Free Souls- chapter 10

Chapter ten: The mercenary and the shaman



In only one day Lilith couldn’t understand enough of the two men Keeo suggested as their new companions. They were always by themselves, and apparently they didn’t talk much to each other; the big man looked as a prisoner, or a slave, so she wondered if the warrior was honest and reliable.
<<I don’t care if he doesn’t look honest or reliable>> commented Keeo that evening, before getting to sleep. <<Let’s face the truth:  I’m just a kid and you need someone to fight by your side. Someone useful in battle. By all means, talk with them tomorrow. I will look at the other travelers and find some other warriors to get in the team>>.

The next morning, when Lilith woke up, Keeo was already gone from the cabin. She couldn’t completely agree with his ethic, but then again, what could she possibly do all alone? It was her fifth day on the ship, which was her own number as General, ironically enough. “Maybe it’s a good sign” she thought letting go a sigh.
The half-elf promptly stood and after a poor breakfast she looked for the two men she had studied.  That day they were walking on the deck, looking at the sea, once again in complete silence. She got closer and stopped a few meters from them, and also stared at the horizon for some while; in the end, she turned on their side and saluted them, polite and calm.
The warrior who had supposedly enchained the other one saluted back, and added in a few seconds: <<You are the half-drow dancer, I remember you>>.
The man was wearing a fine, yet heavy-looking metallic armor, a sword on his side, but no helmet. She thought he could have let it in his own cabin, and observing his serious and mature look reminded her of the First General in the dimension she came from.
“He looks talkative though” she thought, nodding. She didn’t remember he was looking at her dancing in her first days on that ship, most likely because they didn’t look important, nor they stood out due to their common appearance. “At least he didn’t call me a dark elf”.
<<The armor you wear…the fabrics that hide it may trick some inexperienced ones, but not me>> the man continued, his brown eyes keen and quite interested. <<That’s Mithryl, and well manufactured even. That’s curious. Where do you come from?>>
<<Oh, that’s a long story. Would you like to hear it all, or just some short excerpts here and there?>>
<< A few passages would work well with me>> he replied, coming closer. The chains of his prisoner were quite short, so he followed right after, with a tinkling sound.
Lilith also turned completely in their direction, examining their expressions. The warrior didn’t look particularly interested in her armor, more like wanting to hear the story behind it; the other man looked bored instead, and kept looking around with a tired look.
The girl decided to tell only a short part of her story: <<I come from the gnome village, where they made this armor for me. I’m currently going to the continent to catch up with a blue dragon who kidnapped my adopted child. Another man, a bard named Loa, is already on its traces. Have you seen any of them?>>
The warrior shook his head, still quite interested. <<I just know the gnomes from that village, as I’ve been on that island before.  And this dragon, why did it take your child from you? Is it an old dragon?>>
<<No, no, he’s actually quite young, luckily. He feels grief towards me, because according to his words, I made something which had been strictly prohibited by his master, a man so-called the Emperor. I accidentally helped the reconstruction of a building in which a terrible fiend was sleeping>> thinking back, the whole matter was quite twisted. It was her child who gave her that magical instrument which rebuilt the tower and freed the Astral Terror, on the command of the Emperor himself…what actually happened in that moment? She sighed again, then added back: <<Oh, my name is Lilith, by the way. Nice to meet you>>.
<<My name is Molfreid >> he answered, bowing a little. <<While this other man behind me is Brughn>>.
Lilith immediately took the chance. <<May I ask you, why is he in chains? Is he an outlaw or something?>>
Molfreid shook his head, then turned looking at the prisoner. <<Not that such of story, actually. His tribe has been threatened and attacked, some time ago; and as they fought back, some ended up being killed or captured. He’s one of the captured ones, who later escaped from their jailers>>. The man turned looking at Lilith once again, his expression serious and cold. <<I feel sorry for him, poor thing, but I’m a bounty hunter and a mercenary. This is my job>>.
The half elf nodded, starting to understand the warrior’s reasons to have Brughn as prisoner. That man’s appearance was terrible and made her feel pitiful: the dark circles around his tired and sad eyes, the muscular body trapped by chains, the old furs he used as clothing all dirty and bald.
<<So you’re a mercenary>> Lilith started, quite doubtful. <<I admit it would be extremely useful having you in my team, to rescue my daughter. Is there any chance you’d join us after delivering him? Or earlier, if possible>>.
<<I’m not sure, to be honest. May be that we follow the same way for some time, I have to head for the South to get this man to their jailers, and it’ll be a long journey. I hardly think you have time to wait for me>> the man answered back, and Lilith nodded. <<I understand your need, miss, but I guess I can’t do anything for you…except than, maybe, suggesting you a couple of my companions who currently work in the port we’re heading for. They would help you if well compensated>>.
“Keeo said he’s full of gold, but well” she thought, suspicious, then answered kindly: <<Thank you very much, Molfreid , that would be much appreciated. Would you mind if we’d talk about it later, or maybe tomorrow, as soon as I’ve found my travel mate?>>
The warrior answered it wasn’t a problem, smiling, and saluted her. As soon as Lilith saluted back, she noticed the barbarian in fur was staring at her with insistence.
<<He’s never seen a dark elf, apparently>> Molfreid explained at her curious look. <<He knew some elves, and speaks elven language quite well. That’s the only way I can communicate with him>>.
<<Well>> the girl sighed looking at Brughn. <<Goodbye>> she saluted, speaking in the elven his father had taught years earlier. At her greeting, the man answered back with a raw voice, and looked away from her, as if he finally understood she was only an unhealthy-looking elf. Lilith giggled, then walked away, looking for Keeo.

The boy was waiting for her in their cabin, with some nausea and disappointed of his research for new companions. He agreed with her choice of talking with the mercenary again, then laid down and rested for some time. They both left the cabin for their supper, then got back to sleep again.
In the middle of the night, Keeo woke her up, hearing strange noises from above. Lilith stood in silence  keeping her breath and listening: she also heard weird steps and suffocated noises. As soon as she recognized something was wrong, she suggested the boy to take up all his stuff and his bag, and started walking in the shadows.


It continues in chapter 11