Chapter 9: Realizations
Baro chose his words carefully when he retold what he could from his hazy dreams. Crystal listened intently about his encounter with the dying soldier, Mrs. Wanto's messages, and his father's letter from the king. He thought to tell her about the baby or his future predictions, but was too nervous and anxious and decided to wait until later. There connection made them more intimate but this might be normal for magic users and made him confused to no end.
'Could we really have a baby?' Baro thought to himself. He was sure not to send this to her and keep it within his own mind.
"What are you going to do?" asked Crystal breaking his anxiety.
"I'm not sure, I'm supposed to find a master on my way to Shriladen. Maybe he can teach me more about myself."
"I'm sorry I can't help you more. It's just…" Crystal's eyes watered slightly and Baro felt the edge of one of her blocked memories. During the last day and a half they had both kept their minds open to each other, whether consciously or unconsciously Baro didn't know. But of all the times they exchanged thoughts Crystal had always kept parts of her last year in Snowfall, which Baro discovered was her hometown, blocked to him.
"You don't have to explain, I know how painful it is for you."
"Yea… so. How are we going to get there?"
"From the map it will be a long trip." Baro pulled out Crystal's map and pointed to the marking past the mountains Glodin was resting on. "To the north we have Islan's, mark, we could go across the plains along the mountains until we hit Shriladen. The other possibility is to go directly through the mountains and visit the Dwarven cities, most likely Beldahorde." Baro traced the map with his finger and sighed. It was a lot to think about.
"That's a big choice to make. Shriladen just seems to far away…" Crystals voice trailed off. Snowfall must be hundreds of leagues away and there was no time to make a side trip; it was in the opposite direction and clear across the empire.
"Crystal, you've been more for me then I could have ever asked you. If you wanted to leave, I'd understand." Baro looked at her as she thought about her home. He could see in her eyes the memories that must have been playing in her mind, but after a few moments she finally spoke.
"No, I don't want to leave yet. How could I? You have such an unknown journey ahead of you. I want to help."
They sat in silence for many minutes until she looked up at him and smiled. "Besides, you'd get lost with out me there". They both giggled like friends.
"Enough of all this talking; lets get this day started." Baro said and stretched in the light coming from his window.
"Yea, get out of bed!" Crystal jerked him by the arm on to the floor.
"Whoa!" Baro said shocked. Kneeling over him she said, "I wanted to do some shopping while we're here." She pulled him up and out of the bedroom with his arm under hers.
He laughed and said "Ok, ok we'll go. Let me get some shoes on, geez."
Crystal was already dressed and washed up before she woke Baro so he just threw on his shoes and fixed his hair quickly. Then they walked out into the street, this time with Shadow following close behind them. Every time Baro looked back the wolf was starring at him, watching him closely. At first he thought he was imagining things but it was always in the back of his mind that this spirit guide was looking out for him.
Sunlight danced over and through the tops of buildings around them lighting all of the sops brilliantly. Venders hung their wares of seashell necklaces and earrings up high hopping to attract a lady to their shops, and merchants hung jeweled weaponry from windows for the male companions that followed the ladies.
White steam plumed from a smithy's shop and made Baro cough. Crystal turned back and smiled saying 'Catch me if you can!' and took off down the streets. Baro followed laughing, closing his eyes through the smoke and chased after her playfully. When they finally caught up to each other they strolled through the market squares unaware of anyone else around them. Eventually one shop in particular caught their eye, and Crystal led Baro in to browse through the collection. Inside the shop were several counters and open wardrobes displaying all kinds of clothing from all around the world. Dwarven robes, gnome vests, Elven garments and feathered hats were lined up in neat, easily accessed rows.
"Would the lady like to try on some Elven wonders? Each and every silken cloth woven by master seamstresses of the art! I ask only a mere ten silver pieces for your favorite piece." The trader asked in a charismatic voice.
"Oh! Baro they look divine!" Crystal swooned over a light blue one with white lace woven in mystic patterns.
"You like it?" asked Baro.
"Their wonderful." She breathed, very much taken with the dress.
"Try it on." Coaxed Baro grabbing ten silver pieces from his belt.
"Oh no, I couldn't." Crystal said brushing the soft material.
"Please? You deserve something nice."
She thought about it for a few minutes and then said,
"Ok, Give me a minute!" She smiled excitedly and ran off into the near by changing room. Baro handed his money to the trader and looked through some of the dress shirts while he waited. A green velvet shirt caught his attention the most, its soft feel and fine craftsmanship was fantastic. Gold buttons molded into wolves' heads reminded him of Shadow who stood at the door still watching. It was a friendly stare, but made him cautious of moving himself in a non-threatening way.
"Ok, how do I look?" asked Crystal shyly stepping out onto the floor. The smooth silk dress clung tightly to her body tracing her slender legs until in came to her chest and parted into a 'V'. It wrapped around under her arms where it met again and swooped low behind her back. She looked at him nervously and bit her lip when he saw her.
"Magnificent." he said with a smile and walked toward her. "You look wonderful, do you like the designs?"
She nodded and smiled more easily. "Thank you." She whispered and kissed him on the cheek. "Aren't you getting anything?"
"I want to do some more looking around first. Let's get a box for your dress though, I want it to be perfect for you." He said and let her go back into the changing room.
After the dress was wrapped and boxed, they left back into the streets to browse some of the other shops. They found stalls that sold knives, wine, fish, cloth, gems, and many odd trinkets that Baro had never seen before. A fountain in the center of town made them stop to rest and look at the shooting water from a stone masterpiece of a whale spraying water from its top. Sitting on the marble edge Baro took a breath and looked at the city.
Most people stood around talking to friends and family, exchanged gossip and traded goods in friendly voices as usual. All did that is except two people Baro noticed out of the rest.
One was about one hundred feet away facing them; he stood leaning against a building by himself and glanced away whenever Baro looked toward him. Another man stuck out because just now he was pushing his way through the crowd toward Baro, shouting filthy curses with a hand under his cloak at his hips.
'Crystal, take Shadow and go back to the room.' Baro thought to her, but she already saw them and wasn't going anywhere.
'We'll do this together.' She thought back and put her dress box in Baro's backpack. Baro smiled at her but worried what was going to happen next.
Baro helped her up and they walked away from the man that was heading for them. From the corner of his eye the man that had been standing still was now running diagonally and cut behind them. The shouting man got even louder and from the sound of him and Baro yelled, "Run!" grabbing Crystal's hand.
They weaved through the crowd together dodging the traffic of city life. His heart pounded blood up to his ears and made him hot headed from running. Under different circumstances he might have had fun running with Crystal, but running for your life doesn't hold the same appeal.
"Look out!" Baro yelled and jumped over a crate while kicking it, sending its content of oils spilling behind them. Crystal jumped over just in time and turned around to look at their pursuers, not knowing how close they actually were. The closet one bear tackled her and brought Crystal to the ground screaming.
She shrieked "BARO!" and wrestled with the thug. Baro turned around immediately and was enraged by the attacker. He charged back toward her and unsheathed his hunting knife from his belt. His intention in his fury was to shout a grand, demoralizing battle cry, but all he managed was a gruff roar of unintelligible words and growls.
Before he reached them the second thug did something that made Baro stop short of the scene. He picked the man on top of Crystal off the ground and slammed him into the wall. They fought over each other and tried to get over to Crystal before their competitor, but now Baro was standing over them and not happy.
He breathed heavily and growled softly which made the two thugs stop and stand up, worried what he would do next. Baro took this advantage to look over Crystal. Her knee was scrapped and her clothes were ruffed up but she seemed okay, if frightened.
"Let me take them now Kazekage!" yelled the more violent of the two that had tackled Crystal.
"We were under orders, we we're not supposed to strike yet! Now the boss will give this assignment to somebody else you idiot! Our cover is blown." The other one said and gave a menacing look to his partner.
Crystal thought to Baro 'Run, I can't take care of them but I don't want to risk you getting hurt by it.'
'Hurt by what?'
'You'll see.' She thought calmly and relaxed against the street.
"No! I'm not leaving here and neither will you two if you do not run away right now." Baro walked in front of Crystal and prepared himself to fend off the thugs.
An awkward silence settled over them as a passerby starred off the main street, interested in this disturbance. Baro's arms tensed and his head still felt hot with anger. 'Come on, make a move.' He thought to himself. 'Or run away, I don't care. I won't let you hurt her.'
Finally the violent thug reached for his double swords when Kazekage struck him with lightning reflexes. A blow from his hands upside the head and a strike to his back sent him to the ground clutching his back. He stood over his victim and barked out, "I didn't sign on for murder Raik. I was told to watch and protect them, and that is the limit to my options."
Raik wheezed and snarled, "You'll never get away with this. You broke the code! None from our creed shall ever fight the hunter of the same target. Your finished!" And with that remark he rolled up and ran for it, ducking another blow from Kazekage's iron fists.
"Let him go." Breathed Baro, eagerly putting his knife on his belt. "If he comes back you will kill him, and if he does not you will not care."
Kazekage looked him in the eyes and asked him, "When do you plan on leaving?"
Baro was taken back to how straightforward he was but answered, "Today."
"Good, I will go with you. There is nothing for me here now and I must protect you."
"So sure are you?" asked Baro curiously. "Why must you protect me?" Kazekage looked at him as if he were crazy.
"Why, you are of great value. My client has placed great importance on your life, and had charged my with keeping it intact at all costs."
"Your client? Who is this person?"
"I do not know." Kaze said quickly. "He keeps himself very secretive. He wouldn't even tell me his name, but promised a large sum of money for your safety."
Crystal bursted out angrily, "In case you didn't notice, I'M ON THE GROUND OVER HERE!"
"I'm sorry, lets get you cleaned up." Baro said kneeling down. "I don't think we have anything to fear from this one." Baro then told her mentally about his suspicions his future master sent the bodyguard.
The four of them headed back to the room after Shadow finished sniffing Kazekage. Only after several minutes of constant sniffing would she allow Kaze to come with them. She nearly bit his leg off when he tried to escape her nose, but made up for it by letting him pet her slick, black coat. There Baro washed Crystal's leg for her, and introduced each other to their new ally.