After the fight, Wilhelm was named
victorious. The battle was one of legend and went on so long the sun had set,
darkness consuming the arena. When magical light was finally cast, Wilhelm and
Krek were locked into a grapple. The
fight was close and Krek gave no quarter, when Annice reached Wilhelm after the
final blow she found a broken man. She felt a pang of shame, this is what she
came to see? Two people tearing at each other until only one could bare to
stand? She laid her hands upon him and called her holy magic into him, closing
his wounds and bringing him from the brink. Wilhelm was laid out, slack in the
dirt, and laughed.
“Damn good fight.” He was smiling,
Annice’s guilt faded somewhat, though she knew she would take greater care to
remember in the future what these fighters pit themselves through.
Annice retreated back to the
staging room, where she had helped Wilhelm gear up. Wilhelm stayed in the arena
for the final ceremonies, where he would be celebrated and receive his prizes.
There she sat, alone and pondering her day, for near an hour. Wilhelm eventually
returned, painfully pushing though the door and pulling at the knots in his
armor. Annice stood and was quick to smack his hands away and help him remove
the bulky outerwear. Once free he sighed in great relief, pawed his undershirt
off, and fell onto a mattress in the corner. Annice stared at him for a moment,
taking in the sight. This was a man who had died nearly twice today and he
looked no different than a smith coming home from the forge, weary but content.
She approached him and called more magic into her palms.
“Here, you’re still in bad shape,
let me finish my work.” She guided him to roll to one side, and she stared at
his back. It was as perfectly sculpted as the rest of the man, it was also
marred with many scars, deep red marks from his armor, and smattered with bruising.
She furrowed her brow and began pressing her hands to his flesh, filling him
with rejuvenating energy.
“Here, this is for you.” He stated
as she worked, and lifted into view a sack, the distinctive jingle of coins as
it moved. “Yer pay as my healer. Standard fer my healers is a full quarter of
any winnins, though we can negotiate fer something else if that’s what ye need
to do to stay on.”
“St…stay on?” Annice balked, and
looked to the sack of gold. She didn’t reach out for it. She didn’t think about
payment when she shouted out her willingness to volunteer, and certainly didn’t
think she would be given a job!
“Yeah.” Wilhelm shifted and rolled
back on to his back to face the woman.” You got the skills, clearly, you went
through Healer certification right quick and still had the magic to put my ass
back together after a tussel with a bugbear. And here you are, keepin up with
the little shit too. I happen to be lookin to take on a new healer, why not it
be you?”
“I, uh…” She struggled to find her
words. Fortunately she wouldn’t have to, at least for now, as a woman pressed
into the door, knocking on the wood as she did.
“May I come in?” She asked, seeing
Wilhelm.
“Yeah Mareen, come on in.” Wilhelm
stated, an obvious annoyance in her voice.
The woman entered, skin the color
of white ash, hair black as a raven and cut short, with one shorn side, and
with eyes that lacked pupil or iris. She stood upright and formal and in an
obvious display of military learning. It was the armor, scarlet reds and umber
gold highlights in intricate designs that showed her to be more than just a
city guard, she was part of the Vibrant Spear, the high protectorate and
military arm of the Coastal Enclave, which the Sapphire Cove was a member of.
The shoulder cape of dark royal purple and gold trim showed her to be a Master
General, someone of great and high stature. Annice nodded to her respectfully,
she had healed a number of Vibrant Spear soldiers in the past, and the Temple
of Syrene in the Cove respected them as the peace keepers.
“I sent you message that I wanted
to speak with you today.” Mareen state
flatly.
“Yeah, and I had a tournament
today, was kinda busy.” Wilhelm snapped back, lifting himself to a seated
position on the mattress.
“You fought in two matches, it
hardly took your whole day.” She glowered at him.
“Yeah well part of my Tournament
regiment is a peaceful and calm disposition before I fight, something I can’t
do if you’re jawin at me to do this or that.” He picked at one of his nails,
making a show of not paying the woman much mind. The woman let out a short
breath, the only sign of exasperation she was willing to afford this man.
“Yes well you are free now, flush
in your winnings, and able to speak.” Mareen paused. “Privartely?” The eyes,
pupiless as they were, still locked onto Annice. The cleric felt her heart
skip, and she was about to gather herself to leave, Wilhelm raised his arm.
“This is my personal healer, and
she is tending to my injuries. I trust her with my life and therefore so you
should trust her with anything you want to say to me.” He grinned. “Besides
there’s a feast to be held for all the Champions in two hours and it would be
rude to show up all sore backs and twisted ankles.” There was a tension in the
air, and it was obvious that Wilhelm was, mostly, doing this to annoy the woman.
Annice went back to administering her healing magic.
“Fine.” Mareen stated through grit
teeth. “We have a mission we would like you to come in on. One none of our
agents can complete, but you are uniquely qualified for. It’s important,
Wilhelm. It pays well, twice what you hauled in this competition.”
“Well it ain’t always about money,
Mareen. I’m no sell sword, don’t even swing a sword!” He grinned wider, and
tilted his head.
“I’m asking as a favor, Wilhelm,
please do this.” She relaxed slightly, and the edge in her voice vanished. “For
me.”
“Uh.” Wilhelm started. He was
trying to rib her sure, annoy her a bit, but now he felt he had gone too far.
He nodded. “Yes, of course. I’ll be there first thing in the morning. Let me
have my revelry tonight, show my appreciation to my fans, and then I’m all
yours for whatever clandestine mission you got, yeah?”
Mareen nodded and turned to the
door, before she exited she visibly stiffened again, taking on her military
attitude. Annice felt a palpable fog of awkwardness in the air now. Clewarly
there was a history there, would it be rude to ask? She let the silence go on
as she finished her healings.
“Now I went and made a right ass of
myself.” He finally said. “Shoulda just said no, polite as I could, and be done
with it.” He sighed.
“You two, uh, know each other?”
Annice inquired, unable to help it now.
“Mareen? Yeah, I know her. Right
pain in the ass she is, stick so far up her-“ He paused, and looked to Annice.
“Well, all military types got that. She didn’t used to when we was together.”
“Together?” Annice quirked a brow.
“Yeah me, her, and a Elf man named
Gliff used to work together in an Adventuring Troup, least we thought we was
Adventurewrs. We were basically kids, running around doing some minor monster
huntin, caravan protection, nothin too excitin like you hear in stories. But we
were friends, well, more than that.”
“Oh.” That didn’t help at all!
Annice was certainly not one for gossip, but how could you help but wonder when
you see two people with on obvious history have an exchange like that?
“Anyway, you didn’t answer my
question. I need a healer, you in?” Wilhelm stood and retrieved a green tunic
from a satchel at the food of the bed.
“You can’t be serious, you don’t
even know me.” Annice stated, standing and facing the man.
“Sure I do! You’re name’s Annice and
you follow Syrene.” He waved a hand dismissively. “Rest of the stuff I’ll learn
on the road.” Wilhelm dug into the satchel, pulling out a leather jerkin with
intricate embroidered Dwarven Runes along the shoulders and breast, he tossed it
on the bed and went into the bag again.
“On the road?!” Annice exclaimed. “You
expect me to join you on-What in the name of all the Gods in the Celestial
Realms are you doing!?” She shrieked, as she saw Wilhelm grab at his pant waist
and pull, a full shot of the man’s rear end exposed to her before he leapt at
her cry, drawing them back into place. He stared sheepishly.
“I uh, gotta get ready for the feast.
Sorry. Wasn’t thinkin.” He stammered. “Most of my healers see me in the buff
eventually and I just wasn’t…”
“I am not your Healer, Wilhelm. Not
yet.” Annice said sternly.
“Yes, you’re right. Of course, my
sincerest apologies, I was not thinking.” He nodded to her, clearly embarrassed
at his lapse of judgement. “So, you’re sayin no to my offer?”
“I’m not saying that at all. I
think I will need time to consider it.” Annice crossed her arms.
“Course! But see, you at the very
least gotta come to the feast! All the fighters’ll be there, bring all their
Healers. You don’t want me to be showin up without mine, would ya? Like comin
to a Solstice Celebration stag, just ain’t right.” He grinned, breaking through
the awkwardness.
“Mm” She mocked an indecisive tone.
The man was charming, even if he was a bit of an oaf. She eventually nodded. “Yes,
I will of course accompany you to the feast. Wouldn’t want your lack of a
Healer to be the talk of the night.” She smiled to him. “But first I will leave
you to finish your dress.” She turned and headed for the door.
“Thank ye kindly!” He said, and
reached for his pants.
“Oh and Wilhelm?” She stopped at
the door.
“Yes, Annice?” He looked to her.
“You have a really cute butt.” She left,
closing the door behind her.
The feast, as was customary for Champions
events, was held in the arena itself. Tables, a stage, and wooden dance floor
had been set up over the packed dirt. Bards and minstrels sang songs, jugglers
weaved between attendies, throwing fire and swords to each other to the delight
of all, acrobats stacked themselves five and ten people tall, and all seemed to
be in the mood for merriment.
When Annice arrived, she was arm in
arm with Wilhelm, who cleaned up nicely. A simple spell had left her clerical
robes of white silk spotless from the days activities, and as well had given
the fabric just a slight magical sheen, she was literally glowing. Wilhelm wore
the green tunic she had watched him put on, the finely tailored leather jerkin,
and a pair of black trousers tucked into black knee high riding boots, trimmed
in the same green as his tunic. The bun he had his hair in during the tounement
had been undone, and now his hair was in an elegant braid of the Dwarven style
that he kept pulled forward over his shoulder in display. The hair wasn’t very
long and the braid ended at his collar, but Annice was very impressed.
The two were introduced as Wilhelm
the Unyielding, Champion of Champions and Lady Annice Q’ileth of Syrene,
Healer. They were the last to be introduced, and the revelry and every fighter,
save one, cheered for them. Annice was grinning from ear to ear, this was
amazing! Never had she thought that she would be able to attent the Champions Feast,
let alone as an honored guest! Her heart swelled with excitement and revelry,
in the back of her mind she knew that conversation with Nim would come and the
wind in her sails would come to an end, but she’d be damned if she wasn’t going
to earn her punishment.
The two approached the feast table,
their chairs at the center between all of the fighters, each fighter sitting
with their healer in the order of their tournament rank. Kuran sat to Annice’s
left, and Krek sat to Wilhelm’s right. Krek glowered at Wilhelm, and was the
only fighter to not cheer for him when he was announced. Annice quirked a brow
at the Bugbear, but was distracted when the half-orc placed a hand on her shoulder.
“You did a good thing, stepping in
like that for this bum.” She smiled widely, and was obviously halfway to drunk.
Wilhelm laughed, overhearing her.
“That she did Kurry!” Wilhelm didn’t
seem to notice, or at the very least didn’t acknowledge Krek’s glower.
“Oh it was… It was nothing, really.”
Annice said, smiling. “I loved your fight with Elenra, so exciting!” Annice
said. “I have to say I love all of your fights. You’re my second favorite
fighter!”
“Yes! Elenra is good fighter, they
will go far. I almost did not win, did not expect magic, they are very sneaky.”
Kuran cocked her head. “Second? Who is first favorite?”
“Oh, uh…” She turned her head awkwardly
to Wilhelm, Kuran laughed.
“Wilhelm you bastard! Why do you hog
all the cute fans?” She said, reaching around Annice to sock him in the
shouler. Wilhelm took a long gulp from a goblet, not even flinching at the
punch.
“Cause the cute ones don’t like
people cuter than them Kuran, and you’re the cutest of any of us!” Wilhelm said
as he brought the goblet down and returned the jab. They both burst into laughter,
and Annice was ecstatic to watch her favorites banter, even as she was jostled
by the giants play fighting on either side of her.
“Cute one like cheater, seem.” Came
a growling voice. Kuran, Annice, and Wilhelm all stopped in their merriment and
turned their head to face Krek. “Because Wilhelm. He cheat Krek.” Krek said.
“Excuse me?” Wilhelm said, his
smile vanishing into a deep set frown. “Think yer gonna have to qualify that
statement, friend.”
“Krek said you cheat. Nothing to qualify.
You cheat.” The Bugbear took his goblet, and drained it in two gulps.
“Now I’m findin it hard to
understand how I came about cheatin you Krek.” Wilhelm stated.
“Leave him, Wil, he is just a sore
loser.” Kuran interjected. But Wilhelm held his hand up to stop her, and Kuran
rolled her eyes. She took Annice’s chair by the back and slid it closer to her,
startling the Cleric. “Come, you sit here, this might brew into trouble, I keep
you safe, we half-blood stick together, yes?”
Krek stood up, towering over the still
seated human. “Krek stronger, faster, better fighter than human. You cheat, because
no other way you win.”
Wilhelm stood up in turn. “I’m
ready for round two any time, big man.”
“OY NOW NONE OF THAT!” Brisbane
boomed, he no longer had his voice amplifying spell, but his voice carried none
the less. The dwarf made his way between the two, and pushed Wilhelm back, facing
Krek. “You, out! Take yer winnings and leave, you do not come into my Collesuem
and question the judgments of my people, this is a formal strike against ye. You
ever start shite with my people or the other fighters again, and you will be
barred from participating in any other events, ye hear me?!” Brisbane barely
came up to this beast’s waist, but he stood tall. Krek grunted, and turned.
Taking another fighters goblet off the table and draining it, before crushing
the metal container and dropping it to the dirt.
“Sorry about that m’boy.” Brisbane
turned and patted Wilhelm’s arm. “Krek’s a hot head, but one of the greatest show
fighters in the realm. Won the Bleedin Brawl Tournament in Rextrol up north
three years runnin.”
“They don’t use Protection Wards up
north.” Wilhelm said, staring at Krek as he walked away.
“Aye they don’t, which means he
never lost a fight. You burned him pretty bad lad.” Brisbane said. “Anyway, pay
him no mind, I won’t have anyone hassling my Champion, now get yourself to
drinkin! You earned it!”
“Yeah, thinkin that might not be
the only thing I earned today.” Wilhelm said solemnly.
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