21st day of the 11th month 579th year of the 8th era

Akuchi and Aquillia came out of the training room and walked along the path towards the mess. Oghenekaro was walking down along the path from the mess. Upon seeing Akuchi and Aquillia heading towards the mess, he greeted them.

“Akuchi and Aquillia,” Oghenekaro smiled. “Good morning.”

“Morning, Commander Oghenekaro,” they both chimed in unison.

“Akuchi,” Oghenekaro started. “The captain of the Fleur de Lis is a friend of mine.”

“How do you know Captain Hiwot?” Akuchi asked.

“We lived in the same town. I thought that you could recount your harrowing story of the trolls to the captain over dinner.”

Akuchi smiled. “Sure, sounds great.”

“I will come and collect you for dinner in a few hours,” Oghenekaro said, walking away.

Aquillia and Akuchi continued walking on towards the mess and ate their lunch in silence.

“Does the captain put on a good spread?” asked Aquillia as they walk along the path towards the barracks.

“She eats better than we have been,” Akuchi responded as his stomach growled.

“What does she serve?”

“The first time I ate with the captain we had succulent roasted meat with a gravy that was so thick it was almost decadent.”

“What did it taste like?”

“The meat fell apart in your mouth, and the tubers and legumes were soft and cooked to perfection.”

“A captain of a ship has got to serve wine with her dinner.”

“Oh, she did. The wine was heady and richly fruity. It glided down my throat. The smell filled the room.”

“Why wasn’t I invited?” Aquillia pouted as they entered the barracks.

“Maybe Oghenekaro didn’t want too many people there,” Akuchi soothed.

“I am not too many people.” Aquillia frowned, sitting on her bed.

“I am just guessing,” Akuchi defended, sitting down on his own bed facing Aquillia.

“Maybe the captain doesn’t like too many people using her fine crockery,” said Aquillia.

“It was very nice,” Akuchi reminisced.

“What did it look like?”

“The plates had a picture of a garden on them,” Akuchi shrugged.

“That sounds beautiful.”

“If you think the crockery was nice, the cutlery was superb.” Akuchi paused, leaning forward, Aquillia did the same until their heads were nearly touching. “It looked like it was made from gold.”

“No way,” gasped Aquillia.

“I swear,” Akuchi said, sitting up straight and raising his right hand.

Akuchi’s stomach growled, and they both laughed.

“I have been hungry since I got here,” Akuchi said.

“Most people seem to be.”

“Why is that?”

“I think we are all on rations.”

“You mean,” Akuchi stammered, “that we are low on food.”

“The fort doesn’t seem to grow any food. On the way up, I noticed that the forest extends all the way to the south wall.”

“Hmm.” Akuchi stood and removed his sword from its place and laid it and his scabbard on the bed.

Akuchi awoke as the door slammed. The sun was setting, and the room was getting darker. Akuchi arose and opened his trunk. He pulled out his dress clothes, stepping into the trousers, and pulled a white shirt over his head.

“Ah good,” Oghenekaro declared, pushing open his door. “You’re ready.”

Oghenekaro was dressed in an immaculate uniform: dark blue coat, and matching trousers. His shirt was a pale green that matched his eyes. Akuchi turned and went to pick up his falchion.

“You won’t need that,” Oghenekaro said.

Akuchi said nothing and walked to the door as Oghenekaro stepped back.

“I heard that you dined with the captain before,” Oghenekaro said.

“Yes, the captain said I amused her,” Akuchi said.

“Good, good,” he smiled, “I invited you to dinner to regale the captain with tales of your heroic deeds. Try to make me look good.”

“I will do my best, sir.”

They both lapsed into silence as they walked from the barracks to the door, through the fort. The training yard was empty. They strode across the field of hard packed dirt and grass. They passed the smithies and workstations, came to the pier, and then climbed the rope ladder onto the ship.

“Permission to come aboard,” Oghenekaro declared formally.

“Permission granted.” Hiwot smiled. She was dressed in her uniform tight black leather trousers, a light white blouse with the buttons done up under her bosom, and a black coat left open.

Akuchi took in the familiar ship. The watch commander stood on the poop deck, and a few sailors lounged on the deck.

“Captain, I present the hero of Fort Northern Wiles,” Oghenekaro introduced, “Akuchi Rosethorn.”

“Akuchi.” Hiwot’s smile broadened. “You’re the fort’s hero?”

Akuchi smiled back as Oghenekaro continued.

“Akuchi saved my life and the fort all single-handedly,” Oghenekaro finished.

“Wow,” Hiwot exclaimed. “Sounds like you have quite a story to tell; I will have an extra place set.”

Hiwot glanced at Akuchi and smiled. She then tore her eyes from him and fixed them on Oghenekaro. She grabbed his arm and together began walking towards her quarters.

Hiwot glanced back at Akuchi and winked. Akuchi followed Hiwot and Oghenekaro.

“Tell me, Oggy, apart from Akuchi amazingly saving you,” Hiwot began, placing a hand on his arm, “what else is happening in your life?”

“Well,” began Oghenekaro, “the trolls besieged the fort like they normally do. So, I had to cut rations again.” He laughed.

Hiwot laughed, a hand to her mouth. She looked Akuchi up and down and bit her lower lip. Then she returned to looking at Oghenekaro.

“This time they did something really strange.”

“What did they do?”

Oghenekaro and Hiwot walked up to the poop deck and Oghenekaro opened the doors to the captain's chambers. Hiwot walked in and Oghenekaro followed.

“Set the table for three,” Hiwot commanded. The bald man bowed and then moved ahead of them.

Hiwot guided Oghenekaro and Akuchi down the corridor, to her personal rooms.

The bald man and the young girl were setting out another place at the table.

Oghenekaro took a seat and Hiwot indicated that Akuchi should take the seat opposite him, while she sat at the spot that was just set.

“Now tell me about the heroism,” Hiwot cut Oghenekaro short from telling her about the strange troll behavior. She flicked a glance at Akuchi, parted her lips, and wetted them with her tongue.

Oghenekaro began recounting the story of how Akuchi had ridden out with them to break the siege, and instead of breaking the siege, the sortie had collapsed when a troll had knocked him to the ground. Hiwot gasped, covering her mouth. Oghenekaro recounted how the next thing he remembered was being tied to a horse and seeing Akuchi standing up to a troll as he rode out on Akuchi’s horse. Hiwot gasped and turned her eyes to Akuchi as he took up the story.

The young girl came in, poured wine, and served the dinner. They all began to eat, as Akuchi continued to tell the story. He told Hiwot of how the Mayu had distracted the troll and got the troll to chase her as he attended to the commander.

Hiwot’s hand brushed Akuchi’s as she reached for her wine. When she replaced the wine glass, she dropped her hand onto the table so that her hand gently touched Akuchi’s arm.

Akuchi then recounted the fight as he fought to stay alive, before being knocked out by a troll from behind.

At this point, everyone had finished their wine and the food had all been enjoyed.

“Well, that was a pleasant meal.” Oghenekaro stood. “Thank you for your time.”

Hiwot and Akuchi stood with him.

“We must be off,” Oghenekaro declared.

“Well if you must be off,” suggested Hiwot placing a hand on Akuchi’s upper arm. “Do you mind if I keep Akuchi here for a bit so he can finish the story?”

“I … ah … don’t see how that could be a problem,” stammered Oghenekaro. “Thank you for your time.”

Akuchi and Hiwot watched him go out the door and was escorted out by the tall bald man.

Hiwot sunk back into her chair with a sigh. Akuchi sat and opened his mouth to continue the story.

“Please don’t,” Hiwot begged placing an arm on Akuchi, “Oggy has been trying to woo me for some time.”

“You and Oghenekaro?” Akuchi asked dumbfounded.

Hiwot nodded with a frown as she looked deeply into his eyes.

She sat up straight and clapped her hand twice. The girl came in from the hidden door behind the hammock.

“Draw me and Akuchi a bath,” she commanded. The girl bowed without a word and went back out the door.

“I don’t need a bath, thank you,” protested Akuchi.

“Are you kidding me? I could smell you since you came on deck.”

“Is it that bad?”

“I am surprised Oggy didn’t notice it.”

“I guess he had other things to notice.” Akuchi laughed. Hiwot fixed him with a gaze that stopped his laughter.

A moment of tense silence passed between them. A door opened and in walked the girl carrying a bucket of steaming water. The tall bald man followed her a moment later carrying in two more buckets. They carefully poured the water into the porcelain bath and promptly left. Without breaking eye contact, Hiwot divested herself of her jacket and undid the buttons on her blouse.

Akuchi smiled at her and pulled his shirt and undid the button on his trousers. The steel in her eyes lost its hardness and she blushed as her gaze ran down his torso and drank in the sight of his well-toned muscles.

In the cool morning light, Akuchi climbed down to the pier, his bare feet slick with morning dew. He stood with his trousers on and his shirt and shoes in his hands. He took one last look at Hiwot as she saw him off.

Hiwot looked down at Akuchi and waved him goodbye. A gentle breeze cooled her legs under the shift she wore. Hiwot instinctively pulled the shift down. Akuchi waved then turned and headed back to the fort. The dawn light had suffused the fort and a quiet had settled.

Akuchi walked quietly past the smiths. The great bellows were being fired up as a rush of warm air stirred in the early morning. Aquillia met Akuchi at the door of the barracks and they went to the mess hall for a meager meal of tuber and beet soup.

“Don’t they have anything else to feed us?” Akuchi grumbled.

They sat at a table as they ate their first meal. Akuchi scooped a mouthful into his mouth. It was mostly water.

“I doubt it,” Aquillia replied.

After they finished, they put their dishes aside so they could be washed. They left the mess hall and went to the training room. On the way they saw the first pairs of people starting their daily training. Mayu stood in a corner and observed a man fight with two long swords against a man with a huge great-axe. Arriving at the training room, Akuchi and Aquillia drew their weapons and took their positions. Aquillia elected for water defense and Akuchi took rock defense. They eyed each other, circling each other, searching for weakness.

The door to the room opened and Taya came in bringing a water pitcher and a couple of cups. Taya set them down on the table and sat on the floor to watch. She was dressed again in her threadbare tunic.

Aquillia attacked Akuchi in a classic water strike. Akuchi defended in a stone defensive posture and counterattacked with an air attack. Aquillia blocked with rock defense and sidestepped in a classic water move. Akuchi followed the attack with a fire attack. Aquillia darted back in a wind move and they took their positions again.

Akuchi took rock stance and waited for Aquillia to move forward. Aquillia attacked in wind stance and then shifted in water, rolling around Akuchi’s defense. Akuchi moved forward with a water move and turned to face Aquillia again.

“What happened?” Aquillia breathed. “You fought with more imagination last time.”

“I got nicked in the fight with a troll leader.” Akuchi indicated the scar on his arm.

“So, you are going to only defend?” Aquillia taunted.

“I am not going to risk getting hit again.”

“Come on. Attack me,” Aquillia demanded.

Akuchi looked at Aquillia. She was standing with her sword at the ready, held to one side in a typical water stance. His gaze traveled over her body. She was limber and strong. Her muscles were taut, and her brow furrowed in concern.

Akuchi shifted his feet, swept his blade in a wide arc, and raised it above his head. Taya leaned forward from her position on the floor and Aquillia’s eyes widened in surprise. Akuchi’s blade was held now above his head with both arms, leaving his body exposed. Aquillia looked at him in disbelief. His muscles were firm and poised. She swept her eyes over his body. The leather strap that held his scabbard was draped over his chest. His trousers were tense over his legs.

Taya watched Akuchi, her brows furrowed. Aquillia eyed the falchion held aloft, unsure of how to attack him. Akuchi waited, sweat beaded on his forehead. Aquillia stepped forward and attacked. Her rock attack aimed low at Akuchi’s exposed chest.

Akuchi brought the sword down. Aquillia saw it coming and she twirled her blade to intercept. As the sword came down, the force of the impact brought her to her knees. Aquillia had blocked the strike at the last second and the swords impacted only millimeters from her face.

Akuchi lifted the blade and stepped back. Taya rushed forward and went straight to Aquillia. Akuchi sat, drawing his sword across his lap.

“What was that?” Taya demanded, as she helped Aquillia up.

“I am not sure exactly,” explained Akuchi, looking down at his sword.

“It was surely effective,” Aquillia muttered, sitting cross-legged in front of Akuchi.

“Where did you learn it?” Taya asked sitting down with them.

“I didn’t learn it from anyone.” Akuchi lifted his head to look at the two women, “I used it on the troll leader, Xukundi.”

“Did it work on him?” Aquillia asked.

“Wait,” interrupted Taya. “Since when did trolls have names?”

“It stands to reason they have some sort of structure; they are able to conduct some form of siege maneuvers and are able to make weapons.”

“Well,” muttered Taya, “I’ll be.”

“Go on, Akuchi,” Aquillia prompted.

Akuchi tore his eyes from Taya.

“The troll I fought was at least a good thirty centimeters taller than me, so I needed the height to defeat him.”

“That is one tall troll,” said Aquillia.

“They are normally about our height,” agreed Taya. “So, you thought that if you had your sword up high you could overcome his reach?”

“Exactly, we both used a shorter version of the falchion,” Akuchi said. “He was taller and heavier than me, so I had to do something that would overcome them.”

“Hence the unusual fighting style.”

“How unusual is it?” Aquillia asked turning to Taya.

“The trolls have names?” Taya exclaimed. “I always thought they were dumb animals.”

“If they were dumb animals, then a slaughter yard would be needed here, not a fortress,” quipped Akuchi.

“Don’t you remember the histories?” asked Aquillia. “The trolls used to control the whole continent until we came along and pushed them out.”

The door crashed open and all three turned to see a man burst through the door. All of them turned to see who had come in.

“What is it, Tadala?” Taya asked.

“A sail has been sighted on the horizon,” Tadala informed excitedly.

Taya didn’t hesitate. She rose from her position and barreled out the door.

Akuchi arose from his sitting place, holding his falchion in one hand.

“Help me up, Akuchi,” Aquillia demanded.