Thorsen briskly walked up the steps that lead to the rebuilt ravenry of Coltend Castle. His long, blonde hair and well-above average height made him tower over many of the guardsmen as he passed them. "Oh, shit. He's back!" he heard one of them say excitedly from a distance, breaking his usually fierce countenance into a wry smile.
"Aside from my little trip to the North with the queen and Meliss, I never really left," he said in his thick accent, walking up to the pair just ahead of him. "Well, you haven't been around here as much since just after the battle, so he's got a point," a female voice said.
Marta, one of the newest recruits said, polishing her sword with her chestnut hair and honey colored eyes aimed in the same direction as the sword on her lap. "I've been busy, and you know that," Thorsen retorted. "Well, hopefully the acting Commander of the Warrior's Guild isn't too busy to train us new recruits," she said playfully, glancing up at the giant.
"Hey, cut him some slack. There's been so much work to do since then, it's a wonder he's helped us train at all," another voice cut in. "Neko, I don't think he needs you to stand up for him. The top of your head hardly reaches his chest, so you wouldn't make much of a difference," Mara shot jokingly.
Neko pouted briefly, looking away from Marta like a toddler would when throwing a fit. His hair was cut close enough to his scalp to reflect the small amounts of sunlight from the window off his pale, olive skin and gently pointed ears. "Oh, I'm sorry, Giantess, I didn't know my half-elf ass was competing with your oversized one," he said.
Marta finally stood up, setting her sword down and proceeding to look over the top of his head. "When have we ever not competed? We've competed since we were kids, and you've yet to beat me once at anything," she said, moving her flattened hand from the top of his head to the base of her chin. "Hey, I've beaten you at that one, wooden puzzle the fish vendor gave us!" he exclaimed, smacking her hand away, forcing a giggle out of the tall woman.
"That's because I physically couldn't solve it. My…" she began to say. "Your what?" Neko asked with an expectant smile. "My hands are too fucking big. There, I said it. Can you wipe that shit-eating grin off your face, now?" she asked, turning an ever-so-slight shade of bright pink.
"Children," Thorsen sighed, shaking his head and lightly pinching the bridge of his nose. "In any case, I was told there was a message for me here," he said with a suggestive tone. "Oh, right. There's been an influx of ravens since we finished rebuilding the ravenry. Apparently not having anywhere to land was sending them back to their points of origin," Neko said, opening the door to it.
After a few minutes of searching, he returned with a piece of parchment. "It's from someone named Ahkmed, but we don't know who this person is. All we can tell from the handwriting is that it's addressed to you," he said, handing it to the large man. "I don't know anyone by this name," Thorsen said, eyeing the handwriting carefully. He broke the unmarked seal on it, and unfolded the parchment.
His eyes opened widely. "Gods above and below, how long has this been sitting here?" he asked. "I-I'm not sure. A few days, maybe a week now?" Neko replied. "Well, Commander Gorm is alive, and he's been recovering in a small village just off the Rhydian Pass. I have to tell the queen," Thorsen said with an air of urgency he rarely showed.
Neko and Marta glanced at each other briefly, nodding their silent agreement. "We're coming with you," Marta said. "What? Why would you need to come with me if I'm just going to report to the queen?" Thorsen asked. "Well, you see, it's because we have a few things to ask you while you're on your way there," she said matter-of-factly. "Fine, but when we get there, you're to stay exactly where I tell you to stay, understood?" the giant requested, peering inquisitively into their souls.
"Y-you don't have to say it like that," Neko replied, beginning to fear for his life. Thorsen allowed a small grin to cross his face. "Good. Let's move," he said.
The trio walked briskly towards where Leona was last seen. Along the way, some final repairs were being made to the shattered windows of the main hall, forcing them to detour. "How are there still so few workers for the castle?" Marta asked, a tinge of remorse swaying her words. "While many apparently managed to escape the Church of Mideia's uprising, or rather, Mourtis' uprising, a lot of people who worked in the castle were viciously slaughtered. Someone once told me it had to do with what the queen did, but I don't think that was the only reason," Neko replied.
"What did the queen have to do with their slaughter?" Marta asked. "According to a few witnesses who survived, apparently it had something to do with the queen having an affair wi-..." he stopped, noticing the giant in front of him standing like an obelisk. "I normally don't threaten people, because I don't have to, but watch your tone, boy," he said, his register lower than his usual, cheerful tone.
With a presence like that, it's not hard to see why he's the queen's primary bodyguard and acting Commander, Neko thought.
"I-I didn't mean anything by it," he said, putting his hands up in surrender. "I know you didn't, but others might take that a little differently, don't you think?" Thorsen retorted, giving a brief and suggestive glance at their surroundings. "I'm sorry," Neko said dejectedly. "Be mindful of your surroundings next time. More often than not, the last people you would want to be close to you will be the ones right next to you. Do you understand what I mean?" Thorsen asked, putting an oversized hand on the small man's shoulder.
"I do understand," Neko replied, nodding his head. "Good, then you won't make the same mistake twice, will you?" Marta asked, trying to lighten the mood, putting her arm around her friend as Thorsen removed his hand. "After the shit I've been meaning to take for the last two days nearly decided to present itself to my prospective judge, jury, and executioner, yes," Neko said, scratching the back of his head.
"I didn't need the mental image of that, but thanks," she spat sarcastically, awkwardly removing her arm from around her friend's shoulder.
"Regardless of who or what was at fault, a lot of people died during the attack. I'm just glad we were able to get out when we did," Neko said, recalling the vivid horrors of seeing people being ripped in half by countless glicks and other such creatures.
In broad daylight, nonetheless, he thought.
"He's right, though. We owe it to those who weren't lucky enough to make it out alive to not make similar mistakes. Even if it wasn't their fault, we can't let that happen again," Marta said, her eyes showing confidence in her words.
"You know, for as much shit as you talk, seeing you so determined has given me a sense of it as well," Neko said, an ever-so-slight blush appearing on his face. Marta couldn't help but blush as well, turning her face away from the much shorter man. Thorsen felt a small sense of pride in their words.
Even these new recruits feel they owe a blood debt to those who have fallen. I just wish I had more time to train them, he thought, observing the two awkwardly exchanging glances.