Not too long after leaving NewHaven.... Mageria looked over at Ess, raising one eyebrow. "First off. Let's see how well you can run. Take the path across the river, out to the stone cross and back. It's about five miles all told. Let me know when you're back."
Essence stood from her squatting position where she was petting Tala. With a firm nod she obeyed clearly, âYes Mâam.â A curious, sharp, wind-like noise escaped her lips for her wolf to lead the way, smiling as she leapt forward to chase after Tala. The race was on.
Ess had awoken early that day, remembering Mageriaâs warning ...promise to begin her training. She had eaten a bit of baked bread, drank a few gulps of water from her gourd, and made sure to stretch before she met up with the woman. Ess started off at a moderate speed, wanting to work her way up a bit, so not to exhaust herself before she was half way through, which gave Tala quite the lead. âFour legs VS two, Tala..â She complained.
At her current pace, she trailed Tala throughout the camp in a reasonable amount of time slipping between cabins hidden in the earth. Tripping over what she discovered to be a chimney, she stumbled over the obstacle, quickly recovering with a barrel roll back onto her feet. Her heart began to race as she picked up the pace, not letting Tala dare escape her line of sight. Rounding several trees and past her tent she pitched up by an ancient looking Oak tree, she leapt down along a sudden slope, skipping the drop completely not causing a delay in her stride.
âSo far so good,âShe thought to herself, nodding at a few children playing by the rope bridge. Maneuvering by the kids, she crossed the river in the West of the camp, watching Tala disappear into the thicket of bushes and forest. A sudden updraft of icy wind stirred about dozens of black feathers left over from 'evacuationâ of the camps prior tenants: The ravens and crows. What a filthy mess those birds had made. Ess quirked a brow at a few men and women collecting a basket full of those feathers, unsure what they were going to do with them exactly.
The terrain got rockier along the path, sloping upwards causing Ess to have to push her calves harder as she ran up a hill, practically falling down the other side. In the midst of her heavy, burdened breathing, Ess managed to take in her surroundings, appreciating the winter morning. Even when she slid a bit to her knees, a muddy slush soaking them, she smiled at the muck pushing herself along the narrow path. Prickers clung to her clothes, her tunic tearing here and there as she forced her way past, superficial scratches accumulating in numbers across her arms and face.
Suddenly she came to a screeching halt, barely stopping in time before slamming into Tala. Her wolf was panting on the ground just in front of the stone cross, Ess on her hands and knees just beside her furry friend. âShit..â Ess rolled forward tapping the stone wall of the cliff and turned around, calling for Tala to follow as she made her way back towards Mageria.
When Mageria was in her sights, Ess pushed herself as if she had Tala biting at her heels, although Tala was sitting happily by the womanâs side panting heavily in little white clouds from the winter chill. Falling to her knees in front of her furry friend she laughed between labored breaths. âFour...legs...Tala..â An hour had to have passed since she last saw Mageria and Ess knew she could of done better, but didnât let it get her down for she would probably have to do it again later at some point.
Mageria smiled cheerfully at Ess once she finally got back, holding a long switch in one hand. It was about three feet taller than her, and clearly wasnât going to be used as a walking stick.
âItâs time to really begin your training. Donât bring any of your weapons, youâre not going to need them. Just meet me down by the river in two minutes.â With that she walked away, still obviously recovering from her earlier wounds, but walking steadily none the less.
Once at the edge of the river, Mageria carefully stepped out onto the poles sunk into the bank, walking out across them until she was about 10 feet away from the edge. About four feet under her, the river burbled away cheerfully, just a couple degrees above freezing. She waited until Ess came and found her, then gestured for the other woman to step out onto the branches as well.
âIn a fight, the first and most important thing is to be sure of where youâre stepping. So. Your job here is simple. Keep moving, and donât get hit.â She gestured with the switch she still held in one hand. âGood luck.â With that, she whipped the rod at Essâs feet.
Essâ legs buckled slightly from the stress of her run, her breathing slowing just enough so that the cold didnât burn her lungs. Not giving herself much more than thirty seconds to catch her breath, she made her way towards the East of the camp. She nodded towards Mageria as she followed her out onto the river, stepping carefully from wooden pole to the next trying to get her depth perception to absorb the random distances between each pole. Starring down at the river, she feared the temperature if she were to fall into the water as she stretched down, her fingers touching her toes before she stood, finding her balance. Tala watched the two from the shore, with a curious smile planted along her wolf face, tongue hanging out lazily as if she were laughing at Ess.
Quirking a brow at Mageria, âGood luck...â Ess blinked, hopping backwards onto the closest pole, balancing barely on one foot. Quickly she noted the others were now farther away and she would have to leap quite far for many of them. She stared uneasily at the switch.
Mageria smoothly moved between the poles, not even having to look down to see where she was going. She kept her left arm tucked against her side, not having regained full movement from the fight with Grim. Instead she used her right arm, causally swinging the switch as she moved. Whipping it around, she forced Ess to duck and dance to the side, the girl nearly tripping as she hopped from pole to pole.
"Good . . . but you can do better." Mageria swung the switch again, a little faster this time. She had to fight not to smile, she did enjoy keeping people on their toes, so to speak. Instead she kept her face deadpan, in line with her role as Captain. But sometimes what she loved even more than being the Captain was having the chance to be the Trainer. But now it was time to push the girl. Mageria began moving faster, not giving Ess a chance to recover before she had to move again.
Ess began wondering how her flexibility would come in handy at this point. The first time the switch came in contact with Ess, Mageria had just slapped her arm, a small swell of pain similar to a bee sting enflamed the area. The second time, Ess was trying to avoid landing on her back in the near freezing water, the switch colliding harder along her back, enough to leave a bruise. A low growl of frustration escaped her lips, not at Mageria but rightly at herself. Of course she couldnât expect to master such practice her first day, but she was disappointing herself. Ess managed to avoid the third swat across the face, her body arching back just far enough to keep her balance while her upper half went horizontal along the current. Yet, she over compensated as she straightened, falling flat on her face into the river, the sting of the icy water causing her body to twitch violently as she screamed, bubbles of pain boiling to the surface.
The cold made her muscles slow as she raced to climb out of the water and back onto the poles, her teeth chattering uncontrollably. She knew there would be no pause in Mageriaâs swings as she fought to avoid them and the freezing river. About an hour passed, Ess feeling the switch several times and falling about three times all together. Her lush lips were turning a purple as she lurched forward onto her hands, her fingers grasping at the pole, using the force of gravityâs momentum to push back as she flipped onto another pole, her hand finding her balance at another pole at her side. Yet, she delayed in her surprise that she actually landed that flip, her hesitation costing her a thwack across the face, leaving a small welt additionally sending her to the depths below. All the wind was knocked out of her, her lungs aching for air and as much as she tried to fight it, she inhaled under the water causing her to hack and dry heave violently, the water screaming to escape her body. It seemed so far away, Tala barking in excitement...or mockery as she crawled to shore.
Mageria clenched her teeth against the pain as she stood balanced lightly on the poles. She had probably pushed it further than she should have, but it felt good to be moving. But she would pay for it later on. Moving stiffly, she stepped carefully from pole to pole until she stood on the bank again.
"Good enough for a first day. We'll get you warmed up and see where you stand on a few other things." Looking down, she saw that Ess probably wouldn't be standing up on her own. This was going to hurt. She started to kneel down to help her up, but was stopped by a pair of hands landing firmly on her shoulders. Looking up, she could see one of her Guard, Zane, frowning at her.
"Captain, you remember what the medic said." With an ease she envied, he leaned down and hauled Ess to her feet, keeping her steady when she staggered. "No lifting much of anything so long as your ribs are wrapped up." He looked down at Ess, who at this point was so cold that she had stopped shivering; shaking his head and hauling her off towards the medic's cabin, changing course when Mageria indicated that he should take the girl to her own cabin. Tala followed behind, ears up alertly as she looked between all of them.
"How long did she last?"
Mageria smiled a bit. "At least an hour." Zane lifted an eyebrow in surprise. "That's pretty good."
"Better than you, anyways." Mageria snorted.
Reaching her cabin, Mageria held the door open and let them both in, indicating that Zane could leave Ess by the hearth before leaving. Mageria eyed Ess before deciding that she'd need help getting her into some warmer clothes.
"Jess? Could you help me for a bit?" From the upstairs loft came a cheerful short blond woman, visibly pregnant but still moving well.
"Oh, the poor thing! What in the Twins names have you been doing, Mageria?" Mageria ducked back into her room to grab some extra clothes that she'd set back there just in case, grabbing a couple of towels as well.
"Training is all." She gently took Ess's chin in her hand, looking directly into the other woman's eyes to make sure that she heard. "Now Ess, sorry about this, but you need to get out of those clothes." With that she and Jess efficiently stripped the other woman, briskly toweling her off until the blue started to fade and she looked like she knew what was going on. Then they stuffed her into the dry clothing and wrapped her in a blanket, sitting her down in front of the fire with a cup of steaming cider in one hand. Tala wrapped herself around her feet, licking one ankle in an effort to help.
"I'll just lay these out to get dry, shall I?" Jess snatched the soaked pile and took charge of it, moving away to her latest project. Mageria got a mug of her own and sat down in a chair across from Ess, settling down into the woven ropes to wait until the woman recovered; idly leafing through a book on poisons as she waited.
Ess was a bit hazy, not fully understanding why she was moving, but couldnât feel her legs. The next she knew is that she was warmer, inside somewhere sitting, wrapped in layers of blankets. When her thoughts came clearer, she simply watched Mageria silently. Her muscles were aching from the training, her skin dry and burning as she slowly grew warmer, absently she wiggled her toes in Talaâs fur. Opening her mouth, she moved to speak, a crack echoing into the room as no sound came out. Clearing her throat, she tried again, this time a whisper defiantly snuck out of her throat, âSo...up for that again tomorrow?.â Ess gave a subtle, tired smirk.
Ess noted she was not brought to the medic, but was in the Captainâs cabin. That made her smirk turn into a grin as she waited for the Captain to speak. Her mind drifted off a bit, thinking randomly of that huge dog in the camp, that Tala seemed to like playing with. One of the children, called it âPuppy.â That thing was the size of three Talas. That made her giggle to herself, a sharp pain in her lungs ending the laughter turning the sound in a small groan.
Mageria looked up, one fist propping up her head. A slightly evil smile crossed her face at Ess's question.
"Oh, tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that . . . You're lucky there's no ice right now." She set the book to the side and stretched, wincing sharply when something in her chest popped. "In the mornings, you get physical training; in the evenings, mental and skill training. If you manage to survive that, then you'll be surprised at where you are in a month or so."
From outside they could dimly hear the sounds of activity as the new inhabitants of the camp worked to improve their living conditions. Mageria was deeply worried. They might have enough room, eventually, but something had happened to their stored supplies. Given how many people they had to feed; it was going to be a very lean winter. But that wasn't something she could change by simply worrying about it, they were already taking steps to do what they could. In the meantime, there was something that she could control, the training of her latest recruit.
Leaning over, she picked up the book she had set aside, standing up and holding it out to Ess.
"I'd like you to study this tonight, let me know what you already know, what you find new, what you find different. It's about poisons that you can find and make easily from plants here in the forest; as well as the ways they can be used and their effects. It's not always necessary to kill someone, sometimes an unexpected nap can be far more helpful." She reached down and rubbed Tala gently between the ears, before standing back up. "Today; after you get warmed back up, go find Zane in the barracks. He'll get you started on lock picking; which is always a handy skill to have." She patted Ess kindly on the shoulder. "Until tomorrow, then. I'm afraid I have some other buisness I have to take care of." With that she picked up her old tattered coat and wrapped herself in it, heading back out into the cold.
Ess nodded firmly, taking the book from the Captain, a soft glow in her eyes caught the fireâs flames, smiling in interest at it. âYes Mâam.â Resting the book on her lap, her other hand twitched, clasping the mug of cider firmly as she brought it to her cracked lips. Nodding in Mageriaâs direction as she left the cabin, Ess finished off her cider. She was a bit weak, but nothing she couldnât push through as she laced up her boots, lightly shoving Tala from her feet. She was excited to go see Zane to learn lock picking, something she had never grasped and she agreed it would be quite handy.
âIâll be back later, Jess.â She hollared, her voice in and out as she let the woman know she would get her clothes later. Ess thought she heard the woman protest, but she was already out the door, Tala practically beneath her as she made sure to stop at her tent first. It was cold out and she needed her cloak to help barricade the wind from her skin, feeling like knives slicing along her flesh. Ess had chosen to pitch up a tent, declining the offer to share housing with some of the others. Not because she had anything against them, or that it would be crowded, but because she liked her solidarity. A few days ago there was a small ice storm, where there was no way she could keep her fire going and Ess caved finding a space on the floor of the barracks to crash with Tala to keep her warm.
Ess smiled, tucking her curls into her hood before grabbing a pair of gloves. She had chosen the spot by a giant Oak tree for sentimental reasons and how it reminded her of good times as a child, some of the few she had during her time in BlackPond. Her tent was a decent size, enough to fit two people, Tala and her things, including a small stack of wood that she meant to keep dry for her fires. Tucking the book in a satchel, strapping that to her belt she made her way towards the barracks. Easily she spotted Zane off in a corner chatting away to another, Ess waited til he caught her stare before approaching while Tala layed down by the door basking in the attention of the passing Guards.
Zane smiled easily as he patted a spot near to where he was sitting. "Captain asked me to teach ya lock picking, which I happen to know quiet well, given that I happen to have had a bit of a misspent youth." He unrolled a folded cloth, revealing a series of pockets filled with slender metal tools, each of them with different tips. Then he picked up a lock from a pile next to him, holding it out so that Ess could see it.
"Now, the thing is, you have to know the lock before you can open it." His voice was soft and firm as he explained the intricacies of a skill learned the hard way
The first week was typical to Essâ first day of training: The five mile run, that slowly didnât kick her ass as much as it had in the beginning; her studies in refining her poison skills and learning the details of lock picking; and of course her least favorite training was getting smacked around by a long wooden switch to fall into an icy river of pain. She was lasting around the same amount of time, but with less punishment from the switch, only to suffer at the cold of the river. Mageria had said her first day, â You're lucky there's no ice right now.â Of course, as irony would have it, the next few days the poles in the river were covered in thin layers of black ice, Ess acquiring her bruises from her falls instead of the switch. She couldnât complain though, because as much as she was putting herself down, the Captain seemed to only encourage and that was all she needed to keep trying. Ess was being pushed because the Captain expected she could do it. By the end of that first week she managed to last almost two hours before her falls ended the session. It was a step up leaving much room still for improvement.
Mageira was careful not to show too much, but she was rather proud of Ess's achievements. The girl was coming along remarkably well, and soon enough they could start basic hand to hand combat. She should be healed up well enough by then to be able to do it herself.
When Essence began her lessons with Zane, she worried that she would never understand which stupid tool did what or for what purpose and why. It got to the point, when after the first couple days, Zane gave her a basic set of tools to use, stating âYou will have to use all of them at some point, better get familiar with them.â Ess learned that there was a basic range of difficulty in locks, which she labeled for herself one through ten, easiest to hardest. There were spring loaded locks, locks she described as âTwisted Layers of Metal,â and then the combination of the two. Depending on the size of the lock, depended on the size of the tool; if it was spring loaded or not gave her the options whether to use a pointy tool (like a tiny ice pick) that she would use on the springs or one that extended in width and went flat in an L shape at the end, which was used to turn and match up the 'Layers of metal.â By her third day she had gotten the hang out of the the first three levels of difficulty, mostly because even after her lesson was over, she took with her some locks and the kit to practice, only pausing to eat her evening meal.
Before Ess passed out from exhaustion each night, she made sure to re-read certain chapters of the book Mageria had loaned her on poisons. For the most part, Ess was familiar with the different plants she could find in the local forests; even some not locally found. She was learning that some of the ingredients could be preserved in their crude form and in their final form, which was handy since she was use to her poisons expiring and having to start over again. She did leave NewHaven with a few small vials, she decided to bring to the Captain and explain what she already knew for the most part. Ess had always thought of how to make someone suffer, to kill them in the easiest amounts of effort possible. In her possession she did hold a serum that would cause temporary paralysis or cause someone to become almost deathly ill, but to put someone to sleep she had never pondered a use for such a thing.
On the fourth day, after the early morning torture routine, she knocked gently on Mageria's door, holding a small pine box with some of the vials of poisons she created over the past few months that still held a decent shelf life. Ess only shared so far what she didn't know, not exactly what she already knew and she felt a bit proud of herself, smiling sweetly at the Captain when the door opened.
"I'm not disturbing you, am I Captain?"
Mageria pushed a hank of hair back from over her eye, looking just the bit frazzled.
"Disturbing me? No, not at all." She sighed heavily as the sound of children crashing about a house far too small for them could be heard. It was too cold for them to be out, which meant that they had to be in one place. She eased through the door and shut it firmly behind her, leaning on it as if she wanted to make sure that it stayed closed.
"If you had something that you wanted to show me, perhaps we could do it in the medic's cabin? It should be empty at the moment." She started across the snowy hill, not even bothering to go back inside for a coat. Opening the cabin, she revealed a space crowded with a few beds; cabinets filling the back walls and an open door that revealed a space that looked to be set up for basic distilling. Mageria sat in a chair after poking up the fire, gesturing for Ess to sit as well. She rubbed her hands together, blowing on them a bit to warm them back up.
"What was it you wanted to say?"
Ess sat beside the Captain, resting the small box in her lap so that she could peel off her leather gloves. Reaching into her boot she retrieved a small flask, sipping it lightly to kick start the warmth she was still lacking deep in her bones from her morningâs excursions. Instinctual in her manners she offered it to Mageria with a smirk, âI was looking to show you what I managed to pick up on my own as a teenager...in my time in BlackPond.â Her fingernail flicked at a brass latch, the lid opening slowly to reveal about a dozen tiny vials in a multitude of colors.
With a deep breath, Ess began retelling in basic detail of her times in the brothel and how she grew up there, stolen from her home and family quite young. âI was too weak to really defend myself much then, you know...and even for the most part I even stopped trying. One day....I discovered my âEnlightenmentâ and when my emotions were overwhelming I accidentally revealed my skill to a patron..â She paused closing her eyes as if she were trying not to see the manâs face. Her fingers traced along her scar that almost stretched past her lips from her left eye. âI killed him for giving me this...for so much more...what he stood for..and I payed dearly for it, cutting the defying will out of me.â Ess fingers reached inside the pine box without even looking, the glass tinging softly while her nails sifted through the assortment, naturally picking up a red looking vial which she held out in the palm of her hand towards the Captain. âI color coded them for easy memory...Red reminds me of blood..and that if this is ingested, it will cause internal bleeding, hemorrhaging and finally death.â With an accomplished nod a devious grin crossed her lips as she remembered the wide eyed look of pain upon her masterâs face. âI took out Ebony..one of the many responsible..I couldnât of been more than...fourteen.â
Holding the box so that Mageria could see inside easier she began reciting the different colors and their purposes: âBlack corrupts the blood and circulation, kills the nerves, and when it reaches the heart, certain death. Purple: Paralysis that eventually wears off. Yellow: slows down oneâs response time to think and move, worse than a drunk and the after affects are just as bad as a hangover. Green: Will make someone violently ill, and they may believe they will die...but I havenât seen that occur...yet. Blue: Causes the lungs to break down, become weak and fluid fills them, results similar to drowning.â Ess leaned back in her seat a bit, inattentively stretching her sore shoulder.
Mageria raised one eyebrow, sorting carefully through the box as she listened to Ess's list of what everything did.
"You have quite a collection. Do you buy them or make them yourself?"
She didn't make any comments about the other woman's past, that was her buisness and none of her own. She wished that such things didn't happen, but the truth was that they did, and the only thing she could do about them some days was make it increasingly impossible for such places to exist. And to make sure that the children that she was responsible for were never put in such danger.
Leaning back, Mageria studied Ess from half slit eyes. "Just where did you learn to use all this? If you had a poisons master, they wouldn't have tossed you into the street or let you stay in a brothel hell like that . . . for a variety of reasons. Many of which, if you got angry enough, you'd start killing off the clientele. Which means, what? You learned on your own?"
Ess simply smiled at Mageriaâs comment, â....if you got angry enough, you'd start killing off the clientele.â Who was to say that hadnât happened, but she didnât feel she needed to discuss all that as she picked back up the tiny black vial. âThis one...I learned by trade.âClearing her throat she didnât give any further details on what she meant. âRegretfully that plant the extract comes from, does not grow locally, but I know where to acquire it. Everything else, I learned from books...experimenting...I mean when I couldnât go out most days I had to find some way to occupy my time.â
A distant howl echoed softly from outside, Essâ smile broadening as she thought to herself how Tala must be hunting again. It seemed to her that Tala was trying to earn her keep in providing food for the little ones when yesterday she had left two rabbits on Mageriaâs doorstep. Her wolf seemed to enjoy the chaos of the excited children as they ran about playing hide and go seek; of course the wolf would smell them out easily each time. Then, one couldnât forget there was also âPuppy.â
âI was kept on a pretty tight leash...occasionally escaping to visit a friend on the outside of the brothel..â She trailed off with a small shrug. âI still feel thereâs plenty for me to learn to...polish my knowledge in this subject, just thought Iâd share what I know.â
~~~~~~
http://youtu.be/mSAgaUoNesoThe Captain decided to step things up a notch for Ess, starting with two laps on her morning run. Which meant Ess would get up earlier until she got her time better so not to set back her scheduled times for lessons with the Captain and the other guards who participated in her training. At first it was just Zane, but this week more were added to her plate so that she barely had any free time. Keeping busy was a sure way to improve herself, keeping her thoughts away from Luckas and other things that may distract her. Ess had received a message from NewHaven from her homeâs current occupants, stating men claiming to be her family were searching for her. 'What a load of bull,â she thought. Her family was dead...at least she had presumed. There were rumors however to survivors from the countryside burnings, reports that her brother Ian may be alive. At least not many knew her current location, so it helped keep her mind at ease. She couldnât afford to not pay attention around Mageria, especially if she wanted to stay dry.
Ess couldnât help it though, she was distracted just enough for Mageria to notice, as she only lasted an hour today on the river, when she was progressing so well.
âWhatever is distracting you, leave it at the door....one canât afford to slip....not if you want to live..â Mageria had stated simply, the following day giving Ess lead weighted, wooden practice swords. It didnât take much time before Ess was disarmed, trying not to fall from the river poles. Yet, that wasnât the end of it because Mageria kept coming at her, causing Ess to leap around frantically trying to block the blades, more bruises appearing along her fore arms.
From her failures, the Captain taught Ess many ways to disarm oneâs opponent, what pressure points to go for to incapacitate the enemy, and one of Essâ favorites was all the different ways to knock the wind out of someone. At one point, Ess was limping back towards her tent when she assumed her current lesson was at an end, when large arms went to wrap around her and pick her off the ground. Her mind went into a momentary flashback, yet in her panic she instinctually snapped her head back into the manâs face, followed by letting her body fall limp. When the grip loosened she slid away onto the freezing ground, sending the base of her palm into the manâs diaphragm, knocking the wind from him. Only after she got to her feet she heard the Captainâs voice, realizing it was a continued exercise. Even though she was sore and tired, she proved to be a bit of a challenge.
Mageria clapped slowly as she came around a nearby tree, giving the both of them a hand up. âVery good. You never know how much youâve absorbed until you have to use it without thinking about it.â She raised an eyebrow at Ess, the fading bruises still creating a patchwork of shadows under the skin. âHowever, you forgot one of the most important rules of self defense. When dealing with an unknown; you hit,â she gestured down at the man picking himself up off the ground. âAnd you git.â She gestured over her shoulder towards the trees. âWhen in doubt, if you don't know the situation, sometimes the best thing you can do is run. The Twins gave you two legs, use them. Especially if you donât know if youâre the stronger fighter. And in an ambush, assume that theyâre ready for whatever you might have to throw at them.â She leaned over to scratch Tala behind the ears, where the wolf sat panting happily near her. After a moment the wolf got up and circled Ess, sneezing in the direction of Essâs âattackerâ.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The third day of her second week, instead of going to see Zane as was her routine, she was sent into NewHaven to practice her stealth. The exercise entailed being followed and not knowing by who from the camp. Her objective was to stay hidden, blend, change, pickpocket un-noticed, and if possible, detect and corner her pursuer. Her pursuer in addition had the advantage of his enlightenment, being able to target an object or person and having that person or object stand out amidst all the chaos surrounding it. Not an easy thing to defeat, but Ess managed to stay one step ahead, changing her style, her posture, hair color and so forth every few minutes. At one point she took the chance at stopping by her home, and when her tenants did not answer, she decided to try out the skills Zane had been teaching her. In a muted surprise, the feat proved quite easy, a frustrated look crossing her brows. Ess would need to get better locks.
Although she never managed to find her stalker that day, she made quite a profit from the skills she had learned earlier that weak from other Guardsmen. Not having much need for money, since she had plenty saved up from over the years, she decided to donate it to the cause.
âEve!â Ess trailed after the tiny woman the second she came back into camp. âWe still running low on supplies?â
âMore are on the way, but those will run out sooner than later.â Eve sighed softly, light circles surrounding her blue eyes. The woman had much to keep her occupied in her duty of running things in the camp, taking a toll on her, yet she always remained cheery and seemed happy to keep busy. âDonât worry yourself. If we stick to the rations, we can stretch it pretty far.â
Ess nodded a bit before pulling several coin purses from her hip, holding them out for Eve. âWell, think of this as a boost in ration portions...And I have plenty more that will just sit idle...so keep me posted.â
Tala was just where Ess had left her, harnessed to a sled pulling piles of wood around to stock the many homes in a supply to fight against the bitter winter. Some men were chopping away, others loading the sled and leading the wolf to where they would unload it. When Ess reached the busy scene, they were just finishing up for the day so Ess un-strapped the wolf from the sled, her fingers ruffling up her fur affectionately. âYou hungry girl?â Tala quirked her head, wagging her tail sightly giving the appearance that she was tired. Essence smiled, leading Tala back towards her tent where she made a large fire to roast some venison over.
Ess sat upon a fairly large log beside the fire, her back towards her tent while Tala curled up beside her feet as she poked at the fire. Enough time had passed to rotate the hunk of meat cooking, just as she caught the sound of shuffling feet coming towards her from the fallen darkness. Talaâs head snapped up alert, tail thumping happily along the ground accompanied by a throaty bark that sounded like she was trying to speak.
A deep, warm voice spoke out, â...Well good to see you too, Tala.â Someone stepped forward, the flamesâ light revealing a very tall man, broad shoulders, medium muscle build, chin length brown hair and chestnut eyes. âGood evening, love. Captain told me I could find you here..â
Ess stood, her eyes lingering over the attractive man as she smiled sweetly, extending her hand in greeting, the man shaking it firmly. âAh..Youâre the one thatâs going to help me with Tala..â Turning her gaze down towards the wolf at her side who was prancing around in circles excitedly, Ess added, âYou making friends all over the place here when Iâm not around, eh?â
Ess had a familiar feeling creep over her as she listened to the man speak, âEssence.....â
The man chuckled, âYea, your wolf and I met earlier today...officially that is. Names Aiden Cross...Essence, huh? You got a last name love?â
âTalon...â Ess spoke softly, staring up at Aiden, the name ringing a bell as she had met him briefly in the castle before, but had not seen his face. With her smile shifting from sweet to mischievous, her voice changed itâs tone, taking on a familiar accent. â...Aye, yaâ still smokinâ? Or yaâ decide yaâ like breathinâ?â
There was a moment of silence before they both started chuckling. âThat was you?â Aiden asked in a delighted surprise. âYouâre quite good at that..â He winked playfullly, âYou mind love, if I call you Talon?â
Ess shrugged, motioning for the man to sit as she checked on her meal. Aiden sat down, scratching between Talaâs ears as the two appeared to have their own conversation, a chuckle escaping Aiden here and there. Tala sat down, one paw outstretched upon Aidenâs lap, head tilted curiously, ears alert, her back to the fire. It was as if they had momentarily forgotten Ess was even there, as this went on for some time, Ess watching in complete awe.
âTala...is a very proud creature...should please you to know she thinks of you...as her Alpha.â Aiden whispered, turning towards Ess with a smile. Tala barked happily, leaning into Ess as she sat beside Aiden, resting her head on Essâ lap. âThink Talaâs bond for you is quite obvious though, Iâm sure Talon I donât need to explain that all to you.â
Ess grinned, âIâm sure she knows how much I care for her as well.â
Aiden nodded, âThat she does. Itâs too late to start training today, so maybe tomorrow before dusk we could begin?â
âSounds good...right after I finish with Zane.â Glancing shyly away from Aiden she nodded towards the venison. âYou hungry? Thereâs plenty.â Reaching for the skewer of deer meat, she retrieved one of her daggers, placing the blade temporarily in the fire before she began slicing pieces off for Tala, herself, and Aiden. After placing the remainder back on the fire, she munched happily on her dinner, trying not to eat too quickly in her hunger. Ess kept her gaze on Tala, but that didnât stop her from noticing how Aiden stared at her with a heart melting smile. Essâ cheeks flushed a deep red, but one couldnât tell if it was from the heat of the fire or from her embarrassment. Being the center of attention was not always her strong point, at least not in her normal skin. It was an odd feeling, figuring out what it was to âbe herself.â Little by little she was not âhidingâ in a facade, but that could be credited to her distractions of her intense training and the fact she mostly hung around women or children the past couple weeks.
Aiden was very friendly, quite chatty as he talked about himself a bit and asked some general questions about Tala and Ess. He seemed to be sizing Ess up, his puppy dog eyes searching her violet orbs. All Ess kept thinking of at that moment was how so many had welcomed her with smiles, and friendly words; without so much as a demand of an explanation. It could of been her eyes, or the scars she bore outside as well as in that she seemed to wear upon her sleeve. Maybe this was a place she could belong.
âThe others talk about you....the Captainâs new recruit.â Aiden winked, a half smile curling his lips while his eyes lingered across the many fading bruises along Essâ face. âYour a quick learner I hear....quite impressive and eager for more.â
Ess laughed. âSo the entire camp is talking about me huh? Guess that is impressive.â With a shrug she added, âIâm not one to complain...or give up easily....and you can tell your possie...âEss winked back... â..that Iâm honored to be here with everyone. . Hopefully all works out and I'll be sticking around.â
~~~~
Luckas had no trouble finding the encampment, and even less going by unnoticed. Well, almost unnoticed... He was sure that Mageria had noticed him lurking around her, even if she did pretend he wasn't there. He was almost sure he caught a hint of amusement across her expression at some point and he wasn't sure if he was pleased or annoyed with the fact that she had gotten used to his presence so easily; he wasn't sure if he'd rather be seen as a threat or not by the Captain, if not for any other reason, on account of his pride. Lately however, he wasn't sure of much anymore... And at this point he just wanted a familiar face or two, even if he'd never admit it. He didn't want questions, he didn't really want to talk, he just wanted to see them and leave. Lena wanted him to stay in Blackpond as much as possible, and he owed her after the whole scene with Xypher, but for some reason it was harder to be on his own now. Maybe he was getting weak... He hated to think of how that old witch would laugh if she knew.
Ess wasn't hard to find either; Luke was really not surprised to find she'd settled underneath an oak tree, it was the kind of thing she'd do. Why, he'd never really understand. At the moment he was standing in the shadows, out of sight, he had been standing there for a bit, as a matter of fact, watching the activity of the camp from a far and waiting for her to show up. His eyes were no longer on Ess, however, they were fixed glaring at the man she was speaking to. Was it completely stupid of him to want to force him face down into the fire for smiling at her like that? Yes, it was. Did he care? Not in one bit, and if he wasn't absolutely sure he couldn't get away with it he would have commanded the man to do so by now. His eyes lit up as he thought of how badly he wanted to burn that stranger, and that was probably what gave him away. Tala was the first to notice his presence; looking straight in his direction growling and bearing her teeth. He was more than used to that, so he only took a moment to breathe in and calm his homicidal urges before he stepped out in the open, offering the wolf a frown for blowing his cover. "Missed you too, Tala." He stated sarcastically, crossing his arms over his chest and trying to force a grin over his obvious annoyance.
Luckas showed in his appearance how Blackpond had been treating him; he looked even more pale than usual (if that was even possible), he showed clear signs of sleep deprivation, his clothes (the same ones Ess had given him) were ripped and patched up in several spots, his dark hair was unattended and had grown to shoulder length and he now had a fresh scar that ran halfway across his neck, making clear that he was very close to having his throat slit. He absently ran his hand over the messy locks, scratching at the back of his head. "Well... Hi there, Pretty Lady." He greeted Ess, forcing himself to ignore the man and the wolf and honestly wishing he hadn't made the stupid decision of showing up like this.
Ess glanced down at Tala as a sudden growl escaped the wolfâs bared teeth, her smile broadening as she had a pretty good idea who she was growling at. Essâ eyes glowed softly, her heart lurched forward as she jumped up, temporarily ignoring Aiden as she stared beyond the flames to find Luckas.
"Well... Hi there, Pretty Lady."Essence didnât care if she showed her excitement, and hopped over to Luckas, making a kiss like gesture in the air, inches from his face. âThere you are, my dear Luckas. Where have you been? I knew Iâd see you again.â Grabbing his hand gently she lead him closer to the fire.. âIs that all you are wearing? Luckas, itâs freezing out!â She scolded, sitting him down on the other side of her, Aiden still seated on her left.
Signaling Tala to be silent, the wolf trotting on Luckasâ heels in an attempt to guard Ess, she properly introduced Aiden and Luckas, and swore she saw both men flinch as she did.
â....Tala doesnât like this one much, eh?â Aiden muttered, knowing perfectly well why as he stood. Both men stared at each other a moment, Ess eyeing Luckas whispering, âItâs ok Aiden, this is my friend...Iâll see you tomorrow though to work on Tala.â It was clear that Ess was a bit nervous as the two looked annoyed at the other, Luckas smiling while Aiden clearly was not pleased and simply nodded at Tala before backing away with a gentle smile towards Ess.
âTil tomorrow then Talon...Looking forward to it.â
Luckas couldn't help a slight feeling of comfort when Ess brought him closer to the fire, he chuckled softly at her scolding. As he sat his eyes glared past Ess to the man, she had introduced him as Aiden, and he felt that flare of anger stir up again, even though he smiled his eyes clearly gave away the fact that Aiden was very much lucky that Ess was sitting right there. He kept glaring at the man behind his back still until he was out of sight. At which point he seemed to relax some and turned his eyes at Ess, his black gaze softening slightly. "These are the warmest clothes I have, Lady. I don't mind the cold much though. Never have." He said with a shrug. "So... That Aiden guy is like Tala's new boyfriend or something?" He asked, raising an eyebrow comically. "Or should I be having a... Talk, with him about what his intentions are? I mean gee, I leave you unattended for a few days and I have to come back to this, really?" He asked, a fake offended tone in his voice.
After some time Luke stretched his arms over his head and groaned a bit at the soreness in his body, trying to mask it as a yawn as he brought his arms back down quickly. "Hope you didn't miss me too much." He said, opening a slightly satisfied grin and going back on the conversation. "Not like I've been away that long anyway, although it seems like a year on my side of things. I've been crawling my way around Blackpond. There's something there I need to take care of, and I still have to go back; in the morning if I can manage. Don't worry though... Tala won't lose her favorite chew toy." He told her with a little amused grin. "So... How's training treating you?"
â I mean gee, I leave you unattended for a few days and I have to come back to this, really?âEssâ head fell back, belting out a laugh that trailed off finally ending in a comical giggle, âAww, my friend..is that jealousy I hear?â Ess noticed the current state of Luckas, scars and all, absently she wandered into her tent to retrieve a cloth dipping it into a pot of water, to sit back beside Luckas. As she began to wipe down the dirt upon his face she whispered gently, âThis is why...you should let me teach you a few things on self defense, my dear Luckas.â Her expression was one of pure stubbornness if he tried to argue against her nurturing, which only came natural. Ess laughed a bit thinking on his comment against Aiden.. âHeâs a beast speaker..the Captain wants him to help Tala and Iâs communication.....â She paused, dragging the cloth down the scar across his neck, her eyes taking on a sad tone, âBlackPond....huh....Luckas...how much have you seen inside my soul? Have you seen a man named Jasper...?â Her voice faded as she remembered the torture the bastard made her suffer. âI...heâs known to me as..the âPersuaderâ....a regret from leaving BlackPond was never taking him out..If he still lives...â Ess trailed off, her eyes locking pleadingly with Luckas as she brushed a few strands of hair from his eyes. âI hate asking favors...but you should enjoy it...only if you happen to encounter him of course....â
Essence eyed Tala, slightly annoyed as the wolf continued to growl; the wolf catching the gaze only to hide behind her legs. âI can give you some other clothes to wear...â Shaking her head, âWhy donât you take care of yourself, Luckas? You may not care....but I do.â
"Jealousy? You are yet to see me truly jealous, Pretty Lady. I'm just casually wondering if I should dig into this guy's brain and see exactly what he's so looking forward to..." Luckas answered trying to shrug it off. "Of course if then he gives me reasons to be jealous it'll just be one big ugly mess." He snickered. "I'm sure Captain wouldn't like it if I did that."
Luckas raised an eyebrow as Ess looked him over and went inside the tent, returning to wipe his face with a wet cloth, talking about how he should let her teach him self-defense. He enjoyed the cold wet cloth on his face, but when it was dragged towards the scar on his neck he winced slightly and caught her hand, on a firm, yet gentle grip. "I'm alive." He stated simply. "The people who gave me this can't say the same." He then opened a half smile. "When I have the time to stay, though, I might take you up on that offer." He lowered her hand slowly, but for whatever reason didn't release it as she went on talking about the man from Blackpond; Jasper. And yes, Luckas did remember him. "I think I'll never get to see enough of your soul Lady." He murmured, mostly to himself as he sometimes did. "I remember him. If I cross his path, I'll make sure he knows exactly why he's going to die, I promise." He sighed, finally realizing he had been holding her hand and releasing it rather abruptly. "In return, will you do me a favor? Do you... Remember the girl, in the basement? Do you remember her face still? I have dreams, but I can't... When I open my eyes it's gone. Do you think you could draw her maybe? It doesn't have to be perfect, but something to jog my memory..." He sighed, visibly frustrated. "I just... I'm afraid I might go back to not remembering anything anymore. I don't want to lose this, whatever it is."
Luckas went silent for a while after that. He felt weak to have to ask for help this way, but, coming to think of it, Ess had seen him in worse shape once before. "I'll take the clothing if it makes you feel better, but... The White Shadows have a saying: 'Life is what it is, up until the moment it isn't'. And I'll survive whatever, up until the moment I find something or someone I can't survive, and it is what it is." He smiled, and traced the line of his own scar with his index finger. "This will fade. Which is just too bad you know. I think scars are just sexy, don't you agree?" He asked, winking playfully.
âAre you afraid Aiden might gain my affections, instead of you Luckas?â Ess gently wiped the cloth over his eyes, causing them to close a moment in her pass. âIf you want a claim of some sort, you best make it, sooner than later before you decide to kill me.â She wasnât stupid, she saw the different ways Luckas looked at her, and when he opened his eyes she had continued to clean his face and neck, smiling at his comment.
â"I think I'll never get to see enough of your soul Lady."âLuckas holding her hand, was a small moment she had not experienced before. Her heart began pounding in her ear, her senses were overwhelmed with a feeling she didnât understand. Pulling her gaze away from his, she grabbed his hand after he released her and began cleaning the dirt from his fingers. âIf you want your filthy hands on me, at least clean them first.â She teased, breaking her eye contact, to stare at his hands. âI will leave something out for you to wear...â Ess paused in her distraction, leaning her head back to stretch her neck side to side, rolling her shoulders in their soreness revealing more bruises along her flesh. Hand to hand training with the Captain had to be, by far her greatest challenge and the most obvious toll on her body.
Tossing the rag aside once she was finished, she went back into her tent to retrieve her journal and pen. Quickly she scanned the back through the many drawings she had, stopping at the new ones she had created recently. Standing beside Luckas she smiled, âWell...is it weird that I already have your request complete for the most part?â Ess had the journal open to two pages: One showed the darkness, with a ray of light from the open door and the next page showed the girl, lifeless on the floor. Both pages completely lacked color, and one could tell Ess had not been satisfied with the details, going over the drawing in several ways in her changes. âI can do better, I think I know what Iâm missing....â She tore the page from her leather journal,holding it out to Luckas, quickly closing the book before he could see the drawing of himself she was currently working on.
'Life is what it is, up until the moment it isn't'With a heavy sigh, Ess shook her head at the comment. âMaybe, my dear Luckas, but thatâs mostly true with things that are beyond our control. In concern with what in life we can control, and thinking that way, to me, just is laziness. A little effort is really all it takes.â
âAre you staying the night?â Ess whispered. âIf you stay here with me, I promise to keep Tala on my other side, away from you...you know so she doesnât rip your throat out in your sleep.â A playful half smile curled her lips as she rubbed her eyes. Suddenly her attention snapped up as she remembered a comment Luckas just made and her face turned a shade of pink, "If of course...my sexiness doesn't distract you too much." She attempted to play off the comment as a joke, but in all honesty she wasn't sure how to react to that one.
"Hum⊠Does this mean I should I be worried about him stealing you away from me, or something of the sorts?â Luke asked, chuckling a bit as the rag went over his eyes. âBecause I hadnât considered that a smiling beast speaker would be enough to cost me your affections. I only meant that maybe I should keep an eye on him." Luckas wasn't sure what Ess meant by claim, so he shrugged at that and repeated what she once told him. "Perhaps this is just my feeble attempt at being your friend. Suppose I just don't trust anyone... With youâŠ" He added the last words on a whisper, honestly hoping she wouldn't hear it. Deciding that it was useless to try and resist the wet cloth, he just let her go on with it; still wincing slightly when it passed across his neck.
âThat depends, would you like my filthy hands on you?â He asked with a tone of laughter in response to her teasing. Taking the moment in which he looked down to examine her appearance and notice the marks and bruises on her. He found he disliked the idea of her hurt, which was slightly surprising, all things considered, but he pushed those feeling aside under the logic that Mageria always took good care of her people. He was a bit distracted with those thoughts when Ess stepped into her tent again and returned with her journal and pen. When she showed him the drawings he opened a slightly sad smile, but did his best to conceal it once he remembered the many mentions of it on the womanâs journal. That was something that had stuck with him; Luke had honestly never thought of himself as sad in any way before. He took the page when she held it out to him and stared at it for quite some time, before he looked up at her. âThis is great.â He told her simply, flashing an unusual, and rather cheerful, smile.
When she argued with his comment on life Luckas snickered. âLady⊠Most people see Death as a beast breathing down their neck as they walk through Life. I see Death as a familiar face waiting to take my hand when I reach the end of the road. Every step I take leads me closer to it, and I never know which one will be the last. The difference between me and most people is just that I donât see Death as something that chases me, I see it as something that is always one step ahead. So thereâs no logic that can make me accept the fact that it can be avoided.â He chuckled. âIâm not saying I want it to happen anytime soon, what Iâm saying is just that. I may be a little careless, perhaps even lazy as you put it, but Iâm not suicidal. I enjoy living; at least for now. I fight for my life to the best of my abilities, if one day I find them to be lacking then it just means Iâve taken my final step.â
At her offer to stay the night with her Luckas shrugged slightly. âWhatever youâre comfortable with, really.â He smiled glancing slightly towards Tala causing the wolf to growl at him again. âI can trust that youâll keep me safe until morning.â At her comment about being a distraction he laughed. âOh, but Iâd welcome such a distraction.â He noticed the pink tone in Essâ face and raised an eyebrow, not sure of what to make of it. âAgain⊠Unless I make you uncomfortable...â He shrugged. âI can sleep just about anywhere.â
Pondering Luckasâ words on trust, she thought he muttered something else but didnât quite catch it. A curious idea crossed her mind and she wasnât sure with some of the mixed signals she saw if she should voice it, so she kept it to herself, tucked away in her brain for another day. Ess however couldnât help her smile as she whispered, â...I never had someone to watch out for me...Canât deny that I like the idea...or that it doesnât creep me out...â At Luckasâ question if Ess wanted his hands on her she shrugged lightly. âOnly if your not all red eyed...then I may not mind...just have to test that theory another day.â
Ess waited as Luckas looked over the drawing, a mixed array of emotions plagued his face again giving her the feeling he was conflicted. She really was starting to wish she could take a look inside his brain to understand better, and wondered silently if he had indeed peeked inside her mind since she asked him not to. It did seem to make things easier to communicate and not to have to repeat herself when she spoke, but a personâs perspective could change just as quickly as the direction of the winds. When Luckas said the picture was great, Ess shook her head. âIâm sorry I still think the girl is prettier in my mind than I can draw her. It doesnât due her justice I fear.â
Ess listened carefully to Luckas as he spoke about his lack of fear for death, accepting of how things were and how he seemed to just take things as they come. It wasnât a bad attitude, in fact she understood, yet she couldnât help thinking that a man who did not fear death simply had nothing to lose. âI donât say I fear death, simply Iâd miss some things about life..if lets say my soul continues on..and so forth. I find a person is more dangerous with much to lose, as opposed to one who feels they live without purpose and doesnât have anything left to lose.â Violet eyes inspected Luckas closely as she absently went to retrieve the clothes she had purposely set aside for him when she left, just in case he did randomly come by like he had. âMaybe....we fear it makes us weak....I know how death of someone close can affect me. I feel stupid for it, but..love in any form is so profound...the only thing worse than death in that case, is finding out it could be all a lie.â
Motioning to the left over deer meat over the fire she said cheerfully, âAnd..donât forget to eat something my friend. It may disappoint you to learn that youâre presence does not in fact make me uncomfortable. I am embarrassed to admit that I am not quite sure how to take some of the things you say, and that I do use humor as you do to misdirect a meaning, but the truth is still inside those words.â Ess added quite a bit more wood to the fire before going back inside the tent, shuffling things around to make a spot for Tala on one side and Luckas on the other. Tala happily followed Ess inside, making it a purpose to rest a paw and her head on Essâ chest with a look that screamed possession or ownership. âDo as you will Luckas, I am going to try to calm my mind into slumber...I have to get up and run about ten miles before the Captain kicks my ass..â She chuckled at the last bit, her fingers sifting through Talaâs fur as she whispered at her wolf, âBe a good girl Tala. Tomorrow I am going to have a good talk with you about Luckas.â Her voice grew louder for Luckas to hear her, â...And remember my dear friend, Tala is a wild animal...donât instigate her like last time..â
Luckas simply nodded when Ess said the drawing wasn't as good as it could be. It was more than good enough to him, but he didn't argue; he wasn't an artist, what did he know? "Death has never effected me, that I know of." Was how he broke his silence. "Maybe I was just never close enough to anyone... I'm yet to understand what that feels like." He admitted.
He smiled slightly, mostly to himself, when Ess admitted to not knowing how to handle some of his words, he chuckled softly and spoke without lifting his head. "Take my words in any way you wish, just remember: I don't say things I don't mean, Pretty Lady. Especially not to you." He looked up to catch a glimpse of his friend walking back inside the tent, Tala right behind her. Once Ess was inside Luke took a deep breath, reaching for the back of his shoulder and rubbing it with a groan. He needed to get back as soon as possible, he knew it. He wasn't supposed to let anyone see him, even less stay the night but if he was completely honest with himself; he had to admit that he wanted to be seen, and he wanted to stay, maybe he would feel safe enough to actually sleep soundly; he hadn't for quite a while. Finally he forced himself to chew on some food, absently looking at the picture Ess drew as he did so, trying to bring the image to life in his mind, trying to remember that face while it was still alive... He knew she was there somewhere, but couldn't reach. It was frustrating and eventually he had to give it up, rubbing his temples in pain. "I hate you." he muttered at the drawing for no apparent reason, before putting it away in his pocket and standing up to go inside.
As he entered the tent Tala lifted her head to glare at him and growl as usual. Luckas ignored her and curled up on the spot Ess had arranged for him, taking a long deep breath as he closed his eyes. "Night, Lady." He whispered, before drifting off to sleep.
Camp, Next dayâTalon...I know itâs not my business....but that man is a predator. You must see what Tala and I see...You canât trust him.â Aiden spoke bold but honestly, appearing to be concerned as he accompanied Ess and Tala along a walk throughout the camp.
Ess sighed nodding a bit, knowing the point was made and she had thought about it many times. âYouâre right....Itâs NOT your business..â Ess growled, glaring at the two. âI donât expect you or a wild animal to understand anything beyond instinct. There is just something more to him than what is displayed; besides our primal urges.â Ess paused in her steps, staring hard into Aidenâs caramel eyes. âHow do you know I am no different?â
âYou would compare yourself to him?â Aiden asked suprised.
âWe are all murderers...â She spat. âAll I am saying, is that I want Tala to back off. She needs to be made to understand to only attack if I am threatened out right, or attacked. Not because she doesnât like him. She may sense the conflict in him, like I do...but I...â Ess sighed, pulling her hood over her head at an icy chill. â...I would like to have some faith in something...and I donât expect an animal to understand that. So call me foolish, whatever. Iâm not saying I donât want her looking out for me, as I will do for her.â
Aiden simply shook his head, thinking a bit on what Ess had said, his expression softening a bit. Kneeling down in the snow, Tala and him exchanged looks as he whispered to the wolf; a defeated whine escaping the furry creature. A few moments passed before Aiden stood, bowing his head slightly at Ess. â...I understand what you are saying....even if I donât agree with it. Please accept my apologies for over stepping my boundries.â
âNo...I appreciate your honesty, and If we are to be friends, I expect it to continue. Friends donât have to agree on everything..â Ess stated plainly.
Aiden smiled as they continued their walk. â...Quite true, Talon. So...a bunch of us are having a few drinks and a meal in the barracks...You are welcome to join us...â
Ess nodded, whistling for Tala to follow. It was a nice reprieve from her solidarity, for the most part, and her training. She was never one to have friends, and now she seemed to be accumulating them left and right. Of course, there seemed to be degrees of friendship but it still was nice to be accepted...to feel she belonged. Most of the men and women around seemed to know who she was, also calling her by her last name; a trend Aiden seem to start. For a few hours, Ess forgot her troubles and enjoyed simple laughter and smiles as some of the men indulged her with horror stories from their own training with the Captain.
While she listened, she noticed that many around her had black feathers decorated upon themselves in one way or another. Some had feathers along the hilts of their weapons, necklaces or even in their hair. When Ess inquired to their purpose Ess heard different names ring out in the air, as the group felt they were no longer part of the Black Knight Guard, but something else. âNight Terrors.â Some rang out, but she couldnât remember all the different names they were coming up with. âShadows of Justice.â Ess quirked a brow and laughed.
Raising their glasses, everyone paused in their laughter, âTo Talon! May she survive week three!â Shortly after, a woman began taking bets as some playfully challenged Essâ ability to last another week. âIâll take that bet..â Ess bolted out into the crowd, tossing a small bag of coin onto the table; more laughter echoing out into the night. Aiden happily backed up Essâ coin with some of his own, adding to the pot. Smiling coyly at Ess, he wrapped a free arm around her shoulders, giving a friendly squeeze. Her thoughts were calm, yet her body reacted tensing up to shrug Aidenâs touch off her. The scene was friendly, non-threatening, and no one was doing anything wrong; yet Ess couldnât stand the touch, her skin crawling in an awkward feeling.
Aiden saw Essâ expression and politely backed off, as a toned blond man approached her from her other side, his hand gently slid down along her back, resting just above her waist. âAiden...maybe she would rather know the touch of a REAL man...â The guy was obviously drunk and all talk, but something in those words brought a devilish grin across Essâ lips as she turned to face him.
â....John...wasnât it?â She winked, her âworkingâ persona creeping over, absorbed into her instinctual flirtatious mannerisms. Gently she reached up towards the manâs head, running her fingers through his hair, before her fingers clenched down firmly, tugging on the strands she forced the unaware manâs face into the table with a crack, breaking his nose.
âDid I say you could put your hands on me?â Ess whispered coldly, releasing the manâs skull so he fell to the floor in his drunken stupor. All went silent for a moment before more laughter broke out, Aiden nodding knowingly. Leaning in towards Ess he muttered, âTalon, Iâll be sure to ask next time.â He looked a bit off Standish, and rightly so, and was lucky Ess didnât react as quickly to his gesture as she did to Johnâs.
âThink...itâs time for me to go..â Turning towards Tala, she ignored Aidenâs words and nodded to all a goodnight. Tala was growling at the fallen soul, still unconscious from his collision. A familiar woman with a mirrored scar came over to Ess as she went out the door, âDonât worry about John, heâll only respect you for it in the morning....Heâs harmless, truly.â She winked.
Essence made her way back towards her tent, the cold currently not a bother from the amount of drink she had consumed, her pale skin taking on a reddish glow. Her attention caught Matthew chatting up a small group of âGuardsâ, asking for volunteers for the Captain. Quirking a brow, Ess turned and approached the man from behind, a few of the men he was speaking to shaking their head in objection with some sort of mundane excuse. Tapping Matt on the shoulder, Ess smiled sweetly. âWhat you need volunteers for?â