3. Stoic.

Stoic.


  • Introduction

    Brander made his way through the pass, keeping an eye out for anything that might be lurking on the hilltops above him. He had made the trip from Norwick to Peltarch alone several times, but he couldn't wash the feeling from him that someone was watching him. He ran down the hill, slowed to a walking pace as Peltarch loomed above him, and passed through the gates. Brander slung his spear over his back. Arriving at the commons, he took a glance at the men and women sitting on the three benches that formed the circle. Kalina was one of them, who looked up at him with a bright smile.
    "Hi Brander!" He revealed only a slight grin. Kalina Briine was just about the only person Brander knew at all, and she was an interesting figure; Brander felt he could trust her more than anyone he had previously known during his life, yet he questioned her character. Kalina was very friendly, but when she smirked at him Brander could not help but feel that something wasn't quite right. He put that thought aside as he stepped down into the circular area. She jumped up and asked Brander how he was. Brander merely shrugged and threw the question back at her, as he sat down on the floor against the low wall instead of the bench right next to him. Several other people were in the area; an Elven woman in the center talking to a wise-looking white-haired man about her baby, a couple of heavily armored men discussing something with a woman, among others.
    "You know there's benches here, Brander." He sighed, got up, and sat on the edge of the bench, leaning forward. Kalina grinned with delight and hopped down next to him. "Will -you- take me south, Brander?" Before he could answer, one of the heavily armored men from the other side of the commons answered.
    "I can take you." Kalina frowned.
    "No thanks," she replied, turning back to Brander.
    "You really want to go to Norwick?" He had traveled to Peltarch to get away from the madness going on in the crowded town. Norwick was under siege, and Brander had no intention in getting involved. But Kalina was waiting, and he couldn't deny anything to that smile. "I was planning on traveling west, but I guess there's action south too," came the confident, "tough guy" answer he always provided Kalina.
    "Okay!" They left the commons and strode out the gate. As they did so however, Kalina whispered to him, "That man's possessed by a demon." Brander gave her a strange look.
    "How do you know?"
    "I've seen it. He thinks it's good, but it's slowly changing him." Brander shrugged, and they traveled up the first of many hills. He looked over the hill to his left, and at that instant his eyes met with those of a bandit.
    "Bandit," he calmly muttered to Kalina. The next moment, Brander and the bandit where charging towards each other, ready to fight. Right as Brander reached the bandit, an arrow whizzed over his head and planted itself in the Eastlander’s head. “Good shot.” Kalina grinned. A bandit woman suddenly leaped out from hiding and plunged her dagger into Brander’s arm. “Gah!” He pushed the woman away and turned to shove his spear through her stomach. Another woman leapt on him, getting in another stab, this time in his side. Brander yelled out in pain and moved back. He looked between the two women, deciding which one to strike first as his wounds began to bleed through his armor. Kalina managed to hit one of them with her arrows. As the bandit was caught off guard from the arrow piercing her leg, Brander deftly plunged his spear through her stomach. She went down, but just as Brander looked over to the other bandit she was upon him. The dagger made its way into his shoulder, and Brander fell, not being able to stand after taking three wounds. Kalina shouldered her bow, pulled out shield and axe, and charged the woman with a loud cry. Brander lay upon the ground, looking up at the sky, fighting to keep focus. Far off he heard Kalina shouting insults at the bandit, and the two were in a standoff. Brander summoned his strength, attempting to stand. Kalina cried out as the bandit woman stabbed her. She stepped back and prepared to make one last desperate attack. Suddenly her opponent arched back awkwardly, eyes wide, and fell to the ground. Brander was behind her, who weakly withdrew his spear from her, its point painted crimson red. He and Kalina stared at each other for a moment.
    “You idiot,” she snapped. Brander used his spear as an old man uses a quarterstaff, leaning on it heavily to stand. He managed a small grin, his mouth red with his own blood. Kalina sighed as if frustrated. “Let’s get back to the city,” she muttered with a frown.