Fan Fiction ❯ Vailla ❯ Chapter 6

Trigger had cleaned Vailla's wound but being where it was (across her eye) it was very awkward to wrap a bandage round so Vailla had to keep a damp cloth to her face until the bleeding quit. It had stopped raining outside but the sun did not shine through thick clouds. Laurie had cried a lot, the terror of seeing such monsters would haunt her for the rest of her life. Vailla once again began to doubt her Staff's judgment, how could she let Laurie see such horrors at her age? Surely it would not end at those demonic beasts, other horrors lay ahead and Laurie was meant to suffer through them? Vailla angrily looked at her Staff and wondered how anyone could be so cruel and let this happen to such a small child? Laurie was still sobbing when Vailla walked over to her, her hand and cloth still covering her eye. "You were very brave Laurie, we're so proud of you." Vailla said gently. Laurie looked at her with big wet eyes and smiled rather sheepishly.

"They were horrible icky creatures Vailla, and they were trying to hurt us…" Laurie pulled Vailla's hand away from her face. Vailla did not open her eye. The wound stretched all the way from her left eyebrow to the middle of her cheek. "They did hurt you though." Laurie said gravely gently touching the red and tender scar. Vailla flinched away slightly and Laurie pulled her hand back.

"It's only a scratch Laurie, it didn't hurt all that much. You shouldn't worry about those horrid creatures, we won't let them hurt you." Vailla promised. Laurie sadly shook her head, still looking at Vailla's wound. Vailla put the damp cloth dotted with blood back up to her eye and smiled at Laurie. "Don't worry about it Laurie."

"I can't kiss it better, not this time." Laurie sighed. Then she stood up and walked over to Trigger and cuddled into his legs. Vailla felt eyes watching her. She turned round to see Galdine standing there with tear-felt eyes.

"What do you want?" Vailla demanded coldly.

"I'm sorry I wasn't much help, I wasn't prepared for monsters." She admitted. Vailla's temper once again came into play and she frowned at her.

"What were you prepared for then? There are no fancy talking needed here or meagre little tasks overcome by following simple instructions. This little adventure is the meaning of true danger and either one of us can lose our lives!" Vailla raged. Her voice had not risen but so much passion filled her voice she could of spoke in a whisper and still had the desired affect. "Go home, before you get yourself killed." Suddenly the Staff glowed a scolding red. "Our generation is being destroyed, and you want me to bring this woman along to watch its final days? She will just be a thorn in our side, not to mention if she is trust worthy or not." She almost screamed at the Staff. The cloth Vailla held on her face had been dropped to the ground and the slash in her flesh had began to bleed again. She was angry, very angry. It was the thought of her father causing all this trouble for her and all these people she had to put in danger. She also hated the nobility, they had treated her like dirt all her life and now she was expected to risk her life protecting Galdine who is one of them. Vailla ran outside and swung her leg over Nyme and waited impatiently. "We can't stay here, it's not safe." She said coolly, suppressing her anger. She looked at Trigger, blood streaming down her face and maybe for the first time ever Trigger saw a little wounded girl, too afraid of her own feelings.

"You're right. We better be off." Trigger agreed.

An awkward silence filled their short journey towards the village and even Laurie kept quiet. Vailla rode in front ignoring the glances she got from Galdine and occasionally Trigger until they finally reached the village. Vailla told the other to go find an inn to stay in for the night and she would meet them later. "Where are you going?" Trigger asked.

"I need to buy some things, I'll show you when I get back." Trigger was going to object but a threatening stare told not to even bother. "Don't worry I'll have my Staff and you know how to contact me if you need help." Trigger nodded while touching his talisman that he wore around his neck.

"Bye, bye Vailla." Laurie waved as Vailla's horse trotted off in the other direction.

Vailla absently rubbed her face; the bleeding had stopped leaving an ugly black-crusted scab running down her cheek. The village was thick with mud and poverty, in many ways it was much like Wrendore. The peasants went about their normal day-to-day lives not daring to do as much as look a superior in the eye and forever casting their eyes down. Then Vailla heard the song of children playing; the innocent children that found ways to enjoy life even when they are so poor that their clothes didn't even fit. Vailla did not feel out of place here, her clothes too big for her and covered in dirt. She walked into a small shop that sold small weapons and other small items. "Good evening, rotten weather we're having isn't it?" Asked a cheery man from behind the counter. He had slightly thin white hair and black button eyes. His beard was long and it was nearly impossible to see his neck.

"Truly. Do you have any arrows for sell? They're for a friend." The man's eyes brightened at the sound of business and he smiled pleasantly.

"The finest in all of Sambi! Come, come have a look." He led her over to a small counter and pulled out a box from underneath. It was a good solid box about the length of Vailla's arm and it had brass handles. He carefully opened the box and showed its contents to Vailla. It contained at least thirty arrows; each hand crafted made with steel arrowheads and strong harks feathers. Vailla lifted one out the box and measured it with her hands.

"These are good, how much?" Vailla asked while placing the arrow back with the others. The old man looked at her, taking note of her peasant clothes and fresh scar on her face.

"I'd say about ten copper pieces a dozen, one silver piece for the lot." He replied trying to make it sound like too much money when in actually fact it was a bargain.

"Are you sure? That must be at least half of their value, you can't be making any profit out of this deal." Vailla may have been a thief, a murderer and an outlaw but she would never cheat an old kind peasant out of his money.

"Looks to me you need those arrows and I would prefer that these things would give you protection rather than I got a lot of money out of a peasant like myself." He laughed patting her gently on her back.

"Thank you." Vailla said while handing him five pieces of silver he was about to object when Vailla butted in. "I'll borrow it of someone who can afford it if I need to. Take it please." The man smiled fondly at her and took her money.

"Thank you young lady, give me a second and I'll give you something to put them in." He then took the box into the back room and emerged a few minutes later with a parcel wrapped in cloth.

Vailla carried her gift to the `Lion Heart' inn. It was a small building with gritty floors with a small fresh fire burning in the fireplace. It was the only inn the entire village and Vailla sort of guessed it was where Trigger and the others were and she was right. In the far end of the room Trigger sat with Laurie on her lap and Galdine sat besides them. Vailla strode over to them and placed the arrows on the table and pointed to Trigger. "Present for you Trigger." She said smiling. Trigger took the parcel excitedly and unwrapped them. When he saw the arrows amongst the cloth he smiled with joy.

"These are great!" He picked one up and pretended to shoot one through his bow. "Thanks you!" He jumped over the table to give Vailla a hug of thanks. She blushed then angrily pushed him away.

"Well I glad you like them." She said in a neutral voice but her face still blushed and Trigger just laughed. "Did you get a room?"

"Yes, the problem is they only had two rooms left, Laurie and I are going to share a room because she is still frightened and I want to be with her so…" He left it hanging.

"Oh no, no way. I'd rather sleep outside in the gutter. There is no way…"

Vailla climbed in her bed keeping her Staff close, she had let Hayley go in with Laurie and it felt strange not having the strange little creature by her feet. Galdine sat on the bed while brushing her long raven black hair. "Do you want me to brush you hair?" Galdine offered when she caught Vailla looking at her.

"No, I can do it myself." She snapped. Galdine shrugged and pasted Vailla her brush. Vailla snatched out of her hand and then untied and untangled the pendent round her head and placed it on the bed. She struggled to brush the knots but she bit her lip and pulled out the knots as well as some hair. Her hair had grown since she last brushed it and what was once shoulder length had grown nearly half way down her back. It took her about half an hour before she had fully brushed it and even though it hurt a lot it felt nice to have untangled hair. Vailla handed the brush back to Galdine and then placed the pendent back around her head.

"What a beautiful pendent, where did you get it?" Galdine asked admirably. She was looking at the blue stone that dangled on a silver chain between her eyes.

"It was my mother's, she gave it to me before she…" It was painful to talk about her mother and she sure as hell didn't wanted to start getting upset in front of Galdine. "My mother was killed by the man we are after, he is a very dangerous man."

"I'm sorry. My mother had an affair with the baker and I don't see her anymore but at least she is still alive. It must be horrible to…"

"Don't. It happened along time ago and I don't want to talk about it with you." Vailla snapped. Her mood had lifted slightly though, Galdine's mother and the baker! She went quiet for a moment and then looked at Vailla once more.

"Did it hurt when that monster did that?" She was referring to the scar on Vailla's face and the young sorceress laughed.

"Not more than usual!" She then pulled up her sleeve to reveal several scars, each belonging to one of Vailla's misfortunes. "I have a whole collection." Galdine winced and Vailla laughed once more.

"A few years in Wrendore will knock that softness out of you, how ever did you manage to be allowed to come and join me?"

"I've told you before, I didn't chose this the stars did." Galdine told her hotly.

"Bah, ignore those stupid things. I do all the bloody time and everything has turned out ok. So tell me, seriously, what abilities do you offer? You're obviously not a fighter."

"Well the writings told me that I was to be the `Protector of the Sorceress' and that I must care for her until she was ready, but for what I do not know." Galdine said, trying to think of what else she remembered.

"I know!" Vailla exclaimed with sudden realisation. "It's Laurie, not me. Keep close to the little girl, help and protect her."

"But I thought you were the one." Galdine objected.

"I think I can protect myself don't you?" Galdine did not answer. Vailla looked at her and then her clothes and shook her head. "Remind me to get you some clothes, those would just never do." She tried using her best impersonation of a posh person.

"What may I ask, is wrong?" Galdine snapped flushed with slight annoyance.

"I'm getting some new clothes tomorrow, something like trousers so I can move about more easily. You can have these clothes until this is over, they should fit you since they're too big for me." Galdine's mouth hung open in horror as she stared rudely at Vailla's tatty clothes. "There is no need to thank me, I'm off to bed now." She smiled sweetly and jumped in bed smiling mischievously, secretly wishing she could treasure this moment forever and ever.

Galdine was still asleep when Vailla woke up. Sleeping like a pampered child Vailla thought to herself as she quietly snuck out of the room. It wasn't long past sunrise and the air was still cold from the night as she made her way slowly down the stairs. There were very few punters in this time of morning, and the few there were there were either watchmen or sailors. Vailla plonked herself down on a stool and ordered one pint of ale and drank. She wasn't thirsty this morning for some reason and she spent most of her time staring at the frothy liquid in her mug. "You shouldn't really drink that, it's a man's drink little girl." A rough voice told her that almost Vailla jump. She turned round to see the man who was talking to her. He was a big tall man with arms like tree trunks and a red beard. He wore a traditional sailor's outfit and had a scar very similar to Vailla's down his right cheek. He didn't look very old, about thirty-five and the most, his sea-worn face was a lot like screwed up brown paper.

"Well, I'm not very lady like." She replied gruffly. The sailor smiled at her and then took and sat on the stool next to where Vailla sat.

"That makes two of us. Do you mind if I join you? I haven't got any friend in this village." He asked nicely, a little roughness gone from his voice.

"Why not, I've got no one else to sit with." She looked the man straight in the eye and smiled. This man had absolutely no bad intentions at all. "So you just docked?"

"Nah, I've just travelled from Sends to apply for a job here but they're all full up. I'm going on to Laces after I've rested, maybe they'll have a spot for me in the fish market. What about you? You live here?"

"No, I'm travelling to Laces with a few of my friends." Vailla was being very careful of what she said but mentioning Laces was like an unstoppable force and she had a sneaking suspicion that it was another one of those things she had no control over. She sighed and gave in, after all how could you win a fight with fate? "Why don't we travel together? Trigger is getting lonely being the only boy around." Vailla was sure that she could hear a laugh of triumph but she shook that thought out of her head.

"I think I may take you up on that, I'll be glad of the company." He replied cheerily. "Why don't you tell me your name?"

"Vailla O'Dell of Wrendore, what about you?"

"Jads Dragas of Sends at your service." He performed an exaggerated bow and laughed heartily.

"Before we go any further I must tell you that we're being stalked by some very dangerous things and…" Before Vailla could say anymore Jads held up on hand and nodded.

"I thought you would be, but don't worry little lady I'll protect you."

"You don't need to protect me but there are others in the group that will probably need your help." Vailla didn't know why but she trusted this stranger, and even her Staff, which she held in her hand, wanted Vailla to trust him and invite him along. This man would be a lot more help in a fight with those demons and he would keep Trigger company and protect the others, in a way Vailla wanted him to come along and she didn't mind Fate's choice this time round.

"I don't know why kid but I got the strangest feeling that we were meant to meet here today and embark on this journey together." He shook her hand but then his stare went towards Vailla fresh pink scar and he winced slightly. "Who gave you that nasty? Was it the person that is stalking you?" His voice had a slight tinge of anger in it as he absently stroked his own ragged scar of his tanned face.

"Sort of, it's no big deal or nothing. Do you mind to ask how you got your little friend there?"

"I honestly don't know. I only noticed it yesterday but by the looks of it this little beauty has been here for a while." He laughed half to himself. "Not very observant am I?" Vailla could help but to laugh.

Trigger came down about two hours after Vailla to find her laughing and drinking with a stranger. Trigger was a little confused, Vailla had never been this happy, and he was a perfect stranger or at least Trigger thought he was. "Over here Trigs, meet our new friend!" Vailla called over from the other side of the room and Trigger walked towards here.

"Have you been drinking?" Trigger demanded looking at the empty ale mugs on the table.

"Since I was ten, it calms the nerves." She laughed. "I'm sober enough to fight though so don't worry about that. Meet Jads, he'll be travelling with us from now on. Oh and look…" She pointed to his scar on his cheek. "He got one two." Then she started laughing again.

"Hello Jads, tell me are you as drunks and her?" Trigger asked the rosy-faced man.

"We're both sober little friend, just that she is a happy kind of sober." He roared with laugher but Trigger just groaned and shook his head.

"Whatever you say. Vailla where is Galdine and Laurie?" Trigger asked while pulling up a stool of his own.

"Aren't they with you?" Vailla asked, this time in a slightly more serious voice.

"No. When I woke up Laurie was gone and then I went into your room and no one was there." Trigger replied in a worried tone.

"We better find Laurie, I don't trust Galdine." She was now totally sober as she jumped out of her seat and headed towards the door. Before Vailla could make it out of the door Galdine came in holding Laurie's hand and a parcel. "Where have you been? You do that again I'll will gut you with my bare hands I swear!" Galdine cowered slightly at Vailla's angry threat but Laurie stepped forward taking the parcel out of Galdine's hands.

"Present for you." She handed Vailla the package and Vailla took it while still eyeing it suspiciously. She un-wrapped the brown paper to reveal a set of clothing, a pair of trousers and a warm looking top that would actually fit her unlike the one she owned now.

"I'm sorry Vailla but Laurie told me that those were your mother's clothes and I sort of… felt honoured that you would let me wear them so I got you this to make up for it." Galdine said meekly.

"Thanks. Look Galdine, I'm really grateful and all but please don't take Laurie any where without telling us first. She is the youngest and most vulnerable out of the rest of us and we worry about her." Vailla calmly explained.

"I understand." Galdine replied apologetically.

"This is Jads, he will be travelling with us until we get to Laces and like the rest of you he will go his separate way and leave me to deal with my friends in Laces. Jads, the boy with the bow and arrows is Trigger, that woman is Galdine and the little girl is Laurie." Vailla looked at her clothing and then at Trigger. "I'm going to try on these new clothes, Galdine you can come with me and change your clothes too." And before Trigger could argue with her she and Galdine went back to their bedroom.

Galdine and Vailla got changed into their new clothes while the others were down stairs. The young noblewoman finally plucked up enough courage to asked Vailla a question that she wanted answered. "What did you mean `separate ways'? I thought we were going to stay together in Laces." She asked while pulling on her skirt.

"I'm going to fight my father along no matter what anyone says. It's too dangerous for anyone to be with me when I challenge my him so I want everyone, even you, at a very safe distance."

"But I thought…" She faulted. She didn't know what to think; especially of Vailla she sighed and pulled Vailla's top over her head.

"You thought that I would risk all your lives for the sake of a little company? I may not be the nicest girl in the world but I would never put innocent people in danger no matter what my Staff says." Vailla replied coolly and Galdine was almost certain she detected a hint of regret and sorrow in her voice.

"What do you think?" Galdine asked cheerily eager to change the subject. Vailla looked at her and smiled wistfully.

"Now you like one of us Galdine. I didn't have anything personal against you looking like a noblewoman, it's just that living in Wrendore… well you know what I'm trying to say." She smiled at placed a hand on her Staff as she modelled her new clothes. Her brown trousers matched with her padded boots and dark green top fitted nicely around her necking instead of hanging off one shoulder. Vailla looked at her clothes on Galdine, she looked strangely enchanting almost like her Staff's human form with flowing black hair and dark green eyes. The skirt cut just below the ankles and the top balanced neatly on her two shoulders, in many ways it suited Galdine better that it did Vailla.

"You asked me what abilities I had to offer you when we first met, so I tell you this now. I do not know what I can do to help but the wise woman of our kingdom told me that I can and will help in the oncoming events involving the conflict between you and your father and I believe her. Please let me help, I do not want to sit and watch while our world falls into the pits of hell." She was almost pleading and suddenly Vailla saw something that she hadn't seen before. The flame of passion for this world filled her eyes, adventure and acceptance was needed to feed her hunger.

"Tell me the truth then. You ran away from home to help me after this woman told you about all this didn't you?" Vailla asked gently, she understood. Galdine did not answer straight away and Vailla knew she was right so she did Galdine a favour and answered her own question. "You can have the adventure you need, but you must leave with Trigger and the others when we get to Laces. Like the others you have no choice in that matter." Vailla's Staff glowed an angry red, scolding her but Vailla just ignored it.

"I wish I was as brave as you." She mumbled wistfully.

"I'm not brave." Vailla replied sadly and then without saying another word she left the room and went downstairs to show Trigger her new clothes.