The Pain of a Memory - Part VIII

The previous parts are linked below. Due to the brevity of the next two scenes, I have coupled them together on this post (I may do likewise in the future if it occurs again). I hope you enjoy them! :)

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

***

Anwynne looked over at Errius. She had to talk to him. She slowly headed in his direction. Wait. What about what had happened last time? She needed a new strategy... Then how would she get to him? Hmm...

Anwynne had to get his attention. From there, maybe Errius himself could think of a way for her to speak with him somehow. But how to get his attention without attracting likewise that of the bandits'...? Then suddenly an idea hit Anwynne of how she could attract attention from Errius without being conspicuous to the robbers.

So Anwynne started humming, first very softly, and then increasingly louder as time passed. She was humming an old tune that Errius sung a lot when he was done with his duties. It was a war-song - not an Ingrecian one - and she had never heard anybody but Errius sing it. She didn't know where it had come from, or where Errius had heard it either, but it was characteristic of him, and he was bound to recognize it.

Anwynne looked at the bandits that were guarding them. None of them seemed to notice, perhaps because of her gradual approach to it. So she slowly began  to put in the words, only a few scattered of the real ones:

Brimming... hmm... sea... hmm... of arrows strong,

hmm... Sailing... hmm... ship of... hmmm... voices in song,

Five-hundred and... hmmm... a thousand strong,

Sing... hmmm... to the vict'ry... hmmm... of homeland...

After a few broken verses of this, Anwynne reverted back to just humming, so as to still not make the vagabonds notice. She looked over at them. They still had not taken any serious note of her actions. Good.

 

Anwynne looked over at Errius hopefully. He was gazing at her questioningly. It had worked! She nodded to him furtively. He gave her an understanding look, as though he had comprehended her wish to speak to him. He looked at the robbers and then back at her. Was he trying to tell her about the bandits being a threat to such an audience? That's what it seemed like. So Anwynne nodded, only hoping she'd understood correctly.

Errius looked away from Anwynne then, and just looked out into the distance as though nothing had happened. Oh no. Had Anwynne just communicated something rather different than intended? Did he think that she had abandoned her wish? Oh, no, oh, no...

Then Errius whispered something to one of his guards. Anwynne looked closer. What was he doing? The guard nodded, and then they both moved closer to each other. Errius and the soldier began to then converse - rather obviously - as though they were trying to be secretive, but doing very badly at such. The bandits slowly began to take notice of Errius and the soldier. Then Errius seemed to notice the robbers' note of them, and he went even closer to his guard, as though trying - quite unsuccessfully - to be less noticeable. But he was doing a rather poor job of being subtle... almost too poor...

The outlaws only seemed to watch him even more closely. His attempt at being unseen in whatever he was doing wasn't working to be sure. In fact, the thieves seemed to be getting rather suspicious of him. A mere moment later, one of them stood up and went over to Errius.

"Fine acting, Sir knight, but I'm afraid that we cannot allow plotting, no matter how inconspicuously covered up", the bandit said with a dry grin. He then gestured for the other one to come, and they both lifted Errius by the shoulders and dragged him away from his guards, over to Anwynne's side of the room.

Well, Errius, whatever that was, it worked exceedingly well, Anwynne thought sarcastically. Wait. Anwynne looked over at Errius, and was half-tempted to laugh. Now she understood what he had been doing... Now he was close enough to speak with her... Of course, he probably wouldn't until the thieves' attention was away from him again. But, nonetheless, now Anwynne had her opportunity. And Errius had understood her after all, the clever man...

So they waited. Errius, perhaps so as not to cast suspicion over Anwynne as well, didn't look at her once, though she would glance over at him often. Eventually, the robbers seemed to have lost any notice for Errius particularly. So Anwynne moved to the side - only slightly - just close enough to speak with Errius unheard.

"Errius?", Anwynne whispered to him, trying to be subtle.

Errius just barely nodded. "Princess" He looked at her through the corner of his eye, not turning his head. "What would you require of me?"

Anwynne took a deep breath. "We have to get out of here, Errius. There's someone else here - someone that isn't a part of our host"

So she told him the story of all she had seen - the hand behind the door, and her fears for what might happen to their band if the Nistrians failed to ransom all of them. He listened intently, wordless and grim throughout her entire account. Finally, after a few moment, Anwynne finished breathlessly. She looked at Errius to see his reaction. He had his chin rested lightly upon his hand, but had a look of grim contemplation over his visage. Once a moment of silence had passed, he looked at her as though to affirm that her tale was now fully over.

Then he spoke slowly. "I shall endeavor most truly to aid this situation, Princess. What will you have me do first?"

Anwynne looked around, unsure of what to answer him. But then she made herself be still. If she was going to be a queen, she had best get accustomed to being in command now.

So she looked back at Errius. "I need you, or one of your men, to find a way out of here. Then maybe that person, be he successful in escaping, would be able to assist us all in doing so"

Errius nodded firmly and clamped his hand to his chest. "I promise you that I shall do all within my power to do this, Princess"

Anwynne nodded in an attempt at being regal, feeling that she should give him some token or something for his promise. She looked down at her hand. A small silver bracelet was upon her wrist - the only jewelry on her person beside a small circlet on her head. She quickly slipped the bracelet off her wrist and clasped it into Errius' hand. He looked at her questioningly.

"A token", she explained to him softly. "A token in thanks for your promise, and your aid. Hopefully someday I shall be able to pay you better, Errius"

For a moment she thought he would protest, but he nodded obediently instead. "Thank you, Princess"

Errius took it in both hands, and slipped it into his vest. Then he turned his face to her again.

Anwynne put her hand over his gently in thanks. "What would I do without you, Captain?"

Errius smiled firmly, and made as though reply, but then looked up blankly, as though a disturbance had occurred. He quickly drew his attention away from Anwynne. Anwynne looked over to see what it was that had caused this reaction.

Rogan had just entered through the mouth of the cave. That's odd. Anwynne hadn't even known that he'd left in the first place. Oh no. That could mean he had sent out the ransom letter already... before Errius' plan could be put into works...

Rogan's gaze immediately went towards Anwynne's direction. His usual swagger was present in all aspects of his air, except his expression. His face held something of a cold anger, mixed with what looked like... fear? Anwynne looked closer. Yes, there was definitely some measure of confusion and fear under the cold glance. What could he possibly be afeared of? Perhaps something had gone wrong in sending out the ransom note? That would be a blessing. Then Errius could have more time...

Rogan seemed to only continue looking. He didn't even move a finger. Anwynne looked at him with puzzlement. Why was he just looking? But he didn't really meet her eyes, even though he seemed to be looking at her. Then what was he really looking at? Anwynne tried to follow his gaze. All it led to was... Errius.

Anwynne turned her sights back to Rogan in confusion. He was still just scrutinizing Errius, without moving an inch... But why? As Anwynne was pondering this, and watching Rogan, though, Rogan just abruptly turned away and walked swiftly past both Errius and Anwynne to the tunnel at the back of the cave, disappearing from sight in a moment.

 ***

Echo slung his satchel over his shoulder. He stuck his sword inside its scabbard and sighed. He looked up at the sky. It was almost daybreak... already almost time to leave. He clasped his cloak and then headed towards the town square.  He was already leaving on his quest. He hadn't thought much about the quest itself, only of home. Only three days ago, he'd volunteered to go on this journey to overtake some band of vagabonds, and had to tell his poor Ariff and Lania that he was leaving again.

Echo grimaced as he remembered their reaction when he'd told them. Lania... she's just looked down, silent as the sky. A small tear had rolled down her pretty face, unchecked by her small but work-worn hand. Ariff... he'd stood up and just looked at Echo in disbelief. then he'd just sat down again, likewise wordless. Neither of them had said a word, quite as Echo had anticipated, but their silence was far worse than anything they could have said.

Echo shook his head. He had to put all of that behind him if he was to focus on the job at hand. Echo looked up at the sky again in an attempt to make his mind behave.

Finally Echo reached the town square. There, gathering in wait, were a company of soldiers and scouts, all ready to obey Echo. No, not Echo. They were ready to obey Sir Torriven. Echo almost laughed to himself. Well, if they were to obey Sir Torriven, they'd have to also obey Echo. Echo and Sir Torriven were one and the same, and always would be. What was Echo doing? Why should he try and make himself forget Ariff or Lania on this journey? They were a part of his travels as much as he was. And he would bear them in mind every step of the way. Not their sadness, no, but Echo would bear in mind the happiest days... when he had first found them, and the smiles from them when he first came home, the sun glancing down merrily upon the simply village hut, and the lovely smell of Orlania's fresh-baked bread...

With all these lovely things going through his head, Echo smiled, and strode into the company of soldiers, ready now to carry on with his quest. Soon enough, he would be back with Ariff and Lania again, making more new happy days...

***

What did you think? Which scene did you like better? Glad to be back with Anwynne? Your thoughts on the escape plan? Feel free to comment, critique, or suggest anything you like - I love feedback and the story needs it sorely - just please be civil. :) I would love to hear from you!