04 Deepwater (redo)

"Come back safely," Chrysa whispered before kissing my cheek.

I nodded then hefted the sacks of grain and tomatoes I had for trade. I looked at the sleeping form of my child before I stepped out of our house and into the gray of the early morning.

I walked with the rising sun to my right. I took in the cool morning air before increasing my pace.

"Where are you going?"

I stopped and looked around, startled by the words that came to my mind. A few steps to my right was Seed standing tall in his armor, facing me.

"Where are you going?"

"Deepwater," I set my burden down.

"How long?"

"Half a day," I brushed my hair back. "What are you doing here?"

"Observing."

I picked up my trade goods and jogged forward. I really didn't understand Seed. I'm not even sure what he really is.

"Why go?"

I looked at him as he kept pace with me, "Trade."

"I see."

I turned to him then blinked when he wasn't there anymore. I slowed to a stop and looked around. He wasn't anywhere.

"Will this help?"

I jumped away from the touch I felt from behind then turned. There was seed holding a large black pelt.

"By the gods," I shouted.

"Will this help?" He offered the pelt again.

My eyes grew wide with recognition. "Is this... it?" I asked. I put the sacks down on the dirt and took it. I held the massive pelt up and inspected it. I ran my hand through the soft black fur. It's hard to imagine it was part of that thing that almost killed us.

"Thank you," I said looking at him.

Seed nodded.

"I mean for saving my family."

"There's no need to thank me. You paid for it."

I nodded and handed him back the pelt then placed my hands on my hips and took a deep breath. "You'll keep us safe right?"

"So long as you keep me hidden."

I nodded again, thinking of the agreement I have with him. I turned away and towards the sun, shielding my eyes to look into the distance. I'm not really sure how heavy that price is. All know is that my family and I are well.

"What are you thinking of?"

I looked at Seed, "Why, can't you read my mind?"

"No."

I'm glad he couldn't. "I was just thinking of what I got my family into." I looked down at my hands. "If I did the right thing."

Seed nodded.

I clenched my fist and felt no pain. My arms were unmarked by wounds. I took a deep breath and picked up the sacks. I saw him drape the pelt on his back; he was a savage barbarian in fur and metal. I turned north and jogged.

I jogged and he kept pace, silently. It was strange knowing that someone is following you but not really hearing anything. If I didn't see him in the corner of my eyes, I don't think I would have known he was there. I paused when I came upon a ranch and looked at the biggest brown cow grazing in the pastures and smiled. I looked at my sacks, said a prayer to the gods and went on my way.

The sun was at the peak when I reached Deepwater. I slowed to a stop and looked to my right, but Seed was gone.

I stared at the town built of stone and wood. It's been a year or so when I first saw this town and it's cobble streets. I looked at the sails unfurled in the distance and remembered the first time Chrysa and I saw the huge ships that docked here.

I smiled and readjusted the sacks I carried and walked to "Golden Harvest" the store I sold my goods to.

"Larch. You're early." A large man greeted me. He was wearing his usual white shirt and brown vest, straining to cover his bulk.

"Barlin." I said by way of greeting. "I jogged here."

"And yet you don't even look tired," he said reaching for my goods. "With such heavy sacks too."

I nodded just realizing this. "Must be the morning air."

"Must be." he nodded pouring the grain into a scale. "A bushel of grain." He ran meaty hands through it. "Good quality too. And 7 large tomatoes"

I nodded eager for the price of my harvest. I watched him count out 7 silvers, then 22 coppers.  frowned at the price. "Give me at least 25 tokens."

"7 promises and 23 tokens," he said and tossed an additional copper coin.

I took the money and my sacks. "Thank you," I said and turned to leave.

"Larch," He called after me. "Something wrong with your eyes?"

I blinked and almost reached out to touch my eyes, but I stopped myself. I shook my head, "No." I opened the door and left without turning to look at him.

I followed the road leaving town. How could I have forgotten that. I hope nothing comes of it. I placed the money I held in the pocket of my vest. The door creaked open behind me.

"Larch," the store keep shouted. "I swear they were a different color."

I didn't turn back and just kept walking. There were footsteps and talk but I didn't stop. My heart raced and I kept my eyes downcast. I don't want to be noticed again. I made quick turns into side streets, the voices eventually faded. I turned hearing steps behind me, but there was no one. I hurried out of the town.

When I reached the trees at the outskirts, I stopped and leaned against one. "Foolish." I muttered.

"What happened?"

I almost jumped at the words in my head. "Seed," I shouted. Then turned to look for him. He stood a few steps to my right holding the black pelt.

"I apologize." I took a deep breath. "They noticed my eyes."

He nodded.

"I forgot about the eyes." I buried my face in my hands.

"What about this?" he offered the pelt to me.

"I can't go back." I thought of the money that we could get from the pelt, why I was here.

"I'll sell it."

"Looking like that?" I said. "They might not even talk to you. You look like the King's own Guardian."

"Who would they buy it from?"

"What?"

"What do I have to look like so that they'd purchase this from me?"

"A normal person," I said flatly.

The pelt fell and Seed's form melted into a vaguely humanoid shape before the features and clothing became a mirror image of mine. My eyes widened and I jumped back. I raised my hands to keep the thing away from me. "Thunder and ruin," I shouted

"I'm sure they'll sell it to me now," I heard my voice say. "Probably clear up the gossip as well"

I looked at him and his gray eyes. "No."

The copy tilted its head, "Why not?"

I gestured frantically at him and everything, not really knowing what to say. "No."

"You're not making any sense. Don't you need the money?"

"I do." I brushed my hair back and leaned against the tree. "You're not me. Someone will notice. it might not be the eyes, but it'll be something."

It just stared at me.

"I don't want them to go look for me just to confirm some rumor."

It nodded.

"Be something else, someone else." I insisted.

His form melted into this silver liquid as it reshaped itself once more. A woman emerged, shorter than my 6 foot form, a plain blue dress covering her willowy form. She had long black hair and cream skin. She looked at me with hazel eyes. "What about this?"

I swallowed at the madness before me. "Your hair."

"My hair?" her soft voice said. She combed through it with delicate fingers.

"Yes it should be braided or tied,"

She nodded and ran her fingers through her hair once more. I followed her hand until it was splayed right in font of me. "Done."

I blinked and saw her hair braided neatly behind her. "You gotta teach Chrysa that,"

She smiled coyly before she picked up the fur on the ground and walked into the town.

I watched her, "Try to get a pledge for it," I called out. "Ask for Gold," I added.

I watched her walk, hips swaying gently as she did, holding the pelt close to her. I turned away and walked deeper into the woods.

I sat at the roots of a large oak, foot tapping an erratic rhythm as I waited. What Seed did. It had to be magic. I've heard the tales, but I've never seen it myself. Not until now. I stared into the dim forest as I waited.

Soothing darkness surrounded me. I swatted at something on my forehead and it disappeared. Before darkness could embrace me fully again, something pushed at my forehead once more. I swatted at it and caught something. My eyes opened and stared into hazel eyes.

"Are you ready to go?"

I pushed her hand away. "We should."

She stood and walked south.

I followed. "How much did you get for it?"

I heard the ring of two coins and looked up to see two glittering objects arc toward me. Too bad she only got two silver for it. I caught both. If only they didn't notice my eyes. I looked back at Rose.

"Thank you for the promises,"

"Promises?"

"The silver coins."

"I believe those were pledges."

I stopped and looked at the coins in my hand. My eyes widened at the yellow metal. I tried to express my thanks, my awe, my gratitude, but I just stuttered and stammered.

"You're welcome." she flipped her hair and continued walking.

I looked at her walk away and couldn't move. It's the first time I've held gold. "Cow"

She stopped and turned to me, a brow arched.

"Can we buy a cow on our way back?" I said, my voice still trembling.

She nodded.

I pocketed the coins and hastily walked to the nearest farm I looked at earlier. I've seen it every time I went to town but I've never stopped by to talk to the family there. I'm sure they won't notice my eyes. As we walked, I noticed Rose look at me several times, the third was when I noticed I had a wide grin on my face.

I stood at the gate to the farm. It was wood and bails of hay everywhere. I saw chicken, pigs and cows. I ginned even wider imagining my family owning a farm like this. We'd never want for anything.

"Hey neighbor." a low voice greeted. I looked towards the lanky man waving at us. I waved back.

"Hey," I looked to my right to see if Rose was beside me. I met her hazel eyes then looked back at the man approaching. He wore the same work clothes I wore, all earth tones and rough materials. Those were very practical. I could tell we'd get along well. He dusted his hands on his trousers showed his hands face up.

"Bailey,"

I did the same, "Larch."

He nodded. "What's on your mind Larch?"

"Would you be selling any of your cows?" I looked at the pastures then made eye contact again.

"Depends. Which one?"

"Can we see them?"

He nodded and opened the wooden gate. We stepped in and Rose closed it behind me.

"You're wife's well trained," he said without looking.

"She's not my wife."

"Oh?" he said then looked back at us.

"Yeah, she's my sister."

He looked at me then Rose. "Funny. You have different eyes."

"Runs in the family."

He nodded. We reached the pastures without any more questions. I looked for the biggest cow and pointed at it. I looked at my companion for agreement but she shook her head. She pointed at a medium sized cow that was pure black.

I frowned stroking the stubble on my chin as I considered.

"I could give her for 50 promises."

I looked at him, eyes narrowed. Why was it so cheap?

"40" was a number that popped in my head.

I looked at Rose.and she nodded.

"I'll take her for 40."

The man frowned and crossed his arms.

"Fine," he huffed.

I took out the gold coin and offered it.

His eyes widened for a flash then he took it. "I'll be back with your change." He walked into the house. I saw him put the coin in his mouth and bite.

"Why that one?"

Rose walked to the cow and ran her hand through its fur. "I like black."

Her jet hair flowed in the breeze as her shadow skirts followed. My eyes narrowed and a thin smile strained on my face.

Rose lead the black cow closer to me and I looked the bottomless depths if its eyes. It nudged me and I found my hand rubbing its head.

Rose smiled at me.

"Here's the change," I heard the same low voice. He held a small pouch of coins.

Rose nodded before him then offered to take the pouch. He gave it to her. She looked at me and nodded.

"Thank you for your kindness,"

He smirked, "Good luck with that freak."

I paid the comment no mind as we walked back home, cow in tow. My pace was faster, my excitement barely contained. We've always wanted a cow. We'd get milk from it and cheese when Chrysa worked on it. This is not the worst thing that could have happened.

We walked slowly, making sure the cow didn't stray. It mooed along as it followed. Rose and I didn't talk. I looked at her and she just looked forward. Is she staying like that from now on? What about Seed? Were they really the same?

Bushes rustled behind us. We looked and saw three masked figures wearing worn leather and carrying swords.

The tall man in the middle walked towards us, "Run," he said with his low voice.

I grabbed Rose's wrist and tugged her back as I moved, only to be stopped as the man took her other wrist and pulled.

"She's mine," he said.

I pulled Rose toward me until a sword was held at my throat.

"Run,"

"It's okay," the words appeared in my mind.

Rose started sobbing. "Please," she begged softly.

"I can take care of my self" the words in my mind assured me.

"Larch," she sobbed, trying to reach for me.

I couldn't move paralyzed by the weapon at my throat and the words in my mind.

He stepped back taking her with him as the two other brigands watched me with weapons ready.

"He has gold, take everything he has" the leader said as he stepped away into the bushes.

The two grinned as they advanced.

I stepped back, unsure if I should run away or stand and fight.

The rustling of the leaves grew louder as the man brought Rose through until I could not see them anymore.

"Give it up," one of the thieves said.

I heard Rose grunting and shouting as she struggled.

"Hope I get a turn" the other said.

My eyes were wide as I heard cloth rip; the climax of their struggle.

"Rose," I called out. I tried to rush to the noise but the two thieves blocked my way with their blades.

"You a hero?" one of the thieves smirked. "Hero's don't live long."

Rose cried out and there was silence.

"Rose," I screamed. One of them pushed me back.

The leaves were still and I no longer heard her whimpers. I clenched my fists and glared at the two before me. "I swear, I will pay you back for this."

"Really?" he chuckled at his friend. "Maybe we should kill you too. Would be safer for us."

The leaves rustled and something thudded behind the two thieves.

I couldn't see, but the two turned to look. They shouted curses as they watched the thing. When they looked at me, wide eyed and red faced, I saw the severed head of their leader, unmasked. My eyes were wide at the gore and recognition. It was Bailey.

Leaves rustled and Rose stepped through, drenched in blood as she dragged the headless body out. She threw it at the feet of the two thieves. "I begged him not to." he soft voice a mocking contrast to the blood and gore on her.

"Demon!" One of them shouted. "I'll kill you." He rat at her and thrusted. She stepped aside and grabbed his wrist, then twisted, breaking it. He screamed when the bone broke and his hand went limp, sword falling. She place her other hand on the shoulder of the broken arm and pulled.

Screams filled the late afternoon as muscle and bone slowly tore. She tore the arm free then threw it aside. The man droped, blood spewing from the wound.

I stood there frozen. My rage hiding in the shadows of the trees, my mind struggling with reality. Thick warm liquid sprayed on my face as I watched the man squirming in agony on the bloody ground.

The other thief dropped his weapon, turned and ran even as his partner's arm was torn off. Rose dashed and caught him by the hair. She pulled, yanking a clump out along with flesh and blood. The man screamed as he fell hands trying to staunch his bleeding scalp.

"You want this right?" Rose said softly as she straddled him.

"You wanted me," she said blank face covered in blood a breath away from the man's leathery face, voice calm and soft as if nothing happened.

He begged her and lied his lies just to escape the inevitable.

I stood there and just watched. Repulsed and riveted at the same time.

"I'll let you live," her angelic voice offered, her expression softening, "If you confess your sins."

The man blubbered about the merchants, travelers and families they've killed. He talked about the inhuman things they've done to the women and children they caught and how they found pleasure in making their loved ones watch.

Rose listened, dripping blood on the hysterical man. Her thin lips turned to a slight frown as she soothed his face with gentle strokes. She urged him to continue the litany of horror and when he finished and just sobbed, she looked at him with glistening eyes.

I watched the tear well, then fall. When it touched his chest, it sizzled and then burned through.

The man continued to sob for a few moments until he started screaming. He screamed and bucked under her, limbs straining to escape her iron grip, but Rose was no longer there. There was only Seed. The man eventually stopped. His flesh caved in, then dissolved into a thick red soup on the ground, embraced by the soil as if he did nothing wrong.

I fell to my knees and retched.