Of daring rescues and damsels

[Aithne Breagh]

(Houdini, this was pretty much where we left off in the thread The newcomer in town. PM me if you have any questions or concerns. Everyone else, please wait for Houdini to post before jumping in, thanks!)


As Guang stumbled forward, trying desperately to keep on his feet, Aithne followed close behind him to make sure that nothing else would attack him while he was vulnerable. Behind her she could hear the angered voices of the gnomes, but this did little to deter her from her actions. If her rescue was fleet enough on his feet, they would be able to outrun their pursuers. If not, she was prepared to take further actions that would make the small squadron wish they had let them go. Aithne allowed her mind to wander to her remaining spells, trying to pick out the ones that would suit them the best in this situation. Despite all of this, she maintained a close watch on the one she was trying desperately to help. It wasn't like her to take such matters into her own hands, but she had seen the way the gnomes had treated Guang. Plus, she couldn't help but sense that he wasn't a bad person.

But what if she was wrong?

The thought hadn't really surfaced in her conscious mind, but it lingered in the far reaches. While she had no reason not to trust Guang, she realized that she knew absolutely nothing about him. Still, deep within her being she knew that she had done the right thing. No one deserved to be treated in the manner that he had been. After a few minutes of running, they had put just enough of a distance between them and their pursuers that Aithne felt they might actually make it out unscathed. She caught up to Guang as he stumbled on an overgrowth of roots, her slender and graceful hands slid against his shoulder and arm to offer him some more stability.

"Careful. They are right behind us."

She didn't take time to stop, but continued to usher him along. Behind them Aithne could hear the gnomes hot on their trail. She cursed under her breath at their tenacity. The mage watched as Guang lunged forward through the trees before spinning on her heel. She lifted her hands and began to chant in a quiet voice, watching as a blue shimmer encased her fingers and palms.

"Amin kán lle an wanma enyalie."

The blue surrounding her hands flashed brilliantly for a moment as the spell flared to life. At the exact same moment that Aithne cast, an arrow whistled through the air and slammed into her shoulder. The mage gave a startled cry as she fell back, landing hard on the ground. Her only saving grace was the confusion spell, which caused all of the gnomes to grow flustered and flee in terror and turbulent befuddlement. Once she was certain the incantation had worked, Aithne's head fell back against the ground as unconsciousness settled over her.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang stumbled along blindly, trying to clear the dots from his vision so he could run faster. He felt a soft grip helping him along and pushing him through some foliage. He tripped on his way through and went rolling into a bush. He shook his head and sat up.

His vision had cleared and he saw the lady from the tavern standing to face the oncoming gnomes. A blue fire seemed to emanate from her fingers just as she was struck by an arrow. Guang raced to his feet as she hit the ground. He saw a knife on her and picked it up as he waited for the gnomes to attack. Nothing...they had either been missed or confused when chasing them. The gnomes were gone.

Guang looked down at his savior and saw that she had an arrow in the shoulder. It wasn't deep, but it was enough to cause pain, especially if she was weak after the magic use. He bent down and removed it quickly, using the knife to cut it away and his own torn shirt sleeve to bind it. He would need to clean the wound, but the woods were not safe.

Guang looked around and realized that the tavern was no longer safe for him, even if he went back with her. He decided instead to take her to his house in Tamasha. It was further, but it was private and he had supplies to treat her injury. Decided, he picked her up, cradled her gently, and left the woods.

**********************

An hour later, Guang had the wound bathed and sterilized with clean bandages. She was still sleeping and he had left her on his bed and gone to sit in his living room. He was curious about her, especially about why she had saved his life. He was curious about the magic too.

Guang did not have much truck with magic, especially after his upbringing. He wondered what this lady did to come by magic. Was she friend or foe? He thought friend based on her actions, but he was not certain. He decided that he would withhold judgment for now, but he was hoping that he had not erred...

[Aithne Breagh]

Throughout the trip to Guang's house, Aithne was completely unconscious. It wasn't the arrow that had zapped all of her energy, but more a combination of the shoulder wound and the exhaustion caused by using such an extensive spell. Had she only been aiming the spell at one of the gnomes, it wouldn't have drained her so completely. However, she had known that doing so would have left them completely vulnerable to the attacks of the others. Therefore she had sacrificed a little more of herself to make certain that at least Guang would get away. Little did she know that the person she had come to save had now become her savior. She had whimpered softly when he had cleaned her injury, then settled in for a deep rest after as he sat to contemplate his new guest.

After several hours, the mage finally began to stir. The quiet moan that escaped her lips at first would be telling, then she lifted her arm to place the back of her hand against her forehead. That was when she realized there was a tenderness in her shoulder. Her jade colored eyes fluttered lightly before opening and a deep sense of disorientation settled on her. Where was she? She distinctly remembered fleeing through the forest, stopping to cast the spell, but then what? Memory perked as her shoulder ached. Blinding pain had flooded her at the end of the spell. Then there was nothing. Nothing but a feeling of floating or...being carried, maybe?

Aithne drew in a deep breath and braced herself as she slowly pushed up to a seated position. The room that she was in was foreign to her. She held off the worry of her whereabouts. It couldn't be that bad, she wasn't tied to the bed or shackled in any way. Perhaps the one that she had helped to escape had brought her here. This explanation felt right to her and she felt her apprehension carefully ease away. The mage lowered her gaze to the bandages that covered her wounded skin. He had done a great job of sealing the tear. In time, the injury would heal to be as good as new. Aithne knew she had been lucky. If the gnomes had been a better shot, she would not have been accompanying the man out of the forest. It would have become her final resting place.

Cautiously she swung her feet out over the edge of the bed and shakily stood up. After several moments she regained her bearings and took a few steps toward the door. Her hand braced against the door frame for support as she slipped out into the main area of the house. Aithne's gaze fluttered around the room until she found Guang. He seemed to be deep in thought. She took another couple of steps in his direction and then stopped, not wanting to disturb him too much.

"I am glad to see that we both made it to safety."

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang started at the soft voice behind him. He was out of the chair with a short knife in his hand before she had finished saying the words. He shook his head as he realized that she was not threatening and smoothly sheathed the knife in his belt holster.

"I wouldn't have made it without your help," Guang said, motioning for her to take the cushioned chair he had just vacated. He sat down on another chair a few feet away, watching her carefully to make sure the movement would not hurt her.

"But I am sorry that your helping me hurt you even more. The arrow wound would have been infected had I left you, but it should heal in a few weeks if you don't aggravate it." Guang stood and got a couple of glasses from a shelf above the fireplace. He grabbed a bottle of ale and poured two glasses, handing one to her before returning to his seat.

"Who are you?" he asked.

[Aithne Breagh]

Aithne moved over closer to him as he beckoned to the open chair. The injury was aching, but tolerable and it showed in her eyes as she lowered to the seat. A gentle hand moved up to cover over the bandages he had applied as she looked to him.

"I've had much worse in my day. But I do thank you for the assistance, the thought of laying there until death came is most unappealing."

The mage smiled softly as she lowered her hand to the table. His question didn't bother her, she had nothing to hide. Perhaps he might think her actions strange, considering they had not known each other before the rescue mission. He had but to look into her eyes, into her soul, to know that she did not have ulterior motives of any kind. To Aithne it was simply a matter of the way the gnomes had treated him, especially when he had not garnered such management by any actions that she had seen. The lady drew in a soft breath and then shrugged her shoulder slightly, to let him know that saving him was something she felt was not above her.

"My name is Aithne. Aithne Breagh. I am merely a traveler through these parts, but where I come from, no man deserves to be treated like an animal that doesn't act like one. Maybe it was wrong of me to interfere, but I could not...in good conscience...allow you to suffer their indignities like that."

She smoothed her hand over the table's top gently, her jade colored eyes falling to watch the movement. He could take her words as he willed, she would not hold anything against him if he should wish to send her on her way. Again her smile graced her lips as she looked up to him. He seemed a kind enough fellow. Maybe he would allow her to impose upon his graciousness just a little more before anything else.

"Might I beg of you some water...or perhaps even some tea? If you have none to spare I will not hold it against you and shall be on my way at your request."

She definitely meant him no harm, in fact she seemed very relieved that he had made it out of the encounter with the gnomes.

[HoudiniDerek]

"I haven't been able to get any water brought in yet and my pump has been acting up. All I have is ale." He directed her attention to it and he took a sip of his own.

"Thank you again for saving me. I don't know where you are from, but it sounds like a nice place if people are not so judgmental." Guang smiled bitterly and sipped at his ale again. It was warm, but it was wet, and it helped clear his head.

Guang smiled at Aithne's comment on her leaving. "Why would I have you leave? You saved my life. The very least I can do is let you stay until you have healed." He saluted her with his glass and looked her over more carefully.

She was a lovely lady and had a very innocent look about her. Maybe innocent was the wrong word, Guang thought. More of a traveled and knowing look, but it had an innocence to it. That more than anything had probably led her to helping him with the gnome patrol.

Guang looked out the front window and shivered. He had not been that close to returning home since he had left. It had been a long time...and he was not happy that he had been traced to Tamasha. It was probably only a matter of time.

Guang turned his attention back to Aithne. "Do you come to Tamasha often? What are your plans while you are in town?"

[Aithne Breagh]

When Guang motioned to the ale that he had already poured for her, Aithne realized just how out of it she really was. She smiled apologetically to him as she gently gripped the mug. Alcoholic drinks really weren't her first choice, but she would never do anything as rude as to refuse another's kindnesses to her. She took a tentative sip of the drink, testing the bitterness of the brew. Though it was warm, the mage was relieved to find it palatable. Her thirst jumped at the wetness on her tongue, so she took a larger pull of the fluid before placing the glass back on the table. His mention of judgmental people made her frown. Though she did hail from a place she considered to be lawful and decent, Aithne couldn't bring herself to believe that this land was all that different. Maybe she had a lot to learn here.

While she contemplated that thought, his reassurance that she need not leave until she was ready put her well at ease. She had not been wrong about him. This only made her all the more curious as to why a band of gnomes would accost him and force him to go anywhere against his will. Perhaps there was more to the story than what met the eye. Still, Aithne did not push the issue and instead accepted his hospitality.

"Thank you, for that. It will help me to heal faster, knowing that I am in a safe place."

The mage smiled to him thoughtfully, lifting her own glass to him before taking another sip of the grainy drink. His assessment of her was spot on. She had traveled many leagues, had joined in numerous adventures. This was something she enjoyed doing more than anything she'd ever done in her life. It was also the cause of why she had taken action where Guang was concerned. The mage could pride herself on a strange sense of others' intentions. The man before her had been in trouble, a trouble that she could tell he didn't deserve. She watched him as he looked out the window, barely catching sight of the shiver that overtook him briefly. When he turned back to her, he would see concern etched upon her dainty features.

"This is actually my first visit here. I know very little about the area."

Indeed, the only thing she had heard was that it seemed like a great place to find adventure. She wasn't about the riches and the glory, but there was something fascinating to her about exploring the unknown and finding the ties to the past.

[HoudiniDerek]

"Welcome then," Guang said, saluting with his glass and taking a longer pull. He hadn't realized how tense he had been...first with the gnome band and escape, then with this young magic-wielder, and then while waiting for her to wake. It has been a long evening and he was slowly recovering his equilibrium.

"Tamasha is a wonderful city. It has members of nearly every race here and they can all interact and survive. Of course, there are usually some degenerates that cause problems, but the city guard do a great job. There are street magicians, mimes, pickpockets, fortune tellers, and the usual small business proprietors."

Guang looked out the window, but could not see anything because of the darkened streets. It was early morning now and very few people would be out and about.

"I could happily live here the rest of my life. In fact, I have lived here for several years already. I have a system and a small network of acquaintances. It might not be my ideal situation, but this city has treated me well." Guang took another sip of ale and leaned back into his chair.

"What sort of adventure are you after? If it's dangerous, you might have to wait a couple of weeks." He smiled and took another sip.

[Aithne Breagh]

Aithne listened to Guang as he told her of Tamasha. From what she could gather, the village would be a great place to settle in for a while. Though she wasn't particularly looking for a permanent home, the thought of having something to come back to from time to time was rather appealing. She smiled thoughtfully as she contemplated all of his words. It was good to know that there were decent people there, but it was equally helpful to find that even here there were your run-of-the-mill rogues to be wary of. The mage had always been careful about who she trusted, but so far her strange sixth sense of being able to discern others' intentions had not let her down.

"It seems that I have rescued the perfect guide to this city."

She winked lightly to let him know that she spoke in jest, though if he were to offer to show her around the place, she would take him up on it. As he asked his question, Aithne canted a gaze down to the bandage covering her wounded shoulder. He was definitely right. Though she never went on an adventure expecting there to be trouble, amazingly enough trouble always seemed to find a way in. If she were going to be of any use to a scouting party seeking fame and riches, she was going to need to be in full health. She sat in silence for several moments before looking up at him.

"I never go looking for a fight, but one always seems to be waiting right around the corner when I least expect it."

Aithne shrugged lightly, as if this were just something she had come to expect. One had only to think about their particular meeting to know she spoke the truth. She had come to Tamasha without seeking any confrontations, but the good side of her had demanded that she act on Guang's behalf. As a result, a couple of gnomes had met their end and the rest were all bumbling around the forest still confused by her spell. The price she had paid for success had been an arrow piercing her flesh. It wasn't the first hit she'd ever taken and she was quite certain it wouldn't be the last.

"I think you may be right. Spell casting when I am weak would be a dangerous venture."

Maybe this would prove to be a silver lining. If she had to wait before seeking out employment in an adventuring party, then perhaps she could use the time to find herself a place to stay in Tamasha. She had already made one friend, at least that is what she thought about Guang. He had proven himself when he had brought her here to his home, since his actions had not been required. He could have left her in the forest, alone, to fend for herself. He could have escaped and no one would have been the wiser. But he had done neither of those things and had chosen to help her since she had helped him. That, in her book, was the start of a good friendship.

"Maybe tomorrow I could explore the town."

She wouldn't be so bold as to expect him to show her around. If he offered, however, she would gratefully accept.

[HoudiniDerek]

"I would be honored to guide you around the city," Guang said, saluting her again with the glass, now half empty. "Tomorrow might be a little soon though. I am going to have redress your wound. Plus, I want to be able to clean it a couple of times. Our exploration might have to wait."

Guang looked out the window again, warily this time. He knew that a low profile would be necessary for a couple of days. The gnomes had somehow missed him in the forest the second time...and he was sure it was from the magic of the lady that sat across from him. In her weakened condition, he wasn't sure she was going to be able to save him again if the need arose.

"But it's late tonight and we have all day to talk tomorrow. You can tell me more about yourself and we can plan out all of what you would like to see in Tamasha." He grinned and swallowed the rest of his ale. "Let me help you back to your room." He stood and walked over to her, reaching out his hand.

[Aithne Breagh]

Aithne listened to Guang and watched his actions. Her strange sixth sense seemed to be alerting her to the fact that he did not wish to be out in public just yet. Was it caution over his near capture in the woods or something else? It wasn't in her nature to force issues, so she simply nodded in agreement with him. The pain of her shoulder wound was sharp, but not unmanageable. Still, she knew that with his continued care and a few days of taking it easy, she would be back to good in no time.

As he finished his glass of ale, the mage looked to her own. She had barely touched the liquid, only having taken just a few drinks. Graceful fingers wrapped around the tumbler and she took another small sip. It would suffice for now, though she hoped he would be able to bring in some water at some point. Alcoholic beverages had never appealed to her. Aithne supposed it was because she had found it to be too dangerous to let go of control over her magic. She had learned at a young age just how destructive a drunken magic user could be.

When he walked over and offered her his hand, she took it readily and eased herself into a standing position. She had to admit that the wound had left her weakened. A smile was offered to Guang as she used his grip to help keep her steady. Whatever it was that was causing him to be so unsure, Aithne wanted to help. Still, she wasn't so bold as to make mention of what had happened. They would have time to talk of what might come...after they got to know each other a little. Trust wasn't something that was built overnight. She knew this well.

"Thank you. You have been so kind and I am in your debt."

She allowed him to lead her back to the room, then marveled at how comforting it looked. Had just such a short walk made her this worn out? She took an easy breath and lowered to sit on the edge of the mattress, then offered him another grateful smile.

"I hate to take your bed from you. I could sleep on the floor, it would be no trouble."

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang watched her sit gently on the bed. He smiled as she offered to sleep on the floor. "It's no trouble. I am not often home and the bed still feels different for me. I will sleep out in the front room and keep the fire stoked. It will be cold in Tamasha tonight."

He smiled again and left, closing the door behind him. He walked back down the short hall and picked up the glasses. She had not touched hers that much. Probably worried about drinking alone with a man. There was that to consider.

He took the dishes to the kitchen and washed them down and put them away. Clutter had never been for him. Each day when he woke or went to bed, it looked as if the house were empty and awaiting an owner. After all these years of looking over his shoulder, his methodical nature was still there. He smiled slightly thinking of home, but it quickly vanished.

He had no home anymore. Tamasha was where he laid his head and that was about it. It was nice to come back and have a safe haven, but that haven was getting smaller...as those gnomes had proven tonight. If not for the girl with the magic...

Guang walked to the hallway and looked down towards the door. She was a beautiful lady, but she had so much power...how much he did not know. And why save him when she could have easily not bothered? Was there something between them from the look they shared at the tavern? Was she a hunter of him too? Guang frowned at the questions, not only for their import, but because of the late hour.

He muddled around his chores for the next few minutes and stoked the fire. It was not as bad as some places he had slept. He grinned and laid out on the hard floor, arms behind his head, and slept.

***************************

Guang was up early the next morning, keeping the fire stoked so he could cook breakfast and so he had enough hot coals to work on her arm again. It might need to be resealed and a new fire would take time.

He stirred the stew, smelling the delightful scents. He usually only had something simple, but she would need her strength. And he was enjoying himself he realized. Was it because he enjoyed cooking or because he enjoyed cooking for someone? He shook the thought aside and added a few more spices. It would be ready soon.

[Aithne Breagh]

It had been most kind of him to allow her to take his bed. Despite her injury, she would have gladly allowed him to sleep comfortably if he had wished it. After all, she was only a guest in his house...and only then because of the circumstances that had brought them together. Such actions spoke volumes on what sort of man Guang was. Her sleep had at first been quite restless. The pain from her wound was enough of a dull ache that it easily infiltrated her dreams. Occasionally she moaned softly while she slumbered until she finally fell into a deeper state of rest. Once that hit her, she slept soundly and with little other noise than the steady motions of her breathing.

As morning filtered through the curtains over his bedroom window, Aithne sluggishly began to reach consciousness. It wasn't until the alluring scent of food wafted to her that she reached an awake state. Lashes fluttered briefly over her smooth jade eyes before trying to focus on the ceiling. A brief moment of disorientation hit her as she tried to remember where she was. The mage drew in a slow breath and tried to swallow, but her throat felt tight and scratchy. Memories of the previous evening came back and she relaxed once more, allowing the enticing smell of his cooking to further soothe her. When her stomach growled, Aithne smiled lightly and pushed herself up to a seated position. The burning ache of her shoulder reminded her sharply that it was unwise to hurry.

She lowered her gaze down to the bandages that he had applied with a steady hand. Dried blood had crusted one corner, but it looked as if the flow had all but stopped during the night. Aithne raised a hand and pressed her fingers delicately to the injury, testing the soreness. Whatever salve or medicine he might have applied had definitely helped. Still, the wound was tender and she knew that his decision for them to wait a few more days before exploring the village was a sound one.

Aithne's stomach rumbled once more, awakened by the savory stew he was preparing. She cautiously pushed herself up to stand, bracing herself briefly against the bed before making her way out to where he was. It surprised her to feel as weak as she did. She'd certainly had far worse injuries than this before, but she knew what the cause of her increased frailness was. The gnome couldn't have picked a worse time to attack her, she had been right in the middle of casting one of her most powerful of spells. When she spotted Guang near the fireplace, she moved slowly toward him. She offered a gentle smile before drawing in a deeper breath to take in the scent of the food.

"That smells absolutely delicious."

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang turned as she entered the room. Even after losing so much blood and sleeping in an unfamiliar place, she managed to look well-rested...and beautiful, he realized. He smiled at her compliment and turned back to the stew, frowning. What was he thinking? She was a lovely young lady, yes, but that gave him no right to consider her as a lady he would like to pursue romantically. What had given him that notion?

Guang shook his head to clear it and dished out a hearty helping of the stew. He took it over to the table and gestured for Aithne to sit. He returned moments later with his stew and set it down on the table too. Guang went to the kitchen and grabbed two glasses, pouring some fresh herb tea in both. He set one before her and one before his plate before sitting down.

"I hope you slept well," he said, waiting on her to eat first. "After breakfast, I will clean your wound again. It looks like the night was rough on it." He smiled and waited.

[Aithne Breagh]

Aithne had watched him curiously as he dished out their breakfast. At first he seemed lost in his thoughts and that strange sixth sense of hers gave her the notion that he had been thinking on her. She made no mention of it, though, and moved over to the table to sit where he had placed her bowl. The aroma of the food made her mouth water and she smiled lightly as he placed that mug of tea before her. It smelled positively delightful and for that one moment she felt far more thirsty than . He would find that she wasn't a rude guest, however, because she waited for him to find his seat before she even considered digging in. Once he was comfortable, Aithne took up her mug and sipped at the herbal brew. It was perfect. She took a couple of deeper drinks, cautious over the warmth of the tea, before setting it back on the table.

"I slept very peacefully once I got comfortable, thank you."

She felt as if she couldn't express her gratitude well enough. If he had been less of a gentleman and had made her a litter on the floor instead, Aithne was positive she would not have slept nearly as well. She used her off hand with as much grace as she would have used the other to pick up a sthingyful of the stew. Once the taste of it hit her tongue, she found herself on the verge of being ravenous. The energy she had lost during the spell (and consequential attack) had zapped her of any lingering strength and now her body was eager to replace what it had been deprived of. She ate another mouthful before taking a slight pause to look down at the crusted bandage.

"I think I may have turned over on my side at some point. The wound is tender, but I believe your care has helped to steer it in the right direction."

Aithne smiled softly to him as she picked up her sthingy again and worked more of the stew into a bite. As she chewed on a morsel of potato it occurred to her that he was a rather talented . It made her think on past adventures and how she had wished time and again that she had learned how to cook. One could only stand burnt fire pit rabbit so long.

"This is delicious...."

She paused briefly, thinking very hard on the past day and all of their conversations. After a moment, she realized that she actually didn't know his name.

"I'm sorry, I seem to be a little forgetful...what with all that has happened. You have been so kind to me, but I can not remember if you told me your name?"