Malles shrank as his friend was pinned to the wall with a desperate gasp for air. He had no power to intervene, no voice to demand he stop. He found himself frozen as the barbaric man drew a curved knife from its blood-stained leather sheath.

  "You're in Maverick territory preener. No walls or guards to protect your entitled ass out in these parts. I'm gonna enjoy stripping those flashy cardinals out of your spine." He flashed those horrendous teeth again as he brought the blade by Nidian's neck. Sweat had already began to roll down his temples from the adrenaline. His struggles against the grasp were useless and growing weak as the deprivation of oxygen began to numb his senses. Why did he open his mouth? What was he thinking. Malles jumped back, startled by something. He couldn't look the other way with his head pinned in place.

  Balak turned his head to the side to receive Ae's braced fist straight to the jaw. The crack sent him on his back foot, grasping at his face while Nidian dropped to the ground. Ae stood there as casual as ever, inspecting the blood on her hand and tooth chip lodged in the black leather band crossing over her knuckles. Nidian was on his hands and knees heaving while trying to fill his lungs as full as they could be. He didn't have to see her to know who was there and what was done. He saw the drops of crimson hit the cobblestone.

  Balak spit a tooth out, covering his mouth afterwards, glaring daggers at the woman from a hunched posture. She was glaring down unapologetically, blandly. He motioned to throw a hand toward her to shout profanities. Before he could get it half way in the air both her hands gripped his collar and held him up.

  "You touch him again and I will pull the rest of those rotten pebbles from that cud chewing mouth of yours. If you got a problem with him you go through me." She threatened him quietly, eyes locked on his. His intimidating glare was ignored, the woman unaffected by the raging hatred inn his eyes.

  She saw his knife hand twitching restlessly. He wanted to take his chances. But he knew all to well he'd be signing his death certificate. Nidian wasn't blind to it either. He watched the fear triumph the man's ego as his fingers turned white from their grip before dropping the blade. Balak leaned his head back and wheezed through his mouth, trying to minimize his jaw movement.

  "You don't scare me Ae. Cause despite your reputation for violence I know you're soft. Something inside you is broken. I may not have you all figured out but I will one day, and when I do I will break you. I will exploit whatever soft and sad excuse of a person is behind your tough girl facade. If Ferren-"

  Ae yanked him closer, her teeth next to his ear, her breath rushing against his wooly neck. Her silky voice freezing his spine, "If you ever were to find out what I keep in the dark you'd piss yourself. And then I'd kill you." She whispered before punching him again. His head went limp and she tossed him to the ground.

  Malles had helped Nidian up, the two of them shooting a glance back as the second strike landed. Ae stepped over Balak's collapsed form and gazed down at Nidian.

  "Did he hurt you?" The question was posed with demand.

  Nidian hesitantly shook his head, "N-no I don't think so."

  Ae leaned in, her hand gripping his chin, pulling it to the side to inspect his neck for any lasting impressions or nicks from the blade. "He's lucky he didn't cut you."

  Nidian looked down at the body of the man and winced, "If you call that lucky.."

  Malles was holding back his panic, his face flush from the encounter. "Thank you Ae, I'm sorry we got into trouble I should have taken him straight back to Torrel's."

  Ae smiled, Nidian only catching the corner of it from behind as she turned to the other boy. "Don't be sorry. I'm just glad you both are alright. Head home, Torrel want's to discuss dinner plans. Nidian and I are going to have a little chat."

  Malles nodded, never daring to question Ae or her requests. He waved softly to Nidian as he hurried off. Nidian could see the worry on his face. Was he about to get a lecture? Or worse? He looked up at Ae who was facing away. Instead of turning toward him she motioned for him to follow. "Follow me."

  Nidian took a step forward or two after her, a hand comforting his sore neck as he glanced to the side. "What about this guy? You just gonna leave him here?"

  Ae looked over her shoulder at the sad lump curled on the street and shrugged, "It's no different than when he drinks himself unconscious all over town. Now come on."

  "Where are we going? He asked as he watched the tavern get smaller and smaller, trees beginning to fill in his vision. "Aren't the woods dangerous right now, with the dragons and all?" He questioned as he tried to pull away.

  "Relax, we aren't going far, and it won't be for long." She assured and kept dragging him along.

  After less than a few minutes of walking they came across a pond with beautifully clear water, aquifer vents bubbling from the rocky bed. A large bench carved out of an old dark wood sitting near the edge of the water. The trees had gotten incredibly dense and the canopies blocked the sun save for a handful of thin shafts bleeding through. The water was still and cold as stone, the surface of it practically a mirror. A few brilliant red flowers bloomed from lily pads and long stalks growing from the bottom of the body. Ae took a deep refreshed sigh, a smile crossing her face. She had smiled before on occasion but this was the first that seemed to be from a genuine happiness. Nidian watched her walk ahead to the pond and sit on the bench. The wood was ancient, ornate. Hand carved spirals and etches creatively but carefully placed. It retained a rather natural appearance, only the slight jagged cut out in the top hinting it to be a seat of some sort.

  "Where are we?" Nidian softly spoke as to not shatter her blissful moment. The tall woman slowly turned to look at him.

  "Blossom pond, Personal little spot of mine." She replied, caressing the grooves in the bench.

  The curious boy cautiously side stepped his way over to her and looked at the water. He was surprised how quickly he was greeted by his own reflection, the crystal image of himself almost causing a trance.

  "It's beautiful here" He complimented.

  Ae hung her head with a dampened grin. "Glad you agree. I come here whenever I need time to think. Any deep thinking, or big choices I have to make are made here. It also just gives me serene place to clear my head. Figured I'd share it with you."

  Nidian rubbed his arm and walked up to Ae. Her tall form glancing down at him in anticipation.

  "I sincerely appreciate it but- I have to ask why. You've been a pretty closed book, why would you share a personal spot with me?" He started.

  Ae leaned forward and looked his way before patting the seat next to her. He sheepishly accepted the gesture, inching to the far side. "I know you really want to get to the city and do your whole courier thing. You've been so anxious to get a move on since the cave. Why is this so important to you. Why is it your responsibility?"

  Nidian mused, he never really thought about it. No one had held the expectation of him, he had blindly been driven to do so. He looked forward at the water, feeling her gaze from the side. "I'm not sure. I guess I feel like it's up to me. If I don't no one else will. For all I know I'm the only one who made it out alive... Thought if I can make it to the next city and warn them they can prepare. There's no telling how much time we have before they destroy another city."

  "I understand that feeling. But if I've learned anything over the years it's that sometimes what you desire to do and what can be done are very different things."

  "What are you trying to say? What does that have to do with sharing the getaway?" He circled back, leaning in to try and see her face better.

  "Because if you really want to help people, it would best be done out here. The people in the cities have all the possible aid they can get. And if they are attacked whatever they can do will be done. They have a far greater chance surviving. But no one really helps the souls out here. Torrel and I have our hands tied as is. Plenty of your folk get tossed out this way, lately more than ever. You could do a lot of good helping them. So I figured I'd let you borrow this spot to really think it over. Torrel said he can see a spark in your eye. Said he wants to see you explore your opportunities. I have to agree with him. You don't seem the type to want to sit around and tend to horses all day. If you still want to pursue the city after tonight I'll get in contact with someone who can help."

  Nidian wasn't sure what to say. She had certainly enticed him with the freedom the Maverick's offered. Remaining outside the walls of a city posed a great opportunity to find Neiraan, seek out more answers, and help his kind along the way. It was now becoming clear returning to a city would give him the chance to tell the king what had happened, but from there it was out of his hands. Life would resume as it was in Hoharo.

  He glanced up as Ae stood walking around him to the pond's edge. "Don't try to give me an answer now. Think it over, you can tell me tomorrow. I'll let Torrel know where you are."

  "Ae..?" Nidian started. She turned on the ball of her heel, 'Yeah?"

  He looked up and forced a smile, "Thank you. It's made things easier having you and Torrel be so kind to me. I somehow feel less alone than I did living in Hoharo."

  Ae warmly grinned and subtly nodded, "We're glad to help."

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it