Noticing something in his peripheral vision, Seth turned around and focused on the said object or perhaps person.
A lone figure sat below among the scarlet bushes.
"And I was wandering when you would notice." She said while rising. Her voice very feminine and calm with a hint of mischief.
"And you are?" Seth inquired.
"A stranger." She replied, her droopy eyes scanned him from head to toe as she walked closer to him.
Fearing malicious intent, Seth gripped his sword a tad bit firmer and ready to strike.
"By the way, I've been meaning to ask; Are you a bastard?" She asked.
Startled by the question, Seth lost his composure. Which he regained a second later.
Deciding to answer truthfully;
"Bastard?.... I'm no bastard!"
But she didn't seem very convinced.
"Hmmm, judging from your attire and the sword you carry. I am pretty sure you are high-born, but for you to be brooding and swinging your sword all the way here while your house camps all the way down there. I guessed you were a high-born bastard, am I right?"
She was now around a meter from him.
With the illumination of the pale blue light, he could discern her features better.
A young woman of similar height. Her raven hair was sectioned into three groups of bangs and tied into a thick side ponytail. Her amethyst eyes are noticeably droopy with abundant eyelashes.
She was garbed in a red satin dress that left her shoulders exposed and a gold-laced rope tied around her waist. Her garment reached are ankles.
"I'll ask again, Who are you?!" This time Seth's voice came out threatening.
The woman smiled, revealing perfectly even, pearly teeth.
"Who would you think I am?"
Seth looked at her and lingered for a moment. Then, he said:
"A courtesan? No, maybe an assassin sent here to kill me or someone important."
She took a step forward, and Seth responded by grabbing her neck and bringing the sharp edge of his hand and a half sword to her face.
Mere inches from impaling his bastard sword into her eye socket, his breathing rough and hoarse. Then he asked very slowly;
"Who are you"
She looked into his eyes, as if intrigued by him, before smirking and she spoke;
"I am Gretchen of house Whisperwind and It would be wise of you to unhand me."
Suddenly, he felt something sharp poking at him through the crevice of his leather cuirass.
He looked down and saw in her hand was a sharp leaf dagger.
And she said in a very slow and clear tone;
"Unhand me.... Or my guard will have no choice but to take your life."
As soon as the words left her mouth, something flew over his head whistling as it moved through the air followed by a subtle thud on the tree.
He looked and saw an arrow sticking out of the tree.
His heart froze, and he felt a cold, chilling sensation around his neck.
'She wouldn't lie about that, would she? She's probably not an assassin. I mean, only a high-born lady would most likely have a guard with that level of skill and the ability to stay hidden.'
He stared at her and saw her wincing.
'It is best I release her.'
His grip loosened around her neck, and he slowly backed away.
Still a bit wary, he glanced around his surroundings searching for where the arrows had come from.
"Bastard! you are lucky I was in a good mood, if not your heart wouldn't be beating." Gretchen said.
And to this Seth replied;
"Well I'm truly sorry, but you have to forgive me for my actions. I was convinced you had ill intentions "
Gretchen tilted her head and gave him a foreboding smirk.
"And who said I didn't have bad intentions?"
At that moment Seth felt a bit peeved and maybe annoyed, but he remembered that she had a guard out there who could put an arrow in his skull if he even thought of harming her.
Also, she was concealing a blade underneath her garment.
"Where did you get that dagger?"
"There's no need for you to know. Anyway, Raneph you can come out now."
As soon as those words left her mouth, a rustling of bushes could be heard from a few dozen meters away and a figure in full plate armor wielding a cross bow stepped out of the shadows.
Feeling apprehensive, Seth didn't sheath his sword, instead he watched the archer approach Gretchen.
The guard didn't take his eyes off Seth either, aiming his crossbow at him.
'I clearly got the message.'
Only once he got within a foot of Gretchen did he speak.
"Are you hurt milady?"
His voice came out as charming and uh beautiful?
"A little trouble Raneph but your lady is hail and healthy."
"Did the scoundrel try anything with you, milady? You were quite some distance, so I couldn't see everything in clear detail."
"He wouldn't dare, you should have seen the look on his face when one of your arrows flew over his head.
Watching the scoundrel try shiver in fear was just so cinematic beautifully orchestrated, as if by the will of death."
"My lady sure has her way with words"
Then she punched him in the arm and they both laughed heartily.
The guard's voice was very pleasant to the ear. But the harmonious laughter both of them produce was even more charming.
However, Seth was in no mood to appreciate its melodious sound.
'Goddammit!'
Seth rubbed his temples.
Annoyed, he said in a flat tone:
"Why is a member of house whisper wind here?"
Gretchen looked at him teasingly.
Raising one exquisite eyebrow, she said:
"I'm sorry, but you failed to introduce yourself and instead attacked me unprovoked."
At that moment her slender figure looked more beautiful than before.
Seth closed his eyes, sighed, and turned away in embarrassment.
'Calm down you idiot, what is wrong with you? Just take deep slow breaths.'
Seth gritted his teeth and faced the beautiful brunette. Before speaking;
"I'm sorry for my manners, my lady. I am Seth of house Gideon. Now may I ask what a fair maiden like you is doing this far from her house?"
"Fair maiden...pfft.. Well, Seth of house Gideon, I am not far from my house. The lord of the whisperwinds is down the hill with his host, ready to take residence in Onara's keep down below."
A bit confused, Seth's gazed shifted from Gretchen to this Raneph.
"It's alright Raneph you can stop glaring at the scoundrel. You are scaring him." Said Gretchen.
Raneph lowered his crossbow and dropped his guard, but he still glared at Seth through his narrow visor with enough chill to freeze the 7 gates of hell.
Still a bit wary, Seth turned his attention to the camp below.
Indeed, he did see a host with the banners of house whisperwind arriving. Some had even set a camp opposite that of his lord father's banner men and host.
And there were also some banners outside Onara's keep, where the main family were currently residing.
'She wasn't lying, the whisperwind are really here? What are the chances?'
Then the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard. Whoever it was, they were heavy and making haste.
All three turned in the direction of the visitor.
It was Tomry of course, one of uncle Harr's bastards. Big and plump with light-brown hair and green eyes.
"Fat Tomry! What's the important news you want to tell me?" Seth asked.
"hhhh Seth... Hzzzz ... Seth.. Your Lord father sent for you." The fat boy said in between large pants.
He was drenched in sweat and his neck and face were beet red.
Seth walked over and gave him a nice pat on the back before telling him;
"Good job Tom."
Then he turned to Gretchen and uh.. Raneph:
"Well I have to be on my way now. And uh, sorry for the incident."
Then he turned to leave without waiting for a reply, dragging fat Tomry along with him.
"C'mon walk faster Tom. Aren't you a squire now? And by the flames I wonder why Sir Josan made you his squire, he could have..pi."
His voice faded as he descended towards the camp.