10 The Paladin
Deep in the serene forest I accuse the two in front of me as bandits.
Hold on, they look kind of familiar.
"Hey wait a second, haven't I seen the two of you before? That's right, the champion and the runner up from the tournament of glory 3 years ago!"
I remember now, I knew they were familiar!
What odd traveling companions, especially with the history they both share. Guess there is merit to the saying "Yesterday's enemies are today's friends." Assuming they are friends of course.
The dark elf with a slender frame wearing an eye patch spoke first, her tone filled with mockery.
"The hell do you want? An autograph or something?"
Yeah, I don't like this woman.
"From you? No thanks. If it was from that fine lady from your side I might consider it, she was the champion after all."
Fine indeed, even with all those bandages on her you could still make out how toned her body is.
"Eyes to yourself, tiefling. You want to have a go?" The dark elf scowled. Didn't even utter an insult yet whatever I said seemed to have touched a nerve, her hand was about to reach for her weapon until her Amazon companion elbowed her to the side.
"Excuse my companion here, noble knight. What brings you deep into this forest?" The Amazon jovially asked.
Okay, this one seems easier to get along with. I'm sure that both of them ain't bandits, I guess questioning them won't do any harm.
"Paladin. I'm looking for a merchant caravan that some bandits stole. See this track right here?" I pointed towards the horse and wheel tracks on the ground.
The Amazon's face lit up, whispering something to her dark elf companion. Whatever it was she seems to have agreed since she nodded just now.
"You think if we help you find that caravan you can give us a lift?"
I don't really want to dash their hopes here but it's not up for me to decide. I'd gladly take the amazon with me if I could, that's for sure. The dark elf? Uhhhh.
As a paladin, You might find it ironic but I don't cast judgment that easily. I'm sure this dork elf isn't acting like a total dickwad just because she wants to. I understand cause I've been there, in fact I wasn't simply being rude, I have done worse. I'm willing to cut her some slack.
"I'm not sure about that, we'll have to ask the merchant who hired me if he's going to let you tag along."
"That's fine, we'll just have to threaten him until he agrees to take us along."
What did this dark elf just say?
"Ellamir, no! What the fuck! Again, please excuse my companion, she has a…wicked sense of humor."
Something tells me that it wasn't just her sense of humor, I guess it's fine since the Amazon is able to keep her in check.
"Alright, the name's Yulia. I don't really need any help in taking care of those bandits but once I'm done with them I could take you to the caravan head so you could talk it out."
"That's acceptable. I'm Antani. And this is…come on, introduce yourself."
The Dark elf gave me a standoffish glare. I would really like to know what the hell is up with this woman.
"Ellamir."
+++
With the two following close behind me as we were following the tracks, I can't help but wonder how the hell did these two unlikely companions end up travelling together.
Antani didn't just do a number on Ellamir, she fucking slashed her eye. I don't really like poking my nose through other people's businesses, but I'm just too damn curious.
"So, how long have you two been traveling together?"
Better to just skirt around it, Ellamir seems always on edge, she might go ballistic if I asked 'Remember how you lost your eye? How come the two of you are traveling together now?' I really don't want to get tangled up in pointless fights when I still have a job to do.
"Oh about a month."
A month huh. I guess their friendship might have deepened enough to the point where they've ignored what happened in the past. Good for them.
After an hour of walking, the laughter of bandits can be heard from their encampment ahead.
Getting closer, we hid behind a huge rock to see what the thieves were up to.
Let's see.
They're all drinking ale, all ten of them gathered in a circle! It's the middle of the fucking day! Bastards might have given me the slip earlier but did they really think I would not pursue them?
Bunch of amateurs. What they should have done is leave the caravan behind and split up with their stolen goods. Not that I've given raiding caravans some thought or anything, it was all hypothetical.
I look at my two new found traveling buddies, "You ladies stay here, I've got a job to do."
"Do you need any help?" Antani offered her assistance but I rightfully declined. 10 bandits ain't enough to even work up a sweat.
Unsheathing the sword from my shield, I charge forward to bring righteous justice.
+++
The couple watched as the paladin elegantly blocked every attack that rained upon her with her shield. With precision, her sword strikes downed her enemies one by one.
Antani's eyes widened in delight.
Ellamir knew, as soon as she watched the slaughter that unfolded before them she had anticipated how Antani would react. Her forehead scrunched in irritation. "You want to fight her, don't you?"
"Yeah!" Antani replied with the enthusiasm of a child. "Don't you?"
"No, I don't! You're so predictable. Fine, go ahead and fight her, see if I care! I'm not going to help you with your bandage if your wounds open up."
Antani was like a lit fuse, there was no stopping her now. Ellamir could only heave in resignation.
Noticing that the tiefling is down to her last opponent, Antani rushed at her without warning whatsoever.
"And you have the nerve to call my mother a nutcase!"
+++
Blood sprayed as Yulia slashed the chest of the last bandit.
(As I thought. These guys were hardly a challenge. Ahhh, I want to stretch around some more! It would have been nice if at least one of them had put up a decent fight.)
Like an answered prayer, Yulia sensed some kind of tempered bloodlust approaching from behind her. The tiefling's combat readiness is still at its peak, with a graceful turn she blocks Antani's sword with her shield.
Yulia was ecstatic as her shield held Antani's sword. "Ahh, and here I thought I'd end this battle without release. Are you offering to help me out?
(Oh shit, that sounded a bit kinky. Ahh, it doesn't matter. What matters is that this beautiful Amazon in front of me stepped up to show me a good time!)
"You'll find that I'm more capable than just helping out!" The Amazon kicked the shield with enough force to make the tiefling back away.
The two grin at each other as they both take their stance. There's this tacit understanding between them that even though what they're doing is just for kicks they're not planning on losing to the other.
Yulia rushes forward with the intent of ramming her shield towards Antani. The Amazon channels her mana to her shoulder, meeting the charge by slamming herself into the shield.
With a loud thud, the impact made the two combatants stagger backwards.
"Woah there! You're good." The paladin praised the Amazon's simple but bold maneuver with an enthused smile, had her foe been an ordinary fighter her shoulder should be dislocated by now. Yulia raised her shield and pointed it towards Antani, inciting her to come at her. "Show me more."
Mirroring the same smile, Antani thought of testing the toughness of her opponent's shield with her mana infused slash, but she reckoned that it's only going to ruin that mood if she does manage to cleave through it. The Amazon wanted to keep the vibe between them flowing, she charged forward with the intent of finding an opening on the Paladin's ironclad defense.
Blow after blow, Antani would hit nothing but the Paladin's shield. That was how fast Yulia could move in a full plate of armor.
When it was the Paladin that would go on the offensive she would find the Amazon to be as nimble as she is - able to strafe and dodge her shield and sword strikes with ease.
The two gained some distance for a momentary pause and re-evaluation. Both inflicted with battle hunger, they both knew that they had yet to taste what the other is truly capable of.
Albeit vaguely, a halo of fire was starting to form on Yulia's head. A symbol of her Paladin's oath to Zariel.
In the face of such a foe with equal skill, Antani found herself unable to hold back. She finally channels mana into her sword.
With glee, the two charges at each other, planning to raise their fight into a crescendo!
+++
The dark elf watches the two with a death glare.
Ellamir thought that the Paladin would actually reprimand Antani for such reckless behavior. Turns out she's just as much of a lunatic as Antani.
Crazy they might be, she's tied to one of them. The other one can go fuck herself for all she cares.
Her mood continually plummets, in her eyes, their battle is devolving into battlefield flirting. The way they looked at each other, she didn't like how it was making her feel. Ellamir's chest, it was starting to become heavy.
Unable to bear the weight of it, she dons her shadow armor so she could put an end to this madness.
+++
The two combatants were stunned, an interloper stood in between them, effortlessly stopping their swords with the spider appendages on her back.
Her one eyed gaze that glowed red was suddenly directed towards Yulia. "You! You're fighting an injured person you numbskull! In the first place you should have told her to fuck off when she charged at you with her sword!"
She turned her gaze to the Amazon next, "And you! You didn't even notice that your bandages are starting to turn red! Aaaaaaah! I am so fucking mad at you! Come with me!"
Ellamir grabbed Antani by the wrist. Letting herself get whisked away, Antani knew it was pointless to talk to Ellamir when she was seething that hard.
The tiefling was left standing there, dumbfounded as she watched the couple fade out of sight.
(Well, Uh, I guess Ellamir cares about Antani a lot.)
