Snippet #1737694

In one part of the untamed deserts of Ruthen, several friends were enjoying the coolness of the night and the lack of blowing sand around a campfire. The scents of cooking meat were wafting up from and around the fire, and had it been anyone else, they would have been afraid that the smell would attract the savage beasts that Ruthen was famous for. These friends, though, were not afraid of those creatures, as they had earlier that day proved that they could handle the beasts, and the proof of their conquest was cooking over the flames as they spoke.

Chad leaned back in his spot on around the campfire, physically and mentally detaching himself from the relaxed, yet rapid conversation that his companions were taking part in. It there was one thing that could be said about Hiess’s Vanguard, as they were called, it is that there is never a lack of things for them to talk about to each other. Chad did not dislike that at all, in fact, he found that talking so much helped keep his mind from wandering unpleasantly. However, sometimes one needs to step back and take a breather.

Lugh, who had just a few moments ago been talking animatedly with Chad about “Taking unnecessary risks in battle”, turned to start the conversation again with Hawker. Having had to give both men a healing draught after the day’s battles, Lugh felt that it was very much in his right to do so, however Hawker was not proving to be as good a person to argue with as Chad was. No matter how Lugh rephrased his point, he would just say “Lynx be dead, right? What be problem?”

The night sky was beautiful that night, and as he stared up at it from his spot on the ground, Chad couldn’t help but to admire it. Back in Tibolt, the sky around villages was often muddled with chimney smoke, and even out in the open, rain and fog had a bad habit of obscuring one’s view. In Ruthen, though, the sky was as clear as polished glass, except during a sandstorm. If you were outside trying to look at the sky during a sandstorm, though…you deserve whatever happens to you.

Chad was drawn out of his reprieve by an excited, feminine squeak from the center of their circle. Drawing his eyes down from the sky, where he had been tracing constellations that Matthew had once shown him, Chad saw Kath fiddling over the lynx meat that was cooking over the fire. Making another pleased noise, she knifed off a piece of the meat and walked it over to Hawker. As tradition, Hawker tasted all of their food and told them whether it was done or not, and as he chewed on the piece of lynx meat, he broke out into a big, cheesy grin and guffawed a bit. Taking a big breath, he happily said “Leeeeeeeetttt’s EAT!”

And then the carnivorism began. Everyone jumped up from their seats and clamored around the fire, trying to get their share of the food. Once they had as much food as their hands could hold, they sat back and began to stuff their faces with it. Even Kath ignored her proper lady manners and dug into the food like the rest of the guys.

Once nothing all the food was consumed and the fire had died down considerably, everyone let out a collective sigh of content and fell back, turning their spot around the bed into their sleeping area. After a few minutes, Lugh got up from his spot and set about the fire, cleaning up the mess that had been left in their frenzy to eat, as it was his turn to do so.

Everyone was tired. It had been a long day, filled from before dawn to darkness falling with hunting in one of the most dangerous regions of Ruthen. It had been a great hunt, though, and their carriage cart was filled to the brim with superb kills and rare finds like herbs and minerals. Hiess predicted that they’d make far more from this haul than they had with any of their past ones, and was already planning to return to Kahm’shat the day after tomorrow to sell it all. So great was their surplus, that Hiess had given Chad several lynx pelts to sew into a cloak for Kath.

As Chad was already drifting into sleep, the edges of his fantasies already forming in his peripheral vision, he didn’t notice when a while later Lugh sat back down in his seat and drew his harp from his belongings, then started to play. Chad’s, and everyone else’s, dreams were painted with music that was both haunting and incredibly happy, as if a bird that had been caged for all its life had finally been let free and allowed to fly, and it was singing.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Their arrival in Kahm’shat was greeted with much festivity. Hiess’s Vanguard was fairly well-known throughout Ruthen for being not only very strong, but also for being uncharacteristically kind and fun-loving. Whenever they arrived in a town, it was usually cause for a party to be held in the local inn, and as they walked into the town, it seemed as if everyone was ready to do just that. Much ale and food was passed around, and Hiess had no trouble selling their wares not only to merchants, but to the local folk as well.

Everyone was enjoying themselves, the prevailing mood of the time forcing even the depressed to crack a smile. The men of the troupe were being doted on by the village women, and several of them had made a game out of making poor Lugh blush. The only thing that could dampen the spirits of anyone was the arrival of the king’s men. Not the King of Ruthen, whose men would have likely simply joined in the festivity, but the High King’s men, from the Mother Land of Elphanor.

They had come a long way, they explained in tired voices to Chad and Hiess off in a corner of the room, to carry the High King’s message. “Chadwick is to be brought to Elphanor by the word of the High King. He is to be wed to a foreign princess, and in doing so, hopefully bring peace to a future where there might otherwise be great conflict.” Hiess raised his eye and Chad, but to his credit, he did not question the boy. Chad, on the other hand, could only glare at the men. “How do you know my name? I haven’t been called that in years.”

Seeking to keep the conversation from turning negatively, the speaker of the group, Badic was his name, quickly said “I’m sorry, I didn’t know any other name to call you by. I’ll tell you what; it wasn’t easy to track you down because of that. We knew you left for Ruthen, obviously, everyone knew that after your little rebellion in Port Tarmein.” Once again, Hiess looked questioningly at Chad, but didn’t say anything. He was just here as Chad’s ‘employer’, not as his friend. It wasn’t his place to make any comments that didn’t directly refer to Chad’s work.

But Chad, narrowing his eyes, angrily said “Well, maybe that’s because I didn’t want to be found! In fact, I never want to see your lot ever again. So do me a freakin’ favor and bugger off!” Badic was obviously surprised by Chad’s harsh tone, but he didn’t comment on them. He leaned back in his chair, folding his fingers to cradle his chin, and stared quizzically at the boy in front of him. As the silence grew, Chad felt increasingly uncomfortable, to the point where he actually shifted in his seat slightly, yet he refused to look away from Badic. The man then spoke, his voice very level and direct, saying “Chad, surely you of all people would do this. Surely you would do whatever it took, sacrifice whatever it may require, to stop any blood from being shed for the sake of power.”

Badic’s words struck him like a harsh punch in the gut. Chad’s eyes, force open wide, looked down at his right arm on the table. Hiess, no longer able to contain his questioning, went to ask Badic what exactly he meant by that, but Chad’s voice calling out to him, quieter than he had ever heard him talk before, stopped him. “Hiess, leave me alone please…” Stopping, looking surprised at him, he said “Chad, are you sure? I jus-“ “Hiess, I said bugger off! Please just…leave me be.”

Hiess, apparently understanding Chad’s feelings, just nodded and stood. He clasped him on the shoulder, and then made his way over to talk to a very distressed looking Lugh and Kath. Both of them looking ready to burst if they didn’t hear what was being discussed in the corner.

Still looking down at his hand, Chad quietly asked Badic “Are you saying that…if I do this, if I do what you ask…I’ll stop more people from…from being like him?” Badic didn’t know exactly who Chad was talking about, but he knew enough of the boy’s story to understand the meaning of his question. He felt for the kid, he honestly did; no one should have to go through something as a child that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. And yet, in some ways Badic knew it had made him a better person. The High King himself had looked a Badic and told him “This is a boy who could not possible refuse you. He is a fiery youth, and will most likely resist, but his very soul will compel him to do it. He will do it for the one that he has lost.”

Not saying anything, Badic nodded at Chad. Even though he wasn’t looking up, he knew that the boy had seen him, and his thoughts were confirmed when Chad mutely nodded as well, agreeing to do as he was asked. And yet, even after Badic and his men had already thanked him for being so compliant and made arrangements to come pick him up the next day, Chad still sat in that same spot, unflinchingly staring at his hand. As everyone around him continued with their partying, Chad stared desperately at his hand, drying to erase the image of Matthew’s blood staining his palms and running down his fingers.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

As the noon sun beat down on the center of Kahm’shat, which was devoid of any people other than Hiess’s Vanguards and Badic’s men, Chad prepared to depart for Elphanor by saying his goodbyes. He was dressed for travel, wearing a long shirt and pants made of crosses between leather and cloth, with lizard-hide gloves and cloak on. Beside him lay his satchel and a rucksack containing the few things that he was to bring with him on the trip. His friends stood in a half circle in front of him, while the carriage, which was hooked up to several phoenixes, and Badic waited behind him. All of his friends were sad to see him go, but showing it in different ways.

Hawker was crying not so quietly, causing Chad to chuckle lightly and walk up to hug the larger man. Hawker sniffled loudly and wrapped his big arms around Chad, lifting him several arms and suffocating him in a bone-crushing hug. Laughing nervously, Chad patted his shoulder, saying “It’s alright big guy…I’ll be back, no need to cry…” After a few moments, Hawker let him down, and proceeded to turn around and blow his nose in a spare piece of linen he had with him.

After dusting himself off and cracking his neck, Chad turned next to Hiess. Hiess gave him a small, encouraging smile and stepped forward to grasp Chad around the forearm. Smiling back, Chad did the same to his arm. Hiess wasn’t touchy-feely like the rest of the group he’d put together, so this was as close as he’d get to hugging Chad full-out, and the boy knew that. Chad nodded as Hiess released him, and said a quick thank you for helping him make a home in Ruthen. He just shrugged that off, so instead Chad grinned mischievously at him and said “Don’t have too much fun without me Cap’n, I don’t want to miss anything good.” Hiess just waved him off, laughing and saying “Oh no, never.” Then he turned him to face Lugh instead.

With a very forced straight face, Lugh held out his arm to be grasped like Hiess and Chad just had, and Chad did so, tilting his head slightly as if asking Lugh ‘why?’ Lugh tried to open his mouth to speak, but doing so just cracked his flimsy resolution, and he let go of Chad’s arm and moved to hug him tightly-though thankfully not as tightly as Hawker had. Lugh sobbed into Chad’s shoulder, trying to talk but having his words muffled, he said “I’m gonna miss you, Chad! I’m really, really gonna miss you!” Chad chuckled at the actions of his faux little brother, and hugged him back. “Hey hey, I’m not going to be gone forever. I’ll come back, you’ll see. I won’t let some noble lady keep me from my best mates, you know that.” If Badic had any contrary information, he kindly didn’t pipe up about it.

After Lugh released Chad, there was only one person left to say goodbye to. Kath, who had been watching Chad move about the others, after realizing it was her turn, quickly turned around and determinedly stared at the buildings to her right. She refused to look at Chad, knowing that if she did…she would cry just like Lugh. And she wouldn’t do that, she was much tougher than Crybaby Lugh. Then she felt something on her shoulders, and deft hands tying a string around her collarbone. Turning her head to look behind her, she saw a lynx fur cloak falling from her shoulders, expertly made by a hand that knew what it was doing. It was a beautiful cloak, made from good pelts, and it was just the right size and thickness to suit her body and keep her warm on breezy nights.

She turned around fully to look at a grinning Chad, but before she could raise a word of protest, his lips were on hers. It was a passionate kiss, but not filled with the frantic fever that their kisses were normally filled with; it wasn’t rushed, it was emotional, and it was all the more intimate to her for that. As Chad pulled away from her, she raised one hand to press fingers against her lips. Her face felt hot, and she knew she blushed redly as Chad said “I’m gonna miss you Kath, I will.”

Kath looked up at him, meeting his brown eyes with her own, and said with all sincerity “I know.” Then, looking down nervously at her free hand playing with the tie of her new cloak, she added “Chad, just don’t…please don’t give away everything you have to that princess, ok?” Raising that free hand to press against his chest, right over where his heart was, she continued staring into his eyes and said “Because there is a girl back home waiting to get some of them too.”

Then it was Chad’s turn to blush, and he turned his head to look away from her searching eyes. She just stood on tip-toes and put her hands on his shoulders, forcing him to look at her again, and she said “And don’t you ever forget that either: This is your home, with m-with us. No other stupid country will ever be your home, ok?” He nodded, and that apparently satisfied her, for she kissed him on the cheek and then went to stand away from him. Her eyes were still turned to him, but no longer with sadness like before, but with something a bit more romantic, and she clutched the cloak around her.

As Chad then turned to go, picking up his bags, he couldn’t help but feel mortified by the blown-away looks that the other guys were giving him. He wasn’t sure what was worse, Hawker’s wide ‘O’ of a mouth, saying incoherent phrases like “He? She? They? Together? They, she?”, which were accompanied by pointing gestures from his hands; or Lugh, who was blushing hotly himself and covering his eyes with his hands, but peeking obviously through splayed index and middle fingers. Even Badic and his men were politely and pointedly looking towards the carriage as chad stepped up and into the vehicle, sliding over to make room for Badic’s men.

Once they were all inside, Chad waved one last time to his friends before the carriage took off, speeding away from Ruthen as fast as it could. Chad continued to watch the scene outside, keeping his eyes trained on Ruthen until the last trace of his home disappeared from his eyes for the second time in his life.