To Be Misjudged and Misunderstood


    I can see the huge painted pillars coming into view; they are painted in vibrant colours of golds, blues, and red. Carved into white stone there are two of them, rising up on either side, all of its decorations showing dragons, some with eight arms and two legs while others look like animals they are much taller than the trees with lots of levels. The hot sun of the day is blasting down, I felt the temperature start to change. As my under padding under my armour activated instantly as its job is to keep you warm but also cool you as you move through different regions.


    It’s so even if the hottest place you don’t cook like an egg in a pan while in the coldest you don’t freeze to death. The change was sudden and strange though, but Bastian said it would happen as we got closer to these trees that are bigger than any buildings in the capital. The air has also turned humid and yet there is so much colour here... I’ve never seen anything like; it’s stunning and all green with flashes of multicolours, nothing like Moss Tempest. The colour is not just on the trees themselves but on the flowers and fruits and there is so much noise from animals, it’s strange from going from somewhere so quiet to this.


    There are two huge snake like mounts, which are called the Boa Quetzal. These huge snakes have huge feather front arms that can walk across the ground like a gulper snake, but they are huge compared to them and much bigger than any hydra. They are dressed in gold, red and blue armour with huge headdresses that cover half their faces so you can only see the bottom jaw. This elaborate armour goes all the way down to the tails which have a furry tip.


    On them I can see two riders who are in special decorative saddles, similar to the armour, and they are both holding the reins. High above them though is what looks like a huge skinless bird with a huge crest and a long beak and leather like wings and tail, it’s decorated in the same type of armour but this can clearly fly and has a frog man rider. I’ve been told this is a Terra Gog, a huge flying lizard of sorts and considered one of the hardest mounts to control and master. While the huge Boa Quetzal needs two riders more because of the speed they move at, so each rider uses their skill and strength to move their direction.


    The riders though are all dressed in golds blues and reds with beautiful patterns and gold plated armoured head dresses. Even their armour is painted like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I can see a huge stone pillar in the middle of a huge tower building with a golden circle, which is lit up with blue flames as we get closer, Bastian is leading us all towards it. Keira followed the others as they all made their way up as the two huge snake riders came down, their snakes clawed feather arms helping them down.


    Bastian watched as the two Boa Quetzal came closer, one of the riders moving up close to them, both riders leaning the huge head down so it could look them over. The first rider slowly got off, her huge crocodile feet vibrating as she hit the floor, looking them over with her blind eyes. “State your baseness!” Bastian lowered his head watching as the other did the same. “We ask for permission to enter the jungle, as I wish to return to my family and bring my friends to my home town of Oplena.”


    The huge crocodile woman looked at him a smile showing under her helmet. “You are welcome my little rat friend.” Her blind eyes moved as her long spear pointed to Elysande. “But first I want to know what you are. You smell of strange magic.” Elysande breathed in deeply, meeting her blind eyes. “I’m a War Mage and I mean you and your people no harm.” The crocodile woman looked her before turning away. “I see your rare magic; don’t see many of you being born much these days, only one every twenty seasons if that.”


    She was about to say something more only for her nose to sniff the air as she turned to Keira very suddenly. “You on the other hand... you smell like Rein Strand capital shit.” She moved closer. “You know the laws of our people, you Paladins and Mages are not welcome here so fuck of back to the capital!” Agomais turned sharply. “She was just born in the capital and trained there; she’s not one of those fuckers.”


    The crocodile woman leaned over sniffing the air. “Get off your mount…now.” Keira breathed doing what she was told. “I’m a deserter; I’m not loyal to the capital.” The clawed hand grabbed her as the crocodile woman smelled deeper before speaking. “Strange... you smell of werewolf and something else.” Keira eyed the huge snout with its huge teeth. “I am a werewolf.” The tongue suddenly came out licking her face much to her discomfort as the low voice spoke again. “Paladin….but not a regular Paladin….”


    Bastian jumped off his mount. “She’s is a friend of mine I can vouch for her.” The crocodile woman pulled away letting Keira go. “I do hope, my little rat friend, that the capital did not pay you to bring in some form of new Paladin to cause us harm.” Agomais got off his mount. “Oh please our friend here is a criminal by their standards; they didn’t make her, we both know they have not made any changes to Paladins since the second age.”


    Elysande got down carefully. “Yes she is a new form of magic but she is like me, and I’m trying to help her.” Keira didn’t think as pulled her weapons free only for a spear to meet her neck. “Please take my weapons if you think this off me, I offer them to you freely, you can even chain me till I reach Bastian’s home.” She watched as the other snake rider came down, one of its riders who was a frog man jumping off as he walked over looking her over. “Fascinating, I have not seen Paladin armour like this ever.”


    The crocodile woman sneered. “You smell it though, her magic is strange.” The bearded frogman breathed in. “Yes but it’s not evil, she’s clearly not a tainted Paladin.” He breathed in taking Keira’s weapons gently away. “She’s offering to be civil, so we can make a raptor mount follow her to her destination just to be sure. “The crocodile woman leaned forward snorting at the Paladin. “Let me be clear you try anything here Paladin you will be killed, and it will be easy, here all they have to do is throw you off the walkway, the things below will make mincemeat of you….”


    Fayeth tapped her hoof. “This is all very unnecessary she’s just different not evil.” The crocodile woman eyed her smelling the air. “I don’t care for the opinion of an elf blended with an Orc” She moved away from them getting back on the huge snake. “You’re just weird and strange.” The frogman breathed in, deeply watching as a lizard woman came through the portal on a decorated feathered raptor mount, he handed the weapons to him. “Please escort the Paladin to the white rat’s home of Oplena.”


    The lizard man turned as some of the portals decorative symbols lit up with glowing purple light. “Go through the portal all of you and walk your mounts, the portal will transport you directly to that town.” Bastian turned to the others who all looked uncertain. “It’s safe, just follow me, though it will take us high in the trees.” He paused. “It’s very safe.” Elysande watched as he vanished through it and she took in a deep breath, this was not the welcome she had hoped for and she had heard that the frog, crocodile and lizard people were noble and that they defended the other races in their huge jungle region of Anacaona Narah, yet their treatment of Keira spoke quite the opposite.


    Agomais leaned over as Keira went through, seeing that she and Fayeth looked annoyed as he spoke quietly. “Wow they’re fucking assholes here.” Elysande breathed in speaking sharply under her breath. “Yes they are.” Fayeth took back her human form following them, as she spoke quietly. “I’m not weird, I’m special…” Agomais gave her a smile. “Yeah ignore her nothing wrong with having different race parents….” He breathed in as he walked into the blue light, which engulfed him only for him to be sucked in like a whirl pool as everything turned to white light.


    8


    Romulus pulled his raptor to a stop watching as the others did the same, they would have to go to Dawn Star tomorrow. So now they were going to have to make camp in one of the old ruins, from the first age that had once been a villa though now only the decorative pillars remained. He turned to the Paladins. “Set up camp and make us a wood fire and start cooking.”


    Cepos got off his mount as he watched Romulus and Odessa sat down, while Titus started to magically put up the tent. Why did they always have to do everything it wasn’t fair or right? These two did nothing and it annoyed him, yes they were their guards, but during his training all the Paladins had helped each other, along with the Mages they had been pared with from the other school. Yet for these two he felt he was being used like a work horse to work on the fields and getting no respect.


    He had not enjoyed them beating up the Zombie at all, the demon man he had understood, as he was an asshole and deserved what he got as he had sensed the unkindness in him deep in his soul. The Zombie on the other hand was just doing his thing and living, he had not deserved that treatment, neither did his Hallow Maggot or his living family. It all felt wrong to him, something deep in his vocal sack told him that, nothing had felt right from the start on this mission, he just couldn’t put his finger on what it was yet.


    It wasn’t just the violence, it was something deeper, and it bothered him that his boyfriend seemed to take such joy in this. Granted he was older, and he had been training after him as a Paladin, so he had never met this Keira they talked about. He moved his axe chopping some wood from the multi-coloured trees, seeing that dusk was starting to fall. He could see in the distance a huge white spider as it vanished into a deep underground tunnel, maybe to sleep or travel underground elsewhere... going about its life peacefully.


    This region was beautiful, it had to be said. Yes it was dangerous, but it was so full of life and it was so different from the capital. Granted he had never seen the region his parents were from, but he so wanted to in his life time. He breathed in slowly, pulling out a small flask of blood red potion, slowly taking it. He breathed in ignoring the pain as he swallowed it, he hated taking it but the school had told him to always do so.


    “Have you got the wood!”


    Cepos put the half empty glass bottle away as he leaned down picking up the wood. “Yes its here.” Titus took it from his hands. “We need to get moving and start cooking, they are waiting for dinner.” Cepos breathed in deeply. “Shouldn’t they cook for themselves or at least help us?” Titus breathed in sharply. “No and this is just how things are, we are here to protect them.” Cepos raised his colourful hand with its sticky pads. “Yes, but we could get it all done quicker.”


    Titus snorted. “This is just how things are, you need to get used to it.” Cepos eyed him in annoyance. “You know I didn’t feel bad for I did to that demon man, he was not nice I sensed it in his soul, but that Zombie you hurt... he had a nice soul, you were really cruel to him.” Titus sneered slightly. “Undead are bad, that’s just what they are, that’s what our teachings say, and that comes from the great Mages who rule over all.”


    Cepos blinked. “That does not mean they are always right?!” Titus raised a clawed hand. “We’ve talked about this countless times; you do not question their words, its heresy.” He breathed in deeply. “Your problem is you want to see the good in a people, but these people are not good and it’s our job to show them the way.” Cepos watched as the bigger lizard man walking away. He hated how he always dismissed him this way and thought everything was fine. It was the thing he hated a lot about the Capital, people just accepted things and it had never been the way he had been brought up.


    He looked up hurting the Zombie had been wrong; nothing was ever going to change that. Why didn’t they see this? Truth be told he was dreading when they got to Dawn Star as he didn’t want to be asked to do what was next, as his training had said a Paladins duty was to honour their armour, as it was forever bound to them, and it was their duty to use to protect others who were not as strong and able. What they were doing was not that and nothing like other missions he’d been on before, he had become a guard for Romulus, Odessa, and they had first met.


    Maybe he was na?ve, maybe this was just how it was and it couldn’t be changed, and he was expecting too much, but it didn’t change the feeling he had on how it wasn’t right. Also things did not add up here regarding Keira and that village, some of his friends in Paladin training had told him it had blown up, but no one had died just a few wounded, so why the huge differences in story?


    It just didn’t add up in his head, and if this Keira was this bad, then why had she not killed people, taken control, as the reality was if she’s a different form of Paladin, would it not have been easy for her to overpower Magnus, kill him and take over the mine since she could change her form? Why just become a worker? Why take that man’s horrible abuse? Why hide in plain sight? It bothered him as these were the questions none of the others were asking… they weren’t even interested in finding out what she truly was.


    8


    Keira felt the force as she was thrown out of the portal, which was enough to make her stumble, and she wasn’t the only one: everyone but Bastian stumbled out the portal. She breathed in, seeing the blue portal light vanish, only to feel the heat hit her, as her armour padding adjusted, cooling her down slowly. She looked up, seeing that they were in a huge town, but it was built into the huge trees and in a huge circle, yet this was not small, it’s massive and it was clear it would take you a day to walk from one end to the other.


    Even more of a shocking, the houses were nothing like anything she had seen before, they were all painted and decorated, and they were built around tree branches, making them three... even four levels high. With vast space between the levels, there was a sellers markets going on not far from them, with all manner of things being traded and brought, plus all kinds of herbs and spices filling the air, none of which she recognised and meat being sold that was new to her.


    Stranger, there were lakes of floating waters clearly held up by magic, floating like globes under the homes. While others were filled with many types of fish, she wasn’t sure though if these were ponds or places to bath in, it just wasn’t clear... everything was so colourful. She moved towards the edge of the bridge they were walking on, looking over only to see that they were hundreds of meters up and there were hundreds of creatures below, all making noise in the green jungle trees there was a massive river at the bottom filled with raging waters.


    She could see a hydra moving towards the waters below, though it seemed to be a type that could cling to trees, as it had huge front arms as colourful as the reptile birds flew around it. There were huge spiders, but not like the ones she knew, they were hanging over the water with webbing between there furry legs waiting to catch something, and they were beautiful coloured. There were groups of red lug head maggots with barded pointed teeth in batches of the trees all around and even under the village.


    Three huge reptiles that were running on two legs with a tail and four small arms up front along with feathered manes leapt over the water, not stopping as they vanished into trees, while a huge flat reptile with a huge wide fin on its back and tail crawled out on to land to sun. She watched as the hydra, which had strange long arms to grip the tree, got closer to the water, taking a long drink only for a huge serpent-like creature to fly out grabbing it with its teeth.


    It crashed back in to the water sending pools of red blood, and torn limbs came to the surface, only for smaller white eel like fish with two sets of arms to latch on ripping it to shred in a sea of churning blood. She pulled back only to feel the lizard man’s curved sword point tap her shoulder as he spoke. “Everything eats everything here. So do behave, wouldn’t want to toss you over.”


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Keira moved away from the bridge eyeing the raptor rider. “They already told me that at the gate, I don’t need it repeated.” The lizard man smirked. “That’s good; now start moving with your six foot turkey bird.” Keira eyed him in disgust, as she took her bird’s reins talking to her as she stroked her beak and head. “Ignore him; he’s just jealous because he’s suddenly not the only one with a good looking feathered mount here.”


    She walked watching as the others, remaining silent as they moved through the wooden streets, though the cold looks she was getting from some of the lizard, crocodile and frog people did not go unnoticed. While the other races were more interested by how she looked and were muttering things under their breath. Elysande moved over to Keira. “I’m sure there are good people here, we are just not seeing them right now.”


    Keira eyed her as she carried on following Bastian, as the others were right behind her. “Maybe they are right to be afraid as even I don’t know what I am, and maybe the Capital did something bad to them.” The lizard man suddenly spoke behind her in a cold voice. “You Capital scum have been trying to gain control over this region for over a hundred seasons, the only reason you have never gone for all-out war are our mounts and war machines, they could destroy your armies outright.”


    He paused. “You hurt people and you bring pain, you’re bullies unworthy of your armours and powers.” He flicked out his long snake like tongue. “It’s why we don’t allow your kind and the Mages to run any of the villages and towns in this region. Plus you squeeze all the supplies and all the wealth from every region you own, all of it goes to the Capital  and people starve, its why we have our own versions of Paladins and Mages here as guards and protectors, as they are not tainted like you.”


    He laughed slightly. “Agincore at its finest.” Keira turned sharply looking at him. “What does that word mean?” The lizard man eyed her. “You should know, you’re from the Capital and you are a Paladin.” Keira eyed him. “I completed the full training but that word was never ever mentioned to me.” She paused. “I heard my father once mention it while playing cards with my family, it was a game I was not invited to attend but I watched through a hole in the door anyway.”


    The Lizard man blinked in confusion. “It means the Blinding Hand, it’s from our old wall texts and it refers to the myth of the Fell Hand seven who died to save this world in the first age. Agincore were the corrupted Paladins and Mages they brought down. The Agincore, they were called, or the Blinding Hands as there magic was truly evil.” Elysande looked up slightly; her adopted parents had shown her those texts. “In the land of the dead we just know them as the Blinding Hands; the myth reads the same though.”


    The Lizard man looked up, seeing that they were now half way through the village. “The word is old they think it’s from the first age regardless, but now it’s just used to insult dumb or evil Paladins and Mages in most of the regions.” Keira looked down slightly... that didn’t make sense, her father had not used it that way, she remembered now him smiling at her family saying words more akin to the Agincore shall rise again, which made even less sense to her.


    She carried on walking, as she became lost in her own thoughts; her father was a man who had hated her, her whole life, just for existing. As he preferred her brother and sister over her, as he had claimed that she was a bastard child, as she looked nothing like them. Which she didn’t; her brother, sister and her father had light red hair and hers was burning dark red in colour and she had greens eyes, they had brown and blue eyes and even her skin tone was darker.


    Her mother, though, had been just as cruel to her, maybe that night they had been plotting against the Capital or something and that was why they had not wanted her there, because they thought she would mess it up. Though it seemed strange to her, as he had always seemed so loyal to the Capital... no, wait, that was wrong, he hated Paladins, as she remembered him being so angry when they had said she was one and he had asked that she be taken away that day, much to the shock of the magically Mages checking her powers and abilities.


    She eyed her clawed gloved hand maybe she was some vile bastard child, bastard children could be made via dark magic that had gone astray and changed things in the womb, along with cheating, she’d just never know which she was. Not that it really mattered anymore; she’d probably have to put up with this shit her whole life, the only small relief was that she was among friends, friends she had not treated well at all and yet who were all sticking up for her now despite everything.


    Her gaze drifted to Elysande, she’d treated her the worst in the beginning, worse than all the others, insulting her, making remarks about her wealth and being extremely rude and judgemental, yet not once had this woman told her to fuck off, which she should have done as her comments had not been nice. She needed to make that up to her going forward, as at her worst this woman had been nothing but friendly and kind and even compassionate to her when she had been in pain.


    “We are here!”


    Fayeth looked up sharply, seeing the huge house which was built into the tree in sections, with decorative paint and symbols, each huge section was built around the trunk, and there were three levels, all connected together, while on each side she could see huge balls of water spinning, though one level looked like it was filled with fish while the other was empty and just had sparkling clear water. “That is one huge house.”


    Bastian turned looking at her. “Hardly, they’re much bigger in our version of the Capital, they can be seven or eight levels, this is just modest living and everyone who lives here has a three level home.” He moved over to huge door which was white wood and heavily decorated in gold symbols. He banged his hand on it as he eyed the lizard man rider. “You can go now; Keira won’t cause any more trouble to you.”


    The lizard man sneered moving his mount away. “Very well, but you know the elite guardians might want to come here and check her over tomorrow or the day after, so she can’t leave this house.” Bastian eyed him. “Yes I get that.” The lizard man put his sword away. “So long as you do get it... as we don’t want her causing any trouble.” Bastian watched him vanish, as he eyed the others grabbing the bell close to the door and ringing it hard, watching as the feather raptor and its rider finally left looking at the others. “Sorry about him, he thinks he’s doing his job but he is just being rude.”


    He was about to say more, only for the door to swing open and a rat woman came into view, all dressed in reds and golds with white fur. A huge smile formed on her face as she looked at him, her eyes sparking with joy along with her gold front teeth. “Bastian your home!” Bastian felt her arm wrap around him, as she squeezed hard before pulling away from him, as she looked up eyeing the others. A black furred Ratman in gold clothing appeared, with a long decorative beard filled with small gem stones and glasses instantly going to hug him as he spoke. “Your home Bastian! It’s so great to see you!” He pulled away paused looking at the others. “And you brought friends!”


    Bastian stepped back smiling at his parents. “Yes I did.” He raised his clawed hand. “These are all my new friends.” He moved over to the dark red haired woman. “This is Keira my close friend, a Paladin werewolf.” He moved to the Minotaur. “This is my other good friend Agomais, he’s a Cleric.” He moved quickly to the vampire. “This is Elysande, she a War Mage.” He moved again to the beautiful white haired half elf. “Oh and this Fayeth, she is a Druid!”


    His farther patted his hands together. “So many wonderful guests I will look forward to looking after you all!” Bastian’s mother stepped forward. “Pleased to meet you all I’m Lune and my husband here is Orion.” Orion eased up a hand watching as a section of the house opened, revealing a big barn area. “Please put your mounts in there, they’ll be safe and then please come in, we have a section where you can sleep, relax and use our Soleras pool to wash your padding and clean up your armour.”


    Agomais blinked in surprise. “You have a Soleras pool? Only the very rich own those in Moss Tempest, and you can use them if you rent on but it’s expensive” Lune raised a clawed ringed finger. “Oh yes, every house here has them, they’re important to keep your magic padding healthy and working right along with your armour. We also have a bath to wash and clean yourselves, as you all look like you’ve been on a very long trip to get here and you all look tired.”


    Orion raised a clawed hand. “Come on Bastian, bring in your friends once they are cleaned up and washed, we can make dinner and you can tell us about where you’ve been all this time, some of your brothers and sisters should be back soon, as they are working on a big project for the elite guardians, you know how it is.” Bastian smiled as he followed them in. “Oh, yes! I know what it’s like, if it’s a big project.” He watched as the other carefully put their mounts in the barn section as his father closed it. “You’ll have to tell me all about the new projects they had us build.” He turned, seeing the others slowly move inside, though Agomais had to duck down to avoid his horns getting stuck in the door frame. His friends were going to love it here and they all really needed to rest.


    8


    Elysande followed the others as they were led upstairs from the first floor to a very large round room, which had armour and weapon stands along with a very large pool in the middle of the room, filled with reflective iridescent water. She was used to seeing them in The Land Of The Dead as they were everywhere, even the undead still used them. Padding in general was made for you when you came of age, normally at eighteen or twenty one, depending on your race and height, and it was sown by special seamstress and made just for you and for only you to wear.


    It was considered extremely offensive to take off someone paddings unless it was a very serious injury, and people always washed their own padding. These special waters eat away bad magic, blood stains and grime, helping rejuvenate the threads and repair broken ones. The liquid could also clean armour and huge swords to a buff shine again and get rid of dents on plating, weapons and shields from overuse.


    She turned, seeing them all take a wooden decorative seat around the pool, as its good manners to take turns and let one person at a time wash their armour, weapons and padding and let them put them all up to dry on a stand. “Who wants to go first?” Bastian shrugged. “I don’t mind.” He paused. “You all have under clothes for bathing, I assume, and extra clothing to wear when you’re out of armour?” He watched as they all nodded.


    Keira looked up slightly. “Agomais should go first, then the rest of you should follow, I’ll go last.” Agomais slowly got up. He breathed in as he raised his clawed hands causing his armour to suddenly move, as it started to come off flying on to one of the bigger armour stands, leaving only his padding which was embroidered with patterns from his human father’s home land and his barbarian tribe.


    He eased all his padding off gently so he had nothing on but his under garments, putting it in the water, watching as it started to bubble and churn as it washed away two seasons worth of dirt and old magic, and gently fixed any torn threads. He eased it out, slowly placing it on the hanger he moved his clawed hand, causing all the liquid from the pool to go on his armour as it burnt away the rust, dirt and popped some of the dents out and cleaned it all to a buffed shine along with his huge sword. He moved the water back, eyeing Bastian. “Where is your bath?”


    Bastian smiled pointing. “Go up a level to the guest bedrooms, I’ll bring it up when we are all gathered up there.” Agomais smirked. “I look forward to that, so tired of smelling like a horse barn.” Bastian watched him go. “I know what you mean….” He eyed Fayeth. “It’s your turn.” Fayeth stood up easing her hand out watching as green thin vines slowly came out from the walls easing and undoing her armour, taking it off piece by piece placing it on the stand.


    She eyed her padding, which had both Elf and Orc markings on it weaved together. Keira eyed the elf before speaking calmly. “So you’re part Orc?” Fayeth turned to her, not holding back her annoyance as she normally knew where this was going. “Yes, do you have a problem with that?” Keira slowly raised her hands. “You misunderstand I always really liked Orcs, they are some of the noblest people I’ve ever met, and I’m just surprised you don’t have the lower jaw big teeth.”


    Fayeth eased off her padding, watching as the vines slowly placed it in the pool, as it bubble and churned, before easing it out and hanging it up before vanishing back in to the wall. “I do when I’m enraged; it’s why people are not always kind to me as they don’t see the union as normal, despite that it’s very normal in my region.” She moved the waters washing her whole armour down and her weapons slowly and carefully.


    Bastian watched as the white haired beautiful elf woman stopped adjusted her under clothing. “People are foolish.” Fayeth turned to him as she stepped back. “Your turn...” Bastian stood up. “Em, I might take a while, I can’t throw my armour off like you guys can.” Fayeth raised her hand. “I can help, so long as you don’t see it as impolite.” Bastian nodded. “Please, go ahead, but you’ll need to dip them plate by plate before hanging them along with my weapons.”


    He watched as the green vines came out of the walls again, as Agomais poked his head around curiously from the upper floor, smirking at the whole scene. Keira looked at him. “I do believe Agomais has an Orc boyfriend, so you two should chat about that.” Agomais felt the smile fade from his face. “Used to, we spilt up, the bastard sold me out to the people I was selling to in the other village, it’s why I was running away.”


    Bastian turned as he watched the vines place his armour and weapons on the stand, he eyed his padding, which had no patterns, yet the rumour was when you truly found yourself and you connected with it, it created its patterns to match your soul, and it seemed like Agomais and Fayeth had connected to theirs. “I’m really sorry to hear that, I thought you two were getting on well.” Agomais snorted in disgust. “Story of my life, my partners always fuck me over… I need to get better boyfriends.”


    Bastian slowly eased his padding off cleaning it gently, before moving it to the hanger. “I’m sure you’ll find someone better in another region.” Keira looked down slightly, she had not asked Agomais about this since they had started travelling and now she felt guilty, as she had been so caught up in her own problems to see his. “I’m sorry he betrayed you.” Agomais looked at her, though more in surprise before he spoke. “I just have bad taste in men.” Keira eyed him for a long moment. “No, your taste is not bad; he just couldn’t see a good thing and ruined it.”


    Agomais turned not really sure how to reply to her. “I’m going to wait for my bath, I’ll see you all up there.” Keira watched as Bastian moved, with Fayeth following him up, leaving them both alone in the room. Elysande got up slowly, not thinking as she opened her arms as her whole armour came off in green glowing light, landing on the stand as she eyed her padding, which had glowing embroiled symbols and patterns from her guild in the Land Of The Dead, only for Keira’s voice to suddenly hit the air nervously. “May I wash your padding…”


    She turned in surprise eyeing her. “What did you say?” Keira stood up slowly. “Please, may I wash your padding?” She paused. “I feel it would only be right to do so, as I have been nothing but rude and cold to you from day one, when you’ve been nothing but kind and thoughtful towards me.” She looked up meeting her glowing red eyes. “Please view it as my way of making things right with you.”


    Elysande smiled, as she eased her padding off, watching as Keira threw her armour off in a blast of red and blue light, showing her padding which was in desperate need off a cleaning and was white like Bastian’s ,as she had not fully connected her soul to it yet. “Of course.” Keira took the other woman’s padding very gently, before placing it in the glowing waters, watching it boil and churn, working very gently to clean it before pulling it out and hanging it next to the other woman’s armour.


    Elysande moved to the water, using them to clean her armour and weapons, watching as Keira got out of her padding, revealing for the first time a really deep scar on her side and stomach that had not healed, along with her eye scar. She looked down slightly trying not to be rude or stare. “Did the demon Mage do that to you?” Keira breathed as she put her padding in the waters, watching as it churned, pulling of seasons of dirt and correcting the magic threads. “Yes... his claw marks were so deep, it broke the padding.”


    She eased her padding out, putting it up to dry. “I consider myself lucky to not die that day, there was blood everywhere, and a Cleric who was trying to heal me, but not for good reasons, couldn’t close the wounds... then they just healed themselves, but left scars.” She moved her hands, letting the waters wash her armour and weapons, causing a lot of dents to pop out on both. “I guess that was my werewolf side kicking in, before I became half and half.”


    Elysande smiled slightly. She was not going to lie, she liked the woman’s company, she wasn’t really sure why, maybe it was just nice to know another human being who had an understanding off her struggles with the thing they both suffered, and she felt a calm in her presence that was very new to her. As normally though she remained calm on the outside she did feel like she was internally screaming around people mentality, she just knew how to mask it. “If it makes you feel better, I was just as rude to my new family who were trying to help me, I was also a nightmare until I found some sense of calm and control.”


    Keira stopped looking at her. “It’s not just that, I was rude to you regarding your wealth and that was jealous and spiteful, it wasn’t even about you. It was more me being bitter about my family’s wealth, as I will never have a part of it since I’m a bastard child; I was cut the will.” She looked up slightly. “You said as well, when you became what you are your family were struggling and I ignored that, I was disrespectful, as a Paladins duty is to understand the suffering of everyone, be they rich or poor.”


    Elysande moved putting her hand on the other woman’s shoulder very gently. “No one is perfect, we all have our failings, what matters is what we do after and how we make it right. Plus you’re not bad Keira; you’re a person who bad things have happened to.” She paused. “I know you don’t see that right now and your family doing that to you is terrible, as a bastard child is still a child, its sounds to me like the true failing was with them.” Keira breathed in sadly. “We should go we shouldn’t keep the others waiting.” Elysande eyed the stairs that led to the guest rooms. “Your right we should go.”


    End of part 14


    Silvermoonlight