Wow, an update for this story, not had that in a while. And you lot thought I'd let Jason die like that. Brent Weeks owns the Night Angel universe, I'm just borrowing it.
Jason awoke in an unfamiliar room in a daze. He sat up, and his body screamed in protest. He coughed up dark blood and tried to stand. Die standing, die with honour, die with a weapon in your hand and an enemy before you. Given he was without his weapons or any foes, he'd have to settle for two out of three. He still needed to find his weapons, and a way out of his current situation. He checked himself for wounds and found plenty. The most notable were three ominous holes in his chest, but of the bolts which caused them, there was no sign. Blood dripped down his abdomen and stained the floor below him, he felt weak, soft, vulnerable. He could not use the Talent to heal him in his current state, and he could hardly scout the area and risk bleeding out, so he collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.
"Why does he have to stay in my house? He's a sinner.." Jason heard a female voice above him, apparently in an argument with another party. He feigned sleep in order to eavesdrop. "My child, I know you fear that this man will harm you but you have nothing to fear…" Jason heard a door slam and opened his eyes, quickly adjusting to the light. An elderly woman stood above him, and spoke softly "I am Julia, priestess of the One God to this village. You have been badly wounded, Jason Drake. But you are safe here." She produced a bucket and a rag and dipped the cloth into the clear water. "Don't think about touching me with that cloth. Where am I?" Jason snarled defensively, while Julia shrugged and dropped the rag into t he bucket. "This village doesn't really have a name, and you washed up on our beach, with three crossbow bolts sticking out of your chest. We saved you and brought you here. Even though your reputation is known even here, Jason. You will find little friends here, at first, especially Tamara it seems." Jason snorted in derision, and regretted it immediately as agony shot through his body like cold fire. Julia patted his forehead with the cold rag and Jason growled weakly to voice his discontent at the action. She tutted at him like a child and stood to open the door. "Come, Jason. This is where you'll be staying for the next few months."
Jason stepped outside a few minutes later, his left arm in a sling and clothed only in a plain pair of breeches, and observed his new surroundings. A collections of thatch huts in a mountainous valley greeted him, and he sighed and frowned without thinking. He had expected something grander, not a cityscape, but still . Villagers in simple attire stopped their various activities and stared at the wolf in their midst, the children pointing inquisitively and asking questions to their parents. Jason's attention suddenly focused on a pretty young woman, about his age, with light brown hair in a ponytail who was clearly making an effort to ignore his presence. As Julia shooed the curious onlookers away, Jason pointed at the woman and asked "Who's she?" Julia glanced and smiled, earning a smile from the woman, which turned into a brief glare at Jason. " That's Tamara. She'll be your host, although neither she or Darius is happy with it." Jason toke a few tentative steps, wary for sudden flashes of pain and walked steadily down the steps and into the village, Julia in tow. "Should I care if she's happy with it? And who's Darius?" Julia shook her head and sighed at his attitude. She spoke as he wandered towards the market. "Darius is Tamara's suitor. He suggested we should of left you on the beach and called you… Well I do not wish to recount what he called you. Something wrong?"
"There's no weapon stall." Jason looked around the market, there was food vendors, cloth merchants and blacksmiths selling pots and pans, but no swords or maces. "We are a peaceful village, there are no weapons here." Julia told him solemnly, and guided him back towards the house they'd emerged from. "I think I want to leave. Thank you for your hospitality, but I have no wish to remain a prisoner here." Jason stopped defiantly and looked at Julia, awaiting an answer. She looked at him sadly. "I'm afraid you cannot, Jason. The pass is blocked with snow this time of year, and will be for several months. You are here to stay, may as well get used to it." A familiar female voice spoke from behind him. "You're sleeping in the barn. You get your meals from the temple. You don't come close to me, understood?" Jason turned and the woman who had ignored him earlier, now stood and looked daggers at him. "And who are you to be giving me orders, pet?" He smirked at her, finding humour in her assumption that she was dominant over him. "I'm the woman who's kindly giving you a place to sleep, and I don't like you.' She continued to glare as he broke into a grin and spoke in a low threatening tone, stepping in close, 'I don't like you much either, nor do I particularly want to. Stay away from me and we'll have no trouble, pet. Now where's this bloody barn?"