Sophia and Ragnar's Banter

Time frame: war time

Sophia glared instantly. "My lord!" Sophia protested, irritated by the way that Ragnar was talking to her. She knew that he was trying to provoke her and get a reaction, but she refused to give him that satisfaction.

However, underneath her calm exterior, she felt a flurry of emotions; confusion, anger, and even a little bit of attraction to the mysterious Ragnar. She quickly regained her composure and shot him a withering look.

"How dare you speak to me like that," Sophia said, her voice tight with a little bit anger. "You may have money, but you lack class and decorum."

Ragnar just laughed, giving Sophia a sly look. "I supposed we will have to agree to disagree on that point, Sophia," he said, his tone mocking as he lifted the last basket of groceries onto the cart. "I heard that women like men who have a lot of money. Aren't you the same way?"

"Hey!"

"Am I wrong? Didn't you marry the richest man in Everkeep? If it turns out that I'm richer than him, wouldn't it be beneficial to leave him and choose to be with me."

Sophia laughed. "I didn't know what to say, my lord. I didn't know whether to laugh or be angry at your words." She shook her head at the innocence of Ragnar's words.

More and more Sophia couldn't tell if Ragnar was teasing her, joking, or just the way he spoke.

"If I left Sir Arthur because you are richer than him. Then one day I would leave you for another man who is more profitable for me." Sophia said with a smile.

"That will not happen." Ragnar said. "You will not find a better man than me."

"Oh!" Sophia gasped. She felt like punching a wall at Ragnar's words. So confident and sexy. "My lord, let's take a short walk to the market and I'll treat you to some market snacks as my thanks for paying for all the groceries today." She changed the subject quickly.

They were standing in a bustling market in the city. The colorful stalls were filled with exotic goods such as glowing crystals, enchanted potions, and magical trinkets.

The air was thick with the scent of spices, and the sound of distant music played in the background.

"Cescil women are allowed to hold money?!"

"My lord!" Sophia glared again. "A thank you would have been much kinder and sweeter than your sexist comment just now!"

"Oh! I thought you asked me to accompany you shopping because you had no money and wanted me to pay for all your purchases."

"My lord!" Sophia's eyeballs nearly jumped out of her head at Ragnar's sexist remarks, and the most annoying thing was that he said them with a flat tone and an innocent face.

Sophia massaged her temples that were starting to throb with pain. She was too optimistic that Ragnar would quickly transform into the ideal husband in the future.

She forgot that her teaching assignments were still piling up as high as the Metaena mountain.

Ragnar's words continued to sting Sophia as they made their way through the crowd. She knew that he was trying to get under her skin and stir up feelings of discontent, but she couldn't deny that his words held a certain power over her.

For a moment, she entertained the thought of leaving her wealthy husband for Ragnar, imagining a life of excitement with him.

But Sophia quickly realized that her fantasies were just as empty as Adeline's, who dreamed of a quiet life in the countryside.

In the midst of this crowd, Sophia was struggling to get through the crowd when a hulking figure suddenly appeared beside her.

Ragnar, the towering and muscular man, effortlessly parted the sea of people to allow Sophia to pass through.

As they made their way through the market, people were staring at Ragnar with a mix of awe and fear. They whispered to each other, speculating about his identity and where he came from.

Some suggested that he was a member of the Gamaaloth, a powerful and beastly race of beings who were rumored to be involved in the war defending Clearport against Ostrill.

Sophia, however, was focused on something else entirely. She made her way to a food cart and purchased two large meat skewers, offering one to Ragnar.

As they ate together, they chatted amicably, with Sophia telling Ragnar about some of the beautiful silk fabrics that Cescil produced and beautiful jewelry. Cescil girls were famous for being beautiful and well-dressed.

She described the delicate silk fabrics produced in the city, each one spun and dyed by skilled artisans.

She went on to explain the intricate jewelry pieces that were made using precious metals and rare gemstones, often incorporating intricate patterns and designs inspired by the city's rich history and culture.

Ragnar listened attentively, enthralled by Sophia's descriptions of Cescilan artistry. He could feel her passion for her home and her culture as she spoke, and he was impressed by the depth of her knowledge.

As they continued to talk, the sounds of the bazaar swirled around them: the tinkle of silver bracelets, the murmur of conversation in a dozen different languages, and the sizzle of food being prepared nearby.

Ragnar noticed the love and admiration that Sophia had for her kingdom and its rich cultural heritage. He saw the way her eyes lit up as she described the beauty of Cescilian artistry and the history behind it.

In that moment, he understood the depth of Sophia's connection to her homeland, and he admired her for it.

"Oh, forgive me, my lord," she said, her laughter rang out in the hinged surroundings. "I must have been babbling on incessantly. You must be terribly bored of it all."

Ragnar shook his head and replied. "It's clear how much you love Cescil and everything it stands for," he said. "I now understand why you are not afraid to fight on the front lines and defend the borders."

Sophia turned to Ragnar, touched by his words. They shared a quiet moment as the sounds of the bazaar continued around them. For a moment, they forgot the world around them and were lost in each other's company.

As the light began to fade, they stood up and continued their explorations, eager to experience all that the Clearport city market had to offer.

*

Adeline stood atop a high hill, gazing out at the distant horizon. She could feel the cool breeze brushing against her face, and she took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the surrounding forests.

In the distance, she could see the sprawling city of Newside. She knew that General Pindale had been ordered by Queen Oda herself to capture the city.

To aid in this mission, the general had called upon the help of Uzana and other dragon riders to conduct reconnaissance in the area.

As Adeline scanned the landscape, she could see Uzana and his fellow riders soaring through the sky, their powerful dragon mounts circling high above the city.

Ragnar had conducted a brief reconnaissance mission earlier that morning when he had escorted King Valdemar back to Metaena. From what he had seen, Newside appeared peaceful and eerily quiet.

It was highly likely that the Ostril forces had abandoned the city in the wake of their recent defeat and had retreated to their next line of defense, Tornbridge Fort.

Despite the army's efforts in planning their next move,

  Queen Oda seemed intent on making her presence felt in the upcoming battle. She did not want to wait any longer and ordered General Pindale and his forces to advance on Newside immediately.

Her orders were given without a plan or proper reconnaissance, and her commanders were caught off guard by her sudden and rash decision.

They desperately tried to reason with the Queen, emphasizing the importance of proper preparation before engaging in combat, but her mind was set. General Pindale reluctantly led his troops into battle, knowing that they were ill-equipped for the task at hand.

The situation seemed truly precarious, and it was unclear whether the army could pull off a victory under such unfavorable circumstances.

As Ragnar and Sophia busied themselves with picking up supplies for the army in the city, Uzana and Adeline found themselves stepping up to lead their respective groups.

With their natural leadership qualities and quick wit, both Uzana and Adeline knew exactly how to secure their comrades' trust and respect.

Uzana took to the skies atop his majestic dragon, casting a watchful eye over his group, whilst Adeline keenly observed from the ground, ensuring that her group was well-prepared for any possible scenario.

The healer girls waited anxiously for the return of Uzana and his fellow dragon riders, hoping that there would not be any more surprise attacks like the previous week. They fervently prayed that Trurian had truly retreated and would not interfere with their ongoing battles.

Gamaaloth may have the upper hand, but Trurian posed a significant threat; just a week ago, they had almost lost the warlord, Ragnar, and a dragon scout to Trurian's unexpected ambush.

"Did they wear armor?" Adeline asked in a panic. "Did you notice if the dragons and their riders were wearing armor?" Her voice shook with concern. As she waited for an answer, Adeline couldn't help but think of the dire consequences that any lack of proper preparation could bring.

Helvis nodded in response. "Yes, Adeline. I did see Roman outfitting all of their dragons with armor. However, I didn't pay much attention to the riders themselves," she explained.

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