Silvia heard voices, raised in argument. Walls formed around her and she found herself in a bedroom. Rather small, just a bed and a desk with a chair by it. Books on the headboard and posters tacked to the walls, photos pinned up next to the door. She could hear the voices through the doorway.
She walked out and into a narrow hallway with family portraits along the walls. The voices began yelling and she could hear them getting closer as she walked on. She came into a sitting room with a couch and some chairs. Two men were standing, back and forth they went on in a heated argument. Even standing right there she couldn’t make out any words they said, just the feelings. She realized the one with his back to her was Darren. Across from him, facing her, was an older man who didn’t seem to notice her standing in plain view.
“Darren?” she called out quietly.
His shoulders went rigid and he stopped yelling, snapped out of the narrative of the memory, he looked around bewildered and turned to face her.
“Silvia?” he asked. Behind him the man kept yelling his half of the argument, with small breaks of silence before yelling again. As if the conversation was still going.
“Where are we?” Silvia asked him as she looked around the small living room and dining area she stood between.
“This is my house. Was my house, back with my parents. If you’re here I’m guessing this is a dream?” he looked around, just noticing the vagueness in some of the details now. “Me and my dad didn’t get along great sometimes. Once I was in high school it seemed like all we did was butt heads.”
“I’m sorry.” was all Silvia could think to say for a moment. “I never got to know my father, not really. He died when I was 6, so I only have little memories of him.”
“I’m sorry. Parents aren’t always easy, but if they’re around at least things can change.” Darren said without thinking.
“Yes, but I know he loved me, I’m sure your father did too.” she felt that he knew it was true as she said it.
“Yeah. I just wish my mind wouldn’t go straight to these memories whenever I think of him.” Darren walked to the window and looked out. There was a forest outside, which didn’t make sense as they lived in a neighborhood. But in dreams things didn’t always have to make sense. His father was still yelling his half of the argument in the living room, but the voice seemed to quiet down some.
Silvia came to stand next to him “Would you like to see one of my favorite memories with my father?”
Darren looked at her and gave a small smile “Yeah, that’d be nice.”
Silvia closed her eyes and focused as hard as she could on the memory of a day when she was five years old. The world around them started to fall apart, the walls and floors melted down into a pool around their feet. The pool swirled and changed color before Darren’s eyes, spreading out across the ground and up into the air. They were in the sky, wood planks grew beneath their feet.
“What is this?” Darren asked as parts of the wood were forming and changing shape around them. The sky became a dusky pink orange color. He looked over and saw Silvia still had her eyes closed. Colors still swirled in the sky adding clouds and details to the wood around them. Slowly it became a ship of some sort, with two large blimp-like structures above it, attached by ropes and masts.
“This was my father’s ship.” Silvia said, opening her eyes and taking it in for the first time in many years.
“I didn’t know you guys had fucking flying ships!” awe in his voice. He looked over the side excitedly and his eyes went wide as he saw how high up they were above the trees. “I’ve never flown in anything open like this. This is fucking awesome.”
Silvia laughed and looked down with him.
He noticed the color swirls adding two people just down the railing from them. A little girl with peach colored hair, almost matching the sky, a shade darker. And a tall man towering above her holding her hand.
Silvia stared at them, Darren thought her eyes looked sad, but she had a smile nonetheless.
“He brought me on this trip to see an amazing event that happens once every few years. The mating migration of the caliston, a large flying creature that looks like it would belong in the water.” Silvia said, still staring at her father.
Darren noticed the color swirls whirling in the air and beginning to take shape. Long flowing scaly hides with massive fins every few feet began to form. Grey and blue bodies with white patterns filled the sky, gargantuan snake-like creatures as big as the airship itself. They were all moving one direction, the same way the ship was going. They danced around each other in agile twists and turns. Each had a long fin the entire length of their backs, the fins had spines, but the spaces between looked inflated like balloons made of thick skin. One of the creatures flew alongside the ship, slowly passing it. Darren and Silvia looked right into the largest of what appeared to be three eyes on this side of its head. It opened gill-like flaps behind its mouth and let out a haunting call. Like a chorus of horns all going off together, harmonizing with itself. Nearby creatures opened their flaps and called back. They swam through the air gracefully, passing the ship as more came up from behind. It seemed like the flock would go on forever.
Darren looked over at Silvia. “Thank you.” he said, “For bringing me here.”
“Yeah.” she smiled and felt his serenity intermingling with her own.
They leaned against the railing and watched the creatures until they heard a heavy thudding sound. Darren looked around and noticed his body starting to become translucent and melt away.
Silvia watched him disappear and knew she would be waking up soon. She took one last look at the creatures before she started to shimmer as well.
Is that a knock? Darren’s eyes snapped open and he heard Leon at his door.
“Get up dude, it’s time to train.” followed by heavier thumps.
Darren took a moment to hold on to the tranquil feeling from Silvia’s memory. But Leon wouldn’t let him, hammering on the door again.
“Alright, give me a minute!” Darren called through the suite.
“I’ll see you out there, don’t get lost!” Leon called back, too upbeat so early in the morning.
Darren readied himself as best he could, still trying to figure out how to work the various symbols that controlled everything. But before long he was ready for another day of training, and another day of bruises. It sounded rough, but he was genuinely excited for it. After all, if he was stuck here he might as well learn as much as he could and have as good a time as he could.
Silvia could hear Leon down the hall loudly yelling through Darren’s door as her eyes opened. She felt good, like she had finally rested well for the first time since everything changed. She stretched and yawned and rolled over, wrapped in her plush covers. She was too comfortable to get up and felt too good from reliving the memory with her father so clearly. Everything felt right.
She tried to hold onto the feeling and just revel in it, but the world started pushing back in. Memories of what she learned and hopes of what she’d learn next excited her. Thoughts of how she had finally become a mage and her father wasn’t here to see it. And still the feeling of violation from people being in her room and putting their hands on her crept in again. She looked around the room and couldn’t help but see them in it. In her bed. She hadn’t had time to unpack it all in her mind, so it was trying to unpack itself, forcing it on her when she least expected it. She felt tears coming to her eyes again, she tried to blink them away but they came all the same, cutting small trails down her cheeks. Her body shook as she silently sobbed into her pillow, feeling truly alone. She felt Darren’s concern mounting and could feel him just beyond their training room. She pushed him out and threw something up between them, she needed to be alone. She needed to deal with this, let herself be broken for a moment and put herself back together again. She sat up still crying and leaned back against her headboard, she hugged her pillow against her chest and screamed into it. Her shoulders rocked and her breath sucked in and out in short convulsive bursts. She felt the panic, the fear, the worry of what could have been if no one had come for her. She let it all flow through her and out of her into her pillow. She squeezed her hands and wiped her cheeks with white-knuckled fists. She thought she was ready to stop, but a new wave hit her and she began bawling all over again. And she let it, without stopping it or judging herself, she accepted how helpless she felt and did her best not to hate it.
Darren opened his door and saw Avarith walking past, heading for Silvia’s rooms. He reached out a hand and lightly grabbed Avarith by the arm, shaking his head with a slightly pained look on his face.
“I think she needs some time right now.” Darren said, looking towards her door. “I only felt it for a second before she, like, closed herself off from me. I can barely feel where she is now, everything else is blocked. But she’s really really upset, I think.”
Avarith looked to her door “She could use the time then, I’m sure. I’ll leave her a note and join you and Leon for now. She can come find us when she’s ready.” He went into Darren’s room and wrote a note at his desk and slid it under the door to Silvia’s front room. They went off together to continue Darren’s training in the courtyard.
Silvia felt like she cried forever before the tears finally stopped. She rubbed her dry puffy eyes and took in a deep shaky breath. She climbed out of bed and sniffled as she walked into her bathroom. She reached up and started the water, a little hotter than normal. She slid her shorts off and tossed her sweater aside, stepping into the soothing stream. She wiped her eyes some more and let the water wash down her face and body. It felt as though it was washing the fear off of her. She felt renewed as she scrubbed herself down obsessively. She turned the stream of water off and stepped out feeling more herself, she looked into the mirror and took herself in. A lady, a helper, a fighter, a mage. D’Chevalier. Her eyes narrowed with a vigor she hadn’t felt before. She was ready, ready to work and learn. Ready to become more than she was now.
She stepped out of her bathroom confidently, water still dripping down her body. She saw the note from Avarith and crouched down to read without touching it so it wouldn’t get wet.
“Silvia
I’ll be with Leon and Darren in the courtyard when you’re ready.
I heard you blocked Darren from your mind this morning. Such progress already is promising, you’re getting better already and it’s only been a day. We shall keep this momentum going. Wear something durable.
-Av”
She felt excitement at the idea of training outside and leaving the dusty books here in her room. She quickly went to her closet and slipped on tight shorts of a stretchy silken material, and pulled tanned leather pants over them. She slipped on a tight halter top and a loose blue canvas blouse over it, rolling the sleeves up. She pulled on the boots she had for hiking and was ready to find meet them.
She threw her door open and almost ran right into Cora, standing outside her door with a small platter of food for her.
“Cora!” Silvia shouted and hugged her friend, almost spilling the platter.
“Goodness Silvia, let me put this down first at least.” Cora said as she walked in and placed it on the small coffee table between the seats in Silvia’s front room.
“Cora, it’s good to see you, but I have to go. I need to start my training for the day.” Silvia said without re-entering the room.
“I know dear, I just wanted to check on you, after everything.” Cora said, placing a hand on her small friend’s shoulder. “Please have some breakfast before you go.”
Silvia hesitated, but felt the emptiness in her stomach now that someone had brought attention to it. She walked in and grabbed some toast and meat, but didn’t sit down as she dug in.
A silence hung in the air until Cora broke it “How are you, Silvia?”
“I’m better than I’ve been, this is everything.”
“I’m not asking about that. What happened the other night was horrible and you’ve had barely any time to deal with it.” Cora stepped up beside her.
Silvia froze. “I took time this morning. It’s all fuzzy, I don’t remember much. I’m not sure if I’d want to remember any more anyways.” she took another bite
“Do you need anything? Is there anything I can do?”
“Just keep being here, when I want to complain about how hard training is. And be happy for me when I do well. That’s the only way I can stop it from ever happening again, by getting better.” Silvia looked through the window at Leon, Avarith and Darren speaking in the courtyard.
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Cora was unsatisfied, but knew pushing the subject wouldn’t help. “And how is the training, and the guardian?”
“The training is great, Avarith sat with me all day yesterday until I got a spell to work!” she replied excitedly. “Darren’s.. I don’t know, we haven’t spoken much. Our connection is too strong to be together for long periods. But we spoke in a dream last night, it was a good dream.” she smiled to herself.
“That’s good.” Cora spoke hesitantly. “Is he really from another world?” she watched him through the window curiously.
“I think so, I saw some of his house, it looked nothing like ours here. It was small, and looked strange, different from any I’ve seen. He was arguing with his father and seemed distressed. So I took him somewhere better.” Silvia said off handedly.
“That’s all you know about him?” Cora prodded, concerned about the sudden arrival of someone who was supposed to be responsible for her friend’s protection.
“He’s strong willed, I could feel that much. And he killed the man that was trying to take me, when he came into my room, into our world.” Silvia felt she could finally talk about it without breaking down, or maybe she had just cried every last tear out of her body this morning. “And I saw him lift and throw Leon onto the ground on his first day of training. So he isn’t weak.” Silvia chuckled at the memory.
“Master Leon? Goodness, that is something. The only thing that boy is better at than fighting is talking.” Cora said surprised.
“It’s lovely catching up with you Cora, but I really must run. I can’t fall behind while they’re out there getting better.” she hugged Cora again tightly and ran off out of her room, leaving the door wide open.
“That girl is too much.” Cora said to herself as she straightened up the room and left with the platter. Deep down she was happy though, she hadn’t seen Silvia be so open or seem so like herself in quite a long time. It seemed like a good change.
Silvia took the stairs all the way down to the courtyard. She was elated and had energy to burn. She threw open the doors to the courtyard and felt the sun beaming down on her face and arms. She found the boys together in the sand arena, talking and taking a break.
“It seems we’ll have to deal with this immediately.” Avarith said, staring at a note.
“Deal with what?” Silvia asked joining them.
“Some trouble in the outskirts of the city.” Leon replied. “A group of hynell that came to trade are causing some kind of problem. They think they’ve been cheated. Avarith has met their shaman before, so we will go in to try and calm them down. You two will come with us. Give you a chance to see the great city of Eufror, Darren, and let you both see some of what we deal with as mages.”
“What are hynell?” Darren asked.
Avarith looked up from the note “A tribal race of hound-like creatures. They live outside of the towns and refuse to abide by the laws of man. Some of them raid and attack travellers on the roads and even smaller towns, some will trade and deal with men, but they don’t relish the interactions. They’re large and often violent, but they can be reasoned with. They cannot speak our language though, so we’ll speak to them with the Signs. Hand movements that stand for words, fairly universal, many people can speak in this way. It’s something we planned on teaching you, today you can see some of it.”
“First we need gear in case this goes badly.” As Leon spoke, four servants came out carrying two large chests. “Right on time, thank you very much.”
Avarith opened the first chest and pulled out armor and his sword, Leon did the same.
“Oh, that one is for you two.” Leon said, pointing to the second chest. “We took the liberty of preparing it for you. You would have needed it eventually.”
Darren and Silvia opened the chest and found beautifully crafted armor tailored to their size. Silvia pulled out her chest piece and stared at the family symbol engraved on the chest. It was gorgeous, shining in the sun. She strapped it on over her shirt and attached bracers to her shins and forearms.
Darren fumbled with his, having never donned armor before. Leon helped him strap on the leather and metal frame around him. It was lighter than he expected, not a full suit, but enough to remain agile while being protected to a degree. He grabbed a sword in a well crafted leather sheath, he pulled it partway out and looked at the pristine blade. Sharp, with a perfect edge. The pommel was made in the shape of a star with a “D” in the middle.
“My idea, knowing your people made it up there.” Leon pointed up as he tapped the pommel “Plus it will hurt to get hit with.” he smiled
Darren strapped it around his waist and noticed the hunting knife from his parents in the bottom of the chest, next to a short sword with a similar pommel with an “S” engraved on it. He pulled both out and handed the sword to Silvia, she strapped it onto her waist. He stared at the knife for a moment.
“We had our smith refine it slightly. Reforged it to make it stronger, usable in battle. We tried to keep it as similar to the original form as possible.” Avarith noted.
“Thank you. Thank you both, it means a lot.” Darren said as he strapped it onto some metal ringlets over the left side of his ribs.
“You two look ready for battle!” Leon called boisterously, slapping Darren on the arm.
“It won’t come to that.” Avarith said seriously. “Well let’s not keep them waiting, lest they get angrier. We shall take a family carriage to make haste.”
He led them to the lift that would take them to the front of the castle where a large stable and garage was built outside. As they walked in Darren looked on in awe at the several strange contraptions as well as the many well groomed horses. Avarith led them to a large carriage of some kind, with a driver seat, but no hook up for horses.
“Step inside.” Leon said “I think you’ll like this Darren.”
They mounted the carriage, the inside lush with upholstered silk seats and slidable shutters for the windows. An attendant in the garage climbed onto the front and pulled a large lever causing the carriage to roar with life.
“It’s powered by mana crystals that are mined near here. It uses energy from the crystal to push the machine into motion and halt it at will.” Avarith explained to Darren.
“It’s a magic car, this is sick.” Darren said, running his hand along the well crafted interior.
Silvia and Leon laughed at his amazement.
“You have many things to see, Darren.” Silvia said mockingly “This is a fairly common device in Gardelia, though this is a very nice one.”
The carriage rolled into motion and out two large bay doors in the front of the garage. It carried them swiftly and smoothly down the road leading away from the castle. Darren looked back and saw it from the outside for the first time. It was massive, finely carved stone with battlements and windows all across it. There was a large dock protruding from the roof, it jutted out towards the sea hanging over the sheer cliffs. Etched across the center of the front wall was a giant carving of the family crest, a large “C” with fanciful filigree. At the main entrance sat two massive wood and metal banded doors with the same crest on them. Large pillars supported a giant stone awning that came out over the doors. Pristine purple banners ran along the pillars out front and four of them across the building proper falling between the windows.
The carriage carried them down a wide road that went through 3 large stone gates, each manned by guards that closed overnight. They put their right fist over their heart as the carriage passed them. Darren was gawking at the sights while the rest watched him, amused. As they passed the last stone gate the sea became visible off the left side of the road, emerald waves reflected the sun. The cliff curved away and led off to the left, allowing him to see some of the rocky face. He noticed buildings were built right into the side, going down towards the water. Catwalks and foot paths, both built and carved into the stone, cut back and forth across the entire cliff. Several large metal cranes were built at the top for receiving freight from the ships that docked below. Between each crane was a skydock for airships to load and unload cargo. Beyond the port, wide streets led to the level portions of the city along the cliff top, spreading across the countryside as far as Darren could see. The city itself was truly immense. Sprawling buildings of metal and stone several stories high could be seen as they crested a hill. Darren was shocked to see the level of industry here.
“A fine view, is it not?” Leon said as Darren’s jaw dropped at the sight.
The carriage took them through the large stone gate with wooden towers built at the top that led into the city. Soldiers with bows stood guard to watch everything that might head to the Chevalier keep. They too saluted as the carriage rolled beneath them. The sights were even more magnificent up close. Throngs of people of every kind moved to and fro, busy with their own tasks. Darren was hit with an overwhelming feeling of sonder, wondering about the people and their day to day lives. He watched as they passed several smaller buildings of stone and wood, shops and taverns and homes.
As they rolled on eventually the buildings became more sparse as they started to reach the suburban edge of the city. The buildings, mostly wood, some shoddy and unkept. There was a hint of squalor here, but it didn’t seem awful Darren thought.
The carriage came to a halt and the driver tapped a lever that connected to a bell inside. Signifying they had arrived at their destination.
“Alright, let’s see what’s happening.” Avarith said as he opened the door and stepped out.
They stepped down onto a sandy street with trees in planters along the edges and buildings behind them. A group of six hynell stood upright in the street snarling, their hackles raised in outrage. Darren couldn’t take his eyes off them.The creatures were large, standing on dog-like legs with massive arms and shoulders, with thick pelts of mottled earthen tones. They looked like hyenas and wolves mixed with men. Most wore some kind of layered leather kilts, with small amounts of metal armor strapped on over seemingly random parts of their bodies. Axes and curved blades strapped to their hips. The largest one wore some kind of cloak that came down to two pointed ends hanging behind him. Several guards with their weapons sheathed, and hands on them, stood in a half circle around them. One slightly more decorated soldier was standing near the group speaking with his hands. Without understanding Darren could at least tell the man was trying to calm them down.
“You two hold off here.” Leon said as he and Avarith walked forward past the guards to the front of the group where the largest hynell nodded to him.
Avarith began making gestures.
“He’s asking what happened.” Silvia translated.
The lead soldier began to speak, but Avarith held up a hand without even looking at the man, silencing him.
The hynell shaman looked at the man aggressively but refocused on Avarith, and began making shapes with his hands in response. One gesture with his closed fists together, snapping them apart like he was breaking a twig.
“He says the trader broke his trust, gave him bad wares.” Silvia continued. “Avarith says he wants to see the goods in question.”
Two of the hynell push a wagon forward and show him some bags of food. They dumped one bag out and clearly rotten fruit rolled across the ground at Avarith’s feet.
He signed to the group some more.
“He’s asking if a replacement bag will work.” she told Darren.
The largest hynell stomped his foot and pointed at the shop, making angry gestures before swiping a claw along his own head.
“He says he wants the shopkeepers' ear for breaking their trust.” Silvia said in a wary tone.
Avarith shook his head no and the creature pulled the large two handed curved sword from its hip. The others snarled as Leon stepped forward pulling his sword as well.
Darren cracked his knuckles nervously before placing a hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Wait!” Avarith shouted in a commanding voice. He signed to them, trying to placate the creatures but the leader took an aggressive step forward. Leon followed suit and closed the distance more, standing almost beside Avarith.
“I’m gonna get a little closer.” Darren said quietly. He slowly inched forward with Silvia following warily behind. Still a good thirty feet away one of the hynell looked at him and barked angrily, breaking the tense silence.
The leader leapt forward at Avarith and swung its sword in a wide diagonal arc at his head. Leon stepped in and deflected the blade before landing a heavy kick to drive it back a step. Unfazed the creature began walking forward as Avarith and Leon stepped back, giving ground. The other hynell drew their weapons as did the guards. Before anyone could say anything more the street lit up with the sound of steel. Sand and dust kicked into the air as everyone entered the fray.
Darren drew his sword to join when he saw the hynell that barked at him break off and come straight for him on all fours.
“Oh fuck.” he steadied himself and stood in one of the defensive guards Leon taught him.
The hynell sprinted and just before reaching him took the last steps on its hind legs to unsling and swing a large axe at him. He batted it aside and stepped back, it swung again and was stronger than he’d anticipated. Though he caught the blow it drove straight in pushing his sword aside. The blade of the axe barely caught his arm as he tried to spin away from it. It raised the axe again, but let out a yelp as Silvia cut its leg from behind. It spun trying to bring the axe down at her but Darren slashed it across the back. It dropped the axe and fell to its knees. It spun again, quicker than a beast its size should, and tackled him to the ground, knocking his own sword from his grasp. It reared up to bite him but he slammed his head under its chin against its neck to keep its gnashing teeth from reaching his face. Feeling his newfound strength surge he trapped its arm and rolled the creature onto its back. Darren pivoted and locked his legs across its chest and neck to straddle its shoulder. He gripped its arm close to his chest and leaned back as he flexed his hips upwards, and felt a crunch as its arm broke. The hynell howled and scrambled, violently shaking Darren from its broken arm as it stood. They both ended up on their feet. It swiped with its other arm and clawed him across the shoulder and collarbone. Silvia slashed it across the back again, it turned and kicked her hard in the chest. She flew backwards into the sand and slid to a halt several feet away, coughing and struggling to breathe.
The hynell picked up its axe and walked towards her, brandishing the weapon in one hand as it went.
Darren sprinted towards it and slammed his shoulder into it from the back, knocking the beast at an angle away from her. He picked her sword up out of the sand and stood between them.
“Enough!” Suddenly a bright flash of light burst forth from the center of the fray throwing people in every direction. Avarith stood in the middle back to back with Leon, unaffected by his mage’s spell.
The hynell and the guards regrouped on separate sides as Darren stepped back by Silvia and crouched beside her. Both sides had wounds, but it didn’t look like anyone died in the fight.
Avarith signed to the leader, and it signed back angrily, licking a wound on its shoulder. It spat on the ground and turned to leave. The other wounded hynell grabbed their cart and began to walk away, growling as they went. The leader walked over and took two bags of goods from the storefront and stared at Avarith as it walked back and joined its pack.
The lead soldier walked angrily to Avarith “Are we just going to let them leave after that!?” he shouted.
Avarith turned to face him sternly, holding his left arm against his stomach and bleeding slightly at his hairline. “Yes we are, the last thing we need is the entire tribe to start raiding. No one has died and we will do our best to keep it that way. They spilled blood and feel they made their point, as is their way. Fine the shopkeeper and let him know he should have lost an ear today. And, if he does anything like this again, to hynell or men, he will lose his shop, and perhaps his life.” His tone left no room for argument.
The soldier didn’t look happy, but obeyed the order. The men re-sheathed their weapons and started checking on each other’s wounds.
“After you deal with him, get yourselves to the central hospital for medical attention. Tell them I sent you and my cousin Beraina will see to you personally. Take a few days off with pay and relax. Thank you for your service.” Avarith added as he began walking back to the carriage. Leon limped behind him, a large cut down his leg.
“Damn Silvia, are you alright?” Darren asked as he took her hand and helped her sit up.
She coughed and sucked in air, “I flew so far.” her voice cracked in surprise.
Darren laughed, “Yes, you did. You okay though?” His fingers shook with adrenaline as he shook dirt from her hair and hoisted her to her feet.
“I think so. Am I bleeding anywhere?” she asked, still dazed.
“Not that I can see, that hit went straight on the armor. Those things got some muscle in those legs.” Darren said, watching as the pack took the road away from town.
“You were supposed to stay back.” Avarith said flatly
“Sorry, but it looked like things were definitely going south. I couldn’t stand back and just watch that.” Darren replied as he wiped dust and sand from Silvia’s back.
“You held your own there, new blood.” Leon limped up to them.
“You and Silvia aren’t ready for this kind of thing, I shouldn’t have brought you.” Avarith said, turning towards the carriage.
Darren opened his mouth to speak but Leon gave him a look that said not to.
Silvia saw the look and spoke anyway “We did fine, and we have to get used to this. Don’t be mad, Av. It all worked out.” she pleaded
Avarith turned back angrily “And if it hadn’t? It’s pure luck that all you caught was a kick. It’s only been a day! This was supposed to be diplomatic.”
“You can’t treat me delicately anymore, Avarith. This is what my life is now.” Silvia called back, her voice slightly raised.
“This is what your life will be if you survive long enough to do it.” Avarith took a deep breath and closed his eyes. She can be so stubborn, he thought.
“Let’s head home and fix ourselves up. We can argue over some well deserved ale.” Leon said with a smile as he began to push Darren and Silvia towards the carriage.
Concern was clear across the driver’s face, but after the argument he knew better than to break the silence. They loaded up and rode quietly back to keep. Darren still marveled at the city as they passed through it, even as he held the small bleeding gashes on his shoulder. The trip back seemed much faster, and before he knew it they were rolling through the stone gates outside the keep.