Green Blackguard: Thanks for the encouraging reviews… even though I wrote NONE OF IT! (glares angrily at Green Paladin)
Green Paladin: What? So what if I wrote it all? I said you'll write something eventually, and you will. Trust me.
Green Blackguard: I trust you as far as I could throw a skyscraper.
Green Paladin: Here's a new chapter, originally written on the back of fig leaves by drunken tax collectors. If you've got something to say, review!
"Ah, this should suffice! Tonight's bed!" cried Wil enthusiastically at the ruined fortress before the company.
Sain looked horrified. "This mildewy old fortress? Is this the best we can do? Come, Wil! Surely you jest!"
"Oh come on, Sain!" I joked, "Surely a brave knight of Lycia isn't afraid of roughing it for a night?"
Wil tried his best to appease Sain. "The bandits keep everything in turmoil around here. No one has time to worry about travellers. And there are rather a lot of us."
"This will be fine," concluded Lyn. "Who wants to be stuck inside, anyway? I prefer a place where I can feel the wind blow."
"As long as I'm at Lyn's side, I'll be fine," beamed Florina.
"And for your protection, your man-at-arms Sain will be right here by your side, ladies."
"Sain, both you and I are to remain awake." Kent interrupted sternly. "We will alternate the watch."
I swallowed a laugh as Sain moaned, "Ah, alas..." The pair departed swiftly, and disappeared into the ruin. I followed with Lyn, and heard an uneven footfall near me.
"Your pardon, milady..." said a feminine voice. 'No one ever notices me first…' I inwardly complained.
Lyn questioned, "Who's there?"
"I... Forgive my intrusion... My name's Natalie. I'm from a village not far from here... Ah! Ow..." I rushed to her side as she fell, and caught her.
"Ugh… you're heavier than you look… Or more likely I'm out of shape…" I helped her back to her feet, with some considerable effort. "Lyn, I'll need a bit more dawn training…"
Once again, I am totally ignored by everyone. Lyn sounded concerned. "Are you all right? Hm? Your leg..."
"It's fine. Don't worry," Natalie said, waving off my attempts to help. "It's from a childhood sickness... I can't travel far on it, but it doesn't trouble me much."
"What are you doing here all by yourself?"
"I'm looking for my husband... I heard he was in this area. He said he was going to raise money to have my leg mended. He left the village and hasn't returned. He's a kind-hearted man, but I think he might be involved in something dangerous. I got so worried... Here's a sketch of him. It's a poor likeness at best, but... His name is Dorcas. Do you know of him?"
I took the sketch and analysed it. "Can't say that I do. Lyn?"
"I'm sorry," Lyn answered. "I don't believe I've seen or heard of him."
"I see... If you do meet him, please give him a message. Tell him that Natalie is looking for him."
"I will tell him. I promise."
My slumber was disturbed by a shout from the front opening, "Lady Lyndis! Outside the fortress! Bandits!" I saw Kent storm into the room, followed by Sain.
"What did you say?"
"Persistent bunch, aren't they? What do you think? Shall we go out and face them?"
"Don't be idiotic, Sain. I thought you'd grown out of your stupid phase. Meeting them out there would be suicide," I chided.
"No... Natalie cannot move well, and that would put her in danger. Let them come to us. We'll fight here, within these walls. Andur, take over. The command is yours. All we have to do is hold out until they tire and leave," ordered Lyn, with an air of urgency.
"A meatgrinder." I almost shuddered. "Not the most pleasant of strategies, but the only one I can think of as well. Kent, Sain, block the main entrance!" I commanded. Seeing them do just that I noted, "Wow. I'm quite the authority figure."
"Oh..." groaned Natalie as her leg buckled again.
"Rest easy, Natalie," comforted Lyn. "No one will harm you! Listen, everyone! Fight with caution!"
I moved around our new battleground, and noticed a flaw in the western wall. "Wil! Shoot anyone who tries to break down this wall! Lyn, with me!" As she ran to me I grabbed her hand and dragged her to the open east entrance, as a lumbering hulk began to amble though it. His axe flew through the air, cutting off a few strands of Lyn's hair. The man's face seemed familiar. Lyn understood as well.
"You! Tell me, are you Dorcas?" interrogated Lyn.
The man seemed unfazed. "... How do you know my name?"
"Natalie told me. What are you doing with these rogues?"
"I need money," Dorcas replied in monotone.
"That may be, but... joining up with mercenaries?"
"It's the only way to earn gold in these parts. I'll do anything... even this."
"For gold? Anything?"
"I understand. Doing the wrong thing, for the right reasons," I added.
"Would you hurt your wife? Natalie is here! We're protecting her within this fortress!"
Dorcas' blank look shattered as his face showed fear. "What? Natalie's... She's here?"
"She was so worried that she came looking for you. Think, Dorcas! Would your actions please your wife?"
"… ... You're right," he conceded.
"Well?"
"I understand. I can't do this. I'm done with these bandits. Here and now."
I grinned.
"Really?" Lyn wasn't surprised really, I could tell that much. She was just egging him on.
"Yes... And I would repay you for your kindness toward Natalie. Allow me to fight for you."
The battle quickly went in our favour. Dorcas took out a vast quantity of the forces arrayed against us. Wil was waiting for more opponents at the wall, Kent and Sain had a growing pile of carcasses filling up the entrance, so the enemies had to literally climb over mounds of their fallen comrades to get near. However, the bandits pressed their attack at the east wall, where Lyn and I were on guard. Mostly Lyn would slice off heads, but occasionally I got a hit in, my tactical skill not really being needed in this quite stable situation. But as the attackers surged forward, many were pulled back by Dorcas as he carved them to pieces from behind. Lyn moved forward as did Dorcas, until all the foes were slain. From the distance I heard a cry of "Retreat! Pull back!"
"Hey Lyn! We won!" I cried excitedly.
"The enemy has fled! Andur! We've won!" she shouted to all who would hear.
Suddenly I thought hit me, and I whispered something to Dorcas. I left to check on the others, while Dorcas talked to Natalie and Lyn about it.
The night was comfortable, and once again the nightmares were banished, as Lyn had an arm firmly around me as I slept.
In the morning I awoke to find Lyn was gone. Not unusual, sometimes she got up early for some sword training. But she usually trains with me. Something's up. I climbed out of my bedroll and slipped on my travelling clothes. Moving though the fortress, I saw Dorcas in the central room with Natalie. Wil was busy with weapon maintenance duty, and Florina was sleeping soundly, wrapped in Huey's wings. Sain was snoozing nearby, with several objects scattered around him, with some bruises on his forehead. Looks like I missed something last night. I looked to Kent, still guarding the entrance. "Kent, where's Lyn?"
He looked confused, and answered, "I thought she was with you."
"Well she isn't. You haven't seen her?"
"No." Now I was really worried. 'Why wouldn't she tell Kent that she was leaving? Oh, I hope she's all right…' and with that I burst into a sprint, using all my tactical knowledge to begin a search pattern.
After what seemed like (and probably were) hours I came across a huge titan, a man of massive proportions. His arms looked almost as thick as tree trunks, and he stood at easily nine feet tall. His axe, tied to his back, was as tall as I was. Over his shoulder was a woman. I looked closer, and saw… that it was Lyn!
I couldn't get the others; they were too far away. I couldn't take this guy down in straight combat, he'd squash me like a bug. I decided upon stealth and the element of surprise. Sneaking behind his considerably large shadow, I drew my weapon. Closing in on the mighty barbarian, I began to make out words as he congratulated himself on his acquisition.
"Hehehe… this one'll make a pretty penny on the bridal market… She be pretty though… Might keep her for myself…HeheGAAHHHHHHHHH!" he screeched as my sword burst though his gut. I thought about how to finish him quickly, and I worked it out. With all my strength I ripped my sword out through his side, and he fell backward. Narrowly dodging being crushed, I saw that Lyn was thrown clear.
I ran to her, and saw she had a nasty head wound. It had stopped bleeding, and her hair was encrusted with dried blood. 'Ohnoohnoohnoohnoohno… What do I do, what do I do? Best not to move her until I know what I'm doing… But what about people looking for the dead guy? No, I'd rather risk my life than hers. Now, if only I could remember my medical training… head injuries…ah yes… apply Vulnerary directly to injured scalp…'
I was woken by a soft feeling on fingers running though my unruly hair. "Déjà vu?"
"What?" I moaned as I woke. I noticed that the voice was Lyn's, and I was alert instantly. It was now nighttime, and I immediately hugged her. I didn't let go, and I cried with tears of joy. "I thought you wouldn't make it… that I'd done something wrong… you didn't heal for so long…"
"Neither did you," she stated.
"Déjà vu indeed." I wiped the tears from my eyes, and sternly ordered her, "Don't go off by yourself again. Ever. You hear me? I couldn't bear it!" I quickly thought, 'Why did I say that?'
"What do you mean?"
"You almost got sold into slavery today! For Elimine's sake, if I hadn't found you, you'd have some slobbering owner cosying up to you against your will! Most likely even more! These guys have no morals!"
She lay back, and stared at the stars. "…Thank you. For this, and everything."
"Everything?"
"Taking me with you. Helping me, and all of us. For being here."
"…I'm just glad that you're safe."
"You didn't move me. The right choice, though probably the hardest to make. If that brute's friends came looking for him, a tactician and an unconscious girl wouldn't have put up much of a fight."
"I thought that if I moved you, I might cause more harm. I couldn't do that," I explained.
"So now we're even."
"Yes. Go to sleep." I lay with her on the open plains, and hoped that someone would be sensible enough to come looking for us. She drifted to sleep long before me, and I saw she slept soundly. Maybe I was worried over nothing. But… she did murmur something during her rest.
"…Too… too much…"