The moon flooded the southern gate with light. Illuminating the whole area, Gabriel was sitting patiently waiting for Tess.
The cold attempting to snap at him, but his fresh new robe keeping it at bay.
I'll have to wait till she's not around to take the Redamere.
How much is it going to cost? Hanitz never gave me a price.I gave him the mushrooms, so he should give me a discount.
Mera told him to put my supplies on her tab. Why is she helping me? We never really talk. I buy things from her.
The longer Gabriel sat waiting, the more questions popped into his mind. Eldenreach was a relatively quiet town in the furthest reaches north humans could go in the Northern Kingdom.
Only the mountain was further.
Gabriel had now been there for nearly four years in that time. He hasn't spoken to this many people before. Sometimes he could go weeks with only talking to Hanitz to collect his bounties.
Gabriel!
The shout broke the somewhat peaceful night.
Gabriel stood up immediately.
A woman approached with two large bags that could be hung over the shoulders, like sword sheaths. She was also carrying a bedroll under each arm.
The woman crossed into the illuminating area, appearing like a ghost.
"Come and grab your things," Tess shouted out of breath.
Gabriel approached, taking one bag and bedroll from her.
Tess stared at Gabriel, attempting to snatch his very soul.
He ignored her 'gentle' hint.
Are you not going to carry mine? She shouted inwardly.
"We have to move." Gabriel turned towards the gate. "It's going to take at least two days there, and two days back. One or two days to find the nest if we are lucky."
"Yes, I know. Remember higher rank than you. That means you do what I say," She replied as she resigned herself to carrying her own stuff.
Gabriel looked up at the guard patrolling the wall above the gate.
"Open th-"
Tess slammed into his back before he could finish, the sudden jolt forcing the half-formed command back down his throat.
"Open the gate", Tess barked up to the guard, who had already made his way towards the lever with a confused look on his face.
Tess turned her head towards Gabriel, a false smile formed on her face. "I'm in charge, see?"
Gabriel looked at her for a moment before walking through the now-opened gate.
I'm in charge. Tess shouted, recognising the same dismissive look he gave her in the mountain forest.
…
The walk to Blackhaven was long. Horses weren't scarce in Eldenreach, but with the monsters and beasts only really appearing around the vicinity, adventurers had no use for them, and when they did need them, they rented them from the barracks.
Despite Tess's princess-like personality, she was an experienced adventurer so, was able to keep pace.
The ground was hard like rock, with the moonlight showing the Icy layer formed on the top.
The bushes surrounding them rustled, not knowing whether it was just the wind, Tess was mimicking Gabriel, surveying the area with every step.
The long couple of hours marching from the pair was quieter than a graveyard.
The silence was finally broken by Gabriel.
"We need to make camp." He halted his progress as he spoke. "As soon as we hit the treeline coming up, we will make camp."
Tess let out a sigh of relief. "We can continue for a few more hours before making camp. The moon is still high in the sky." She forced out, hoping the former Paladin wouldn't take her up on the offer.
Gabriel shook his head. "No, we need to rest"
And to eat. Tess's stomach began to rumble.
The two continued until they stumbled upon an opening in the treeline, big enough for them to stretch their bedroll out and build a small fire to stop themselves freezing in the Northern 'summer night'.
Once the camp was set, Tess pulled out a slab of meat, skewered it with a stray thick branch, dug the branch into the floor and rested forward near the fire.
After what felt like an eternity.
The fat from the meat began dripping into the opening flame, causing it to spit out embers. Tess stared at it, dribbling like a wolf stalking its prey.
The conversation between the pair had never started.
After the smell of the meat started filling the trees with a pleasant scent, Tess looked at Gabriel.
"Why are your eyes red?" She quizzed.
Gabriel, who was sitting on a fallen tree branch, froze for a second. Before composing himself.
"I don't know," He replied, his stoic voice somewhat shaken.
"Why is your hair black and silver?" Tess shot back
"I don't know." Gabriel turned his head, pretending to scan for beasts.
"Is it something to do with?" She nodded her head forward, "You know" Her voice turned into almost a whisper. "Your scars".
Gabriel stood up, looking at Tess. His eyes glowing, two shining rubies in the night.
She slightly recoiled.
"I'm going to check the area." He turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Tess let out a deep breath that had been refusing to escape. "I'll save him some meat."
…
The moon in the sky had retreated behind the treeline, only fractions of its illuminated glow were now penetrating through to the campsite.
The fire was still roaring, pushing out heat and making crackling sounds.
The slab of meat, now significantly reduced by Tess was moved further away from the flames, close enough to remain warm, far enough away so it wouldn't blacken.
Tess was lying on her bedroll, extra-thick fur robe wrapped around her. She was staring at the sky, contemplating.
He's been gone for a long time now, hopefully he didn't get attacked. No. He's to strong for that. He is a freak but a strong one.
He did also save me. In his own way. I'll never be able to go to the public bathhouse in Ardentia again. But he did save me.
Why did I ask him? I should have just kept my mouth shut.
A crunching sound of footsteps on icy ground echoed around. Snapping her out of her own thoughts.
Tess sat up immediately "Gabriel I'm so-" She froze.
"Looky here, boys," a man clad in full leather light armour, holding two daggers in his hands, said as he turned his head left and right to the other men standing next to him.
"Where's the freak?"
A bone-splitting crack sounded through the campsite, hitting the moment his words finished, his eyes wide open, a gurgling noise spitting out of his mouth. A silver glint from a sword poking out of the gaping hole in his throat. Blood dripping from its tip.
Tess took this opportunity to reach for her sword.
Gabriel stood there, eyes glowing, with both swords in his hand, one of them by his side, the other one through the back of the man's neck.
The other two men, unable to process the death of their friend, stood there like statues.
Gabriel retracted his sword.
Just as one of the men broke free from their hold, the former Paladin slashed his sword sideways as the man attempted to raise his sword and attack.
His blade sliced through the neck of the bandit like a loaf of bread. His head dropped whilst his body stayed stationary for a few seconds, before crashing to the ground
The third man turned to Gabriel, slashing his sword wildly. He clearly hadn't been trained. Gabriel was parrying the continuous blows. The bandit raised his sword up in the air with both hands, intending to slam down with a powerful strike, when a sword began coming out of his belly, then disappearing.
Gabriel and Tess were left standing amongst the chaos. Tess, visibly shaken, hadn't come to terms with what just happened.
She turned to Gabriel. "What just happened?" Her voice was audibly shaking. "Who were they?".
Gabriel began using one of the men's clothes to clean his sword. "I don't know, they have been tracking us since Eldenreach."
He looked up at Tess, whose face had now turned to anger.
"Why didn't you tell me, you freak!" She shrieked.
"We needed to draw them out, make them feel like they had the upper hand." He said calmly, ignoring the insult she just threw at him.
Tess's face hadn't softened. "Next time you tell me". The adventurer said with a terrifyingly calm voice.
She turned to walk back to her bedroll. "And get rid of those bodies, I don't want to sleep with them around!".
As she got back into her bedroll, she heard a low whisper glide through the air.
"Righteousness begets cruelty". Said so faintly it could be mistaken for a small gust of wind.