's getting dark."
They walked off together as Natalie waved good-bye to us.
Lyn staggered and slide onto a nearby wall to the ground just as Florina came in with a plate of food. "Let's eat," I suggested.
"Things have finally quieted down," Lyn whispered to me as we sat awake in the fortress. Florina had her head in Lyn's lap and Wil was muttering about thieves in his sleep. Kent appeared by the doorway, "We'll continue taking turns keeping watch. Please, get some sleep, Lady Lyndis."
"Is that all right? Are you sure?" Sain chose that time to walk in after Kent and Lyn addressed him, "Sain?"
"Oh!" he grinned and began walking towards the two woman as Kent stepped on his foot, "I mean...er, yes! Of course!"
"Let me warn you... If bandits sneak up on you, they'll cut down without mercy. Do you understand that?"
Kent nodded sternly and Sain slumped his shoulders, "What, do you doubt my bravery? Am I not a knight? There's no need to worry! Right, Kent?" He turned slyly to his companion.
"If there's anything suspicious, We'll take care of it. Rest assured."
"Well, good night then," Lyn muttered and rested her head against my shoulder, "See you tomorrow.." I flushed and looked over at the sleeping girl. Her hands were curled through Florina's hair and she looked extremely exhausted. I pushed my blanket over the two and crossed my arms. My eyes closed as I leaned back against the wall.
"Let's go," Kent ordered and the two exited the room. While Sain said something about no one ever trusting him as my brain became foggy with sleep.
Good Night
