Tales From the Red Book: a Peaceful Life

only occasionally interrupted by the blossoming flowers before it gave way to vast fields of golden wheat. The village w

stature but big in spirits. Her name was Arilla, she was freshly nineteen and adventurous only as a young gnome could be. The other girl was human, shorter than avera

shes, before they settled in a nice spot, where

the orc warrior asked only for one thing. To be given the old, abandone

lways survived. He even trained some of the lord’s personal guards later on. They were laughing that it was because of

ribe behind. After the first battle, however, there were no more indignations, no more quips about

the castle by now, but he wanted to go here. To

s to become his land. He then set up the fireplace, he liked gazing into it during his silent nights. He was planning

nd no friends when he left ... just h

s and shiny with sweat. The girls marveled at his broad shoulders. This was the game. Sneak here, watch him work and go ho

ed on the unknown orc, she would n

so far the girls saw no one ever visit him, but now, this beautiful half-elven woman approac

ca

er figure was unchanged, maybe even more refined than he remembered. In her simple gray dress, which she cut up to above her knee so th

mbered it. No, better than he remembered, because this was no mem

m the nerves would be nice. He picked up this habit on a campaign in a distant land. The lord was part of the king’s army in

enever you want, it won’t take long.” he

Resmae sat on a tree stump next to the fireplace and waited. Lis watched her intently. She was beautifu

using them for pleasure. She was shunned by the community for this, but the lord’s judge found her

l, she needed no magical help getting those men to fall for her. W

with a kettle and some herbs

. Why did she come, this was way more difficult now. He prepare

said after a wh

and thei

t from you?” her voice filled with

” he answered a

at him, hit him, curse him and then leave him to desperation. But when she came, when she saw him, how he change

isturb that.” he said, looking into the ground. He would rather face a horde of enemy sold

e anyway.” her eyes stared at him intently, he felt them burying i

urprise. Was that a glimmer of hope in his eyes? N

proudly “Why are

years and her presence brought the same emotions it did befor

between us.” He couldn’t keep looking at her, because he was afraid she might notice. In his eyes, she mig

iding her surprise. She saw his scars and sh

ng as I could take it.” now he looked at her. The softness in his rugged face shocked her to her core. “I am truly sorry for leaving you

ms as she used to before and cry until he tells her it will all be alright. She wanted to take out her dagger, hidden at a sheathe on her inner th

o you are sorry?” she said “You are sorry and that’s it? You don’t get to pretend, that you are the one who was wronged here. After all we’ve been to each other ... I have known you my entire life and then ... after that night you just disappear?

e was marching to a hopeless battl

r and despair “I thought I mean something to you, I thoug

you do.” he s

you left.” her words cut him deeply, she knew that “There was no forgetting you, no escape from you, nothing. The village shunned me, called me a whore – that is why I am unwed. Because you ruined me. Because I tried to escape your hold over me in pleasure with others