I'm alive! Sorta.
Yeah, it's been awhile. Sorry...
Huey:...
Oh, yes, I found my game! I may actually finish this story now...
Huey:...(Disclaimer here)
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"Hey, Saleh, get up!"
Saleh opened one eye to see the ever-talkative archer bending over him. "Go away, Wil."
"Lyn wants to get moving soon, we'd best get ready." He continued talking, unfazed.
"You do that." Saleh turned over and determinedly squeezed his eyes shut. After a moment, however, he jerked up, glancing around, "What's that smell?"
Wil blinked, surprised at the sudden change. "Uh, I think Dorcas and Natalie are making…" he trailed off, watching the mercenary disappear around the corner.
---
"Ah, Saleh." Lyn smiled as he helped himself to some of the food that Natalie offered him. "Did you rest well?"
"Well enough. You?" The plainswomen shrugged.
"Fine. The brigands didn't show their faces again. Dorcas is going to take Natalie back to the village, now. When they get back, we'll continue towards Caelin." Lyn set aside her plate. "We'll see my grandfather soon…" She trailed off wistfully.
He nodded. "Soon. Still, we shouldn't let our guard down, now that we've made them angry." He looked up and scanned the room. "Hey, hold on for a second, I want to talk to Natalie." Standing up, he strode over to where Dorcas was quietly conversing with his wife. She noticed him and smiled.
"Oh, hello, Saleh. I want to thank you again for finding my husband."
"No need to thank me. Lyn found him." He shrugged. "Say, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course." She shifted in her chair to face him. "What was it you wanted to ask?"
"Well…" Saleh paused, then continued. "Why did you come searching for Dorcas? You have a bad leg; it's dangerous." Natalie smiled and shrugged.
"I guess when you really care about someone, you don't let things like that hold you back, you know?"
Saleh frowned. "Yeah… I guess." He walked back over to Lyn, deep in thought.
---
"Ah, yes… food and love. No better way to restore a man's soul!" Sain's eyes took on a dreamy complexion.
"If your behavior is as deplorable as ever, then-"
Lyn interrupted Kent with a groan. "Great… they're persistent, I'll give them that."
Saleh glanced up from his position on Lyn's horse, eyes heavy with sleep. "Who's persistent?" He turned his head and looked in the same direction as Lyn. "Oh."
About a dozen bandits halted a few meters behind the group. Kent and Sain immediately moved in front of Lyn, shielding her, but she pushed her way past them.
The lead bandit chuckled. "Don't think you're getting away so easily, missus. We let you go, everyone'll think that the Ganeleon have gone soft. Up an' at 'em, boys! Don't hold back!" The brigands rushed forward, but Kent and Sain charged, scattering them. Spreading out, the thugs formed a net, waiting to see which way their prey would run.
"Orders?" Kent looked at Saleh.
"Nothing we haven't dealt with before- just use the terrain, and work in pairs. You and Sain circle north. Florina, Wil, you stay behind Lyn and Dorcas- they can take down the leader."
"EEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!" Saleh winced as a scream rent the air. "ERKY! PROTECT MEEEE!!!" Turning around, he saw the source. As he watched, a pink-haired girl- a cleric by the looks of her robes- held up her staff as though to protect herself from the axe wielding man bearing down on her. As he was about to strike, however, a red-clad figure jumped in front of her, yelling something. A fireball erupted from thin air, striking the bandit, who howled with pain and rage, bringing his axe crashing down. The mage twisted, avoiding the brunt of the blow, but still took a hit to his side. Two of his fellows, seeing the commotion, rushed over to help.
Saleh winced. "Lyn! Dorcas! Get over there and assist!" The Sacean women was already sprinting towards the fight, and Dorcas followed after the mercenary's urging. Saleh watched as the plainswomen skewered one from behind, and Dorcas' hand axe smashed into the back of the other's head, while the mage fired off more spells, finishing his opponent. Saleh jogged over in time to hear the cleric, speaking in a high-pitched voice that reminded him of a shrew, order the mage to battle.
"Yes! That's a good idea! Erk, go help these ladies." Saleh couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her description of Lyn and Dorcas.
The mage seemed less than thrilled by the proposal. "But… I… …Fine!" He spluttered.
The cleric turned back to Lyn. "We'd be glad to help. My name is Serra, and this is my escort, Erk." Turning back to him, she patted him on the head. "Now be a good boy and go fight now!"
The mage stared at her as she turned away, mouth working but no words emerging. Finally, he sighed and began limping towards the nearest foe.
Serra, in the mean time, turned to Saleh. "Hello. You're Saleh, right? I'm Serra. Nice to meet you. By the way, see this contrary mage here with me?" She gestured to where Erk had been a few moments ago. "His name is Erk. I think he's been hurt. I am Erk's employer. "Master", I suppose you could say. What I'm getting at is... I was thinking of healing him free of charge. I know, I know," she continued, waving her hand as though to shoo away nonexistent praise. "I'm generous to a fault." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lyn grin and wave at him as she rushed a brigand. "Hm? Why are you looking at me like that? Praise my generosity! Anyway, that's the deal." Saleh stared. He hadn't met many clerics, but he was fairly sure the usually healed for free anyways. "Now, if you could be so kind as to direct me to him?" Saleh pointed towards Erk, who was hurling fire at a hapless archer, with the feeling that he had just sealed the poor mage's fate.
The egotistic cleric headed strode towards him, raising her stave and closing her eyes. A moment later, a blue glow enveloped the mage, and the injury on his shoulder disappeared. Straightening, Erk resumed battle, quickly finishing his foe. Saleh watched intently. She was a decent healer; probably not very experienced. Still, she was better than vulneraries. Though for small injuries, the quiet might be worth it.
He glanced over in the direction of the cavaliers as Sain downed a foe with a grossly over exaggerated thrust of his lance. Turing, the happy-go-lucky knight gave a wave towards Florina, who was more concerning with hurling javelins at an oncoming swordsman. After a few misses, she connected. The man staggered, but snapped the shaft off and dragged himself up, intent on finishing the hapless Pegasus knight as she groped at her saddle, looking for a lance that was no longer there.
An arrow zipped by Saleh's ear, causing him to drop to the ground and roll behind a nearby tree. A glance upwards, however, saw Wil drawing another arrow from his quiver and sending the shaft flying from his vantage point in a tree.
The "Legion" was making quick work of their foes; they were already cooperating better than most veteran mercenary groups Saleh had seen. Already they had the leader and his last few men encircled. Fear was apparent in the man's eyes, but he kept up a sense of bravado. "Come on! It's just a few knights and women! Tear them apart, or I'll do it myself!" Within seconds, the man found himself in a position to test that boast. Lyn stepped towards him, her eyes flashing.
"Flee now, or you will die. I have no desire to kill you, but I'll let nobody stop me from reaching my grandfather!"
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"They just don't learn, do they?" Saleh said as he patted down the corpse of the brigand. He drew back; nothing of value.
Lyn's face was grim. "They weren't Talivar bandits. They didn't have to die." She continued on, her eyes staring into space. "But… I've been alone so long… I want- no, I must see my grandfather. He's the only family I have left, and if anyone get's in my way, my family will always be more important.
Saleh grinned. "Trust me, they won't need much in the way of persuading now." He glanced back towards Sain and winced. "Great. Hold on."
"Ah, Saleh! Excellent news!" The green cavalier jauntily rode over towards the mercenary. "Lady Serra and her companion have agreed to accompany us for the duration of our great trek!"
Saleh blinked. "Um." He looked towards Serra, who was bouncing towards the group, Erk trailing behind her, looking rather pale. "That's… great. Yeah. Hey, why don't you fill them in on what's going on. See if you can scare them off."
Sain laughed. "Ah, Sir Saleh, your wit is as sharp as ever. Don't worry, I'll be sure to retain them. Oh, Lady Serra!"
Saleh watched him lead his horse towards the boisterous cleric before burying his face in his hands.
---
Saleh sighed. The group had been making steady progress, plodding on towards the next stop on their agenda, Araphan. The atmosphere had been almost calm; with Serra now bouncing amongst them, true tranquility had no hope. He had managed to avoid her during their march; Erk and Sain seemed to occupy her the most.
Which is why this had better produce results.
Having made camp, he had a piece of business to attend to. Bracing himself, he spoke up. "Hey, Serra…"
She didn't seem to hear him. The pink-haired cleric seemed engrossed by watching the fire. Erk was nearby, taking advantage of her apparent stupor to escape into a tome. Saleh cleared his voice again. "Serra?"
She jerked around as though waking from a deep sleep. "Oh, Saleh, it's you! Let me guess- you're here to apologize!"
"No, I- wait, what? Why should I apologize?"
"It's obvious, isn't it?" She smiled condescendingly. "You've become enamored with me. You, courting a cleric of St. Elimine, it's a scandal! Obviously, you-"
Saleh cut her off. "Are you serious? I- you know what, I'm just gonna ignore that" He paused. "I just need you to take a look at something, okay?"
"Ah, of course- you seek to flatter me through adulation of my talents. Very well, what is it?"
Saleh rolled his eyes before extending his arm. "I just need you to tell me when this will heal up."
Serra fell silent as she examined it. After a few none-too-gentle, prods, she glanced up.
"Well… It looks like your arm got broken, then started to heal, then got broken again midway through the process. The problem is, as far as I can tell, some of the bone fragments seem to be actually embedded in the muscles. Still, it's not all that bad- after a week or so, I'd say you'll be able to use your arm for most things again. As long as you don't actually do anything strenuous, the bone shouldn't cause any pain." She straightened, looking immensely proud of herself.
Saleh stood up quietly. "Thank you. Goodnight." He strode away stiffly.
Serra frowned at the retreating mercenary, then turned to Erk. "Did you see that, Erky? So ungrateful? What's his problem anyways- he doesn't use his arm for all that much, right?"
Erk groaned.
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Saleh quickly strode through the undergrowth. The campfire's warmth had left him, but he didn't care. He stalked back and forth, trampling a line in the brush, trying to sort matters out.
Fact: I'm now officially crippled.
Conclusion: My career as a mercenary is most likely shot.
Fact: I'm now without a career.
Conclusion: I'm screwed.
Fact: I've already decided to see this episode through with Lyn.
Conclusion: I'm still screwed, but at least I won't be bored.
He stopped and listened. "Who's there?"
Lyn's lithe silhouette appeared against the backdrop of the campfire's glow. "Serra mentioned you seemed upset, and I noticed you were gone. Are you alright?"
"Oh, I'm great. Really. Now go away." He spun and continued his pacing.
Her voice returned, determined. "No, I will not. Now, tell me."
Saleh sighed. "Lyn, I have a question for you."
"Go ahead."
"I hope this doesn't bring up bad memories for you, but- after your tribe was attacked, that was your way of life, your future as you knew it, wrapped up and fired out of a ballista. How'd you keep going? Did you really have any purpose?"
He was met with silence, and for a moment he was afraid she had been offended and left. Then her voice came back, quiet. "I… don't really know. I lost everything, and I think I clung to revenge for the most part. I was to weak to enact it, though, and I guess I just existed for a time. But then, after I met you, I decided that I needed to change that. I had to do something. And now, because of that, I've found out I have a grandfather, and that I have friends willing to go to great lengths for me. I just held on, kept doing what I did, doing what seemed right, and I found a new purpose." She paused. "Why? What are you trying to say?"
Saleh turned back towards the camp. "Nothing, never mind."
In the dim light, Lyn couldn't quite tell, but his expression seemed to suggest that he was actually telling the truth.
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Right. Review, flame if you wish.