Betrayal's Hands

Krev lashed out at him making him duck under the whistling sword. His reactions taking over, Cor counter-attacked, finding his blade not quite long enough to get inside the half-ogre's guard. All thoughts of a peaceful resolution fled him now; battle had been joined.

Teri stared at Cor, excited to see another human. He looked a mess though, dirty and unshaven and little better than the bandits that had served under Krev and promised to have their way with her. Something seemed different about him, and somehow she knew he was not one of the monsters who had raided Krev's cabin. Her lips parted, she wanted them to stop fighting, but no words came out. She was torn. Perhaps he was just another bounty hunter sent to return her to her father? Krev was wounded, but she knew how strong he was... the man stood no chance against him.

Cor used his agility to keep Krev off balance, trying to force him to rely upon his wounded leg. The leg that, it seemed, was much stronger than his fight against the other half-ogre had indicated. Cor reevaluated his opponent, he was clearly a very intelligent and cunning swordsmen. That, combined with the strength Cor had felt on a few parries, let him know he was in a fight for his life.

Krev locked Cor's sword up, his greater strength holding the man easily. He kicked out, using his wounded leg in an attempt to knock the skilled human off his feet. He could not remember fighting a human as agile and skilled as this one was and he sought to end it quickly before blood loss weakened him.

Cor thrust his sword upwards, burying the point in the same support beam that the larger sword was embedded in, and then slipped the kick. He tucked his shoulder and rolled under Krev's leg, snatching up a short wooden spear from the hands of a dead wild elf and ramming it deeply into the half-ogre's unwounded hamstring.

Krev howled in mixed agony and rage. He stumbled but caught himself, pain flaring up both legs now. He spun about and swung blindly, expecting Cor to be in a certain place. The dexterous human had rolled again though, coming up on his flank and reaching up to grab the hilt of his sword. He yanked it from the ceiling and lashed out, cutting deeply into Krev's left arm.

Krev tried to turn again, but his legs were not moving as fast as his upper body was. He stumbled to his knees, raising one leg and preparing to get back up while he thrust out towards Cor in hopes of keeping him at bay. Cor spun away from the thrust and let his sword swing in a backhanded slice that crashed wetly into the side of Krev's head. The half-ogre froze, his eyes losing focus. His hand reached up and then fell to his sides as he collapsed to floor, adding to the pile of corpses in the cabin.

Teri's mouth was open. She stared in disbelief at seeing Krev defeated. He was so strong, so sure of himself, so invincible. She could not believe he was dead. She looked up at the man, fear in her eyes, and hugged her torn clothing about herself. His eyes took her in, missing nothing. She felt the intensity of his gaze and felt naked in spite of her attempts at modesty.

He wiped the blood and brain matter off of his blade and sheathed it. He looked at her again and then around the cabin. He opened his mouth and closed it again, not knowing what to say. Teri stared at him, tears running down her eyes.

"You're free," Cor croaked out finally. He coughed to clear his throat and then repeated himself. "He's dead, you're free. Go home."

"Home?" Teri asked, not believing him. Then more bitterly she realized that the cabin had been her home. "Where is home? I can't leave... where would I go? I'll be dead in an hour... you've...you've killed me!"

The look on Cor's face was far beyond Teri's ability to understand. He blanched and showed terror and then agony and then rage. She had no idea why her words had sparked such a range of emotions in him. He turned away from her and blinked away tears, then turned back.

"You won't be the first," he growled, his voice low and taut with emotion.

Not understanding him Teri cried softly. She was helpless and alone. Krev had not always been pleasant, and at times he had been terrifying, but it was stable and she knew what to expect of him. "Take me with you," she gasped, all but begging him. "I can clean, and cook... please! I'll even take care of you... in...other ways."

Cor shook his head, he turned back to her and she saw the haunted look in his eyes. "I take care of myself," he said flatly, "I've no need for a servant or a slave."

"But I'll die!" she said, desperation raising her voice.

Cor turned from her and stepped to the open doorway of the cabin. The sun was high and shining down upon the clearing, warming his face and hands with its radiance. He sighed and looked back at her. "Gather your things, and be quick about it! The forest will be upon this place quickly; buzzards ripe for scavenging."

She knelt in disbelief for a moment, so quickly had he changed his mind. She was moving then, hurrying to gather up what little belongings she had. She thrust it into a rough burlap sack, a few needles, some thread, and some spare hides Krev had tanned from beasts he had slain for their dinners. She took some knives as well, and a whetstone and flint and steel. She stood ready then, one hand holding her torn shirt closed while the other clutched the bag.

Cor glanced at her, noting how comely she probably was under the dirt. He nodded at her in confirmation and set out, moving through the woods with a quickness and surety that reminded her of Krev. He avoided the trails for fear they might run into someone that might try to take her. Avoiding the trails nearly proved to be more dangerous when he nearly stepped into a darker area of the wood that had large cobwebs strung throughout the trees. He led her around it and moved on, heading for Briam's Crossing.

Teri regarded her rescuer's broad back as they moved through the brush. He was tall, much taller than either her father or Baron Darleth, and she could see that he carried none of the fat of her father. His hair was dark and straggly, though it had been cut not that long ago. She found him a strange study of contrasts. There were signs that he had once been well groomed, yet now he appeared as one of the ruffians who were common soldiers in her father's army. She looked down at herself, and realized that they had at least that much in common.

Watching his body language, Teri realized that the set of his shoulders told her very plainly that he was less than pleased. He very obviously found it unpleasant to be cast in the role of her rescuer -- or her captor -- she was unsure how to describe their current relationship. He had said that he needed no servant or slave, but had allowed her to follow him. She moved as quickly as her battered body would allow, telling herself that she would not allow him to leave her behind. Again she stumbled over an exposed root, landing hard on bare knees and leaving bruises and dirt. She bit her lip trying not to cry out, she would not show him her fear. Teri had quickly realized from his manner that she was only a burden to the tall stranger, and that given an excuse he just might leave her behind.

Having been left virtually alone, Teri also quickly found that her demons began to encroach upon her ability to remain composed. When she stopped thinking about the physical attributes of the man before her, the shadows in the woods became darker and more sinister, threatening her with their very existence. She found herself moving faster, her breath coming in mewling pants as the fear overwhelmed her.

Cor sighed, stopping in his tracks and grunting softly as the little bit of a girl slammed into him from behind. When he turned to face her, he was mildly alarmed at the paleness of her face, but what concerned him more was the fear he saw there.

When the big man turned to face her, reflexively, Teri ducked, ready to take a blow. She stood, shaking, waiting for a big hand to knock her down. After a long moment, she opened her eyes and peered up through a fringe of hair at him.

"I'm not going to hit you, girl." Cor rasped, finding himself disproportionately annoyed that she would have considered it. He was certain that her fears were well founded in history with the half-ogre. "The Crossing's not far now, and we can rest there." This last was said with an air of finality, as he again turned and started off through the brush.

Surprisingly, just this small amount of contact with her rescuer made the shadows recede back into the woods, and Teri could now simply concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. She concentrated on that to the exclusion of all else until the brush melted away beneath her feet and she found herself facing the muddy track which led into Briam's Crossing.

Chapter 12

Cor led Teri through the village, until he reached the small hut he had been staying in. He gestured her through the entrance and followed her inside, pulling the poorly fashioned door shut. She whirled to face him, suddenly afraid that he would take her up on the offer she had made in the forest. Again Cor sighed wearily at her obvious terror.

"I'm not going to bite your arm off girl." He snapped, "You will stay inside here unless I am with you. Others in this place are not as able as I to resist your charms." He smiled darkly, letting his eyes roam over her body and making her feel as though she stood before him naked. Teri flushed, still afraid, yet also feeling something else, something she couldn't quite pin down. His gaze made her feel hot and cold from the tips of her muddy toes to the top of her head. She wanted him to stop, but somewhere inside her she wanted him to continue.

Cor realized suddenly that he himself was not totally immune to the scruffy waif standing before him. He growled and turned to leave the room. "I'll bring in some water so you can wash," and he was gone, leaving the flimsy door swinging slightly in the breeze.

Outside Cor made his way to a nearby spring. He, at least, felt it was nearby. He walked over a mile to it, moving with his pace that ate up the ground in record time, and filled two skins he had fashioned. While walking he tried to figure out what it was he was going to do with the girl, clearly he could not keep her around, he had no need of her help nor the trouble she would bring.

On his way back he stopped focusing on the reason why he could not keep her around, realizing that he was obsessing. He then began to wonder what it was he could suggest to her that would make her realize she could have a better life elsewhere. She could have a family. A husband, children... perhaps a farm. He shook his head and scowled. The truth of it was that without him she would not make it out of the Darkwood.

"What's your name, girl?" Cor barked when he abruptly reentered the cabin. She looked up, startled, from where she had been cleaning up his meager home. From her suddenly nerveless fingers fell a scrap of cloth.

"T...T...Teri," she said, glancing up at him from the tattered remains of the standard she had dropped. She had seen enough of it to recognize it, and that alone filled her with terror. It was the standard of the savage barbarians from the north. Those who had rebelled from Aradmath and made pacts with dark powers to slink away in the night, where they consorted with demons. Their souls they traded for the power to fight against the nobility of Aradmath, even pressing the hellcats they called women into battle.

"I'm Cor," he said, then mumbled, "or once was."

He dropped the two sealed water skins on a makeshift table he had made out of tree limbs and bent down to pick up the standard from the floor. He folded it back up without saying a word, and shoved it back in the pack that she had started to unpack in her search for whatever it was she searched for.

"You owe me nothing, I've no need of your services," he explained calmly. "On the morrow I'll take you to the edge of the wood. You'll be safe from there."

She stared at him, tears forming in her eyes. Here, at long last, she had met another human. And more than that, one who had not tried to hurt, rape, or insult her. She stared at him, her lip quivering, and fought to control herself. She nodded, dropping her head. "Thank you," she said in a small voice that certainly did not feel the gratitude she claimed to profess.

Cor grunted, wondering why her reaction bothered him. He would be rid of her and be back to living a simple life again. One uncluttered with the concerns of women and people. Free of the responsibilities of family, friends, and kin. He stalked past her, heading into the single roomed dwelling and grabbing up some wood off the floor to shove in the hearth, where the flames already leapt from wood Teri had lit.

After staring at the fire for several long moments lost in thoughts that would not materialize, Cor realized that the girl was probably hungry. And if not, at least he was. He kicked a stump he sometimes used as a seat off of a section of the floor he had cut out and lifted it up. The small cellar he had dug he had packed with roots, herbs, and other foodstuffs that he could store. He checked what he had remaining after the winter and then headed out to check his snares.

Ever curious, Teri found herself unable to stay away from the root cellar she had seen Cor open up. Excited by what she found within it, she removed several carrots, potatoes, and even some celery. Then she looked about and found a few dented pots that looked to have served well in the past. She planned to make further use of them.

When Cor returned he could smell the simmering stew before he opened the door. His stomach growled, which in turn caused him to growl. It smelled good, he had to admit, but that only angered him to realize that his body was betraying what he really wanted. What he needed. Scowling, he entered the hut and tossed the squirrel and the rabbit his snares had yielded to the ground beside where Teri looked up at him, a hopefully but fearful expression on her face.

The look in her eyes, that of a doe surprised by a hunter, made him hesitate as well. She opened her mouth but a moment passed before words came out of it. "I made some stew," she offered.

"There's no need," Cor responded, angry at himself and at her and desperately wishing for a simpler life.

"I'm not helpless," Teri said, tears threatening to build in her eyes again. "I can cook, clean, sew, and...other things."

Cor wondered just what other things she was referring to. He saw what the half-ogre had in mind for her that the other half-ogre had rescued her from, but had every belief that she had been the pleasure slave of the half-ogre he had slain. He smirked and said, "I bet you can," rather darkly before turning away.

"Make the stew then," he said. "And use the skins to make something to cover your feet. It will be a long walk out of here and back to civilization for you." He turned his back on her then and moved away to the narrow platform that served as his bed and the only seat in the small hut. He sat, swinging his long legs up onto the bunk and lacing his fingers behind his head. He closed his eyes and doing so he rather clearly announced to the girl that he had no intention of entertaining her while she was in his care.

Teri watched as he stretched out and closed his eyes, wondering what to do next. After a moment's pause, she gathered the animals and made quick work of skinning them and cubing the meat. Rummaging around again, she found a flat piece of metal, using it as a frying pan to quickly brown the pieces before dropping them into the stew. Once that was done, she felt at loose ends.

Cor's nose nearly twitched at the scent of the meat cooking, it had been some time since he had bothered with anything that smelled that good. He wondered to himself if perhaps she was as talented as she professed. His stomach rumbled and he mentally berated himself for his interest.

Still sitting by the fire, Teri jumped at the sound, her head snapping around to regard the still supine man. After a few more moments had passed and he still had not opened his eyes, she decided that perhaps it was safe to take him up on his offer and wash herself. The events of this day had left her travel stained, and feeling as though the stains on her skin and on her soul would take some time to scrub away.

Leaning in, she used the iron hook from the wall to pull out a second, larger cauldron from deeper in the coals. While the tall man had been checking snares, Teri had been preparing water for bathing and to wash her garments. She pulled the cauldron farther into the room, adding some of the still cold water to bring the temperature down. Casting another searching glance at the man on the bed, she turned away from him, took a deep breath and dropped her rags to her feet. She used a scrap of cloth she had found to dip into the water, scrubbing the first and heaviest of the dirt and grime from her pale skin. She had stashed a coarse chunk of lye soap in her satchel when she had left the cabin, and this she now used, struggling to bring a lather from the bitter stuff.

Cor cracked his eyes open when he heard the splashing sounds coming from the fireside. He immediately saw his guest, standing naked with her back to him, bathing. His eyes followed her curves, noting that the rags she had arrived in had certainly concealed the slender perfection of her body. When she had finished with her body, she knelt before the cauldron to dip her long hair in. As she did so, Cor got an unobstructed view of her smooth skin and perfectly rounded haunches. His breath caught somewhere in his chest as heat flooded to his groin. He told himself that it was simply the months since he had had a woman that caused the strong reaction to this slip of a girl. A girl that had most likely spent the winter pleasuring a half-ogre. Somewhere in his mind a small voice was quickly silenced from saying that it was not that at all.

With much of her head immersed in the cauldron, Teri missed the small catch of breath that would have alerted her to her observer. As far as she was aware, Cor was asleep on the rude bench. She scrubbed at her hair, despairing that it would ever be clean again, until she finally decided that it would simply have to do for now. She wrung it into the cauldron and then stood, gathering her now sodden garments and dropping them into the pot to soak. She picked up something from beyond Cor's line of vision and put it on, effectively canceling his show. She sat then, on the hearthstones, stirring the stew and then attending to her tangled hair.

Cor frowned at what he saw. She was wearing one of his shirts. He knew from his viewing of her while she cleaned herself, she wore nothing else. Somehow the knowledge that beneath his shirt she had nothing on sent greater mystery through him, and made him bite his tongue and say nothing to her. He sighed and sat up, not looking at her purposefully. Teri looked at him, alarmed and afraid he would punish her, but when he said and did nothing she began to relax, if only a little.

Dinner, as the smell forewarned him, was excellent. Cor supposed the stew was not really that good, it had just been a while since he had bothered with putting that much work into cooking something. Regardless of the cause, it left him in a surprisingly pleasant mood. Pleasant enough that he pretended to take no noticed as Teri moved about the small hut and straightened things to her liking, as well as spreading out some of her things. Before long she sat down and started to work on the pelts he had indicated, producing a set of a needles and some thread to work them into moccasins for herself.

Cor went back outside, intent upon cutting more wood for the fire. He had plenty stacked inside and the weather was turning warmer, but he needed some fresh air and to be away from the girl. Outside he realized that the few days of warmth they had might have been an early reprieve, since the air was chilled and he could practically smell snow on the air.