The blacksmith nodded back, his bow equal to Joe’s and Joe smiled when he saw the Matriarch stiffen. Joe glanced at her and simply smiled, shrugging. The blacksmith didn’t really notice anything and stepped back, heading off to do the work. The Matriarch saw Joe’s look and bowed in return, seeming apoplectically apologetic. Joe shook his head, and the Matriarch bowed again, a bit deeper. Joe sighed, knowing that despite his efforts, the blacksmith would be getting in trouble later anyway.
“Then I’ll return to the wall and my defense until the giant comes… oh! I’ll need help to go up and down the wall. Is there… the water mage yesterday… yesterday? Was it yesterday? Man… anyway, the water mage was a great help, but anyone who can help me get up and down the wall would be nice.”
The Matriarch nodded her head, “Then you do not need water magic?”
Joe quickly shook his head, “Not particularly, but … ooh… wait. I have an idea. Yeah… the water mage would be perfect, if you don’t mind. I’ll need to speak with him a bit before the fight, if that’s alright.”
The Matriarch nodded, “Then I’ll call him here immediately.”
“Thanks. I’m good. Is there anything else?”
The Matriarch cocked her head in thought at that, then shook her head carefully, “Only… is there anything we could do? Our reinforcements are here.”
Joe glanced to the side, surprised, finding a group of eight or nine hardened fighters, a mix of men and women of a variety of races, although there were about double the number of men. They stood before him, obviously well trained but lacking meaningful relational discipline, as was often the case of those who’d grown used to special privilege. Despite that, they were quite wary of him, watching him with concern and respect of a dangerous individual. Joe didn’t think much of it, simply turning back to the Matriarch.
“They’re strong?”
“Our strongest, but not as strong as you.”
Joe shook his head, “But they have training and experience fighting monsters.”
“Yes.”
Joe nodded, “Good.”
He then turned to the group, “Do you want to help?”
The group seemed surprised, looking at one another before one member stepped forward, nodding slowly. The woman had been standing behind all the rest, almost blending in and Joe was surprised to see her. He’d noticed her before. He knew she was there, but she’d somehow blended in a way to make her unremarkable. She was anything but unremarkable.
“If you would have us,” she replied softly, even delicately; a strange dichotomy with the incredible danger that seemed to radiate from her.
“I’m more than willing. It is dangerous, from what I understand.”
She nodded, “Very much so. We are uncertain what to do.”
Joe nodded, “Then, probably stay back and hit him from range, if you can. Try to keep him from moving too far and hurt him otherwise. I’ll keep him in place. Please… just don’t shoot me or hit me!” Joe ended with a chuckle.
She smiled at that, her tension releasing even as the others seemed to grow even more respectful, a few straightening to nod. Joe nodded back.
“Good. Let’s get back to this fight,” Joe said before turning to the Matriarch and bowing. Gotta keep up pretenses.
“Thank you, I’ll return to the fight,” Joe offered respectfully to the Matriarch.
“No. Thank you, eccentric.”
Joe smiled but quickly turned to the other three, “So, Garnedell, Zilnek, I need my equipment. Garnedell, the longest sword… only… and, the quiver with my good arrows. Hmm… the medium shield, Zilnek… and my harness and sheath for all of it. I’ll need to take my bow as well… ooh… and my warhammer.”
Garnedell and Zilnek both nodded their heads quickly while listening before both shouted quickly, “Yes, Joe.”
Joe turned to Gwenvair, “When the water mage arrives, please have him come stand beside me at the wall.”
“Yes, Joe. I’ll do so immediately.”
Joe smiled at Gwenvair, then looked at all of them. He recognized their worry and attempted to calm them.
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“Don’t worry. I should be fine.”
“Please… be safe, Joe,” Kilniara stood and wrapped him in her arms.
Joe smiled, “I’ll do my best.”
Kilniara stepped back, sitting down. Gwenvair stood up, looking up at Joe, but seeming to be disconcerted, uncertain of how to express her concern. Joe stifled a worried frown and looked to Kilniara who quickly nodded at him, obviously hinting as she tilted her head towards Gwenvair. The tension in Joe’s heart immediately rolled away, grateful for Kilniara’s trust in him. He smiled at her, nodding his head carefully before turning back to see Gwenvair looking away, embarrassed but obviously worried.
“Hey. I’ll be safe, OK Gwenvair?” Joe said and stepped forward clapping a hand down upon her shoulder carefully. Gwenvair stared up at him, then began struggling with fear as she tried to keep tears from her eyes and Joe struggled to keep the moment light. Gwenvair would have nothing of it, however, and immediately leapt forward, hugging him tightly, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck even as she trembled. Man… she really is worried! He heard her sob softly and slowly wrapped his arms around her a bit more protectively while making sure to keep space. He made sure to bend forward and give the ‘brother’ hug so as to not overly bother her but also out of respect for Kilniara.
He only held it a moment, long enough to comfort Gwenvair, but not wanting to bother Kilniara. He made sure to look over at Kilniara, but she simply smiled up at him, a bright proud smile on her face and Joe struggled to keep his sigh of relief in, not wanting to bother Gwenvair. He did, however, immediately stand up as he nodded softly to Kilniara before turning back to Gwenvair.
“Hey. Hey… it will be OK.”
Gwenvair shook her head and stepped back, tears streaking her cheeks even as she maintained a stoic passive face, “It’s not OK. This is a city killer. A single hit could easily kill you!”
Joe sobered, “I know. I can see that.”
She punched him on his shoulder, “Then don’t take it lightly!”
Joe smiled, “I’m not. It helps me not be nervous.”
She stared at him, carefully evaluating him before nodding firmly, a soft smile shining out from behind the shadow of her fear, “Good. I don’t need you dying on me now.”
Joe outright laughed at that, shaking his head, “Not going to do any dying.”
Gwenvair nodded and turned away, sitting back down on the steps. Joe stifled his sigh but turned to Kilniara with a bit of worry. Kilniara looked up at him, a small smile on her face as he carefully searched her face. Her smile grew and she quickly shook her head, softly. She then jerked her head towards Garnedell and Zilnek before rolling her eyes. She turned away and quickly wrapped Gwenvair up in a tight hug. Right… I’m being an idiot… but… she’s an amazing girl!
Joe turned to the two boys, both standing and looking up at him with incredibly sober faces.
Joe smiled, “I’m going to be fine!”
Zilnek, however, simply stared and didn’t respond to the easy humor, “You are an incredibly brave man.”
Joe laughed, “It is easy to be brave when you do not know the danger.”
Zilnek actually smiled at that, then nodded. Joe stepped forward and wrapped him in a hug, then turned quickly to Garnedell.
“I’ll be back,” Joe smiled, hiding his internal humor. Always wanted to say that!
Garnedell simply nodded back, no worry or fear evident, only complete faith in what Joe would be doing, “I know.”
Joe found himself laughing once again with a shake of his head, “Glad for the confidence. The trust”
Garnedell shrugged, “You’ve proved it. Often.”
Joe smiled, nodded, then turned away. Show time!
Joe quickly stepped back up to the wall, looking out over the field. He found his line in shreds, a ragged array of beasts already over the line and pressing close to the guards. A few of the guards were actually in fights and he found a triage center had been set up, two or three obviously wounded guards being cared for by some medics. Joe hid his curse, simply stepping forward and rapidly clearing the field of monsters, focusing first on those attacking the guards.
After the beasts attacking the guards were cleared, a ragged cheer came up from below but Joe was too busy already taking out those closing in and recreating his line, pushing the beasts all the way back to the close corpse wall he’d created. It was an utter mess down there, and Joe looked on the field, concerned. However, he turned to those who’d taken his line for him and thanked them.
“Thank you so much. I will return to the fight.”
Three of them seemed utterly exhausted, two collapsing to the wall while the third bent over at the waist holding herself up with her hands on her knees. The last was not tired at all, but was emotionally distraught, obviously overwhelmed and struggling. Joe took them in then relaxed his anger, smiling as he realized they’d been pushed to the edge.
“Hey! You did well. You kept them at bay. That is what matters,” Joe stated, then turned away to fire another couple of arrows before turning back and continuing, “Thank you. Rest. You did well.”
The four stared at him, the tired ones looking at him like he was a terrifying beast and Joe hid his grin. It’s nice to be competent! Joe nodded to them, wrestled his pride firmly back to oblivion, and returned to the fight. I can bask in my magnificence tonight in my dreams! Joe chuckled to himself but then looked back down at the field, grimacing. So… that’s not going to be a good place to fight! Some of the monster corpses were taller than a person, even dead. Joe was going to have a very hard time fighting the giant in a field so covered with the monsters, and the monster would likely not even be affected, really, by the footing. I… gotta get that clear!
Joe turned to Toular, “Hey. Sorry to bother you, but another thing. Could you tell the crafters and guards below two things? Please? Please ask the guards and crafters to clear the field of all the corpses. I need it empty. I really need it empty… like… in the next ten minutes empty, OK? And, then can you please warn the guards and crafters below to be ready to flee to the sides when we send a warning. They shouldn’t… can’t run now. I need them to clear the field of all the corpses between here and the line I’ve made… if they could, but they’ll need to react and run really fast when they’re warned, OK?”
Toular looked at Joe, obviously considering very quickly and uncertain how to respond when the Matriarch called out, “Do it, Master Toular. Follow the eccentric’s words. He will protect us.”
Toular startled, looking to his side to see the Matriarch back on the line firing off her magical attacks with ease while shouting out loudly to him, although she never turned to look at him. Toular quickly bowed, “Yes, Matriarch.”