Chapter Two... finally
After two years I finally got around to posting Chapter Two... sorry for the wait, hope you enjoy. Again, please please please comment if you read.
He heard them talking. Not hissy whispering, but soft voices and flowing water. He tried to speak, but found it hard to breathe. He wondered where he was, why he felt so light. He felt a bit more awake now, so he opened his eyes a crack and, when he wasn’t immediately blinded by light, opened them further, blinking to clear them.
He was in a small darkened room and he found himself floating in a shallow pool of water littered with herbs and smelling rather pleasant. As he looked around he noticed a familiar, smiling face.
“Jenna,” he breathed, his voice weak.
A woman he hadn’t seen stood, “good, he remembers you, that means his memory hasn’t been affected. I’ll go and let Master Rudolphus know he’s awake.”
“Thank you,” Jenna said to the woman before turning back to him, “hello there.”
He wiped a tear from her beaming face, “every time I see you lately you’re crying,” he said, voice a bit stronger now, “we need to remedy this.”
She laughed, “and you need to rest. Are you still finding it hard to breathe?”
He took a deep breath, testing, “it’s getting easier.”
“Good,” she said, “the herbs worked then. I wasn’t sure they would.”
He smiled, “well, I don’t feel any pain either,” he said, his voice sounding a bit rough.
“They opened you up to fix your rib, but it looks like the herbs fixed that too,” a deep voice said, “good to see you’re feeling better Coran.”
Coran sat up, with effort and Jenna’s help, and turned towards the voice. “Rudolphus,” he said cordially before examining his own bare chest, “you’re right, there’s no scar.” He noticed they had removed his shirt, shoes, and socks and saw the blood stained bandage not far off.
So the herbs would soak in better and you had something dry to put on,” Jenna explained with a smile.
Coran noticed Tara standing behind Rudolphus and inclined his head respectfully. He reached for his shirt and wondered why she was blushing when she had seen much more of a man in her line of work than a bare chest.
“The scars on your back are gone too,” Jenna whispered as he shrugged into his shirt and buttoned it as he had - how long ago? - for the fight.
“How long have I been out,” he asked the room in general as he pulled his socks on.
“Not long,” Rudolphus responded over Jenna’s complaint - Hey! Didn’t I just say you should be resting? In response, Coran pointedly stuck his tongue out at her. Jenna responded in kind and someone giggled, he thought it might be Tara.
“I thought you were a goner,” Rudolphus said in the softest tone Coran had ever heard from him.
“Yeah, but I told him you were way too stubborn to die,” Jenna said punching Coran playfully in the arm.
“Stop beating on my patient, if you please,” the medic from earlier said, re-entering the room and trying to hide a smile. She tucked the skirt of her plain, off-white dress under her knees as she knelt near Coran, placing a tray in front of him. “I knew from previous experience that you wouldn’t want to rest, so I made you some biscuits and tea.”
Coran gave her a skeptical look, “the latter dosed with tonic, no doubt,” he said darkly.
The woman feigned shock, “my, however did you know?”
Coran smiled genuinely as he lifted the small wooden cup to his lips, tonic or no he was parched, “same way you knew I wouldn’t want to rest.”
She laughed, a lovely sound that flowed like water, her blue eyes sparkling. She didn’t respond, only tucked some of her white hair back into the bun at the back of her head and waited for him to finish, watching his every action like it was something magical. Coran likewise watched her as if she might vanish if he looked away.
They sat in comfortable silence for several minutes until he finished his tea. Instead of placing the cup on the tray, Coran handed it back to her. One of her hands covered his and he caressed her other, unspoken words passing in their locked gazes. Then the woman broke the spell by looking down, placing the cup back on the tray with the empty plate and stood. During that entire exchange no one spoke, not even Rudolphus, they all simply watched as if entranced.
Now he was the one to break the silence. “Thank you Alessa,” he said in that rare soft voice, “your services are always very much appreciated.”
Alessa bobbed her head in acknowledgement and Coran watched out of the corner of his eye as Jenna looked from Alessa to himself as he studied the water beside him. He knew they were all curious about the exchange though none of them said so outright. He closed his eyes, bringing back the image of that last look and suddenly he heard her voice in her head. His eyes flew open and his head snapped in her direction, expecting to see her gazing back but instead he watched the door close behind her.
Jenna bounced to his side with a bright smile and he couldn’t help but smile in return. “So,” she bubbled, “want me to escort you to your room?” She stopped and bit her lip, realizing Rudolphus was in the room, he supposed. She turned to the man, confirming Coran’s theory, “if that’s alright?”
Rudolphus smiled, his face showing how adorable he though she was just then, “well, I do still owe him a woman for his win. That is, if it’s you he wants.” Coran nodded his assent and Rudolphus waved a hand, “off with you then.”
Jenna beamed, grabbed Coran’s hand, hoisted him to his feet, and dragged him past a shocked Tara, out of the room, and down the hall.
“Hey,” Coran called, stumbling along behind her as she was quite a bit shorter than he and she held his hand at about the height of her waist, “I appreciate the rescue and all, but do you have to be so violent?”
She grinned back at him as she opened the door to his room, “you’re one to complain. You weren’t supposed to get injured on the morning of our-“
“I know,” he groaned, cutting her off, “I know, but it’s not like I planned it.” He closed the door softly as she sat on his bed, swinging her feet, “and don’t talk about that so loud.”
Jenna stared at the floor, sufficiently admonished, “sorry, I’m just so excited.”
He walked to his armoire and pulled out two bags, “well you shouldn’t be, this is going to be dangerous.”
She caught the bag he threw at her, “I know but to finally leave this place… aren’t you excited?”
He walked into the bathroom with an armful of clothes, pulling the door to, “I’ll be happy when we’re safe on the other side,” he called from behind it.
He supposed she wasn’t as worried or cautious as he was about the escape as he would be handling all the dangerous parts. He smirked at the thought and exited the bathroom dressed in red pants, sturdy black leather boots, a white dress shirt and a long black coat. He glanced over at Jenna and noticed she had tied her hair in a high ponytail and now wore a pair of charcoal slacks with the same short red tank top she’d word earlier. He supposed that was all she owned now so he slipped off his coat and shirt and threw the latter at her.
“Ready,” he asked, shrugging back into his coat, slinging his messenger bag over his shoulder and watching her, now clad in his shirt, pull her sling backpack over her head.
She took a deep breath and nodded, “as always.”
He nodded in return and reached out his hand for hers. Feeling her hand slide in his he opened the door and peeked out. A small canvas bag hung from the door handle and he held it to his face and inhaled/ He smiled, as he’d thought it was a package of those herbs from Alessa, but did she suspect? He clipped the smaller bag onto the messenger bag.
“A gift from Alessa,” Jenna asked curiously.
“Yes,” he said past the lump in his throat, “she knows.”
“You told her,” Jenna asked shocked and when Coran shook his head she added, “but will she tell?”
“No,” Coran said as he locked the door, “I know she won’t.”
He took up her hand again and led her down a few different corridors, generally heading lower into the keep until they reached the basement. The hall they now stood in was damp with puddles and muck on the floor and slime on the walls.
“Well this place smells just wonderful,” Jenna noted, wrinkling her nose.
“Hey,” Coran said dryly, “I never said it would be all flowers and apple trees.”
Jenna grinned and was about to respond when he held up a hand to stop her. He listened to the sound of footsteps. They weren’t far.
He opened and closed a few doors until he found the room he wanted then pointed to a hole in the wall, still holding the door open. “Climb in there,” he instructed, “I won’t be far behind you.”
“But-“
“Just go,” he whispered harshly, placing his hand in the small of her back, shoving gently for good measure, and watching her stumble and glare a bit before going down on hands and knees. He closed the door and leaned on hi, his hands behind his back just in time to see their pursuer descend the stairs.
Tara walked towards him slowly, a skeptical look on her face and her eyes darting between the door and his. “Coran, is it,” she asked cautiously.
“Yes, and your name is Tara, am I right,” he asked politely.
“Right,” she said, gazing at the door, “and what would you be wanting in the dungeon you were held in just last night,” she asked, flicking a glance at her own cell from the night before.
He grinned, “oh, you know, just reminiscing,” he drawled, grabbing at any chance he had to stall her, “and it smells so lovely down here too.”
She quirked an eyebrow and he tried not to smile. “I see,” she said slowly.
“And what about you,” he asked, “liked the décor that much did you?”
She shivered, “most definitely not.”
He knew the shiver was not because of the horrible state of the place. It was chilly down there, not enough to be called cold or produce mist with each breath, but cool enough to make a woman in a gold silk bikini cold. “I thought so,” he said taking off his coat, closing the distance between them, and draping it around her shoulders.
“Thank you,” she almost whispered the words and blushed, again causing him to wonder why. He would think it was the proximity, but surely that wouldn’t bother Rudolphus’ favourite girl. “Why are you really here?”
Coran grinned as he stepped back, “I’ll tell you if you tell me,” he teased. He saw no reason to lie to her, Jenna had a fair distance on them now, if she was running full out like he told her to and not worrying about him. He also knew the older woman to have genuine affection for the girl and wouldn’t want to cause any trouble for her, or so he hoped.
“Looking for you and Jenna,” she stated simply, making him worry a but until she continued, “Rudolphus was so happy with your performance he thought you deserved me for the night.”
Coran had to stop his jaw from dropping, “his favourite girl? He’s never been that pleased with me before.”
“Well,” she said casually, “you even bested death this time… why, don’t you want me?”
Coran laughed. He tried to stop himself, he did, but it was just too funny. He apologized when she looked upset. “I’m sorry, but for a man not to want you would be impossible,” he said gently and watched her face flush.
“Oh,” was all she could say for a few moments before regaining her composure, clearing her throat and pointing out, “hey, you still haven’t told me why you’re really here.”
He grinned that he still had enough skill to make a woman’s mind go blank, and from several feet away even. “The truth,” he asked.
“The truth,” she said with a look that said she would kill him if his answer was anything else.
Coran lowered his voice and stepped closer, “Jenna, myself, and another fighter are escaping tonight,” he whispered softly in her ear, head lowered.
He took one step back and lifted his face to see her shocked expression, the blush from their renewed proximity, and his breath on her skin, fading on her cheeks. After a moment of staring straight ahead, she looked up at him. “Are you serious,” she whispered urgently.
Coran nodded slowly, his face showing how serious he was, “right now.” He tilted his head to indicate the door behind him.
He worried when her face became such a jumble of emotion that it became impossible to read and waited with a hand on the doorknob until she said the four words he least expected to hear from her, “take me with you.”
The words were so quiet it took Coran a moment to register them, “take you… wait, what?”
Tara gave him a stern look, “I’ve been that monster’s favourite for years so don’t tell me I don’t deserve-“
“No, no,” he waved his hands in front of his face, holding back a chuckle. Oh that woman’s stern face was frightening; Coran wouldn’t want to mess with her. “It’s not that,” he continued, “it’s just the last thing I expected you to say. Of course you can come with us, but you’d better keep that jacket on, it gets colder from here.”
She glanced at his bare chest, adding a bit of colour to her cheeks again, “what about you?”
He shrugged, “Tara, I’ve been down here more times than you think,” he said coolly, “I’ll be fine.”
She paused for a moment before nodding, “then lead on, Coran.”
He heard them talking. Not hissy whispering, but soft voices and flowing water. He tried to speak, but found it hard to breathe. He wondered where he was, why he felt so light. He felt a bit more awake now, so he opened his eyes a crack and, when he wasn’t immediately blinded by light, opened them further, blinking to clear them.
He was in a small darkened room and he found himself floating in a shallow pool of water littered with herbs and smelling rather pleasant. As he looked around he noticed a familiar, smiling face.
“Jenna,” he breathed, his voice weak.
A woman he hadn’t seen stood, “good, he remembers you, that means his memory hasn’t been affected. I’ll go and let Master Rudolphus know he’s awake.”
“Thank you,” Jenna said to the woman before turning back to him, “hello there.”
He wiped a tear from her beaming face, “every time I see you lately you’re crying,” he said, voice a bit stronger now, “we need to remedy this.”
She laughed, “and you need to rest. Are you still finding it hard to breathe?”
He took a deep breath, testing, “it’s getting easier.”
“Good,” she said, “the herbs worked then. I wasn’t sure they would.”
He smiled, “well, I don’t feel any pain either,” he said, his voice sounding a bit rough.
“They opened you up to fix your rib, but it looks like the herbs fixed that too,” a deep voice said, “good to see you’re feeling better Coran.”
Coran sat up, with effort and Jenna’s help, and turned towards the voice. “Rudolphus,” he said cordially before examining his own bare chest, “you’re right, there’s no scar.” He noticed they had removed his shirt, shoes, and socks and saw the blood stained bandage not far off.
So the herbs would soak in better and you had something dry to put on,” Jenna explained with a smile.
Coran noticed Tara standing behind Rudolphus and inclined his head respectfully. He reached for his shirt and wondered why she was blushing when she had seen much more of a man in her line of work than a bare chest.
“The scars on your back are gone too,” Jenna whispered as he shrugged into his shirt and buttoned it as he had - how long ago? - for the fight.
“How long have I been out,” he asked the room in general as he pulled his socks on.
“Not long,” Rudolphus responded over Jenna’s complaint - Hey! Didn’t I just say you should be resting? In response, Coran pointedly stuck his tongue out at her. Jenna responded in kind and someone giggled, he thought it might be Tara.
“I thought you were a goner,” Rudolphus said in the softest tone Coran had ever heard from him.
“Yeah, but I told him you were way too stubborn to die,” Jenna said punching Coran playfully in the arm.
“Stop beating on my patient, if you please,” the medic from earlier said, re-entering the room and trying to hide a smile. She tucked the skirt of her plain, off-white dress under her knees as she knelt near Coran, placing a tray in front of him. “I knew from previous experience that you wouldn’t want to rest, so I made you some biscuits and tea.”
Coran gave her a skeptical look, “the latter dosed with tonic, no doubt,” he said darkly.
The woman feigned shock, “my, however did you know?”
Coran smiled genuinely as he lifted the small wooden cup to his lips, tonic or no he was parched, “same way you knew I wouldn’t want to rest.”
She laughed, a lovely sound that flowed like water, her blue eyes sparkling. She didn’t respond, only tucked some of her white hair back into the bun at the back of her head and waited for him to finish, watching his every action like it was something magical. Coran likewise watched her as if she might vanish if he looked away.
They sat in comfortable silence for several minutes until he finished his tea. Instead of placing the cup on the tray, Coran handed it back to her. One of her hands covered his and he caressed her other, unspoken words passing in their locked gazes. Then the woman broke the spell by looking down, placing the cup back on the tray with the empty plate and stood. During that entire exchange no one spoke, not even Rudolphus, they all simply watched as if entranced.
Now he was the one to break the silence. “Thank you Alessa,” he said in that rare soft voice, “your services are always very much appreciated.”
Alessa bobbed her head in acknowledgement and Coran watched out of the corner of his eye as Jenna looked from Alessa to himself as he studied the water beside him. He knew they were all curious about the exchange though none of them said so outright. He closed his eyes, bringing back the image of that last look and suddenly he heard her voice in her head. His eyes flew open and his head snapped in her direction, expecting to see her gazing back but instead he watched the door close behind her.
Jenna bounced to his side with a bright smile and he couldn’t help but smile in return. “So,” she bubbled, “want me to escort you to your room?” She stopped and bit her lip, realizing Rudolphus was in the room, he supposed. She turned to the man, confirming Coran’s theory, “if that’s alright?”
Rudolphus smiled, his face showing how adorable he though she was just then, “well, I do still owe him a woman for his win. That is, if it’s you he wants.” Coran nodded his assent and Rudolphus waved a hand, “off with you then.”
Jenna beamed, grabbed Coran’s hand, hoisted him to his feet, and dragged him past a shocked Tara, out of the room, and down the hall.
“Hey,” Coran called, stumbling along behind her as she was quite a bit shorter than he and she held his hand at about the height of her waist, “I appreciate the rescue and all, but do you have to be so violent?”
She grinned back at him as she opened the door to his room, “you’re one to complain. You weren’t supposed to get injured on the morning of our-“
“I know,” he groaned, cutting her off, “I know, but it’s not like I planned it.” He closed the door softly as she sat on his bed, swinging her feet, “and don’t talk about that so loud.”
Jenna stared at the floor, sufficiently admonished, “sorry, I’m just so excited.”
He walked to his armoire and pulled out two bags, “well you shouldn’t be, this is going to be dangerous.”
She caught the bag he threw at her, “I know but to finally leave this place… aren’t you excited?”
He walked into the bathroom with an armful of clothes, pulling the door to, “I’ll be happy when we’re safe on the other side,” he called from behind it.
He supposed she wasn’t as worried or cautious as he was about the escape as he would be handling all the dangerous parts. He smirked at the thought and exited the bathroom dressed in red pants, sturdy black leather boots, a white dress shirt and a long black coat. He glanced over at Jenna and noticed she had tied her hair in a high ponytail and now wore a pair of charcoal slacks with the same short red tank top she’d word earlier. He supposed that was all she owned now so he slipped off his coat and shirt and threw the latter at her.
“Ready,” he asked, shrugging back into his coat, slinging his messenger bag over his shoulder and watching her, now clad in his shirt, pull her sling backpack over her head.
She took a deep breath and nodded, “as always.”
He nodded in return and reached out his hand for hers. Feeling her hand slide in his he opened the door and peeked out. A small canvas bag hung from the door handle and he held it to his face and inhaled/ He smiled, as he’d thought it was a package of those herbs from Alessa, but did she suspect? He clipped the smaller bag onto the messenger bag.
“A gift from Alessa,” Jenna asked curiously.
“Yes,” he said past the lump in his throat, “she knows.”
“You told her,” Jenna asked shocked and when Coran shook his head she added, “but will she tell?”
“No,” Coran said as he locked the door, “I know she won’t.”
He took up her hand again and led her down a few different corridors, generally heading lower into the keep until they reached the basement. The hall they now stood in was damp with puddles and muck on the floor and slime on the walls.
“Well this place smells just wonderful,” Jenna noted, wrinkling her nose.
“Hey,” Coran said dryly, “I never said it would be all flowers and apple trees.”
Jenna grinned and was about to respond when he held up a hand to stop her. He listened to the sound of footsteps. They weren’t far.
He opened and closed a few doors until he found the room he wanted then pointed to a hole in the wall, still holding the door open. “Climb in there,” he instructed, “I won’t be far behind you.”
“But-“
“Just go,” he whispered harshly, placing his hand in the small of her back, shoving gently for good measure, and watching her stumble and glare a bit before going down on hands and knees. He closed the door and leaned on hi, his hands behind his back just in time to see their pursuer descend the stairs.
Tara walked towards him slowly, a skeptical look on her face and her eyes darting between the door and his. “Coran, is it,” she asked cautiously.
“Yes, and your name is Tara, am I right,” he asked politely.
“Right,” she said, gazing at the door, “and what would you be wanting in the dungeon you were held in just last night,” she asked, flicking a glance at her own cell from the night before.
He grinned, “oh, you know, just reminiscing,” he drawled, grabbing at any chance he had to stall her, “and it smells so lovely down here too.”
She quirked an eyebrow and he tried not to smile. “I see,” she said slowly.
“And what about you,” he asked, “liked the décor that much did you?”
She shivered, “most definitely not.”
He knew the shiver was not because of the horrible state of the place. It was chilly down there, not enough to be called cold or produce mist with each breath, but cool enough to make a woman in a gold silk bikini cold. “I thought so,” he said taking off his coat, closing the distance between them, and draping it around her shoulders.
“Thank you,” she almost whispered the words and blushed, again causing him to wonder why. He would think it was the proximity, but surely that wouldn’t bother Rudolphus’ favourite girl. “Why are you really here?”
Coran grinned as he stepped back, “I’ll tell you if you tell me,” he teased. He saw no reason to lie to her, Jenna had a fair distance on them now, if she was running full out like he told her to and not worrying about him. He also knew the older woman to have genuine affection for the girl and wouldn’t want to cause any trouble for her, or so he hoped.
“Looking for you and Jenna,” she stated simply, making him worry a but until she continued, “Rudolphus was so happy with your performance he thought you deserved me for the night.”
Coran had to stop his jaw from dropping, “his favourite girl? He’s never been that pleased with me before.”
“Well,” she said casually, “you even bested death this time… why, don’t you want me?”
Coran laughed. He tried to stop himself, he did, but it was just too funny. He apologized when she looked upset. “I’m sorry, but for a man not to want you would be impossible,” he said gently and watched her face flush.
“Oh,” was all she could say for a few moments before regaining her composure, clearing her throat and pointing out, “hey, you still haven’t told me why you’re really here.”
He grinned that he still had enough skill to make a woman’s mind go blank, and from several feet away even. “The truth,” he asked.
“The truth,” she said with a look that said she would kill him if his answer was anything else.
Coran lowered his voice and stepped closer, “Jenna, myself, and another fighter are escaping tonight,” he whispered softly in her ear, head lowered.
He took one step back and lifted his face to see her shocked expression, the blush from their renewed proximity, and his breath on her skin, fading on her cheeks. After a moment of staring straight ahead, she looked up at him. “Are you serious,” she whispered urgently.
Coran nodded slowly, his face showing how serious he was, “right now.” He tilted his head to indicate the door behind him.
He worried when her face became such a jumble of emotion that it became impossible to read and waited with a hand on the doorknob until she said the four words he least expected to hear from her, “take me with you.”
The words were so quiet it took Coran a moment to register them, “take you… wait, what?”
Tara gave him a stern look, “I’ve been that monster’s favourite for years so don’t tell me I don’t deserve-“
“No, no,” he waved his hands in front of his face, holding back a chuckle. Oh that woman’s stern face was frightening; Coran wouldn’t want to mess with her. “It’s not that,” he continued, “it’s just the last thing I expected you to say. Of course you can come with us, but you’d better keep that jacket on, it gets colder from here.”
She glanced at his bare chest, adding a bit of colour to her cheeks again, “what about you?”
He shrugged, “Tara, I’ve been down here more times than you think,” he said coolly, “I’ll be fine.”
She paused for a moment before nodding, “then lead on, Coran.”