Winter

It was mid winter during another excursion ashore, in a town nowhere near the one where they had first met. Ariadne met with her contact, finished her business and started back out into the dark night towards the shore. She shivered and wrapped herself tighter with her cloak, deciding to take shelter in a tavern on the way. As she opened the door the sounds of laughter and shouts filled the night. The dim lamplight strung across the bartop and hopped from face to face of the merry patrons. She took a seat on a torn up stool at the end of the bar and waved to the barmaid who brought her a steaming silver mug. As she raised it to her lips and blew the steam away she could feel a set of eyes on her back, a piercing stare.

She bent her head to the side, pretending to stretch as she searched the far side of the room from the corner of her eye. She saw the face turned towards her but had to turn fully to confirm what she thought she saw. On the dark side of the room sat a woman, chin length black hair, dressed in metal, a dark cloak covering one half of her, glaring at her with her brow furrowed. Ariadne knew she stood out in a place like this, she knew she’d been remembered. She lifted her steaming cup and made her way to the far side of the room, taking the seat beside Rodanthe. She faced outwards, into the crowded bar, not looking at the woman next to her, sipping her warm drink and feigning disinterest.

Rodanthe looked at her for a few moments, unsure of what she was doing.

“Good morning.” She said finally in a soft, low voice. Ariadne turned to her with surprise, then smiled. Rodanthe was covered in a thick black cloak with silver feathers adhered around the neck, flowing over the shoulders and coming to a point down the front. Ariadne reached out and petted one with the back of her index finger. “Sea bird feathers help it shed water” Rodanthe said and lifted Ariadne’s hand off her coat. “Do you remember who I am?” Ariadne let out a soft laugh,

“How could I forget?”

“And you still came and sat here?” Rodanthe questioned.

“Well it seemed like you just couldn’t wait to continue our conversation.” Ariadne said, regretting her joking nature when Rodanthe let go of her hand and turned sharply away. She was silent a few moments.

“I’d say…that’s not incorrect.” Rodanthe said in a low voice. Though she was still turned away Ariadne could see the redness of her ear poking out from under her thick black hair.

Before Ariadne could respond, the sound of breaking glassware redirected their attention. Two drunken men of varying stature stood near the bar. One loomed down at the other, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him above the ground. The other struggled and threw desperate punches into the air. People around them stood up and yelled to stop or egged them on. The barmaid got involved then, trying to put herself between the two fighting men, yelling at them to take their ruckus outside. The larger man dropped the smaller back to his feet and threw a sloppy punch in the barmaid’s direction. Rodanthe pulled the cloth from around her neck up over her nose.

“Let’s go, we can still stay out of this.” Rodanthe said and turned to the empty seat Ariadne once occupied. Ariadne was already on her feet, striding across the bar towards the fighting. She grabbed the large man’s arm with both hands, but he swiftly knocked her back, she stumbled but caught herself. The barmaid urged everyone to calm themselves as the smaller man threw more insults at the larger. The larger man grew even more furious, and from a small holster under his coat he pulled a curved black knife and held it in front of him. The barmaid recoiled when she saw this, she moved back towards the bar in an attempt to flee, but the larger man grabbed her upper arm and pulled her back. Ariadne moved between them as onlookers gasped. The smaller man climbed on top of the bar and continued to antagonize the other. Ariadne used her small frame to shove the larger man away from the barmaid, who freed herself from his grasp and leapt behind the bar. Enraged, the man spun Ariadne around, pulled her shoulder to him and held the curved knife to her throat. He began to yell, but his drunken words were too slurred and incoherent for anyone around to interpret. Yells from distant patrons spurred him on to entertain them with his violence. He held up the knife and bellowed before plunging it back towards Ariadne. She winced, shutting her eyes and struggling against him, then she heard a thud.

When she opened her eyes the large man was still holding her, but his grip had loosened significantly. She looked up to his face - full of fear and confusion. She followed his gaze to the floor where a bloody hand lay near their feet, still holding the black knife. In front of them a few feet away stood Rodanthe, stance wide and chin tucked to the ground. Her bronze sword was unsheathed in her left hand, the blood dripping down the blade turning vermillion against the golden metal.

Rodanthe lunged forward as the man began to scream, releasing Ariadne and scrambling to the floor. Others around them screamed and fled as well. Rodanthe grabbed Ariadne’s hand gently but urgently and pulled her out of the bar. They ran around the side of the building and Rodanthe lifted her into the air, placing her on the back of a horse Ariadne hadn’t even seen in the darkness. She untied the bridle, hopped up in front of her and kicked her heels, leading the horse down the dark path away from the town as quickly as she could.

“You really love to involve yourself in chaos, don’t you?” Rodanthe yelled behind her. Ariadne placed her chin on Rodanthe’s shoulder.

“It just finds me.”

Once they were far away enough from town Rodanthe slowed the horse and started towards the beach. The more relaxed pace allowed them to chat as they meandered down the path. Ariadne explained her fiber practice and what she had been doing in the towns the two times they’d met. She talked about her family, how they were afraid to leave the sea, how they disapproved of her travels; how it didn’t bother her. Rodanthe mostly listened.

“Tell me something about you.” Ariadne insisted.

“What would you like to know?” Rodanthe replied. Ariadne pondered for a bit,

“What is your favorite snack food?” She asked jovially. Rodanthe rode in silence for a few minutes, Ariadne wasn’t sure if she thought it was a doltish question or if she was really thinking about her answer. Finally in a serious voice Rodanthe replied,

“Meat tarts.”

Ariadne laughed, “Not sure I’ve ever had one!”

“We’ve got to change that.” Rodanthe declared. The horse slowed as they reached the shoreline. “We’re here.” Rodanthe hopped down and held out her hand to help Ariadne off.

“Thank you for your help, perhaps I’ll see you again.” Ariadne said and looked out over the dark water.

“Perhaps we could meet intentionally this time.” Rodanthe replied seriously. Ariadne’s eyes lit up as she realized something.

“I’ve got an idea! Can you meet me here tomorrow night?”

“Right here, this beach you mean?”

“Yes, here on this beach tomorrow night at this time.” Ariadne urged.

“Then I’ll be here.” Rodanthe said and hopped back onto the horse. Without another word she cantered away, leaving Ariadne to slink back into the sea.