Year 765 The Storm Crawler Charge

Connor tried every which way to understand and support Rhea when she does certain things he can’t completely understand. Nevertheless, he is in a sour mood to have to witness her outright chose to appease the damn Vhaltian brat. He wants to understand but all he felt is more jealousy and outrage, if it weren’t for this mission he would really insist, she can’t keep getting in his way of taking Azar down. He wants Rhea to stress less; she has been acting stranger with that man around.

He didn’t wait long to find them if it weren’t the crew he would not have let her go ahead. Every second she is with that Vhaltian is like burning cattle prods to his skin. He knew he is part of the reason she’s been more on edge and avoids involving Connor.

Why is she avoiding me? Connor won’t know and it drove him nuts. She seems to choose to pick a behavior that always does this to him. It was similar to when she avoided him after his reveal of his family tree. Back then, he wasn’t thrilled by her behavior either

Relief greets his psyche to see Rhea ahead, and her smile that would be meant for him brighten his outlook. Even the clear skies aren’t bright enough until he finally saw her smile

It is quickly whisk away when he sees the Vhaltian near her.

I wish he randomly combust. Connor quicken his gait to reach them; Rhea appears to relax at his presence. She has admitted she’s been getting tired with the mage’s antics. Hence, Connor’s increased intolerance.

“Rhea, lead the way.”

Rhea nods, taking the road through the marketplace. Connor made sure to follow close to her, keeping himself between her and Azar. Azar chuckles, he must be able to tell what Connor is trying to do and it is funny to him.

Connor didn’t care, just as long as she isn’t being ragged on while he is around better than hearing about the continuous verbal harassment he does to her. The trio follow along the dirt path; Rhea is completely confident in where she is going. Sometimes she made them fall behind just avoid one or two knights shambling by and she would find a better route.

Renuo is still as desolate and underfunded, there are rarely any knights here and if they are the knights are new recruits picked to guard this place. The streets are barely graveled, and each buildings have holes as large as windows. The homeless were either diseased, starving, or street urchins. These urchins remind him of Ruffin when he first met the boy, starved and sold rocks he claimed were from the Chemuk’s lair. He had a way to convince his clients and did sell a few, hence Connor’s decision to take him in.

Now Ruffin uses his knowledge of the streets to get information for Connor. Ruffin is the closest to being considered a younger brother for Connor, but C boy is very afraid to get attached still and it’s already been four years. Who knows when the boy will ever share what he went through, it is not too dissimilar to Connor when he was a boy.

Thinking of this has him appreciate the people in his life now, especially Rhea even though she’s been acting strangely. And now she is running towards a woman with a familiar three-eyed basilisk emblem on her leather armor, with an even stranger, winged reptilian that coils around her shoulders.

Wait, a Saoirse! Here?

“Why are you chasing that poor old woman?” Rhea caught up with the Saoirse woman and grabs her by the arm. This Saoirse tilts her freckled face; long straight blond hair pulled in a ponytail and a hunter's hat sits on her head. The leather armor had wear and tear with even the dark green hue fading away. She covered herself in weapons including a bladed spear on her back, two pistols on her waist, and if he guesses are bombs. The Saoirse woman stares Rhea down with emerald, green eyes, cheeks pink from alcohol, but she didn’t look drunk at all. Her creature bares it large fang, the scales of its slender body vibrate between a few colors: red, yellow, and black.

Rhea didn’t take that as an obvious warning and remain as angry as before. “I saw that hooded lady! She is running away from you!”

“Oh!” The blond blinks finally registering the words, a huge grin forms on her face. “Sorry you are quite dazzling, couldn’t help but stare. That lady is my friend.”

To anyone that didn’t know the Saoirse background, that smile seems genuine. Connor saw differently. He advances right over and picks Rhea up by the waist. She fought to have him let go, cussing in Krax. “Don’t mind her.”

This female now stares at him, a little too long with a squint. No way…you cannot recognize me.

“Nah, she’s lovely.” The female chuckles relax her gaze, hushing her creature friend. She picks her hat up to give that friendly greeting with a wink only to Rhea, “Remember my name next time, sweet ember. It’s Jerilyn Saoirse.”

We will never see you again.

Rhea had that expression that was just as confused as what Connor felt. At least she wasn’t fighting his hold anymore. Jerilyn gave a simple nod to Connor and Azar, as if she didn’t care much about them, then ran towards a different part of the path playfully hollering. “SERANA~!”

“Well…I like her.” Azar spouts out of the silence; Connor wrinkle his nose.

“She’ll bite something off that you will terribly miss.” Connor made sure to say so Azar will not be that idiot to approach her. Then he quickly changes his tone, “Never mind. Why don’t you find out yourself.”

That only had the male mage chuffs.

“Connor! Can you let go of me?” Rhea taps his at his forearm, she does appear calmer but he’s ready to tell her to go back to the ship.

“I don’t know. Are you going to run off again?” Connor challenges her calmness, that only earns a wince from the woman he loves. This is why he is so tempted to have her return to the ship; a Saoirse being interested in her scares him.

“I…. promise. I am sorry. That woman is very strange and looks dangerous.” Rhea admits, her pout as deep as ever that he can see the pink of her lip.

“Oh, she is. It comes with being a Saoirse. But I don’t want you chasing after her.” Connor demands it with the same stern tone he uses being a captain. Rhea had that bit of outrage glint in her eyes, then she sighs as he sets her down.

“What does that even mean?”

“She’s a beserker.”