again and nodded toward the
oddly silent young woman. “Frisha told me so.” Frisha glanced up and smiled
weakly.
Tam looked askance at Frisha who lowered her eyes back to
the table. “So, you accept that just because she said so?”
Rezkin cocked his head, again, as he studied Frisha. Her
cheeks flushed under his scrutiny, but she still said nothing. “I have no
reason to doubt her. She is a surprisingly open and cheerful individual.
Nothing she has said or done leads me to believe her to be duplicitous or
conniving. Thus far, her most grievous flaws seem to be that she is entirely
too trusting and is unable to protect herself. Both are problems for which I
can be of assistance.”
The carpenter’s apprentice was staring at Rezkin with his
mouth hanging open. “You seem to have a firm grasp of Frisha’s character, but
you still know little about us. By the looks of you, you could easily make it
to Kaibain on your own much faster and without the extra effort. Why would you
take on the extra burden of two more people, even if we are friends ?”
His last words were heavy with skepticism.
“You are Tamarin Blackwater, a carpenter’s apprentice who
wishes to be a soldier. You have little to no knowledge of combat, no martial
or weapons training, and carry only a dagger at the waist, although you
probably do not know how to use it in combat. You swore an Oath of Protection
for Mistress Frisha with full knowledge that you will probably end up dead if
you ever have to uphold it against an enemy. I do not believe you thought that
one through. I am quite certain Mistress Frisha did not.” Tam gave Frisha a
sidelong look.
Rezkin continued, “I think you will find that she is less
willing to allow you to risk your life on her behalf than either of you
thought. I believe you were both excited about traveling to Kaibain for your
own reasons, you were both excited about traveling together , and you
both accepted the oath without considering the consequences. I would be remiss
in my duties under Rule 1 if I allowed you to continue on your journey
under such conditions without my protection.”
Both of his new acquaintances were now staring at him
wide-eyed, mouths agape. Neither could think of anything to say. Tam recovered
first with heated indignation, “Say, now! How dare you claim I am incapable of
providing protection! I am every bit as capable as the next man.” Tam’s face
was hot with anger and embarrassment, but all three of them knew it was all
bravado.
Rezkin leveled his stare at Tam. “Very well, let us go into
the yard. We will spar with daggers, since that is all you have. If you can
defeat me, I will leave you both alone, never to see me again. If I win, we
will travel together to Kaibain.”
Tam immediately snapped his mouth shut as his face lost some
of its color. Staring into cold blue eyes, he nearly started shaking. Swallowing
the lump in his throat, he cleared his voice and said, “No, I think you’d best
just leave us alone. Just because you’re the stronger fighter doesn’t mean you
can bully your way into our lives.”
Frisha gasped, “Tam!”
“No, Frisha, I won’t let him threaten us,” replied Tam.
Rezkin was taken aback. He had not expected Tam to interpret
his words in such a way. He felt the tightening in his chest, again, as he
reached into his purse to retrieve a few coins. He placed them on the table and
stood. Bowing low toward the two companions he said, “I beg your pardon. I
truly meant no offense, nor did I intend to threaten or frighten either of you.
I apologize if I have dishonored you. I only meant to offer my protection
toward my newfound friends . Master Tam, if you were unable to find
suitable lodging for your stay, I am willing to vacate my room so that you can
stay near to Mistress Frisha. Do not worry yourselves that I will cause you
problems, for you will not see me again.”
Rezkin turned and, staying cognizant of his surroundings,
made his way back to his
oddly silent young woman. “Frisha told me so.” Frisha glanced up and smiled
weakly.
Tam looked askance at Frisha who lowered her eyes back to
the table. “So, you accept that just because she said so?”
Rezkin cocked his head, again, as he studied Frisha. Her
cheeks flushed under his scrutiny, but she still said nothing. “I have no
reason to doubt her. She is a surprisingly open and cheerful individual.
Nothing she has said or done leads me to believe her to be duplicitous or
conniving. Thus far, her most grievous flaws seem to be that she is entirely
too trusting and is unable to protect herself. Both are problems for which I
can be of assistance.”
The carpenter’s apprentice was staring at Rezkin with his
mouth hanging open. “You seem to have a firm grasp of Frisha’s character, but
you still know little about us. By the looks of you, you could easily make it
to Kaibain on your own much faster and without the extra effort. Why would you
take on the extra burden of two more people, even if we are friends ?”
His last words were heavy with skepticism.
“You are Tamarin Blackwater, a carpenter’s apprentice who
wishes to be a soldier. You have little to no knowledge of combat, no martial
or weapons training, and carry only a dagger at the waist, although you
probably do not know how to use it in combat. You swore an Oath of Protection
for Mistress Frisha with full knowledge that you will probably end up dead if
you ever have to uphold it against an enemy. I do not believe you thought that
one through. I am quite certain Mistress Frisha did not.” Tam gave Frisha a
sidelong look.
Rezkin continued, “I think you will find that she is less
willing to allow you to risk your life on her behalf than either of you
thought. I believe you were both excited about traveling to Kaibain for your
own reasons, you were both excited about traveling together , and you
both accepted the oath without considering the consequences. I would be remiss
in my duties under Rule 1 if I allowed you to continue on your journey
under such conditions without my protection.”
Both of his new acquaintances were now staring at him
wide-eyed, mouths agape. Neither could think of anything to say. Tam recovered
first with heated indignation, “Say, now! How dare you claim I am incapable of
providing protection! I am every bit as capable as the next man.” Tam’s face
was hot with anger and embarrassment, but all three of them knew it was all
bravado.
Rezkin leveled his stare at Tam. “Very well, let us go into
the yard. We will spar with daggers, since that is all you have. If you can
defeat me, I will leave you both alone, never to see me again. If I win, we
will travel together to Kaibain.”
Tam immediately snapped his mouth shut as his face lost some
of its color. Staring into cold blue eyes, he nearly started shaking. Swallowing
the lump in his throat, he cleared his voice and said, “No, I think you’d best
just leave us alone. Just because you’re the stronger fighter doesn’t mean you
can bully your way into our lives.”
Frisha gasped, “Tam!”
“No, Frisha, I won’t let him threaten us,” replied Tam.
Rezkin was taken aback. He had not expected Tam to interpret
his words in such a way. He felt the tightening in his chest, again, as he
reached into his purse to retrieve a few coins. He placed them on the table and
stood. Bowing low toward the two companions he said, “I beg your pardon. I
truly meant no offense, nor did I intend to threaten or frighten either of you.
I apologize if I have dishonored you. I only meant to offer my protection
toward my newfound friends . Master Tam, if you were unable to find
suitable lodging for your stay, I am willing to vacate my room so that you can
stay near to Mistress Frisha. Do not worry yourselves that I will cause you
problems, for you will not see me again.”
Rezkin turned and, staying cognizant of his surroundings,
made his way back to his
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