After leaving Rotarin behind, Francesca knelt by the side of a brook and looked down into the placid water. Her reflection looked back at her from the shallow pool. It seemed to wink at her and wrinkle its nose in funny expressions as the stream's ripples played with it. Behind her reflection's head, the forest's living green canopy high above let through dancing beams of sunlight. The light swirled around her and when it struck her hair, it gave her reflection the appearance of an angel with a halo.
She had taken a quick dip in the cool water of the stream. It had been very refreshing, and now she was drying herself in the broken sunbeams.
Francesca stood and sighed contentedly. This planet was so beautiful, it was hard for her to believe the horrible stories that had circulated among the Virgos about the wars between the Borials and the Horde. As if to confirm her sentiments, a large orange butterfly-like creature came fluttering down from somewhere overhead, and to
Francesca's delight, flitted about her for a few moments before disappearing once again into the foliage above.
She was enjoying herself immensely. The planet was like something out of a fairy tale, and these new clothes she had been supplied with were something a fairy-tale warrior princess would wear. Francesca had outfitted herself with a midnight-blue miniskirt and matching low-cut top which she had tied into a knot above her belly button. Ornate solid brass bracers encircled her forearms, greaves protected her shins above a pair of soft leather boots. A pair of wicked daggers hung in leather sheaths were strapped to her upper legs, completing the ensemble.
So, dressed in these snappy and enticing new duds, a happy Francesca strolled through the forest. True, they were supposedly here to fight a war, and were currently marching to the Borial capitol city for training before embarking on a final assault, but Francesca was too caught up in the scenery to think about that right now.
So caught up in fact, that when the shrubbery behind and to her left rustled loudly, she was severely shocked. She gave a high-pitched yelp and spun to face the noise. Her daggers were out in a flash so quick, the eye would have had a hard time following. Francesca could be giddy and unfocused at times, but she could also take care of herself.
She crouched in a fighting stance, daggers at the ready, and peered into the bushes. She could see nothing, there was no movement, and the only sound was the rustling of the breeze through the boughs overhead.
Francesca relaxed a little and lowered the daggers. She took a breath. I guess I imagined it, she thought. She finally decided that there was no threat, so she resheathed her blades and turned back in the direction she had been walking. Maybe I should head back. It might be safer, she thought, but that line of reasoning was quickly snuffed out as the beautiful scenery reasserted itself on her psyche.
As she walked, she fiddled with her new clothes, and considered searching out Benton to ask him his opinion. Oh yeah, that would work out fine. I'd say, 'So, Benton, what do you think of my new clothes?' And he'd say, 'Hello there, Francesca. Your new clothes seem to fit very well.' Oh, he can be so impossible sometimes! Still, he...
This time her thoughts were interrupted by more than a rustle in the surrounding undergrowth. This time it was a mighty crash! Not as startled as she was the first time, Francesca spun around once again. Her hands were on her dagger hilts, but just then, events exploded too fast for even her reflexes. Something knocked her off her feet, but as she fell, she caught blurry images of things around her. She saw a large, brown, hairy set of jaws leaping at her. The thing that had bowled into her was smaller, also brown, but felt hard, not furry. Then she saw an enormous, golden shape flash in and out of her crazily tilting field of vision. Things whistled through the air, but she couldn't see them.
Francesca landed hard, but not too hard. Something heavy landed on top of her. She was momentarily dazed by the impact and was sprawled flat on her back, but recovered quickly and sucked in a lung-full of air. She turned her head to look at what was lying on top of her.
"BENTON!!!" she yelled. She squirmed and managed to shove Benton off of her. She rolled and scrambled to her feet and confronted him.
Benton also regained to his feet. He was dressed in more traditional ancient armor: dark brown leather upper body protection, light brown canvas pants, knee-high soft leather boots and hardened leather bracers. Metal studs riveted into the leather added a little more protection to his shoulders. He didn't appear to be packing any obvious weapons. Benton's array was topped off by a light, short, olive-green cloak he could wrap all around himself. In a forest such as this, he could probably make himself disappear from sight altogether. His attire contained very little metal, and seemed designed more for stealthy movement and camouflage than all-out fighting.
Presently, Sitto Lan popped out of the forest, clad just like Benton. Benton stood still while Francesca stared at him, her eyes wandering quickly up and down. She seemed to be trying to decide what to do. Finally, she unclenched her fists and stood upright. She smiled and said, "Hi, Benton. Uh, what do think of my new clothes?"
"Hello, Francesca," replied Benton. He noticed her garb. It made him feel funny, somehow. He was just about to say something when he noticed her attention was no longer on him. His gaze followed hers.
Francesca was mesmerized. She was looking at the ultimate specimen of ancient warriors if ever there was one. This was surely the golden blur she had seen rushing past her before. Now he was standing with his right boot on the chest of a dead, vaguely wolf-shaped animal on the ground before him. He was at least seven feet tall. He was clad almost head to foot in bronze chain mail. His green hauberk was emblazoned with an emblem consisting of a yellow tree underneath a silver, eight-pointed star. He was armed with a pair of strange bladed weapons, one held in each hand.
His face was chiseled as if from granite. He had a powerful jaw and a noble brow. His gaze was steady. It turned toward Francesca. When he spoke, his voice was deep; commanding. He said, "Are you unharmed, milady?"
Francesca walked toward him as if in a trance. "Yes, I'm fine. Now that you're here." She put her arms around the giant's arm.
The giant detached himself from Francesca and sheathed his blades. He took a step back, knelt on one knee and bowed his head low in Francesca's direction. "Milady," came the booming voice. "I am yours to command."
Francesca looked shocked. What did she do to deserve this kind of treatment? She looked to Benton for some clue as to what to do, but Benton was no help at all. He could barely understand normal human customs. Sheesh, she thought.
"Um... Get up... Uh..." Francesca stuttered. "What's your name?"
"My birth name is Thuddius, milady," he replied. Then after an almost imperceptible pause, he said humbly, "But I am known as Thudd."
"Then get up, Thudd," said Francesca. She stepped forward and hauled on his arm to make him stand. It was like trying to pick up a mountain, but after a moment's hesitation, Thudd stood.
"Why are you mine to command?"
Thudd looked embarrassed. He tried to turn away, but Francesca reached up to his shoulders and slowly turned him back. Thudd couldn't meet her eyes.
"Tell me," Francesca said, more gently.
"I was watching you. Down by the stream. When you came out of the water and dried yourself." Thudd looked away in unbearable shame.
Francesca patted his bulging arm. "That's okay, Thudd."
Thudd disagreed. He said, "Milady! It was not well! I did wrong, and damned us both! When the Fangwolf attacked you..."
"The what?" asked Francesca.
Thudd indicated the toothed beast at his feet, "The Fangwolf."
"Oh, that," said Francesca. "We would call them 'Wargs'."
"As you wish, milady. When the Warg attacked you, it was a punishment from the gods for my transgression. The only way I could redeem myself and you was to kill the Warg. I have done so. I placed you in jeopardy, I am now yours to command."
Francesca was at a loss as to how to handle this turn of events. The only thing she could think of was to say, "Well, all right then, Thudd. Please escort me back to the van of the marching column." She would have to report this to the captain.
"Yes, milady. This way," said Thudd as he started off through the forest. Francesca followed him without giving another glance at Benton or Sitto.
Benton looked at Sitto. He had not expected this turn of events. He had tried to save Francesca from the Warg. He said, "Sitto, why are we dressed like this?"
"So we can sneak around in the woods and follow stuff around?"
"Who have we been tracking all day?"
"Franny."
"Why?" asked Benton.
"Because you assumed Franny would get in trouble if she got too far from the column."
"What happened?"
"She got in trouble," said Sitto.
"Who saved her?"
"That giant guy."
"How's this going to look on my record?"
"It won't be a bright spot."