NaNoWriMo 6

It wasn’t her fault, however, so he went ahead and nodded, watching her smile and walk away happily. Back towards the camp where she would be hidden away from sight, either by the other Sisters or by her own violation, not that he could blame her because of what had just happened. His eyes strayed towards the area where the kids had disappeared as he continued towards the village. It wasn’t difficult to find the main shops clustered in the center around an open green, where the local law would be carried out, and got what Nia had wanted. He had debated back and forth on what toys would be easier for her to carry around and wouldn’t take too much room, but he decided to go off her other paper toys and a small mechanical doll that pirouetted in place.
The small objects fit neatly into the money pouch, which was noticeably lighter after that visit. He frowned slightly, but then again, Priestesses weren’t paid much. Even so… The sweet shop took most of the rest of it, and he left with the small paper package tucked protectively into his arms. The villagers were friendly, and he made a plan to come back during the evening. A night here relaxing was just what he needed.
The dust between the roads had settled down, the carts no longer traveling over the short path. The day’s trade had ended. He heard a clamor arising from the camp, and his pace quickened from a stroll to a light jog, wondering what was happening ahead.
It soon became clear from the shouting and commotion that it was something important. Dangerous, actually, as a soldier stumbled away from the collection of tents and rough fences with a wound in his side. Kirn dropped everything and rushed towards him, knowing that it was safe to approach due to the sigil on his uniform that stood out starkly against the black of his uniform. It was a sad, sight indeed, as he grasped the gasping elf’s shoulders. “They’re a platoon for assassination! I don’t know who for… perhaps the Sylph…”
The Sylph? But the Prince had only left just a few… Oh, dear. He laid the soldier down to rest on the grass. They didn’t know it was the Prince. They couldn’t know. So it was only natural to assume that they had come for the next important thing that the Kingdom had- there were only 25 of them within the Kingdom, each the most highly skilled healer that the Kingdom had. In this war, that meant they were valuable, and would cripple the war efforts if taken.
His sword rested heavily on his hip. The differences between the uniforms made clear who was friendly and who was not. That was going to make all the difference, here. The Sisters had gathered near the fence, climbing over, their robes as stark against the green grass as flags of surrender. There was no way to tell which one was which as they all had their hoods drawn up around their faces. They were being guarded by a few who were fighting desperately. He saw one go down, as well as one of the sisters that failed to move aside from the too-strong swing of the blade. Cries erupted from the group. He rushed towards them, unsure if he would be able to help. His uselessness, after all, had been what had gotten him assigned to take the Prince here.
His approach brought him near the scent of blood that was making the ground muddy and difficult to balance in. Behind him, he could hear the town bell clanging. They were in no danger, most likely, unless the group decided that the Prince was in town for something. But how had they gotten this far inland? How did they KNOW?
It was all too much for him to think about at the moment, as his sword met another weakly. He was pushed back by the brown-clad human. The idea that this had been a terrible set-up, the beginnings of a revolt, crossed his mind, but as his feet moved to bring him to a different angle, he could see the symbol of the kingdom that was attacking on his shoulder. He feinted, then struck, sending the man to an early grave. The slice of his blade into flesh nearly made him sick, and the feeling of having skewered something was strong. He let the body slump to the ground, sliding off the metal blade. One of the Sisters was being carried off, but it wasn’t Nia. The tie around this one’s waist was orange and in a simple knot, denoting her inferior status. He made a move to come after her, regardless, but was stopped by a hit to his back. It threw him off-balance and nearly got him killed.
His guard was thrown off enough that in the next moment he had a sword to his own neck. “Where is the Prince?” was whispered dangerously in
Gone! Kirn snarled at him. The sword was pushed up even more against his throat. Lies! His attacked said. He can't be gone. We know that he's wounded, so where is he being held!
A call went out, a bugle, a melodious golden note that brought the pressure of the crowd against his throat away. He could feel a warm trickle of liquid running down as he breathed a sigh of relief. The other hadn't brought his attention away from him, but the look was furious and confused instead of outright murderous. "The soldier paused as if to say something, but nothing came of it.

Kirn slumped to the ground as they fled, all the attackers. He could hardly believe what had happened. The Sisters went to attend those who had been injured, scattering through the mess of fallen tents and scattered belongings. It was an ugly sigh indeed, but what was he going to do about it? One kneeled by his side as he nearly choked on the fear that build up in his throat, threatening to make him sick after all this. It hadn't even been a real battle, but that didn't matter.

Her fingers reached for him, but he recoiled. "Don’t' touch me!" he snarled. Her voice got cross in turn/ "Then stop bleeding!" IF you can't then sit still and let me bandage it! He shrugged her off and kept walking, looking for Nia, knowing that this one wasn't her because she held the cerulean sash but the knot was as simple as any. She followed after. "If you're looking the mixed blood, she wasn't with us! She hadn't returned to camp yet! IF she's lucky, then she'll be far away in the woods, watching us clean up and not bothering her own head with all this, and if she's not she'll have been taken or killed. You'll find out soon enough, so sit for me! Her fingers latched around his arm, stopping him in his tracks, in the folds of a tent that had been knocked down in the scuffle. He couldn't bring himself to physically force her off of him, though he longed to. It was intensely dismaying to have himself like this, at the mercy of a Sister, one of the no-violent orders in the Kingdom.

Even so, he felt the smooth cloth of her robe wrapping around his throat, snugly but not so that it would cut of his breathing. Thank goodness, because he felt stifled as it was. She was surprisingly gentle. "Why are you so worried about the half-breed anyway? She's no good for small things like, this and will be tending those who got stabbed. You barely got a cut." The elf's face was flushed. "Besides, she's a damn half breed why should she be a sylph anyway? She hasn't got the skills-" That get her knocked off her feet, shoved away in a fit of anger. Kirn narrowed his eyes at the girl. "She has skills enough, I bet, for this camp. She's a half-breed. Think you that they let anyone get to this level and take car of soldiers unless they have the ability to do so? Sylphs are not made lightly! Think, you brainless halfwit! As bad as a halfie, perhaps worse, I think."

She glared up at him, tears in the corners of her eyes. A sharp voice from behind him defended the girl, though, much to his surprise. "And think you that she has not reason to distrust me? I would if I were the girl. Hilra, please see what herbs you can salvage from the medical tent. It's in a mess, but I need them. Please." The tone turned softer, but it didn't stop Hilra from nearly saying no. She wasn't happy with the order, but if there were wounded... the Superior would be furious with her if she didn’t obey at this point. Kirn couldn't hide his surprise that Nia had appeared. seemingly out of nowhere, to be kind to someone who was clearly not being a friend to her.

"The girl is no different from the others, and I can't blame you. Halfies, indeed. I'm surely one of them, and the King surely hates them, and why should his subjects not, too?" She spat. Her eyes threw daggers into his heart. He felt badly for how he had spoken to the girl, since he had only been that kind to her a few days ago. "And you be not one to say anything." Her words echoed his thoughts eerily, and he thought back to some of the stories he had been told about them when he was younger. Those stories had been around for ages, and with few halfies around as there were, it wasn't exactly something that was unheard of for anyone to think.

He thought of the haunted barn that had been told about in his childhood. It wasn't exactly the same thing, since this concerned people, but Nirn could recall when it had finally caught fire and the villagers had been ever so relieved. It was saddening, but he knew that she was being treated in a similar way. How else was he supposed to feel about it? If she were burned, at this point he felt that only he would be the one to be sad about.

"I'll be given over to hell if I let you bully others for how they see me. Either they'll come out of their own ignorance or they won't but you can't force hate out of them. Soleave her be!" She glared at him before turning to the soldier she had been attending before her defense of the younger Sister. He felt ashamed for behaving in such a way, but at the same time... What else was he going to to? Her honor had been at stake, and for what she had done, she had a lot of it. "Ar you safe? Are you alright? I was worried when I saw the attack. Is there any way I can help you?
His voice trembled a little with concern. "Just get yourself to the tents and help clean up. Please." HEr voice was still rough and condecending, but there was a tiredness in it, a sadness that he could tell where it had come from. It wasn't that he didn't understand why she was upset, it was that he felt bad for his own impulsiveness. "Yes, mam. My apologies. He moved to go help the soldiers that had come out unwounded and begna to clean up what had happened.

It took most of the day, yt by the end of it he felt accomplished. These were things he could do- helping out others, getting them organized and doing things. Though his own sueriours had delegated the tasks to him, and he had taken the punishment when theings weren't going well, it felt good. That was the important hting. He went back to the spot where he had dropped Nia's things, her money and her toys. Te arrival of the villagers to help drive off the intruders had been far too late, but that hadn't stopped them from heping how they could/ didn'yt maytter much since they had ended up destroying what he had bought. Kirn felt guilty for this, and left hte soggy package where he left it, only taking the bag of money back. The paper that spun was relatively unharmed, but the little fdanging fall was done for.

Ah, well. He could see the tents more clearly from here, more dirty and ragged than before. It was funny that he could see some backup from a town father away int the distance, armor gleaming, though it was a small contingent. A dark chuckle escaped him. Too later indeed. They would be burnign the dead soon.

All they had wanted was the Prince. It was sad and sick. but how ha they known that he was here? That was dangrous information. It looked that there was a spy in the camp, but who? Propabbyl a soldier. THe King would be furious when he dicovered this, as he had heard as he was helping others talking about how they had been interrogated for the informatrion. Everyone was astunded, They knew that a gnereal had been brough in but a Prince? THE prince? It was beyond belief. The ccommanders of the camp rode out to gmeet the other soldiers as Kirn watched starting back towards the camp because of exhaustion and the adrenaline of the entire affair wearing off. He was glad Nia was alrigght, and he could smell the scnent of food cooking from this distance. The soldiers and townpspeople that had come to back them up were getting along grandly, laughing and commiserating over what wounds had been had,

Nia was nowhere to be seen among them, which wasn't a surprise. With carious Sisters up and about, doing what they could, he slipped into their tent, calling her name out softly. A rustle from one of the sections alerted him to a presence there, and while he made to retreat, she poked her head out from a torn canvas. "Hello to you." Her eyes seemed saddened by his appearance. "If you've naught to say to me other than wha yo said earlier, then leave. I've not the time for this. I must rest for the morning rounds." "You have the evening ones tonight, es? Then let me stay. We can talk."]
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"Naught to talk about."

"Where weer you?> Did They take you while you were on the road? How were you safe?"

"I saw them and ran to the woods. Came out when I saw it was safe. I'm just glad they did not see me, for all the robes I wear make me seen far and wide." Her tone was wry, aware of how much of a target she was. Doubly so for her heritage. "Mayhap I should have let them take me. It would not have been a trouble."

"For the kngdom it would have been! Don't be so foolish!" He swayed with sudden tiredness. "You've been a halp to..."

Another round of trumpeting rent the air. It was the announcement of some persons of importance arriving, not just the commanders of the camp. He peered out, but wasn't able to see who it was from here. A small hand brushed his shoulder, steadying him though he hadn't known that he had been swaying. "Sleep. You need it, so come and rest on my cot. It'll be much trouble to move you elsewgere. Understand?"

He nodded, his eyes falling closed as she pushed him into her own section, falling onto the mats on the ground that provided comfort and warmth. It was merely seconds before he fell asleep.
Nia had crept in with him to get some rest befor ethe next morning. There was no where else for her to sleep if she wanted to get any, and it would be suspicious if she went out to the woods at this point. As it was, it seemed Kirn had some suspiciouns about her story of running to the woods. She would, too, but what was she going to tell him? The truth? As she had stepped out after he had fallen asleep, she noted the flag that had accompanied the soliders. It was a bright horse galloping, bird's wings extending from it's sides. A Pegasus, a creature that had been on this land once upon a time but had fled to warner countries long ago. It symbloized the freedom that those who were in this nation had.

She had to scooff. That was something that had been lost long ago. There never really had been any, really. She knew that other nations had moved forward, finding peace between humans and elves, and even half bloods finding their place in the scheme of things. She had seen it so long ago, when she had lost herself across the border to the North. Her feet paused where they were, the night beginning to fill her eyes and bring back the memories that she had kepttucked away.

The mountains were easy to get lost in, and she herself had done it, running away from the Sisters that had taken her from her father. It wasn't that she disliked them... she did, but that wasn't the point. They had teased her, how she would never be blessed by any of the gods. Some was mere teasing, but most was in dead earnest, and even those who had been older than her had never been so cruel when she was with her father. Being away from him broke her heart. She longed to hear the cheerful laughter of her brother. It was impossible, though, for either thing to be heard, and in her despair Nia had run from it all, as fast and as far as possible, after being forved to do penance for her parents once more. It sickened her that they thought she was shamed of them- she loved them, though her feelings were growing more bitter by the day.

That day she found herself lost among the peaks and valleys. Her mountain had truly ben the border of the country, and that was why their accepnt more closely mirrored Dremine's, but that was unknown her her at that age. She knew her family had fled, there, though, and she was determined to follow, it. Nia's eyes flooded with tears, remembering the treck, and turned to scurry away from the camp she was in. It was getting to be too uch to remember, and this was not the place to do, it, in front of the hardened uncaring eyes.

Her feet slipped on the grass like they had on that day. It was harder to keep her balance then, and she had come away with blood across her knees. They had stung and feeling unable to go any farther in her dirty things and tired body, she wept. Crying until she went to sleep, the stars alighting the sky above her.

When she awoke, it had been in an unfamiliar place, a home in a style that was unfamiliar to her. She nearly started crying again as the door opened and a large man stepped in, a smile on his face. A woodsman, having saved her when she was out there, from exposure. She would certainly have died in this weather, as it was nearing the chill of winter and she was wounded. He didn't quite speak the same tongue, nor was it the city tongue that she had come to know from visitors that came through occasionally.

That was fine, though, since he fed her and wrapped her knees, and made sure that she was in no pain. Nia thanked him with hugs and smiles, and that seemed enough for the man. He lived alone, and in a hut that was far away from a village. He wasn't stupid or ignorant, though, because he knew what her robes symbolized, and the moment she was healed up, he placed her on a wagon that was bound for the mountains again. The guards that checked travellers could speak her language and theirs, and got the story out of her, however reluctant she was to give it. It might have only been for a few days, but the man had showed her kindness that the Sisters had not, and she had never forgotten it.

The cool bark of the tree she rested against, breathing hard from the memories that wwere broght up, felt good against her skin. The imprint of it was digging into her skin. She didn't mind, was glad for the feeling to bring her back to reality. It was important to not get too lost in the past. Otherwise she'd always regret not running away and staying in that country.
She couldn't stop the tears from falling down her cheeks. It wasn't fun to remember the kindness that she had been treated with for those days, being allowed to run and frolick to her heart's content. But it had ended, and she had been tossed back to the people that had hated her and wished her dead. She slumped to her knees, feeling exhaused from the day's events, from the memories that were overwheliming her. It was unexpected to feel a touch on her shoulder and someone ask quietly whether she was okay.

The words didn't register in her mind, though. All she could do was shriek at the touch, falling away as best she could as she turned back to see who it was and what they wanted. THe general she had treated was reaching for her, concern in his eyes. Hush! Please! You'll bring the others running! I won't be accused of assault by my own troops. A light smile belied his words. He didn't seem to be too concerned by her actions, but there was a harshness to his tone that demanded obedience. Nia slipped onto her knees and bowed her head. "My apologies. I idn't mean to do something so starling. PLease forgive me."

He kneeled and brushed her hair away from her face. It was unexpected, and she flinched from it. It was not every day that such a kind touch was given, and it didn't ease her worries that he would become violent with her. Plenty of soldiers were grateful when she treated them and not so afterwards. She knew that from far too much experience. He , however, was surprising her by it.

"I would appreciate if you did not move to touch me in the future" she mumbled. It was quiet, but Nia attempted to make her tone firm. It came out more as angry or tearful, though. "I apologise for startling you, and meant hno harm. Forgive me, and I will leave back to the camp and let you do what you need to."

She could see her reflection in the metal that encased his body. It was no more than the chain mail that was traditionally worn by the cavalry, but it shone with the brightness that marked it as some of the most high-quality material they had in the kingdom. She ducked her head, unwilling to meet his eyes. "I'm sur that you need to scout for enemy troops without my bothering you."

:They were after the Prince, were they not? I"m sure that they are long gone by now, thinking that he is away from the Camp on on his way to the next town."

Her eyes glanced upward and she noticed his face. A gasp excaped, and she could hardly believe who she wa beholding. "Sire! You're back from the journey? But I was sure that your wound..." "My wound was bad, but mostly healed, and when the tranqulizer wore off and we heard about what wa s happening here I could hardly say no to coming back. It would be a terrible loss to let you fall into the enemy's hadns, after all." She lowered her eys to the ground. It was strange, but for a moment, she had hoped that he would be saying that he could hardly let her get captured because she was nice, and that she was undeserving of the treatment that was befalling her. It was a sily hope, though. He didn'ty know her personally, and as the Prince he would value her skills over her as a person.

He held his hand out to her. "I will escort you back then?"
"Don't. I'm just a healer and a halfie. I would be in trouble with the others if I took such actions with you, though I appreciate the thought behind them, sire." Her brogh deepened as she spoke. Her memories were back inside the backs of her mind, but the emotions they stirred were not. She was almost ashamed to admit that she was feelinging like bursting into tears, wanting nothing more than to be help like she had been held by that man that day.

Ach, how she missed her father.

Regardless, she stood up and brushed herself off. This was no time to be getting lst and weeping, and she knew that. Anger at herself welled up, fueling her desire to get back and start working again. "Thank yees for your kindness, but please don't offer it again. Your father would not be pleased."

:He isn't pleased with much I do these days. You have not heard of my engagement to a young lady of no means? I could do no worse, and this is something that he would frown upon anyway. Even so, if you wish me to let you be, then I will respect your wishes. Thank you for going back, it will be a halp to us that are still looking here. You might accidently get mistaken for an enemy with most soldiers, and that would leave us one less Sylph. That would be a shame indeed, since I have not yet repaid you for your service."

She tightenedn her fists at that, then shrugged. It was dreadfully