Chapter 7 - Marked
“Don’t let this place fool you,” Scarlet replied as they walked past the open iron gates. “We could still be in danger. Enjoy yourselves, but stay cautious.”
Remi lifted her nose in the air to take in the new scents. Someone was cooking an array of seasoned meats over a fire and there were kids running in the street, chasing after each other with sticks. The roads were made of bricks and so were the houses, though the people did the best they could to decorate the buildings after the structures were erected. Windows were lavished with fancy canopies and banners. Miniature plants sat on the ledges and there were numerous wooden signs hanging from posts high above the doors, letting the patrons know where they were headed.
The streets were dimly lit but it was bright enough to see everything. The townspeople were casually dressed but no one was dirty. Wearing finely pressed shirts, pants and dresses, they would walk by twos or threes into the various buildings talking at a low volume. Though they were strangers to this new land, not one person turned their attention towards them. Remi figured that strangers were often visiting.
“This is the town of Surmount. It’s a way station for weary travelers such as ourselves. This place isn’t immune to the looming war, but at least everyone respects it. I’ve rarely heard of or seen violence here. We should be okay.”
“Okay?” Kace asked. “Who would be chasing after us?”
“The fact that we came all this way for Remi says to the enemy that she’s important. Spies from Cimmerian could be watching us right now.”
Remi suddenly became paranoid, looking into the faces of all those who passed by. If there were spies present, they sure weren’t breaking character.
“We’ll stay in an inn tonight. I’ll be going out with Eckard to make sure there are no threats here and then you’re free to check out this place yourselves but not until then. You three are still green to this.”
“I’m able to take care of myself,” Kace retorted. “You should know that.”
“I’m aware,” Scarlet glowered at him. “But you also might make a situation worse. I also know how hot-headed and stubborn the Quietus can get once they’ve engaged someone in battle. If there’s a way to keep things civil, I would prefer that at the moment. We’re a long way from home.”
“Just for tonight,” Kace muttered, looking over at Remi. “Besides, someone has to protect her.”
“Oh please,” Remi chuckled. “You’ll be the one that needs saving.”
“Come,” Scarlet said as she took the lead. They followed her into a quaint brick two-story cottage, squeezed tightly between two tall buildings that looked like residential living. A bell tinkled as they walked through the door, and a heavy-set woman in an apron and flowered dress waved at them from behind a cherry oak counter. Remi noticed that there were a lot of souvenirs and knick-knacks hanging all over the walls, everything from saws and little figurines to lanterns and quilts. Barrels sat in the corner with fish on ice and hot tea sat on the far end of the corner, begging them to taste it. A set of stairs on the far left corner led upstairs to where she assumed the rooms were.
“Greetings travelers,” the woman said, her long hair nearly sticking to the sides of her face. “Looking for a room or two.”
“One will suffice,” Scarlet replied. “How do we pay?”
“What do you have that I may want?”
“This,” she said, quickly reaching out and latching onto Remi’s poncho. Before she could fight against the Sage, Scarlet had wrestled it from her and lifted it over her head. Kace stepped forward with a growl but Eckard stood between them.
“What are you doing?!” Kace yelled as Olivia looked at them all in surprise. Remi winced as she felt the cold envelop her. She nearly fell to her knees but she forced herself to stay upright. She couldn’t show weakness…not from something so simple as this. There would be a bed with blankets upstairs…she hoped there were.
“It’s fine,” Remi said weakly as Scarlet snickered and bunched up the poncho in her hand.
“You two are wearing them!” Kace yelled. “Give her yours!”
“But we’re not the ones that have to prove ourselves,” Scarlet replied. “It’s obvious that Remi is sick. It’s all over her. Are you blind?”
“I know she’s sick—”
“—and you trust her enough to keep her around. That’s absurd. She has to prove herself. All I did was take away her warmth. That’s nothing. Look.” Scarlet stopped to take off her poncho and then she snapped her fingers at Eckard, signaling for him to do the same. He obeyed and soon only their armor underneath was visible. Scarlet was wearing a dark purple breastplate with the symbol of a lion etched into it. She had steel covering her limbs as well but it only came to her knees and her elbows. She raised her head high as Kace glanced at Eckard who was wearing the same ensemble, except he had no colors or symbols over his armor. Olivia found herself taking off her poncho as well, revealing only her t-shirt and pants. Kace shook his head.
“What are you doing?” he asked Olivia, but all she did was stare at him.
“The point is made,” Scarlet said. “Look at her. She’s barely conscious.”
Kace winced as he saw Remi beginning to turn blue. Her eyes were listless and she was starting to sway back and forth. Kace hugged her tight and held her close to his chest. She shuddered under his embrace and he held her away from him only for a moment as he took off his dirty shirt and put it over her. He then grabbed her and pulled her back into his arms, her head resting on his bare shoulder as he nuzzled his cheek into her hair.
“I’m no damsel,” Remi muttered into his bare chest, “in distress.”
“We know,” he said, lifting his eyes to Scarlet. “Alright, she’s good. What now?”
“So you’re going to be by her side whenever she needs help? You might not always be there for her.”
“You don’t get it. She’s the one that saved me. I’m just repaying my debt. If it wasn’t for her, I would be cut up and distributed amongst her people by now. Not to mention that once she gets going, she’s a better fighter than I am. In battle she’s the strongest between the two of us, and if the only way I can show my thanks is to keep her warm outside of battle, then that’s what I’m going to do.”
“Hmph,” Scarlet said, not convinced. “Repaying a debt…well, as long as you don’t mind being her crutch.” She turned to the housekeeper. “I would like to offer this poncho of that young girl’s as payment.”
“What makes this so special?”
“This poncho is a specially made fabric designed by her townspeople. A people that live on the edge of Cimmerian.”
“The edge, you say?”
“Once you’ve inspected it, you’ll see that there is nothing like it in Terra. The materials were taken from Cimmerian itself, gathered over time in raids.”
“Ah,” she said, running the palms of her hands over it. “It’s true. This is different. A few different animals were slain in making this. Do you know what kinds?”
“It would take a trip to Cimmerian to find out. The girls have no clue as well.”
“Interesting. I’ll have to send out my son to investigate. Well, this certainly pays for a room. Take the large one upstairs at the end of the hall. In all honesty, I think the mystery you’ve provided is more compensation than the item itself.”
“Glad to be of help,” Scarlet said, glancing back at Remi for a second. She then headed towards the stairs and they all followed. Kace crouched down and put Remi into his arms, carrying her. She was barely aware of it.