Mercenary Against the Soldier

Chapter four

                James was the first to wake that morning. The well muscled brute, Alorik, was snoring loudly in the bed next to his. James eased himself out of the bed and his bare feet touched the cold wooden flow of the room. Standing by the open window was Jax, who stood still, staring at the bright yellow moon.  James quietly moved over to where Jax stood. The cool air of the early morning enveloped the skin on James’s naked flesh.

                “What are you looking at?” James asked. He rubbed his own arms for a little breath of warmth. He could not understand how Jax just stood there, unmoving and without the notice of the cool air. Of course, Jax was clothed in his black tunic and pants where James was in nothing but his underclothes, but the air still should have stung his skin.

                “Just thinking,” Jax replied after some time. “I have roamed this world for so long alone. When I found companionship before, it ended in blood and death of those I care about. I would hate for history to repeat itself with you and Alorik.” He paused and placed his hand on James’s shoulder. James could now see why the cold did not bother Jax. The hand on his shoulder was ice cold; it was colder than the frosty air outside. “Let us hope that you don’t meet the same fate. We should wake alorik soon. The sun will rise and we must be on our way to our next stop.”

                “Where are we heading next, sir?” James asked. He went over and retrieved his clothes from beside his bed.

                “Our next stop is Rohlta,” Jax responded. “Alorik, wake up,” he said loudly enough to stir the soldier. Alorik woke up and slowly rose to a sitting position with a groggy.

                James was the first to wake that morning. The well muscled brute, Alorik, was snoring loudly in the bed next to his. James eased himself out of the bed and his bare feet touched the cold wooden flow of the room. Standing by the open window was Jax, who stood still, staring at the bright yellow moon.  James quietly moved over to where Jax stood. The cool air of the early morning enveloped the skin on James’s naked flesh.

                “What are you looking at?” James asked. He rubbed his own arms for a little breath of warmth. He could not understand how Jax just stood there, unmoving and without the notice of the cool air. Of course, Jax was clothed in his black tunic and pants where James was in nothing but his underclothes, but the air still should have stung his skin.

                “Just thinking,” Jax replied after some time. “I have roamed this world for so long alone. When I found companionship before, it ended in blood and death of those I care about. I would hate for history to repeat itself with you and Alorik.” He paused and placed his hand on James’s shoulder. James could now see why the cold did not bother Jax. The hand on his shoulder was ice cold; it was colder than the frosty air outside. “Let us hope that you don’t meet the same fate. We should wake alorik soon. The sun will rise and we must be on our way to our next stop.”

                “Where are we heading next, sir?” James asked. He went over and retrieved his clothes from beside his bed.

                “Our next stop is Rohlta,” Jax responded. “Alorik, wake up,” he said loudly enough to stir the soldier. Alorik woke up and slowly rose to a sitting position groggily.

            “Morning Jax,” Alorik said, spinning his body so his legs hung off the bed.