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It took a few days for Tay to finish her work and put things in order. Yet the most difficult thing was saying goodbye to Slade. He had been an excellent teacher, and a trustworthy friend, sometimes acting as a replacement Father in Tager's absence. When her bag was packed and everything straightened away she made her way down to the forge, finding him waiting for her. He wore a rather shy smile as he handed her something-wrapped in soft cloth, "You've been ready to strike out on your own for awhile now. I guess it is just difficult for a lonely old man to let go of the daughter he never had."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she accepted the gift, brushing aside the fabric to reveal a small, but finely honed dagger. It bore her initials on the hilt and Slade's seal... she was officially a Blacksmith in her own right now. "Its beautiful," she said softly, rising up on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek. "Thank you for everything Slade, my time with you has meant more than you will ever know."
The Blacksmith's cheeks actually flushed and he smiled, "You are one of the best Tay, and your skill in wielding them is just as untouched. You have a grand destiny ahead of you, and if our paths never cross again, may the Goddess bring you joy and light upon your path."
They said a final goodbye, and Tay tucked the dagger safely into her pack before she embraced her teacher one last time. Leaving the forge behind she directed her steps towards the jungle, her heart heavy for what she was leaving behind, but eager to see her father again.
It was late afternoon and the day was cooler than usual, so the going was easier than she had expected, even on her weakened ankle she managed to make good time.
She was perhaps half way home when she felt something was wrong; the jungle was unusually quiet for this time of day. For a moment she pondered moving up into the trees, but then realized her ankle wouldn't take the strain. Deciding she had merely lived in the village to long she shrugged and moved on, scolding herself for being paranoid.
A whistling sound snapped her head up, and she whirled around on her heel. Something struck her left shoulder, the impact taking the Amazon off her feet. Dazed she lay in the dirt, the glare of the descending sun in her eyes as her mind struggled to sort out what was happening.
A figure loomed above her and she squinted until its shadow lessened the strain on her eyes. Gunthers glittering eyes stared down at her, and she recognized the silhouette of a crossbow in his hands. A warm sticky feeling on her shoulder told her just what had struck her, tilting her head to the side she stared at the shaft of the arrow, the sudden burning of her flesh betraying the iron tip.
"Well, well," the Mercenaries hoarse voice drawled out, "If it isn't the little Elven harlot." He dropped to his knees, straddling her as he reached up and snapped the arrow shaft, grinning madly as she screamed in pain. The iron tip remained lodged in her flesh, and tears stung her eyes as her body began to burn from the inside out. "Pretty pretty," he snickered, hard fingers ripping her shirt, "Lets see how feisty you are now shall we?"
"You bastard," she snarled, "I'll kill you I swear." She grabbed at him, trying to push him off, but he snagged her wrists, shoving her arms down to the ground and pinning her hands under his knees. Callused hands roughly caressed her bared flesh and tugged at the laces of her trousers.
"I don't think you are quite in a position to kill anyone," his laugh was as cold as his hands, his eyes hungry. Fear paralyzed her for a moment, her emerald eyes wide with terror as she realized what he intended on doing. Struggling wildly she cried out, half weeping with shock and pain.
"Leave me alone! I did nothing to you! Please don't!"
"Nothing," he snarled, "I lost the respect of my men over you, you little bitch. A Captain is nothing without respect." He loosened his trousers, and reached for hers, the movement releasing her hands for a moment. Twisting her body she scrabbled away from him desperately half blinded by frightened tears. "Oh no you don't," he snarled, his hands tearing her clothing away as he rolled her beneath him, "You are mine this time, there is no one here to protect you."
Her hand closed on one of her daggers, the familiar feel of steel bringing a gasp of hope to her lungs. As he rolled her she brought the blade up, the sharp edge digging into his throat just before he could invade her. A gurgle of surprise replaced a triumph cry of passion and his blood spilled down over her fingers, running in rivulets down her arms. The air was driven from her body as he collapsed on her, a strangled sound announcing his last mortal breath.
Tay lay frozen for a moment, the sheer horror of what had just happened rendering her helpless. Remembering to breath she stared up at the darkening sky for several panicked seconds, then with some effort she rolled the dead man off of her.
Rising to her knees she sat shaking uncontrollably for a moment, unable to stop it as her body doubled her over, retching in response to the coppery smell of human blood. Unable to see through tears she drew in upon herself, wondering who was screaming... then realizing it was her.
The sound of hooves on the narrow path had her scuttling for the trees in fright, hands searching blindly for the trunks of trees.
"Tay? Tay! Wait!" The voice seemed vaguely familiar, but her frightened mind merely panicked. "Gods! Tay! Tell me he didn't hurt you!"
Strong hands gripped her arms and she screamed, fighting against whomever had grabbed her. "Tay it’s me, Reece, it’s alright."
Something warm and soft draped over her shoulders, covering her naked form. Weeping uncontrollably she stumbled into him, confusion addling her brain. "Its ok.. I've got you." The cloak was drawn tightly around her and she was lifted up off her feet. Unable to cope her brain shut off, and darkness was all she knew.
She woke to the scent of a fire and damp earth; her body warm and wrapped in blankets. Blinking awake she found herself staring at a star filled sky through the treetops. Coils of smoke drifted across her vision, and another smell roused her senses.... Venison. Stirring slightly she was all right for a moment, but the movement fired the wound in her shoulder, wrenching a cry of pain from her. "Don't try to move to much," a face swam into her blurry vision, familiar enough but male. "I put IronBane in the wound, but it will take awhile to work." Gentle fingers brushed her hair away from her face and Reece smiled down at her, "You are an unusual critter though, touching you gave me this." He pushed his shirt back off his shoulder to reveal a round angry red welt. "Empathetic magic, I've never seen anything like it."
Tay blinked up at him, staring at the wound in a daze, "That's never happened before... sorry." She tried to move again and growled in frustration, "Why are you doing this? Have you made it your personal mission to be my savior? This would make the second time you've come to my rescue." It occurred to her that she was rather calm considering what happened, and part of her mind wondered when she would start screaming again.
"Oh I don't know," he said quietly, "I think you rescued yourself pretty well. I just came along to pick up the pieces." Shaking off the expression he wore the Mercenary smiled, "Are you hungry?"
He hadn't answered her question, but she was hungry and that took precedence over anything he might have said. She nodded in response and tensed as he put his hands on her, relaxing as she realized he only meant to help her sit up. "Start with some water," he advised, lifting a canteen to her lips. Choking on the liquid she nearly fell over, her body still felt like it was burning from the iron, but she knew she had to eat or she wouldn't heal. Reece had cut the meat into thin strips and patiently handed them to her as she chewed slowly. "Where were you going? Why where you out here alone."
"I was going home, I still need to go home. Especially now." She raised her eyes to look into his, "I've never killed anyone before, I have to go home." It was a quiet insistence, and a necessary one, there were.. rituals that had to be performed.
Reece grew quiet, handing her another strip of meat as he stared out across the clearing; "I can understand that. I'll take you there.. wherever there is, when you have your strength back." Tay simply nodded, in no way understanding the quiet agreement that had suddenly came to be between them. She wasn't entirely sure she trusted him, but at the moment she had no choice. He had aided her in a time of need, and among the Amazon's that made him a friend... for now.
It was several days before Tay was able to ride, and even then Reece had to fairly hold her up in front of him. She had bitten her lip against protesting when he had carried her to the horse and lifted her up into the saddle, deciding that getting where she needed to go was more important then her pride at the moment. Gripping the edge of the saddle with white knuckled fingers she waited as the Mercenary swung up in the saddle behind her, her jaw clenching in reaction to his physical proximity.
The gentle rolling gate of the horse put her to sleep several times, and she would wake chagrined to find herself settled back against Reece's chest like a child. He never said a thing at those times, his face immobile as if he hadn't noticed. She had to admit she was grateful, it would have been worse had he rubbed her present weakness in her face.
Now and then she would take the rains and correct the direction they were taking, the terrain becoming more familiar as the hours passed. After awhile she heard movement in the trees, and felt the eyes of her sisters gazing down on what was no doubt a strange site to them. "Keep your hands away from your weapons," she warned under her breath, "The slightest touch on the hilt of your sword and they will kill you."
She felt rather then saw him nod, his head just over her shoulder as the horse slowed to traverse a rocky stream. On the other side the land rose slightly, and when they topped the rise the clearing in which the Amazon's were encamped revealed itself.
Orva was waiting for them, her face never betraying what she was thinking as she approached the horse. Eyeing Reece coldly she addressed Tay alone, her eyes shifting to focus on the wound in the young Amazon's shoulder. "Tay, Daughter of Tager, Daughter of the Amazon's, welcome home. Has this man brought harm to you?"
Tay straightened in the saddle, her eyes meeting those of the Elder, "He has not Orva, he lent me aide in my time of need," she paused and cast a look over her shoulder at him, her eyes not quite meeting Orva's when she turned back. "Truth be told, he saved my life, the bolt that took me in the shoulder was not his, and it was made of Iron. The man that struck me down is dead, by my own hand, but I would not have survived the Iron illness if Reece had not found me."
Orva was silent for a moment, as if assessing the truth of the situation. Her demeanor seemed to relax finally and she met the black eyes of the mercenary with acceptance. "You are welcome among our tribe then Male, you have served us well in saving the life of one of our own." That taken care of she turned to address the others; "Tay has made her first kill! She may now bear the mark of a true Amazon!" A cheer went up around the tribe; weather out of happiness for Tay or merely the thought of the celebration that would come with her honor was hard to tell.
Laughing the Elder turned back to the horse and held out her arms for Tay. "Come child, we must prepare you... Goddess, you look like hell."
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