Wonder why they need this much protection in such a prana-deficient area. It wasn’t just the Brotherhood mercs. He’d spotted over a dozen guards, all in mismatched armor. They, too, looked like they had been cobbled together, but their numbers meant that Aryan feared something.
He concluded they were likely transporting high-value cargo. Either that, or they were doing something illegal. Vir sincerely hoped it wasn’t that.
He arrived to find the three in amiable company. The blonde-haired warrior and her armored male companion laughed at some joke, while the black-haired mejai stood flushing with embarrassment.
“Ah! Ho there, counterpart!” the girl with the long blonde hair said, waving Vir over. She wore a type of armor that Vir had never seen before, comprised of plate metal pauldrons, a plate chest protector, leather bracers, and fabric in between. It left many gaps—and even bare skin in some places—but Vir supposed it protected her vitals.
On anyone else, it would have come across as a brutish look, but the blue-eyed, freckled blonde somehow made it look elegant.
“Come on, no need to be shy. We don’t bite! Well, some of us don’t, at least,” she said, eyeing her black-haired male friend. The powerfully built man narrowed his eyes and shoved his blonde friend, nearly causing her to trip.
Rather than be offended, she burst out laughing again.
What a merry bunch, Vir thought, dismounting Bumpy.
“You’re Spear’s Edge, I presume?” Vir said, eying an ornate steel spear that was lazily propped against a nearby Ash’va. “The mercenary party of three I’m to work with on this protection detail?”
“That’s us,” the clean-shaven man said. “Nice to meet you. I’m Vason. The timid girl behind me’s our mejai, Haymi, and the brute over there’s our esteemed leader.”
“Tia!” the blonde said with a dazzling smile, extending her arm to Vir. “Brute’s pleasure.”
Vir grasped her forearm in greeting. “Param,” he replied. “And, uh, likewise?”
That sent the entire party into another fit of laughter, leaving Vir scratching his head.
“Aww, and is this your cute little friend?” Tia said, stuffing her face into Neel’s fur. Despite the bandy’s aversion to such fondling—Vir and Maiya excepted—he seemed content to let Tia rub his belly, licking her face while she did.
Well, if Neel likes her… she can’t be too bad, can she?
“I see you’ve met Mr. Friendly over there,” Tia said with crossed arms, jabbing her chin over at the caravan leader.
Tia’s words broke Vir out of his reverie. Spear’s Edge came across genuine, though Vir knew better than most how little external appearances were worth. Would he trust them with his life? No. But he’d happily trust them to guard a caravan led by a grouchy old man.
“Aryan? Yeah, we spoke,” Vir replied. “Sounds like he wants some of us at the front and some at the back.”
“Yep. How about I ride up front with you? Even split that way.”
“Works for me, but don’t you want to stay together as a party?” Vir asked.
“Naw. Vason might look delicate, but he’s studier than an Ash’va. Smells like one too.”
“Hey! Don’t push your insecurities on me!” came the man’s retort.
“And Haymi, well… she could knock us all out even if we ganged up on her.”
Delicate? Vason was built like an Ash’va. Every inch of his body was decked out in Brigandine, and a great tower shield was strapped to his back.
“Maybe remember that next time you tease me,” Haymi said with a huff.
Vir regarded the mejai again. She was easily as beautiful as her freckled friend. Slim, tall, and with regal emerald eyes highlighted by her emerald earrings, her wavy black hair fell onto her burgundy robe in a way that just screamed regal. Even without the array of orbs at her waist, Vir might’ve guessed she was a mejai. She just looked the part.
“Ah, appears they’re pushing off,” Vason said, mounting his Ash’va. “The day’s late, and with a caravan this size, I doubt we’ll ride long.”
“Doubtful we’ll make the Legions by nightfall,” Tia said, stretching her back. “Well, at least our bums won’t be sore tomorrow! See you guys later! Vason, you better cook something nice tonight or I’m gonna be grouchy.”
“Yes, your highness,” the warrior replied, gesturing theatrically.
“Those two. I know they don’t treat me like the leader, but I promise we take our jobs seriously,” she said, turning to Vir. It was as if she’d swapped with someone else. All hint of her prior levity had vanished, replaced by a fierce Talent-wielding warrior woman.
Vir nodded as they rode up to the front of the slow-moving caravan.
“It’s nice, what you have. I had a friend like that, once.”
“Oh? Where is she now?” Tia said, searching his face with her bright, nearly translucent blue eyes.
“How’d you know it was ‘she’?” Vir asked.
“Experience.”
“Somewhere. Somewhere far.” Vir regretted his words the moment he spoke them. His heart throbbed, overcome by an emptiness within him. Tia’s rambunctious group and their easygoing mannerisms only served as a reminder of what Vir had lost.
The blonde-haired warrior drew up next to Bumpy and patted Vir’s shoulder. “You’ll find her again. Promise.”
“Thanks,” Vir said, flustered to be talking about something so personal with someone he’d just met.
“So, what’s your story?” he asked, desperate to change the topic. “Guessing you’ve known each other long?”
“Oh yeah. I’ve known Vason and Haymi since we were kids. They’ve been with me ever since,” she said, then lowered her voice. “Through the thick and the thin.”
“I-I see. No wonder you’re such good friends.”
“They’re the best,” Tia said, flashing him a toothy smile. “You may have noticed our burgundy armor.”
“Is that your country’s color?”
Tia nodded. “It is. We all hail from Matali.”
“Oh…”
Maiya had told him about that kingdom. How its lands had been ravaged by the encroaching Ash. Over the centuries, its people trickled out to neighboring kingdoms, and their situation grew worse and worse. From everything he’d heard, Matali was a broken shell of the country it used to be—even worse off than Hiranya.
“My condolences,” Vir replied. Tia must have been another refugee, seeking a life in greener pastures.
“Everyone’s got a sob story or another. Hard to go very many days without being mugged or set upon by some beast. It’s a hard world, but the people in it are tougher. Isn’t that right, Param?”
“What makes you say that? Maybe my life’s been full of prana and roses?”
“Is that so?” Tia said, gazing off into the distance in silent contemplation. “I wonder how many coddled children have killed someone before?”
8CAVE PATROL
Vir’s eyes narrowed, and he leveled a stare at the blonde girl.
“You always make damning statements like that offhand?” he asked, not letting his gaze betray anything.
Tia grinned. “Sorry, bad habit. You’d be amazed at the number of people who give up their secrets all because of an errant comment.” She fell silent for a moment. “It’s your look. The way you act, looking at everyone. The first thing you do is scan their weapons and armor. You’re sizing up their threat level. And I feel like you could tell me the position of every guard in this caravan.”
“That’s just the basics, isn’t it?”
“Is it? I don’t know if it’s even normal. The only ones I’ve ever come across who act like that are all veterans. People who’ve been burned too many times to allow anything to chance. I don’t feel like people start out that way. If they do, then… well, that’s quite sad, don’t you think?”