Rise of the Warrior of Everfen

Chapter 14: Definitely Insane

Erinne eyed Cold Hammer's back as he knelt down at the stream and washed his hands in the cool water. He hadn't spoken to her at all since they'd fought three days ago. He gave her a wide berth, nodded if they passed each other, and otherwise kept his attention far from her. Despite that, she caught him looking when he thought her head was turned, when he thought she was focused on anything other than him. She felt his eyes drilling into her spine when her back was to him. He could stay away, but his eyes couldn't.

Pushing it from her mind, she tugged her horse's reins forward, giving a short whistle as she led him to the stream. As they neared it, Lothar walked forward willingly and dipped his head to drink and she smiled, patting his side. She whistled every time she led him somewhere, or called him to her, a trick she knew to teach the horse to come when she whistled. Pretty soon he'd come running the moment she did.

Lothar twitched his ears and lifted his head to look behind them, laying his ears flat almost immediately in a show of irritation and she turned just in time to see three of the dire wolves charging their way. Her horse flicked his tail and they both moved out of the way of the three, wrestling and leaping over each other.

It wasn't until they were almost on him that Cold Hammer, still crouched by the stream, heard them. He turned too late and the three tumbled into him and he fell into the water. Down the line of the stream, the other orcs turned to look and seemed to stare at the playing dire wolves as if death was upon them, as if they expected Cold Hammer to stand up and slaughter them.

He probably would have if she hadn't started laughing. Perhaps it wasn't the wisest thing to do, especially as other orcs gawked with shocked expressions at her laughter and Cold Hammer turned murderous eyes on her. She completely ignored the stares and walked forward, still chuckling, and held her hand out to Cold Hammer.

"Damn dire wolves, right?"

He grunted and took her hand, "You'd think the stupid beasts were still pups." She really couldn't do much in helping him get to his feet, he was so much bigger than she was, but she still pulled and he rose effortlessly from the water. He started grumbling about his wet clothes as he ambled away and she walked back to her horse. For some reason, she felt satisfied.

. . . .

"I think, perhaps, your little Sheobulf is insane." She heard the words over her shoulder, some distance away, but said nothing as she concentrated.

"This? This is nothing for her." Lohke replied smoothly to Vustig.

"No one with brains would do this."

She desperately wanted to call out a smart remark to him, but if she shouted, she would disturb the beehive even more. She had a coating of mud rubbed along her skin to help protect her from potential stings, but usually if you just moved slow the bees weren't too aggressive.

"Just because you don't have the guts." Cold Hammer's voice reached her ears and she smiled, briefly flashing her teeth before she realized her mistake and one of the tiny, flying critters landed on her lip. She had to wait for it to move before carefully sealing her lips again, lucky that she wasn't stung.

Vustig laughed, "Maybe you're right. I wouldn't fight you like she did."

She caught sight of Cold Hammer in her peripheral, stroking his chin, "Maybe you are, too, anyone who fights me willingly is definitely insane." At least he was talking, not just about her, but to her again. Ever since she pulled him out of the water. He seemed less gruff with her now, not like he was before.

There were a couple laughs and Lohke said, "We'll appreciate the insanity when she brings us that honey." She tuned them out as she removed a chunk of honeycomb and the hive scrambled. A couple of them got her through the mud, but she didn't mind. The stings didn't bother her much, not after years spent with Nukbrik. He used to send her out to gather honey, one of his warriors trailing behind her.