The Sword Maiden

That Boy

We scoured the town of Baradom thoroughly that day, going into every establishment and asking pretty much everyone we saw if they'd heard or seen of Derrek.  

But no one else gave any indication that they had, and my hope was dwindling as we made our way back to the lone tavern.  The sun was about half way down behind us.  Redwar had decided that it was time to eat supper at the tavern and call it a day.  

The tavern inherently made cringe and almost killed my appetite.  Almost.  I hadn't ate since the quick lunch we'd had earlier.  

Once again, the moment we entered the conversation died down and they stared at us.  I hated it, but I knew I couldn't let it show that it bothered me.  I couldn't afford to show weakness. 

Redwar picked a table and led us to it.  As I slipped into my rickety chair I eyed it doubtfully.  It didn't look sturdy at all.  Then I glanced around and figured that if they could hold those beefy men they could hold me.  

Redwar tapped the table and the barkeeper came over, eyeing us warily.  

"What do you have for food around this place?"  Redwar asked as he ran a distasteful gaze over the establishment.  

"I got chili cookin' on the stove, and biscuits."  

"Bring us that, and some Vinum please."  

I raised my hand.  "No Vinum for me."  

Redwar raised an eyebrow at me.  I had not told him about my promise to never taste Vinum before I found my brother and parents.  

"Alright, two cups of Vinum and water."  

The food in that place was just the way I thought it'd be:  it was edible, that's about all I can say for it.  The chili was bland, but with a hint of an odd flavor I couldn't put a name to.  As I shoveled it in my mouth I couldn't help but wonder what was in it.  Then I decided I didn't want to know.  

Conversation resumed as the people lost interest in us, seeing we were doing nothing exciting except eating.  

As night fell more men started coming, with the occasional woman who would laugh and flirt her way along.  Most of the men didn't realize she was just robbing their money from them by conning them into buying her drinks.  

The longer we stayed in there, the more my skin began to crawl with a knowledge that I was surrounded by potential enemies.  I put on a blank face, determined not to show fear.  That would be inviting trouble.  

At the end our meal Redwar stood.  "Wait her a minute.  I'm going to talk to the bar tender."  

He exchanged a few quick words, then came back to us.  

"What'd you tell him Redwar?" Asked Valeria as we stood and shoved our chairs in.  

"That his boss could come out at noon tomorrow to the stable and find his payment there."  

Valeria and I exchanged a look.  "Okay..." She said slowly.  

I was more than eager to leave this grungy establishment, but I kept my strides in check as we made our way to the doors.  They seemed way too far away.  

Just as we were about to exit, a fat man grabbed by Valeria by the arm.  "You're a pretty little girl," he said.  

In a wink Valeria had unsheathed her danger and put against his throat.  She smiled grimly at him.  "Care to say anything else?"  

His throat worked against the edge of the blade.  "No."  

"I thought as much."  

Axe snorted as I buckled up his bridle (without the bit in his mouth.)  He tried to get to another bite of grass as I tugged on the reins.  "No Axe, we've got to go in now.  I don't want you getting stolen."  

He was unconvinced and still tried to bite snatches of grass on the way.  

I turned him loose into one of the four big box stalls and latched the stall door's rusty lock.  I eyed it doubtfully as I hung up his bridle next to the stall.  I didn't think it could keep a thief out.  

Which was why we were sleeping in front of the stalls tonight.  

I spread out my bed roll right in front of Axe's stall, mere inches from it's door.  If someone wanted him, they'd have to get by me first.  Not to mention slip by Redwar and Valeria, who were on either side of me.  

I didn't bother to kick off my boots.  I usually didn't.  You just never knew what could happen in the night.  

I spread out my cloak over myself as a blanket and lay down, staring ahead in to the dark.  A three quarter moon gave light that night.  Straight across from me I could see the saloon.  Sometimes when the wind would shift, I would hear drunken laughter and crazily played music.  

I couldn't bring myself to relax.  I did manage to fall into a restless light sleep, but then I'd pull myself out of it.  Basically, I was just taking a bunch of little catnaps.  

I guess the day finally did get to me, because I did fall into a deeper sleep in the early morning hours.  But it wasn't deep enough.  

Something was vibrating underneath my cheek.  My eyes popped open and my hand clenched against my dagger handle.  

A dark form was standing over Valeria, who looked to be peacefully asleep.  I didn't think she was though, her breathes weren't slow and deep enough.  

I clenched my jaw, wondering if it was that indecent man from the tavern.  But no, it was way too skinny and small to be him.  

The form crouched down on the balls of his feet.  I pressed my other hand, on the side I was lying on, down into the dirt, ready to push off it and launch myself at him.  

He just stayed like that for awhile.  I didn't notice if my muscles were getting tired or not from being tense, I was too focused on him.  

Finally he stood up and walked over to stand above me.  My eyes were narrowed to slits, making it seem as though my eyes were closed.  What did this guy want?  

Axe snorted.  A random cricket chirped.  I kept my breathing slow and even.  

Still the man did not move.  He was really starting to get on my nerves.  

Finally he crouched down beside me.  His voice was breathy, but it seemed plenty loud in the stillness.  "I don't think yer really asleep."  

I decided to prove him right.  

I pushed off my hand and used the other to unsheath my dagger as I landed on him.  He wasn't as taken off balance as I thought he'd be and used his legs to roll himself to the side, out from under me.  

Then he did something down right dirty.  He grabbed the tail end of my braid and yanked on it to pull me off of himself.  I yelped, my scalp burning in pain.

Oh, but I could play dirty too. 

I lunged up and grabbed his collar, causing to him gasp as his air flow was cut off.  I pulled him back down to the ground and planted my knee on his chest, then loosened my hold on his collar.  I put the tip of my dagger just above his throat. 

"No, I'm not asleep," I spit out.  

Redwar and Valeria threw off their blankets.  "Good job Ravine, I thought he had you there for a moment.  Valeria, light a lantern and we'll find out what this boy wants." 

Just as I had suspected, Redwar had known all along what was going on.  If the boy had escaped me, he probably wouldn't have escaped Redwar.  

What a second.  He was a boy? 

I looked down at him again.  He wasn't just any boy, he was the boy who had been watching us so intently as we made our way to the market place.  

AN:  Here you go, the other half of this chapter has been added.  Again, sorry for the short update.  Hey, I didn't plan on getting sick XD