They'd fought together and that what how the best of friendships were made… or in the case of a cowered how enemies were made. But she was no cowered and although they didn't really get along and had gotten off to a real bad start he didn't want her to die either. Thinking about that and how he wouldn't be here if the village was attacked again tomorrow night; he decided she'd need a good knife.
"Wait," he said getting up and heading over to the table. "Take this, and keep it on you just in case more demons come back. You used the other rather well… for a novice, but that was a throwing knife. Anyways, this should work better." He said handing her the knife he'd used in battle earlier that night. "And stay in town, demons avoid populated areas."
"Thank you," she said excepting it. "I could use it better with training... Please, I don't want to stay here putting my town at risk and doing nothing to get my sister back. Please, ask Master Robin or whoever is in charge, to let me come back and fight with you." she pleaded.
In a strange twist from the night before he realized that if it was up to him he'd now say yes in a heartbeat. It had been a long time since he'd felt the mental pain that drove him to be the fighter he was. He also knew what it felt like not to be able to do anything; to be helpless in the face of danger and to have to depend on strangers. He didn't sympathize often, so he wanted to promise her she could go, but he wouldn't give her false hope.
"I can't promise anything, but I will mention your request." She looked a little disappointed, but she thanked him anyways.
"And I'll make sure he does and put in a good word for you myself" Torn said.
"Thank you so much," she said shaking Torn's hand before leaving, again just giving him a little wave before walking out the door.
"I can't believe you just gave her your signature blade, you love that hunting knife. You like her, admit it." Torn said after she left.
"She ripped a throwing knife out of a demon's chest and killed three demons with it. She deserves it; besides she saved my life out there I owe her."
"You like her." It wasn't a question but a statement.
"I'm glad she's home with her family and out of our hair, but I wouldn't go as far as saying I like her."
"Right. Are you really going to tell master Tazmaine or the council that she wants to train with us?"
Takal thought for a while. He knew he would, but was it really the best option for her? It was a big commitment to join the woodsmen. "She's got a family here and is safe and loved here. If she's smart she'll see what she has here and not want to go back." The girl could go on to live a normal life here but at the castle, well she wouldn't have any of that. "Why would anyone want that?"
"To save her sister," Torn said simply.
Exactly he thought, but instead voiced a worry that crept up on him. "What does she honestly think she can do to help her? I hate to say it but our whole army might never find her the scouts searched for two days before we left and they found no sign of the demon's lair. Even if we do find it if it's anything like she described it would be close to impossible to charge in without dying let alone save anyone."
"If you had thought there was even a chance your family could be saved, even if it was unlikely, would you still have tried to go after them?"
"Yes, but…" he stopped there not knowing what he even planned to say. He couldn't think of any other reasons for her to stay here, maybe he didn't want to.
"Wouldn't you have at least wanted the chance to try? How could you take that chance away from someone else? Plus we could use all the healers we can get magic or no, she's more useful than Murin." Torn continued not realizing that he'd already won.
"You're right."
"What was that? I'm not sure I heard you." Torn prodded for more.
He decided to indulge him it was his first time being right after all. "You are right Torn. I do believe that this time you are right and that you were right about her all along." He knew she needed this.
"Yes!" Torn exclaimed in triumph "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear you say that." he had a big grin on his face and Takal could tell he'd never let him live it down. He could never again get away with saying 'and when have I ever been wrong about anything?'
He looked out the window. "Do you think she'll do as she was told and stay in town?"
"Nieka? Listen to you? Not a chance." Torn said laughing though worry slipped into it as he realized what could go wrong. Demons avoided populated areas, but if she left the safety of the town she would be an easy target.
"Didn't think so. I think I'll send a couple of guards to watch the town until a decision is made. Until then that trader of a horse can stay here until backup arrives." She would be in good hands with Nieka. Besides Shadow liked her better than the stable master anyways. And this way he'd have an extra set of eyes watching over her and keeping her away from the forests and the fields. With his new plans made up Takal closed his eyes and said no more, he'd need his rest if he was going to run the whole way back on foot.