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Timmy couldn't take his eyes off the dark-haired girl across the small camp, and hoped she didn't notice him staring. The latest addition to the mercenary company known as the Blood Vines, she was as tall as most men and thicker in the limbs. That in itself wasn't so unexpected; her build lent itself well to the warrior life. But her constitution was apparently nothing short of superhuman. He had seen her take a sword in the belly in an ambush, and turned away as she caught her guts in her hands. Of course, he had counted her among the dead. But now she sat chatting calmly with the other woman in the company, their leader's lover Alicia who bound the newcomer's wounds with an exasperated look on her face. The wounded girl's thick, somewhat pained voice was still cheery, though her left arm hugged her side protectively. When she moved it a bit, Timmy could see shiny innards through a gaping wound. Michael's voice startled Timmy. "What are you looking at?" The tall, handsome captain had come up behind him, silently as always. "You like her, don't you? Go talk to her. She's about your age--a little younger, even." "Um . . . what's her name?" "Rose. How could you still not know her name? She's been here for a week." Timmy shrugged. "I'm kind of scared . . . I mean, she's pretty, and seems like a nice girl, but I don't know if I'll ever be able to look at her and not think of her stuffing her entrails back into her belly." "Yeah, she's a strange one. She did say her neighbors used to call her the God-Touched. But who cares if she's been gutted? Her guts are back inside, now." Timmy looked, and saw Rose waving Alicia away now that her stitches were done, insisting she was fine. "Okay, I'll go talk to her." Even if nothing came of it, it wouldn't hurt to get acquainted with his new comrade. He walked over to where she sat on a rock, smiling. "Hey, Rose. How are you feeling?" She looked up, her face pale and weary. "Timmy, right? I'm alright, though I got hurt pretty bad. Sword severed my intestine, Alicia said. Fixing it up wasn't fun. But I'm okay." "You're amazing." "So why are you here? You look really young for it." "Well, Michael's my cousin. I wasn't headed anywhere as a farmer's son, so when he came trying to recruit I thought nothing better of it. It's turned out pretty damn scary." Rose nodded. "Yeah, it is. As for me, my father got sick . . . so I'm here to support my family." "That's good." Timmy was struck by a bolt of inspiration. "I think I could help you out there." "Hmm?" He pulled out the old treasure map he had found a few months ago and smiled. "I found this on one of the dark knights Michael killed . . . today. It claims there's treasure buried nearby." In reality, he didn't think there would be anything there--hence why he had not gone after it in all this time. But he thought it would be a good opportunity to spend some time alone with Rose and get to know her better. After all of Michael and Alicia's failed attempts at helping him get a date, he wanted to give Rose a chance to judge him on his own merits. She frowned. "I just got gutted. I'm not particularly thrilled about the idea of getting up and . . . walking." Timmy chided himself for forgetting about her injury. Even if she was unbelievably tough, she had to be in terrible pain. "Oh . . . okay." A few moments of silence later, Rose asked, "So how much treasure do you think there is?" "Probably a lot for poor folks like us. Can you walk?" She stood and took a few experimental steps, wincing with each one. "Not really--but it's not far away, is it?" "Less than an hour's walk, at a brisk pace. A little more for you, maybe." A bit of sarcasm entered her voice. "That close? Ugh, fine--I can limp. I do need the money." # The two of them snuck out of camp together, Timmy insisting that anyone who saw them might follow them and wind up demanding a share of their loot. "So, what do you like to do in your spare time?" he asked as they left the Blood Vines behind and ventured into the shady woods.
Rose considered the question. Half a year ago, practicing swordplay
had been one of her favorite hobbies. Now, though, she fought
for real for a living, and all her training was less for fun than
for the sake of surviving. "I like cooking," she said.
"Though I don't get many opportunities nowadays to do it
right--you know, with all the stuff I'd like to have. I'm especially
fond of spicy things, though those gut wounds have made it harder
for me to enjoy them. What about you?"
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