I Wonder,

[detriment]

She added another quip but he was on his way to confront the man. He was thinking how best to approach the situation while he walked. He knew the man was armed. He did not know if the jar he held was delicate or fragile, nor did he have any idea why it was so special. There was a lot to take into account but he was cut off from his train of thought as the woman shot past him. He didn't know what to make of this but he knew interfering with her would probably serve no end. It seemed like the best course of action would be to follow her lead and be ready in case the situation took a turn for the worst.

 

[paperxairplanes]

Sunheri reached the man, standing close to him and sizing him up and down, looking as if she was ready for a fight. But instead of swinging her fists, she made a quick grab at the jar, probably unexpected since the man's grip gave way. With the jar clasped in her hands, Sunheri darted past him and towards the crowded market place. Quite a bit of her time growing up had been spent sneaking about and running from her parents, probably a skill that was going to help her now.

 

[detriment]

Matthew stopped as the woman reached the man. He was frozen in anticipation entirely sure the woman were about to take a swing at the man but was caught of guard yet again. She plucked the jar from his hands and darted off into the crowd. Considering how confrontational she had been with him this turn of events seemed completely unexpected, or perhaps he had just bringing out that side of her with his actions somehow.

 

[paperxairplanes]

In the market now, she i dashed past various vendors, looking for somewhere to hide herself. She knew she could only outrun him for so long, and it was better to squeeze herself in somewhere until the man grew bored and found another target.

Glancing over her shoulder, Sunheri saw the man chasing after her, faster than she had expected. Panic built up inside of her, and acting without thinking, she stopped for a second to kick the leg of a vegetable stand. The stand dropped and the goods cascaded, enough to cause the drunkard to stumble upon them and then fall.

Sunheri giggled and started her run again, trying to find herself a hiding spot again.

The man stood now, looking around for the girl with the jar, but not seeing her anywhere turned to Matthew. "You," he roared, menacingly heading towards the young man.

 

[detriment]

Matthew watched the scene play out before him trying his best to keep up in case he did end up having to intervene. Up ahead he saw the woman pause for a moment causing him to slow as well. What he saw next stopped him dead for he could hardly believe his eyes. She kicked down an entire vegetable stand in her path, releasing utter mayhem in her wake. He was fortunate enough to have paused but the drunkard ploughed head long into the chaos and ended up head over heals. From his mouth, held open in shock, escaped unchecked laughter. He couldn't help himself after these turn of events and stood there enjoying the absurdity of it. Unfortunately his laughter seemed to have the effect of not only attracting the attention of the drunk man but angering him further.

"You,"

The drunk man started towards him. His laughter was gone now and his expression had gone blank. He held out his hands, open but up separating him from the other man.

“Now look, she was only taking back what was hers. You and I had finished our bit...”

He was sure to keep eye contact as the man came towards him but also take note of his shoulders should they cock back to give the tell tale sign of coiling up to release a punch.

 

[paperxairplanes]

Sunheri had found a stall selling what she considered to be various drab fabrics--drab like most things in this country--and hid herself behind the curtain of cloth and the wall it was against. Out of breath, she looked at the jar, moving to bring it close to her and kissing it once. "Sorry Grandma, I'll keep a better watch of you." Just as she was about to slid the jar back into her bag she heard the roar of the man chasing her. Eyebrows raised in surprise, a hand reached out to pull away at the curtain and see what had angered him now. She surveyed the scene before her and realized he had turned on Matthew now. Was this her fault? Regardless, she wasn't going to allow him any claims about helping her. So she stepped out of her hiding place just as the drunk man began to pull back an arm to strike.

"Hey! Drunkard," she called out, probably a little too confidently.

 

[detriment]

The drunk man froze with his arm cocked back as he turned away from Matthew, who turned as well but just enough that he could look over in the same direction. There she was poking out from behind a curtain goading the man away.

"Hey! Drunkard,"

Matthew couldn't tell what this woman's plan was, to taunt this man to the ends of the earth? Rather than letting him chase after her again he decided to try his best to keep his attention.

“No if you want anyone it's me you big ugly mutt.” He called out trying to wrestle the man's attention back. Even with out drink trying to focus on two things at once was probably to much for this oaf.

 

[paperxairplanes]

Sunheri had begun reaching for some of the scattered vegetables to throw at her new found nemesis when she heard Matthew speak up again. Instead of aiming it at the drunk man, she aimed it at the pretty boy. "You stay out of this!" Her voice was raised and she stamped her foot, looking far more childish than she had intended to.

 

[detriment]

He had only turned a fraction of his attention away from the man in front of him so the vegetable hurled in his direction came in almost unnoticed. It wasn't until it was almost a foot from his head that he managed to lean away and let the carrot bounce of his shoulder instead. Any civility strained civility he had maintained for the woman was finally broken, partially from the intensity of the situation and partial because she was now hurling produce at him.

“Are you completely mad woman!?” He yelled incredulously now turning to face her completely. “No. You know what she's the one you want go get her.” He said to the man in front of him but loud enough that she could tell it was intended for her ears. As he turned back to the man he was address, with his hands out wider to try and show he was backing out of the confrontation. The drunk, still in arms reach, only saw that he had dropped his guard and through one of his enormous fists in Matthew's direction.

Matthew had only turned back just in time to see the blow coming and managed to again lean out of the way. His body reacted instinctively like a pent up spring released as he grabbed the arm that flew passed his face and dragged it out a bit further. The drunken mans already precarious balance was overwhelmed and he tumbled to the ground again. Matthew stood there a moment over the drunk man waiting to see his reaction before his attention was wrestled away yet again. This time by an older woman who had begun yelling.

“My vegatables! All my precious crop! You'll pay for this lady, they're all ruined!”

Matthew hadn't forgotten about the projectile carrot from a few moments before, but with a second adversary approaching he was beginning to get overwhelmed. He pointed at the young woman making eye contact with her and then pointed to his horse.

“Unless you want to deal with both of them you'll leave with me now.”

He ran the short distance to his horse and put one foot in the stirrup ready to hoist himself up, turning back to the woman to see what she had decided.

 

[paperxairplanes]

With the carrot gone from her hand, Sunheri bent down to grab a tomato, ready to actually hit him with it this time. She didn't take lightly to being called names, especially mad. Ready to hurl more produce at him, she was surprised to see him quickly, and perhaps too easily bringing the larger opponent to the ground. Her eyes lit up in recognition then, realizing a commoner wouldn't be trained to so easily bring down a man perhaps twice his size. She blinked, squeezing the tomato as she began to put two and two together finally. Matthew wasn't some village locale. Her reverie was broken by a woman screaming and Sunheri shut her eyes in irritation for a second. Couldn't this lady see she was thinking and needed her quiet? Blue eyes opened again to find the woman starting to move towards her menacingly and the tomato fell from her hand as she turned towards the horse and made a sprint towards it.

 

[detriment]

He stood there fully ready to mount his horse and ride away leaving her, but he was somewhat relieved to see her drop her next projectile. She bolted towards him, seeming to have made up her mind on the matter. Taking the moments he had as she came to him he reached into his coin purse and grabbed a handful of pieces. The passers by of the market had cleared an area for the altercation to have its space, leaving Matthew with a clear line to the older woman who was approaching them. He hadn't time to count the coins he grabbed so he just threw it in the angrier woman's direction, sure that it would be more than enough to replace the woman's crop, broken stall and them some.

“Here M'lady we do apologize.” He yelled in her direction.

The drunken man had mustered back to his feet now and was gathering his momentum in their direction as well. They were out of time. Matthew hoisted himself onto his horse and turned to the younger woman, ready to help her up should she need it. At the same time with one hand tugging at the reigns he pointed the horse in the clearest direction out of the crowd.

 

[paperxairplanes]

Sunheri watched the silver fall from his hands, finally accepting that Matthew wasn't some stable hand. She bit down on her lip, remembering her snobbish comments from earlier, and realizing she was only willing to trust him now because she realized he was of wealth. Superficial, most people would call it. But to Sunheri, knowing he may be of similar stature made him seem more familiar to her than anything else she had seen thus far on her journey. Still clutching her jar tightly, she hesitated for a moment, looking up at the man and then back at the drunk making his way towards him. Knowing what her obvious choice was she slid a hand into Matthew's using it to pull herself onto the horse. Once on it, she awkwardly sat, hands on the seat for support, not sure where to place them.

 

[detriment]

Having the woman's hand in his wasn't the delicate moment he had hoped for when he first extended his own what seemed like a very long time ago, but there wasn't any time to get lost in the moment now. She hopped up onto the horse behind him. He shifted forward to give her room and loosened his grip on the reigns, freeing the horse to start walking forward. He took a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure she was ready, and it was a good thing he did because she didn't look it at all. They were going to need to get some speed and she barely looked like she was able to hold on already.

He moved his hand to hers and gently tugged it to his front so she could hold on to him, while he leaned forward and hunkered down to brace for the acceleration.

Hoping she was secure he dug his heels into the sides of the horse and yelled out the command the beast knew so well. “Yah!” As the creature had done so many times before it took off forward out of the market. The crowd scurrying to give them a wide birth as they went.

 

[paperxairplanes]

Her hands still were gripping tightly onto the seat around her when she noticed his hand over hers. Surprised by the action, she watched him pull her arm around him, before opening her mouth to make a comment. Before she had the chance to get the words out, the horse lurched forward and she squealed. Her other arm instinctively wrapped itself around him, and her hands clenched tightly to the fabric of his tunic as she buried her face into his shoulder blade, eyes shut.

 

[detriment]

He left his own arm over hers until he felt her other arm reach around him on his other side. She pressed herself tightly into his back, which seemed to him to be out of fear. Both of his hands went to the reigns now, flicking them to give his horse further encouragement. Together the three of them bolted and in a moment they were gone from the market and on a road out of the village. Unsure of whether or not anyone would be pursuing them he decided to take them well away and let his horse continue his sprint. The horse needed the exercise anyway, this had been a relaxed wander into the countryside and it had been a while since he had given it free reign.

Once out of the village and on the open road he relaxed a bit and straightened himself up, slowing to a fast gallop.

 

[paperxairplanes]

Sunheri's grip on him did not loosen for what she felt was ages, her eyes still closed as she clung to him tightly. Eventually, feeling the horse's pace slow, she opened her eyes hesitantly, no longer seeing the small village houses, but a country road. Her grip on him loosened and she slowly slid her hands back to the seat, though she was wobbly without holding him for support. Blue eyes examined the back of his head, "I could have saved myself this time," she mumbled, embarrassment in her voice.

 

[detriment]

She let go of him and he gave the reigns a gentle tug to slow the horse even *further. She mumbled at his back. He indulged for a moment the thought of kicking his horse back into a sprint to be rid of her but decided against it. This could very well be the most stubborn woman in the entire kingdom, she would probably hit the ground and be angry with it for catching her.

"If your heart is so set on it I can take you back and drop you at the edge of town if you like. I'm sure the large man with the knife would love his chance to get at you. Or maybe you could just pay me back for that woman's stall you ruined."

He stayed looking straight ahead, not turning back to speak to speak to her.

 

[paperxairplanes]

Sunheri clenched her teeth at his comment, wondering how difficult it would be to push him off the horse. He'd probably act chivalrous about it if she did though, and she realized she was bringing out a not so nice side in him. "Why don't you, then?" She was very sure she could outrun the man with the knife and was very sure one of the necklaces in her bag could buy a few vegetable stalls. "Who are you, anyway?"

 

[detriment]

He listened to her answer. He had hoped in his challenge she would be forced to thank him for his help but he should have known it wouldn't be that easy.

"Clearly I must protect you from yourself as well if you're ready to go back there."

His only victory with her it seemed would be the small one of her curiosity. He wondered about what could have interested her, as she had been so ready to get rid of him earlier.*

"I told you my name. I still have yet to hear yours though."

 

[paperxairplanes]

This wasn't the first time someone had told Sunheri she needed protection from herself. She had heard others go so far as to say she was the only person who could ever hurt her. She had never taken it as an insult until now, when it sounded like one coming out of his mouth. Had he basically called her stupid? She rolled her eyes when he asked for her name again, wracking her mind for a name of this kingdom, "Eleesabeef," she decided on finally, accidentally mangling the name in the process.

 

[detriment]

Finally she had given her name.

"Eleesabeef,"

He thought for a moment she might have some sort of speech impediment as she seemed to stumble through her own name, but by the time she had finished it seemed more to be more of an accent. He remembered now the details he had picked out earlier before all the excitement that had led him to conclude she was from somewhere far away.

“Well that’s an interesting pronunciation. Where are you from Eleesabeef?” He smiled and had still not looked back to her, playing up the strangeness of her name just a hint more.

 

[paperxairplanes]

Her eyebrows furrowed when he commented on her pronunciation. She had said the name exactly as she had heard it before and didn't understand his comment. People from Dillard were strange and brutish, she had always been told. It seemed entirely plausible to her that they would name a girl after cattle meat. She shut her eyes when he asked her another question before shaking her head, though he wasn't looking at her. "You told me your name, so I offered mine. I don't know where you're from."

 

[detriment]

Just when he thought they might be able to have a conversation she went on the defensive again.

"You told me your name, so I offered mine. I don't know where you're from."

He wasn't about to just come out and say he lived in the royal castle so he decided on just a half truth.

“Well you never asked. I'm from Levon. Do you only ever share things about yourself after another person has shared with you? That could be very lonely.”

His hand wandered idly to the horses mane in front of him which he began to stroke.

 

[paperxairplanes]

Sunheri's features lit up for the first time since their encounter when he mentioned her destination. She was about to start asking questions about the capital when he finished his thought. Gritting her teeth again, she moved the bag which was hanging off the side of the horse to place it in her lap. After taking a peak inside to ensure her jar was intake and safe she looked back up to answer his question. "No, even then I don't always share things," but for the most part this was something she lived by, "But generally, yes, I only give out what I receive."

 

[detriment]

He felt her shuffling at his back to look into her bag. His own guarded personality kicking in to suggest the possibility she might have her own knife in that bag, but he didn't entertain the thought for long because it seemed overly paranoid. She proved him right when she finished whatever she was doing and closed her bag back up, without stabbing him in the back.

He listened to her continue on before asking another question.

“For what reason do you guard yourself this much, has life been so cruel to you?”