15. Decisions II - A night at Water's Fill

The roadside inn at Water’s Fill rumbled with bouts of gluttonous laughter and bantering that slipped from tongue to tongue under the drunken faces of its patrons. Liveliness banged against the floorboards and tables, spilling over the mugs of mead and ale, but never wandered into the silence outside the tavern. The air outside reeked of tension and unease. And some of it crept into the hearts of men and women, stifling their bravado.

Try as they did, even the tipsy patrons could not hide it well. Not a single barmaid had suffered harassment today. The barkeep had fewer broken mugs. The drinks did not smell of spit and grime. The minstrels did not sing of lovelorn heroes and the mercenaries did not describe each other's mothers with profound profanity. Nobody pissed from the stairway upon the beggars below. And nobody hung from the ceiling with broken bones. The world had come to a standstill.

Thus, when the door creaked open, all eyes turned to face the visitors in silent accusation. The first to step in was a young, sloppy lad who felt weaker than his shadow. Some gruff men judged him with disapproval but he did not flinch any.

“Is this the place?” Boris asked Gabe tiredly.

“What do you think?” the other replied, “Seems like a blast don’t it?”

“Sure,” retorted Boris. His eyes wandered to the door sign swinging softly in the lamplight. ‘Monsters and Scythians not allowed’ it read. It looked like a tasteless joke. It was not.

“Well get in then.” Gabe shoved Boris inside and occupied an empty table. “What are you bums looking at?” he grouched provocatively and the stares around receded.

A host of other guards and travelers walked in after Gabe, except for Halkone who had left after helping stow away the goods. Due to his superior strength, Halkone had shouldered most of the heavier goods. The head merchant then drove him away with a swift warning. Boris had simply watched it happen. He was an outsider himself and Elaine glaring daggers into his back had not helped.

A low pitched growl of his annoyed stomach brought Boris back to the present. He clenched it and took a seat across the amused Gabe while waiting for his food to arrive. Kale and Wylf were already seated and a barmaid came swinging their way with mugs full of ale or mead or whatever it was. She batted away Gabe's frisky hand with a wink and he swore crudely, squeezing out some coins before she offered him the drinks.

Boris shook his head and turned his thoughts away from the scene. He swept his will through the air discreetly, feeling a muddle of emotions inside the tavern.

There was a wave of elation, fizzing in the air like carbonated beverages. A sharp tinge of annoyance came from Elaine at his back and flares of shameless admiration danced around her. Strangely though, Diana's fierce presence was nowhere to be felt. Instead there was a swirl of anxiety that clouded the whole breadth of emotions inside. From within it, spikes of fear rose and fell every now and then, sending sparks of animosity exploding through the gloom.

Before he could wonder over the spectacle, Boris was greeted by the smell of free meals coming his way. He threw all caution to the wind and dug into the stew like a starved predator. His companions drank even as they ate, rivalling his appetite with their thirst. Boris watched them grow drunk amidst the incessant shower of garbled words and curses now flying around. The ambience itself made him feel a little drunk.

“Evun so,” Gabe sputtered while he scraped a knife against his plate’s edges, “we've the wooorst luck ov the’ all.” He swung his knife in circles, pointing at the barkeep accusingly. Then he looked at Boris’s face and snarled. “Dun’ ged it d’ you wookie? I’m talking ‘bout dem! Dem!” he swung his knife at the ceiling this time, making Boris wince. Kale caught Gabe’s wildly swinging arm and dislodged the knife. “Careful,” he warned, “no need to make a scene.”

“Hah! Dun’ ordah me avound!” Gabe withdrew his arm defiantly and took another chug of his umpteenth refill. He bent low and close to Boris who held his breath, mindful of the stench invading his nostrils. “You’z a coward,” Gabe whispered with a slovenly grin, “afray’d to dring becauz of Halbehs eh? Hehe. Dey gots you wetting pants dun’ dey?”

As Gabe shoved his mug at a passing barmaid for another refill, Boris located Elaine taking the stairs and decided it was time for him to hightail. Evening could only get worse in Gabe’s company. With a silent gesture at Kale who nodded understandingly, Boris slipped away.

His will thinned to obscurity, Boris advanced like a shadow between the eyes glued to Elaine’s back. He reached the foot of stairs just when Elaine disappeared into the hallway above. There he turned back a little, facing the tipsy lookers in irritation. Boris hesitated, then surged his will until it burst out. It was a raw, uncontrolled rush of emotions and just letting it out felt exhilarating. Then he pulled his will back within as the results unfolded.

Like a fuse blown over, the tavern went into disarray. Chairs bumped into the ground as people scrambled over their tables. Showers of ale and mead spewed into the air like broken fountains and disgruntled shouts began. Boris pulled his hood on and turned to the stairs with a smug smile. Few, if any, noticed his figure disappear. And only a sober Kale knew what he had done.

Extending his will to be paper-thin again, Boris searched for Elaine through the narrow hallway. He felt her presence behind a door and stopped to knock. The door flung open instantly and a shocked Boris flailed as someone tugged his shoulders and jerked him aloft. The world spun before his eyes until the ground greeted him heavily.

“Ugh,” Boris groaned as his back smashed the floorboards and his eyes swerved from the walls to ceiling in disorientation. With a desperate maneuver, he propped upright and turned to face the perpetrator. Elaine looked down at him from her bed.

“That wasn’t fair,” Boris complained, sullen at how easily he had been overpowered.

“Stop pricking at my mind Boris, or fairness will be the least of your worries,” Elaine warned coldly. She looked different now. Maybe because her hair had been done in. It made her seem older, more approachable.

“I was just practicing,” Boris replied as he picked himself off the floor and dusted off his clothes. Closing the door, he took a seat on the bed and Elaine shifted away to create a gap between them. Like an invisible barrier. “Stop practicing such things. Don’t you understand how dangerous it is to do this?” she chastised.

“Dangerous? Well,” Boris stammered in thought, “it's not like I am doing something evil. Besides, it’s about the only thing I can do. And Diana does it too.”

“Diana is an elf, a very capable one. You… if people find out what you are doing, you could be convicted of using mind-magic and executed.”

“Oh come on, don’t label it like that. It’s not like I can read minds or something. I wouldn’t be stuck here otherwise.” Boris pursed his lips, looking from the gap to Elaine in thought.

“But of course you cannot,” Elaine stressed, “There is no magic an inept can wield. But even the king did not understand that, did he?”

“I don’t care about what he thinks.”

“Maybe you should, because you are still inside his kingdom,” Elaine frowned. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot at the ground. Boris wanted to refute her but he could not find the words to do so. Instead, he swallowed and averted his eyes. “I haven’t seen Diana since we dismounted,” he asked awkwardly.

“She’s gone,” Elaine answered after a pause.

“Another one of her excursions, I see. So she will meet up here or at Bizeon?”

“You seem to know her awfully well,” Elaine remarked with a smile. Boris failed to notice the twitch in her lips and felt relieved. “I haven’t spent months with her for nothing,” he boasted, “It would be strange if I couldn’t guess even this much.”

“So?” she asked again.

“So?”

“Why did you visit me if it wasn’t to ask about Diana?”

“Wow, you make it sound like—

“Excuse me,” interrupted a childlike voice from outside. “I have brought your beddings. May I come in?”

Elaine nodded and Boris pulled open the door. “Come in,” he told the boy at the door.

“Who are you?” the boy questioned skeptically from behind the stack of quilts he held, “This isn’t your room.”

“I was visiting,” Boris answered while he unintentionally grabbed half of the load and looked at the boy’s revealed face. It looked no more than twelve or thirteen. “Wow, are you young?” he muttered in admiration.

The boy frowned, snatched his load back and placed it on the bed by himself. “You are not allowed to visit a lady’s room unless you have permission,” he blurted, then looked at Elaine in query. “Did you call for him?” he asked.

“No.” Elaine’s swift response came as a shock for Boris who was then shoved out of the room while Elaine shrugged nonchalantly at his pleas. Much to her chagrin however, he returned soon, accompanied by the same boy who had kicked him out.

“Excuse me. I apologize for kicking him out of your room,” came an unwarranted apology.

“I told you not to mind it Pan,” Boris tapped the boy's shoulder and sat down on the bed shamelessly, prompting Pan to take the chair opposite. “Elaine, meet Pan,” he said with a shifty grin, “he’s the middle son of the innkeeper and in line to succeed in a few… years. Pan, this is Elaine. She is—

“Get out,” Elaine interrupted with her arms crossed and her brows furrowed.

“Excuse me then,” Pan apologized and got up, only to be stopped by Boris.

“There’s no need to worry,” he told Pan. “We’ve already finished your chores and you’re free, aren’t you? And despite what she says,” Boris added convincingly, “she doesn’t bite. The only thing you should be wary of is- ouch! the way- ouch! she pulls your ears- argh! Stop it! I am sorry!”

“Boris,” Elaine continued with a firm grasp on his red ear, “why exactly are you here?”

“I am bored, you are bored, he is bored, and so… we should talk?” He struggled to wrench his ear free in vain.

“Boris.”

“Alright, alright, I don’t want to stay with Gabe, the other guard, while he paints me with his vomit. Besides, I am curious but nobody seems willing to talk about it. So I thought you would.”

“The Halberds,” Elaine guessed. She let his ear go free and Boris pulled away with a grimace. Pan went pale at the words she uttered.

“See,” Boris pointed at the boy before him. “You say it once and children go pale from head to toe. It’s like they are ghosts or something.”

“I am not a child!” Pan protested weakly.

“Don’t mind him,” Elaine told Pan, “he is a kid himself.”

“I’m not a kid, I’m an adolescent. There’s a difference,” Boris asserted.

“There isn’t in your case. The way you talk and act, not to say you have not even grown—

“Alright stop! Can we just go back to the topic?” Boris protested before Elaine could complete her innocuous defamation.

“You started it,” Pan scoffed.

“Yeah, and I am ending it too, okay? Here, stuff your mouth,” Boris thrust something into Pan’s hands before the sour Elaine.

“What is that?” she asked when Pan started chewing gleefully on his gift.

“It’s called candy. It’s like, just, well, try it yourself,” Boris offered Elaine one of his recent experiments. ‘How the hell did I go from making pellets to making candy,’ he rued. Lately, all his efforts had been churning out nonsense like this. Boris had some reservations about its taste and safety but initial testing on Halkone had gained positive reviews.

“I see, this is a bit peculiar. You made this?” Elaine asked curiously.

“With some help I did. I’m still working on it actually,” he admitted dishonestly.

“Whoa, you didn’t tell me that,” Pan exclaimed, “my father would love to sell this!”

“Oh no, I don’t really—

“Come on, what’s wrong with that. He’ll give you some money if you share the recipe. In fact, if you promise not to sell it to others in town he would pay you a lot more. And this could bring us more clients. Wait here! I will go and ask dad right now!” Pan started bubbling with ideas and ran out the room with a bright smile.

“And there he goes. Cheeky brat,” Boris grumbled before closing the door after Pan.

“So you can bribe children now,” Elaine said offhandedly.

“You underestimate me Elaine,” Boris narrowed his eyes and smirked, “I can coax them too.” He grabbed the pocketful of candies he had and placed them on the bed, between him and Elaine. She swiped a few and smirked, “Don’t think you earn my forgiveness with these.”

“I can make more, you know,” Boris replied, tossing one in the air and catching it with his mouth. Elaine tossed a second candy after him but Boris whisked it out of the air before she could do the same. In retaliation, she grabbed the rest of the lot on the bed and pocketed them.

“Hey wait! Those are the last ones. Leave some for Pan.” His cry fell on empty ears as Elaine shrugged and swallowed two candies in a go. “You can make more, I know,” she said in a poor mimicry of Boris.

“Damn, I shouldn’t have told you that. Still, it takes time and effort, and other things.”

“So that’s what you’ve been doing all these nights.” She nodded and popped another candy into her mouth. The speed at which she was devouring them made it clear that Boris would not be getting any back.

With a sigh, Boris resigned to his fate and saved one last candy for Pan. Elaine finished the rest unapologetically and turned to Boris with a satisfied face. “You really should sell them,” she advised.

“Then maybe you should pay for them,” he rebuffed, making a mental note about her sweet tooth.

“Sure. How much?” Elaine pulled out a small, embroidered purse out nowhere and clicked it open.

“I was joking.”

“I was not.” Elaine counted a few coins but Boris raised his hands in objection. “Look. Just tell me about the Halberds and we’ll be even,” he said.

“Are you sure?” Elaine’s question put Boris in genuine doubt. He started thinking up other favors he could ask of Elaine and a shady smile bloomed on his face. “No, stop there,” Elaine ordered before Boris could speak, “The Halberds and Shields it is. And drop your creepy thoughts.”

“I haven’t even said a word!” Boris exclaimed.

“Not my fault you’re that easy to read.” Elaine pulled up a knapsack and sifted through it to produce a slightly torn book before Boris. A hint of displeasure crept into her voice as she continued, “If you had been paying attention to what I taught at Orin, you wouldn’t be asking me now. But I guess you only pay attention to your books, or Diana. Not that I care, but maybe you should.”

“That’s… not how it is,” Boris protested weakly.

“Sure,” Elaine made an ambiguous nod and thrust the book at his chest. A reluctant Boris grasped the book but continued his protest. “I definitely pay attention to you,” he stressed, “It’s just different from how I, with Diana… I can’t describe it you know. In your case it just happens.”

“Sure.” Elaine accepted dryly.

Boris exhaled in defeat. “...Forget it. If you don't understand, there's no use telling you about it.”

“Sure.”

“Can we move on already please? There's a ton of things I want to ask and not a lot of time.”

“I gave you the book already,” Elaine answered. Though she had been enthusiastic in teaching verbally at the castle, getting her to do the same looked impossible now. Boris reluctantly picked up the book, flipped through the first few pages and sighed. Although the writing was different, the content was the same. He threw it back at Elaine who caught it bitterly.

“‘Legions, orders and knighthoods in Cumaria,” Boris began, remembering what he once read, “The kingdom of Cumaria boasts of a rich history of organizations formed under the King to promote peace and defend honor and faith among its citizens. Centuries of existence have seen these organizations grow from small, supporting groups into full fledged peacekeeping forces sworn under Oath to the King or the Archpriest. The most prominent of these include the Knighthood of Steelhearts, the Legion of Light and the Halberds and Shields of Orders whose origins are traced to the first King and oftentimes the gods themselves.’ You want me to recite more?”

“You crammed it up?” Elaine grimaced. She looked at the thickness of the book and sighed before stuffing it back into her knapsack. “You're a total bookworm,” she reflected, “no wonder Violet took to you. You're the same breed of people.”

“I don't need to cram it,” Boris refuted with a wave of his hand, “It is about as complicated as a fairy tale. The Knights killed the invaders and saved the damsels. The Legion killed the demons and saved the nation. Halberds and Shields helped kill a dragon? Great. Is that what you want me to read?”

Elaine did not agree. “A little embellishment adds to the charm. No one would read plain facts but scholars.”

Boris snorted and recounted another passage from memory, “Thiracus, the dragonslayer, god of victory, patron of kings, united the bravest of souls under Halberds. He used them to slay the dragon Ber'al-grath, who had swallowed Gaia and threatened to drown it into the sea of darkness. For ten days they fought, and in the end the Halberds hacked the dragon from inside into four pieces, of which Thiracus ate the head and wore the the scales. Did this ever actually happen?”

“...It may have.” There was a pause to Elaine's response that made Boris doubt if she herself believed it. He cast a skeptic glance and pressed on, “He ate a dragon that could swallow the whole world?”

“And that is why Thiracus is called a god,” Elaine stated.

“And Halberds are called the Divine Hands?” Boris questioned again. Elaine sighed and shook her head defeatedly. “Do not dig too much Boris,” she warned, “The best way to deal with them is to keep away from them. Poke your nose and you'll lose your head in return.”

“Well, you have a point there. Did you know about the guard monster at the gates?”

“The hellhound?” Elaine recalled vaguely, “It's not there anymore.” She had some inkling about what had passed but did not want to discuss it before Boris.

“Because the previous gatekeeper let it escape. The Halberds said it was a breed of evil and wanted to kill it.”

The explanation threw Elaine into a storm of thought. “Wait,” she exclaimed, “how do you know? You haven't even been here before!”

“The previous gatekeeper is dead,” Boris continued unaffected, “and so is his son. Many people have fled. And all this because some Cult fanatics visited a week ago, raided the town keep and stole a few monsters from the kennels.”

“Well how do you know all this?! Even I didn't know half of it.”

“Mind reading of course,” Boris cracked a silly smile unfitting of the situation.

“This isn't a joke, Boris. They are above the law. They answer only to the Archpriest of their Order or the King. Do you get it? Nobody meddles in their business.”

“I am not going to meddle,” Boris assured Elaine. She stared him piercingly and found him fidgeting a little. “Well,” Boris spurted frantically, “I will try my best not to do anything like that anymore.”

“What are you going to after this?” Elaine cut his hesitation short.

“Me? Work a few recipes, take a little walk outside, then sleep, maybe?”

“No. You are going to sleep and you are going to sleep here.”

“Huh? Whoa really! No, I mean okay, sure.” Boris went through confusion, realization, shock, glee and acceptance so fast that his face barely had the sense to change expressions. A frowning, smiling, wide-eyed Boris made Elaine shudder a little.

“On the floor,” Elaine specified with her scepter.

Boris nodded briskly. “Sure. I will bring my luggage. Don't lock the door after me, okay?”

“Why would I do that?”

“And don't change your mind.”

“Like I said—” Elaine huffed, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door. Boris marched up gleefully to open it. “Oh, Pan, great timing. I was just about to go and meet you,” he said.

“Ugh, why are you grinning like that?” Pan looked at him with a difficult face.

“This is my normal face,” Boris asserted with a wider smile.

“Change it. Your normal face looks dreadful.”

“Do you want the recipe or not?” A smiling Boris answered.

“Sure I do,” Pan extended an arm and unclasped his hands, “Here's your five silvers. Five later if my father likes it. But only if you don't sell it to other townspeople, like I said. How about it?”

“Five silvers?!” Boris exclaimed.

“Is it not enough?” Pan asked, slightly disheartened.

“It's just a candy recipe! Why'd you pay five silvers? Are you stupid, you dumbass?”

“Who're you calling stupid? Nobody's seen anything like that before! You're the dumbass if you think five silvers is enough, you moron,” Pan argued back with a scowl.

Boris scowled harder. “Stop being rude! I am saving you from being conned, you pipsqueak. See Elaine, this is why I said he was cheeky.”

“You know,” Elaine answered with a dreary smile, “five silvers is a reasonable price. Or are you so rich you don't need money?”

“Wh- is that so? Well then Pan,” Boris coughed, pretending to think, “five silvers looks good to me. And I'm not thinking of selling it to anyone else in this town.”

“Then it's a deal. Bring your recipe.”

“Oh right, there's something I forgot to ask you earlier,” Boris answered while he passed the last candy he had saved to the boy.

“What?” Pan grabbed the candy with a swift movement.

“There's this sign on your front door right?” His tone became softer as Boris watched Pan pop that last candy into his pocket.

“Monsters and scythians not allowed. Dad's orders,” Pan recalled tiredly.

“Yeah, that one. Monsters I can understand, but Scythians? That feels a little weird.”

“Does it?”

“No no,” Boris shook his hands in denial, “I'm not objecting. Just... somewhat curious. It's alright if you don't want to talk about it. I mean a kid shouldn't know such things.”

“I know. What about it?”

“So like, elves are okay? Did Scythians wreck a the inn?”

“Let me ask you something in return,” Pan answered with a bitter smile, “How would you feel if I stole her from you?” He pointed at Elaine and Boris almost jumped out of his shoes in surprise. He caught Pan's arm before Elaine could raise a query and shoved him out the door. “Ahaha. L-let's go Pan, we don't have time. Your father must be waiting.”

“Boris?” Elaine voiced sharply but Boris did not dare turn to face her. “Oh, don't mind him Elaine,” he improvised hastily, “He's confused. It's his sleep time,” and dragged a disgruntled Pan outside, “Move, move, let's go.” It was only after they had gained some distance that Boris caught his breath and turned to Pan.

“Why did you say something like that, stupid?” he asked anxiously, “And just when I'd gotten permission to sleep there.”

“Stop calling me stupid! Isn't she your—

“Of course not!” Boris rolled his eyes, “Where were you looking?”

“What! You tricked me?” Pan frowned.

Boris shook his head exasperatedly, “I told you I knew her pretty well. Pretty well doesn't mean— how precocious are you anyway?”

“What do you expect? I practically live in the tavern.”

“Modesty and honesty... I guess not. You're good at lying though. As if the gatekeeper could've died off himself.”

“Shhh...” Pan raised a finger to his lips, “Don't talk about that anymore. You don't know who's listening.”

“Alright. But don't expect the truth from me if you're lying yourself. Don't you know the saying goes: a lie for a lie and a truth for a truth?”

“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,” Pan corrected him.

“See,” Boris flicked his nose lightly, then rubbed his head, “that's the grown up version. You should avoid using it.” There was a smile and a frown on Pan's face as they reached the common quarters assigned to guards. Boris walked in discreetly but found that most guards had yet to return here while others were snoring like a boar. He gathered his belongings from inside a trunk and returned to Pan with the recipe in his hands.

“Here you go,” he lent them to him with a smile, “Goodnight brat. Oh, and if someone asks, I am sleeping in Elaine's room, with due permission of course.”

“I will need to confirm that with the lady and your employers,” Pan answered and Boris clucked his tongue.

“I am joking,” Pan smirked, “I heard her before I entered. Goodnight dumbass, expect the rest of your reward tomorrow.” He left before Boris could form a plan to pay him back tenfold for that joke.

Defeated, Boris made his way back up to Elaine with mixed feelings. It had been a tiring day and an early sleep was just the thing he wanted. Yeah. It was only natural to take up her offer. Not like he had wrong intentions. Right? Not like she had any either. Right. Actually, was he even allowed to feel like this while his friends were risking their lives? No. He needed to find the way back. To find it soon. Well, he would try asking Elaine about that. They had the whole night after all. No, no, this wasn't just an excuse to talk. This was a genuine issue. Right? Right.

----

When morning came, Boris found himself laid out horribly against a chair which wobbled to support his unsteady body. Aside from his discussion with Elaine, last night had been another assault of nightmares that had kept him squirming in his sleep. They seemed to worsen every night now but each time he woke up, his mind grew hazy as to what he had seen. Bits and pieces were all he remembered. Bits and pieces that made little sense.

Though physically rested, Boris had a throbbing headache he did not want to confront. It would pass in an hour or two. It usually did.

“Had bad dreams again?” someone asked behind him. It took Boris a moment to figure out those words. He turned his head to face the inquirer while his hands gripped the table firmly, for fear of losing balance. “'s nothing unusual,” he replied drowsily.

“It doesn't look that way to me.” Elaine judged his drained face with some concern. She had barely extended her arm when Boris caught it with an awkward jerk. In a daze, he looked from his hand to Elaine and stumbled back to regain his balance with a heavy foot. “Sorry,” he said with a shake of his head, “it'll get better soon.”

“You can sleep more if you want,” Elaine offered while pulling a chair back and placed her breakfast on the table. “It's early in the morning. The caravan will take time to depart.”

“Mornings are always early,” Boris grouched, stuffing his face full of whatever his plate held. Taste had little meaning for hunger.

“You can sleep more,” Elaine repeated for his addled mind.

“No.” Boris objected with a pale face and choked on his morsel. He frantically grabbed the jug of water and took slow gulps to calm down. “Sorry,” he apologized again, “force of habit. Need to wake up early.” He did not need any more nightmares.

“Looks like a troublesome habit,” Elaine commented. “Last I heard the castle attendants had to dunk you in water in the mornings.”

“Right, right, there was that too, wasn't there?” Boris chuckled, remembering his stay at Orin. “The beds were nice and cozy there. Someone made me sleep on the floor last night.”

“Someone threw himself out of the castle for fun. And chose to sleep in a barn in winter. Must be a luxury for him to finally find a floor and beddings. Don't you agree?”

“Alright, I lose,” Boris grumbled, pausing before the next morsel of bread, “I had a bad dream but I don't remember what. Maybe it's homesickness? Or maybe it's the different world thing? Not much I can do. Things will sort themselves out.”

Elaine stopped herself from stabbing her meal and pointed her knife at Boris instead. “Or maybe they won't,” she stressed. “You will have to sort out your own life. As eager as you are to prove yourself, don't forget that independence comes with responsibility and requires sacrifice. And I think you are too young for either.”

“Look who’s talking,” Boris muttered dismissively, “Diana’s one thing but you don't look much older.”

“You don't know that.” Elaine’s dry reply left a twitch upon Boris’s ears. She could almost see his mind work out queasy details, his jaws grinding the fuel to feed his berserk imagination. But she suppressed her chuckle and waited his response. He swallowed his morsel as if trying to swallow his doubts and spoke up. “So you are older than you look. As I thought.”

“You don’t know that either,” Elaine added with the same dryness.

“Same age?” Boris added.

“Who knows,” Elaine deferred.

“Yeah, hide your age, very woman-like.”

“I'm not the only one hiding things, am I?”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you mean what do I mean?”

Boris sighed and took another gulp of water. “Is this about that ludicrous talk we had last night?” he asked tiredly. He did not like to think. It worsened his headache. He did not like to keep quiet either.

“About Argyvael?” Elaine enquired deceptively.

“No,” Boris shook his head and frowned, “not that creepy freak who stuck his feathery minions upon me.” Elaine had filled him in about the other Spirit Guardian, who had turned out nearly as crazy as Sikata. Who the heck clawed someone’s forehead in gratitude?

“Then the heroes? Like I thought, Ray really does—

“For the last time,” Boris interrupted Elaine disapprovingly, “they are not his lovers! Well, not yet, I mean. Come on, how bad is your memory? I am barely sane and I still remember more than you?”

“Your insanity is a perpetual occurrence, and not an excuse. Oh wait,” Elaine pointed her knife at him yet again. Wasn’t that considered rude? She never did this at the castle. “Is this about the time I warned you that I'd slice your limbs off if you dared to pull any moves?”

“Very funny. Wait, is that what you were planning to do!” Boris asked.

“It was a joke.”

“....”

“I was only planning to take a finger or two.” Elaine shrugged.

“...Not falling for that again.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t either,” Elaine agreed and slapped the table with an awkward ting. As she withdrew her arm, Boris gawked at the vibrating knife embedded halfway into the table, right between his fingers. Then he turned to Elaine with a keen demeanor.

“Oh God,” he said, wide-eyed and sweating, “I’m so glad I restrained myself last night.”

“Me too,” she replied, plucking the knife out again, “And it looks like a little nudge in the right direction is all it takes to wake you up.”

“If you people are done bickering then vacate the table, will you?” As a voice intruded upon them, Boris turned to see Pan, sore-faced and scrunched-eyed. Considering that the tavern had no other occupants right now, Boris found that gesture rude.

“Now why are you all prickly?” Boris asked, imitating Pan’s sore-face, “Didn't get a good sleep, eh? Want me to sing you a lullaby?”

Pan frowned. “We’re expecting guests.”

“I am your guest,” Boris thumped his own chest.

“Not your kind,” Pan whispered, “We’re expecting T.e.m.p.l.a.r.s. Why do you think all the other tables are empty?” His wary voice struck a chord of realization and Boris turned to his plate with a new zeal.

No sooner had Boris finished his breakfast than the door banged open and a group of Halberds walked in. The man at their helm wore a velvet coat over embroidered robes. A curious hat flowed in three parts over his head and hid his eyes even in the bright daylight. It had a crest of four crisscrossed swords piercing a dragon-like figure that Boris recognized as the Thiracean emblem.

“Master Gretkin, please, welcome,” the innkeeper bowed to welcome the man. “Glory be to Thiracus,” he added stiffly, “and those who uphold His name.”

Gretkin batted an eyelid in acknowledgement and looked at a barmaid. She squeaked and frantically pulled out a chair for him. When he was seated, his subordinates followed.

Boris counted twenty and some armed men and women in disciplined rows of three that spread around Gretkin. As they parted to their seats, two odd persons emerged within the crowd. The first was a man in loose priest garbs, pleading with the Halberds incessantly. The second appeared to be a girl, unkempt and unsteady, dragged by the head of her hair so that her feet skid upon the creaking floorboards until a Halberd shoved her at the table ahead. The girl flailed and hit her back upon the table’s edge before the priest caught her gingerly.

Boris froze, looked between Elaine and Pan in shock, and voiced a quiet whisper, “What is this? Who is she?”

“The gatekeeper’s daughter,” a shivering Pan squeaked, “the priest had been hiding her but seems they got to him. You should go. Now.”

“Why is she like this?” Boris whispered again. Pan drew a cross over his lips in answer and scurried off before Boris could ask anymore.

“Boris. Leave.” Elaine ordered. Boris grit his teeth and raised a brow. “You’ll only make it worse,” she cautioned. Beside her, Boris watched the priest get manhandled while struggling to keep the girl safe. He felt his headache worsen and clenched his fist. Elaine clamped his hand to the table. “If you meddle, they will kill you and the girl. If you don't, I might find her a way out.”

“Please, she is innocent!” the priest cried behind Elaine. “She has nothing to do with the cult!” The Halberds cried foul and kicked him again. The barmaids scampered as the priest tumbled headfirst into a table and broke his nose.

“Do you see that, pagan wench!” A Halberd roared as he grabbed the gatekeeper’s daughter by her forelock. “An innocent believer is suffering because of your sins. To have tainted a man of cloth, your kind is wretched beyond redemption.” The girl herself offered no resistance at all, swaying like a doll hung by its hair.

A bloodied priest caught the Halberd’s hand in resistance and snatched the girl back. “Thea isn't a pagan. She comes to the temple to pray, she helps around the town, she makes offerings.” He panted through his bloodied lips and continued, “This isn't right. Thiracus protects the weak, He doesn't torture them. Why are you doing this?”

Boris loosened his hand and drooped, calming his will into itself. His narrowed eyes locked with Elaine's and he whispered, “Now’s your time. Do something or I will.”

Elaine sighed, let go of his arm, and stood up to face the Halberds. A dozen Halberds turned her way. Gretkin did not. He seized the priest by the collar and smashed him against the wall. “Did you just question my faith, you lowly preacher?! Did you cast suspicion on a Halberd captain?” The man drew a dagger from his robe and put it against the priest’s throat. “Say it again!” he threatened.

“You are wrong. She is innocent,” the pallid priest answered, “you cannot kill innocents.”

The dagger leapt into the air, eager to draw blood. Elaine darted into the horde of Halberds. And Boris stormed his will out. A shock rippled through the air in fury, creating confusion. In that moment of delay, Elaine’s scepter clanged against Gretkin’s dagger and slammed it into the wall instead. Gretkin tossed the priest away and spun around with his sword drawn to face Elaine. There was no hesitation as his sword stopped a hair’s breadth from Elaine’s chest while his soldiers corralled her.

“You have guts, woman,” Gretkin commended with a smile, “but would you like them spilled on the floor?”

Elaine looked at him and the other Halberds now drawn to her, withdrew her scepter, and smiled customarily. “Pardon me, captain Gretkin, I did not mean to provoke your honor or defame your faith. I was merely acting out of goodwill.”

“And so am I,” Gretkin answered, placing his sword against her neck. “My goodwill sends people to Thiracus.” The Halberds drew their own weapons but failed to notice Boris creeping through their ranks. Boris himself stepped around like a cat, his will concealed and his eyes glued to the girl. His brain stormed through ideas to get her out without inviting trouble.

Elaine shifted her glance between Gretkin and his blade. “Your displeasure is justified,” she replied with the same plastic smile, “but an inn isn't a deserving place for one of the Divine Hand to display his mettle. Perhaps we should talk before we come to act.”

Gretkin looked from her face to her empty hands and clamped one of them against the walls to lean in against her neck. “Oh you don't know about that,” he threatened in a whisper, “you might change your mind after I act upon you.”

Elaine’s brow twitched and Boris felt a chill while he negotiated the floorboards for a fault he could exploit. Fortunately, the Halberds were too engrossed with Elaine to give an ear to the creaking wood.

“I don't think you should do that,” Elaine preached in a low voice, “it would reflect poorly upon your soul.” Her lips still held a curve but her eyes were frosty with disgust.

“Did you hear her, men,” Gretkin called out behind him, “this harlot tried to question a Halberd’s soul. Maybe we should teach her all about it.” The Halberds jeered and Elaine’s brow twitched again. This time she let out a faint killing intent. Meanwhile Boris desperately lowered a wooden plank to create some space. It was not enough to hide the girl yet.

“What do you say?” Gretkin asked Elaine again. “Would you like to know about a Divine’s soul or would you rather taste his blade?” He pressed Elaine’s left arm harder against the wall.

“I don't think you understood me,” Elaine replied calmly.

“Oh I understood you plenty,” Gretkin answered and traced his blade at her cheek until it drew a fine red line. His lips parted into a threatening display of hungry teeth. “And I’ll give you plenty of time to understand me.”

Elaine ran a cursory glance around to notice Boris sneakily lowering the girl under the floor. She exhaled and swiftly disengaged her left arm from Gretkin’s grip, pushing him back softly to grasp her scepter. A surprised Gretkin found himself staring at the hard-faced Elaine as she brandished her weapon again. “Calm down, captain,” she repeated, “I will apologize again, but there’s no need to come to arms.”

Vexed and humiliated, Gretkin scowled back. “You crafty little bitch! We will see how long your words last. Men!” The Halberds took a stance at Gretkin’s command and Elaine herself did the same. A faint light started to glow upon her scepter’s edge, forming a blade.

“She’s a witch!” someone cried. “Kill her before she casts!” another howled.

“Stop,” Elaine warned. “Have none of you seen this before?”

“The scepter of light,” Gretkin realized. His eyes ran a scrutiny of Elaine’s face. “I thought you were just a wench but why, you are the Legion’s bitch.”

“Alright, that’s enough,” Elaine snapped, “I dare you to say that again, and I will part that tongue from your mouth before it can utter the filth you spewed.”

Boris was beneath the floorboards wondering where to run with the girl when he felt a gush of killing intent that drove him cold in fear. He peeked between the gaps just as Gretkin charged at Elaine.

“Shut up you bi—##)[email protected]&?%#^” Gretkin’s words turned to gibberish as his tongue streaked across the floor in a spurt of blood amidst a dozen screams and howls. Gretkin flailed in shock while Elaine tugged at his robe and smashed him against the wall without a moment’s delay. “I warned you,” she told him, turning to face the other Halberds.

“What did you do to Captain you bi-gh!” A blunt blow to the face assaulted the first follower. “I said,” Elaine bellowed, “don't call me a bitch!” She thrust the scepter’s blunt end into the man’s abdomen with a force so absurd that he flew across the room and hit the other wall.

“You will regret this you w-*#” The next woman flew higher, hit the ceiling with a bang and crashed into a supporting beam with a crunch of broken bones. The Halberds gaped in shock while Elaine placed her scepter’s blade upon Gretkin’s neck. “Don't you cretins move, or this pig will have his head lying in a pool of his filthy blood.” The surroundings froze at her words while Gretkin bawled and struggled anew. Elaine snarled, grabbed his hair and smashed his head against the wall with a terrifying crunch. The captain slumped heavily against the ground, leaving a trail of bloody red on the wall.

“There, that's quieter,” Elaine said, placing a foot upon his shoulder and pointing the scepter at others. “Now stay sharp and listen dung heads. I am Elaine Sithe, the Maiden of Light, of the Legion of Light. I serve directly under His Majesty Durham Dwim Salvem, King of Cumaria. This scepter is proof.” She held the glowing scepter before the others in show before proceeding.

“My next report to His Majesty will have an elaborate mention of captain Gretkin, of the Divine Hand of Thiracus, abusing his power to assault me, among three other innocent people at Water’s Fill, with the deliberate aim to create unrest and possibly, incite rebellion and revolt. This man will get his just desserts no doubt. As for the rest of you, if you choose to withdraw, I will spare your sorry souls. If not, I will add the news of your unfortunate demise to my report.”

The next Halberd who dared to oppose had his shoulder sliced through before he could take a step and fell down screaming in shock. A couple of others fainted. And with that, the Halberds and their injured comrades beat a swift retreat, leaving their captain bleeding on the floor.

“What a bunch of cowards,” Boris rebuked while sneaking out from the floor. Then he found the sliced off tongue lying on the floor and looked at Elaine.

“You want to say something?” she asked icily.

“No. Nothing. Remind me not to piss you off, like ever again.”

“Well you haven't yet.”

Boris exhaled and pointed at the captain’s remains. “Should I help you clean up the mess?”

“Of course,” Elaine answered, “Whose fault do you think this is?”

“I think we should share the responsibility. I saved the innocents and you ki- I mean, defeated the villain.”

“You did not save anyone and I did not defeat any villain. Now come here and help me patch up this man lest he dies.”

Boris looked at her in confusion. “Me? You should just heal him.”

Elaine shook her head in denial. “I would if I could,” she said and turned to face the frozen innkeeper. “Do any of you know healing? Don't worry, I will pay for the damages and everything else.”

The innkeeper came to life with a jerk and approached cautiously. “Don't worry about payment,” he spoke with hesitation and beckoned a barmaid. “Gina, bolt the doors and tell any visitors the tavern’s closed for now. Also, send two others to keep the guests inside. Have the rest clean up the stains. And Pan, go to your room, this isn't the sort of thing for you to gawk at.” He dragged the unconscious priest and left him to one of the barmaids. Then he flipped Gretkin over.

The captain, although breathing, looked far worse than a dead man. They propped him against a chair and the innkeeper tried to stop the bleeding with a couple of small spells. It took a dozen tries to work well enough. Elaine tied up the captain to the chair while Boris cleaned up his wounds. In time, they had a living, breathing Halberd captain in captivity.

“Forgive us,” the innkeeper apologized after he was done. “We did not know you were the maiden of light.” He ordered a barmaid to bring some refreshments for Elaine while pulling a chair across for her.

“There is no need for all this,” Elaine refused.

“Oh no, we have caused you much trouble. This is the least I must do in apology.”

Boris watched the innkeeper’s sudden courtesy with increasing amusement. He felt a hint of unease on Elaine’s face and stepped between her and the innkeeper. “Don’t you know my lady does not drink cheap liquor,” he preached with a confident voice. “Bring in your best lemonades with a side of fried potatoes and spiced chicken. Don’t forget to- ow!”

Elaine smacked Boris and held a stopping hand towards the confused innkeeper. He misunderstood and bowed, “I am afraid I had no idea of your tastes. If you can let me know what those foods are then I will immediately—

“I said,” Elaine rubbed her temples with impatience, but kept her voice mellow. She did not want to frighten the man. “I do not need such favors. I am not going to create a scene just because you didn’t realize who I was till now. Don’t put me on the same level as them.”

“What?” Boris remarked, dissatisfied. “How can you deny his good will? How can deny you free food?”

“Did you not just eat two grown men’s worth?” Elaine asked in annoyance.

Boris shrugged in reply. “I am a considerate gentleman, Elaine,” he answered smoothly, “I can share in your worries and your meals equally well.”

Elaine’s brow twitched. “I am not sharing my worries or my meals. Not even if you beg.”

“Well look at that!” Boris feigned disappointment and surprise. “Cold and blunt, not to mention selfish and inconsiderate. Is that how the maiden of light behaves?”

“Now you are close to pissing me off,” Elaine uttered with a scary smile. She wondered how he could form so many expressions in a short spell of time. He was more suited to be clown, or a swindler. She held her chuckle and showed her displeasure.

“Innkeeper,” Boris gulped and faced Pan’s father, “we will excuse your indisposition. Honored lady is in no mood to indulge in profligate consumption of sumptuous delicacies or to spare that benevolent offering for impecunious gentlemen.”

“Er, what?” the confused man asked.

Boris gestured at him to go away. “I said it’s useless to offer her a meal. She does not want to eat nor will she let me have her share.”

The innkeeper pulled a face and looked at Elaine. “Are you sure?” he asked, “You are the kingdom’s pride, my lady. We may not have seen you before but we have heard of your tales. Had I known you were here, I would never have allowed you residence in such a paltry room.”

“They are writing stories about you now?” Boris raised his brows and lowered his jaw, “I knew I missed some fairy tales!”

“Will you shut up?” Elaine almost roared. “And you,” she turned to the innkeeper, lowering her voice, “don’t bother please. Do you want a carnival of admirers obstructing my duties?”

“No, that would be disrespectful,” the innkeeper replied.

Elaine nodded politely in agreement. “Then keep quiet about this incident,” she said with a soft smile, “It will save both our selves a lot of trouble.”

“If you say so. When you visit Water’s Fill again, please come to stay. We will not charge you. You have done us a favor today, not many can stop the heavy hand of Halberds.”

“Alright, I get it,” Elaine relented to the innkeeper’s stubbornness. “Don’t get your hopes too high though. I have only dissuaded the Halberds for a while. Even I don’t want to meddle with a general of theirs.”

“I understand. I pray they leave us as soon as possible. The town was so much better a week ago.”

“You are going to get busy are you not? Boris,” Elaine pointed at the floorboards where Boris had hidden Thea, “bring the girl back up here. We will take the captain to prison now.”

“….” Boris hesitated. He sneaked back down and brought the expressionless girl back up. She looked to be the same age as him but didn’t speak a single word. Was it wise to leave her here?

“Boris?”

“Yeah, I mean, is that—

Someone interrupted Boris and walked in towards Elaine. Boris watched the priest hold a cloth to his face as he extended an arm in greeting. “So you’re the maiden of light, eh? Nice to meet you, I am Estin, the local priest.”

“Estin, mind your tongue,” the innkeeper warned but the priest continued to speak, not minding that Elaine had refused his handshake.

“I have heard a lot about you. How you’ve saved soldiers at the frontier, how you’ve slayed so many demons and how you’ve kept our lands from invasion. Yours is a big heart, isn’t it? Can you do me one insignificant favor? Please?”

“Estin!” the innkeeper threw a spoon but the priest dodged. It looked more out of practice than instinct.

Elaine replied to Estin’s request with a formal denial. “I am afraid I cannot right now. I understand you’re desperate, you should consult the guild.”

Estin stepped in to grab Elaine’s arm but she pushed him a short distance away. “There are better ways to ask for favors, priest,” she warned.

The priest made a bitter smile. “Do you hate a man of the Order?” he asked, holding his clothes out in show. “I know the Legion holds us in contempt. Puppets following an obsolete creed. Babbling nonsense all day long.”

“Sorry but I need to go now. Boris, leave the girl to him.” Elaine dismissed him with a simple wave of her hand.

“Don’t go!” Estin cried, “For God’s sake, just listen to me once! I have been begging people day and night for help! Just once, can’t you help a poor guy for once?” He seemed desperate now, sweating and heaving a little. Boris stepped in before Elaine could deny the priest again and stared at him.

“You should stop bothering with persuasion and just lay it out, you know,” Boris advised sincerely and pointed towards Elaine. “She wouldn’t be dithering if she did not at least want to listen.”

“Is- is that so?” the priest brightened. “Yeah, I knew it. I knew you were a kind one. I have been knocking the guilds for days but they won’t agree to it. This- this girl is innocent. They killed her parents, her brother… They will kill her. Please, I don’t want her to die. Anywhere, just take her out of here. I will pay you, I will beg, I will even—

Boris interrupted once again, not giving a chance for Elaine to think. “Our caravan is going to Bizeon,” he revealed to Elaine’s growing chagrin. “We might run into Halberds along the way. Are you okay with that?”

“That’s… great,” Estin declared after some deliberation. “Nobody knows of her outside of this town. She isn’t anything important, or dangerous. They’re just after her for… fun. If she leaves, they will forget, but if she stays they will come for her.”

“And where do we leave her? She maybe of age but can she even live by herself?” Boris asked. His voice had turned probing, harsh even. He did not seem the same person who was joking moments ago. But the priest did not dislike his voice.

“Her uncle lives in Bizeon,” Estin proposed with relief. “He is a good man. I’ve written letters to him… I’ll write one for you.”

“Boris!” Elaine tried to get a word in and Boris turned to her and shrugged casually. “What?” he said, “We are going to Bizeon anyway. One more doesn’t matter. If he doesn’t have enough to pay for that, I’ll pay instead. I’ve got ten silvers to waste anyway.”

“Do you understand what you’re saying? What did I tell you about responsibility and sacrifice?”

“You also told me,” Boris imitated her, “‘Don’t meddle with them’. Oh wait, look what you did moments ago!” Boris smiled and dodged an angry wave of Elaine’s hand. He caught another wave of her hand and started to justify himself, “I know Bizeon is like a holy city but all the more reason they wouldn’t bother her there. Besides,” he pointed at Thea who was hiding behind Elaine, “she likes you, see?”

“I swear, someday I will just hngfrgrh you!” Elaine answered with her teeth grit and her hands strangling an imaginary Boris.

“Then I will just fllfsh you.” Boris rubbed his hands together and smirked.

“So, you will take her?” Estin asked, uncertain.

“Yes,” Elaine relented again. It was better than letting Boris take responsibility for this. “Now can I go and put this man in prison before he puts you all to death?” she asked.

“Thank you. I am really obliged,” Estin shook her hand repeatedly. “I will give her the money and important necessities. I will get her prepared before your caravan leaves. She is a very kind girl. You will have no troubles, I promise.”

“Then that’s that,” Elaine concluded, dragging the commander along as she left for the town prison. Boris followed her obediently after leaving a word with the innkeeper.

As he marched out and smelled the fresh morning air, Boris believed his day was off to a good start. He had helped prevent an act of violence and lent a helping hand, though most of the credit went to Elaine. He had also earned ten silvers. Perhaps, his luck was starting to improve. Little by little, he was improving against his odds. He had even understood a bit more about the glyphs and planned some new recipes. Would he make a fortune next? Save a princess maybe? Or tame a dragon? But Boris should have known better than to tempt Lady Luck. She did not take kindly to temptations.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Heya people! I'd be delighted if any of you remember me. No? Never mind. :_:

This part was supposed to be 1-2 chapters but it has become 4. (chap. 14-17) I will post one each day for now.. (@piens15, I hope that fulfills my promise of multiple release. What? You forgot the promise? orz)

My excuses for delay? RL, having to rewrite this part about 6-7 times (honest), writer's block?

Thanks for reading.

orz?

That's it. Any questions?

Well, I will mention here that I submitted some thing to the Valentines contest. If you are interested-

Story: The Arcane History of Val and Tina

http://royalroadl.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=53720

Poem: My Love's Repose

http://royalroadl.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=53722

Pic: InFocus

http://royalroadl.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=54030

PS: @tivanenk, I know I promised a treat but you will have to wait two chapters. Sorry.

PS2: @VesperOz. Check out that poem. I mean, seriously, it is good. Makes up for the lack of verses in this chapter.

PS4: I am just putting it here in case some of you are curious but the "Scythians not allowed" is because the innkeeper's wife ran away with one. Ugh, talk about tragedy.