Rise (War Witch Book 1) (6 page)

"I see," Diem replied, matching her sigh. "You've already met my daughter."

The Blessed gave him an odd look, but nodded all the same. After thinking on how to explain it, she gave up and waved a hand in Chara's direction.

"I'll ask her about it after she's finished setting the tables," Diem assured her. "Until then, more whiskey?"

The warrior shoved her glass over, feeling exhausted.

By the time Chara finished, patrons had begun to stream into the common room. It seemed as if half the village was there, and at first, it made the Blessed more than a little nervous. She hadn't been around this many people since Ramor had taken her to his home. Then, she recalled that it hadn’t been uncommon in her own village. As a child, she and her family had often taken their dinner at the local inn, visiting with neighbors, and spending some time socializing.

Slowly, she relaxed, at least until Diem asked Chara how she met the warrior. The devilish look that crossed the girl’s face sent the warrior looking for the bottom of her whiskey glass quickly, and often.

Unsurprisingly, the girl embellished the story greatly. The five Goblins became fearsome creatures as she regaled the entire common room with the story, holding them enraptured as she told them of the hulking, powerful Hob-Goblin that’d tried to take her innocence from her.

The warrior sank slightly deeper into her seat as Chara detailed an elaborate battle that hadn't happened, complete with fireballs being thrown hither and yon. First chance she got, she abandoned her glass and started drinking straight from the bottle.

Once Chara had finished the tale, she started it again straight away for a group of latecomers, moving to the far side of the common room. The warrior was somewhat relieved, though the many admiring stares she was now getting made her want to crawl under the table.

"Demon Seed in Fival," Diem mused. "Is this true?"

The warrior nodded. For the most part, Chara's story was accurate. For now, anyway.

"That's troubling," he admitted. "Only a day away, as well. Might be a good idea to send a runner to Adel to alert the garrison there."

The warrior watched him stand and start talking with several other men from the village, their hushed tones of concern at odds with the rambunctious retelling of Chara's rescue happening across the room.

As the evening wore on, the warrior heard the story at least four more times. Enough so she was tired of it. While she figured embellishments were to be expected, Chara had gotten carried away, turning the brief encounter into an epic struggle.

On the other hand, the warrior had to admit the girl had been right about her mother's cooking. The simple dinner of pot roast, potatoes and vegetables with fresh-baked bread had been delicious, taking her by surprise. She’d forgotten what food of the Middle World tasted like over the long years, and was pleased to find the flavors so delightful.

She also found that Chara hadn't exaggerated about her brother, either. As the warrior leaned back, her meal done, the young man, Chara's elder by a good two years, slid up alongside her, offering her a rakish smile and wink. In return she gave him a bored look that turned to a scowl as he persisted, sending him packing quickly, and stirring a great deal of laughter in the common room. Suddenly remembering she was the center of attention, she felt bad for humiliating the boy.

With dinner dishes cleared away and friends drifting home for the night, the warrior rose from the table and pulled the money pouch Father had given her before she left home free of her waist. Shaking out a few gold coins, she offered them to Diem.

“Absolutely not. No Blessed ever pays in this inn, much less one who saved my daughter’s life. Stay as long as you like, friend. I’ve already seen to a room and a bath for you. Chara will show you the way.”

The warrior slowly replaced the coins, seeing by the look in Diem’s eyes that there was no way he was going to take her money. She hadn’t been prepared for that. Ten years in her Father’s home had taught her that she always paid her own way and never accepted anything without having earned it. That was the way of honor.

Almost fearful of more of Chara’s 'conversation', the warrior followed her up the stairs all the same to the room that’d been prepared for her. It turned out to be rather spacious with a large bed and a bathroom off to one side. More than she’d been expecting.

“We had some engineers from Felnor come through a few years ago and install a device that pumps water from the well into this big copper vat that heats it. From there, we can pump it straight up here to the bathing room, giving instant hot water. It’s really very remarkable,” Chara said as she lit the lanterns in the bathing chamber, opening the pipe that let the steaming water flow into the large tub.

The warrior nodded and stripped her armor off, placing it on the bed before sitting and pulling her boots off. She listened as Chara continued to talk about the wonders of running hot water; a comfort the warrior had long ago gotten used to in her Father’s home. She shook her head and smiled as she finished stripping down, more than ready for a bath.

Chara stepped out of the bathroom to find her savior nude, folding her clothes carefully and placing her armor and weapons on the small table in the corner. She took a discreet and savoring look at the woman’s long, well-muscled frame, generous curves, and flowing hair, finding her fascinating. It wasn’t until she turned that Chara saw the marks of a warrior on her body.

Across her chest ran four long scars, discoloring the pale flesh. They trailed up from just above her well-defined abdominal muscles to over her left breast, stopping short of the shoulder. Chara gasped, hand going to her mouth at the sight.

The warrior paused, her face growing concerned, until she realized what the girl was seeing. Absently, she trailed her fingers over the mark, her eyes growing misty with memories of a childhood destroyed, a death narrowly avoided. Shaking her head, she pulled out of those memories and rested a hand on the girl’s shoulder, smiling.

“Who... I mean, when...” Chara caught herself, remembering the woman couldn’t speak. “Did it hurt much?”

The warrior nodded slowly and sighed, looking away, tears threatening once again in her beautiful eyes. She waved a hand and wiped them away, smiling and patting the girl on the shoulder. It didn’t matter. It happened a long time ago. Chara could read it easily and smiled back, deciding not to pursue the matter.

“If you need anything, let me know, okay?” she called after the warrior as the woman entered the bathing chamber and eased her body into the heated water. She got a casual wave in response and, with a smile, stole another look at the tall beauty before letting herself out of the room.

Pausing outside in the hall, Chara leaned against the door and sighed happily. The warrior was more than beautiful; she was ravishing. Flushing a deep red, she giggled to herself and hurried back downstairs. Her mother would expect her to help with the clean-up after dinner, and Chara suddenly found she wanted to hurry to bed, where fantasies of the Blessed could dance freely in her imagination.

When the warrior finally emerged from the bath, wiping dry on the heavy cotton towels Chara had left behind, she had to smile to herself once again. Despite her non-stop chatter, the girl obviously was eager to please her. Children were so easily impressed, and so impressionable.

Seating herself on the bed, she ran a hand over the rough fabric used for blankets, somewhat missing the silken spreads that she’d grown accustomed to. It was of no consequence though, for in time, she would return home. There were matters that had to be attended to now that she had the skill, and the power.

Reaching across to the small table in the corner, she lifted the pouch that carried her few, meager belongings and opened it, pulling free the piece of linen she’d carried with her from the High World. Setting it on the bed, she slowly unfolded it, revealing the image painted on the fabric.

A black dragon, reared back on its hind legs, breathing fire. The standard of the man who had destroyed her village, and her life. He was here, somewhere, in this world. She’d returned with a simple purpose: to kill him and get revenge for the slaughter of her family and her village.

Nothing was going to stand in her way.

“I’M JUST SAYING
that she’s a little odd, dear,” Kate was telling her daughter as the warrior descended the stairs, causing her to pause just out of sight of the two.

“Mother,” Chara snapped, a tone of warning in her voice.

Kate sighed as she pulled fresh-baked bread from the oven, the scent filling the inn’s kitchen. “Don’t get defensive. I do appreciate what she did for you, Chara. I wouldn’t have her here if I didn’t.”

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chara exclaimed.

Kate
tsked
her in the way only a mother ever perfects. "A woman running around, carrying a big sword like that, fighting. It just isn't proper. She should give it up and find a good husband. That's all she needs."

"Give me a break," Chara moaned.

"That aside, she did save you, so I’m grateful, is all I'm trying to say," Kate added, picking up on her daughter’s swelling agitation.

“Please, Mom," Chara groaned. "If that was all you’re trying to say, why do you keep saying so many other things?”

"Never mind it," Kate told her.

Chara set aside the skillet she’d been scrambling eggs in, her mother picking it up quickly. "I seem to recall you always saying something about family being honest with each other. What happened to that?"

“Fine, then. Since you keep insisting. First, I’ve never seen a woman warrior blessed by the Great Wolf before. Men, certainly, but a woman? Just seems wrong to me. Second, if what you say is true and not the result of getting your head knocked on the ground, then she’ll also be the first Cleric of Ramor I’ve heard of since I was a little girl. It’s all just a little odd to me,” the girl’s mother explained, keeping her voice reasonable. Chara had gotten her defiant streak from her father; that much was for certain.

“Well, I think she’s incredible, and I don’t want to hear anyone saying anything impolite about her,” Chara warned.

“As you wish, my love. Now go set the breakfast table.” Kate heaved a weary sigh as her daughter stalked away. In that single sound could be heard eighteen years of exasperation with a child she couldn't understand, or control.

The warrior waited on the stairs a few moments longer, chewing her lip. It’d been so long since she’d been around humans that she was no longer certain how to interact with them. They were strange and alien to her. She started to return to her room to don her armor and strap on her sword, but realized that would likely only make them more uncomfortable with her. It may be acceptable at Father’s breakfast table, but humans were a different matter.

With a lilting series of trills, her Avatar encouraged her. Thankful for it, she took a deep breath, and nodded to herself.

Decided, but still uncertain, she finished her trip downstairs, joining Chara’s family and the other inn regulars for breakfast. She’d barely stepped into the room before Chara saw her, the young girl’s face lighting up.

“There you are! I was beginning to think I was going to have to come wake you up.” The girl joined her, taking her arm and showing the warrior to a seat specially reserved for her, shooing others who got in the way.

The warrior smiled faintly, unfamiliar with such treatment. It would seem the young girl had developed hero worship almost overnight.

The warrior ate her breakfast in silence, smiling when she was smiled at, nodding when she knew it was polite, but remaining as distant as she could. She wouldn’t be here long and knew better than to get too attached. Attachments were weapons you handed the Demon Seed so they could rip out your heart.

"Mind if I join you for a moment?" Diem asked as he reached the table.

The warrior looked over at his daughter, who was resting her cheeks in her hands, staring at her in a mixture of awe, reverence, and adoration. Looking back at her father, the warrior shrugged and pointed at her plate.

"Oh, no," he chuckled as he sat. "I ate hours ago. Busy, busy, that's me. Tons to do before the sun even rises."

Glancing at his daughter again, the warrior discreetly pointed at her. Diem grinned and shrugged. With a silent sigh, the warrior returned to her breakfast, trying to ignore the look on the girl’s face.

Attachments are bad
, she thought, repeating it over and over in her mind. Still, she couldn't help but admit she liked Diem, and despite the rather puppy dog nature of the girl, she liked Chara as well. She wore her emotions openly, much as the demigod Ascended she’d spent almost half her life with. In a strange way, it was comforting.

"I got to thinking this morning," Diem said, digging in his pocket. "I'm not sure just where it is you’re heading, but I figure the road is to be your home for some time to come. With that in mind, I made up a list of things I thought might be helpful to you. Provisions and the like."