A ride Towards Harsh wisdom: Chapter two (2)

With all the party now in agreement, the business of setting up the
camp could begin. They had foregone the use of tents, choosing instead
to bring rough blankets for resting. It was now past noon, and all where
feeling quite hungry, which made the fact that they had to be careful
with their rations quite irritating. They hoped that once they were
inside the forest the game would be plentiful, so that they could
indulge now and then.

Rilluex busied himself with building a fire, using the spare dry wood
he had remembered to pack. He saw that Mer Papin had gone back to his
listening position, so he knew there was little chance of conversation
there. Demlun was still sulking, chewing on his jerk beef while sitting
by himself. Valette and Rohais were inseparable as always, laying
together on the grass.

Franclerk came over to him, lowering himself down into a kneeling position.

“You think that Demlun will be alright?” Asked Rilluex, not looking away from his task.

“He’ll be fine.” Said Franclerk. “If anything, this’ll help us. When
we finally do encounter an enemy, He’ll be more than willing to take his
anger out on it. He may not look it sometimes, but Demlun is fearsome
when he’s properly provoked.”

“Fair enough; I suppose you know him best” Remarked Rilluex.

“It’s not him I’m worried about though.” Franclerk’s voice lowered at
this, and he leant in closer to Rilluex, who was now forced to give him
his full attention.

“It’s those two” Whispered Franclerk, and he made the slightest nod of his head in the direction of Rohais and Valette.

“What; are you jealous?” Quipped Rilluex.

“Of course not.” Replied Franclerk indignantly “If anything, I would accuse you of that. I’ve seen you smile at Rohais.”

“Only when she’s smiled at me, and she smiles at everyone. Maybe you would see it more often if you weren’t such an ass.”

Franclerk was about to object, but he stopped himself, remembering that he had a point to make.

“Anyway, that’s got nothing to do with what I’m saying. The two of
them are practically joined at the hip; I don’t think any of us have
ever seen them apart.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Asked Rilluex. He was now genuinely confused.

“What’s wrong is that neither of them seems to care about anything
but each other. It’s like they think this is a holiday, and that what we
are here for doesn’t matter. This is a dangerous journey, we all need
to be focused, and romance is always a distraction”

Rilluex was almost tempted to believe that Franclerk was joking, but
one look into his eyes told him that the bowman was entirely sincere. He
felt like wincing on his friend’s behalf, so embarrassed he was for
him.

He put his hand on Franclerk’s shoulder, at which the young knight’s face looked curious.

“Did no one tell you any tales as a young man, Franclerk? Do the
Du-Bresse family allow no minstrels or Bards at their castle, who pass
on the great epics of our kingdoms history?”

“That’s correct.” Replied Franclerk, annoyed at this line of
questions. “We don’t believe in any of that kind of frivolity, not while
there is work to be done. I learned my history where it should be
learned; in a schoolroom, not around the meal table.”

Rilluex sighed at that. “Then my friend, you know nothing about the
legends of Heisaria and Arkrane, the lovers who held of the wild hordes
of the south by themselves for a day and a night. Of Erik Kuld, who
faced every danger the world could offer so he could see his beloved
once more. Everyone should hear about Darui, and how she stood outside
her lovers tent as he lay dying, fighting off all foes so that in his
final hours, he could be at pea-“

“Enough!” Exclaimed Franclerk, loud enough so that all their fellows, who thus far had ignored them, could hear.

“Very well”, continued Franclerk. “You’ve heard a tall tale or two, I
grant you. But life is not a tale, and even then, I don’t see your
point.”

Rilluex laid himself on the grass, letting his eyes wander up to the
clouds. There was no doubt that it would rain soon, the sky growing ever
darker.

“We’ll never agree on what is true history and what isn’t, given how
we’ve both been raised. But those tales have a point to them beyond
entertainment. They teach us that love can motivate a person to do
incredible things, and give someone determination beyond what is thought
to be possible. It seems that those two may well have found such a
love, and it’ll make them both that much more determined to keep the
other safe. That’s why they’ll stay focused my friend, so no need to
worry.”

Franclerk was silent for a minute, thinking on what Rilluex had told
him. The first drips of rain began to fall, but far too light to be of
any nuisance.

“ Fine, I suppose you have a point” Sighed Franclerk as he finished
his thinking. “ I suppose we’d best worry about ourselves, and they’ll
take care of each other. Although I should imagine Rohais must be a
genius with that mace, if a castellan’s daughter is riding with us.”

This time, Rilluex could not supress his groan.

“ You fucking snob, do you know what you sound like?”

“ Now look, don’t mistake me” Franclerk replied, his tone defensive. “
I have no problem with her being here. But given how high born the rest
of us are, for our families to have consented to let her join us is
unusual, to say the least.

For a moment, Rilluex was stunned.

“ Did your father not tell you the story? Did no one tell you how she earned her reputation?

At this, Franclerk looked over to where Rohais and Valette were
sitting. The pair had pulled up a blanket over themselves, as the rain
slowly began to become heavier.

“ No, he told me nothing, just sent me on my way. I only found out she was with us when I met up with all of you.”

“ Well then” began Rilluex. “ I can tell you the whole tale, if you wish.

“ You may, but do so plainly. None of that flowery stuff.”

Rilluex took on a sombre look, knowing full well that this tale was not a pleasant one.

“ The castle her father governs is called Amrol, down near the
Nikralkan border. It’s the property of the Penuthe family, though they
never visit it. It’s pretty remote, but well defended. Rohais is an only
child, and had a fairly ordinary life”

“ It was during the last war with Gardena though, where she earned
her reputation. The main bulk of the castle’s garrison had been called
to the front, with barely more than ten soldiers left behind. You and I
both know that means easy pickings for determined bandits, and sure
enough, a band of fifty men soon came to attack.”

“ The walls of Amrol are well built, and at first it seemed that the
bandits would simply leave. But all it took was one bribe and they were
in through the sewers. They attacked at night, killing half the servants
before the alarm was raised. That should have been it, castle plundered
and all slaughtered.”

“ Yet in the morning, fifteen bandits had escaped, leaving the rest
of their comrades dead within Amrol’s walls. Of the castle’s residents,
all that remained where one soldier, eight or so servants, and the
castellan and his daughter.”

“ All the survivors swore before witnesses that Rohais had slain
twenty men by her own hand, wielding her mace with skill far beyond
anything they had ever seen. They told tales of her fighting in the
courtyard, standing strong while soldiers twice her age fled. If it
weren’t for her, the castle would have been lost.”

“ So that’s the story” Concluded Rilluex, pulling a blanket over his
head as he finished his tale. The fire had died by now, and the rain was
now becoming a torrent. A few metres away, Demlun was going through his
sword motions, clearly eager to get moving.

“ By every star” gasped Franclerk. “ I…. I didn’t have the faintest
idea. It’s just…..how terrible that must have been for her. But you
could never guess at it, seeing how she acts.”

“ That was puzzling for me too” Remarked Rilluex, looking again
towards where Rohais and Valette were. “ I suppose finding Valette
helped a great deal, which might explain why they never leave each
other’s side. But I don’t know if I could ever smile so much if such a
thing where to happen to me.”

“ Mount your horses, my friends!”

Rilluex and Franclerk rose to their feet, their contemplations set
aside for later. Demlun practically leaped onto his horse, once again
yanking the reigns. Valette and Rohais were slow to follow, both content
as long as they were together.

Once they where all mounted up, Mer Papin raised his hand, and
pointed towards the forest. The young knights rode in line now, all
following the old guide. Finally, they were about to enter the Badlands,
and begin their pilgrimage in earnest.

Rilluex never forgot this day, for as long as he lived. This was to
be the last day of his childhood, and from this point on, all that he
knew about the world would be proved to be false.