Night Watch I: Eliza, Ward of Andrew

*Andrew’s POV*

After the silence had stretched on for some time, I decided to speak from the heart. “It’s not wrong to defend yourself or your family.” I patted Eliza’s hand. She looked up and realized what I had been guessing.

“I got in many fights with bigots over the years, Andrew.” She paused, frowning. “Yes, I broke many bones. However, that’s not why I’m here.” She looked at me intensely. Her green eyes were bright, but tired. “As I said, that story is not for today.” I caught the hint of a bitter smile as she turned her head away from me.

I nodded, and rest of the time spent dressing the cuts on her left side and legs was spent in comfortable silence. Femme came back over and sat by Eliza, and Crow finally drew nearer, too curious to resist.We rarely had company any more.

Anticipating the problem this time, when I needed to rub balm into her upper thighs, I shifted my stance so that the inevitable, unwanted erection I developed stayed relatively camouflaged. I tried to keep my eyes away from the juncture where her surprisingly muscular thighs met, not wanting to worsen my predicament. But, to my shame, I caved to temptation and snuck one quick glance against my better judgment.I felt my face instantly heat up at my blunder.

Shit. I needed to set Eliza’s wing, get her in some clothes, and get us to 'napping' ASAP!

I sat back, positioning my arms ‘casually’ over my lap. I needed to make conversation long enough for my poor dick to deflate. “Alright, so I’m going to go get some supplies to make a splint for your wing. Are you sure you don’t want any pain medication for when it’s set? It takes a moment to take effect.”

Eliza shook her head. “It would be wasted. I feel pain differently than you do. I’m aware that it’s there, but it actually becomes a source of strength. It’s almost like…” She hesitated, searching for the words. “I can tap into the pain later, can use it as fuel when I need it.”

“So it won’t hurt? Or it will?” I was confused. I didn’t want to hurt Eliza when there was no need.

“It will, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s part of what I am, part of how I work. My body can use it as a source of power.” She looked apologetic, but I was not having it.

“No! No way! I am not setting your broken bones without pain medication if you’re going to feel it.” Eliza started to try and interrupt, but I cut her off. “No! I don’t know what happened, but it was something bad. I am not going to cause you unnecessary agony, forget it!” She tried to interrupt again, and I got angry. “No, you can’t make me hurt you!”

I stared her down, determined. Eliza glared defiantly back, eyes full of green lightning. After a few seconds of our intense, ocular battle, we both heard Crow and Femme start fighting, and we both laughed at the same time. “You are a strange man, Andrew.”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “I do believe that is the pot calling the kettle black.”

Eliza grinned. “You may give me one quarter of the regular dose of your wretched pain medication, but only for broken bones. Do not expect to do this regularly, or I will be useless against any foes I encounter.”

I gave her my most fetching smile. “Surely I can give you at least half? And we shall see what the future brings. What manner of weapons do I need to try and find for you, to take on all those foes?”

Eliza narrowed her eyes at me a bit. “A third, and no more. I suppose a small knife, in the event I am disarmed. But for a weapon, I need only one. I would like a battleaxe.”

“A battleaxe?” I had only ever seen Berserkers wield battleaxes, and never a woman. She couldn’t be serious.

“Yes. Preferably single-blade, with the blade at least twelve inches, haft three to four feet long, though as short as two feet would be workable. I favor reinforced steel for the blade and langets to protect the haft. If you are familiar with the skeggox style of blade, that wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.” I was totally dumbfounded. “No?Some people call it ‘bearded,’ it just makes it a bit easier to use the blade to manipulate an opponent’s shield down, like this.” Eliza took my arm and made it horizontal, then hooked it down with a curved finger, as though my arm were the edge of a shield she were catching down with her damned-fancy axe blade.

I decided that perhaps it would be wisest not to reveal that I knew what both terms meant, having been around Christian when he was talking shop. I had been stunned into silence because a woman, that definitely did not appear to be as strong as a bear (or even really a large badger), was giving me exact specifications for a weapon that would be far too heavy for me to wield for more than a few minutes at most. While I was no misogynist, I had never seen any Fae woman wielding a battleaxe, not even among the Berserkers; they just didn’t have the necessary upper body strength. I had seen female trolls with axes, but trolls were near twice my height! Orcs usually carried huge battleaxes, but I could never really tell what gender orcs were until after they were dead and I got a better look. They weren’t very prone to civilized discussion.

…But it sure sounded like Eliza knew what she was talking about.

Fuck it. When it didn’t work out, I’d find it a home elsewhere and get her something more appropriate. Maybe Dee would have use of it? He was a huge guy. I had years of unspent wages and Eliza didn’t need negativity right now.

“Done. We will talk to my friend Christian tomorrow when we are in town; he is a smithy. We will have it custom-made. I’m sure he’ll have a variety of knives available to choose from as well.” Eliza beamed at me. I had a funny feeling for a second, but brushed it aside. I had other stuff to think about. Like applying exactly one-third the usual amount of salve for pain to Eliza’s wing, gathering the materials for her splint, and finding her some manner of clothing post-haste.

Notes

i'm so sleepy again! it's so dangerous to post when you're totally passing out!