As I was digesting her words, we were interrupted by the Guard Master Khalam, who was dragging a haggard Elwin behind him.
"Gilgamesh. Good evening," Khalam addressed me tersely. He wasted no time in getting to the matter at hand. "This foreigner, Elwin of Tucker, he is your responsibility now.”
The Guard Master sucked in air between his teeth, glancing at Elwin for a moment before he added, “Here is some Zarzar leaf tea from the caravan master; it is to be taken before rest. It will help your ‘friend’ find sleep through the night. After you have finished here, Laes has asked me to tell you to come to his wagon to get your share of the recent spoils. After that, you are to report to Alik for instruction," he informed me, eyes steady and unwavering.
Turning now in Cordelia's direction, "Lady Priestess, it would be unseemly for you to be sleeping in the rough company of men. Laes has made arrangements for different accommodations for you and the girl," he stated, matter-of-factly.
“I think it best that we all stay together,” I countered, unwilling to let go of my new prize.
“A child is one thing, but unmarried women do not sleep with unmarried men, Gilgamesh. This is simply the way of things. I can only offer you my word that both of them will suffer no harm,” pronounced Khalam, head bowed and both palms pressed against the back of his head.
I had seen this gesture before about the camp. It was an expression of supplication, and in the face of such, I found myself automatically nodding in agreement.
“Scripture has never agreed much with me, but I would like you to know that we keep to the gods here. However, in all my years, this is my first time seeing a lady Temple Knight. Whatever will come next… Please, this way, milady,” he offered with a fixed smile.
Cordelia bristled for a moment before her face settled into a disturbingly serene expression, "My thanks, Guard Master," she replied cordially, if not a little forced. "Since I am done with my evening meal, please lead on," she added, rising to her feet.
"As you wish, your err… holiness," Khalam responded awkwardly, caught off-guard by her sudden acceptance.
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"Come now, Larynda, let us find a place away from these rough men," she said, smiling a radiant smile at the girl and holding out her hand.
Larynda looked to me and Kidu for permission, and we both nodded to her.
"Go with Cordelia," Kidu and I said at the same time, echoing each other and laughing at the absurdity. A few seconds later, I began to regret my decision as I realized I had lost my Mana battery. Perhaps another investment in Mana regeneration was in the cards upon my next level-up.
Trustingly, the child scampered off to Cordelia's side with an inane grin on her face. Finished with his delivery, Khalam made as if to leave, with Cordelia and Larynda in tow, before turning back to me and throwing a long brown package my way. Surprised, and caught off guard by its weight, I almost dropped the damn thing.
"Ubaid has fully recovered. But, he no longer wishes to have a place among my guard, and he wants you to have this. Truth be told, he never had the mettle for it. Weak. Weak like his mother's people. It is an Azag-Gishban, what you people know as a sword-hammer. May it serve you better than it served him," Khalam explained in a clipped voice before taking a moment, sucking in air through his teeth, "You have done me and mine well. Thank you. Oh, and Water Mistress Ankhset wishes to see you, with the little girl mage over there; she says it's important. I will excuse you from Alik's ministrations this evening," he said offhandedly, before walking off, escorting the lady knight and our budding mage.
Alone with the members of my original party, a silence descended upon us. A silence which was then broken by Elwin, who sputtered a "Thank you… I told them everything," before starting to cry, soft, pathetic, unmanly tears, causing me to recoil. Kidu, once again, surprised me by placing a sympathetic, meaty hand on his shoulder. I believe that seeing his misery up front had quenched much of Kidu's anger towards the Rogue. The man, for all his bluster, had a big heart. It was an awkward, if not touching, moment. But, at the very least, now I wouldn't need to worry about Kidu stabbing Elwin in the middle of the night in the name of honor. Violent as he was, I was forced to conclude that Kidu had learned a skill that had so far eluded me: the ability to let go of a grudge.
“You are safe now, and all is forgiven. I hold no secrets worth a friend's life, anyway,” I stated simply, wanting to extricate myself from this situation. If I really thought about it, I never held much ill will towards Elwin anyway.
Elwin nodded to me and wiped his nose on the sleeve of a borrowed shirt. “Gil,” he croaked, “that woman Cordelia, be careful of her like. Those of the faith can be strange, and capable of almost anything. Sure, she thinks of you as Avaria incarnate now… but, but, just be careful, alright?”
“Perhaps. Can’t have you relying on Kidu and me for protection though. Let’s go about and see what we can do about that. Time to see what Laes has for us,” I chimed with an avaricious smile on my lips, “but first let’s have a look at Ubaid’s present.