Chương 19: Chapter 18 - A Moment Before Battle

Astra emerged shortly from her tent buckling the last strap on her gauntlet before glancing around for Eli. Finding the camp empty, she jumped at a low whistle as Elias emerged from a shadow beside Mira's tent that she could have sworn was empty. She smirked at him." I swear I'm going to put a bell on you, do you just simply enjoy testing my perception?" Eli grinned back at her, " Not gonna lie, just a little."" It's an old game with some friends of mine. Plus."

Eli's gaze flickered over her as she finished strapping her gear to her lithe form." A beauty like you? All you have to do is ask," he grinned at her, " I don't know what it is, but the armor definitely does something for me, maybe it's the sword who knows, but I am a fan of the way it looks on you." Elias's earlier guess had definitely been correct that Astra's leathers had actually been a thin gambeson as she emerged in a set of well worn, but also well maintained and cared for plate armor.

While the armor sported some ornate filigree, it was not the armor of an armchair general or even what he would have expected from a stereotypical noble lady, it was well crafted, with a well tested design, and had clearly seen battle.

The set consisted of a full front and back plate merging into a set of pauldrons to protect her shoulders, a set of matching gauntlets with an impressive degree of articulation, a skirt of pleated leather sporting armor strips, and a set of calf length sabatons over her boots also with a surprising amount of articulation.

As he approached Eli examined the set closer and was deeply impressed with the workmanship, the set was made of a series of plates that overlapped but moved over each other silently and without catching as she adjusted her stance towards him showing patches of chainmail covering the gaps her joints made in the armor. The material was darker than the bright medieval steel he expected, a dark blue tinted gray of some shining metal he had never seen before.

The plates were thinner than he expected as well, but given the quiet confidence Astra carried herself with Eli doubted that it would be easy to pierce and that it was more likely that it had a far better resilience than he would guess. Jutting from over her shoulder was a monster of a greatsword with a curved guard, leather wrapped handle, detailed heavy pommel, and a length of at least five feet long from the tip of the scabbard he could see emerging from behind her thighs.

Eli grunted in appreciation as he took in the fierce figure that she cut in ringlight as she tugged the final pieces into place, and his assumption of the sophistication of the technology base that could produce such equipment rose much higher in his mind. Eli could see amusement dancing in her sky blue eyes as Astra hid a pleased smile behind finishing her preparations. Elias waved for her to follow him to the river as he asked."

Definitely more impressive than I imagined, the craftsmanship is exquisite, was it made in your hometown?" Astra followed behind with a bounce in her step and pride in her voice." Aye, it was! I assume you like it?" Eli let out another low whistle." I sure do. Even some of the best manufacturers in my world would have a tough time making something like that, color me impressed. I definitely need to meet the smith who made such a masterpiece!"

Astra let out a surprisingly girlish giggle that was at odds with the imposing visage despite the smug expression on her face." Well I'll have to see what I can do." As they reached the river bank Eli cast about looking over the remains of the cooking station before seeming to find what he was looking for." Ok, a couple questions and probably some good news and bad news."" One, how quickly and quietly can you move in your armor?

It looks like it shouldn't be a hindrance, but I have no idea how heavy it is or if it will be too loud if you move too quickly."" Two, will you be able to climb a tree with that on?" Astra looked askance at the second question before answering." I have spent the last two years of my training while wearing this exact set of armor, at this point I probably move better with it on than without.""

As for stealth, I should be fine if we keep our distance as it has a minor enchantment of silent step to ensure I will not sound like a pile of cookware tumbling down the stairs as I run, but it only works on the armor itself and I don't exactly have a great amount of experience in moving stealthily in the forest." She arched a brow at Eli." Also aye, I can climb a tree if necessary, albeit with not much grace. Why do you ask?" Eli grinned back." You remember when I found you?" She nodded."

You would be surprised how few people look up when they should."" Ok, good news or bad news first?" She huffed out a quiet laugh at the memory, " Good point, how about we start with the good news." Eli nodded as his smile grew a little." Glad you see what I mean. The good news is I found their trail leading into the woods. It looks like they looted a set of wagons and a pair of horse teams from your camp, and I bet the river was too deep for them to ford it.""

I didn't follow the tracks very far, but given the spacing I don't think they were moving fast and we should be able to catch them before first light. I have the start of a plan, and depending on some answers from you it should work. We can hash it out on the way out." Eli crouched down rooting around in the fire pit they were standing over when Astra asked." What's the bad news then?" Eli sighed as he stood up covered to his elbow in soot as he cradled a pile of ashes in his hand."

I'm going to have to deface a work of art…" Astra laughed as he started smearing the dark soot all over her armor.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Astra's POV Astra stood still holding her arms and legs outstretched as Eli worked, rubbing the soot over the plates dabbing some water from a nearby cup he salvaged when he had trouble getting it to stick. A companionable silence wrapped the pair as he slowly worked his way upwards starting from her boots.

She found herself oddly at ease with this strange man from another world, she had only known him for a scant few hours but already found his presence reassuring. Astra was hardly surprised by her feelings given how he had quite literally appeared from nowhere falling from the sky like an avenging spirit to slaughter foe when she was moments away from death.

She had steeled herself to meet her fate, claws bared, ready to spit in the eye of whatever god had slated her for such an ignoble end only to find there was no need. Working quietly Eli made sure to coat each plate thoroughly, not moving onwards until there was no reflecting in the dim light. Astra reflected that unlike many of the other men she had met in her life he didn't take the chance to linger or sneak a touch as many others would do in such a situation.

She had some shelter with her family name, but the privileges granted to nobility often made the noblemen, honestly more like nobleboys, she had met more brazen when they thought they could avoid notice or censure. She had certainly noticed when she drew his gaze, as little as it was, and found it oddly endearing that it was only when he knew she was watching.

She glanced down at his wavy, tousled brown hair, light blue eyes like glacial ice, well sun-tanned skin, and lively expressive features, besides he is much more attractive than most of those louts at the capital. When he reached the top of her armor he switched to dry soot as he began working on her neck and face, as he made eye contact with her he seemed to hesitate for a moment before coming to a decision. Eli avoided eye contact as he spoke while he worked."

If the way I'm talking to you is uncomfortable, I want you to let me know." He gently worked the soot into her ears as he continued." Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the flirting, but we don't exactly have nobles in my world anymore and I don't know if I am crossing a line I shouldn't. You are literally the second person I have met in this world, and despite having to kill the first I am more thankful than you can imagine that it was someone like you.""

It's not even been a full day and I can tell we could be good friends, and the last thing I want to do is mess that up." Eli stopped to look her in the eye and give her a serious look while gauging her expression. He nodded at her unbothered expression before moving on to start working on her hair." I don't know much about the culture here, but consent and open communication is pretty important where I come from.

I've only been here a few days, and I'm groping in the dark, so if I offend you or upset you, please let me know." Astra was taken aback, while it was one thing to know intellectually that someone was from a different culture, it was also very startling to see it so clearly. The Empire was so isolated by the wild lands surrounding it, that it was rare to meet other races and other peoples, and with a few rare exceptions every human she met was very similar.

She felt a hollow ache in her chest at the thought of all that he must have experienced in such a short time, torn away from his family, his homeland, and thrust into a world so different from his own. Yet, in the short time she had known him she marvelled at his tenacity.

Most in his situation would have felt broken and lost, dwelling on their misery, not launching into battle at the defense of a complete stranger half naked, covered in mud, screaming in fury, clutching a pair of improvised weapons, only to slaughter a powerful warrior like it was nothing. A warrior that so far outclassed the man that he should have been able to end him in the blink of an eye. Eli paused for a second as she snorted in amusement before continuing to work soot through her hair.

It seemed to fit his character though, one of the fiercest men she had ever met one moment and jovial the next. Who knew I would find someone so interesting out here in the middle of nowhere. Even if she didn't owe the man a life debt, there is no way she would let someone like this slip through her fingers. He still had a child class for the ancient's sakes, never mind his monstrous attributes, what kind of terror would he be when tiered up to Initiate or even Warrior.

Abyss, if he makes it to Master, much less Grandmaster he will be a force to be reckoned with! Astra was considered both a prodigy and a bit of an oddity, she had a tough time finding anyone to keep up with her, much less challenge her. Her peers were either heavily invested in their family business, maintaining and expanding their noble holdings, or engaging in politics jockeying for power and favor among the senate and the Emperor's court.

While the Empire espoused such lofty ideals such as the indefatigable spirit of mankind and the primacy of martial might, so few nobles would pursue it on their own. Sure, they would attend the academies and serve the minimum amount required to maintain their position and cement their primacy above the common man, most viewed battle as beneath them, a task for paid soldiers, mercenaries, and adventurers.

She rolled her eyes, the Ancients forbid they took the initiative to grow on their own, and risked getting a few calluses on those soft hands or even shed a few drops of their precious blood. Astra glanced at Eli out of the corner of her eye, just maybe she might have found someone with whom to walk the path, someone who could challenge her to rise, to be more than just another noble daughter.

She remembered her first good look at him, coated in the blood of his enemies, the sharp gaze of a predator, and the fierce smile that spoke of a song beating in his chest to match her own. She could feel her blood stir as the faint rhythm of the Emberhymn faintly sang in her veins at the thought, I do very much like a challenge.

Elias had finished working his way through her curly mane, and as he started to drop into a crouch to gather up more soot and begin working on himself, Astra dropped a hand onto his arm to stop him. As Eli paused to look her in the eye and smile, she took a moment to etch his face into her mind. Ancients above that smile is not fair, before smiling back." That is very kind of you, but I do not mind." She dropped into a crouch to grab a handful of soot, before standing to return the favor.

His dark leathers recovered from the slaver were already plenty dark, and his hands were already blackened from working on her, so all that was left was his neck, head, and hair. Astra started working the soot into his skin." Actually I find it quite sweet. Please do not repeat it outside of my confidence, but most of the peerage that I have met so far could barely fight off a squirrel while equipped with a full set of arms much less a wild boar with naught but sticks and stones."

She worked her way up to his ear before circling to coat his hair." I would excuse this lack of capability given that their primary duty is often governance instead of war." Astra sighed, " At least I would if most of them did not spend all their time squabbling like three weasels tied in a knapsack and dropped in a river instead of actually ruling their domains, so you can imagine how highly I rate their opinions." She smiled as Eli snorted in amusement."

All told, I can only imagine how new this world is to you, but fear not!"" Your esteemed guide to Caelwyn will let you know if any courtesies are due, and if anyone takes umbrage at your ignorance leave them to me." Astra sighed again, " In all honesty most people in my life all have so many opinions and expectations of me."" Some prefer me at arms length due to my position, or at the same distance but only to sneer at my 'unladylike martial hobbies'.""

Others want to drag me close, wrap me in silk to protect me from the world against my wishes and yet others would do so in chains to enhance their own position or reassure themselves of their own petty ambitions." As Astra worked her way back around to his face she marvelled at the wonderful sense of freedom to have a blank slate, the chance to just be open and frank for once.

Astra found it incredibly refreshing to not have to play a part or push back against tradition, it is a wonder to meet someone with no expectations of me who is simply happy to help. Astra looked Eli in the eyes, " No I like you very much just the way you are, it is frankly refreshing to meet someone who neither knows nor cares about my position, and all the baggage that comes with it. Let me handle the rest, please don't change your behavior on my account."

As she finished her work she deliberately gave him her best smile, which grew just the smallest bit wider as she saw the effect it had on him." Besides, if you think I look good in the armor, you should see me without it." She winked at Eli, gave his cheek a gentle slap, and headed towards the forest with a bounce in her step and a lightness in her heart.