Читать книгу SYLVAN ELF CHRONICLES - Christianne Van Keuren - Страница 10

Chapter Four

THE messengers were maybe a day’s easy ride away from Woodlawn Village. If their timing was right, they would be reaching the town as evening settled in. Both Vitaria and Gregan would probably want to head right back to Silvarnon, riding on into the night, but Brian had already planned on them staying in the village until the early morning. They needed to meet with the town council to talk about their trip and the scouting party they had run across. He would also insist that the mounts would need the night’s rest from being pushed.

Both Gregan and Brian felt the palpable tension between Darius and Vitaria. Neither wanted to broach the subject for fear of getting their heads bitten off by the pair. Darius had talked to the two, but was barely civil to Vitaria. By the time they found a place to camp for the night, Brian had had enough and spoke to Darius while they took care of the horses, Vitaria was helping Gregan set up camp.

“Why don’t you lighten up on the girl? You’re just barely being civil and I know your parents brought you up better than that. What’s up?”

Darius gave him a frowning glare as he continued to rub the horse down with a handful of dried grass. The horse whickered a soft rumble of appreciation. Darius patted his shoulder.

“Cause she pissed me off Brian.”

“Whoa, such pretty talk. What did she do that was so bad? I mean besides rebuffing your stellar charms, which by the way were way out of line at times.”

Darius’ jaw dropped at the inference. “I never.” He paused, his anger lightened slightly when Brian had hit, in part, the reason for his anger, but it wasn’t the only reason. “It was more than just that. Some of it is her attitude.”

“She wasn’t just assigned this mission as a pleasant stroll along the garden path with you my young friend, she had to earn this detail. Vitaria is a well trained elven warrior given a task to accomplish just as we were from the town council.”

“Yeah…well…” Darius didn’t, or couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Well? What? You’re not back at the schoolyard anymore and the world doesn’t revolve around you.”

“I didn’t say or think it did. I know it doesn’t Brian.”

“Then give her the respect due her station. You plead your case in front of the council and your father, Vitaria had to put in a lot of sweat and pain to earn it.” Brian paused for a second before continuing, “Or have you forgotten that in such a short time?”

Darius turned back to face the horse, scrubbing at it’s sweaty coat. He couldn’t face Brian as he answered “No.” came Darius’ disgruntled mumble to the horse.

“What? I couldn’t quite hear you.”

Darius looked back over at him. “I said no.” He turned back to the horse again. They finished currying the rest of the animals. As Darius gave the final swipes on the animal he spoke again.

“I can’t quite figure her out Brian.”

“What do you mean, figure her out?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Not really.”

“You’re gonna tell me you knew what your wife wanted from day one.”

“No.”

“Well I thought I knew how to treat girls, but she doesn’t…she just confuses the hell out of me.”

“And just how is she doing that?”

“Giving very mixed signals.”

“How so?”

“Well, one minute she wants to be…or at least that’s the impression I get, that she wants to be treated like any other girl, then she does a complete about face and gets all huffy and indignant that I don’t treat her as a soldier…I…I don’t know…” Darius was at a loss for words.

Brian rolled his eyes skyward. “Why don’t you stop trying to get over on her…trying to figure her out as you say and just treat her as an equal, a female soldier just doing what she’s been trained to do.”

“But she’s a she-elf not a.”

Brian cut him off. “She-elf, village girl; that’s not the point Darius. Just treat.” Brian let out a huge sigh. “Just be decent to her, she deserves that.”

Darius looked him in the eye for a long moment before answering, “Yes sir and.”

“And what?”

“I’ll try.”

Brian nodded. “Do more than try young man, make it happen.”

“Yes sir.”

“Now enough on that subject, how’s the shoulder?”

“A little stiff and sore.” He said as he rolled his shoulders. A pained look crossed his face. Brian caught it and spoke.

“You okay? Pain?”

“Yeah some…and worse from Master Peter when I get back home.” A quizzical look planted itself on Brian’s face. “He told me not to get hurt. To come back in one piece or he’d kill me.”

Before he could stop himself Brian threw back his head as a laugh came rolling up out from deep within, escaping into the trees. Vitaria and Gregan looked sharply over at them

“Shushhh.” Darius said, trying to put his hand over Brian’s mouth, Brian just pushed him away. “Brian it’s not funny; he’s gonna be mad as hell.”

“If you were in my shoes you’d be laughing as well; although I agree, a healthy fear of Master Peter is a good idea.” The pained look on Darius’ face caused Brian to adopt a sympathetic tone as he spoke. “Look, I’m sure when he finds out why and how you got hurt he’ll be a little more lenient with his punishment. You put Vitaria’s safety first, that should give you a little wiggle room.”

“Don’t count on it.” Darius’ mood darkened at the prospect of having to face Peter.

“Maybe…well maybe if I spoke to Master Peter on your behalf he’d be a little more understanding.” Came a soft voice from behind, both men turned to look at Vitaria. “I…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt, I thought…well I mean, maybe I can help in some way.” A pause before she continued. “Ah, by the way, supper will be ready in about half an hour or so.” Vitaria hung her head slightly, her eyes dropping to the ground as she walked. Brian looked from Vitaria to Darius. He elbowed Darius in his injured side eliciting a grunt of pain. Vitaria spun around at the sound.

“Are you alright?”

Brian draped his arm around Darius’ shoulder as he jostled him. “Aw don’t worry about old Darius here, he’s just fine.” Then he looked at Darius. “Why don’t you two take a quick walk about the perimeter before we settle for the night. That was what we were discussing before you came over.” He looked at Darius as if Darius had come up with the most brilliant idea in history. “I think you had a very good idea there Darius.”

The dropped jaw, quizzical, dumbfounded look almost rewarded Darius with another jab in the ribs. He gave Darius’ shoulders a steady, slightly bone crunching squeeze. It seemed to work as the jarring pain got his brain into gear, snapping his jaw shut. Brian eased up as Darius began speaking.

“Ah yeah ummm…scout the perimeter…that is if you want to?” Darius asked, watching her face, trying to get a quick read on her receptiveness. Her expression was open, expectant. A small hint of a smile plucked at the corners of her mouth.

“Let me just get my bow.” Vitaria went to get her bow. You never know we might see some games.”

“Good thinking Vitaria.” Brain agreed. He waited until he thought Vitaria was out of earshot. Speaking out of the side of his mouth and under his breath as best he could without looking conspicuous.

“She’s offering her branch of peace don’t flog her with it.” He let go of Darius as he went towards the fire.” Let’s see if he-elves can make coffee as well as their female counterparts.” He spoke loud enough to catch Gregan’s attention and the dirty look to go along with his response.

“I’ve had your coffee Brian anything would be a step up my friend.”

“Oh, that was hurtful and after all I’ve done for you.” Brian chuckled.

Vitaria’s steps were light as she came tripping back over carrying Darius’s bow and quiver as well as her own.

“Thought you might need this.” She held it out towards him.

Darius quickly wiped his hands on his pant legs, then reached for his gear.

“Thanks, appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome sooo…which way do we head?”

Darius was about to speak when he changed his tactics as Brian suggested. “You’ve got the experience, what do you suggest?”

She scrutinized his face to see if he was being condescending, but only saw sincerity. She looked around. “My suggestion would be to start from the rear and circle around until we come back from whence we came.”

“Sounds good.” He nodded.

Without another word they headed to where they entered the campsite and began to run the perimeter. Gregan’s eyes followed their progress over the rim of his cup, his eyes flicking over to catch Brian’s eyes through the mist of hot coffee steam.

“What?”

“That was a sneaky move on your part Brian.”

Brain didn’t say a word, just raised his eyebrows as he spoke. “I haven’t a clue of what you’re talking about.” His voice trying to take on an air of ignorance to match his look. He failed miserably at both.

“I’m neither blind nor stupid.” His eyes going to the point where they disappeared into the woods. “And they’re not either.”

“Did either one of them object? Well, did they?”

Gregan just shook his head as he focused his attention back on his coffee cup, content to let the subject drop. Brian didn’t.

“Besides,” Brain continued, “I didn’t see either of them making an attempt…so I decided enough was enough and made it for them.” Brian leaned over and poked the pot with a stick. “Now what kinda swill are you gonna poison us with tonight?”

Gregan’s answer was to dump his coffee in the pot. “Seasoning.”

“Probably an improvement.”

Darius and Vitaria went approximately a hundred feet or so back before Vitaria took the lead splitting off so she was about twenty feet apart from Darius. They started to swing out to the left as they circled around. Both scanned the low shrubs as well as high among the branches overhead. They were about halfway around the perimeter when a mental whisper tickled in Darius’ head.

“Trust all of your senses, not just your eyes. Eyes can be deceived.”

Darius thought back. “Watch the swampy area up ahead.’

He could smell the wet musky, dankness all swamps exhale as they thaw and begin the work of turning over the cold water on the bottom with the sun warmed upper layers.

“I’m coming back in towards you. If someone was trying to get through this swamp they’d be slogging through waist deep mud.” Vitaria thought back as she began to come back towards Darius.

“Not to mention smelling pretty ripe from the dead, rotted leaves and whatever else might have fallen in and died there.”

“It does smell pretty…ugh…”

“Vitaria?…Vitaria!!” Came Darius mental shout that soon changed into a harsh whispered shout when she didn’t answer. He spoke as loudly as he dared. “Vitaria! Where are you? Are you alright?”

He started in her direction and met her about halfway, coming to a skidding halt about ten feet away from her. The swamp slime odor preceded her. The putrid stench was bad enough, but it was the undertones of rotting carcass that wrinkled his nose and caused his stomach to involuntarily wretch. His hand came up automatically, covering his nose and mouth from the smell, but also to keep the laugh from exploding up from deep within him at the sight of her. Vitaria had lost her footing on what she thought was firm turf and pitched forward into the remains of a kill or some poor unfortunate that wasn’t able to get out and succumbed to the winter’s deadly, numbing chill. With the spring thaw and bright sunshine it was becoming a festering, putrid lump slowly dissolving into and enriching the foul mud.

Vitaria looked down at herself retching and making a gagging noise as she made a pathetic attempt to brush off the smelly goo splattered all over her. She looked up and saw the mirth in his eyes, sharp words ready to trip off her tongue when she looked down at herself again.

“I should have been using more of my own senses instead of my thoughts. I should also have been paying more attention to where I was putting my big feet.”

Darius lost it with her last remark as the laugh burst out from behind his hand, tears rolling down his cheeks at her misfortune. He stuffed his fist into his mouth to try and control the volume, doubling over in mirth. Vitaria hung her head waiting for him to slow down and when he didn’t she began making shushing noises. Darius fought to get himself under control, coughing he spoke. “I’m sorry Vitaria, but…” He failed as a fresh bit of mirth escaped from behind his fist.

Vitaria’s eyes narrowed as she looked at her slime caked hands then up at Darius. He caught the look, but not the intentions as she lunged at him. He moved, but not quick enough before she managed to smear the vile, rank smelling gook on his arm.

“Ugh!…Disgusting!” but this didn’t curb his smirking at her discomfort.

“Stop laughing. It’s not funny anymore.”

“From where I stand it is, and I’m not the one who fell into the fragrant mud bath.”

“Yeah well, you can still help me find some clean water to wash up with.”

“Oh…oh…oh you go and slap that nasty stuff on me then ask me to help you? Fat chance woman.” Darius turned to walk away.

“No…wait…Darius.”

He mimicked her. “No wait. Why should I?” His face was blank. All traces of humor having evaporated as he looked at his arm.

She hesitated, fidgeting as she tried to keep him from walking away. She couldn’t think of anything as her weight shifted from foot to foot. Annoyance shifted from his look to his voice as he spoke one word, “What? He reached down grabbing a handful of dried grass, wadding it up to scrape at the gook on his arm. He waited for her to speak as he attacked the nasty mess.

“I…I need you…I need you to do me a favor.”

Darius let loose a loud snort as his eyebrows raised in disbelief. “You what? Want a favor? You, you’re unbelievable. First you smear that ghastly shit on me and then you have the gumption to ask for a favor? You got brass girl.” He started to walk away.

“No…Darius…please.” She pleaded, her eyes welling slightly with tears.

The sound of her heartfelt pleading stopped him in his tracks, he turned back to look at her. She was on the verge of tears, but biting her lip to keep them from sliding down her face with her frustration. “Please?”

Darius rolled his eyes, sighing heavily at the imposition. “Alright. What do you want?”

Relief on her face and in her voice. “I can’t go back to the camp looking and smelling like this. Will you get me a change of clothes and I’ll try and find some clean water for both of us to scrub up with. I think I saw an inlet near here.”

“I shouldn’t…if you were a guy…” He didn’t get to finish as Vitaria interrupted.

“I deserve that and you’re right. I’m…I’m asking as a friend and fellow soldier.”

His eyes narrowed to slits, contemplating her request, relishing in her discomfort for the moment. Another exaggerated sigh of being greatly put upon gushed out of him, but Darius acquiesced to her request.

“Oh…Alright. You find the freshwater and I’ll go get your clothes. I’ll also let the other guys know you’re okay.” Darius began to walk away.

“Oh…and Darius?”

Darius stopped in his tracks, but didn’t turn around. She could see his head fall forward until his chin hit his chest. Twisting his head slightly he peered over his shoulder at her, groaning out, “What now?”

“Thanks.” An appreciative smile gracing her mouth.

“Yeah…yeah…yeah. Just go find that clean water.” She didn’t see the half smile on his face as he walked back to camp. Those two were going to love this. It didn’t take long for him to reach the campsite and two inquisitive faces of ‘okay you’re back’ to serious concern when Vitaria did not appear. Darius spoke as he headed for her pack, both of them approaching until they caught a whiff of the putrid, smeared mud on his arm.

“Vitaria’s fine…her clothes…Weeelll that’s another story.”

“I’m not above cuffing you for an answer.”

“I’ll explain when we get back, she’s a little indisposed at the moment.”

Confused looks before Brian spoke, “You didn’t do anything did you?”

Darius didn’t answer right away as he rummaged through her pack to find everything he thought she might need.

“Darius?” Brian growled.

“Me? No, but let’s say there’s a swamp, a large one, over to our left I’d say about two hundred feet or more.”

Brian and Gregan exchanged looks before Gregan spoke. “And I take it, she found it?”

A grin split Darius’ face as he held up the clothes. “Oh yeah.” And he left to go find her.

While Darius was gone, Vitaria scouted around until she found what she was looking for. Luckily it wasn’t far away from where Darius had left. The clean water was just past where she took her putrid misstep. A fair sized feeder stream flooded clean water into a bowl shaped area. Vitaria spied some red willow close by and snapped off the longest piece she could find. She went back to the inlet and poked the bottom to see how deep the silty mud was. It wasn’t too deep, being as it was a feeder stream it pushed the silt further into the swamp. Next point of business was to find a large, large stone so she could scrape the bottom free of soft mud and hit a firm bottom. When she accomplished this she would be able to stand up to wash off. It didn’t take long to find it. She managed to pull it free with a fair amount of effort and a moderately large sucking sound. It seemed that the mud was unwilling to yield its treasure even for an elf willing to give up her life to protect it. It was icy cold and wet, causing her hands to almost immediately begin to ache from it.

No point putting off the inevitable. Taking a deep breath she jumped into the thigh deep water. Grabbing the rock with both hands she quickly began to scrape the bottom. Swirls of soft silt rose in a brackish cloud that was quickly carried away from her with the incoming current. Working as quickly as she possibly could in the numbing cold, Vitaria cleaned out a fairly decent sized area. Standing in the water had loosened some of the foul-smelling muck so Vitaria went to one of the bogs and grabbed a large handful of the dried grass growing on top of it. She cut her hand on the course, brittle grass as she tried scrubbing at the gross gunk. The harder she scrubbed the more it dawned on her that she might get the mud out, but the smell was there for good. She gave up as she climbed out of the water. She shivered in the sunshine, quickly looking about for some soap weed. She saw nothing. Her gazed switched from down to up. Vitaria saw the witch hazel. She went to the thicket and snapped off some of the lower branches, stripping them of their leaves until she had a large pile. Gathering them up she was headed back to the water when she heard Darius’ whistle. Vitaria whistled back. It didn’t take him long to find her and took a second to speak.

Vitaria was soaked to the skin and her clothes clung tightly to her figure. Darius couldn’t help it as his gaze slid down then back up to her face. She saw it, but said nothing. His expression was more of a surprise than anything else.

“Ahh…did you find any soap weed?” Darius asked. His eyes fixed on hers.

‘No, but I did find some witch hazel.”

His nose twitched slightly as the smell wafted his way. She saw the face even though he tried very hard not to let the smell bother him.

“Well maybe it will help with the smell, but I’m sorry to say I think your clothes are done for.”

The sun warmed the clothes enough for the stench to drift up to her own nose. She wrinkled her nose. “I think you’re right Darius.” She looked at the clothes in his hands and reached out for them. Darius pulled them back out of her reach.

“Hey! Give them to me.”

“No. I’ll set them over there for you so you don’t get any of that nastiness on them.”

She looked at her hands before nodding her head in agreement. “Did you get the right stuff?”

He gave her a dumbfounded look. “Just cause I am a guy doesn’t mean that I got out of doing laundry. And you forget I do have a sister. Remember?” His eyebrows arching up and down for emphasis

“Yes, I remembered just set them over there please.” As she pointed to an area that was dry, but quite near to where she was going to wash up.”

“Go ahead and wash your arm so I can clean up.”

“Yes Mame.” His voice slightly mocking, but he did as he was asked. When he was finished, he began to walk away. “I’ll leave you to your privacy.”

“Don’t go too far.”

“Oh” His expression changed.

She gave him a hard look. “I need you to keep an eye peeled while I wash up, and don’t look at me.” She paused for a second before adding. “Just pretend that I’m your sister.”

Darius made a disappointed face. “Oh, you’re no fun.”

“Nor am I an exhibition. Just do your job as a fellow soldier.”

“Most fellow soldiers.”

“Darius! I’ll have to hurt you.”

“Spoilsport. I’ll wander over there and admire the scenery.”

“Don’t just admire it, be watchful.”

“Yes Mame.”

A grumbled “You’re impossible.” dogged his footsteps. He just chuckled.

“Stop laughing.”

“Who’s laughing. Just doing as asked.” A clod of dirt whizzed past his shoulder.

“Missed.”

“I wasn’t aiming, smart man.”

“Heh heh.”

Vitaria waited until he was several yards away before she began to peel the wet clothes off, throwing them away from her. Darius heard them land with a wet plopping sound as they hit the ground. Gritting her teeth she slid back into the cold water. As cold as the water was with her clothes on Vitaria was unable to stifle the sharp gasp as bare skin hit cold water. Moving quickly she crushed a handful of the witch hazel and briskly scrubbed at her skin. It didn’t take long for the bone numbing cold to creep deep through flesh and stiffen her fingers. She got so cold she couldn’t feel the rough leaves against the skin of her arms and legs. The witch hazel usually left a tingling sensation behind, but she couldn’t feel it. She did know it was doing its job of removing the slimy nastiness. She was pretty sure she was done and even if she wasn’t she didn’t care anymore. Vitaria was getting so cold she knew she had to get out of the freezing water while she was still able under her own power. She began to scramble up out of the water and was halfway out when her hands stopped cooperating, losing their grip on the bog grass as it slipped through her stiff fingers. Her feet lost their purchase as well, slipping out from under her. With no support she began falling backwards. She went under. Her arms flailed about, in windmill fashion as they tried to clutch onto something, but only ended up grasping empty air. They splatted loudly against the surface of the water. She sprang back up almost as quickly as she went under.

Darius instinctively turned at the noise and caught a full frontal view of Vitaria as she came popping back up like a cork when she finally got her feet back under her. She couldn’t see anything as streaming wet hair plastered itself over her eyes. Water ran in rivulets down her body as goosebumps seemed to pop up on goosebumps, mist floating in front of her as she coughed out a spray of swamp water from her icy submersion. He stood open mouthed at the sight. Flashbacks flooded back from his memories of the stories his Uncle Tim told and his supposed sightings of beautiful water nymphs. Her body slick and shiny as water flowed down and around her curves, large drops plinking into conjoining concentric circles on the water’s surface. Darius saw her hands come up to get the wet hair out of her face and he spun back around as his jaw snapped shut.

“Need any help?” He asked, knowing full well what the answer was going to be.

“No!” Her voice as firm as her grip on the grass, digging her fingers for a better grip. She wiped her hands on the grass to remove any dirt from climbing out. Vitaria squeezed her hair trying to get the worst of the water out as she began to shiver from bone chilling cold water. With difficulty, Vitaria pulled clothes over a soaking wet body, teeth chattering the whole time, lips an unhealthy blue. Stiff, uncooperative fingers finally got difficult buttons fastened and laces tied.

“Okay, you can turn around.” She had gone back to squeezing more water out of her hair.

Darius was going to tease her until he saw how cold she was and how much she was shaking from her icy bath.

“We better get you back to the camp and next to the fire to get you warm and dry.”

“No argument there.”

“Are you up for a light run to get your blood flowing?”

“I was already figuring on that.” She said as she wadded up the soiled clothing. “That is if you can keep up.”

Her words were wasted as the only thing she saw of him was his back, as Darius disappeared into the underbrush. She never caught up. Darius broke through the bushes by camp whistling, but it didn’t stop Brian and Gregan from drawing swords at his abrupt entrance. When they didn’t see Vitaria they each fired off a question at the same time.

“She needed a whole bath?”

“So where is she?”

Darius answered the first question as he turned back to face where he had come from, “Yes, and she was right behind me.” Darius answered, waiting for a second before she came bounding into the campsite, panting with her effort.

“What…did you…do?…Come…back here on a dead run?” She asked between pants.

Darius gave her an odd look. “No. Just ran lightly like I said.”

“If that was…lightly…I’d hate to see you run full out.”

Brian just shook his head. “The boy runs like a deer. Long legs like his mom and she wasn’t remiss in that area if I remember correctly.”

Vitaria walked past Brian, the odor of the clothes assaulted his senses. Brian wasn’t quiet about it.

“Ugh!! Get those smelly things out of here missy. Preferably downwind and out of camp.” He said as he pointed towards the bushes. “I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t want to smell that all night.”

“Frankly I think she should bury them with blessings for a speedy decay.” Gregan added with a sour face.

“Very funny.”

“No I’m dead serious. Those clothes smell quite…well…dead does seems to fit the smell.”

“Well, what I fell into was very much dead.”

“Could you tell what or whom it was?” Brian asked.

“No and I wasn’t exactly going to poke it with a stick to find out.” All the while she was standing there Brian and Gregan were making faces and waving their hands in front of their face, until Brian just pointed for her to move.

“I told her the smell would never come out, she should have left them there to rot and fester with the other nastiness.”

“Guys. I don’t have another set of clothes.”

“I don’t see you getting near the horses with that mess and if you do you don’t ride next to me.”

“Darius?” Her voice pleading.

“Don’t whine to me, besides anyone within thirty feet would catch that smell and you know they would come looking for the source.” His gaze didn’t waver, but the look softened as he spoke, “You probably can fit into some of Kaleen’s clothes. Let’s face it, a warm bath and a good night’s sleep will make you feel a world better. Both of you.” His focus going to Gregan. Both were about to protest when Brian spoke up.

“Darius is right. I was going to bring this up later, but now’s as good a time as any.”

He looked directly at Gregan. “I feel that you should meet with the council as I’m sure they’ll have a message for Belasar for you to take back and they’ll want to know what went on during our trip. Besides.” He pointedly said to Gregan, “I want you to meet my children and see what you’re in for. If your wife is anything like mine, she won’t settle for just one baby.” Brian gave him a sly smile, “And to be quite honest, it didn’t for me either.”

Vitaria just shook her head in defeat as she headed for the woods. “Give me something to dig with.” She looked at Darius. “Come on, you can give me a hand.”

“Why me?”

His answer was just a look from Brian as he indicated with his head for him to follow.

“Don’t I have any say?”

“No!” Brian and Gregan said in unison.

“I didn’t cause her to fall into the crap, but I’ve got to watch her back.” Darius grumbled to himself as he followed behind her.

“Just quit your grumbling and go.” Brian commanded.

Darius shot him a sour look and got one in return. He continued to grumble until Brian spoke one more word.

“Darius.”

Darius never turned back, just raised his hand, waving it to signify he heard.