As the first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of rose and gold, Sigurd was awoken by Mia and Nia. They pointed toward the town – their destination – as tiled roofs and minuscule chimney tops poked out of the horizon. Everyone in the caravan sighed in relief, Cuntz letting out the loudest of all; they were all weary from the skirmish with the bandits the previous night. Somehow, they’d made it unscathed.
When Cuntz brought the carriage to a halt at the edge of a busy intersection, Sigurd and the girls stepped onto the cobblestone street. Stretching their legs, Mia and Nia observed the humdrum of daily life whisking past. It was livelier than in Miltonshire, with more people out and about. The crisp morning air mixed with the fragrance of dew, trees, and freshly baked bread, and fascinated them.
On the other hand, Sigurd watched Cuntz closely. When he stopped off the carriage, he walked toward a wooden booth at the corner and mingled with the clerk there. There was a shuffling of hands, an exchange of goods, but Sigurd was unable to make out what they were saying or what was being bartered – nor did he care to pry.
After Cuntz was done, he walked back to the group and motioned for them to board again. Sigurd shook his head and held his hands out, “I can’t impose any longer. You’ve done enough for us.”
“Nonsense!” Cuntz protested. “If anything, I feel like I haven’t done enough. I should at least help you to find better lodging, or get you to the Adventurer’s Guild so you’re properly set up.”
Both men stared each other down, unrelenting in their insistence. At one moment, Cuntz’s eyes darted toward Mia. Sigurd took note of the slight and instantly realized why the merchant wouldn’t give in – the young catkin was still hurt from the night before.
Sigurd sighed and smiled, motioning at the girls to hop on the stagecoach again. “Fine, I’ll take you up on the offer, but let's meet halfway,” he added. “After we get everyone patched up, the three of us will take a stroll through town.”
“Deal,” the merchant replied. There was a moment of silence as Sigurd boarded the carriage as well before Cuntz followed up, “...have you ever considered becoming a merchant? Haggling is a skill we all have, and I think you have a knack for it.”
Sigurd snorted, “Wouldn’t dream of it!”
With that, Cuntz drove the carriage further along the streets and came to a full stop at the Church’s hospital. All five of them entered the building and, upon seeing the state Mia and the women were in, the nurses got each of them a gurney and proceeded to heal them.
While Sigurd half-expected it, the sight of magic incantations being used alongside the use of conventional gauze, topical remedies, and medical instruments still astounded him. The speed at which the nurses worked was also nothing to scoff at.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Embarrassed, he was made to fill out a form – all while being judged thoroughly by the staff’s piercing gazes – explaining his relationship to the patients, as well as the reason why they were so beat up. Cuntz helped shoulder the burden.
Once fully patched up, the two women were made to wait before being dismissed – it was standard procedure for such grievous injuries. Mia, on the other hand, was almost as good as new and was thus dispatched.
Before departing, Sigurd approached the women. “Hey, Mia’s all patched up, so we’re about to head out, but,” he stared intently at the human woman’s leg, covered in a cast. The bruises on her face and arms were well on their way to recovering too, and yet, while the elf woman was in a marginally better condition, still his heart ached for them both.
"Please, have this," he said softly, his voice carrying a note of empathy. From his sack, he retrieved a bundle of golden coins – one hundred, to be exact.
He reached out to hand them to the seated lady, but the elf woman interjected, blocking his path. She looked at him in disbelief, her eyes filled with a mix of reproach and pride. "What is this for?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.
"It's just a small token of appreciation," Sigurd replied, his gaze steady. "For your troubles – and your help – I guess you could say."
"I thank you for your gesture,” She said begrudgingly and through grit teeth. “I don't want your coin, human."
‘Goodness, what a tough nut to crack.’ Joyce thought. ‘I can tell she’s wary of men, but if only she knew who I really was!’
The elf scowled, her pride shining through and her eyes piercing daggers and death threats into Sigurd’s torso. His outreached hand did not quiver nor falter. “What do you want from us? Sex? Labor?” she spat, shaking her head.
“What? No, none of that,” Sigurd softly replied, his determined eyes never leaving the elf woman’s. “It really is just gratitude. I wouldn’t have been able to escape without your aid, in some way. And though it doesn’t excuse what other male humans have done, I at least want to do right by you.”
The elf woman narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to protest once more, but was caught off-guard as Mia interjected.
“Just take it!” She said, her ears erect, her tail lashing about, and her fists curled to her sides; her entire body expressing impatience. "Don't be stubborn. It's a gift from my Papa."
The human woman then intervened, softly pulling at the elf woman’s arm. “Now, now… I think he really just wants to help us,” she whispered. “If he were truly heartless or despicable, he could’ve left us to die in that cage. Instead, Mister Sigurd freed us and bravely fended off the bandit leader.”
Speechless, the dark elf stared back at the bandaged woman behind her. A drop of cold sweat flowed down her temple and her entire body shook with hesitance until finally she broke and spoke up. “Ah, fine! We’ll take it,” she stammered.
The dark elf violently snatched the pouch from Sigurd’s hand, seeking to avoid touching him. Her fingers trembled slightly as she closed her hand around it. A mix of emotions flickered across her face – gratitude, uncertainty, and a hint of sorrow. One thing was clear: she avoided his gaze as well.
“Here,” she said as she handed the pouch to the human woman.
Sigurd sighed, relief plastered on his face. “Right, I won’t inconvenience you any longer. Come on girls.”
As he turned to leave, the human woman unabashedly poked at the elf woman, goading her into speaking. Thus – her voice riddled with nerves and a bigger stammer – she shouted, “Thank you Sigurd!”
Without turning to face them, Sigurd smiled and waved at them. Mia and Nia giggled at the entire exchange. As they walked out the pavilion's double doors, he overheard the women’s shock and surprise upon discovering the gratuitous amount of coins he had gifted them.