04 - Hooded allies
Fuzzy clouds were chasing on evening crimson sky. A day of pain and starving was enough. But it was damned hard to go back down and scavenge something. She couldn’t make it at all, just shook her head and said nothing. So Kortheod went to the plundered village alone. His head was already better, and he managed to wash most of the scab from the eye. The blurry reality focused somehow, though it was not yet as before.
Putrid stench of death and smell of burned stuff attacked his nostrils as he arrived into the settlement covered by soot. More mechanically than logically he started to search the ruins. But gradually, his senses were returning to its former self, his mind was starting to think normally. He wasn’t very successful under the fallen roofs, but cellars became nice surprise.
When most of stars already appeared at the darkened sky, Kor was crawling on the slope back to their hideout, overloaded with supplies and utilities. The fair-haired lass was awaiting there… well, if continued lethargy could be perceived as waiting. But she had made a small campfire, so obviously her consciousness was not utterly lost.
Kor put their new possessions down in the grass. He reached into a holey canvas sack to bring out a large piece of smoked meat. His knife cut a solid portion, which he handed to his companion. She looked at him flatly, but then she nodded and took the food.
At this moment he could finally look over her properly, though only in gloaming light and flickering of small fire. She was not young anymore. She had quite ordinary face, only some traits were square and hard. Her green eyes went fine along straw hair. Speaking about her stature, a few bits were missing here and other were little too much there. Though her shapes were symmetrical, neither slender nor plump. On the whole, she was not beautiful and otherwise unimpressive and forgettable. At first glance.
Kor was not used to speaking anyway, so the silence was indulging him. He started to sort the scavenged loot. At first he put aside a sledgehammer. The shaft was burned to half its length, but the head was intact.
“What’s your name?” asked Kortheod, but haven’t looked at her, still busy checking the supplies. He didn’t hear any answer. After a while, he put aside two large cloth pieces, that would serve them as blankets, and passed her one. Only then he looked at her face again and repeated the question. The woman took shyly the blanket, but just shrugged.
Is she deaf?
“My name is Kor. Thank you again for pulling me out.” She nodded, but otherwise remained silent.
No, she obviously hears well… but something is wrong. He felt lot more pity for her now. For tonight he kept silent too. She needed her calmness yet. With blankets, food and near fire, all was bearable again.
*
“I’m heading north. That’s where the tracks lead,” said Kor. He looked at his companion for reaction.
The woman said nothing, slowly packing her blanket. He couldn’t know, how is she now. If she is hiding a wound below the waist… But it was too embarrassing to ask about it.
“I cannot stay here anyway. Crafting will not be for living now,” judged Kor. He was ready for the journey.
“You have enough food for a day or two. And there is a village near, to the east,” he pointed to the sun already risen above the dry hills. Then he put sack with the few belongings on his back and hefted the big hammer. He spent one hour earlier repairing it – a sturdy shaft was among his woodworkers goods. To craft a proper spear was impossible at the moment. This new weapon looked quite clumsy, no wonder. But although Kor had been taught how to fight with sword and spear, he soon got used to the weight. He knew he would learn to be deadly with it.
The woman was not apathetic anymore, but still somehow hesitant.
“Fare well, fair lady. I will find those scumbags and kill them, for the sake of both of us.”
After this line she recoiled a little, then looked at him. Suddenly she stood up and pointed on her and then at Kortheod. She was silent all the time, but this gesture was clear.
I’m coming with you.
Kor wanted to say the most expectable thing, but he realized how useless it would be: It will be deadly dangerous. No.
He was staring at her for an instant, surprised, clueless. It couldn’t be more dangerous than it already was.
“Good,“ he nodded finally.
The late morning sun revealed another of her traits. Her face skin was covered with tiny, miniscule hair. Everybody has such short hair on skin, apart from the stronger and pigmented ones, only she was “gifted” with uncommon density of them.
She is … plushy… sort of.
*
“Let’s play a game, then…” broke Kor the silence after a few miles.
“I cannot just call you girlie, or such, can I?”
She looked at him with empty expression, but her eyes sparkled with interest.
“Eodna? Gwynhild?” Guessing brought no success. But since she could not read, it was the only way.
Eventually they found out first letter.
“Shona?” Head shake. “Sheraen?” Head shake, but followed with hand gesture. He was near.
“Sheila?”
She smiled slightly. For the first time.
The day became much brighter since this moment.
*
New company was a challenge for Kor. He was forced to speak. More than he was used to, more to describe to better communicate with Sheila. Luckily she was not trying to talk often. When she did, she used a lot of gestures and Kortheod had to learn lip-reading. They walked mostly silently, still getting used to each other’s presence.
But one topic Sheila started herself. She asked for a weapon.
Kor disagreed. She insisted.
After a while, he came to reason. He realized that every armed hand will be necessary. Sheila’s battle abilities were unknown, but a long sturdy pointed stick did the job. She seemed content for the moment. Anyway it was the best Kor could do at the moment.
*
The pair traveled for days. They have passed mostly wild landscape, only once they neared a village. It seemed intact, but still they approached only the water source to quench thirst.
Kor‘s forehead has gradually healed and he could see just as before. Also, his companion became somehow better. Not happier by the look, but confident. And that was good.
They needn’t to be hunters to track the raiders. Kor had the advantage of knowing the land. He wandered it many times. The enemies were loud, careless, and scattered within the area in smaller groups, not afraid of anything. So far they didn’t have a reason to fear.
But that was about to change.
When Kor and Sheila first spotted the raiders, it was a group of about eight enemies, so they needed to rely on cunning and stealth. It was close to suicide anyway, but their determination seemed unbreakable. Big portion of luck smiled on our pair. The half-orcs didn’t care to keep watch.
Kor waited, until the group had split, as two of the scumbags fell behind. When the opportunity came, he and Sheila were ready. The dark blood of enemies has dyed both the pointed stick and the hammer.
Of course, the rest came looking for missing two members. Whilst searching for them, they were attracted by a scream. A call for help. It didn’t last long, when the group came upon a shallow trough not wide than twenty feet, in a small, lonely grove. On the opposite side of the depression, a blonde was lying and moaning. Grey skinned raiders chuckled and looked at each other. Then they made the few steps across the grassy trough to have some fun with her.
When they reached the lowest spot, suddenly a cracking came from above. They looked up to see two trees falling from each side. Too late.
The fallen logs barred both little slopes of the trough. Four of the enemies were catched beneath them, skewered by sharpened branches or broken beyond healing.
The resting two scumbags shouted with anger. They now noticed that the woman disappeared. They drew their sabres, looking around for enemy.
The biggest grey-skin turned to see the woman somehow crouched in the bushes near. He growled and stepped out to her. Next step he staggered and fell, as Sheila pulled a snare of blackberry stolons, which entangled the enemies’ feet.
The hammer came soon to finish their miserable lives.
Except for the last one. Kor put his weight on the weapon leaned on the scumbag’s neck.
„Who is your boss?“ growled Kor, piercing the enemy with his eyes.
The half-orc smirked and gasped: „Sharky will kill you.“
It was the last thing he said.
*
If ‘Sharky‘ was really some important name, still there was no sign of any large group. Kor knew he is no expert tracker, so he just kept their current direction. It was leading mostly north, as the main road. Kor and Sheila walked over and continued on the ruined paving.
The next day, a few hours before sunset, Kor spotted a place in the distance that might be a camp. Or might not. But without investigation they couldn’t tell.
Finding a place to overnight in safe distance was a must. Kor was searching the area quite a long time, until he decided to make camp under a large leaning rock. They didn’t make any campfire.
After the dusk, he left their hideout. He tried to reach as near as possible to the suspicious place, but still secure enough to check the situation. But he didn’t get far.
Suddenly a plangent voice has spoken from aside.
“Do you think it’s safe there for her to stay, alone?“
Tall silhouette with unusual big head stood up at near rock a few dozen paces from him.
Kor reached for his hammer and focused his eyes on the stranger, poorly lit by dying purple of twilight.
“None your business. Who are YOU?”
“Friend of free people.” Tone of his voice gave away relaxed attitude. The figure was showing empty hands, though its shape revealed a sheath hanging at his waist. The stranger started to walk slowly to Kortheod.
As he approached as near so Kor could look over him, the man stopped.
„You can call me Cannuion.” He wore a thick hood, that’s why Kor had the impression of sizable head. His face was revealing foreign origin. Kor didn’t meet so many travelers to guess whence the man comes from. West? Maybe…
„I’m Kortheod.”
He lowered his weapon, relieved, but still a bit alert.
„I s’ppose you know where you wanted to go? There is enemy encampment this way,“ pointed Cannuion in spoken direction.
„Yes,“ bluffed Kor, „and I wanted to exterminate ‘em.“
The second part of his response was basically true, and the stranger knew it.
„I admire your zeal, Kortheod. But would you rather accept some reinforcements?“ The man was barely hiding mixed feelings – surprise, mockery and admiration.
„Me and my company are escorting a caravan. You are welcome in our camp. In group of twenty you sure would be safer.“
Absolute stranger. Complete accident. But he seems believable and true.
Finally he spoke.
„We are - “, he pointed to their rock shelter, „- fugitives, frankly speaking. So we accept your offer.”
Kor didn’t realize this was one of a few fated meetings in his life.
