“Ummm.” His expression contrite, shuffling his feet so the toes of his boot kicked at loose pebbles, watching them roll away.
“Ummm? Just ummm? Nothing else?” Brows raised with expectation of the truth.
“Umm you’re right?” Darius looked back up at her.
Air exploded out of her as her chin fell, landing heavily on her chest. “You are so lucky I like you. Anyone else I would have run clean through long ago.”
A furrowed brow replaced the contriteness. “Now you sound like my sister.”
“Whom I’m sure found it hard not to run you through as well.”
“That’s kinda painting me in a bad light.’
“Don’t you think you’ve earned it?”
Darius’ eyes shifted from side to side before finally looking her straight in the eye.
“Soooo? Are ya gonna change the bandage or not?” A pause, “That is if I promise to behave?” “And?” Her eyes narrowed.
“And what?” His face blank, not sure of what she was asking of him.
“And how are you going to act towards me from now on?”
Darius frowned, starting to get aggravated with her picking. He just looked at her before finally giving her the answer she seemed to want. “Treat you as you deserve and nothing else.”
She searched his face to see if he was mocking her, but he seemed sincere. Her eyes flicked down towards his hands. Darius caught the look and pulled his hands up so Vitaria could see them better.
“No crossed fingers if that’s what you’re looking for.”
“Okay, but…”
“There’s always a but with you isn’t there?” Darius interrupted, his tone changed, becoming peevish as she began to get under his skin like his annoying younger siblings. She gave him a hard look. “Sorry, please continue.” Came his snide apology.
“But you have to stop with the innuendos and treat me as you would any other fellow soldier.”
Darius’ eyes left her face and quickly ran up and down the length of her body. She clenched her jaw, anger stiffened her body posture and reflected itself in her voice.
“Darius.” Indignant at the overt look.
His line of sight came back up to her face. No hint of humor inflected in his voice. “You make it hard, but I will try to do as you ask.” He started to head back to the fire when her voice stopped him dead in his tracks.
“Would you have done the same thing if I had been a he-elf?”
“Look at you like I just did? Certainly not!”
“I don’t mean the vulgar leer.”
“Then what?”
“When; as you put it; saved my butt. I was a little embarrassed at being yanked across your lap like a sack of potatoes.”
Darius stepped back closer to her, his voice dropping down to a brusque whisper so only she could hear it. “Better to be a little embarrassed and be able to bitch about it the next day, then let your pride take your head clean off your shoulders.” He started to walk away before turning back to face her. “Oh and for your information, I would have done the same thing for any he-elf, widgeon or fellow man from my village. I wasn’t seeing a helpless she-elf who needed protection, I was reacting to an unseen danger and I was just pulling you out of harm’s way by whatever means I felt necessary. So, yes I would have done the same for Brian or Gregan.”
“So, you saw me as…”
But again Darius interrupted her. “As a target for the Lorkian’s spear. You had to be moved and I did it. Nothing more, nothing less no ulterior motives.” He turned his back on her, speaking over his shoulder as he headed back by the fire. “If we’re done ‘chatting’ I would like to get this dressing changed now so we can be on our merry way.” Words clipped and short.
Vitaria had no come back as she followed him back to the fire and began redressing his wound. Darius sat as quietly as possible, flinching only a couple of times when Vitaria wiped off the old ointment before smearing on new. She had him bandaged up in short order. He was silent as they got ready to leave. And just as mum rode next to her. There was none of the usual chatter she had grown accustomed to over the past few days. It bothered her. She looked over at him, but he never returned the look. Darius gave no indication of what was going through his mind. Vitaria decided to break the ice by speaking first.
“It’s been a pretty morning.” Her voice, light. She got no response so she pushed a little harder. “Don’t you think so Darius?”
Darius looked over at her. “Were you speaking to me?”
“Yeeess.” Her response drawn out.
“Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention. Keep watch.” Darius’ tone and expression, flat.
“I said it’s been a pretty morning.”
Darius looked about his surroundings as if noticing it for the first time that day. “You’re right. It is a nice day.” And then he turned his attention back on the trail in front of him.
She let it drop and they rode on for a while before she spoke again or more accurately probed with a question. “Are you angry with me?”
Darius turned in his saddle slightly to look at her. “What on earth would make you ask that?” Darius’ voice thick with sarcasm.
“Weeelll…maybe since you really haven’t spoken much since we saddled up this morning.”
He looked at her for a moment before answering. “Well maybe; and I just mean maybe; could be I have nothing to say.”
Jokingly she replied, “Well you usually chatter on like a magpie.” The look on his face made her immediately regret her wording.
“Then my being quiet ought to come as a welcome relief to your bleeding ears.” And before she could say another word he nudged his horse forward slightly.
“Darius, don’t be angry with me.”
“I’m not angry, just doing as you ask.”
“I didn’t say not to talk to me.”
Darius glared at her. “Make up your mind Vitaria. You’re beginning to annoy me.”
“You are angry. And what do you mean, make up my mind? And I’m annoying?”
“Just exactly that, and yes you are. Don’t chatter, but talk to me. Treat me like a fellow soldier, but respect you as a woman. You can’t have it both ways Vitaria.”
“Wait a minute. If I was a male soldier would you treat me differently?”
Darius looked her square in the eyes as he answered her. “Yes. And before you interrupt me I will tell you how.” He paused for a breath and before he could speak Vitaria spit out her impatience.
“I’m waiting.”
“Then shut up and listen.” He watched her jaw go slack at his comment. “That’s how I would speak to a male comrade when he interrupts. I have given you more respect as a woman, because that’s how my mother brought me up, but you are severely trying my patience. Any girl worth her salt knows when she has it good and is being treated like a lady. I see I’ve made that mistake with you and I will correct it. From this point on I will treat you as a fellow soldier. No more no less. Agreed?”
Dumbfounded and at a loss for words she just stared. No he-elf had ever spoken to her in such a manner, probably never would considering her ranking, but Darius wasn’t taking any of that into consideration. Darius had reached the end of his tether and voiced it.
“What