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The BloodVaine EpicChapter 22: Southward Bound
Radjar took off his armor and removed his sweat-drenched tunic, promptly replacing it with an blood-stained Black Knight uniform that Gereld had given him. It was a one-breasted tunic with black breeches, and a high red collar. He put his armor over it and strapped on his scabbard. It would be a long trip, that would hopefully not be hindered by Rosa's temper. He didn't know exactly what she'd been through, but hopefully this Rodurik could fill him in.
Radjar had never met Derek Stormspear, but from what he had heard, he and Larn had once ventured into Nehim Bay along with a native crew. When they landed on the evil shore, the Fright Knights ambushed them and killed the crew. A fierce naval battle ensued with Larn, Derek and a force of Dark Forest die-hards repulsing the dark knights. It was told that Stormspear magically picked up one of the dromunds and smashed it into another, killing all hands on both ships and sending them to the bottom. Surely a man of such initiative and strength must be able to kill the demon.
It was time to leave. Radjar grabbed his things and left for one last meal at the hall. Rosa was waiting for him, a large pack on her back.
“There is no time to eat,” she said, without, for once, her usual scowl, “There is food in the pack. We can eat while we walk.”
Radjar was just a little taken aback by Rosa’s lack of hostility toward him. Of course, she wasn’t exactly happy at the prospect of traveling with him, but at least she hadn’t whipped out her knife and threatened him.
He nodded. “Alright, let’s go.”
While they picked their way though the swamps of Delvarden Gard, Radjar asked, “So...ah...you have no threats to throw at me?”
Rosa scowled, but not much. “I have come to realize there is more to life then myself. Before I came to Drullen Bell, my life consisted solely of self-preservation. Drullen Bell is my home...and some of those Foresters who were killed were my friends. For the first time in my life, I am doing something for other people, and not just myself.”
Radjar merely replied, “I respect that,”
Rosa said nothing. She was no longer scowling.
After a few more miles of walking, they were out of Caernbridge, the southernmost outpost of the Forestmen realm. It had been a dreary and cloudy day, and the wind had just begun to pick up and blow in a few dark clouds. Radjar looked worriedly towards the sky.
“Hurry up,” Rosa ordered bluntly.
“I wasn’t stopping,” replied Radjar, “Just checking for rain.”
They walked on for a mile or so, reaching some mountains. It was at this moment where it began to rain, and Radjar covered his head with his obsidian shield.
“Over here,” he said to Rosa.
She stopped promptly and walked back to Radjar, who was awkwardly holding the shield over his head.
“Take this, you won’t get as wet.” he yelled over the thunder and downpour.
Rosa took the shield and pulled it over her head, and Radjar led her gingerly up the first mountainside, to her displeasure.
“It’s getting dark, and I’m soaked.” she snapped.
“There’s a cave. I’ve got some blades and flint stone we could make a fire with. Come on.”
Rosa shook her head.
“Drullen Bell may be obliterated at any moment, we need Rodurik and Stormspear right now. A little rain never hurt anybody, we should continue our journey.”
Radjar countered, “It will be near impossible to continue in the dark in a downpour, I doubt we would be able to keep a torch lit. Besides, we must rest a bit, then we can continue on in the morning.”
Rosa was unwilling to be in close proximity of Radjar in a cave for even a short time, but she conceded he had a point. Grudgingly, she agreed and followed Radjar up into the cave.
“Convenient how just when it starts to rain, a cave pops up out of no where…” she remarked, watching Radjar struggle with the flint and tender.
“I didn’t plan this rest stop to get chummy with you, if that is what you are implying.” grunted Radjar, “The Dark Forest are in a just as much megabloks as the Forestmen, and I do not plan to have either faction obliterated.”
Rosa did not reply. She unpacked sausage and bread and a flask of wine, passing a share to Radjar. They sat on opposite sides of the pitiful fire, nibbling at the food and casting sidelong glances at one another. They finished the meal and Rosa packed the remains into her backpack, Radjar went outside to relieve himself. He returned, soaking.
“The skies have gone and completely opened up. Hopefully it will rain itself out by the morning.”
He sat by the fire, carefully near Rosa. She did not move, nor did she glare. After a moment Radjar asked, “Why do you hate me?”
Rosa sighed, “I hate all men,”
“That is rather cruel of you,”
Rosa glared daggers at him. “Cruel? You describe me as cruel? Tyco you.” she added simply.
“Bjarn told me...you had a troubled past…” Radjar started.
She snorted. “He would.”
Radjar reached out and touched Rosa on the arm. “He said-”
In a flash, Rosa whipped out her thin knife and pressed it to Radjar’s chin.
“I told you once that if you touched me again I would kill you, megabloks. However, since you know this Stormspear who you say can help Drullen Bell, I won’t kill you now.”
She pressed her dagger a little deeper. Blood trickled down Radjar’s neck.
“Don’t....ever....touch...me...again!” she snarled. She withdrew her dagger with a flourish and retreated to the other side of the fire.
Buildit... Radjar cursed himself, You went to far, to fast...
Radjar slept surprisingly well that night, despite the incidents that evening. He was ready to make a fresh start, and he started off early in the morning, heading down the mountain slope, and watching the edge of the golden sun rise slowly over sapphire clouds. He found a pig and killed it, then grabbed a few berries from a damp forest tree, and smelt the pine-scented air. Reporting back to the cave, he found Rosa still soundly sleeping, and he removed a few scones and eggs from the pack they had. Fixing them, he lit a fire and sat back, enjoying the rare moment of peace.
Rosa awoke. She smelled bacon. Radjar was squatting by the fire holding a frying pan and humming.
Rosa sat up. “What the megabloks are you doing?”
Radjar turned. “Fixing us breakfast. Do you prefer scrambled or over-easy?”
Rosa raised an eyebrow. “Drullen Bell could be obliterated at any moment and you are frying EGGS?”
“We need our strength...some dry bread wolfed down while walking does not provide that.”
“Are you trying to make up for last night?”
“Yes.”
“Hm.”
Rosa did not glare.
“I am truly sorry about last night. But...why do you react so when I touch you?”
Rosa screamed, “If you were raped by sailors throughout your life, you would react when some one touches you!”
Radjar said nothing.
Rosa shuddered, a tear ran down her cheek.
Radjar whispered, “I....didn’t.....sorry…”
He touched her on the shoulder. She did not draw her knife.
“I do not know all of your life.” murmured Radjar quietly, “But I promise, if you will tell me, I will not be one of those men. I am not the brute I am put out to be. I have seen the ravages of war. I lost every trace of my family...I have been subject to the shadows of my past...But I push on, because I have people and friends who support me.”
Rosa looked at him, tears still in her eyes, his firm arm over her shoulders.
“I... I know. I’m sorry…” she said, wiping tears form her eyes. “We should be going, we may not have much time.”
“Yes. Yes, you’re probably right.” Radjar gingerly took his hand off Rosa’s shoulder, and strapped on his armor.
“Denderham is not too far away. I hope this Rodurik friend of yours is worth the journey.”
Rosa stuck firmly behind Radjar as they passed on the road to Denderham.
“Tell me Rosa...tell me more about your past.”
“I don’t really want to talk about it...it’s…”
Radjar turned sympathetically towards her.
“You don’t have too.”
“I think you should know. I was born and raised in Denderham, and I don’t know much of my parents. They were very poor, as you might think…”
Radjar grimaced.
“And they died when I was small. Then, Rodurik’s family found me on the street. They took me in. I grew up with Rodurik, but soon I had to do my part for them as well. I went off and ended up as a tavern-girl there, serving drinks to smugglers and pirates, working for a perverted old man. Soon I had to move out, and I was living in the tavern.”
Radjar listened attentively.
“During that time I was manhandled and violated by various scoundrels and vile creatures called men, and I ended up here, with you, speaking here.”
Radjar stopped. They had arrived at Denderham.
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