A/N: I would like to encourage anyone out there reading this to push that
little blue/purple button at the bottom of the page. You know, I don't
think anyone really knows what color that thing really is. Since I don't
have any reviewers to answer, ENJOY THE RIDE.
Chapter 2: Introductions
As my unknown companion and I entered the forest, curiosity got the better of me. "Sir knight, you have risked your life on my behalf, yet I still do not know your name," I said.
"My name is Rogero. My ancestor Astyanax was a mortal son of Mithros. My mother, a highborn lady, was forced from her home by a war. She died giving birth to me, but a mage named Atlantes took me as his own son and raised me to become an accomplished knight," Rogero volunteered. "I have told you my history, and I would desire the same courtesy of you, brave knight," he added after a pause.
I hesitated only a moment; if this knight would tell me his history with no reserves, I could tell him my own history as well. "My name, sir, is Bradamantè. I am the sister of the brave knight Rinaldo," I confessed.
"For truth?" Rogero asked. I nodded mutely, not daring to look at him. I was not sure why, having met this man, an invader of my country, I should desire his approval so much.
"That is shocking news," Rogero said. "I have indeed heard of Rinaldo, but I did not know that he has a sister." – He hesitated for a moment—"Could you—I mean would you—ah—be willing to take off your helmet? May I see your face?" he asked.
Whatever insecurities I had felt about this man had vanished by then. I removed my gloves and untied the strap holding my helmet on. I slowly drew it over my head.
Rogero looked at me without speaking for a few moments. As he was drawing breath to say something, a group of Carthaki warriors burst out of the surrounding trees.
Because my head was unprotected, the Carthaki soldiers came at me first. One of them hit me above my left ear with the flat of his sword blade. I nearly fell from my saddle but managed to regain my balance. I pulled my helmet back onto my head, and Rogero and I fell on our attackers. The Carthakis were soon forced to flee, and we followed them. They fled in two different directions, and, therefore, we were forced to separate in order to catch all of our attackers.
I charged after the fool who had wounded me. I would avenge myself on him or die trying. Because he and his companion were on foot, they were able to move easily through the dense forest. As I at last overtook them, I jumped off Venture's back, landing squarely on the back of the man who had wounded me. We both fell under the shock of the impact. My target, however, took the worst of the fall. When I jumped to my feet, ready for his attack, I was shocked to see that his left leg was severely broken. I stepped back, making sure that he would not be attacking me again.
I had momentarily forgotten about his friend but spun quickly when I heard a branch snap behind me. The rogue was trying to sneak up on me. He raised his sword to strike, but I blocked his vicious blow. His blow was powered by rage and fear and probably would have severed a limb if I had not been able to block it. I thrust blindly toward my attacker's stomach and was rewarded with the sickening sensation of steel piercing chain mail and flesh. He dropped to the ground with a sharp cry of pain. I quickly slit his throat, effectively ending his pain.
I quickly left the place of death to search for Rogero. I had foolishly forgotten to check which direction I was headed before leaving Rogero, and now I was hopelessly lost.
I was fairly certain the battlefield lay toward the north, so I turned Venture in that direction and let him set his own pace. Not surprisingly, Venture was weary from a day of fierce combat, just as I was. It took considerably longer to leave the woods than it had taken to make my way so deep into them. When Venture and I at last broke free of the forest, I found myself on the edge of the battlefield.
As much as I would have liked to get away from the battlefield, I hoped that Rogero would go there if he when he could not find me. I unsaddled Venture and hobbled him near where I put out my bedroll. I took some bandages from my saddlebag and began to bandage my recently acquired head wound. It was not deep, but it bled freely. By the time I had finished with my wound, night had fallen.
Since Rogero had yet to arrive, I decided to renew my search for him in the morning. I stretched out on my bedroll, and sent a murmured prayer to the Goddess for Rogero's safety through the night.
A/N: Sorry about not updating for a while, but I do have other things to do *sigh*
Chapter 2: Introductions
As my unknown companion and I entered the forest, curiosity got the better of me. "Sir knight, you have risked your life on my behalf, yet I still do not know your name," I said.
"My name is Rogero. My ancestor Astyanax was a mortal son of Mithros. My mother, a highborn lady, was forced from her home by a war. She died giving birth to me, but a mage named Atlantes took me as his own son and raised me to become an accomplished knight," Rogero volunteered. "I have told you my history, and I would desire the same courtesy of you, brave knight," he added after a pause.
I hesitated only a moment; if this knight would tell me his history with no reserves, I could tell him my own history as well. "My name, sir, is Bradamantè. I am the sister of the brave knight Rinaldo," I confessed.
"For truth?" Rogero asked. I nodded mutely, not daring to look at him. I was not sure why, having met this man, an invader of my country, I should desire his approval so much.
"That is shocking news," Rogero said. "I have indeed heard of Rinaldo, but I did not know that he has a sister." – He hesitated for a moment—"Could you—I mean would you—ah—be willing to take off your helmet? May I see your face?" he asked.
Whatever insecurities I had felt about this man had vanished by then. I removed my gloves and untied the strap holding my helmet on. I slowly drew it over my head.
Rogero looked at me without speaking for a few moments. As he was drawing breath to say something, a group of Carthaki warriors burst out of the surrounding trees.
Because my head was unprotected, the Carthaki soldiers came at me first. One of them hit me above my left ear with the flat of his sword blade. I nearly fell from my saddle but managed to regain my balance. I pulled my helmet back onto my head, and Rogero and I fell on our attackers. The Carthakis were soon forced to flee, and we followed them. They fled in two different directions, and, therefore, we were forced to separate in order to catch all of our attackers.
I charged after the fool who had wounded me. I would avenge myself on him or die trying. Because he and his companion were on foot, they were able to move easily through the dense forest. As I at last overtook them, I jumped off Venture's back, landing squarely on the back of the man who had wounded me. We both fell under the shock of the impact. My target, however, took the worst of the fall. When I jumped to my feet, ready for his attack, I was shocked to see that his left leg was severely broken. I stepped back, making sure that he would not be attacking me again.
I had momentarily forgotten about his friend but spun quickly when I heard a branch snap behind me. The rogue was trying to sneak up on me. He raised his sword to strike, but I blocked his vicious blow. His blow was powered by rage and fear and probably would have severed a limb if I had not been able to block it. I thrust blindly toward my attacker's stomach and was rewarded with the sickening sensation of steel piercing chain mail and flesh. He dropped to the ground with a sharp cry of pain. I quickly slit his throat, effectively ending his pain.
I quickly left the place of death to search for Rogero. I had foolishly forgotten to check which direction I was headed before leaving Rogero, and now I was hopelessly lost.
I was fairly certain the battlefield lay toward the north, so I turned Venture in that direction and let him set his own pace. Not surprisingly, Venture was weary from a day of fierce combat, just as I was. It took considerably longer to leave the woods than it had taken to make my way so deep into them. When Venture and I at last broke free of the forest, I found myself on the edge of the battlefield.
As much as I would have liked to get away from the battlefield, I hoped that Rogero would go there if he when he could not find me. I unsaddled Venture and hobbled him near where I put out my bedroll. I took some bandages from my saddlebag and began to bandage my recently acquired head wound. It was not deep, but it bled freely. By the time I had finished with my wound, night had fallen.
Since Rogero had yet to arrive, I decided to renew my search for him in the morning. I stretched out on my bedroll, and sent a murmured prayer to the Goddess for Rogero's safety through the night.
A/N: Sorry about not updating for a while, but I do have other things to do *sigh*