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Some Time Ago
The Minced Maiden, Sinstead
Andi was no stranger to the time and effort that went into battling personal demons, but this was getting ridiculous. The boy had barely been up and about a week, and already most of that had been spent huddled in some corner or another - shaking and staring into the middle distance. And like hell was it her fault - as Healer Benson with his mystic tones and goo-goo eyes had not so much implied as ‘smashed her over the head with’ when he said to just ‘try a little harder’.
What a prick.
The fuck did he know, anyway? What was he expecting - a heart to heart? Deep personal revelations of the kind seen in the players’ Saturday evening performances? The kid wasn’t even giving her a name, never mind a confessional. She scowled, dried damp, calloused hands on the grubby dish rag strung over her belt, and marched over to the shuddering heap of a child that had taken residence in her kitchen.
“Right,” she said, tone sharp,
“Enough of that. I won’t have layabouts under my roof. You’re to get to work if you’ve any plans of staying.” she stood for a moment, hands perched squarely on her hips. The boy blinked. Looked up at her. It was more of a reaction than she’d gotten in weeks. Huh.
A little flustered at the sudden communication, she continued on,
“Well... there’s tankards out front that want collecting, dishes that want washing, and a floor that needs a good sweeping,” best not to set the patrons on the poor lad just yet,
“you’ll be paid a coin an hour for any work you do - normally it’d be two, but you’re already getting room and board - any more and I’d be shut down. Sound alright to you?” A small nod, and that was that.
Present Day
The Red Hoods' Keep - Hallway
Colin
A moment. The feeling like his chest might explode. Two exits, not counting the door leading to rooms with windows and a fifty foot drop. Behind them were the hoods.
Never there when you needed them.
They were on their own.
The others needed to run – why weren’t they running? Why did none of these people know how to fucking
run?
A boy – all bright colours and billowing fabrics, barrelled into the creature out of nowhere.
Shit.
Wanted to look away. Couldn’t. Ready, to hear the ripping, shredding, choking –
"P-please don't fight! Can't we all be friends?!" And then –
"There's no need for you to go risking your life for someone you hardly know kid, though I do admire your resolve."
Dull surprise
And then its eyes were on him.
Some speech that he only half heard –
It was trying to play nice. Did it really think it could fool him? The others needed to run. Whilst it was distracted. Before this got messy.
“Do you think I’m bloody stupid or something?” His voice again,
“that might work on the fucking kids you tear to pieces for a laugh, but it’s not working on me!"A distant aching, burning sensation in his arms. He was getting tired.
"
Listen fookin 'ere!"
A clanking, grating sound – a flash of silver in the corner of his eye.
He ducked, hit the floor arse-first.
The arrow loosed.
Thunk!Harmlessly into the ceiling where it wobbled for a few seconds, then, quietly, stilled.
About to pull another one from his quiver, he caught the man- Finlay’s- eye.
Oh shit.
Lips pulled back to bare flat, grey teeth – face contorted and twisting into an almost feral snarl. Almost. Colin watched, nerves tingling, as first, he grabbed a sword, held to the woman with the red hair’s throat by a large, armoured figure, with his bare hand. Blood dripped… but… nothing more.
What he’d been expecting, Colin didn’t know.
And then, a speech. Pacing. Shouting. Whisper-shouting, a few specks of spittle flying from the man’s mouth as he tore them all a new one. Dread hollowed a pit in Colin’s stomach as he let it wash over him – the words not important. The message was clear.
He’d messed up.
When the man was done, he left. Crisp, cool silence hung in his wake.
A ship, with no wind in its sails.
Colin stayed where he was for a moment. The pile of what he now realised were the shackles that had formerly ensconced the wrists of the others prior to –
that still beside him. His arrow, still embedded in the ceiling above him.
His right hand grasped at the stone wall for support as he slowly pulled himself to his feet. He could still feel the slight tremble in his limbs, the familiar light, heady feeling that made him feel like he was about to tip over. The remaining tendrils of pure, unadulterated terror still grasped onto his racing heart as the realisation that breathing was a thing he should probably be doing right now crept up on him.
What had he been playing at? Of course they were safe here. Of course. Unshackled leech hanging about the place or not – there were uncountable highly trained, battle hardened warriors right down the hall. They did this for a living. Colin had
seen them do this for a living, more than once. He was here to
learn how take down bloodsuckers in his sleep. What use was a hunter afraid of the very thing they hunted? He wasn’t a child anymore. He couldn’t go round, jumping at shadows, holding a knife to the throat of anything that went bump in the night. Red hoods didn’t attack the first thing they saw that looked vaguely vampiric, they didn’t point a weapon and not even realise they were doing it, they didn’t fucking… whatever it was he did.
He was such. A fucking.
Idiot.
He looked around. Wondered how he must look to the others. Decided he didn’t want to know. At some point, the leech had left. Good.
He let go of the wall, let his head hand, refusing to make any further eye contact, to say anything more. He picked his way across the room, retreated into the room Finlay had pointed out earlier.
If they had fifteen minutes, he was going to spend it alone.
He dumped his bag on the bunk furthest from the door, with a full view of the room, and flexed his aching shoulders, before sitting heavily, head in his hands, trying to remember why he was even here in the first place.
Eliza
To her left, Colin had Nessy drawn taut. Fletching was held precariously between his fingers, and though his arm was strong and steady, he was visibly shaken. The wicked tip of his arrow was only a few feet away from the male vampire, Vitius. The one who had gifted her with a cold, dead glare minutes ago. Eliza wanted to shout, plead with Colin to lower his weapon. However, she knew it would be pointless. In fact, frightening him would likely cause him to release the arrow and send it sailing into Vitius’ chest. She averted her eyes, not wanting to see what would happen next.
Looking to her right, she laid eyes upon a scene that made her heart falter. A man was blocking Brighid's slight frame, but the glint of steel was evident from where Eliza stood. Her dear friend Brighid was being held at swordpoint. Brighid, who had devoted her life to healing the sick and injured, was a hair's breadth away from being slaughtered where she stood. Eliza had so many questions for the girl, starting with what had happened during the month she had been gone. She wanted to be by her friend's side in their later years, bickering and laughing. She yearned to learn alongside her. Brighid simply couldn't die. Not here, in such a pitiful way. She deserved to go out in a blaze of glory, or peacefully in her sleep after a long, happy life.
With a snarl, Eliza raised her hand, the words to an intricate spell on the tip of her tongue. She had never attempted it before, so it would likely fizzle out. A sudden dark throbbing in her chest demanded that she had to try. She had to harm this man, to save her friend. The first word to the spell was out of her mouth when she heard the shout -Finlay's shout. Shortly after that, the flash of chains in her periphery. The thunk of an arrow as it pierced wood, not flesh.
She paused, and in that moment of hesitation she realized exactly what she was doing. She drew back her hand, clutching her chest. What had she been thinking? She wasn't one for hexes. Her spells were all about improvement, protection. When she had to defend herself, she used the elements. Yet, she had been words away from harming a human.
Eliza turned to Finlay, wincing as he barked at them. When he fixed his gaze on her, she had to fight the urge to shrink down. She looked around the room, at everyone that she was supposed to be working with, at Finlay, their keeper. Vitius was making a curt statement in the center of the room, but she wholeheartedly ignored it. They didn't need a lecture, they needed motivation. Something that would push them to work together.
She saw Colin stumbling to his feet, his head hung, shame evident in his features. Turning between him and Brighid, she gave her old friend a weak smile and padded off after her new acquaintance. After all, Brighid had been the cause of all of this, whereas Colin had simply been a victim. He had succumbed to his fear, something they were all guilty of at one point or another.
The Red Hoods' Keep - Gottfried, Loona, and Colin's room
All
She watched from the doorway as Colin held his head in his hands, slowly walking forwards. She cleared her throat when she was directly in front of him, before placing a hand on his good shoulder. She ran her thumb over it, feeling how tense he was through his clothing. Giving him a slight squeeze, she removed her hand and took a seat next to him on the bed.
“I know you probably want to be alone, but…” She trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence. She had never had to comfort a man. It didn't make Colin any less of a man, though. In fact, it made him more approachable in her eyes. She paused for a few more moments, before finally finding something to say.
“But I came anyways. What happened out there is the result of ten clashing personalities all in one room. You reacted, and no one can blame you for that. We were all a bit frightened.”“Finlay's right though. We're all going to have to work together if we want to survive the night.” She grinned, something coming to mind.
“At least, some of us will. We all know there will be a few people who think they're too good for teamwork.”Colin looked up at the sound of someone clearing their throat. It was Eliza, because of course it was. She was the only one likely to go after the person who’d just freaked out for absolutely no reason.
At her touch, he flinched. Barely perceptible, but still there. He bit the inside of his cheek, looked down - away. What kind of person fucking
flinched at something as benign as a hand on the shoulder? She was trying to be
kind. Not that he deserved it. A soft squeeze, she let go and took a seat next to him, her frame so light she barely made a dint in the stiff mattress.
At her words, he looked up. Of course, of course she was saying it wasn’t his fault. Of course she was trying to make it better. She was a good person, a
normal person.
He smiled a little at her jibe. He hadn’t… he hadn’t really gotten the chance to learn about the others, or hear their introductions in their entirety. At least, that’s what he assumed they’d been doing. Making introductions. Because that’s what most people did when they met those they’d have to be working with for the foreseeable future – monsters or not. But still, he’d noticed some of the more
unusual characters in the room.
But still…
He took a breath, indelibly weary,
“I err… I probably shouldn’t be here – you know that right? I mean, I dunno what the hoods think about quitters, but… you saw what went on, I’m a liability. You lot might’ve been scared, but none of you… none of you…” He exhaled sharply and stood. None of them panicked. None of them acted without even
realising it. None of them took a stroll down memory lane and came out the other side with a bow pointed in someone else’s face-
“The hoods don’t need that. They need people who’re reliable, and… I’m not.”Gottfried had not moved significantly, not even during Finlay’s speech and boastful sword grabbing. Reluctantly, he had withdrawn and clean his blade after the senior’s tirade. The last thing the seasoned veteran had wanted was to pierce the flesh of the wrong person. His fists tightened, he had just overseen the situation.
First the vampire had decided to scoff at him and at the
others. As if he had been the one to talk, first arrogantly deciding not to keep the chains and bolster the lack of discipline among their ranks. He resisted the temptation to quit. Be watchful, be silent, and keep the cards close to your chest. That was how to survive hell. Or war. Both were the one and same, despite what Finlay claimed. Shedding blood of monsters, shedding blood of armies. It all amounted to do the same.
The turmoil of feelings that many people got lost. He had been eyeing the other trooper, who emboldened by fear rather than indignation, had decided to take up arms against the vampire. He was now consoled by one of the spellcaster’s friends, it seemed? Seemingly to no avail, as he was in a self-deprecating mood.
He seemed a good archer, and better have a trustworthy arrow than another pompous heathen windbag emboldened by words of fake reassurance, so he drew closer.
“Do you think even our so called, overseer, Finlay is bereft of fault, archer?” Gottfried ventured to say. “He just grabbed a blade when a sharp word would have had the same effect. Point is, you live to see another day, and the gods have created the wits on men to learn from their mistakes.” He paused. “In any case, a bit late for lamentations.” He paused as he pondered. “But not for presentations. I am Gottfried Von Lilen. People used to call me ser, but Red Hoods have no need of knightly titles.”
Eliza had opened her mouth to gather a few words, in the hopes of drawing Colin out of his slump. Unfortunately, they were interrupted by a gruff voice. She peered up, gaze connecting with the face of the man who was speaking. Her eyes narrowed as she realized who he was. Though she had only seen the side of his face in the heat of the moment, after Finlay had reprimanded him she had managed to catch a glimpse of his visage. It was the man who had held Brighid at swordpoint. Apparently, he had been a Knight. What kind of knight would act the way he had, though?
“He grabbed a blade in his anger, the same way you stuck a sword to my friend’s throat in your anger.” Her eyes blazed, and she recalled the way her hand had went up without thought. The way the hex had almost left her lips. It had been her moment of weakness, she had danced on the edge of darkness. She cleared her throat, looking away to quelch the anger she felt. She wouldn’t allow herself to be overtaken.
Colin’s attention snapped to the man who’d just entered, disrupting the cyclone of thoughts whirling through his head momentarily. It was the figure in the armour, the one who’d held a sword to the woman’s throat – the woman who Eliza had been talking to earlier, in the hall, who’d released the others from the shackles.
His words though, a mistake – it hadn’t been a mistake, it had been stupidity, it had been-
The name, Von Lillen – roommates, apparently.
He glanced at Eliza, who looked… well,
furious, to say the least. It wasn’t a look he’d been expecting to see on her, but apparently, she had a dark side. A dark side that she quickly staunched with little more than a moment to compose herself. He wasn’t sure if he should be impressed or concerned. Feelings like that didn’t just… disappear, even if you wanted them to, at least that’s what Andi always said.
Colin shifted and stepped backwards, until he felt the rough surface of the wall behind him, somewhat awkward. Unsure how to respond, but feeling like the situation could do with being diffused, he spoke up,
“I’m err, my name’s Colin, nice to meet you,” he winced slightly, unsure how Eliza would feel about exchanging pleasantries with the man who’d just held a knife to her friend’s throat, but also wanting to be on good terms with the person he was apparently going to be sharing a room with,
“– err, do I still call you Ser if you’re not one anymore?” Gottfried looked at Colin. Good, he seemed to reply. He didn’t even spare a single glance towards the woman or her rants. What would she know of reading situations? She had been flailing not five minutes before he had sprung into action, finding the same situation bizarre. “Just call me Gottfried. It’s befitting for being comrades in arms. An interesting weapon of choice, if I must say. Just keep your wits. These aren’t your ghosts of the past.” The knight curtly said, as he coughed slightly. “I’ve seen men destroyed by their own inner demons. It’s not a pretty sight.”
Eliza wasn’t surprised that the man ignored her. He had been rude -vile even- towards Brighid, so why would he spare her a glance when she put in her two cents? But just because she accepted it, didn't mean it wasn't annoying. She forced her palms to stay flat against her sides, preventing herself from balling them into fists or tapping to express her emotions. With a heavy sigh, she willed herself into a state of calm. She wasn’t sure why she was being so emotional. Perhaps the events of the last few minutes really had shaken her, beyond what she could comprehend. Turning towards Colin, she remembered what she was here for. She was supposed to be strong for him.
“Gottfried’s...Gottfried’s right, Colin.” She said, nodding in Gottfried’s direction.
“Just know that you have allies here who will have your back even when you feel afraid and alone.” With both sets of eyes (well, one set of eyes plus the visor of Gottfried’s helmet) suddenly on him, Colin’s ears burned as he suddenly became very interested in the grain of the wooden floor. They were right, both of them. Of course they were right. He’d heard the same things before, from Andi, from his siblings, even from his uncle, in a…. roundabout sort of way.
His arm itched and his hand creeped up to scratch it. For a moment he indulged the habit before snatching it back,
“I have to be better,” he said quietly, not looking up,
“I get it. I know that like this, I’m not going to last long. And I’m working on it, it’s just…” he paused, not sure how, or even if, to explain the long nights, the memories – if you could even call them that when they felt like so much
more - that slipped up out of nowhere, the
constant feeling of surprise when he made it to the morning still breathing,
“It’s not simple. If I could be strong, then I would. If I could keep my head, then I would. If I could… be a person who doesn’t fuck everything up that he touches, then I would.” He rubbed his temples,
“I appreciate it though,” Gottfried didn’t seem unfamiliar with the sorts of memories that kept a person up all night, and the things he’d said suggested that he knew. It was always easier to trust people who knew, like Andi. And Eliza… her words were comforting in a way that not a lot of things were, mostly because he believed her, and what she’d said usually wasn’t so easy to believe.
“I’m trying my best, and I won’t let myself be the reason we fail. That’s all I can promise.”“Don’t promise things you cannot abide. That’s something I learnt a long time ago.” Gottfried said somberly. “All what is asked is that you try your best to survive and live for another day. Nothing more, nothing less. “ Gottfried sighed, somberly. He took a small corner to have a light seating, before the action made all of them sprung up. “Colin. Do you think nobodies make it to even be candidates of the Red Hoods? You caught their eyes because of something. Grasp that something and hone it.”
“And don’t waste words, or mince them. Or focus on all the little things. For all I know, me, you, the girl who brazenly strutted her werewolf condition and magic, this woman who keeps throwing me glares, the fairy, the other werewolf, the vampires, and the other men-at-arms could all be dead within the hour. All will be forgiven if you try and don’t waste your breath in petty things.” The knight stated.
“My name’s Eliza,” She stated pointedly, keeping her gaze calm so he couldn’t accuse her of glaring at him. She was tired of being called woman. Mages were always considered equal -aside from mentor/apprentice relationships- so she wasn’t used to this sort of treatment. Brighid had said it best, but she wouldn't repeat her ifriend's words. “
I won’t be called woman any longer. When you're confronting me or I'm in the same room as you you will refer to be by my name. I'll do the same. It's called mutual respect.”“See, that is a beginners’ mistake. I urge you to have a look around you and try to demand anything. You do not have means nor respect to do so. I will call you however I please and it will be up to you if you are going to show off your gifts like the other one and earn some more reprimand from our trainers. Of course, i am not beyond reason and i know that easing convivence is perhaps a good coping strategy. So is growing a thick skin. Consider it, next time it might not be a so called “angry” knight waving a sword threateningly. Or just a stupid discussion about whom deserves respect among equals.” The knight sighed deeply as he began to get ready. “I urge you to get ready, Eliza. Whatever shaped Finlay might be down the road.”
“I don’t need respect or means to ask someone to call me by name. It’s a common courtesy,” Eliza rolled her eyes at Gottfried when he told her that she didn’t have the right to demand anything. She nearly scoffed whenever he brought up Brighid. Her friend hadn’t even received a reprimand,
he had. She had practically been commended for her actions.
“And despite what you think, I have a thick skin. Otherwise I would have assaulted you when you put your sword to Brighid’s throat.” She tightened the straps of her knapsack, looking around the room.
“I’ve been ready, Gottfried. My ‘shaping’ started two years ago. This is just another challenge along the way.” She paused.
“I look forward to fighting alongside you, and proving myself.”Colin mulled over Gottfried’s words. He wanted to believe him – to believe that maybe he
had been selected to take part in the initiation for some reason other than just sheer dumb luck, but they hadn’t known much about him at the time, other than the fact that he could shoot some arrows. Fortunately, he was saved from having to think of some way to answer by Eliza's interjection.
Colin listened keenly to the heated exchange between the two, but kept his mouth shut. He agreed with Eliza – they’d only just met and she’d been nothing but kind already. She already had his respect, as did Gottfried. But, this was something they needed to work out between them. Not that Eliza seemed like she needed his help.
At Gottfried’s mention of the trial they were soon to face, his stomach dropped. A glance out of the window showed that it was early – still morning – and already exhaustion and spent adrenaline had settled deep in the core of his being. How on earth were they going to survive this when they could barely survive each other?
Still. They had to make an attempt,
“If you’ll have me,” he offered cautiously,
“I look forward to fighting alongside both of you, not just today – but after, too. Hopefully.”“I don’t look forward to.” Gottfried stated. “But as much as I hate this, I hate maneaters more.” He paused. “So i have to work with what i am given.”
Thick skin my ass, you are all puppy eyes towards your friend and you desire more than anything to prove me wrong. Even your replies carry an obvious denial. Well, your funeral. I am too old and too jaded to keep with this crap any longer. Gottfried shrugged quizzically. “I have to say that i feel honored. At least you have determination.”
Colin smiled at Gottfried’s reluctant admittal. It was true. No matter how they all felt about each other, at the end of the day they were here for one reason, and one reason alone – to destroy the monsters that existed only to harm. They didn’t have to like each other, they just had to trust each other. Colin glanced toward the corridor. Goose bumps pricked at his flesh and he tried to push the reminder of exactly
what he was asking himself to trust from his mind.
That last bit wasn’t going be easy. They’d manage.
Somehow.
Now, all that was left to do was wait.
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