Chapter Six
Tripping Over Your Own Ax
Four years earlier...
Jisei and I entered the Town of Hasu Machi and passed a group of men heading in the opposite direction.
“Come, Frieden,” one of the men who was a warrior ordered. “As we told you once the quest is done, we'll make a man out of you.”
“Aye,” a barbarian named Stier replied. “You have faced man-eating harpies. It's time you faced women without tripping over your own sword or in your case ax.”
A battle mage and fourth member of their group added, “Though some women are worse than facing harpies.”
“You shouldn't add fear to Frieden's heart where anxiety and doubt already lie,” the warrior said. “Give him some encouragement.”
“Let me then encourage him,” the battle mage said. “Before you can partake of the fruit, first you must pluck it from the tree.” He smacked Frieden's massive chest with his palm as he added, “Today, we'll see how you approach the tree. Beware the serpents that guard it. We'll be cheering for you to finally reap the fruit so don't be bashful.”
“So–” Stier the Barbarian started as the warrior opened the door to the Hoof and Cloak Tavern and then Stier the Barbarian shoved Frieden in and finished, “–see what you can reap.”
The battle mage moved to Stier's side and questioned, “Are you sure we should do this to the rookie? Maybe we should give him a break. He did work hard and earned us a hefty bounty on our quest. Maybe we should give him a proper reward. Maybe...”
The warrior moved between the two men as he interrupted, “This trip isn't for Frieden; it's for us, after all, we could use a good laugh.”
Stier chuckled his agreement as the battle mage inquired, “But will Frieden appreciate that the joke is on him?”
“Not as much as we will,” the warrior replied. “Come, let's see how the rookie fumbles with his ax.”
I glanced back at them as Jisei and I walked on. We continued through the Town of Hasu Machi where Jisei's temple-eki resided. Jisei told me a temple-eki was a home-station for a priestess of her order, so I thought of it as a home away from home. We soon arrived at Sakura Temple-eki, and it was larger than I expected but as clean and white as I imagined. Large blooming cherry trees surrounded the Mizu-style complex.
“Welcome, Sister Jisei,” a woman wearing the head priestess garment greeted us as we approached the entrance to the temple-eki. The only difference between her outfit and Jisei's was that the woman wore a white wimple that framed her face and chin. The woman inquired, “How went your mission?”
“Hello, Sister Kurin,” Jisei greeted in return. “My mission to deliver food and water to those still living in the Town of Kymaar went well. I also treated a few of the sick and left a few of the sisters to continue the work.”
“Good. Rest. I have another mission for you,” Sister Kurin instructed, then noticed me, and inquired, “Did you hire a valkyrie for your latest mission?”
“No,” Jisei replied as she glanced at me and then explained, “After I completed my mission, we met on the way to town and traveled together.”
“I see. Stay as our guest, valkyrie, and rest. Sister Jisei can show you to a room, and perhaps I may hire you to help Sister Jisei on her next mission.”
I spoke, “I wouldn't mind a few extra coins for my purse. There's always a sword I'm wanting to buy.”
“Then consider the job yours,” Sister Kurin stated. “I shall tell both of you on the morrow what the mission entails. For now, I bid you a good day.” Sister Kurin turned and entered the temple-eki after we wished her a good day.
I patted my stomach as I said, “I'm so hungry I could eat a whole Golden Tusked Elephant. Jisei, where's a good place to eat lunch?”
Jisei answered, “There is the Hoof and Cloak Tavern–” She motioned to a wooden structure in the distance that we had passed earlier then finished, “–but as a priestess of the Shinjin Fuka-sa Order I cannot...”
“Good.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her along as I uttered, “Let's go eat.” She came along unwillingly as she kept insisting about something, but I was so hungry I ignored her frantic pleas as I questioned, “You said it was this way, right? Do you think they have gray deer steaks?”
Sometime later, I dragged the priestess into the tavern. Frieden sat in the back corner surrounded by three barmaids ogling over his large muscular form. Two of the barmaids sat on his lap while the third stood to his left.
I stated, “We'll go to the bar and order.”
“I cannot be in here!” Jisei yelled, still trying to pull her wrist free of my iron grasp. “It is against the rules of our order for me to...”
I turned to her only hearing half of what she said and asked her with a hint of sadness, “Did you say you don't want to eat with me?” I started to pout as I asked, “Why? I know we haven't known each other all that long, so I can't say were good friends, but at least I thought you liked me. Do you really not wish to partake in a meal with me?”
Jisei must have thought that I looked near tears and sighed as she told me, “No, I shall eat with you. I already broke the rule when you dragged me in here, so I shall have to do penance later. Let us eat quickly.”
“Great! Barkeep, I'll take two orders of gray deer steaks.” I turned to the priestess and asked her, “What do you want?”
Over in the back corner, Frieden fought off the advances of the persistent barmaids.
“How many quests have you been on?” the barmaid who stood beside him asked.
Frieden fidgeted under the adventurous hands of the other two barmaids and spoke nervously, “I have quested three times.”
“Then you are a beginner.”
“Go on, Frieden,” Stier the Barbarian urged, after downing a mug of mead. The golden liquid dripped down his beard as he slurred, “Woo the women with your tongue.”
Frieden looked to the two barmaids on his lap and told the one sitting on his right knee, “Your hair's like the underbelly of a Rotnock and your lips are as red as the wattle of a Leviathan Truthahn.”
The one barmaid became angry as she said, “Are you comparing my hair to a large smelly monster and my lips to a giant turkey?”
“I... Well... Yes,” he replied.
At first, the other barmaids didn't know how to react, then they looked to one another, and they and the warrior, Stier, and the battle mage laughed a full-hearted belly laugh. Frieden's brow wrinkled as his face reddened from the ridicule. The barmaid who stood glanced at the warrior, and he nodded to her, so she slid her hand down Frieden's massive back, reached down, and squeezed his butt. Frieden stood straight up, knocking the two barmaids on his lap to the floor as he let out a startled yelp. His face reddened deeper with embarrassment by his outburst and the woman's unwarranted attention. The warrior let out another big laugh.
“Looks like I won the bet. Frieden didn't last long enough with Fujin and her girls for Stier to finish three mugs. Pay up battle mage.”
“Blasted beginner!” The battle mage stood and threw two gold coins onto the table in front of the warrior, and then the battle mage said, “You are like a devil with an ax when you face creatures of the crypt but when it comes to women, you're like a fawn before a wolf.”
“I wouldn't make him mad,” the warrior warned. “You remember how he cut that Minotaur in half. He might do the same to you.”
Frieden bent down and picked up his ax, and the battle mage thought he might take a swing at him for his mockery, but Frieden merely headed for the exit.
“Hey, barbarian,” I called to Frieden before he left. “Is it true you halved a Minotaur?”
“It is,” he said, without looking at me and then he walked out the door.
I removed my bow, shield, and sword and handed them to the priestess as I told her, “Hold these for me.”
“Why? Where are you going?” Jisei inquired.
“Outside,” I answered
her as I followed Frieden out and once I reached the street, I yelled, “Hey, barbarian, wait up.” I ran ahead of him, turned, and forced him to stop by blocking his way.
He tried to walk around me and finally questioned me free of anger, “What do you want, woman?”
“I was watching you back there with your friends.”
“They aren't my friends.”
“It did seem like you were the object of their ridicule. Are you really that skittish around women?”
He sized me up and ordered, “Move out of my way.”
“Or what?” I challenged. “What will you do? Will you cut me in half like you did that Minotaur?”
He tightened his grip on his ax as he said, “Move woman. I won't tell you again.”
Jisei came outside still holding my weapons.
“Not only are you timid, but I think you are a coward!” I went up and pushed him with all my might as I yelled, “Look at you! Why would you allow me or your so-called friends to put you down? Do something! Strike me down!”
Even with his massive size, Frieden was pushed back by my shove. He told me in a calm voice, “No, I won't strike you down.”
“Why not? Are you afraid of what I'll do to you?”
“No, you're unarmed and at the moment, you aren't threatening my life. Your attacks are only against my pride; I can take those wounds. I'm twice your size and must let peace lead me or I'm no better than the evil creatures I slay, so I say mock me if you must, but finish so I may be on my way. No matter how you coax me, I won't strike you, not unless you attacked me to cause me harm.”
“You mean like this?” I questioned as my eyes went wild like a werewolf before it attacks. I slapped him in the face and when he didn't react, I slapped him again. He took my hits. I was no weakling, and my strikes left red hand marks on his face.
“Stop it! Ayann, I said stop it!” Jisei yelled at me.
I took a step back and glanced at the priestess. The wildness that had engulfed my face had vanished as if the rabid creature I had turned into never existed. I turned back to Frieden, smirked, and then said, “Well done, barbarian. What others see in you as weakness is a strength beyond compare.”
“I do not understand,” Jisei said as she approached us. “Why did you do this?”
“To test him. I have been searching for another fighting class adventurer to join Foi, Amabi, and I; I believe I have found him. What say you, barbarian?”
Frieden took a moment and then answered, “I do not know; I have only just met you.”
“True. Maybe you can quest with me when I assist this priestess on her next mission. There's no better way to test one's mettle than by seeing them in action, wouldn't you say?”
He took a few more moments and then answered, “You're a strange woman, but one who appears to have a good heart and–” He rubbed the side of his face as he said, “–a brutal smack. I'll quest with you when you go with this priestess on her mission, whatever it may be.”
I told him, “I'll meet you at the stables tomorrow morning.”
“Tomorrow then.” He walked off.
Jisei handed me my weapons and said, “I do not understand your motives for harassing that young man or why you had him join a mission that is mine, but I shall stand by it begrudgingly.”
“I see something in him,” I told her, then walked up beside the priestess, and wrapped my arm around her shoulders in a friendly embrace. “The same thing I see in you. You have potential to be a great adventurer.”
Jisei didn't know what to do with the complement or the attention. Any public type of affection was prohibited in her order, so she blushed and finally wriggled her way free.
I could see that the priestess wasn't used to hugs like I was. My father was all about hugs, especially huge ones. I told the priestess, “I would like both of you to join our group.”
Jisei told me, “I cannot. I have my place.”
“Maybe you do or maybe you should be with us. I'll ask you again when we have completed your mission.”
“Ask, but my answer shall be the same,” Jisei told me.
Ayann #1 A Fantasy Action Adventure- Part A- Broken Sword In Dragon Dungeon Page 6