I'll try and get this up in as short a time as possible, but no promises. Thanks to all those who reviewed.
Chapter 13
Tristan looked around. The room was scattered with odds and ends, and Akira was pushing her saddlebags back into the cupboard.
« What are you doing? »
« I'm staying here. Arthur needs all the help he can get. »
« I thought you wanted to see your family again. »
« I do, but I'm not so selfish as to let my friends die on their own just because I want to go home. »
« Guinevere? »
Akira nodded before turning back around to shove some things into a drawer. She looked questioningly at the scout.
« Why aren't you staying? »
« Because I've had enough of this island. Arthur has maade his choice, and I am sorry for it, but I will not stay and die just for a few Woads. »
« In that case why are you here? »
« I wondered what you would do. »
« And now you know. Anything else I can do for you, my lord? » she asked sarcastically.
Tristan studied her for a moment, then asked. « Why do you care so much for the Woads. They killed your brother. »
« It's for my brother that I'm staying. He would have done the same. »
« How do you know? You haven't seen him for years. »
« Tristan, allow me to say that I know my brother a little better than you do. »
« Perhaps, but he's dead! He's never coming back! Why would you give your life for a dead man! Nothing you can do will bring him back, Kira! »
Akira looked hard at him. « Why do you care so much? What does it matter to you whether I stay or leave? »
Tristan looked at a loss for words. After a few seconds, he turned and left. Akira rolled her eyes. « Men. »
Akira groaned and pulled herself out of bed. This promised to be one of the worst mornings of her life.
She smiled slightly despite herself as she strapped on her sword, feeling its perfect balance in her hands. She pushed a couple of daggers into her boots and fixed another two on her shoulderblades. Last, she wound a silk cord around her wrist, ready to use if necessary. She looked at herself in the bowl of water standing beside her bed.
She hated this. She didn't enjoy killing. She did what was necessary. All the same, she enjoyed the respect... no, not respect, the fear that came with the job of assassin. She sighed, and poured the water away. She was who she was, and she doubted that anything would be able to change that. She stopped, frowning slightly as she thought of Tristan the night before. She knew perfectly well why he had come. She saw more than other people. In Rome, this had had the effect of everyone believing her to be a witch, but she wasn't. She could just read emotions off people's faces, if necessary.
The scout loved her, that she knew. It was a pity she could not love him back.
The knights had gathered their belongings and were preparing to leave. None of them looked another in the eye, and when Arthur came in, what little conversation there was was immediately silenced. Arthur walked over to his horse and saddled it, not even speaking to Lancelot.
There was more of a disturbance when Akira walked in, ready for battle. Bors opened his mouth before anyone could stop him.
« What the hell are you doing, Kira? »
« I'm staying. »
« Why? » Galahad broke in.
Akira turned and glared at him as Arthur left the stables. « Because I don't believe in abandoning my friends at the first hint of a problem, or as soon as I can leave. »
Galahad opened his mouth to protest, but shut it again as Gawain dug him in the ribs. Akira grinned as she mounted Myrrah.
« I'm sorry if you disapprove, but this is my choice. I will not let Arthur fight on his own. »
She dug her heels into the mare's flanks, thundering out of the fort like lightning, to join Arthur.
Well? (peeps out from behind her computer screen) Are you going to kill me for not pairing her straight off with Tristan, or not? Please review ASAP! The next post might take a while.
Carline