Serialized Pulp Novel: The Rogue and the Merchants (Part 14)

Here is serial 14 of my pulp novel, The Rogue and the Merchants. As usual, here is a link to the full transcription, thus far, if you want to know more about the project, the source of the manuscript, or the story of the novel's genesis. Also, all of the illustrations I've been composing are there as well: Pulp Novel Project: The Rogue and the Merchants


***

When he let the girl up, she bounded to her feet and ran to the guards and lowered their spears with her hands. They all began to talk excitedly to each other in their language, and yet, it did not matter, for the Rogue could not understand their language at all. This gave way to loud speaking and finally shouting. It seemed to the Rogue that the girl was defending him against the guards, and for this he was ashamed. Eventually, shoving and shouting, she removed the spearmen from the tent, who scowled at the Rogue as they left. She then turned to face him.

"I'm sorry," he said, bowing his head, "My reaction was not merited. Your men had a right to be concerned, to assume I aimed to cause you harm."

"Such an apology is unneeded," she said, smiling, "I'm too young to realize that some men cannot be accosted as I did you. There is such a thing as battle reflexes, and this was my first acquaintance with them. Please. Accept my apology. But please--do not speak of our god. It's too horrible a subject for me."

This stirred the Rogue's curiosity, but he had no option but to acquiesce. Why was she so reluctant to discuss her god?

Feeling no little amount of shame for attacking the girl as he did, he quietly submitted to her. He sat down and she approached him with a clay bowl filled with steaming water she had poured from her kettle. They did not speak as she dabbed his wound with a scrap-rag soaked in the same tea he had been drinking. After a few moments, she finished, and, going to the door, called for her folk to bring him food.

The two spearmen, who only a few moments ago threatened the Rogue, entered then, and they bore fruit and grains and a small joint of meat cooked in wine. By this hour the Rogue was voraciously hungry, and so he bolted his food with a great aggression and for a moment forgot the girl, who was nearby, lying on her belly, gazing on him with a distant look in her shimmering eyes.