Hey, guys, I'm here! I know, I took my time uploading I kept meaning to do it, just had to find the time between uni, work and illnesses. Plus I got a new nephew :D Oh well, hope this chapter meets expectations. I've decided it's worse uploading a chapter to an existing story than it is doing a new one. Presssssuuuuuure... And thanks for the review :D Um, I'll try to stop rambling. It's hard lol
Warning: Chapter contains spanking. Don't like, don't read, as usual.
Disclaimer: I think I have to do one of these each chappie, don't I? If so then I do not own Thracia. If I did, Kein would actually get some lines to speak! If they make someone so bishie at least give him some speaking lines! Please, IS, I beg you, release Thracia over here with support convos! I'm on my knees here!
Rifis started planning his revenge that very night. He retreated to a tent that had been set up for him, dried his tears and started to go over the facts…
1. Ronan hated him.
2. Everyone knew Ronan hated him.
3. Ronan practised his archery every night.
4. If he ended up with an arrow wound while Ronan was training they would think he did it on purpose.
5. Arrow wounds hurt.
6. Safy was the army's only healer…
Rifis perked up suddenly. His plan was excellent! Oh Ronan was going to rue the day he ever got Rifis, the Amazingly Brave, Cunning and Handsome, spanked. He peeked outside his tent. It was starting to get dark so he would have to hurry. He had no clue when Ronan stopped training and he wanted to put his plan into action before he lost his nerve… Arrow wounds hurt…
Shaking his head in an attempt to forget that, he ran out of his tent and snuck over to where he had last stalked Ronan. The archer was still there, practising alone, afraid the army might pass him in skill levels and need him no longer. Rifis watched nervously as Ronan repeatedly hit his target dead on. The archer was surprisingly good… What if he really did shoot him? He gulped as he made his way closer to the target – a red dot marked on the tree. He watched Ronan carefully, getting his timing correct. If he got this right, he could choose where he got hit and Ronan would have no time to either stop his arrow or aim it elsewhere.
Ronan slowly drew back the string on his bow, his mind on other matters. Rifis stepped out in front of his arrow's flight path just as he released the string.
"Watch out!" He yelled as the arrow thudded into Rifis' arm. The thief screamed out in pain as the archer froze. "You idiot! You ran in front of my arrow!"
"You shot me! You shot me!" The thief wailed.
"Ronan! Rifis! What's going on!?" Evayle demanded, running up, before spotting the arrow the screaming thief was trying futilely to pull out of his arm. She rushed over to him and pulled his other hand away, trying to soothe him. She looked sharply up at Ronan, shocked.
"Evayle, I-" Ronan started.
"Ronan, go to your tent and stay there," Evayle ordered in a low, disappointed tone. He opened his mouth but she cut him off. "No arguments. Just go." Ronan walked away obediently although he was feeling scared. What if they believed Rifis and though he'd shot him on purpose!?
Evayle helped Rifis up and escorted him to where Safy was waiting.
"Today is going well," Rifis thought gleefully, wincing as Safy took a firm hold on the arrow before giving it a sharp tug, while Evayle held him still. He wailed out as it tore free but that stopped the instant Safy healed him. She bent over and kissed his cheek.
"You were very brave," she assured him as he grinned broadly.
"Didn't feel a thing!" He lied before gently feeling his bottom. No pain. He had been completely healed. There was just one thing left… "So, what's going to happen to Ronan?"
"I don't know… Shooting an unarmed man… an ally…" Evayle muttered.
"Go easy on the lad… I mean he's confused… after all, I have been his enemy for most of his life," Rifis told her, trying his best to sound noble.
"Confused? Well let's just clear his head a bit," Evayle decided grimly. Rifis could practically read her mind. Her conclusion was exactly what he wanted.
Both him and Safy followed Evayle as she went back to Ronan's tent. The young archer was there, obediently waiting.
"Ronan, come," she ordered.
"Evayle… Please… He walked in front of my arrow. I didn't aim at him!" The teenager protested.
"Well in that case I'll make sure Dagda won't aim for you. Your bottom will just be where he's swinging his hand," Evayle responded coldly. Ronan paled as she grabbed his wrist.
"No! No, please! You have to believe me! He jumped in front of my arrow! I know better than to shoot an ally, even murdering scumbags like him!" He pleaded. Evayle swatted his bottom, making him yelp.
"Language, Ronan," she told him. Rifis hid his grin as Safy clutched on to his arm, hating Ronan's distress. This day was getting so good, he was starting to think he would turn it into a personal holiday!
Dagda glanced up as the four entered his tent.
"Evayle? Visiting ole Dagda's tend this late?" He asked with a slight grin. Evayle laughed before pushing Ronan forwards.
"I'm afraid this visit isn't a pleasant one," she informed him. "Ronan shot Rifis."
"Oh…" Dagda responded, his voice becoming grave.
"I'd rather not disturb Fin or Leaf too much. I would rather we just sorted it out now," Evayle added.
"I see," Dagda responded, standing up. Ronan whimpered, shrinking closer to Evayle.
"It wasn't my fault… Truly," he persisted in a tiny, scared voice.
"Oh?" Dagda asked. "Tell me what happened."
"I was practising like I always do and he just stepped out in front of my arrow," Ronan explained, aware just how lame the tale sounded.
"That's not true!" Rifis cut in, outraged tone perfected. "I came to find you to make amends. We were talking and you just shot me! I barely had time to dodge!" Even Ronan had to admit the scoundrel sounded convincing, although his heart sank as he thought of this.
"Don't believe him. He's a good actor!" He protested, weakly. Dagda put an arm around the slender archer's shoulders.
"Nice try, Ronan," he told him. "Now come with me, I'll show you how to cut a switch."
"A…Switch?" Ronan repeated, his voice trembling. "I don't want to cut a switch…"
"I didn't think you would," Dagda responded with a chuckle. "Come on, lad."
Rifis watched as the archer was led off, trying his best to suppress a smile.
"Could you… Walk me back to my tent?" Safy asked him, timidly. She was still clutching his arm.
"Why of course, my lady," Rifis responded, putting on an exaggerated humble tone. Safy smiled, allowing him to lead her away.
Evayle waited in the tent until Dagda came back, followed by a reluctant Ronan, who was carrying a thin, whippy stick.
"Are there any stools?" Dagda asked her. She nodded.
"I'll go get one," she decided.
"Please listen to me," Ronan begged. Dagda shook him as he watched Evayle leave.
"You can't go around popping arrows in people and expect to get away with it, lad," he responded. Ronan sighed. No one was going to believe him… and if he was honest, he couldn't blame them.
Evayle returned with the stool and Dagda went to sit down. Ronan was clutching on to the stick as if it would help him in some way.
"Ronan, you know what to do," Dagda told him. The archer looked at Evayle pleadingly but she just looked sternly back. He let out a small sob as he shuffled over to Dagda.
"…Um…Could you… Turn around…" He asked Evayle, blushing.
"Humiliation is a part of the punishment," Dagda cut in. Ronan sighed miserably. This really wasn't fair. He handed the switch to Dagda and started to undo his trousers, shaking as he did so. He had seen what had happened to Rifis. He hadn't imagined earlier that day it would also be happening to him! Dagda waited patiently as the young archer stepped out of his trousers and boxers. The bearded man indicated his lap silently. Ronan whimpered as he climbed over the massive fighter's lap and tried to relax. Dagda pulled him over a bit further until he was satisfied.
Ronan tensed and hugged Dagda's leg as he felt a huge warm hand on his bottom. He yelped in advance as he felt it lift away.
"Now, lad, you don't go shooting people in our army," Dagda told him, bringing his hand sharply back down. The bluenette howled out, kicking his legs violently as a pink mark appeared across his backside. Someone peeked into the tent, a smirk on his face – Rifis. He was unseen by the others.
"I didn't," Ronan sobbed out, already reduced to tears. He'd been punished like this before when he was younger, but those times he had actually deserved it and his mother had been nowhere near as strong as Dagda. The hand came down again, harder.
"Ronan, don't lie. It makes this worse," Dagda advised.
"I'm not!" Ronan protested, squirming on the stronger man's lap. The hand came down yet again, harder once more. Poor Ronan's bottom was quickly turning red as he cried out again and fell silent, determined not to lie but sure if he tried to tell the truth it would just get harder… And there was still the switch to go…
Dagda continued to slap Ronan, not even having to really hold him down as the young archer obediently stayed across his lap, resigned to his fate, crying out each time he was spanked and hugging himself closer to Dagda's leg, but never trying to get away. He knew that would only make it worse. Dagda steadily worked on turning the sobbing boy's bottom a deep crimson colour, which really wasn't all that hard.
Finally he stopped and scooped up the switch.
"Get up," he told Ronan, who obediently scrambled up, still crying bitterly. Dagda stood up, towering over the quivering archer. He pointed to the stool, not having to tell the unfortunate archer what to do. Ronan stiffly walked back over to the stool and bent over, placing his palms flat on the seat.
"Stupid kid, thinking he could mess with me," Rifis thought scornfully.
"I hope some of this is sinking in," Dagda told Ronan, swishing down with the switch. Ronan howled out in agony, straightening up with his hands clamed firmly over his sore backside.
"Please Dagda! I'll never shoot an ally! I'll never shoot an ally!" He wailed, not telling a lie.
"Ronan, you've been so good. Don't let yourself down now," Evayle warned. Ronan sobbed, knowing he'd have no choice.
"S-Sorry… Please… D-Don't p-penalise m-me," he begged, terrified, as he reluctantly bent back over the stool.
"I'll give you one last chance," Dagda warned, striking down with the switch again. Ronan wailed out louder, but this time he managed to stay in position. Dagda barely gave him time to compose himself before the switch came cracking down again. Ronan screamed out, pained beyond belief as the third dark stripe appeared across his already crimson rump.
"That's gotta hurt," Rifis thought gleefully, not feeling even the slightest sympathetic twinge.
Dagda continued to slash the switch across the weeping archer's rear until he was bloody and the switch had broken. He flung the broken switch away as Rifis swiftly retreated, having seen all he wanted to. Dagda allowed the archer up and handed him his clothes. Ronan was still sobbing as he dressed and moved as if to flee but Evayle stopped him.
"Go to your tent and get some sleep. I'll discuss this with Leaf and Fin and I'll come and get you tomorrow." Ronan nodded miserably, tears still steadily streaming down his face. He turned and left, rubbing his bottom in a misguided attempt to ease the pain. The friction from the fabric simply made it worse.
"I better follow him… He's already shot Rifis once…" Evayle decided, slipping out after him. Dagda sighed and sat back on the stool. Before today he had really trusted that young archer. It was terrible to think that Ronan had changed that much in such a short amount of time.
"Kid, I hope you've really learnt. You've got such potential, it would be terrible to lose you like that…" The big bearded man thought, sadly. He sighed again and slipped into his sleeping bag, closing his eyes. This would all have to be sorted out tomorrow. It was going to be a long day…
A/N Well hope you enjoyed. My friend hated Rifis for ages after this! It's taken me so long to repair damages. I wasn't that mean to poor Ronan was I? If I was send any complaints to my review box :D If you were wondering how Rifis found out Ronan practises every night... Well he's a thief. Thieves know stuff...
I should really do some kind of commentator type thing, shouldn't I? Will Ronan get kicked out of the army? Will Rifis ever get found out? Will this stupid author ever stop rambling? Find out in the final chapter of Rifis' Recruitment *Cue music*