Richard stood there in a daze, he was wondering if he was still dreaming. Isabella tilted her head to the side.
" Richard ? Are you alright ? You aren't still drunk right ? Malik told me you had a rough evening "
" No no i'm fine ! "
" Are you in a hurry ? "
" No, I was actually coming to see you . "
She started blushing when she heard him say that. Richard sat down and asked for some water from some waitress.
" I was given a job by the duchess and I have to go to Ryzeon. I will be gone for a few days and I wanted to tell you goodbye before I go. "
" Seems we both got a job from her, she asked me for some special medicine so i'm currently working on a few products of it."
" Interesting. But why did you come into town ? "
Isabella paused. " why does he make me say it out loud .. "
" Well .. I had a few errands to run in town and ... I also wanted to see you. "
Richard couldn't help making fun of her cute embarrassment.
" Awnnnn, you missed me already ? "
" You say that but you were coming to see me too ! I can still leave you know ? "
" I would just escort you back home, it's almost the end of the afternoon and it will be dark before you can reach your home. "
She had a mischievous smile.
" But then we would end up in another situation where you would have to sleep in my house . "
He also had a little smile.
" It seems I'm sleeping on one of your chairs tonight then ."
" I didn't say yes. "
" I would follow you from afar like a guardian angel to be sure you arrive safely"
" I guess there is no helping it, then it seems I'm stuck with you. But how worthy of a guardian are you after the party you seemed to have had yesterday ? Look at this. "
She touched his bruised face. He flinched a little bit, her hands were cold.
" Sorry ! "
" No it's ok, it just hurts a little bit "
" Can I really trust my fate to someone who gets into bar fights and ends up looking like this ? "
Richard had a little chuckle and drank some water.
" You should see the other guys, one of them was huge ! And look at Malik ! He is bruised up too ! "
Isabella turned around to see Malik flexing his only arm in the background trying to impress Jess. Bella couldn't help but laugh at him, he was exactly how Richard described him before the war, she was glad that ten years of war didn't seem to strip him from his sense of humour.
" Yes but as you can see, your best friend only has one arm and he seems less hurt than you, so i would gladly take him with me since he seems more capable. "
" He jumped in after he made the fight harder for me ! "
" How so ? "
" He didn't want me to actually kill these men, which would have made it way easier AND faster. "
Isabella took a sip of water and paused before asking a question she was aching to ask. She looked at him in the eyes, her emeraud gaze fixed on his hazel eyes.
" Richard, is it so hard for you not to ... kill someone ? "
" Well it's just a habit from the war and from life I guess. For me it has always been kill or be killed. Usually if I lose it means I'm dead so I always win. "
" Have you ever had moments where you thought you had enough of killing people ? A moment you thought " I can stop here " ? "
Richard paused, he thought back to the bandit group and the young Moustik, he just didn't chase after him because he was tired but in reality he wanted to end him too. Looking at the ceiling Richard managed to find an answer.
" Ever since I came to this town, I have tried to kill only when needed, before, I was following orders in the hope of achieving my objective. I wanted to be seen as the best soldier ever. There were days where I thought about quitting early but I just didn't because I thought the end was worth it. "
A heavy silence fell between the two. Richard was trying not to look at her in the eyes. Finally, she grabbed his hands and he looked at her. She was still smiling.
" You did what you had to do." she paused. " You didn't finish the story last time about the war but I understand that this place is not the best to talk about personal stories, so do you mind telling it to me tonight ? "
She was trying to lighten the mood, he appreciated her efforts.
" Well i can start telling you about it on the way, let me just grab a few of my belongings and I'll be ready "
" I will be waiting outside." She stood up and waved at Malik." Thank you for your hospitality, it was a pleasure meeting you. "
Malik made a slight wave back.
" The pleasure was all mine milady ! "
She started walking to go outside, as she passed Richard, she rested her hand on his shoulder and smiled at him, he smiled back. His smile faded when he saw Malik fist bumping the air as if he was encouraging Richard. " What an idiot " he thought.
He stood up and went upstairs to grab his traveling bag and equipment. Once he was all set he turned around to discover Helen standing in front of his door.
"Humm, hi Helen, do you need something ? "
" I was just admiring the view. I saw your future wife, she is indeed a beauty, keep her close. "
" She is not my wife"
She laughed a little bit and went downstairs. He followed right after. Before he went out, he waved at Malik.
" You better not let anyone use my room Malik, I'll know ! "
" Oh come on ! I did it one time ! "
" Yeah and whoever was there left their stench for weeks ! "
" I can't control what my customers do in their rooms, Rich ! "
Richard had a heavy sigh and opened the door.
" Richard ! "
He turned around to discover Malik doing a slapping gesture with his arm. Trying not to laugh as hard as his best friend, Richard simply gave him a middle finger and closed the door. Once outside he walked towards Isabella.
" Should we get going milady ? "
" We shall ! So, about these war stories ? "
" Ok, well there was this one time near Sartgrad, near the border of Tsungstat ... "
The sun was now getting very low as Isabella and Richard entered the forest. Isabella's laugh echoing through the empty space around them.
" ... then Malik said " it tastes better than it smells you should try " and then the Sartaks chief said " Yes the smell comes from the Skoulr that you slayed, it's feces are mixed with his intestines that you are eating" and after that he was hunched over in a bush for hours ! "
Both hands on her belly, Isabella was trying to breath through her laughter.
" Oh my god please stop ! I'm dying ahah! "
" I swear this was the funniest shit I ever saw, after that Malik asked only for water and bread for the next few weeks and even thought of going vegetarian ! "
They were walking on the common path up the mountain, the breeze of the winter was making Richard shiver.
" I can't wait to be out of this cold. "
" I don't mind, I like the sensation."
They kept walking when suddenly Richard stopped her by putting his hand on her chest. She felt the blood rising to her head.
" Ri Richard ? What are you doi- "
" Shhhh! Do you smell that ? "
She realised he wasn't joking, she focused her senses and noticed a slight scent of oil rising from the ground. He made a hand gesture indicating that she should kneel. The both of them were now crouched waiting for something to come at them. Richard put his hand on the ground.
" Someone is near, four or five according to the vibrations I sense " He looked at her and he seemed worried " they don't seem to be friendly ."
As he said that, a flaming arrow flew in their direction and landed on the ground behind them. The arrow lightened oil on the ground. Richard tried pushing Bella forward out of the flaming circle that was forming around them.
" Run ! "
She managed to jump out of the circle just before it closed. She then saw three men jumping in the circle from the forest. Richard was now trapped in the flaming circle with three bandits. She then heard a branch snap behind her and had just the time to duck under the sword that got thrown at her from the forest. When she got up, she received a boot to the chest, sending her against a tree. The hit knocked the air out of her lungs, trying to look up she saw a man slowly walking towards her. " who are they ? And why are they attacking us ? ". She had no time to think, she had to help Richard out of the circle.
The man took his sword he threw from the tree it was stuck in and was now making his way towards Bella. Painfully getting up she grabbed a branch to defend herself. The man laughed at her pathetic weapon.
" I'll play with you little lady, but i prefer to warn you, i might get a little rough with you. So be a nice little girl and put that stick down before I stick it somewhere else."
" How about you take that sword of yours and shove it up your ass ?"
The man sheathed his sword and pulled a dagger out. He had a devious smile and then proceeded to lick the dagger.
" Ooh you got some guts ! I want to see what color they are now ! "
Inside the circle Richard was now seeing who was attacking him.
" I was wondering why I thought you were five and not four, you big motherfucker. "
In front of him was standing the man he fought the night before, at his right was the one with the fresh scar on his cheek and the one on the left had a broken nose, he was the one who got his head smashed on a table . The bigger man was waving an enormous chain with a spiked ball at the end of it. The other two had normal swords. The boss started walking towards Richard.
" I'm gonna start to believe in fate, I was just ready to ambush anyone and the flames were for a big group, but when I recognised your ugly mug, I thought it was appropriate for you to get used to the flames. I'm gonna send you burn in hell you son of a bitch. "
Richard was backing away slowly and pulled his curved dagger.
" Yeah i believe in fate too now. The only reason you are alive is because of my friend yesterday "
" Yeah the tavern owner with all his whores. Once we are done with you, we are gonna pay him a visit, fuck his bitches and torch his place ahah ! "
Richard's face darkened. He was now staring at the man with the intent to kill.The boss felt like he had just died from looking into Richard's eyes and took a step back.
" G Get him you idiots ! It's three on one ! "
Richard Smiled. The two men charged at him but when they both took a step he took off his hooded cape and threw it at the man on the left, at the same time he pictured himself moving faster than ever. A second later he appeared before the man on the right and quickly sliced him across the face. He then stared at the boss, completely shocked by what he was seeing.
" Now it's two against one ! "
Richard then threw his dagger to the second man that just got rid of his cape and it landed in his left eye. He recalled his dagger by making a hand gesture toward it. He looked at the boss as his two men fell on the ground at the same time. In less than ten seconds he took out both of them.
Now it's only you and me big man. "
The boss was shocked.
" Spare me ok ?! I'm sorry, you can do magic and shit that's cool ! "
He started nervously laughing.
" Come on we are just stupid, you clearly are stronger. Let me live ! "
Richard stopped walking. He had a heavy sigh.
" You scumbags are all the same, until you meet a bigger fish you would kill rape and steal without a care in the world and without remorse. Then you will beg for your life, all the same, absolute garbage ! Plus you saw me do magic, so I absolutely cannot let you live. "
Richard started running towards him, the man swung his huge chain around, he had a lot of reach over Richard. He was dodging the chain the best he could but could never get close. He then heard Isabella scream in pain over the fire, distracted by it he couldn't dodge the chain coming to him in the ribs, the hit threw him to the ground. He lifted his head as he was gasping for hair and saw the boss running towards him. Just before he could do anything he got kicked in the stomach hard enough to throw him out of the circle. His vision was blurred, the hit packed more punch than he had anticipated. He looked up to see Isabella covered in cuts and heavily breathing in front of an assailant. He managed to get up and tried coming to her aid but he got stopped by the boss spiked ball flying an inch from his head. " I need to get rid of him first ! ".
Isabella saw Richard coming out from the flames, she was glad he was at least still alive, she had tons of small cuts. The man in front of her was having fun, he licked his dagger again.
" You taste great lil missy, I want to play with you more but it seems the boss is almost done with your man." He was slowly stepping to the side making sure he was still between her and the flames. " How about you just stop, lay down and I play with you while you are still warm ? I will do it anyway if you get cold so just make it easier for me will ya ? " .
She felt sick to her stomach, this man was the worst of the worst she could ever lay her eyes upon. She then had an idea, she kneeled on the ground and started making symbols on the ground with the branch. The man tilted his head to the side wondering what she was doing.
" Hey what are you doing ?! "
She looked at him and opened the top of her shirt, revealing her breast. The man was hypnotised.
" In my culture, we have to draw our family's emblem on the ground when we accomplish something important, getting married, dying or .. our first time " As she said that she bitted her lips, the man stood there dumbfounded so she kept going. " We have to draw three times the emblem, for luck, fortune and our faith in the creator ".
Once she was done, she stood up and with her finger gave him a sign to come closer. The man approached her and she placed her hands on his shoulders.
" Please be gentle, what's your name ? "
" Gweneth "
She smiled at him, he had dropped his dagger to the ground.
" Gweneth, put your hand on your heart and swear you wont hurt me"
Gweneth was frozen in place, like he was under a charm he heard himself say " I swear " .
" Then by the blessing of nature, may this man be free of his Lust, but imprisoned by my will, prison of the wilds ! "
Out of his trance Gweneth tried to grab her but brambles came from the ground and rendered him immobile. Isabella buttoned back her top and picked his dagger.
" YOU BITCH ! I'm gonna eviscerate you and bath your whore blood ! "
She put her hand on his head. She remembered her earlier conversation with Richard, " it's killed or be killed ".
" You are gonna bath in your own" She pointed the dagger towards his belly " I wonder what color your guts are, let's see."
" No no wai- "
She thrusted the dagger as hard as she could, turned it and yanked her wrist to open him. The brambles disappeared as the man fell on the ground trying to hold his intestines in his hands.
When she turned around she saw Richard still trying to dodge the boss chain. She ran towards them to help. Richard was running out of breath but was still trying to use the terrain to his advantage, the trees were the only thing stopping the chain from hitting him every time. Isabella was now behind the boss and tried to distract him.
" Hey ! "
The man turned around and waved his chain to hit her. Richard could not stop it but as the chain was about to hit her she yelled a spell.
" pots ! "
The chain froze in the air. Richard took advantage of this distraction to run to the man and cut him behind the knee. He was now next to Bella.
" I have an idea, do it again when you can ! "
She nodded and waited for the right occasion. Both of them were now dodging the chain in harmony as if they were in a dance of death. When the chain was about to hit Richard, Isabella stopped it again and he rushed the man to grab the chain out of his hands. Once he had it he pictured the chain wrapping around the man's neck, he threw it over the boss head and as if it was controlled by an invisible hand the chain started choking the man. Richard was pulling on the chain with all he had. Understanding the plan, Isabella grabbed what was left of the chain that was trailing behind the boss and started pulling too.
The both of them were now choking the man out with his own chain, in a last vain attempt the man tried going for Isabella as she was closer, she stepped back and passed the chain behind a tree trunk, making it easier for her to pull. Her boot on the tree she pulled until she could no longer hear the man suffocating behind her. She then heard a loud noise of something heavy falling to the ground. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the man was down and stopped pulling.
Out of strength, she fell on the ground and was now staring at the dark sky only slightly lightened up by the dying flames of the circle. Richard came to check on her as fast as he. He fell to his knees and moved her hair from her face.
" Are you alright Bella ?! "
His eyes were full of worry, she was in bad shape.
" Could you help me clean all those cuts ? There is a river nearby "
" Ok let's go !"
He picked her up and started to carry her towards where she pointed.
" I can walk Richard... put me down. "
" No, just rest please. "
Not having enough strength to argue with him, she just rested her head on his chest and let him carry her. They arrived at a small river bed. Luckily the place was bright thanks to the full moon and the water's reflection. Richard let Bella stand on her feet. He crossed his arm and started to stand guard. She stepped into the cold water to her waist but Richard was right, she really had no strength left.
" Richard, I'm sorry to ask you this but, can you help me again ? "
He uncrossed his arms and stepped into the water too. Coming behind her, he helped to unbutton her shirt, uncovering her pale and perfect skin. He started washing her back and arms that were full of cuts. She was flinching a lot.
" I'm very sorry that I couldn't protect you better ... I should have been able to help sooner. "
" Richard it's ok these things happe- "
" They shouldn't ! "
She turned to face him, she had never seen this look on his face, he was in pain but not physically. He was feeling guilty and all those cuts were just making it feel worse for him. " If only I had been more careful, if only I had realised those men were there earlier ".
She grabbed his face with both hands, uncovering her breast.
" I'm ok and it's thanks to you Richard "
He embraced her and she felt warmth surrounding her like never before. When he backed away, their faces were now closer than ever.
" I don't want to see you in pain, ever. I would do anything to prevent you from getting hurt Bella. I would kill anyone that dares to, and if I ever hurt you, I would take my own life because I could not stomach that I did."
His words were like an earthquake to her chest, she was moved he cared so much. She had no words, she could only show him what she felt.
Standing on the tip of her toes, she laced her arms around his neck and kissed him.