The sounds of summer floated through gently flowing air. Bards sang with promises of life and birds cheered on their encores with wild abandon. Delectable scents fattened the air pleasantly as bakeries opened their doors and the aroma of sweet pastries floated out. Children giggled and ran through the streets chased by amused parents remembering their own days of youth. In other places newly formed couples settled down in wooden seats, exchanging vows of love and confessing undying affection for one another. The village’s mood seemed to infect the very world itself; the filth that normally coated the streets had been washed away by the melting of winter ice and the coming of summer rains. The sun shone bright but coolly, providing enough heat to warm the land but not scorch the back of those who worked in the fields. Even in the surrounding forests far from civilization there seemed to be countless reasons to be happy as nature spread its loving blessings throughout the land.

What interested one woman more than the buzz was the heavy odor of freshly polished steel. She put the helm she held in her hands to her nose and breathed in deeply, etching its potent scent into her memory. Well-equipped as she was, her headgear was her pride and joy. She strolled casually through the marketplace away from the blacksmith shop she’d just come from and soaked in the sights and smells of the day. A light smile settled on her face, warmed by the energy of those who scuttled around her.

A voice emanated from a small figure behind her and she turned to greet it. “Is it new or just an antique taken out of retirement? Didn’t think you actually owned a good-looking piece. Outside of your sword that is.”

“Aye, the helmet is new. Bought it with all my savings. Beautiful, isn’t it? Tailored to fit, unlike my other gear.” The steel-clad woman announced this with obvious pride. She stood straight, head held high, and chin tilted up in a manner full of bravado and self confidence that could only be coming from someone nearly invincible.

The other woman held out her hands, expecting to receive the sallet. “Yes, Louresa, very beautiful, but the real question here is if you would let me borrow it. For the entirety of the campaign, perhaps? I promise to return it when it’s over.” She eyed the helmet greedily, raised and ready to pounce.

Louresa guffawed and retracted her arms. “Oh, dear Clair, my little mouse, the day I let you wear this is the day I well and truly want you dead. I’m sure its sheer weight would crush your delicate little bones.” Louresa moved the helm to the crook of her arm and playfully slapped Clair’s shoulder with her free hand, chuckling at her own joke.

Clair visibly puffed up. “You ever considered that it doesn’t crush your head because of all the hot air you keep in there? I’m sure its weight is the only thing keeping you attached to the ground now. Give it here so you can deflate all of that disgusting dank wind while it spends some time with a proper woman.” Clair put her hand to her waist and slightly tilted her hips, taping her own head and exhaling heavily out of her nose. Louresa giggled at the sight and handed over the helm.

Clair took it in hand and despaired at just how envious it made her; the helmet was truly a work of art. Tears came to her eyes as it fully settled in her hands. It shone brighter than it should have in the cool sun, such was the helm’s grace that it seemed to radiate its own light. The curves showed no sign of the smith’s hammer nor the forge fire that had helped to mold it. Every single detail and engraving on the helm was done to a tee. She held it out from her body after a short period longer, hesitating to release it fully from her grasp.

Louresa snatched the helmet from Clair’s hands. “Told you once and I’ll tell it again, you should’ve started an apprenticeship while you still had enough food on the table to fill those bones with meat. You’ve had more than enough time in the past five summers to get started.”

Clair folded her arms together and looked away. “I tried, over and over again, but someone always came to me and beckoned me for ‘training’.” She narrowed her eyes. “And didn’t you tell me only ‘hedge born whores with no spine’ took up the trade?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Louresa stared down at Clair with a withering gaze and sheltered the helmet behind her back. “I’ve heard you complain about the damn training more times than I’ve seen my father in my life. You’ve got more excuses than natural talent. It’s always ‘Next summer this, next season that’, how about you whinge to the man you wanted next time instead of crying your woes to me? Ah wait, you haven’t started trying with him either.”

“And what happened to chasing that boy you liked so much?” Clair snapped back, her face going cherry red in the day’s sunlight, “Your one to talk, misses I’ll speak to him before I leave. When are you going to stop yapping about him to me like a bard with bad cords? Explain that and maybe I’ll deign you with an answer.” Clair uncrossed her arms and chuckled, expecting the conversation to end, but stopped when she saw her friend’s face split into a wide grin.

Louresa swaggered forward, wrapping her arm around her friend’s narrow shoulders. “I basically bagged him last night I did. Told him I’d come back with riches from my adventures and offered to get him out of here when I returned. I tell you, the look in his eyes said it all. A couple of others too. You know, if you apologize for your little outburst, I’m sure we could share them all when we get back.” Clair’s eyes went wide. Louresa’s grin widened, ear to ear and almost painful in appearance. “So? Who do you want? I can see the temptation in your eyes. Could even take a risk and have some fun before we leave. Whatever their families say, we won’t be around for the backlash. Just imagine, anyone you want, all yours for the night no strings attached.”

Clair stopped. Her mind whirred with possibility as she processed what exactly her friend meant. It was true, no accountability could be held to a woman when she wasn’t there to take it in the first place, and part of her whispered that she’d already waited long enough for a lover. She grappled with the thought for an embarrassingly long time while Louresa leaned against her.

Clair groaned and pinched her nose shut, pushing Louresa away with one arm. Louresa allowed herself to be moved and sighed sadly. “Good God you stink. Even if I wanted to, and I really don’t, I wouldn’t be able to get away from your stench during the act.”

“Always the good girl, aren’t you Clair?” Louresa frowned. “Doesn’t it get boring to act like something you’re not after a while?”

“Not everyone is an animal like you. Some of us are looking for a little more certainty in our lives.” Clair paused for a moment. “Speaking of certainty, let’s go over and get ourselves sorted out already. We don’t even know if we’ll be taken in for labor or war when we sign on and you’re already bragging about what you could have.”

Louresa shrugged. “Aye, true, but consider this. I come from a long line of fighters, most of whom are very distinguished in battle, and I’m carrying better gear than anyone in the next town over. And you? Best shot in this village outside of myself, because you were taught by myself. They need us in a fight more than an unwashed and untrained trained lout who can barely kill a stock of wheat.”

Clair sighed and gently massaged her temple. “I’d insult your ego if you weren’t actually right most of the time. Still, I want to see my family more than you before I leave. All things considered I’ll see more than enough of you in the coming months and nothing of them.” Clair turned and began to walk quickly, knowing that if she stayed the conversation would never end. Louresa followed with easy strides, matching her small friend’s quick movement with long steps.

“I never took you for a family woman. Thought you hated being with them, the way you avoid going home. What changed? Oh, you have to tell me, I so love a bit of gossip.” Louresa sat her chin on Clair’s shoulder, gently applying downwards pressure and staring at Clair’s face.

“Nothing changed dimwit, I was able to see them all the time when I wanted to. I won’t have that option outside of letters when we’re done, and they barely know how to read.”

Louresa retracted her head. “Better to look forward then backwards, and even better to look at the here and now while you still have the moment.” She nodded sagely. “’Suppose I understand what you mean”

Clair looked back at her friend and gave her a quizzical look. “Wise for somebody so crude.”

“Not wise, just what a man should live by. The sooner you realize exactly what that means the better off you’ll be.”