"So you decided to get a healer then?" the General asked Iris once she decided to go and speak with him, and she nodded in response. She saw the relief in the General's eyes at her answer, and he gave her a nod back and began speaking again.
"What made you change your mind?"
"Uhh," her voice was gruff, "Well... I actually had a healer --who saw what happened-- come to my room with her daughter and offer me a free heal. I'd be a fool to say no to that, especially with the pain I was in." She saw Ra nod behind the general, in agreement with her. After a moment, Iris continued talking.
"Do you have the updates on the Caverns?"
"Oh yes," Zayn said at the reminder, "It seems to be at a stalemate so far. They're losing men, but so are we. They sent a lot more soldiers to Krenshai Caverns than we originally expected, so neither of us are gaining any ground. Hopefully that changes soon... in our favor, that is," he told her. She didn't know what to think of his answer. She wanted to be happy that they were not losing... but they were not winning either. Their men were dying too. Her friends at the training camp could be dead at this very moment.
"I'm not sure what to make of that," she said truthfully, glancing at the inn's lobby, and then went on, "I hope that the tides turn in our favor."
"Maybe they will. Our force is strong," he reminded her, "the Eldian army is not a mere threat."
"And neither are we. When are we setting out?" Ra asked. The general turned to him before answering his question.
"Actually, very soon. Within the hour. After all, it's getting late. I've met with all the people that I was scheduled to meet with as well. There is nothing left to do here, unless any of you have anything that you need to take care of before we leave." No one said anything in response, and the general assumed that everyone was ready to go.
"Very well," he said, "I'd like to eat before we go. We might be eating rations for a while, so try and get all that you can here. Our next stop is Alabast, so it's a rather long trip." Iris took a mental note, glad that he had decided not to pass through Eda.
After that, he led them back to the familiar tavern that they had eaten at before. It was a little more crowded than it had been when they had first gone, but the group was still able to find a seat at a far table. As they were moving through the building, a good amount of peasants and commoners stopped and thanked them for ridding the town of the Tokens. Upon hearing this, Iris was glad that she was able to help save a small town.
Everyone in their group seemed proud of what they had been able to do for Morthrior, even Kayde. Iris guessed that he was more used to helping people than she, as he was a Remorda Guardian... a sworn protector of human life. Well, from what Iris had gathered anyways. She wondered if he was also used to receiving glory like the group was getting at the current moment. She flicked her eyes over to him, noticing that he didn't seem uncomfortable with the praise.
As soon as they were able to sit down, a waitress came over to their table to take their order. Much to Iris's relief, it wasn't Freda, but instead an older looking woman with light colored hair.
"Hello, soldiers," she gave them all a small smile, "Can I get you anything this evening?"
Zayn was the first one to speak.
"A good-sized meal for each of us, if you will. We've got a long night of traveling tonight," he told her, and she nodded in response. Iris wondered for a moment whether or not she was going to be able to eat everything. After all, it was considered impolite for women to gorge themselves on large amounts of food. She'd spent many years of her life eating just enough to dispel her hunger.
"Where are you headed?" she asked simply, trying to make slight conversation.
"Alabast, the metropolis to the south. We have some business down there that we have to take care of," he didn't give her much detail.
"Alabast is a nice place. My husband and I went there once. If you get the chance, try and take in the city. You won't regret it..." she said, and then turned to walk away from the table. After a moment, she turned her head to speak again.
"By the by, thank you for what you did for our village."
Then, she continued walking, not giving any in their group enough time to respond. Even so, they were all appreciative of her remark.
"I didn't realize so many people would say something to us about the attack last night. I suppose more people were watching out their windows than I thought," Iris said to no one in particular, "It's odd receiving so many kind words from people that we haven't truly met," she finished. General Zayn was the one to reply.
"You'll find that it happens a lot. It's definitely something you have to get used to."
"Why do they thank us?" she asked, "It is our duty to protect them."
"You are right. It is our duty to protect them. Even so, they are still grateful that we would give our lives for them," he said, and then paused for a minute, as if he were trying to think of what to say next, "Perhaps they figure that they need to thank us for what we've done, even if we don't expect them to."
"I see," she nodded.
----
After the men were finished eating, it didn't take long for them to pack up and set out on the road again. Most of the night's trip was uneventful, and Iris spent countless hours just staring at the scenery, thinking about nothing in particular. Hardly anyone spoke as they rode, minus Ra's comments about the bugs and Shen's small talk. Iris was a bit humored at both, especially at Ra.
Everyone was relieved when they stopped to make camp for the night. Still full from the dinner, the entire group pulled out their bedrolls immediately, finding a spot on the forest's ground to roll them out. It wasn't too hard, as this part of the woods was not very thick. When she laid hers out, she simply just sat atop it, and watched as everyone else crawled into theirs and quickly fell asleep. Everyone except the general, who was sitting similar to her.
"Not going to sleep?" he asked her.
"In a bit." She surveyed him, "And you?"
"Maybe here in a little while. I am not completely tired just yet," he said with a blank face. Iris squinted a little bit, not able to tell exactly what he was thinking about. In response, she sat quietly, waiting for him to speak again. It was quiet for many moments as she waited, but after a bit, he began talking again.
"I want to thank you, again, for what you did. I have never met someone quite as crazy as you, that would purposely jump out in front of an arrow... but I'm glad you did. I was being honest when I told you that I owe you my life. If one day, I have the opportunity to do the same for you... I will," he promised, and Iris caught a small bit of sadness looming about in his eyes. She chuckled a little bit.
"Hopefully it does not come to that. Even so, you do not have to return the favor. After all, you are the war general. I am but a soldier," she paused for a second before adding, "and soldiers fall all the time."
"Ingred..."
"At least I will have fallen fighting for Eldia and those that I love," she referenced her father and aunt with a small smile.
"I will not let another rogue die for me," he said with a stern face.
"Hmm?" Iris inquired.
"His name was Angrir. We were raiding one night, and doing really well at that. In fact, none of us had even really gotten injured at all," he paused for a moment, looking down, "We thought everyone was dead -much like what happened in Morthrior, actually- and were leaving when it happened. One of our enemies was not completely dead. Within a matter of seconds, one had stood up and stabbed Angrir in the back. The wound killed him immediately. I'll never forget the sight of watching him thump to the ground."
"I am sorry, general."
"It is not your place to apologize for Angrir's death. It is mine. I should've thoroughly checked the camp before we dropped our guard. If I could go back in time and change that, I would. However, I cannot. His death will always be my burden. I'm glad I do not have yours to add to the list," he told her, his voice grave.
"I'm glad I lived as well. But you should not feel guilty," she told him, and then added, "The ones that we care about will not die... until the moment we forget that they lived." She said this with an honest expression. At this comment, he tilted his head a little.
"Who said that?"
"Me... Right after my mother died, I said it to my father. My mother always taught me something close to it, but the exact phrasing is of my own creation," she told him, "It's become my family's motto -one of them, at least. Despite everything, I still believe it. As does my father."
"You are a strong man, Ingred. I was not so composed when my father was killed. Not when my own mother died. I couldn't find anything to believe in for a very long time. I'd wager now that I'm still not one to be hopeful, and that's an awful thing," he said.
"I wasn't nearly as strong as you think I was," she contradicted what he had just said, "Just because I believe that she will always live with me doesn't mean I didn't tear myself up over her death. I lost quite a bit of faith after it happened, and some of it I still haven't regained. And it's been years."
Zayn fell silent.
"At least I was able to come and save my father's life. He would not made it very long if he were here in my place," she said, "He's been to war before. In one of his last battles, he injured his knee quite severely. Ever since then, he has no longer been able to walk well. He has to use a cane to get around." The forest seemed to grow quieter as she talked, as if it were listening to her story as well.
"Even though I was no fighter when I left home, I figured that I still had a better chance at surviving than he did."
"He must be proud of you, then," he replied, "What did you do before you came here?"
"I could not tell you whether or not he is proud of me, we haven't spoken since I left. And as for what I did, I spent my days as a caretaker for him. It wasn't much of a busy life, but I suppose I was content," she answered. At this, she watched as a slight smile rose on the general's face.
"You could say that you're still a caretaker, in a sense," he pointed out. Iris let out a small laugh.
"I guess you're right. A different kind, though."
"Yes, that you are," he nodded, and then changed the subject, "Well, we probably should get some rest. I am starting to get really tired."
"I as well. Maybe we'll have a good day's travel tomorrow. Either way, good night, sir. Try and sleep well," she said with a courteous expression, "May we both have a nice and restful night." He nodded back at her in agreement. For a moment, his mouth hung open, but no words came from them.
"Do you need something?" Iris asked.
"Goodnight, Ingred. Sleep well."
After that, Iris and Zayn both climbed into their own bedrolls. For a moment, Iris relished the warmth of the covers. She hadn't even realized she'd been cold. As she laid there, she thought about their conversation. She felt bad that someone in his scouting group had died before, but even worse because he deemed it to be his fault. In truth, she knew that she would think the same thing if she were in his shoes.
Upon coming here, she thought she would be the strange one. The one that no one could understand or relate to. Yet, as she talked to some of the men and got to know them, she realized the she might not be so different from some of them. The general was one of them. At first, she had deemed him to lack depth. Now, she saw that even someone as strong and as stoic as her war general could have something buried underneath.
"Maybe you and I are not so different, after all," she said too quietly for him to hear. With one last glance over the camp, Iris fell asleep.
(A/N - Don't forget to tell me what you think! I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!)
"The ones that we care about will not die... until the moment we forget that they lived." -Iris Gwenneth.