Chapter 9: Trust
Oryn
"Wonderful! Just wonderful! Hit it where it hurts!" exclaimed Chief Torbin.
Snorting, I wondered how he could think this was wonderful. While it proved how capable his own people were against a foreign army, it showed me just how lacking my own maybe in this new land.
"Oh, and why do you say that Chief Torbin?" inquired Thalia.
Realizing his outburst, Chief Torbin quickly reigned in his excitement.
"My apologies Warlord Oryn and Commander Thalia *cough* I have a tendency to get a little too excited when I watch such fine warriors, such as these two, fight. Oh, it reminds me of my younger years." He wistfully said.
Thalia and I shared a smirk. It was interesting to see such a friendly man be blood firstly for a fight. But, what was more interesting was who spoke next.
"Yes, it is pretty thrilling to watch two skilled warriors go at it every now and then. To-bad it was so short."
Thalis brows crinkled, "What do you mean?"
"Well in about 5 seconds my girl is going to end the match."
"What are you talking about? They just---"
"ARGH!!"
Startled by the noise, we all looked shifted our gazes to the match and shocked by what we saw.
Enzo was sitting on the ground his face bone white. He was groaning as he clutched his left leg. It looked to be set at an odd angle, and as we walked up, the femur was noticeably protruding about 2 inches out of the skin.
Noticing the stares Poppyinstantly dropped her staff, arms stiff at her side, and as she stared at the ground.
"I thought you said you said she wasn't using a weighted staff? Enzo was using a training sword and was at a clear disadvantage. How can you call this a fair fight? Is this how we should expect you and your people to behave from this point on?" Huffed Thalia.
Chief Torbin looked like a fish out of water, his mouth open and closing every second.
"Let's not get our knickers in a twist. First off-even though I like you Thalia lets be honest. No matter how much you like a person until they've earned your trust, you have every right to distrust them. And yes, that includes withholding the truth and even twisting it. Don't tell me you do it differently. Because, in case you have forgotten, I lived with your people for a time. I can even remember a time or two that you used a few people to take advantage of me, under the pretense of friendship." Mael stated.
Thalia was started by the sudden steeliness of Mael's. It was a stark contrast from the friendly and easygoing attitude had a moment earlier. If they didn't see this themselves, they would never believe that she even had this side to her.
"Secondly- I never lied. It is a light-weight stick, see for yourself."
Throwing the stick to Thalia, Thalia's brows drew together upon catching the staff. She twirled it around and thrust it in the air as she fought an invisible enemy.
Then she threw it to me. When I caught it, I wasn't surprised by its lightness? I could tell from Thalia's reaction that it really was a weightless stick. But, what did surprise me was the material. Although the staff was as light as woods, it was hard.
*Thwack*
Striking it against a nearby boulder, I lifted it up to my face to examine the damage done to the stick. There wasn't a single dent or even scratch on the staff.
Shifting focus, I asked with a dead-panned-face, "Obviously, your craftsmanship is excellent enough. Why did you want to learn how we craft things?"
"Oh, well, unfortunately this staff wasn't made by our own people. It is something that Mael brought with her from the capital. She has given it to Poppy to use as a training weapon."
"Why not buy more?"
Out of the corner of my eye, Maels moment of tension and Chief Torbins quick look at her didn't go unnoticed. But, the reactions disappeared as quickly as they appeared.
"Unfortunately, products like this staff are extremely costly. And we don't have the funds to buy more. So, when I saw how finely crafted your own weapons and armor are, I got excited. It looks to be just as well-made as the ones from the capitol."
Although the explanation was reasonable, their reactions to the question didn't match with the answer. Obviously, there was something that they were hiding and didn't want us to find out. But, because we are their "guests," we'll have to be patient. We can't afford more harm to come to our people.
So, I nodded my head in understanding. "Well, seeing the staff. I can tell that no fowl-play was involved. However, what are we supposed to do now? One of my people is injured, and he will be out for weeks, if not months."
"Oh, no worries we will have one of our healers' mend his bones."
"Healer?"
"Yes, healer. You know…milky white glowing hands, fixers of all bodily things, etc."
With a raised eyebrow, I waited for more of an explanation.
"Do you not have healer a healer amongst your people?"
"No, from what you've explained it doesn't seem like we do," said Thalia.
Surprised, the group of people that had gathered began to murmur. Obviously, whatever this healer was, was a big deal.
"Well, I guess you are in for a surprise. Please come with us. We'll take you to the healers' hut to
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
MonsoonMaster
MonsoonMaster I working on the chapters slowly. So, although this is a short chapter I am happy to be able to get it out. Also, I am trying to work on not using I in first person narration so If it is weird at times please forgive me!
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