Parcival sighed as he staggered into town. Several hours had passed; the shadows stretched from under the few trees on the road. A wolfren cried its distinctive song ending in a wolf's howl ushering in the night. The stars were few and dim, the moon a faded glow. Clouds passed over, blocking the light.
903Please respect copyright.PENANA6i67LjDks0
Be it a town or a village, he cared not. This cold was unusual for this time of year. All the warmth of the past few days gone. A warm bed looked better and better. They weren't dressed for such an early fall. Merryn started to slip from his arms, so he gripped her tighter.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAEgYyzzctw9
Near the town was a plain brown sign. It read: Sickle Village. The village road curved towards the right at the mountain's edge, partly encircling it.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAk4Hm1HIlKm
Running towards it, he entered the town. Finally. Hereafter, would rent a horse. The rain was like a wall, and he couldn't see but a hand's width in front of him.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAjGiZULm5Bz
"Please, anyone help me!"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAb7EE6U3G9a
She muttered too soft to hear. He held her by her waist and she leaned the back of her neck on her hand.
903Please respect copyright.PENANALFzmL2ed8Z
"I'm fine. I can walk."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAmOZDjPLjE2
She leaned out of his arms, taking a few wobbly steps.
903Please respect copyright.PENANALg1Jfpo0EQ
"You know-never mind."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAcGeGXKbL0M
No point repeating it. He put her arm over his shoulder.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAB57qID9IGf
She nodded, while patting his chest.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAStc8O2b2wv
An old woman poked her head out of a window nearby.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAcoAyR5IAif
"What is the problem?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAXmqdITu4Wv
"Does this town have a priest?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAfm7IJifvuV
Merryn's knees buckled. He caught her arm before she fell, pulling her back up.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAmB4b7BGdLR
"Thanks." Then faced away, her cheeks flushed.
903Please respect copyright.PENANABkH4DYv6m9
"Then you need to find Han."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAykcZVlmX8C
The old woman came outside and lead them though the town. A fresh painted little church. It was shaded by two trees on both sides. He rubbed his nose, trying to will away a sneeze.
903Please respect copyright.PENANATssBpNtLl0
After he knocked on it, the door opened a crack. He startled. A short being that looked like one of the great white cats of the north peered from behind the doorway. His whiskers quivered as he eyed them both. Han stood up straighter and stepped closer to Merryn.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAlIHJ5QCfSO
"And, what happened to you?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANArdThXvAZST
His glasses slid down the bridge of his nose, stopping at the end; he pushed them back up.
903Please respect copyright.PENANA3E3bhxL7yG
"Hurry, come out of the rain."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAxm9dhmaoBB
Parcival stepped inside.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAp2N3FyDhZJ
"Thank you, I hope you can help her."
903Please respect copyright.PENANA51gEIRGupg
"Follow me into the back room; there's a cot you can lay her on."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAxufZJrPsYH
"Han closed the door and locked it."
903Please respect copyright.PENANA5qrFEcH5GW
"I just need some-rest there's no need-" She rubbed her wrist with a hand, while looking around.
903Please respect copyright.PENANASGLoFxTxFx
"So, fainting and looking like death isn't sick?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAx1m58IiGfM
Her speech seemed slurred now. He made a mental note to pay closer attention. A desire to hold her hand pushed at him. No, she wasn't too keen on touch.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAIB0I2y0XPA
Her brows deepened, and she sighed.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAaXnPVoXglz
The church had a short hallway. The wall stretched on with several colorful nature scenes dotted on its length. Its hallway widened into the main room of the church, filled with long benches. A wall on the left side had a tall stained glass window of the god Olenus.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAS1gyGypr1s
The mural showed of the god's sacrifice that he'd made for all Gaxmina. They showed his tears flooding half the world from the loss of his human wife, Ruika, who the dark gods had imprisoned.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAgCuclAUx87
As to how and why, he didn't know, as the scrolls he'd studied as a teen were vague.
903Please respect copyright.PENANA7c96uL0erd
He helped ease her on the cot. He took a moment to ring the water out of the pony-tail that was stuck to his neck.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAyhcgYFkhjb
Han walked up to her.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAg9WoBZMwvU
"You need to get out of the wet clothing." He looked at him. "Both of you."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAKKuVIxnIJt
"I'm not undressing here. Do you have a bedroom?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAQ13YgLB1dH
"Yes, it's down the hallway behind the table."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAhlt7IZ204C
She stood. Her heavy wet cloak dripped water onto the floor. She made it to the table before buckling.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAecpbzUHFW1
He went over to her and pulled her up.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAB5dsGYE8PI
"Did anyone tell you that you're stubborn? Do that again, and I'll let you fall down."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAnJLf3WkbyW
Most women he knew tended to look for reasons to swoon. This one fought against it. Was it him-or just the way her people were?
903Please respect copyright.PENANAsBHwwlAdn0
She said nothing, but her ears hung a bit lower; her eyes went dark, almost black, for an instant before reversing. He almost dropped her.
903Please respect copyright.PENANA1IYgmw2EQW
Creepy, her aura had darkened, and the thin teal glow that was there left. It came back, but duller. If her spirit was ill, she needed stronger magics and fast.
903Please respect copyright.PENANA8CUCh2jDH4
Down the hallway were two locked rooms. The one at the end had a bed, nothing more. At least it's dry and warm.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAO2GbGHH3Pq
"Do you need any help? With-you know."
903Please respect copyright.PENANANpZ9PI2phC
She shook her head, turned around and, scratched her right shoulder. He closed the door. We'll leave tomorrow. Father will know what to do.
903Please respect copyright.PENANATzWp9ruxh0
Han met him as he entered the main room, his tail twitching. "Curious."
903Please respect copyright.PENANApzRtQYlHPs
"What is?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANALIpBhTD7Mz
"The woman is more than just ill. I saw something moving on her back and then vanish. An infection of some sort." His glasses slipped down and pushed them back up.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAiGbatyJ6a6
"My fee in light of this has increased to four thousand coins. I have my suspicions, but am unsure what they are just yet. She'll need to have an Elder priest help her," he said.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAXdpUwWzCiv
Scowling, but having no choice, he handed a fat pouch of coins to Han. He took the coins and placed them on a lamp table.
903Please respect copyright.PENANApnXWc6k4rP
"You could have told me that. I'm not going to lash out."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAkvURFia8My
She walked behind him in a small undershirt and her leather jerkins.
903Please respect copyright.PENANA2Oe4fDR2Mb
"Come, sit," Han said and patted a straw mat on the floor. With both his hands on her shoulders, he chanted in a foreign language. His paws took on a white glow.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAblWljI7esU
Little creases around her eyes smoothed away, and she sighed. Most times, her femininity was masked by the dirt and abrasive tongue. In this rare instance of the barrier lifting, a glimpse of the softer woman showed underneath.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9iklulfMC
"You will need more rest; stay here until the 'morrow."
903Please respect copyright.PENANATq7qVBh22V
Han stood up and left the room. "This has exhausted me, excuse me."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAv4ofBUlbpV
His voice from down the hall. "Stay out of my scrolls; they are protected with runes."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAIsg8Kxrx9h
"Of course, sleep well."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAqbEl4vDEkn
A few minutes later, loud snoring came from down the hallway. She stretched and laid on the mat, falling asleep. She'll be fine. Stretching his arms, he worked a crick out of his back.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAGUjW8EPMwi
He went over to the window. Storm clouds appeared. They drenched the town in a furious downpour. It was as if the wrath of gods themselves were out to drag the town down to hell.
903Please respect copyright.PENANARvwwnLQ9EF
His growling stomach decided for him, and he left the church. The bracing fall air was a nice change from the overheated church. He watched the leaves swirl about on the street. The wind scattered them across and near a blacksmith's stand.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAgfMG2eDQ9X
He walked up to the blacksmith's workshop nearby.
903Please respect copyright.PENANA22uiZoouwZ
"Blacksmith! What will you give for these old braces?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAcSAcyd7EBb
The blacksmith turned around, and eyed the bracers on his wrists.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAlu34FX2w1I
"One thousand three hundred Irons are all I will pay," he said.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAYagHaDf7Tp
He stomped out of the stall. Then, turned around after a moment.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAX7yDAlXN9x
"I'll want five thousand Irons, or forget it!"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAMhkoaamYPh
"What the hell are you playing at? I will not pay that much!" the blacksmith said.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAUpIvScbOYs
I won't be cheated. He stood there, trying to stare down the impudent man.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAeZrEi5QW3c
"Two thousand irons are as high as I will go."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAjbloRth0Yc
He went to a wooden chest behind a water barrel, taking out two gray pouches. He tossed them at Parcival.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAO0Uol44EUA
Catching them, Parcival tied the pouches onto his leather belt. He took off his bracers and set them down on the work bench. Then turned about and headed off towards the closest inn.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAhp8mQx3Rpf
Once inside, he flagged a barmaid that was clearing off a table. Her hair was in a wispy bun, and she smelled of bread and apples, better than the stink of travel that wafted from him.
903Please respect copyright.PENANA2kF7Snzh87
"What can I get you, sir?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANA1tv9dYZvNj
"Whatever you have that is filling."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAhtmoHo1yYV
He sat down at a rectangular table. After disappearing into the kitchen, she brought out a steaming bowl of Fool Bird stew, handing it to him.
903Please respect copyright.PENANA25pCdd8dCp
"Thank you."
903Please respect copyright.PENANABV1F9XJnmx
Eating fast, he then walked back to the church, carrying a warm bowl.
903Please respect copyright.PENANA91IaUxFOUt
####
903Please respect copyright.PENANAzg2v5uR2Wb
903Please respect copyright.PENANAz6NCuHmpH6
903Please respect copyright.PENANAF17GHN9Ejq
Once inside, he was drawn to the rafters, where Merryn crouched between them. She looked at both of them, her eyes wide and her lips thinned.
903Please respect copyright.PENANA7HgZAg1qoT
Her vivid features slipped to a form of shadow and light, the etch of a man's face outlined beneath hers, then gone as fast as it appeared. Perhaps, a ghost was residing in the church? Looking at her face again showed no sign of the outline. Will have to watch her closer. Her aura stayed the same this time.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAkuhEZ3y7pX
She pressed into the corner by the top of the post and curled her hands into a fist. Her right eyebrow twitched. She somehow had both daggers in her hands, when before, they were empty.
903Please respect copyright.PENANADiszS93lym
"Calm down lady! I've done nothing to deserve this."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAbQDAau2HAL
He followed the wall while watching her and came up to him.
903Please respect copyright.PENANADYCrmAxphk
"Did she have a head injury?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAZIfRef5Jdu
"You fur-ball, you'll make a fine hat!" She glowered at him.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAsgNhTPb3OL
His fur puffed up. "I am not a fur-ball!" He grabbed a plate hiding his face behind it.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAHpZrQee1OM
"When did I get here and how? Answer me!" She tosed a dagger at him but missed his foot.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAFZYlskf5X6
Merryn balanced on the rafter board and slid out several short throwing daggers from a compartment sewn into her boots. Moving the daggers into a fan with her fist.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAhvIj16bxwX
"He feels like a target."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAjlTdFRmH5O
Han dodged and ran behind him.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAv2yBZFFzkY
"Get her to stop, or I'll be forced to reverse the healing."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAz9V6n0b0Bh
"This is Han, the priest who healed you."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAJizJfVkPmg
She narrowed her eyes. "Who are you? A dark-one?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAVQbfuXUiUm
She pulled several more daggers from her other boot.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAeLCei2hoDJ
It didn't seem possible for such a number to be stored in them. Ask her about that later.
903Please respect copyright.PENANA6diEyoR5Ex
"I am Parcival, Paladin of Luna-jer; come now, you must remember me."
903Please respect copyright.PENANArgBQCfz8SX
All of this was making his stomach full of acid, don't want to knock her out as it seemed to frazzle her brain. He tried to look as non threatening as possible and let his arms hang at the sides.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0QNX3XE3j
She shook her head and rubbed her eyes. Han leapt over onto a chair near the rafters and then onto where she was. He chanted a fast spell then orange bursts of light streamed from finger tips covering her in dust.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAYFdHfhpPOJ
She gasped and fell off onto her back on the floor then rolled over and stood.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAZl2h6uLHlA
"You are a guard?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAzHJnNQukBy
Perhaps she had hit her head; that was a long drop both of them had the other day. You're my wife; we are to be married next week. It was fun entertaining the thought. But, that would be a good way to loose a few fingers ... among other things. Her green eyes-they were milkier now. Then down the breasts and-he inspected the interesting carvings in the door frame.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAKE2WIXzRYV
"No, but we were traveling together."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAihS62BlAXK
Han stiffned. He chanted a spell, while tracing a run on the floor boards using the ink on the desk. She startled trying to back up but the room offered no retreat.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAdcs4zYBl0X
Han followed, still chanting, and covered her in a thick layer of the dust.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAyxE2R6wLOF
She sneezed and it plumed into the air, vanishing. She eased down into an old chair then held her head in her hands. When she looked up, her eyes were green again.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAEh46ufaRPz
"I have a headache."
903Please respect copyright.PENANABRuyKrFgzz
She looked up at him with a lost and frightened look, squeezing her hands together.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAu5EBtvmNQ5
"I know you?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAdfx7hQrqie
Han went over to her. "Yes. Has anyone cursed you or did you eat any strange foods of late?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAA1UeLxC7NC
"Not that I know of."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAUCuvfkEKGn
This memory issue was disquieting. Her shoulder strap moved as she stretched, showing the scratch now red and swollen. Her other injuries had healed nicely. There wasn't enough coin for another healing, not for what she needed.
903Please respect copyright.PENANARJGGwJV2ds
"I ..."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAwjDAJ1hOke
Parcival handed her the now cold bowl of stew. "Here."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAnI0oMqaZUF
"Thanks."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAdsBZI3xPDA
She took it and settled down in the chair. The spoon blurred as the stew disappeared.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAVZsJfOUeYt
"Hey, slow down. You are going to give yourself a stomach ache!" Parcival said.
903Please respect copyright.PENANATYkbmfCRvi
"I haven't had stew in months."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAuf5Prk2xoL
Merryn gulped down a large mouthful. She placed the empty bowl on the table.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAEWEg5kpdrL
He chuckled.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAllMUuz0Zqs
Outside was an eerie screeching. Parcival ran outside, looking upward. Coming back inside, the door slammed in his haste.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAG6kkBE5t03
"I had reasons for traveling alone; this is one of them," she said.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAnWrBN6VHVr
"So, you know us again? What caused that?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAGY01pUd9eg
She turned away.
903Please respect copyright.PENANApFXr7uh8VL
The blisters were gone, good.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAgTC9QNhaOY
"Unsure. Like I said before, I don't want you traveling with me."
903Please respect copyright.PENANAb8yaiP9CHQ
He leaned over near her face. "What if next time this happens for even longer?"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAhYIIQtQCAf
Her face smoothed, and her eyes grew hard. "That's not your concern!"
903Please respect copyright.PENANAIyX30JckJv
She got up, left the room, and walked down the hallway. Damn, pushed too hard.
903Please respect copyright.PENANAUqLWwgVRpT
ns3.144.39.0da2