Author note: There's a quote from a great movie trilogy in this chapter and if you recognize it, you win a slice of Jan's prized turnip cake! ^ᴥ^
oxoxoxoxoxo
Six days later, the group was still marching, when they caught sight of a boar in the forest. "Ah, look at our dinner!" Imoen grinned, readying her bow quickly and a moment later, the boar was dead with an arrow deeply plunged in its head. "Nice shot, sister", Sarevok praised her, ruffling her hair and she smiled proudly. "Oh, that's child's play for Imoen the Magnificent", she said with a shrug and the others laughed. "Well, miss magnificent, do you want to skin it too? It's your prey after all", Meg teased her.
The pink-haired thief grimaced, "Eeeeewwww, nope! I'll be nice and leave that task to you guys, I don't want you to feel useless", she replied, stepping away from the boar. "We are humbled by your generosity", Anomen joked with a playful bow, then he took out his hunting knife and approached the game. "Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys!", Sekhmet announced with a giggle, but then she noticed the puzzled stares of the others and huffed, crossing her arms on her chest with a pout, "Edwin would have appreciated that reference".
"…Okay, well, we have our dinner now. How shall we cook it?", Meg asked. Osmund raised a hand shyly, "Could we make some boar stew? The last time I could taste it was when I left the monastery, I really miss it. It's hard to not be able to enjoy it anymore", he said. Swire scoffed, "Oh, boohoo, poor kid", he spat mockingly, "You've lived in that monastery, safe and well-fed, for all your life and now you whine for not having boar stew for a few days? Why don't you try being a mercenary for a year or two, see what real life is like".
"I hate admitting it, but Swire has a point, lad", Wolfstan agreed, "I understand that to you it's difficult to be on the road like this, but maybe you should think twice before voicing such complaints in the presence of people who have been living like this for years". The young monk blushed scarlet and cringed, "I'm sorry, I didn't think…".
"Obviously", Sekhmet rolled her eyes, then smiled as she noticed that the boar was nearly completely skinned, "Good, the meat will be ready soon. I'll go and fill the pot with water", she said, rummaging in her pack for the huge pot she always carried. "You cannot go alone", Ulric intervened, "There may be more bandits in the woods". "Come with me then, so you'll know I'm safe", she offered, taking his hand in hers and he gave a brisk nod even as the faintest hint of pink dusted his cheeks. "Let us go, the river is not far".
When they reached the calm water stream, she kneeled and bent forward to fill the pot while he stood behind her with his hand on the hilt of his sword, his gaze darting around for any sign of danger. And yes, maybe he did throw a passing glance at her booty as well, but that was totally not on purpose, nope, not at all. "If I may ask, why did you decide to become an envoy to the bishop?", she asked as she stood up and faced him. "I was chosen by him", Ulric answered with a small shrug, "I have been in the service of the Church for nearly my whole life before that honor was bestowed upon me".
"So you were called by the Lord?". He shook his head, "Not really, at first I was a simple soldier tasked with protecting the bishop, like many others. But one day, I saved him from an assassination attempt and he decided to reward me by making me his envoy: I would receive a higher stipend, carry the title of knight and wear his symbol as proof of my status", a small snort escaped him despite himself: he was glad to serve his Lord, of course and the additional money was a welcome bonus, but he couldn't care less about fancy titles and social status. As far as he was concerned, that was all just a huge load of bullshit.
"An assassination attempt, eh? There were plenty against my family too, especially in the old days. Nowadays it's been less frequent, but we never lower our guard all the same, one can never be too careful, even more so in Thay", she explained as they walked back to the camp. "Since you come from a noble House and as Anomen has told me, you can marry…", he hesitated, "I wonder, has your father chosen a husband for you yet?".
She averted her eyes, her mood darkening, "Not officially, no. But in his last letter, he informed me that he was going to contact some of the most influential Houses of our homeland to arrange a meeting with their heirs. He has not said anything specific yet, but seeing as how things are going back home, I will probably end up married to Asher Metron, firstborn of Invarri Metron, the Tharchion of Delhumide", her full lips twisted with contempt, "That empty-headed macaque! He's not even worthy of polishing my boots!".
"Is he rich?". "Disgustingly rich, yes. And House Metron is among the ancient noble Houses, older even then my own ", she added, voice full of contempt and disgust. "Why are you so upset, then? He can provide for you and give you a life of luxury", he asked as they finally rejoined the others. Sekhmet frowned, her gaze never leaving him even as she handed the pot to Meg, "Didn't you hear a word I've said? If my father doesn't change his mind, I will have to marry an idiot whom I despise!". "But a rich one. Is it not enough?".
The slap caught him completely off-guard and Ulric could only stare at her in bafflement as she yelled at him. "You're a jerk! Kossuth, the men back home were bad enough and I hoped that you could be different, but you're just like them, you, you…You stupid, flea-infested, braindead, useless heartless simian!", she shouted in his face before storming away angrily.
The knight was frozen in place, his mouth slightly open as he looked at her retreating back: no woman had ever had the gall to talk to him like that before, even less to go so far as to hit him. He recalled the look on her face as she ranted, a mixture of anger, pain and sadness, her cheeks flushed and her dark eyes flashing and he once again felt a spark of warmth in his chest: she was beautiful regardless of her mood, but when she was angry, she had all the terrifying yet fascinating beauty of an incoming thunderstorm.
"Don't you worry, lad", Jan said, coming to stand beside him and giving him a comforting pat on the back, "Sammy may spit fire like a Dragoness from time to time, but trust me, most of the times she is as sweet and tender as a fresh turnip from Turmish! She even made some turnip cookies for my birthday, isn't that nice? Ah, if only I were a bit younger and she were a Gnomish lady with a properly big nose and short, hairy chubby legs, I would be really tempted to woo her, but of course, as it is I cannot possibly bring her home to my Ma...She wouldn't fit in our house, you see".
Ulric pressed his lips in a thin line, "You have feelings for her, then?". "Oh, no, no, for auntie Patricia's turnip cake, no! She's a smart and lovely lass, no arguing on that and she has a soft heart hidden behind that fiery shell of hers, but I like my ladies with a bit more meat on their nose, if you catch my meaning. Still, I guess she would be quite the catch for a strapping lad like yourself".
"I...", he trailed off, shooting a quick glance at Sekhmet and his cheeks reddened ever so slightly, "I was not sent on this mission to find a wife, but to find and capture a necromancer". "Who says you can't find both?", Anomen intervened, "I did and so can you". "Unlike you, I am neither noble, nor rich, Anomen. I cannot give her a life of luxury". Sarevok arched an eyebrow, "And how do you know that's what she wants?". Ulric shrugged, "All women do".
Meg scoffed, "Okay, first of all, thank you very much for that bit of manly wisdom", she spat, her voice dripping sarcasm, "And second, not all women want that, I mean just look at us here. Besides, if that was what Sekhmet really wanted, she'd already be settled down in Thay with a rich moron and she would have at least three kids running around her estate. And yet, she's here, travelling with us and still single. Doesn't that tell you anything?".
"But her father...". Imoen blew a raspberry, "Oh puh-lease, if her old man thinks he can force her to marry, he doesn't know his own child at all! She'd sooner set her wannabe husband on fire and it's not just a figure of speech, trust me. D'ya like her or not?". Ulric opened his mouth, closed it, then gave a brisk nod, "Yes. I do". "Go get her, then! I did not fight for Lissa and I will regret it for the rest of my days, so don't make my same mistake. If you really think she's the one for you, don't let her slip from your grasp!", Jan exclaimed, his face unusually solemn and his tone more serious than ever.
The terrestrial knight bit his lower lip and a rare flash of uncertainty passed in his blue eyes, "What if she does not feel the same?". "She does, trust me. Why else would she yell at you for suggesting a marriage to another man?". "I do not know". The Gnome rolled his eyes, "Wake up, lad! She wanted you to speak the words, to tell her not to marry that other guy because you want her for yourself! And when you didn't, she got angry, because she thought you didn't care". Ulric started, "That is not what I meant!". "Then tell her".
He nodded, "I will, as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Thank you, all of you". "Anytime, lad", the illusionist smiled fondly up at the human, "Just promise me that you will take good care of her and make her happy". "On my honor, I swear to love her, protect her and cherish her until my last breath, if she will have me".
"Good. And now, I'll go and help her cool down for you", Jan said, walking ahead and approaching the Thayan, who was sitting a bit away from the camp with a deep frown on her face, "Don't frown, Sammy, all those wrinkles spoil your pretty face". Sekhmet shot him a sidelong glance, "Sorry, Jan, but I'm not in the right mood for chit-chat right now".
"Our brave leader with eyes of ice has turned your mood sourer than turnip vinegar, eh?". "How dare he call me that!", she snapped. "Call you what?". She bit her lower lip, "A prostitute". "I don't recall hearing that word coming out of his mouth". "Not openly, no, but if I give myself to a man for money, what does that make me? It's obvious what he thinks of me. And here I hoped that...", she cut herself off and bowed her head, blushing, "Well, it doesn't matter anyway, no? He's not interested".
"Maybe he got burnt before by a lass who broke his heart and now he's afraid of suffering again", the Gnome said, "Some lads do not find it easy to trust after something like that. Just…Don't be too harsh on him, Sammy: he means well, he simply isn't that good at showing it". "Believe me, if he wants to be with me, I won't reject him. But I need to hear it from him, at least a little bit". "Give him time, Sammy. He will come around". "I hope so".