The Forsaken Arts

Chapter 26: Building Rank

The sun had set upon the land and Llaw, who had saved Cecilee's life remained by her side tending to her wounds.

"Good to see that you're okay." he said with a comforting smile as she began to regain consciousness.

Still a bit out of it, she replied. "Wha... what happened?"

Cecilee's eyes began to widen and before Llaw could respond, she cried out angrily, "Ugh, that asshole Slarant left me for dead, I swear the next time I see him..." Llaw's laughter interrupted and cut Cecilee off.

His laughter grew louder and more hysterical as he while saying, "I'm sorry I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh but..." Try as he may, the bard was unable to get another word out due to his hearty laughter.

Cecilee furiously jumped up and retrieved her sword. "What the hell is so funny, I almost died!"

Llaw bent over still laughing but tried to contain it, "Yes, yes you did almost die, but remember who it was that came to your rescue."

Chuckling lightly and glancing at Cecilee's sword, he added, "Trust me, there's no need for alarm. I do apologize, I didn't mean to laugh. It's just that you sounded exactly like Krinx when you said that. Slarant was well known within the DH ranks for his disappearing act. Krinx had his angry moments as well, you just brought back some funny memories is all."

Cecilee lowered her sword and looked at the man questionably. Huh... how does he know about Krinx and DH? "

Identity yourself, just who are you!?" she demanded firmly.

His red hair swayed gently in the evening breeze while he took a step forward, "Like I said before you lost consciousness, my name is Llaw." he replied while bowing courteously and keeping a watchful eye on her sword.

Llaw was a tall man, not big for his height but not skinny either. Just in one word "normal". He was an all natural red-head with deep eyes of violet.

"You're... Llaw, what are you doing here?" she exclaimed in disbelief.

"Should I be somewhere else?" he jokingly replied.

"Well it's just that... okay I'll start from the beginning if you don't mind?" she asked while resting her blade against a nearby rock.

"By all means." he said while leaning against the tree where Cecilee had first laid eyes on him.

"My name is Cecilee, I'm the leader of a military unit known as the Steel Guard. We've been tasked with locating the remaining members of your old DH group."

He quickly stood back up while placing a hand on his dagger, preparing to draw it, "Why is your team hunting us!?" he asked sternly while glaring at her.

"No no, it's not like that at all, I didn't mean for it to come out that way." She assured him waving her hands in front of her.

"My unit was formed by Lord Kashif after the disappearance of the original Dragon's Hatred unit. What happened the day your team was sent out on that mission remains a mystery to everyone. The Steel Guard was dispatched earlier today on individual missions to track down and find the original members of your group. I was sent here to find Slarant while other members of my team were sent throughout the continent looking for the rest of your friends. You were said to be elsewhere which is why I was surprised to stumble across you, however grateful that you are here."

Krinx.... What happened to you that day...? He wondered while she continued her explanation.

"The thing is, these creatures...these creations if you will, appeared in massive numbers one day and waged war on the kingdom. We tried fighting them off but there were just too many of them. Just as all seemed lost, Krinx arrived on the battlefield. Everyone was relieved and thought we'd have a chance against them, but it turned out that he was controlling these creatures and was responsible for the current heartache of the land."

Hearing and seeing both the compassion and sincerity in her story, the bard lowered his guard and removed his hand from his dagger.

"Can you please explain what happened that day, any information would be more than valuable to our efforts?" she asked.

"Honestly, what happened to Krinx that day, even the survivors don't know." he replied.

Shocked and disappointed, Cecilee asked in a desperate tone, "How is it you don't know what happened, you were with him? I need to know!"

All she kept thinking about was the day he had been taken from her. It had been like a cruel joke to someone like her who had walls placed around her heart, only to finally open up to Krinx then he disappeared. It felt as if someone had shown her the entrance to paradise, then burned it to the ground in front of her.

As a solider she understood life wasn't fair, but it also was never nor had it ever been easy for her. She fought against society who felt women like her had their place and the military, leading men to battle wasn't it. Then she found Krinx. Someone who encouraged her, showed her the light and suddenly he was gone.

Llaw found himself confused by her intensity, then he realized her desperation wasn't stemming from the war and not being able to stop it. It was something more personal.

"I'll be more than happy to share what little I know, but if you and your team are looking for the survivors to help win the war, we should head back should we not? I will explain everything I can on the way."

Snapping back from her mini soap opera, she calmly replied, "Yes, you're right. Okay then, let's head back."

Even though Cecilee was unsuccessful in recruiting Slarant, she considered her mission a success since she was able to convince Llaw to return with her. Surely his amazing ability to handle the creations will prove priceless in future endeavors. The two gathered their things and set course back to the Resistance Headquarters.