--- Roric

The duo reached the village some time later, roughly at the local sundown.

To be honest, Roric still wasn't able to keep track of the hour at all. The mountains surrounding the valley obscured the sun for longer than in the regions he had visited so far, and he had yet to get used to the prolonged nights in that place.

How can they even grow crops up here? I was always told that you need a sunny, warm place.

Or that was what his folks in Spjaldir believed. Putting blind trust into the words of people who had never traveled more than ten miles from their homes, actually, wasn't so smart.

"Welcome to Fradot," panted Elise, when they finally stopped in front of a small porch. "My farm is on the other side of the village. If we make a sprint for it, we might even get there without getting completely soaked."

The young warrior simply nodded, ready to follow her under the rain. From the moment the first buildings had popped out in the distance, the girl had grown noticeably calmer and more confident. He got lost for a second in her strong willed gaze, but she zipped away without noticing it.

"Come! This way."

Fradot was divided in two main sections. The higher part of the village lay on a natural mound, right at the bottom of a rocky peak. Most houses and a small chapel to the Makers were built there, following a gravel path that twisted upwards like a snake. Elise had already implied that mister Dominic lived away from the others, because he had a farm and he needed room to grow plants. A farmer like him had to stay on the very bottom of the valley, in the area that surrounded the center of Fradot.

Elise led Roric to a wooden bridge over a small stream, and the two kept running under the downpour until they reached an isolate group of buildings. The girl pointed him towards one of them, the one that looked the most like a proper house. After a final sprint they stopped just outside, in a spot that sheltered them from the water.

"Now, before we enter," she said. "He might be... A little suspicious of you. He always is when he meets a newcomer. Once he learns what you have done I think he will change his mind, but..."

"Don't worry," replied Roric. "I know how to behave myself. There won't be any problem."

The girl nodded and opened the door, showing him the way inside. As they entered, the young warrior was finally able to relieve his shoulders from the weight of the backpack.

"I wasn't told that we expected a guest, my dear," a voice greeted them. "Care to explain?"

A fairly old man, without hair nor beard, was sitting on a massive armchair beside the fire. He wore simple, poor clothes. His tone, however, sounded so solemn and serious that Roric would have never guessed that it belonged to a farmer.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Dominic," explained Elise, lowering her head. "I just couldn't leave him outside. I met him while I was wandering on the northern roads and-"

"You dumb girl!" yelled the elder. "How many times did I tell you not to go around all by yourself? Something bad might happen! There are bad people on those roads! Ever heard me talking about this before, you idiot?"

Elise took a step back, bowing her head. Roric kept watching as the man stood up menacingly. His description was that of a kind person, but in that moment he didn't really match it. Maybe because he was just very concerned about his foster daughter.

"Yes," replied the girl, with a broken voice. "You did speak those words. But I had never seen anyone there before-"

"Dammit, Elise!" the man kept shouting. "Can't you listen to me for just one time? Since you were little, you have been always told of those places. Yet, you kept going there to do who knows what..."

Again, that situation vaguely resembled one of the last conversations between Roric and his mother. All of a sudden Dominic stopped, almost as if he had noticed for the first time that a third person was in the room, and quickly got a hold on himself.

"I'm sorry, stranger. This girl here is a natural in getting into trouble. For bringing her home safe and sound, you have my thanks."

No friendliness leaked between his words. Just cold, circumstantial gratitude.

He is really not fond of foreigners after all. Well, not that I wasn't expecting it.

"You are welcome, mister," he answered. "Now, if we are done, I'll beg my leave-"

"What?" stepped in Elise. "No, you have to stay! It's raining outside."

"I'm fine, really. I am used to be on the road. Some water won't scare me."

It will just make me really depressed, that's all.

"But you saved my life!"

"He did what?" wondered Dominic. "Explain that."

"Please, that was nothing, I'll just find somewhere to rest, wait for the rain to stop and..."

Elise wasn't listening to him. She was instead busy telling the old man about Roric's exploits with a great degree of detail. And he had to admit that the girl had eye for those details. It was almost funny how she described that bloody fight with wide gestures and smirks now that her mind was clear from fear.

"Three of them at once," commented Dominic, with a puzzled look on his face. "Boy, is that true?"

"Well, it went more or less as she said. One of them was young and inexperienced, however, and I held a vantage point. I have my share of training, so keeping them at bay wasn't an issue."

The elder seemed thoughtful. He began studying him with his gaze, looking at his build and evaluating his strength.

"So, Roric," he asked. "Where are you headed?"

"I don't really know, sir," answered the boy. "Wherever there's work, I guess."

"Why are you armed, and trained to fight at such young age?"

"I used to be a mercenary until last year."

"Mercenaries..." said Dominic. "So, you are already used to hard work, am I right?"

Roric nodded.

"I am not that fond of strangers. But truth be told, I am looking for a farmhand. Care to stop for a couple of weeks? I'll give you a place to sleep and plenty of stuff to do."

"I... I guess I can stay," replied Roric. "If you need my help."

"Don't think that you've earned my trust," pointed out the farmer. "But you saved the life of this dumb girl, and I can't deny you have guts."

"He can stay?" stepped in Elise, who seemed completely surprised. "Like, not only for tonight?"

Dominic sighed, and went back to his chair.

"Once we've cleared a couple of details. You go to your room."

"But..."

"I said go to your room. Now."

The girl walked through the room with a disappointed look on her face, heading towards a staircase. Then, after giving Roric one last glance, she went up and disappeared.

"Thanks mister," said the boy, bowing his head. "I appreciate your offer."

He felt a bit guilty, but he was willing to repay the hospitality with some honest work.

"Come this way," the man invited him, grabbing a pile of old blankets from a trunk. "We'll talk about your tasks tomorrow morning."

Dominic led him out in the rain once again. A couple of wet steps, however, were enough to reach a spacious barn filled with hay and farming equipment. Roric was left with a piece of bread and told that he could sleep wherever he pleased. The sound of the door closing behind the old man was the last thing the boy heard that night.

Finally alone, he lay down in a corner and closed his eyes.

It feels good to have a roof on your head for once.

***

--- Elise

After going up the creaky stairs Elise entered her room, jumping on the bed and burying her face into the pillow.

Thank goodness. Dominic allowed him to stay.

To be honest, the girl felt relieved. She knew that her guardian would have never straight kicked Roric out before the end of the rain, but who would have guessed that he was going to offer him a job at the farm? Elise hugged the sheets, trying to guess the reason behind that decision.

He's getting older and older, now that I think about it. There are many things here at home that he just can't do anymore... For how long has the field been in that state? Is that why he wants Roric to stay?

The girl lifted her body from the mattress and stood up, heading for the window. It was barred by heavy wooden shutters that kept the dampness outside, like all the others around the building, but after living there for so long she knew well that at least a couple of them were in need for maintenance. She opened a half, listening to the squeaky noise of the hinges.

Then her gaze lingered on the barn, a couple of meters below.

I hope he won't take a cold out there.

With a smile, Elise sealed back the window and went to bed.

***

When the girl woke up, her mind was a bit fuzzy.

Memories of the previous day had tormented her sleep much more than she estimated, and even now she could barely see the visage of the three dead man when she closed her eyes. In her excitement for meeting her savior, Elise had almost forgotten that her life had been in extreme danger. Even after she had let some light enter the room and changed into some clean clothes, the strange feeling didn't go away.

I wonder how does he endure this... Killing those men was necessary, but-

What was she thinking? Ending lives, something necessary? Yet, Roric stepping in was the only reason why she had come home safely.

I haven't even thanked him properly, yesterday. Let's see if he's awake.

Elise glanced out from the window, finding that the downpour had stopped during the night and the valley was now lit by a bright sun. Puddles aside, it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day. She went downstairs and found Dominic already sitting at the table, intent on fixing the shaft of an axe.

I hope he isn't still angry at me.

"Morning," she said.

"Morning. Slept well?" asked the old man. "From what the boy was telling me, you must have witnessed something terrible."

The girl was about to answer, but a question came to her mind.

This morning? Dominic is an early riser, but I wouldn't say that I overslept...

"I'm alright... But how about him? I know there was work to do, but was it really necessary to wake him up at dawn? He seemed so tired yesterday."

"Don't have a clue about that weirdo," sighed Dominic. "He was already up when I got outside. Checking out the farm for what I could tell."

To be completely honest, Elise didn't understand that guy completely. They were the same age but he could fight and take care of himself without any problem. He had even gone through the pass all alone, which was no small feat.

"He's no normal kid," continued the man. "That much I know. He saved your life so I allowed him to stay, but I don't want you to get too close to him for now. A mercenary that young? There's something in that boy that I can't get just yet."

"But I want to talk to him," complained Elise. "You always said that I would learn about the world outside of this valley, one day... If he is a traveler, maybe-"

"Absolutely not. I thought about it tonight and told him that he's not allowed to speak to you until I say so. He will join us for our meals, but for the time being I don't want him near you."

"Why? He is a nice boy!"

"A nice boy who killed three men in cold blood before your very eyes," replied Dominic, with a menacing glare. "He might even be a wanted criminal, for what we know. I'm not driving him away, Elise, but he needs to gain my trust. When I'll decide that he's good, you'll be able to speak with him as much as you want."

"But-"

"I don't want to get back on this topic. You are like a daughter to me, and I won't allow you to get near any danger. That also means you won't leave the village on your own anymore. Are we clear?"

Elise felt a bit angry, but in her heart she knew that the old man was completely right.

Damn! Preventing Roric from speaking to me is excessive. How could that guy be a danger? After he saved me...

Still, the girl had to admit that she didn't know anything about that boy, only the fact that he had been a mercenary in the past. On that matter, the old farmer was right. How was it possible for someone so young to be already a retired soldier?

"I give up, this stupid axe's blade is gone for good," said Dominic, dropping the rusty part on the table. "Here, take this money. Go and get me a new one in the village. Without unplanned detours."

Elise nodded and grabbed the small purse. She got outside and glanced at the fields, where their new guest was hammering some stakes in the ground.

"I said no detours," pointed out a voice coming from the house.

She grumbled something to herself and reluctantly took the road that led to the bridge.

***

As she walked the slope of the path to upper Fradot, Elise got cheerful greetings by everyone she met. Well, not by literally everyone. That old hag, Gerna, always gave her the cold eye when she passed by.

What's her problem? She always stays barred inside her house, and doesn't get along with anyone.

Excluding that single woman, the girl had a certain degree of popularity throughout the village. Despite being born in a different place, during the years the locals had grown attached to her and she couldn't help but having the same feeling towards them. Dominic wasn't so fond of their neighbours, the reason why he preferred to send Elise for his small chores. He probably didn't even fully approve her bonding with the rest of Fradot, but she didn't care that much about his opinion on the matter. Those folks were definitely precious to her. They were her people, her second family. Elise would have helped anyone in need there without hesitation and that sometimes seemed to irritate the old farmer.

Except for the old hag. Better to let her rot. No, jokes aside... Even her.

She had often wondered why her guardian didn't like the people of Fradot as much as she did. Her good nature brought her to find it strange, nonetheless. In her mind, after all, caring so much for those who lived in that village, her village, was perfectly normal.

Walking on the road, the girl kept greeting everyone who crossed her way with a hearty voice.