Sunder & Octavia: Salvation

Sunder:

Sunder gave the blacksmith more than an hour to be sure he wasn’t just standing around in the way, and sweating in a forge, but returned as soon as he was sure they’d be done. And none too soon. He’d spotted one of the church knights belonging to the sad girl’s church. The one she’d called Caspian must have called in reinforcements overnight. And if they only sent one they’d be a skilled fighter, and based on the mantle over their left pauldron they were a battle mage. Tricky to deal with, not impossible. But wanton bloodshed was equally a bad idea. Even not wanting the knight to get the first strike. And he’d never seen a weapon like the knight was carrying. It was some odd melding of gnarled staff wood and an ornate bladed spear. Unclear what kind of magic beyond divine but even without a secondary source that was dangerous enough. He’d need a plan.

“Sonny.” the dwarf said, staring at Sunder. “I can tell by your shape you’re a decent knight.” he waved his fat pointer finger at all of Sunder’s armour as he was putting it on. “Reckon I still can’t figure why you’d want that mess.” He waved his fingers at it again, “All the rough unpolished edges, the hammer marks, the forge weld scars. I’m sorry Sonny but I just fell bad sending you out in that.” he went on. “You’re gonna get killed wearing nothing but spitwelded scraps.”

“Fancy armour is for knights.” Sunder said, “I am a warrior, my skill speaks for me. If I needed trinkets and crutches I would become rusty. No. This armour serves its purpose, like I serve mine.”

The dwarf rubbed that back of his neck. “Alright Lad.” he said unsure. “Least let me sharpen your sword. On the House.”

Sunder pulled the blade from its scabbard and handed it over.

“Fair Lady…Lad, you been chopping trees with this poor thing?” the dwarf asked, taking it over to the sharpening wheel.

“Something like that.” Sunder responded. And the dwarf shook his head working the foot pedal on the wheel sharpening Sunder's sword.

Octavia:

Octavia sat at one of the small tables, forcing herself to eat something, it helped with the medication she took for her headaches to not ingest it on and empty stomach but she mostly just picked at the sweet roll in front of her letting her tea grow cold, still waiting for Caspain to wake up. She could feel a few eyes on her. She didn’t sense hostility, more confusion of what a nun was doing in a tavern eating a sweet roll, alone. “Where are you…” she thought idly, stirring her tea.

She’d only managed to eat around half of the sweet roll when the bell over the door ding, and on reflex she looked up. Expecting a face she didn’t know. But a part of her hoped it was Sunder. He’d protected her before, but she wasn’t so lucky. At the door was Caspian. She watched him scan the room and then walk over. “Gather your things. The Church saw fit to send us a proper guard after last night's needless truce.”

“But he saved…” Octavia started, but Caspiann leaned forward.

His lips next to her ear so no one else would hear his words. “If you speak respectfully of that heretic again, I will ensure when we return to church you will be lashed for heresy. Nod, get your things and we will go.”

Octavia nodded and stood to get her things. Thinking she should have ran when she had the chance…but with her luck Caspian had just been outside waiting for that.

Sunder:

Sunder walked down the road to the inn he’d dropped the girl off. At the moment he had no intention of protecting her any farther but he didn’t like the man with her. He had something to him, Sunder couldn’t sense auras like The Mother, or the strange blonde woman he met not long ago. But he could feel it like hostility before a battle. A predator natural instinct. He was a credible threat. As he approached the inn he saw a large knight. The same one with the mantle and odd staff…or spear…whatever it was it was powerful. Sunder halted his approach. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't fight here. The chaos would cost more lives than it would be worth. He growled slightly and turned. “You can’t save everyone…” he tried to tell himself, repeating it in his mind as if that would convince him. Not looking back.

Octavia:

She’d repacked her bags when there was a hard knock on her door. “What is taking you so long!” Caspian growled from the other side of the door.

“Coming.” she said, hurrying out. Following behind Caspian as she passed the bar Octavia slipped a sheet of folded paper in front of the bartender, looking up to his eyes then to the note. Before she kept walking.

When she was out of the door the Bartender opened it, and called over a bar maid who he handed the paper to, she read it, exchanged a glance and headed out the door. Running in the opposite direction the trio of Octavia, Caspian and the knight were going. Hearing the door slam, Octavia chanced a glance seeing the woman running off down the street and they headed for the next town.

Sunder:

Sunder was out the town gate and a fair bit ahead of the other group. He’d been walking for roughly half an hour and stopped for a rest, popping the jaw of his helmet free and taking a drink from his waterskin, and refastening it. He heard a whisper in his ear, and closed his eyes to focus on listening. After a moment he nodded, “Understood.” he said, loosening the straps of his rucksack to take it off and drop it in the grass beside the dirt path. Taking the time he had to stretch and prepare. Wishing he’d had another day to heal, but knowing that was a seldom earned luxury.

Octavia:

As she walked she could feel the oppressive stature of the knight behind her. Anytime she slowed her pace even slightly he was there nearly pushing her to keep her moving at the pace Caspian seemed to be setting. Causing her to nearly trip several times. “Move.” the booming voice behind her said, echoing from inside the helmet. “I’m trying.” she said, but she kept thinking in her mind. “Please…please…please.” in the cadence of a prayer.

Octavia was only half aware of her surroundings, more focused on not being shoved or worse, when she suddenly hit something or rather Caspian’s back. “Pay attention.” he snipped. Peeking past him she saw why he’d stopped. Seeing Sunder getting up from a sitting position beside the road. Her eyes grew wide. Did the Fair Lady really work this quickly?

Sunder:

“Okay.” he said standing with a slight grunt. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

“What?” Caspian asked, teeth grinding slightly.

“I’ll take the burdensome lass off your hands.” Sunder said.

Caspian laughed, it was a maniacal affair. “Why in Aeran would I give her over to you?”

“Wasn’t a request.” Sunder said.

Caspian laughed again. “Kill him.” he said to the knight with him.

“Why do they always choose the hard way…”