THE EAR ARCHER Part 1 (Completed) #wattys2022

BAUXITE

The company were trotting, they found horses where ever they could.
The events that unfolded at Mian had taken its toll on them.
Gob pressed the heels against his skinny horse.
The horse in turn hastened its pace,  heading straight for Dalian.
"do you have a moment? " Gob asked as his horse approached Dalian's
"of course, what's the matter?"
Gob slowed the pace of his horse, forcing Dalian to do same.
He waited a while, allowing the rest of the company to ride ahead giving them some considerable amount of privacy.
"look, I don't know how this is going to sound but I can't help but notice we are drifting apart ".
"we were never together " Dalian shot back calmly
Gob winced visibly at her words. To his credit, he regained composure quickly.

"the truth of the matter is" he paused a bit
"I love you Dalian, more than anything.  I thought I could suppress it but I can't, I love you, really, I do".

Dalian considered his words for a while before she replied.
"am sorry, am not interested"
With that, she rode off.

Ferdil was hiding in one of his many barrels when his huge wooden door was sent crashing down.
"ransack the place " a deep voice ordered.
"don't waste your time" another voice countered, it's tone lighter but much more authoritative.

"just empty the barrels".
Ferdil kept listening as multiple footsteps approached him.
The barrel he was in was upturned. He fell out and landed on the ground with a thud.

Ferdil looked around in panic, his house was jam packed with bandits.
"please don't hurt me, am just an harmless old man"
"but we both know you are not an harmless old man, isn't that right? "

From a comer the unnamed stepped out.
"it's been a while" with those words, the unnamed took his hood off.
"Hamiran" Ferdil gushed. Immediately, his expression changed, he was smiling.