Ballad of the Brothers: The Lion

Chapter Eight

Caiphas, Shen, and Reuben sat at the front of the raft. They were eating as Gaol rested in the back, having served night watch. Breakfast consisted of some hardtack, boiled fish, and a couple of oranges that Reuben had teleported to them from the storage in his house. They threw the scraps into the water, and watched as they instantly disappeared into the mouth of a very big catfish that was lurking under the lotuses.
Reuben whistled. "I'd hate to fall in the water with THOSE things. One time, I saw em bite a chunk off of a man's rear. Couldn't sit down for a few months after that. Absolute agony."
Caiaphas shuddered. "Yeah, it even sounds pretty bad. Brando, my contact, told me it was because up until the last century, when it was under different rule, the natives used to throw their bodies in and ended up with THESE monsters. Hey, Shen, you with us?"
Shen was deep in thought, swirling his foot in the water. He snapped back to reality as he was flung back.
"Sorry, your foot was about to get bitten. Are you okay?" Caiphas was helping him back up into the sitting position.
"...Yeah. Thanks."
"No problem."
"Hey, sorry to interrupt your riveting exchange, but I think we're about to run aground. I'll get our stuff ready. I'd give it about three minutes; we can continue west after we hit landfall. I'm not too familiar with this part of the forest, but we should be about three days away." Reuben cut in.
Shen went to wake Gaol, and they all agreed to make camp at midday to allow her to continue to rest. With the scraping of gravel on wood, they were officially on dry land.
Cicadas screamed, and a myriad of insects buzzed about the ashen, stony forest. Life was coming back, slowly but surely. Snapping at a locust, Gaol raised a talon. "I'll fly up, and survey the area above real quick. Shen, catch me if I fall." This was met with nodding and grunting, as was the Shen way.
She squatted, arms spread, and shot up in a flurry of feathers, their clothes flapping with each gust from her large, glossy wings. After remaining there for about a minute, she dive-bombed into Shen's arms, who then set her down. She shook the inertia from her head, and began her assessment.
"I see a large town about two days away; one day if we don't make camp midday, but frankly that's a non option. I need my rest. Anyways, there's an old looking mineshaft about five miles west from here, though I think I see some glowing coming from inside. If we do decide to head there, we've got to watch out, because some of the birds were telling me that there is a pack of Hyenas out and about. As for hunting, we should be able to catch a fox here, a hare there, some bugs everywhere. It's not pleasant, but at least there's berries and roots to wash it down with."
Caiphas listened thoughtfully to the report. "Thank you very much, Gaol. I think that after we break midday camp, we should head straight for the town, though I'd like a second opinion on that. Shen? Reuben?"
Shen put a claw to his chin. "I am curious about what is in the mine...but I agree that it can wait. Maybe we can find some information in the town about it."
Reuben pat him on the shoulder enthusiastically. "Agreed. If it's dangerous, we want to be prepared."
Caiphas shot Gaol a questioning glance. She shrugged. He motioned for them to follow him. "Then, without further adeu, we will continue on.

Caiaphas crushed a horsefly between his fingers. This was what he hated the most about the ashland forest. The biting insects. He had actually been there two years before, to visit his friend Brando, who's family had moved from the Jagd to assist the grandparents with the reconstruction of the village, Yuell. Then, he had visited it again even before then, at the age of 13. He shuddered at the memories of that trip. Back then, it was still a garden, and his parents had set aside their differences to take him on a trip there, only to reveal to him that it was for his suitor to revealed. They had bamboozled him out there for an arranged marriage, or at least for an engagement towards one. His suitor was the daughter of an enchanter named Melchior and his wife, Io from the Western Alliance. Her name was Forli. He was naturally nervous, as it was a diplomatic situation, and he didn't want there to be fighting because of him.
The day had come for the meeting, and he was dressed in some flashy black robes. He had already steeled himself for the engagement, and so he tried his best to step forward with confidence. His bride-to-be and her family was brought to his family on a palanquin, and the meeting commenced. He was watching his parents talk at first, but then he felt a chill on the back of his neck, as if he was being watched. As he surveyed the room, he truly noticed Forli for the first time. She was a half orc, her father being a human enchanter and her mother being an orcish knight. She had a round face, sun-tanned skin, and features that he could only describe as cute, or kitten like. Even the fang protruding from her bottom jaw was dainty. Yet, as feminine as she was, she was intimidating. Muscular, tall, and imposing. Not as tall as him, technically, but he had a bad habit of hunching over, so she practically towered over him.
She had walked over to her father, poised and elegant, and asked him if she could play outside with Caiaphas. He agreed dismissively, mid conversation, and resumed as if nothing had happened. She walked over to where Caiaphas was sitting, and offered him her hand, helping him up. On the way outside, she began constant chattering and tittering. It was draining the poor boy, but he didn't let it show. "as I was saying, Cai, mind if I call you Cai by the way, it's got such a nice ring to it. It reminds me of Cry, of Sai, of Nigh. Oh, speaking have Sais, have you ever seen one? They're like a fork, but bigger, prolly, excuse me, I DO mean probably, more like a parrying dagger. Actually, yes, that's exactly what it is, but with a long middle. You see, it is often used to..." It continued on and on.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bore you, after all, we came out because we were bored. Want to spar a bit?"
"I wouldn't be able to live myself if I ever raised a blade to you." He was laughing on the inside at this. He was sure that his father, along with her mother, would have taken turns beating him into submission.
"Is it because you think that I'm weak? I'll have you know that one time I wrestled a direwolf-"
"No, no, it isn't that-Wait, a direwolf? And you're still standing?"
She clutched her chest proudly. "Yup. You don't have to be afraid, I'll probably end up being the one who hurts YOU, to be honest..." She looked down, silently for once. "Still, what kind of man can't even defeat the woman he has to protect?"
Caiaphas put his hand to his chin. He wanted to point out the flaw in that statement, but instead retorted with, "A Gentle-man. If I am sworn to protect someone or something, I will do so with all of the little strength that I posess."
She pouted. "You admit it then? That you are weak? Oooh, you really need to work on that. I don't want someone that'll just die to try to protect me. Look at you...Poor thing, your back is hunched, your arms are flimsy, and you can barely stand. Please, don't take what I say the wrong way. I really want this to work out."
He growled. His fist was in a ball, which he then loosened. "Since we're being honest here...no, I won't say that. I've still got a shred of decency in me. What I will say, though, is that you are being overbearing, and that is unbecoming of...a lady of your stature. Or...maybe it is. I don't know anymore."
At this, she began to cry. Not loudly, but the silent tears of someone fighting inside of themself. He knew those tears all too well. He tried to console her, and when their parents came to get them, Caiaphas was very tired and disheveled looking, and Forli was sleeping with her head on his lap. He was too exhausted to even wake her up. The single wooden practice sword lay on the ground in front of them, and his left arm was noticeably limp. She had not even a mark on her, nor any signs of having to defend against a blow. He hadn't fought back. Nobody mentioned it. The parents of both parties declared the meeting a success, and after dining together, they each went their separate ways. He hoped to never have to go through that again.