Читать книгу SYLVAN ELF CHRONICLES - Christianne Van Keuren - Страница 8

Chapter Two

THE remainder of Darius’ trip home was fairly uneventful, well unless you counted all the teasing he did to Vitaria when she was tending his wound when it first happened. His payback for his teasing attacked with a vengeance during the night in the form of sleepless wakefulness when the numbing ointment wore off and the pain jabbed him rudely awake every time he rolled onto his injured shoulder.

More than a couple of times Vitaria heard him groan in pain as Darius rolled the wrong way as he slept, or attempted to… She made a mental note to herself to use more of Brian’s ointment when she changed Darius’ bandage in the morning. She was more embarrassed at having been caught admiring the view; as Darius put it; than anything else. Vitaria had put him in the same category as most males she came in contact with, whether it be elf, the village men or otherwise. That opinion rapidly evolved for the better during the trip and when she saw him talking to his Grandfather, Telasar. How he acted, the respect he showed and then when he put his life on the line to save hers. It wasn’t just the respect that Darius exhibited. He mirrored many of the same mannerisms of his grandfather. These actions were definitely ingrained from bloodline as Darius had never met or had contact with his grandfather. It reminded her of when she was a young she-elf; when she had a major schoolgirl crush on the then young Telasar. He didn’t even know she existed, as a female that is, when he helped her learn how to handle a bow. To him, she was just another student being taught how to handle a weapon. He helped her when she was having a problem with a certain elder elf lord harassing her. He didn’t think twice about protecting a young she-elf in need. She tried hard to push it out of her mind so she could sleep, but couldn’t.

Darius displayed these same traits. Her sleep disrupted by his unselfish act by putting himself between her and the assailant pricked at her conscience, giving Vitaria an overwhelming sense of indebtedness. Taking care of his wound was one way she could repay the debt. She would do that until they parted company back at the village.

Renewal of hidden feelings stemming from seeing Lord Telasar again were transferred onto Darius. He looked so much like his grandfather did at that age. Looks and mannerisms unwittingly stirring the pot of sexual tension between the two.

The next morning she arose before the others and found more soap weed with which to cleanse the wound. She had some water warming as the others got up. She came back into the campsite to find them all around the fire. She approached Darius, who was sitting; or more accurately squatting; right next to it and the bowl of warming water.

“We need to clean and redress that wound.” Vitaria stated matter-of-factly.

Darius looked up at her with a very pained look on his face. “I think it’s just fine. Thank you very much.”

“I think we need to take care of it.”

“Not if you’re gonna do what you did yesterday and try to scald the skin off of me like a butchered hog. Just leave it be.”

“Stop whining like a baby.”

“I’m not whining, woman. That hurts worse than the spear itself.”

By this time Darius was standing, turning to face her and forcing her to look up at him. She didn’t back away, hands on hips, chin jutting out in defiance. Darius didn’t move. They probably would have stayed that way for a long time if Brian hadn’t intervened.

“Darius.”

“What?” Darius’ eyes never left Vitaria’s. Challenging her.

“Darius.” Brian’s voice firm, annoyed.

Darius finally looked at Brian only to be rewarded by a look that an annoyed parent gives their child. Darius tried to give a firm look back, but failed miserably.

“Just stop grousing and let her do her job. Get the wound cleaned and put a fresh bandage on it.”

Darius turned back to face Vitaria with a pouting scowl on his face. Vitaria had to turn away for a quick moment, biting her lip to keep from smirking.

“And Darius?”

“Yeeesss.” His eyes never leaving Vitaria’s face.

“You’re not a little boy anymore. Deal with it.”

The scowl became focused on Brian. Brian’s face just broke out into a grin as he polished off his coffee. The scowl was lost on him as it was when his own children did it.

Darius growled at Brian. “Oh you’re such a funny man Brian.”

“So I’ve been told.” He said, saluting with his coffee cup. “At least that’s what my offspring complain about.” Chuckling as he walked away.

Darius focused his attention back on Vitaria. “No more hot water?” Eyes narrowed to thin slits of accusation.

“No. No more hot water, just warm.” She held out both hands, palms up. “I promise.”

“Gee. Why don’t I believe you?”

“Your problem not mine. Now sit back down so I can attend to that wound. Please.”

He did as she asked. As he mocked her. “Yes mother.” Miffed, she responded, which was the worst thing she could have done. “If I were your mother, I’d turn you over my knee and…”

Darius’ eyes became owlishly wide with feigned innocence as he looked up at her. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

At first Vitaria became annoyed with his flipness, until she caught the connotation behind his comment. Annoyance flipped to embarrassment, pink cheeks and a slack jaw; unable to do more than sputter indignant sounds. Shoulders stiffening as she turned and walked away; or, more correctly, stomped away. Darius’ laughter dogged her footsteps. That is until he realized how much he had offended her. He stood up and chased after her.

“Vitaria! Vitaria!” She ignored his pleas. Fists clenched, shoulders and back stiff as a board.

“Vitaria come on…stop I was only kidding, come on.”

She spun on him when he caught up to her. Her words as sharp and pointed as the fingertip she jabbed into his chest with each word.

“Everything is always a joke to you. You need to stop treating me like one of your…your village girls that fawn over your every word like…like they were pearls of wisdom. Thinking every scrap of attention you pay them is is, oh just leave me alone.” She turned her back on him for a brief moment before turning back, again the finger punctuating her every word.

“I was only trying to be decent. Why must you always make it so hard?” Her face mottled with red and white splotches. All the while, Darius just stood taking the poking not saying a word, just grimacing with each successive poke. She finally stopped, eyes shiny bright with tears of frustration.

“Well?…Why?” She demanded; biting her lip for control. Vitaria wanted to grab him and shake him till his teeth rattled, that or…or. She quickly pushed those thoughts from her mind.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s stupid…childish. I…I don’t really know what…and I don’t treat you like the village girls. I never have…honestly.”

“Then why do you do it?” Her voice losing some of it’s anger. “I expected better of you.”

Darius looked down at his feet that had taken to shifting back and forth. He couldn’t bring himself to look at her. He knew why, but was too embarrassed to tell her the real reason. What he really gave her was an extremely lame excuse and she knew it.

“I was showing off in front of the other guys. Just being juvenile.”

“There’s more to it than that Darius and I know it.”

Darius tried to explain, but couldn’t keep himself from tripping over his tongue. “I guess… I just…you.”

“Just what…?Me what?”

He let out a huge sigh. “Just trying to get your attention. Showing off.”

Exasperation was mirrored in both her words and face. “Well, you got it, but I don’t think it was the kind of attention you were really expecting. I was ready to take your head clean off your shoulders. Instead I walked away and didn’t give in to my feelings.”

“Ummm.” His expression contrite, shuffling his feet so the toes of his boot kicked at loose pebbles, watching them roll away.

“Ummm? Just ummm? Nothing else?” Brows raised with expectation of the truth.

“Umm you’re right?” Darius looked back up at her.

Air exploded out of her as her chin fell, landing heavily on her chest. “You are so lucky I like you. Anyone else I would have run clean through long ago.”

A furrowed brow replaced the contriteness. “Now you sound like my sister.”

“Whom I’m sure found it hard not to run you through as well.”

“That’s kinda painting me in a bad light.’

“Don’t you think you’ve earned it?”

Darius’ eyes shifted from side to side before finally looking her straight in the eye.

“Soooo? Are ya gonna change the bandage or not?” A pause, “That is if I promise to behave?” “And?” Her eyes narrowed.

“And what?” His face blank, not sure of what she was asking of him.

“And how are you going to act towards me from now on?”

Darius frowned, starting to get aggravated with her picking. He just looked at her before finally giving her the answer she seemed to want. “Treat you as you deserve and nothing else.”

She searched his face to see if he was mocking her, but he seemed sincere. Her eyes flicked down towards his hands. Darius caught the look and pulled his hands up so Vitaria could see them better.

“No crossed fingers if that’s what you’re looking for.”

“Okay, but…”

“There’s always a but with you isn’t there?” Darius interrupted, his tone changed, becoming peevish as she began to get under his skin like his annoying younger siblings. She gave him a hard look. “Sorry, please continue.” Came his snide apology.

“But you have to stop with the innuendos and treat me as you would any other fellow soldier.”

Darius’ eyes left her face and quickly ran up and down the length of her body. She clenched her jaw, anger stiffened her body posture and reflected itself in her voice.

“Darius.” Indignant at the overt look.

His line of sight came back up to her face. No hint of humor inflected in his voice. “You make it hard, but I will try to do as you ask.” He started to head back to the fire when her voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

“Would you have done the same thing if I had been a he-elf?”

“Look at you like I just did? Certainly not!”

“I don’t mean the vulgar leer.”

“Then what?”

“When; as you put it; saved my butt. I was a little embarrassed at being yanked across your lap like a sack of potatoes.”

Darius stepped back closer to her, his voice dropping down to a brusque whisper so only she could hear it. “Better to be a little embarrassed and be able to bitch about it the next day, then let your pride take your head clean off your shoulders.” He started to walk away before turning back to face her. “Oh and for your information, I would have done the same thing for any he-elf, widgeon or fellow man from my village. I wasn’t seeing a helpless she-elf who needed protection, I was reacting to an unseen danger and I was just pulling you out of harm’s way by whatever means I felt necessary. So, yes I would have done the same for Brian or Gregan.”

“So, you saw me as…”

But again Darius interrupted her. “As a target for the Lorkian’s spear. You had to be moved and I did it. Nothing more, nothing less no ulterior motives.” He turned his back on her, speaking over his shoulder as he headed back by the fire. “If we’re done ‘chatting’ I would like to get this dressing changed now so we can be on our merry way.” Words clipped and short.

Vitaria had no come back as she followed him back to the fire and began redressing his wound. Darius sat as quietly as possible, flinching only a couple of times when Vitaria wiped off the old ointment before smearing on new. She had him bandaged up in short order. He was silent as they got ready to leave. And just as mum rode next to her. There was none of the usual chatter she had grown accustomed to over the past few days. It bothered her. She looked over at him, but he never returned the look. Darius gave no indication of what was going through his mind. Vitaria decided to break the ice by speaking first.

“It’s been a pretty morning.” Her voice, light. She got no response so she pushed a little harder. “Don’t you think so Darius?”

Darius looked over at her. “Were you speaking to me?”

“Yeeess.” Her response drawn out.

“Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention. Keep watch.” Darius’ tone and expression, flat.

“I said it’s been a pretty morning.”

Darius looked about his surroundings as if noticing it for the first time that day. “You’re right. It is a nice day.” And then he turned his attention back on the trail in front of him.

She let it drop and they rode on for a while before she spoke again or more accurately probed with a question. “Are you angry with me?”

Darius turned in his saddle slightly to look at her. “What on earth would make you ask that?” Darius’ voice thick with sarcasm.

“Weeelll…maybe since you really haven’t spoken much since we saddled up this morning.”

He looked at her for a moment before answering. “Well maybe; and I just mean maybe; could be I have nothing to say.”

Jokingly she replied, “Well you usually chatter on like a magpie.” The look on his face made her immediately regret her wording.

“Then my being quiet ought to come as a welcome relief to your bleeding ears.” And before she could say another word he nudged his horse forward slightly.

“Darius, don’t be angry with me.”

“I’m not angry, just doing as you ask.”

“I didn’t say not to talk to me.”

Darius glared at her. “Make up your mind Vitaria. You’re beginning to annoy me.”

“You are angry. And what do you mean, make up my mind? And I’m annoying?”

“Just exactly that, and yes you are. Don’t chatter, but talk to me. Treat me like a fellow soldier, but respect you as a woman. You can’t have it both ways Vitaria.”

“Wait a minute. If I was a male soldier would you treat me differently?”

Darius looked her square in the eyes as he answered her. “Yes. And before you interrupt me I will tell you how.” He paused for a breath and before he could speak Vitaria spit out her impatience.

“I’m waiting.”

“Then shut up and listen.” He watched her jaw go slack at his comment. “That’s how I would speak to a male comrade when he interrupts. I have given you more respect as a woman, because that’s how my mother brought me up, but you are severely trying my patience. Any girl worth her salt knows when she has it good and is being treated like a lady. I see I’ve made that mistake with you and I will correct it. From this point on I will treat you as a fellow soldier. No more no less. Agreed?”

Dumbfounded and at a loss for words she just stared. No he-elf had ever spoken to her in such a manner, probably never would considering her ranking, but Darius wasn’t taking any of that into consideration. Darius had reached the end of his tether and voiced it.

“What do you say, Vitaria? Your choice. Treat you as a lady or treat you as I would Gregan and Brian?”

“Treat me with the respect due my station young elf lord.” Came the frosty reply.

“So be it Vitaria. You shall be given what you request.” His tone cold. He didn’t wait for a response as he pushed his horse forward away from her.

Vitaria was left to stare at his retreating back. She didn’t know what to think. He was going to give her as she asked, but now she wasn’t really sure she had won anything other than his anger, and quite possibly his disrespect. Her bewildered conundrum almost unseated her as her horse lurched forward to try and keep pace with Darius’ mount. Setting her jaw, Vitaria thought to herself. ‘Well, I’ll play along for now with his agreement. We’ll see just how long Master Darius can handle the quiet.’ If she was waiting for him to crack she would have to wait a long time. Darius had inherited his father Simon’s stubbornness on top of ever-growing elfin traits from his grandfather.