by Shawn Sodman
“So, you do know how to smile,” Isen jests. “I was beginning to wonder.”
Gelana nudges Kel'ana and quietly says to her, “This is certainly interesting.”
Kel'ana nods and says, “I wonder if she will tell him about Chance.”
Evelena says to Princess Kianna, “I'm thinking we should probably just stay here for the night. What do you think?”
“I agree,” Kianna replies. “There's a pathway by the wagons. If anyone were to come here, that's most likely the direction they would approach from.”
“I'll have Kristieana check it out from above and see if anyone is close by,” Evelena says. “All right everyone, we're going to stay here tonight. Kristieana, would you please scout out the area?”
“Of course,” Kristieana answeres with a nod. She takes off her backpack before transforming into an eagle.
“Sven will start working on dinner,” Sven says.
“Good,” replies Kianna. “Isen can take the orcneas away from here.”
“Just me?” he asks.
“You were the one who killed them,” Kianna says. “Just use one of those wagons.”
“I'll give you a hand,” Garrin says.
“The rest of us should probably gather some wood for a fire,” Ya’leigh suggests.
Sven opens the wooden gate to the swine pen and grabs one of the woolly beasts by its long curved tusks. It lets out a squeal as he pulls it from the pen. After closing the gate, he leads it over to a large, blood-stained table that the orcneas clearly used to slaughter animals.
“I can't watch,” Kel'ana says as she turns away and covers her ears.
Sven pulls out the large Hellfire ax and strikes the swine on the back of its neck, severing its head in one blow. He then lifts the creature's body onto the table and pulls out his knife.
“It's over,” Ja'noa says to Kel'ana. With her ears covered and her eyes closed, Kel'ana doesn't hear her, so Ja'noa gently shakes her and says again, “It’s over. Why don't you go start the fire now?”
“All right,” Kel'ana says, still avoiding to look at the bloody hog.
Chapter 7
Story time
Later, as the sun begins to set, the Amazons of the Silver Moon, along with Princess Kianna and the others, have finished eating a big feast and sit around a large fire.
“I am so full,” Kel'ana says.
Ja'noa laughs, “You ate a lot for someone who thought the swine was gross.”
“I just didn't want to see it get killed,” replies Kel'ana.
“It was very good, Sven,” Garrin says. “Thank you.”
Isen stands up and says, “I like your food, too, Gena, but roasted swine is better.”
“Sorry, Isen,” Gena replies, “but that is not one of my recipes.”
“That's all right,” Isen says as he walks over and pats the halfling on the top of her head. “Your cheese went well with the meat.”
Gena swats away his hand and says, “I'm glad you enjoyed it.”
Lyra says, “Sven, I can be on watch with you again tonight. I promise I won't fall asleep.”
Sven smiles and glances over at Kristieana who is giving him an angry look. “It's all right,” he says. “You should let someone else be on watch and get good night's sleep.”
“Oh, all right,” she replies, disappointed.
Evelena says, “I think everyone who was on watch last night should get a full night's sleep.”
“I'll be fine,” Garrin says. “I'll take the third watch.”
“I'll take the second,” Isen says.
“Wait,” Evelena interrupts, “are you guys going to do this again? You three don't have to be on watch every night.”
“Most of you girls have spells,” Sven says. “We men do not. It is more tiring to cast spells than swing sword.”
“Gelana and I don't really use our spells in fights,” Rehma says. “We can take one of the shifts.”
“You two will be on second watch, then,” Evelena says. “Then Garrin and Isen can take the third watch.”
“So there aren't going to be any men on the second watch?” Garrin asks.
“Is that a problem?” Rehma asks as she stands up and starts to walk towards Garrin.
Gelana jumps to her feet and grabs Rehma's arm to hold her back. “Calm down,” Gelana says, “we don't want a repeat of Copper Pass.”
“What do you mean?” Isen asks.
Gelana pulls Rehma back and says, “Rehma lost her temper at the Inn and fought with Chance.”
“My father?” Ya’leigh asks, “Why?”
Rehma sits back down on one of the large rocks that surround the fire. She looks at Ya’leigh and says, “I have nothing against you, or your brother and sister, but I don't like your father.”
“Why is that?” Ya’leigh asks.
Not wanting to discuss the matter further, Rehma looks to her sisters to explain. Evelena says, “In the Second Orcnea War, her mother died while protecting Chance.”
“Wait a minute,” Garrin says. He asks Rehma, “Was your mother Teresa La'harn?”
Rehma looks up Garrin, surprised. “Yes.”
“Did you know her?” Evelena asks.
“Not really,” Garrin says. “I just know that Chance blamed himself for her death, and it really got to him. I was there, but I didn't see it happen. After that day, Chance didn't want to be near anyone in battle. He left to go behind the front lines and ventured deep into orcnea territory. It was the turning point of the war.”
No one says a word as they sit there, each of them looks into the fire. Ya’leigh breaks the silence and says, “I know what it is like to lose your mother, and I am sorry.”
Rehma looks up at her and says, “It's not your fault, and I'm sorry too. For both of us.”
There is another short silence then Ya'leigh turns to Kristieana and says, “So you did meet my father?”
Knowing she had already told Ya’leigh that she had never met Chance, Kristieana replies, “I wasn't with them at Copper Pass. I joined up with them the next night.”
“Oh, I see.” Ya'leigh nods, believing Kristieana's version.
“Chance told us that he met you a year ago at Elonfar,” Evelena says.
“It's possible,” Kristieana lies, “but if I did meet him, I don't remember.”
Evelena ponders for a moment but decides not to question it any further.
Sven speaks up and says, “Garrin, you do not have to worry about Rehma or Gelana on watch. Sven has fought by their sides more than once, and Sven can promise you they can take care of themselves. All of them can. Sven will sleep well knowing they are on watch.”
Sven looks over at Rehma who smiles and says, “Thank you, Sven.”
Kianna says, “Ya’leigh and I can take the first shift.”
Isen protests, “No, Your Highness, you need your sleep for your spells and I need Ya’leigh well rested in case she needs to increase my speed.”
“Sven will take first watch,” says Sven.
“I'll join him,” Kristieana says.
“Perhaps,” Sven says, feeling awkward with the idea of being on watch with Kristieana, “someone else... anyone else would be better.”
“I will!” Kelik says excitedly.
“Absolutely not,” Ya’leigh snaps.
“Kristieana can sleep,” Yentroc says. “I'll stay up.”
Evelena says, “Since the orcneas already know this place is a farm, I think it would be safe to keep the fire burning tonight. It may help keep some of the animals away.”
“Agreed,” Kianna says.
“Well, I'm not tired yet,” Lyra says as she pulls out the book that she was reading to Sven the night before. She walks over to Sven and sits next to him. Sven tries to move over to make room for Lyra sit, but the log they now share is not quite long enough for them both. “Would you like to read some more?” she asks him.
Kristieana stands up and says, “Why don't we have Sven tell us a story?”
Sv
en, confused, says, “Sven does not know any good stories.”
“You must have some,” Kristieana says as she starts to walk around the fire. “You are Sven of the North,” she says mockingly, “and someday they will sing songs about you. Surely you have some stories about your past.” She stops in front of Sven, who looks uncomfortable, and says, “Why don't you tell us about the time you spent at New Waterford.”
Sven slowly stands up as he stares Kristieana in the eyes. Trying not to show his anger, he says, “Sven would like to talk with you and Isen alone for a moment.” He turns and starts to walk away.
Isen stands up and looks at Kristieana, who has not taken her eyes off Sven. He starts to follow Sven as Kristieana says, “Whatever you want to talk about, we can do it here.”
“Alone!” Sven snaps as he turns around and gives Kristieana a glare. “And Sven was not asking.”
The group, never having seen Sven angry, watches Kristieana make her way over to Sven and Isen, who are waiting about twenty paces away near the hut.
Sven asks Isen, “Why did you tell her about New Waterford?”
“She was worried about Lyra,” Isen explains as Kristieana reaches them. “I thought if I told her about the time you were in love, she wouldn't think of you as someone who just used women. I know you really cared for her, just like you seem to care about Lyra.”
“You know nothing about how Sven feels,” Sven says. “Lyra and Sven are just friends.”
Kristieana says, “Then you won't have any problem telling us about New Waterford. Isen told me everything. So you have two choices. Either you can tell her, or I will. You can decide how you want her to find out the truth.”
Sven and Kristieana stare each other down before Sven finally relents. “Sven will tell story.”
“Good,” Kristieana says, “and one more thing.” Kristieana moves within inches of Sven's face and says, “I don't take orders from you. Don't EVER tell me what to do again.”
Sven doesn't say a word as he takes a step back and walks around Kristieana back to the fire.
“Is everything all right?” Lyra asks Sven as he returns to the others.
“Yes,” he answers. “Sven will tell you story about time Sven spent in New Waterford.”
Lyra looks over to Kristieana, who is sitting down with a smirk on her face. Lyra says, “Sven, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.”
Sven smiles at Lyra and says, “Yes, Sven does.” He looks up at everyone sitting around the fire and says, “Perhaps you will all understand Sven better when story is done.”
Sven steps back from the fire and says, “It has been over twenty years since Sven was in New Waterford. Sven was working on a small ship when one of the men suggested that Sven return home with him and get job in mines. So Sven went with him to New Waterford.”
Garrin asks, “Isn't New Waterford a dwarven town?”
“About half of population is dwarven,” Sven answers, “and rest are humans. It is good sized town on shore of Plateau Island. It has three taverns and two inns, but Sven stayed with friend. At least for little while. His wife was a very nice woman, and his daughter...” Sven stops and smiles. “When Sven saw friend's daughter come down stairs for first time it felt like someone was standing on Sven's chest. She was beautiful and took Sven's breath away. Her name was Fidelma.”
“If that was your friend’s daughter,” Lyra says, “how old was she?”
“She was nineteen,” he answers, “and Sven was twenty six. Sven began work in the local mines and every day Fidelma would bring him lunch. After work Sven and Fidelma would walk along coast and talk for hours. We quickly fell in love, and after Sven made enough money to buy his own place, Fidelma would come over and Sven would cook her dinner.”
“That's the way all men should treat their women,” Gelana says. The women giggle as Isen and Garrin look at each other and shake their heads.
“Our favorite place to go,” Sven continues, “was high up on mountain's plateau. From there you could look down on entire island. Sven liked to take her there because it was only place you could find night daisies. It was her favorite flower and Sven would always pick one for her and place it in her hair. At night on plateau, stars would seem so close it felt like you were flying among them. It was there that Sven proposed to her and she said yes.”
Shocked, Lyra asks, “You were engaged?”
Sven looks at Lyra and can see the confusion in her eyes. He then looks over at Kristieana, who says, “Yes, he was engaged.” She gives Sven a cold look and says, “Tell us what happened after that.”
Sven clears his throat and says, “Sven wanted to get married as soon as he could, but Fidelma wanted one of her best friends to be at ceremony. She sent a message to her friend and we waited. Soon we heard back from her friend and we set date. While we were waiting Fidelma became jealous of another girl. Her name was Ami and she worked at Smelters Inn. Sven would go there to eat because Ami made the best poached white fish. Fidelma did not like Ami. She said that Ami liked Sven too much, and Fidelma wanted Sven to eat somewhere else, but Sven only cared about food, and was not interested in Ami for anything else. Fidelma accused Sven of cheating on her. Then, on day before ceremony, Sven was eating dinner at Inn when Ami came in and sat next to Sven. She was holding a beautiful white flower. Fidelma came in and thought that Sven had gotten the flower for Ami. We had argument, but Sven was able to calm Fidelma down. She told Sven that we would talk more in morning and then left.”
Sven stops to take a drink from his wineskin as Lyra asks, “That was the day before your ceremony. Are you married?”
Sven takes another drink then sets down the wineskin. “No,” he answers. “Later that night at Smelters Inn, Sven was drinking. Ami brought him a mug of Ogre's Mead that had just been delivered that day. Ami sat next to Sven when beautiful red headed woman came in and sat on other side of Sven. Woman asked Ami if Sven belonged to her. When Ami said no, woman told Ami to leave. That was last thing Sven can remember about that night.”
“I have always heard that Ogre's Mead was strong,” says Gelana. “It must be true if it made you forget what happened.”
“The next thing Sven can remember,” he continues, “is waking up in room of Inn next morning. Sven was in large bed and had no clothes on. Then there was knock at door, but before Sven could get up, red headed woman from night before jumped out of bed and wrapped a blanket around her.”
“Oh, no,” Kel'ana gasps, “you didn't.”
“The woman went over to door as Sven covered up with another blanket,” he says. “When she opened door it was Fidelma on other side.”
Sven looks down embarrassed and Kristieana says, “The story gets even worse.”
“How?” Yentroc wonders.
Sven looks up at Kristieana, who does little to hide her delight in Sven's suffering. He clears his throat again and says, “At first, Fidelma did not see Sven. She walked in and gave red headed woman hug and said that it was good to see her again, and she was glad she was able to make it to ceremony.”
“Oh, Sven,” Gelana says, “you slept with her friend?”
Sven walks over to Kristieana and stands over her. He looks down at her and says, “Sven hopes that you are happy now.”
Kristieana doesn't answer him. She stands up while giving him a cold stare. Sven turns from her and begins to walk away. He walks pass Lyra who reaches for his arm and asks, “Sven, where are you going?”
“Sven needs to be alone,” he says as he pulls away from her and continues walking.
After Sven walks away, Lyra storms up to Kristieana and yells, “You embarrassed him! Why?”
“Because,” Kristieana answers, “you needed to know what kind of man he really is.”
“I know what kind of a man he is!” Lyra yells as Yentroc gets up and pulls her back. “He is the kind of man who came back for me on the bridge and pulled me up. He is the kind of man who will stand between me and an arrow. He is the kind of man who
kept me warm night after night and never once tried to...”
“Come on,” Yentroc says as she pulls Lyra by the arm.
“No,” Lyra says as she breaks free. She walks back up to Kristieana and looks up at her. “I know why you don't like him,” she says in a calmer tone, “and I appreciate you trying to look out for me, but Sven and I are just friends.”
“If you are just friends,” Kristieana says, “then why is he so upset? Do you really think he cares what we think about him? He is embarrassed because you know the truth.”
“I don't care about his past,” Lyra replies. “I am still his friend, and even if we were more than that, it is none of your concern. You stay away from him, Kristieana.”
“Come on Lyra,” Yentroc says. “Let's go.”
Yentroc leads Lyra away as Isen stands up and walks out to Sven. Out in the darkness Sven is looking up at the night sky. The waxing crescent moon hangs above the western horizon as the last glow from the sunset fades.
“I'm sorry, Sven,” Isen says, “I really was trying to help. I had no idea Kristieana would do that.”
Sven replies. “It is just as well. Now Lyra knows what kind of man Sven is. It will save her from being more disappointed later.”
“So what's going on with the two of you?” Isen asks.
“We are just friends,” Sven answers.
“That is what the two of you keep saying,” Isen says, “but are you sure there isn't more?”
“If there was,” Sven answers, “it no longer matters.”
From behind them they hear Lyra say, “Sven, can I speak with you a moment?”
Isen and Sven turn and see Lyra coming closer. “I'll leave you two alone,” Isen says as he begins to walk back to the others.
Sven looks down at his feet as Lyra approaches him. She says, “Kristieana will leave you alone from now on. I told her that we are not her concern, and that we were just friends.” She steps in close, looks up at him, and asks, “We are friends, aren't we?”
“Yes, friends,” Sven says looking up from the ground and forcing a smile.
“Good,” Lyra says, smiling back, “I don't want that to change.”
