Merry Christmas everyone! (or happy insert-your-preferred-holiday-here) I've squeezed out another chapter in my little tale, and offer it as a gift to the world! (oh, no returns, refunds, or exchanges) Hope this aint like getting coal in the stocking.
Finally another Talim chapter, I just so look forward to writing each character that I miss each one when I'm not writing them.
R&R and enjoy!
Scarlet Thunder In The Wind
Information about Soul Edge fled from Talim's ears, hiding from the young warrior. No one would tell Talim anything, instead turning her away, and dismissing her as a child. Though she needed to learn everything she could about the blade, she could not bring herself to rough up anyone to get it, at least not yet.
Fate smiled upon her one afternoon. She was lurking in the tavern, hoping to eavesdrop on the local soldiers and woodsmen as they gossiped. As she sat quietly in the corner of the dark bar, she saw a young woman enter the establishment.
The woman had raven dark hair, braided into a single chain flowing down her back. She was of average height, though this placed her some eight inches taller than Talim herself. The woman was trim and toned, with the body of either a dancer, or a well trained warrior. Talim guess the latter, considering the seven foot halberd she had attached to her back.
The woman was wearing only a small halter top, barely covering her chest, and leaving her firm, flat stomach to bear. Around her waist hung two strip like loincloths, one covering each side of her body, and connected by a strap. The entire outfit was a ravishing crimson, as red as blood.
"…for a warrior named Yunsung" the woman said, leaning in towards the barkeeper.
The bartender answered something back that Talim could not understand, but the woman apparently did not like it, for she struck the man hard, sending a spew of blood flying from his nose.
As the barkeep crumpled to the floor from the force of the blow, the rest of the men in the tavern rose to their feet and reached for their weapons. The woman grabbed her halberd from her back, and held it in an offensive stance.
"Do any of you wish to test my close quarter skills?" the woman asked.
Not a soul in the bar moved to respond to her challenge.
"Too bad. Now, someone tell me where Yunsung is, and I'll be gone. And don't give me that 'I don't know who you're talking about' crap, I know he's here in this village."
Talim's interest perked even more on hearing Yunsung's name. Maybe this woman was coming to assist him. Talim hoped deeply that the woman would be an ally in their search for Soul Edge.
Talim approached the woman carefully, with her hands held slightly up.
"I know Yunsung" Talim said brightly.
The woman instantly snapped her attention to the petite girl approaching her.
"You know him?"
Talim nodded.
"Take me to him, now!" the woman ordered.
The woman would only speak her name to Talim, Seung Mina. Mina would not explain how she knew Yunsung, or what she wanted with him. The woman seemed to be hell bent to find Yunsung, and seemed to be quite angry for some reason. The wind told Talim the woman was not evil, just very upset for some reason.
The pair made their way across the village, to the small hut where Yunsung said he could be found. Talim ran ahead.
"Yunsung! Are you here? There's someone here to see you!"
Mina held her silence and did not call out for the warrior.
Yunsung appeared in the doorway of the small shelter, only to stop dead in his tracks at the sight of Mina.
"Give it back, and I will let you go!" Mina demanded.
"Never! It is mine!" Yunsung replied and shot into the house.
Mina huffed hard and turned to run around the house and cover any back exits.
"If he comes out, stop him!"
"Why? What crime has he committed?" Talim inquired.
"That sword he wields is stolen, it is an heirloom of my family!"
Talim was shocked by the allegation, but based on how Yunsung was reacting to Mina's presence there might be some truth to it.
Talim remained in the front of the hut, watching for movement. After a few breathless moments of silence, Yunsung bolted out the front door right at Talim. She held her hand up, motioning him to stop, but Yunsung did not obey her order, and attempted to move past her.
She was not to be ignored, so Talim shot out her foot and tripped Yunsung. The young man was caught off guard, and fell flat on his face.
"What did you do that for?" Yunsung demanded.
"Did you steal that sword?" Talim replied.
"That is none of your concern!"
A dark cloud instantly covered Talim's features. "I am making it my concern!"
The commotion of Talim's confrontation with Yunsung drew Mina's attention from behind the hut. The woman came running, ready to take on Yunsung. Talim held up her hand, and with a stern look on her face, prevented Mina from engaging the prone Yunsung.
"Wait, Mina. We can settle this without unneeded violence."
Mina stood still, but still looked to be quite ready to strike if needed.
"Yunsung, did you steal the sword?" Talim asked.
"No, I did not steal the swo…"
"Liar! You did so steal it! How else would it be here if you did not steal it?" Mina interrupted.
"You gave it to me, remember?" Yunsung answered.
Talim stopped, surprised by this revelation. She opened her mouth, but no sound issued forth. Mina, however was not fazed in the least by the young man's answer.
"I did not give it to you! I said you could train with it, not walk away with it! I gave you a great honor by allowing you to practice with White Storm, and this is how you repay me?" Mina raged.
"The sword is mine!" Yunsung said, rage spreading over his features.
Mina began forward, as to attack the young man. Talim turned to her and tried to halt her advance. The young priestess glanced over her shoulder and briefly wondered why Yunsung was still lying on the ground. Mina took advantage of Talim's brief lack of attention to whirl around the young woman. Yunsung apparently was anticipating this move and snaked forward with his feet and tripped Mina.
Mina fell to the ground, and Yunsung quickly jumped to his feet. He then charged Talim. The young priestess was caught off guard, and was totally defenseless. The young man pressed the back of his hand against Talim's chest, and then struck his own hand with his fist with all his might. The force of the blow knocked Talim down, though because he shielded her with his off hand, she was spared the true pain of such a punch.
Mina began throwing her legs around in an arc, to give herself enough momentum to allow her to spring to her feet. Yunsung noticed her motions, and moved to stop her. He grabbed one of her legs and twisted it along in the same direction as it was going, only much faster. This threw Mina off, and caused her to crash to the ground.
"I will return White Storm when I find Soul Edge. Until then, leave me alone!" Yunsung ordered Mina.
Mina replied with only a deadly stare, full of fury.
Yunsung quickly moved down and slammed the hilt of his sword into Mina's ankle, spraining it effectively, though Mina did not allow him the satisfaction of a scream.
Yunsung moved to Talim, and stood over the stunned girl. "You, little Talim, led her to me. Just when I thought you were a friend, you betrayed me. I won't forget this."
"I…didn't….betray….you" Talim said groggily.
"Oh you did, and you know it. You might even have been in league with Mina from the start. Well, it doesn't matter, if either of you follow me, I will show no mercy" Yunsung threatened.
With those words, Yunsung turned and sprinted away. Talim allowed a moment for her head to clear, and then stumbled to her feet. She looked towards the path Yunsung took and knew he already had a sizeable lead. As she started to take after him, she remembered Mina, and whirled around to check on the woman.
Mina was on the ground, her ankle tilted out at an unnatural angle. She was not making a single sound, but tears streamed down her face from the pain. She did not seem to be aware of anything except the report her ankle was issuing.
Talim fell to her knees beside Mina, and tried to get the woman to respond. It was obvious that her ankle was at least sprained, possibly even broken. Talim wanted to chase after Yunsung, but she could not leave Mina behind injured.
With a few shouts, Talim alerted some nearby villagers who summoned the local healer. Mina was moved to the healer's house, where she was treated for her ankle. Mina's injury was not as serious as it appeared.
Talim wandered about the village while giving Mina time to heal. She decided to wait for Mina, and help her track down Yunsung. The brazen warrior had committed robbery, and Talim could not allow him to get away with it. Besides, Mina might be helpful in tracking down Soul Edge, and it was never a good idea to travel alone, if it could be helped.
Soon Mina would be healed, and they both would be on their way. Hopefully they could track down Yunsung before he, or anyone else, could find Soul Edge.
