Bacard returns to the table at the pub where Valice and
Brianne sit. "Did you hear that," asks Bacard excitedly. "Sounds like that
cavern will be a great place for some training."
Valice looks at him straight-faced as he responds, "Yeah, and
did you hear about the part where no one has returned. Well, not alive at least.
There is that case in East Bos village where a woman's husband returned one of
the Undead."
Bacard answers back in a still very confident manner,
"Undead? You make everything sound so dramatic. It was just a simple zombie they
burned and that was the end of it. Besides, that Undead thing is just a rumor.
And even if it is true, that just shows how good we'll be when we survive it."
"If," rebuttals Valice.
"If ... I like the sound of that. It means you're willing to
go to find out."
"That's not exactly what I said."
"Aww ... come on. It's been two months already and I'm
getting kind of bored fighting just the two of you. And think about it, there's
only two months left and we still have to get a whole lot stronger if we're
going to beat that guy."
Valice sighs. "I'm not going to be able to talk you out of
this, am I?"
With a confident grin Bacard replies, "Nope. Because I'm not
scared. Not of this at least. I'm only scared of losing to that pompous noble
and knowing I didn't do everything in my power to be as strong as I could be."
"All right then," Valice says as he stands from the table.
"You'll have a better chance in numbers. I'm with you." His attention then
shifts to Brianne as he signs, "This will be dangerous and I would never think
of asking you to accompany us. I could not bear the though that I would have put
you in harms way. Where you go now is your decision. If you insist on traveling
with us I will not try to stop you, but I do caution against it. The path we
walk is that of hazard and despair. It is the path we have chosen; the only one
open to us if we are to meet our dreams. Your path I feel is still full of hope
though. I would not desire to pull you down with us."
"If we survive, we will be at the promised time for our
match. Perhaps we will meet again there."
*****
More and more of some strange black goo-like creatures
advance down the tunnel, there appears to be no end to them. Bacard defends his
position valiantly. None of them will get passed! He said he'd hold them off and
he meant it. Behind him Valice is trying to help Brianne give birth. They're
counting on him to give them however long is needed. Valice had wanted her to
stay back and not go with them. The chances of something happening to her or her
unborn child was too great. She insisted though and he wasn't about to try and
stop her.
It doesn't matter how many of these little beasts there are,
he's better than all of them combined and that's all there is to it. As he
brings his sword around again he slices through one of the creatures. The sword
makes hard contact with another slamming it against the wall. When it hits it
splatters, black goo now lining the wall. These things are fragile, but there
are just so many of them. While he's distracted one tries to scurry passed him.
Quickly he turns and cuts it down before it could make it any further. Not a one
of them will pass, he gave his word. Besides, if he let one of these things get
the best of him he just couldn't live with the humiliation. Now that his back is
partially turned one leaps at him. Even if he could see it, it is unlikely he
could turn in time to stop its attack. With lightning fast speed Valice draws
his blade and cuts it in half. Bacard twirls his blade and cuts down another of
them. He hasn't actually looked at Valice when he asks, "What are you doing
here? Aren't you supposed to be helping your girlfriend over there?"
Valice responds, "She's not my girlfriend, and I'm here
saving your life."
In a playful tone Bacard replies, "Call her what you want
then, but I know you're sweet on her."
Aggravated, Valice blurts out, "Can't you just shut up and
fight?"
"Sure I can," answers Bacard. Then he adds, "And for your
information, you didn't save my life. I knew you'd take care of that one so I
didn't waste my time."
"You talk too much."
"And you don't talk enough. And leaving a pregnant woman to
fight? Not your style So why you really here?"
"She insisted. She wanted to do this on her own I think. I
think that ..."
Smirking, Bacard interrupts, "Oh would you stop talking so
much and just fight."
*****
Valice and Bacard sit on the floor exhausted. After what felt
like forever, they finally stopped advancing. The two of them are still trying
to catch their breath. Black goo covers the floor, walls, and their swords.
Bacard turns his head to look at Valice, "So why you still hanging around here
anyways? I mean, shouldn't you be checking on your woman?"
Valice replies, "Would you stop calling her that?"
"Why? What happened? Did she turn you down when you made your
move or something?"
Quickly Valice answers back, "No."
"Good, then that means she said yes."
"That's not ..." Then with a sigh Valice surrenders the
argument. Both, battle fatigued and weary, turn to look at Brianne. She is still
lying on the floor, but now she is holding a newborn in her arms. Valice smiles
warmly and comments, "Beautiful sight; isn't it?"
In his usual light-hearted tone Bacard asks, "That depends.
Which one are 'you' looking at, the child ... or the mother?"
"Oh would you grow up already."
"Come to think of it, aren't babies supposed to cry or
something when they're born? Maybe I was more occupied with that fight than I
thought, I didn't even hear it."
"Actually, it takes a few moments until the mouth is cleared
for the infant to cry. But that's not what is stopping this one. The child has
just been silent the entire time."
"Oh great, another one that can't talk, just like its
mother."
"Maybe. But did you notice it as well?"
"The silent thing? Yeah ... basically."
"No, I meant how those things started attacking once she went
into labor. Then after she gave birth they just suddenly stopped."
"So then you think ..."
Valice cuts him off quickly, "Probably just a coincidence."
"That's not true and you know it, Val. If you really believed
that you wouldn't have mentioned it in the first place."
"Maybe, but regardless, let's not discuss it right now."
"Yeah, okay. You win this one." Bacard pauses for a moment
before asking, "So when are you going to ask her out?"
Valice just sighs. Sometimes dealing with Bacard can be worse
than dealing with a little kid.
*****
A month and a half later, Valice climbs out of a whole in the
ground. He then returns to the edge of the hole and reaches down. He helps
Brianne get out as well with the baby still in her arms. Right after, Valice
finally climbs out and lies flat on the ground. The cool fresh air of the night
is a refreshing change. It's been a while since they felt it. Their clothes are
in tatters, and covered in both dirt and blood. Some of the blood is theirs,
some of it isn't. There are fresh wounds all over their bodies, as well as many
that have been healing for some time now. Out of all of them Brainne is in the
best condition. Both Valice and Bacard fought extra hard to protect the women
with child, but without her help they would have still never made it. Since the
moment they entered it had been a nearly nonstop battle for their lives. They're
both still alive, so it looks like they won. Valice is taking the moment to try
and catch his breath. Meanwhile, Bacard can be heard laughing.
Another battle is soon coming though. It is only two weeks
away. For them it is time to rest and let their bodies recover. They've gotten a
lot stronger, but will it be strong enough is the question.
