up
at Rezkin through dark lashes. She said in a hushed voice that he could
obviously hear, “Shush, Tam, you will offend him.” Tam looked back at Rezkin
suddenly aware that his behavior probably had offended this very
formidable-looking man carrying multiple deadly weapons.
Far from being offended, Rezkin was relieved that at least
Tam’s mind was in the right place, even if he was completely devoid of martial
skill. He had withdrawn his hand after Tam’s slight, so this time he performed
a shallow court bow and said, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Tamarin
Blackwater. I am pleased that you show such concern for your charge. If you
care to sit, we can get better acquainted, and perhaps I can allay some of your
fears.”
Tam was momentarily taken aback by the scary man’s
uncommonly good manners, but after glancing at Frisha’s pleading face he
finally relented. “Yes, very well.”
Rezkin nodded and then strode to a nearby table with a few
extra chairs. “Pardon me, Master, Mistress, might I borrow one of these
chairs?” Rezkin was fairly certain his evaluation of this situation as
non-threatening was accurate, but he would be remiss to let his guard down,
which would also break Rule 24 , so he maintained complete concentration
the entire time his back was turned.
Once he returned with the chair, the three sat down at the
table. He placed Tam on his left, but recognized that the young man would not
understand the significance of the gesture. Since most swordsmen were
right-handed, their swords were strapped to the left hip. Placing a potential
opponent on the left meant that the opponent was closer to the sword and could,
therefore, interfere in drawing the weapon. Of course, Rezkin was equally
skilled in using both hands and carried two swords in addition to a number of
other weapons, so the gesture was largely symbolic as a sort of good-faith
gesture.
Roxie returned looking a little happier now that Tam
separated Rezkin and Frisha. She brought a fresh round of ale and asked if Tam
would like a meal. Frisha, still embarrassed, avoided looking at the handsome
warrior. When she had first seen him, she was completely taken aback. She had
never seen anyone so striking and powerful looking as Rezkin, and he had just a
hint of danger about him that made her blood heat. She wanted to run her
fingers through his silky black hair and thought for certain that she could
drown happily in those crystal blue eyes.
Now, after seeing Tam’s reaction and realizing Rezkin was very well armed, she acknowledged that he had much more than a hint of
danger. She worried that she had made a huge mistake, but he seemed so kind and
courteous. No man had ever treated her like a true lady, and it was not just
toward her. He had been polite and gentlemanly toward everyone so far. He had
even brushed off Tam’s rudeness with cool grace.
“So, Master Rezkin…” Tam started.
Rezkin held up a hand, “Please, just Rezkin.”
Tam nodded, “I’m curious about your mannerisms. Are you a
noble?”
The young warrior smiled but gave neither affirmation nor
denial, “Just Rezkin.”
Tam shifted in his chair and glanced back at Frisha who was
doing an admirable job of examining every nuance of the table in front of her.
“Rezkin, then. Frisha says you wish to travel with us. Why?”
Nodding, Rezkin replied, “Yes, first of all, we have the
same destination, and are traveling at the same time. Secondly, there is safety
in numbers. Third, and most importantly, is because it is Rule 1 .”
Tam was nodding in acquiescence up until the last one. He
furrowed his brow in confusion. “What is rule one?”
Rezkin cocked his head to the side and studied Tam anew. “I
thought you knew. Rule 1 – Protect and honor your friends. ”
Tam’s face relaxed. “Well, of course, one should always
protect and honor one’s friends. But, what makes you think we are friends? I
mean, no offense, but we just met.”
Rezkin forced himself to smile
at Rezkin through dark lashes. She said in a hushed voice that he could
obviously hear, “Shush, Tam, you will offend him.” Tam looked back at Rezkin
suddenly aware that his behavior probably had offended this very
formidable-looking man carrying multiple deadly weapons.
Far from being offended, Rezkin was relieved that at least
Tam’s mind was in the right place, even if he was completely devoid of martial
skill. He had withdrawn his hand after Tam’s slight, so this time he performed
a shallow court bow and said, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Tamarin
Blackwater. I am pleased that you show such concern for your charge. If you
care to sit, we can get better acquainted, and perhaps I can allay some of your
fears.”
Tam was momentarily taken aback by the scary man’s
uncommonly good manners, but after glancing at Frisha’s pleading face he
finally relented. “Yes, very well.”
Rezkin nodded and then strode to a nearby table with a few
extra chairs. “Pardon me, Master, Mistress, might I borrow one of these
chairs?” Rezkin was fairly certain his evaluation of this situation as
non-threatening was accurate, but he would be remiss to let his guard down,
which would also break Rule 24 , so he maintained complete concentration
the entire time his back was turned.
Once he returned with the chair, the three sat down at the
table. He placed Tam on his left, but recognized that the young man would not
understand the significance of the gesture. Since most swordsmen were
right-handed, their swords were strapped to the left hip. Placing a potential
opponent on the left meant that the opponent was closer to the sword and could,
therefore, interfere in drawing the weapon. Of course, Rezkin was equally
skilled in using both hands and carried two swords in addition to a number of
other weapons, so the gesture was largely symbolic as a sort of good-faith
gesture.
Roxie returned looking a little happier now that Tam
separated Rezkin and Frisha. She brought a fresh round of ale and asked if Tam
would like a meal. Frisha, still embarrassed, avoided looking at the handsome
warrior. When she had first seen him, she was completely taken aback. She had
never seen anyone so striking and powerful looking as Rezkin, and he had just a
hint of danger about him that made her blood heat. She wanted to run her
fingers through his silky black hair and thought for certain that she could
drown happily in those crystal blue eyes.
Now, after seeing Tam’s reaction and realizing Rezkin was very well armed, she acknowledged that he had much more than a hint of
danger. She worried that she had made a huge mistake, but he seemed so kind and
courteous. No man had ever treated her like a true lady, and it was not just
toward her. He had been polite and gentlemanly toward everyone so far. He had
even brushed off Tam’s rudeness with cool grace.
“So, Master Rezkin…” Tam started.
Rezkin held up a hand, “Please, just Rezkin.”
Tam nodded, “I’m curious about your mannerisms. Are you a
noble?”
The young warrior smiled but gave neither affirmation nor
denial, “Just Rezkin.”
Tam shifted in his chair and glanced back at Frisha who was
doing an admirable job of examining every nuance of the table in front of her.
“Rezkin, then. Frisha says you wish to travel with us. Why?”
Nodding, Rezkin replied, “Yes, first of all, we have the
same destination, and are traveling at the same time. Secondly, there is safety
in numbers. Third, and most importantly, is because it is Rule 1 .”
Tam was nodding in acquiescence up until the last one. He
furrowed his brow in confusion. “What is rule one?”
Rezkin cocked his head to the side and studied Tam anew. “I
thought you knew. Rule 1 – Protect and honor your friends. ”
Tam’s face relaxed. “Well, of course, one should always
protect and honor one’s friends. But, what makes you think we are friends? I
mean, no offense, but we just met.”
Rezkin forced himself to smile
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