Demon(#Wattys2017 Entry)

Chapter 22:Gates of Tirren

Giles sighed, looking at the tiny dot on the map before him, labeled 'Tirren'. It seemed so small, so insignificant, yet it had such a fearsome reputation for its warriors....and it was a place he had believed he would never return to.Narra frowned, seeing the troubled look in his eyes."Giles? You alright?" She asked.

He sighed."....Ta be honest, no, ah'm not."He said.

She frowned and hugged his arm."...Feel like talking about it?" She offered.

He shook his head."Nah, nah, Ye don't need ma problems, eh?"

She frowned."So...you'll go off to try and build a house for us, but you don't feel like sharing secrets?" She asked, tilting her head.

He blinked in surprise."...Ye knew 'bout that?"

She rolled her eyes."Just about everyone knew about it. You're bad at hiding things. Now, get talking." She ordered, tapping his nose as she spoke.

A few soldiers nearby chuckled, seeing Giles ordered about by the diminutive Narra, but she glared over to silence them. They stopped instantly, wandering off in different directions.

Giles sighed."Well.....Ye sure ya wanna know? Might be some stuff ye'll regret hearin', eh?"

She crossed her arms."Well, I won't know that until I hear it, will I?" She replied.

Giles hesitated. Many things could be said about Narra, but that she backed down easily was not one of them. He looked at her again, then sighed."Fine, fine....da truth 'bout Tirren is....Ah was born there."

She blinked in surprise, then smiled."Oh, really? How-"

"It wasn't a happy time." He replied."Ma parents....Dey were merchants, eh? Spent most of their time working, never had much time for me. Then, one day, a rival bribes a Deena man, big fella, carried 'imself a halberd, but swung it like it wasa war axe. Really strong, eh? Anyway...'e slew botha 'em, but...guess 'e was a softy fer kids. Put me ona merchant cart headin' fer some Eisen town, ah ferget which 'twas. Anyway....Reba found me, an' deer ya have it."

She hugged him instantly, rubbing his back in sympathy. "Oh...I'm sorry, I didn't know..."

He smiled in reply and pat her back."Not a problem, eh? Ye couldn'ta known, Don'tcha worry."

She smiled and kissed his cheek.

He blinked, a bit embarrassed."Ah...e-easah dere, eh? Got people 'round."

She laughed, then heard Guiltare calling her to the front."Darn....I'll see you later, if you want to talk more." She rushed ahead, and Giles waved to her, smiling.

He waited for her to vanish from sight, then walked on with the rest of the column. He soon felt a leering presence beside him."Oh, heya Morz. Didn' see ya there." He said, chuckling slightly.

Morz gave a rough grunt."I'm seven feet tall, get your damn eyes checked." He replied, sounding irritable.

Giles frowned."I was, ah...bein' sarcastic."

Morz walked beside him, glaring down from the eyes of his mask."I see....were you being sarcastic when you lied to my daughter just now?"

He winced, but quickly recovered."Eh? What'cha talkin' 'bout, eh? Yer mind startin' ta go on ya?" He replied innocently.

He noticed an angry gleam from his eyes and winced again, feeling unsettled."You said someone put you on a merchant cart heading for an Eisen city." Morz began, putting a hand on his shoulder to keep him from rushing off."The Eisen have no cities, and if they did, they don't trade with outsiders, especially not warmongering Deena. They've been known to carry off Eisen as slaves in the past."