Chereads / A Book of Oaths / Chapter 50 - #41

Chapter 50 - #41

[Ridge]

I meet them on the street, Kadeeth helping Raforn to support a very tipsy Tellur. I'd run back into the office after throwing them outside, however the Viscount was no longer in the room. Perhaps he heard the yelling get louder when I climbed on stage and came back out. He might have seen everything. Oh God.

Zip gave me a folder of documents and said the Viscount will see us off at Dawn, and that we will finalize the paperwork then, at the bridge leading out of Rancid and off into the west. I thanked them, which they didn't acknowledge, and ran out here. On my way out I saw Caroley begin her real fight, and believe me when I tell you it was terrifying.

She has the prowess of a street fighter, so I don't even want to imagine how she found outlets for her passion to fight before she discovered Morin's Midnight. I wouldn't question it if someone told me she spent her spare time hanging around in back alleys as a kid, always looking for a fight and causing mischief. Her kind of confidence doesn't come from nowhere, but it does often come from the bottom.

The cool night air hits my skin as the wind blows my cloak to the side. I'm barely five feet out the door when Kadeeth is tripping over his, and Tellur's, feet to get to me. Raforn does his best to keep up, but ultimately ends up stumbling along pitifully.

"I was trying to win Caroley's favor back!" He defends, unprompted I might add.

"By beating her up?" Raforn asks, eyes wide in disbelief.

"More like letting HER beat HIM up." I answer sarcastically before Kadeeth can say anything.

"C'mon, Ridge! You know that the quickest way for a fighter to cool down, and to gain their respect is to let them release some steam in a fight." He persuades, then his expression turns offended, "And I never start a fight I can't win." I laugh, I shouldn't have let him talk. Just like that, my own disbelief and anger is melting. Curse him for always being so convincing and amusing.

"Let's get back to the Inn." I sigh. Kadeeth's face lights up with victory while the doctor's falls into a scowl. I take up supporting Tellur's right side in place of Raforn, who relinquishes his duty with relief, rubbing his sore shoulders. I glare at Kadeeth.

I know he has an unhealthy tendency to not care for people he doesn't consider close to him (basically anyone but me), but it's still surprising that he would leave a drunk friend in the hands of someone who can hardly hold him up. I don't want to make a big deal of it and risk him getting defensive. My goal isn't to start a fight. I just want him to not act like an indifferent psychopath everytime someone needs help.

Sure I did the same thing to him, I told him to watch Tellur, but at least I was aware of what I was doing. It doesn't excuse it, and I know I'm a hypocrite, but there is a big difference in first 'securing your friends safety' and just 'not caring what happens to them' when you leave them. Maybe I have the same problems he does, but I either can't recognize it or I'm simply not acknowledging it.

I do know one thing I have that Kadeeth uses so selectively it seems like he doesn't. Empathy. That's a problem, but I have no idea how to address it. I've been trying to fix this man's backwards personality since childhood and I haven't made any progress. Surely that's a sign for something.

~*~

With all of our gear packed tightly on our backs and in the wagon, we arrive at the bridge just before dawn. Viscount Morin arrives shortly after, pulling up along the quiet street as the sun begins to turn the dark sky a glowing yellow. His carriage is plain and has a cabin, he must not want to attract attention.

Zip exits the carriage first, walking straight to me in sharp steps. I hand them the folder of papers I filled out last night with the ink we packed from the cabin. They flip through them at a speed that couldn't possibly mean they read it all and then hum in approval.

Without looking they hand the folder over their shoulder to the Viscount as he exits the carriage. He tucks it under his arm and observes our party. With his scrutinizing snake eyes he takes in every detail.

"You will need to stop at Eldmiss to resupply, or else you won't make it even halfway to the coast. I'm assuming you have your own map." He fixes the cuffs on his sleeves, "As detailed in the contract, I have sent out five letters to some of my good friends." He looks down at me with squinted eyes, tapping his cane on the cobblestone, "Do not offend any of them, and be sure to arrive on time to each location if you want the benefit of my services.

"I've detailed everything further in these documents," He snaps his fingers and Zip produces more written instructions, "Follow them to the T if you don't want trouble. Straying from the designated path will most certainly find you lost. Your first stop is with the Grey Wanderers. They will assure your safe journey to the next drop point, but it is up to you if you intend to recruit them for your cause. That would be a fine idea, but a bit of free advice, I don't recommend it for any groups you will meet near the coast. They are... less than friendly." He taps his cane to punctuate his directions. Tellur groans somewhere behind me, his head has been killing him since he woke up. Serves him right. He got drunk on our very first recruitment mission.

"Thank you Viscount, for all of your assistance." I tap my crutch in response to his habit. His eyes get bigger and he laughs, but it doesn't sound as creepy this time. Just sorta.

"I don't do anything for free, this is all for the recognition, Kid. So don't thank me too much." He chuckles, turning around to climb back in the carriage, then he pauses, "And call me Ked, you remind me of someone."

"Who would that be, Sir?" Raforn asks, unable to read the room, and tilting his head to the side like a curious puppy. An unexpectedly gentle look settles on his pinched face, and even Zip seems to become less sharp for a moment.

"My stinging Nettle." He answers wistfully before disappearing into the wooden carriage.