A Warrior's Redemption (The Warrior Kind)

"Come with us Rugar." She said.

"No, I must see what has happened to my master just as you must be faithful to your new master. Go and may the Creator continue to smile down upon you and give you favor little flower!"

I thought I saw a tear in her eye as she turned her mount away from Rugar, who had let the door go and was now striding quickly towards the city.

I let Flin into a full gallop as we exited the suburbs and the cultivated fields of the city. The city was in an uproar over what had happened and we weren't noticed. We rode into the dense growth of the forest until it got to dark to make our way.

We made camp without any fire that night. We barely had a makeshift camp put together the next night when the heavens opened up and poured rain down upon us. It was a miserable night and none of us got any rest. When the rain was over in the early hours of the morning we had a hasty cold meal and then we were back in the saddle riding. I was pushing the endurance of both Zarsha and Krista more than I should be, but it was vital that we get to the seacoast and the boat waiting there for us.

Seven long weary days later found us near enough to the sea that we could smell the salt in the air and even hear the crashing of the waves against the rocks of the beach. I got down from Flin stiffly. It was well after nightfall. Zarsha was asleep and I lifted her down careful not to wake her. I pulled the blanket role off of Flin and spread it on the ground near where I was going to make a fire. I laid Zarsha down onto the blanket and covered her up with it. I looked at her for a long moment as she slept peacefully. I was so grateful to have her in my life.

"Why did you take on the responsibility of that little girl?"

I turned towards Krista who still stood by her horse. "I don't know. I just did and I don't regret it for even a moment. She's added so much to my life already that it's hard to remember what it was like without her just a few weeks ago. "

Krista was silent for a moment. "You're a rare man Roric. You don't mind me calling you that do you? You don't think it's forward of me being your slave to address you by your given name?"