Paladin - the path begins

Chapter 18

Luna studied Tar'vid's head, it did kind of suit him she thought. He looked more rugged, especially with his scar visible now.

"So let me get this straight. This Yuffi tried to kill you?" she stated as Tar'vid nodded.

"Youi Fei" he replied, strapping on his sword belt.

"And now he's your friend!" she continued, glaring at him irritably.

"Sort of, we're on our way there" Tar'vid replied, kissing her cheek.

"And now we're going to be travelling with him in his caravan?" she finished, grabbing his trousers and pulling him back towards her.

"In a nutshell... yes, that's about right. Don't worry though, everything's going to be fine now" he told her with a smile, leaving her in Bruhnel's office to get back to his training.

Luna let out a sigh, slumping into Bruhnel's arm chair and gathering her thoughts. It was all well securing a caravan, but the question still stood. Where would they go... where not only her uncle wouldn't find her, but her own father also. This pregnancy couldn't have come at a worse time.

"You know, worrying won't help princess" Bruhnel commented from his place by the window.

"I do, but I still can't help worrying at Tar'vid's confidence. This Mage could have killed him by the gods and only this morning to" she complained in frustration.

"You did not see the fight though my dear, my boy had him defeated in a single move. Truly remarkable and at such a young age" he remarked, still looking out the window.

"Come over here my dear and watch" Bruhnel beckoned her. Luna gave in to her curiosity, walking up beside him and peering out over the training yard.

Tar'vid stood in the centre surrounded by at least seven men and women. Luna knew a few of them, Morkin the dashing man with the perfectly maintained beard and moustache, Karhald the silent giant and her friend Tarquin. She watched on as one at a time, occasionally in twos they attacked Tar'vid, every time he beat them back, often putting them on the defence, his strikes like a blur. She had never seen him fight... not truly fight. His speed was almost unnatural, and now that the was no longer the scrawny boy she had met, he had the power to match, she watched him disarm Morkin and a dark haired girl with a single swing.

"I almost feel sorry for any other Paladins in Cerdic, for as you may well have guessed, news of his martial prowess will spread come the thaw. He is certainly doing wonders for his order, how many disputes will be settled merely by a Paladin's presence do you think?" he asked, genuinely curious on her thoughts.

Luna thought back to their first meeting in the ruins of an old watch tower many months ago.

"You know, the first time we met he had gotten into a fight with bandits, he had only been away from his home maybe a week then and had already killed three of them by the time I put an arrow through the last one. To think, watching him now how much he's progressed, those same men wouldn't have stood a chance against him now" she said in awe, not taking her eyes from the constant battle.

Bruhnel put a hand gently on her shoulder.

"But we know how truly vulnerable he is and we both know it's his unyielding desire to do good that will be his death. And so us more cynical types will have to keep our eyes on him, just promise me you'll try to keep him safe my girl and I'll sleep easier at night" Bruhnel asked her quite genuinely.

"Of course I will, he's more dear to me than almost anyone else in this world now" she replied, placing a hand unconsciously on her belly, an act she was sure Bruhnel noticed.