Sitting beneath an old, leafy tree, Nakaris leaned his head back against the rough bark and let himself relax, staring up at the blue sky through the gaps in the leaves. It was the first time in days that he felt comfortable enough, safe enough, to really do that. To relax, to stay in one place and let himself think, to leave himself vulnerable and not have to worry that he was.
Wasn't like he had much of a choice, anyway; he'd been running on little to no sleep for the past few days: a few minutes here, an hour there, and who knew what it all amounted to? He hadn't been counting. And while he didn't feel ready to sleep yet, as sleep brought nightmares, he knew he couldn't hold out for much longer and he definitely didn't have the energy to run anymore.
He was just relieved he'd made it here.
He'd heard about Sanctuary over the course of his travels, and though he didn't remember where, he did know it was the one place that could help him. The healers here couldn't heal him, but that wasn't what he needed, anyway.
Peace, safety, a place free of judgment and questions. That's what he needed. Everything else? He didn't have anything more with him but the clothes on his back, but that was enough.
Letting his eyes drift shut, he took a deep breath and began to pray.
SHIT!
This was not her day! It had started well enough, an easy night with one of her nicer clients, a female noble with a quick wit and a pretty smile. A lovely breakfast with the cute redheaded bouncer and then she wanted to stop by Sanctuary, offer thanks that her brother had been returned to her.
And ever since she stepped out of the city walls, things had gone badly. Well, one thing, but it was going very badly. Racing down the path, Nadia had her skirts hiked up, giving her long legs room to run. She glanced behind her, and the sheep was still there.
Some IDIOT Shepard had left his flock while praying and one of them had gotten away and was chasing after Nadia. She hadn't meant to piss it off, but whatever she had done had made the thing furious.
Too busy watching the sheep, Nadia didn't notice the man resting against the tree and her foot hit his legs and she went down with a shriek, landing heavily on her hip and elbow.
The sounds of pounding feet and angry grunting cut through the serenity and Nakaris's eyes snapped open--just in time for something to hit his legs, followed by a feminine shriek. For a second, Nakaris just stared in wide-eyed alarm at the woman at his feet, heart pounding as the irrational urge to fight or flee kicked in even as he fought it back down. What the...? He'd been praying for guidance or a sign or something, but this...?
Then he spotted the angry sheep barreling toward them.
If this was a sign, it was a sign that the gods were fucking with him after all.
"Shit!" Scrambling to his feet, he put himself between the woman and the sheep and tried to remember how the fuck you handled angry livestock. That had always been his brother's specialty. Animals and Nakaris, though? Never really saw eye to eye. But this? This was a fucking sheep.
One-hundred fifty pounds of fluffy, angry beast.
Fuck, this was ridiculous.
Nakaris spread his arms wide and tried to make himself look bigger. "Hey! Hey, you, uh...sheep-fucker. Back off! Go on! Scat! Shoo!" he shouted as the thing stamped its hoof.
The fall stunned Nadia for a moment and it took her a second to get her breath back. By the time she had scrambled to her feet, the man she had tripped over had already gotten between her and the charging...sheep.
That really was just the worst part of all this. She was being menaced by dinner. Yet somehow, that didn't make the damn thing any less scary. Gripping the back of the man's shirt, Nadia peered around him, "That's right! You heard him! Go away!"
Nakaris managed to stop the sheep from charging, but it wasn't leaving. Pawing at the ground, the sheep made a loud baa, which a small part of Nadia's brain found oddly humorous.
This was one fuckin' stubborn sheep. Glancing over his shoulder at Nadia, Nakaris began to back them both away from it. "Th' hell'd ya do to piss it off?" he whispered to her, not wanting to do anything that would trigger a charge. "It musta come a long way jus' ta follow ya here."
Behind him, he caught sight of a gazebo and started to guide them toward it. Not the best option, but the sheep wasn't following them so maybe if they just chilled in there, let it calm down, it would leave.
"I don't know!" Nadia's voice was a low hiss, letting Nakaris nudge her along. Glancing behind her she spotted the Gazebo and realized where the man was headed. Still watching the sheep, Nadia made sure to keep a tight grip on Nakaris. If it charged, Nadia was making damned sure it was going through him first.
"I was just walking along and it attacked! I think it might be possessed or mad!"
"...A possessed sheep?"
That was a first.
"Alright, then. Well, yer possessed sheep sure seems ta wantcha bad. Sure ya didn't do nothin'? These things're hardly random."
They were near the gazebo now, and Nakaris gave the girl a nudge before turning his attention back to the sheep that was...now grazing. The hell? Ah, whatever! There had to be groundskeepers or something that would come to handle it. It weren't his problem. "Get in there."
"It could be!" Nadia snapped at the man, her dark skin warm with embarrassment, "Look at it! It's obviously crazed..." She trailed off, pointing at the now placidly eating creature.
Huffing, she dropped her hand and tried to repair some of the damage done to her appearance, "Well, alright, so now he's fine. You have to agree that earlier he was quite aggressive."
Taking a calming breath, she gave the man her best working smile, "Thank you. For that rescue. I'm Nadia. May I ask my heroes name?"
"Most aggressive sheep I ever seen," Nakaris agreed, and leaned against the side of the gazebo and offering her a wry smile. "Anyhow, I'm Nakaris. So...ya in th' habit of pissin' off farm animals or is this a new thing fer ya? 'Cause rescuin' damsels from sheep...well, tha's a new one fer me."
Nadia wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic or not and chose to not comment. No point in being rude to the man that rescued her. She settled against the rail of the Gazebo, hip pressing against it, "Nakaris." Nadia rolled the odd name across her tongue, "That's an interesting name, not one I've heard before. It has a nice sound."
Nadia watched the sheep for a moment, letting the adrenaline drain away, "Do you often rescue damsels? I have to admit, that is the first time I've ever been rescued from wild sheep."
"No, yer...kinda th' first I've rescued since I can remember," Nakaris answered, glancing up thoughtfully and absently scratching his cheek. He looked back at her and flashed her a grin. "But if they're all pretty as ya, I might hafta make it a habit. Scary-ass sheep or no."
"Ah, and flattery too. You do know the way to a woman's heart." Nadia gave a short laugh, liking the man immensely. He had not only saved her from a rabid sheep, he thought she was pretty. And Nadia had a soft spot for anyone that thought she was pretty.
"Well, you seem to have a natural talent for it. Very heroic, the way you...ran from the sheep."
"Hey now, I didn't run from no sheep. I shielded ya, remember? Woulda fought th' bastard off, too, if it got any crazy ideas," Nakaris corrected with a grin. "I've taken on bigger shit, anyhow. That was nothin'. It was pretty obvious it wasn't gonna do no harm once ya just stood yer ground."
"Oh yes. Of course." Nadia nodded her head, a smile playing at her lips, "You were all set to leap into battle. Was it me holding you back?"
She gave a small laugh, a little low for most woman, "But, really. Thank you. I'm not really all that sure I can take on a sheep all by myself. So your heroics are appreciated."
"Most people can't. They're all...stronger than they look," Nakaris said with a laugh. Okay, even he had to admit, he was starting to sound ridiculous. But then, this entire situation was pretty bizarre.
"Anyway," he said, changing the subject. "Were ya on your way here or was that just a detour?"
"I was on my way here. I was going to offer some thanks, but I'm starting to think that the spirits really didn't want it. They sent a sheep at me to keep me away." Nadia shook her head, then reached up, trying to fix a small, thin braid that had come loose from her hairstyle.
"And you? I think I recall tripping over you. What brought you out here?"
"Well...startin' to think th' same, actually," Nakaris said with a wry grin. "Came here to do a little thinkin' an' they sent a sheep and a girl. Think it's probably safe to say we ain't neither of us gonna accomplish what we came here for, eh?"
He gave a glance out toward the sheep, which was still showing no signs of its earlier psychosis. Looking back to Nadia, he gave a little shrug. "Guess ya could still offer thanks, though. I mean, maybe th' spirits sent me to make sure ya wouldn't get ate."
"Ooooh. I like that." Nadia gave a short laugh, "My own divine sent hero to protect me. Careful, you just might turn a girl's head with talk like that."
She glanced over at the sheep, still eating placidly, "Well, do you think it's safe to try and make it to the shrine?"
"Then why on earth'd I wanna be careful?"
Didn't sound like a bad theory, anyway. After all, since when were sheep aggressive? He sure as hell had never encountered something like this ever so if this wasn't fate, he didn't know what was. What it meant, though, and why? Eh, if it came to him, it came to him. Nakaris figured there was no point in trying to analyze it. He wasn't good at that shit, anyway.
Glancing out at the sheep, Nakaris shrugged one shoulder. "Can't hurt to make a run fer it," he said, then grinned. "'Sides, I'll protect ya."
Nadia reached over and wrapped an arm around Nakaris, pressing close and smiling up at him, almost unconsciously treating him like a customer, to be flattered and praised, "And you did handle him so well last time. I have utter faith in your fighting prowess."
Stepping off the gazebo, Nadia watched the sheep carefully. It lifted its head, stared at them a moment, then went back to chewing grass.
Nakaris tensed a little in surprise when Nadia wrapped an arm around him but then relaxed again, though he wasn't really sure what he should do with his hand, with her pressed close like that. It fluttered uselessly for a moment before resting somewhat awkwardly on her waist. It felt a little inappropriate and he wasn't sure he wasn't crossing some sort of boundary, but then again--she'd started it!
It still surprised him; he wasn't used to a such bold women! Well, alright, so he'd been around his share, fighting buddies and whatnot, but they acted more like men than women so he often forgot they were.
"I s'ppose so long as we don't run we'll be okay," Nakaris said as they walked over the grass, the massive shrine in sight, a dragon's wing bone peeking over the manicured shrubs in the distance. "It's never a good idea to run. That's when things'll chase ya."
Nadia enjoyed the hand on her hip. It was a little overly familiar, but she dealt with overly familiar people all day, and she was clinging to his arm. "Ah, yes. Now that is something I am a little more familiar with. We seem to be doing rather well."
The sheep was watching them, but it made no move to attack again and soon it was out of sight.
"Well, one crisis averted. Thank you again for the save. If you have no other plans after praying, I would like to at least get you lunch or a drink for being a dashing hero."
Nakaris laughed. "A drink'll do, but I won't say no to lunch." And then, with a grin, he added, "In other words, nope, no plans. I'd be a bloody moron to turn down a pretty girl's invite."
They had reached the shrine and, with some reluctance, Nakaris released her. "Well, then, I'll let ya do yer thing," he said. "Yer safe. No sheep followed us, so I guess th' spirits are okay with ya now."
Nadia found his compliment really nice. She heard them rather often and most were worded better, but she wasn't his whore. He didn't know what she did. To him, she was just a pretty girl and Nadia's dark skin heated a little and she covered it with an easy smile, "Thank you. I wont be a moment."
She headed to the shrine and spent a few moments giving her thanks to the spirits. Her brother was home safe and sound and she was grateful. Once her prayers were finished and she had left her small offering, she came back to where Nakaris was standing, "Thank you for waiting. Now, where shall I take my dashing hero for his reward?"
Nakaris waited patiently while she set things right with the spirits and added a few more of his own for good luck. So far, this day was turning out surprisingly well--and maybe he was imagining things, but he thought he'd caught her blushing.
When she returned, he offered her his arm, playing at being a gentleman. He had no real experience with it; he'd grown up rather rough and tumble and lived a rough life, as well, but he could try, and she was pretty and delicate and he didn't really want to embarrass himself.
"Well...honestly, I ain't much familiar with th' area," he said after a pause, trying to remember the establishments he'd passed on his way here. "Know any good taverns, milady?"
Nadia took his arm, her touch delicate and she was glad she wore her nice perfume for the trip. Being treated like a normal woman made her happy. And unlike her male friends, this one seemed to desire her. And being desired was flattering. She wasn't just a whore to him.
"Hmmm. Yes. I can think of a few. How do you feel about mutton? I think we should have some to celebrate." Her smile was a little wicked at that comment.
Nakaris burst into laughter at that comment, his own smile mischievous. "Oh, mutton sounds fantastic," he said. "Th' only thing tha'd make it better'd be takin' our meal right here." In eyesight of the damned sheep, a sort of petty 'fuck you'.
...Not that it would understand, but they would.
Some of Sanctuary's residents had finally noticed the sheep and were trying to round it up, and Nakaris grinned and shook his head. "It sure don't look so tough now."
"It would probably murder us if we tried." Nadia clung a little closer when they neared the sheep, "And speak for yourself. I know the violence and terror just waiting under that fleece and dumb face."
The path back had few people on it and most of them were lost in contemplation. Not many people came here to chat, "If its not too personal, can I ask what you were doing here?"
"Oh, no, I ain't makin' fun. Tha' thing's bloodthirsty," Nakaris said with a grin. "Probably has fangs an' everythin'. Maybe it's some cursed beast, sent to sweep ya away to some...villain or somethin'."
Nakaris furrowed his brow. Storytelling wasn't his strong point and he'd lost momentum fast, but it had started out strong if he said so himself!
Peering down at her at her question, Nakaris gave a little shrug. "Oh. Y'know. Th' usual stuff. Prayer 'n' contemplation. Soul-searchin'. What about yerself?" he asked, dodging the question.
It would sound really stupid to say, 'looking for myself.'
Luckily for Nakaris, Nadia had spent many hours listening to much worse storytellers than himself. She didn't even flinch, still smiling that small, sweet smile, "Well, its good I had you here then. That sounds awful. Though, it might have been extra heroic if you had saved me from some tower while I wore something gauzy and clingy after battling the fiend. That is how most of those stories tend to end."
Nadia gave a small shrug and shook her head, "I was here thanking the Spirits for the return of my brother. He had gotten kidnapped. But he is back, safe, sound, and whiny as ever."
"Kidnapped?" Nakaris said, eyebrows rising. She spoke of her brother's kidnapping so casually!
Still blinking down at her, he tilted his head inquisitively. "Does tha' happen often?"
"Oh no. But, well, it's a long, somewhat silly story. Not to say the whole him getting stolen isn't upsetting, but if I think to hard on it, I'll probably cry again." Nadia glanced down, taking a shaky breath. Focusing on the whole getting lost a mile from the city part was easier to deal with.
"Ah! I'm sorry," Nakaris said with a wince. "Then, ah, let's talk 'bout happier things! Like, ah, the gauzy thing. Maybe I shoulda let th' sheep take ya to its overlord so I coulda climbed th' tower an' swept ya away. Maybe I oughta take ya back to th' sheep so we can do jus' tha', eh?"
Nadia's laugh was trying a little too hard, but she would rather focus on the happy things, "What? That would be awful! I forbid it! You'll have to use wit and charm to get me into something clingy and gauzy."
"So yer open to wearin' somethin' clingy an' gauzy, then?" Nakaris asked with a grin. He noticed the shift in her mood but kept pushing forward; it wasn't his place to pry, not about something so personal and with someone he'd just met.
"Well, I'll see what I can do! We are headed to a tavern an', well, th' more ale ya drink, th' wittier I become!"
"Weeeell, I suppose that could happen. If you play your cards right." Nadia gave him a brilliant work smile, "That's cute. See, you are getting wittier already and I haven't had a drop."
"So just imagine what I'll be like when ya have," Nakaris said, and gave her a gentle nudge. "'Cept if ya drink, th' gauzy dress goes out th' window. If anyone's gonna be wearin' somethin' like tha', it's 'cause they got their own wits about 'em, if ya know what I mean."
The banter was fun, but he also didn't want her to get the idea that he was a creeper trying to get her drunk so he could take advantage. She was pretty, sure, but that was not how he worked and he didn't want to scare her off.
Nadia blinked, actually a little surprised at that comment, "You are a gentleman, aren't you? You are going to spoil me."
Nakaris's face heated a little and he rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. "Naw, I'm no gentleman. I jus'...well, tha's jus' what anyone'd do!"
"Don't say that. It's a wonderful, and very attractive trait." Nadia clung a little tighter as they stepped into the tavern.
Nakaris clamped his mouth shut before he could argue with that.
Heading inside the tavern, he pulled a chair out for Nadia before taking a seat across from her. He was a little reluctant to release her, because she fit so snugly against him, but...well, she thought him a gentleman and now he couldn't disappoint!
"Nice place," he said, looking around. "They serve mutton here?"
"I hope. We'll find another place if they don't. Because I will have mutton." Nadia reached a hand up, smoothing her hair and smiled, "It's petty, but true."
"I think you've earned it, after tha' ordeal," Nakaris said. "Why, I'd getcha a sheep m'self if it weren't illegal. Hey, ma'am!"
He waved down a serving girl to ask if they were serving any lamb and, thankfully, that got a nod out of her. She was quick to scurry off to the kitchen to fetch them some.
"Looks like yer in luck."
"Perfect!" Nadia clapped her hands and laughed, "You are the best! Can I ask what it is you do?"
"What I do? Oh. Uh." Good question. Nakaris couldn't remember what his job had been, or even if he'd had one at all. His memories beyond the events of a month or two ago were all blurry, save for those flashes of insight that happened now and then when he least expected.
"Oh. Ya know. Jus' odd jobs an'...such. What 'bout ya? Pretty girl like yerself prob'ly don't gotta work none at all, eh? What with all th' suitors I betcha got."
Ah. There it was. The question Nadia had been dreading. Because she was honestly enjoying his company and as soon as she answered, everything would change. So she lied, before her brain ever even realized it was happening, "Oh, I can't say I have many suitors. I'm a bard by trade."
"A bard?" Nakaris's eyes widened. "Tha' must be excitin'. Ya do a lot of travelin' with tha', eh? Must know a lotta stories an' met a lotta interestin' folk."
Smiling, he leaned his arms on the table--mostly so he could get a good look at her eyes, which he hadn't realized weren't brown until just then. "Got any good ones?"
"I actually stick to Ketra. There's plenty of buisness for me here." That at least was true. Nadia felt so guilty for lying, but she just didn't want to have everything change. Men didn't treat her like this once they knew what she did. Even the kind ones or the dashing ones still treated her like property.
When he leaned close, Nadia felt flustered for a moment, not really used to this. It was some how very different than with a client. She smiled, fidgeting slightly with the hem of her sleeve, "Oh, a few. What were you thinking?"
"Oh, I dunno. Excitin' ones. Epic adventures. With swords an' magic an' dragons an, y'know..." Nakaris made a show of looking both ways before he leaned in a little closer and lowered his voice.
"Not gonna lie, I'm a sucker fer a little romance, too. But don't tell nobody. Ruins th' image," he said with a wink.
Nadia smiled at that, feeling her face flush just a little. It was so nice being flirted with like this. No pressure of money or service. There was just a man, who liked her. She stood, gracefully, smoothing down her dress, "Well, let me see what I can do."
Luckily, Nadia was used to being the center of attention, so it wasn't hard for her to ask the proprietor for the chance to do a few songs. He was more than happy to let the pretty girl sing. Nadia wished she had an instrument on her, but she made do.
She sang three songs, each a story of adventure and romance. Her voice wasn't perfect, but she wasn't bad. She even earned a bit of coin in addition to a free meal. Flushed from the singing, she took a seat next to Nakaris, a little shy, "Well, I hope I didn't disappoint."
Well, damn! He hadn't actually expected her to do it! Most girls got all shy and modest about their talents or insisted they weren't that good and they'd only disappoint. It was always nice to find someone willing to be brave and just have a good time.
Nakaris watched her get up and sat back in his seat, hands resting on the table--
And he had to say, he was impressed.
So maybe she wasn't the best he'd heard; she was still good, and she had a way of grabbing his attention and making him forget--probably because she was nice to look at and the stories she told were gripping, that perfect blend of epic adventure and romance. When she finally finished, a thin round of applause and cheer went up (for the place wasn't all that crowded) and Nakaris was among them, grinning broadly as she returned.
"Hey! Tha' was really good!" he said, turning in his seat so he could face her. "Ya got a voice. More'n tha', ya got a presence. Never heard tha' song, neither--where'd ya pick it up?"
Bards traveled a lot, after all!