Hero

3. The Spark

     "Wake up Veil! Come on! They aren't leaving us alone yet! Hurry up!" A deep voice beckoned. The four former prisoners had escaped the arena, and were now hiding between a pair of large buildings as a small squadron of guards ran past. Veil finally started to stir and show signs of life.
"What's the situation currently?" He grumbled.
"Soldiers are searching for us but we are keeping move towards the gates. We managed to grab a few swords and spears from the troops inside the arena. The townsfolk aren't looking for us, but they are no allies either. We need to leave immediately. " Tal said. Veil rolled out of Ekim's arms and stood on his own teetering at first but gaining balance quickly. He reached to Dezierae who held most of the weaponry.
"A sword please." He said sternly never taking his eyes away from the woman. He noticed a small strand of her violet hair streaking down past her horns and into her silver eyes. They were strange and very powerful. She was an intimidating force but did nothing to provoke such a feeling. She reeled her head in shock.
"Why would I give you a sword? I still don't trust you!" She said, her voice stabbing into Veil.
"Dammit lassie! We h'aint got time for you to not trust 'im! Give 'im a damn sword h'already!" Obik commanded. His voice strong and full of power. His years of training and command have taught him well enough how to be a voice of power and authority.
"You have said already that you don't trust me. You've made that exceedingly clear, and I don't care. I am going to do whatever it takes to prove to you that I am worth trusting. From this moment on I offer to all of you my vow of protection. But I offer it most of all to you and I still don't even know your name. What is your name miss?" Dezierae reluctantly handed Veil the blade.
     "My name is Dezierae. Don't ever call me miss again creep." She said still with great anger.
     "Well then Dez I swear to-" veil started.
     "Dezierae" the tiefling said.
     "Dez, I swear-"
     "My name is Dezierae. Don't you dare call me-" Dez started but never got the chance to finish as Veil grabbed her in a soft embrace around her face with both hands and kissed her lips firmly. The rest of the party stared surprised as the human pulled away after a few seconds.
     "I will protect you Dez. You have my word. The coast is clear enough. Let's move!" Veil said as he walked straight out of the alley pulling the hood of his tattered cloak over his head keeping his hand close to the hilt of his longsword.
     "I will murder hi-" Dez started to scream when a large blue scaled hand covered her mouth.
     "I don't care if you trust him or not. But you have to admit. He has courage." Ekim said with a small chuckle to the restrained woman.

     Every guard that was in the area was searching for the fugitives. They were each given a description of their appearances, but not many were fully knowledgeable as to who the fugitives really were. This was the case for Siktan, a human soldier relatively new to the army. He was told to stand sentry at the large gate leading out of the city along with a few other soldiers he barely knew. His stomach growled as a man in a hooded cloak approached.
     "Hungry? Me too." The man said in a low raspy voice, his face still hidden by the hood.
     "Yes, I haven't eaten for a few hours now and rations have been cut for soldiers in the area. With tavern food prices so high it's hard to afford large meals on a daily basis." Siktan replied not paying attention as the hooded figure was lowering his hand slowly to a military longsword at his hip. By the time he noticed, Veil was standing with the blade a few inches inside Siktans throat. His vision went dark and his stomach rumbled no more.
     Soldiers that were also around the gate saw the exchange and began running at the traitor.
     "Men! The fugitives have been spotted by the southern gate! After them now!" A voice bellowed out as a half-elf soldier approached holding a spear. The soldiers running at Veil stopped and turned to look at the strange soldier when one of them spoke up.
     "But sir, this man-" He started but was cut off abruptly by the half-elf's commanding voice.
     "I gave an order. I saw what he did! That soldier was a worthless excuse of a piss-poor pile of troll-droppings. He deserved what he got. Leave the man be and get to the gates now before I do to you all what that man did to the soldier there!" The soldiers stood confused then reluctantly started to make their way towards to city's southern gate. Tal took off the helm and walked beside Veil. "There doesn't always have to be blood you know?" She said casually. The rest of the party emerged from their hiding place and met with Veil and Tal outside the gate.
     "Come on then! A forest is just outside the city as well as a large river. We can slip away tonight!" Obik said sprinting for the woods. The party followed suit never looking back at the city as they could hear cries of fear, anger, and hatred coming from the rioting citizens.
     "Where did you get that suit of armor half-elf?" Veil asked. His words lined up with his footsteps. He hadn't felt his feet hit the ground like this in for a long time.
     "I may have talked a guard into giving it to me while somebody decided to almost get caught by walking out of an alley for no reason! My name is Tal by the way. Good to meet you Kyre." She said.
     "Thats just my last name. Please call me Veil." The panting human replied.
     "I'll call you dead!" Dez yelled back at the two of them. She was visibly angry almost to the point her hair was catching fire. She could feel the sparks trailing off her head but none lasted long enough to actually light.
     "You think she's still upset?" Veil asked.
     "Well let's see. She's been captured and most likely tortured by the army, seen her family killed, thrown into an arena to fight to the death, been forced to trust quite possibly the most hated being in the world, and was kissed by said being not by her own will just a few minutes ago. I'd say she is slightly miffed. But one question remains. Why did you kiss her?" Tal asked.
     "I liked her eyes." Veil said softly trying to hide the statement. Dez's keen ears heard him anyway.
    "Dammit. Why did it have to be THAT human?" Dez thought to herself.