Bab 18: ...The Ugly Truth...
Valdimir stepped forward while aiming an arrow toward the bandits.
- STEP AWAY FROM HER. IF ANYONE TOUCHES HER, I WILL KILL HIM RIGHT ON THE SPOT.
The bandits started backing off. They knew that no one can stand in front of the warrior with the iron leg. His burning eyes and his scary face freaked them out.
- That...that's the warrior with the iron leg! What should we do?
- LET'S RUN AWAY BEFORE HE CATCHES US.
The bandits tried to run away, but they were already surrounded by the soldiers.
- CATCH ALL THOSE BASTARDS. I WILL MAKE SURE TO SEND THEM TO HELL.
Yelled Valdimir, then he headed towards Anastasia who was laying on the ground, but she was still conscious. Though her eyesight was blurry, she could recognize her commander's voice.
" He came! How did he find me? "
She saw him getting closer to her.
" Is he going to yell at me again? But I'm not a soldier anymore. I'm nothing to him, now...Should I beg him more? No, I can't do that, I shouldn't look more pathetic than this. I swore in this second life that I won't ask for anyone's compassion... I must stay strong till the end. I will thank him and leave. That's the best thing I can do. I don't want to hear anything else from him. I'm already at my limits. "
Lucia rAn toward her:
- MY LADY, ARE YOU OKAY?
- I'm fine Lucia, help me to stand up.
She managed hardly to stand up, then she walked a few steps, but her legs were too weak to hold her. At that moment, Valdimir held her arm to prevent her from falling, but she pulled it right away. Then she glared at him.
- I'm sorry for making trouble again. Though you said you don't want to see my face again, here we are. Thank you for saving my life, I will make sure that my father compensates you...Now, goodbye.
When she turned around to leave, Valdimir suddenly carried her right away and headed back to his horse without saying a word.
Anastasia was very surprised:
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING? PUT ME DOWN!
- Shut up, can't you see how much blood you lost?
Her eyes suddenly became full of tears:
- SO WHAT...
- So what? You will collapse and die in no time.
- WHO SAID THAT I WANT TO SURVIVE? WHY DID YOU COME? YOU ALREADY ABANDONED ME...WHY DID YOU SHOW UP AGAIN? YOU SHOULD HAVE IGNORED ME TILL THE END. "
Valdimir looked at her teary eyes, at that moment, he realized that the lady he thought that was living a leisurely life, suffered so much to the point that she wished to die instead of going back to her luxurious house.
He sighed:
- Stop talking, you don't have the energy for that.
He covered her with his coat, then he put her on his horse and immediately head back to the camp.
Anastasia was very confused, she didn't know how she should react to that. She couldn't forget how he ditched her that easily.
" What is going on? Is he going to treat my wounds first, then send me home? Maybe he didn't want to send me to my father in such a state. I won't have any high expectations. He hated me since the beginning, there is no way he will allow me to stay...."
Despite her worries, Anastasia fell asleep as soon as she felt warmth. She leaned on Valdimir then she closed her eyes. All the tension on her face faded away as soon as she felt that someone was protecting her.
Valdimir couldn't take his eyes off her peaceful feature. He felt so regretful after treating her that badly and pushing her away while she was in danger.
" I must deal with that stepmother before sending her back. "
Meanwhile, Sergio asked Lucia to ride his horse.
- Will...Will you go back with me?..If..if you don't want...
- I don't mind.
She sat behind him:
- Sergio, I'm sorry that you got in trouble because of us.
- Please, don't be bothered, it is nothing...Our commander may look tough, but he is not a bad person. I knew that he will understand...
At that moment, Lucia wrapped her hand around him and leaned on his back, which made Sergio feel so nervous and happy at the same time.
- Thank you...
In the morning, Anastasia opened her eyes slowly. When she looked around, she realized that she was in her tent.
" What did happen to me? "
The last thing she remembered was riding the horse along with Valdimir.
" He ended up taking me back to the camp.."
- My lady! You woke up! Are you feeling any better?
- My body hurts.
- Yeah, you had several injuries. Thank god the doctor came and treated you as fast as possible.
Anastasia wanted to stand up, but Lucia prevented her from moving:
- You must rest for several days. You are not allowed to leave your tent. That's the commander's order.
- Why would I listen to him? I'm no longer a soldier. We must leave this place I don't want to stay here.
- No one is going anywhere
Said Valdimir while entering her tent. He glared at Lucia to make her leave, then he checked Anastasia.
She turned her head and looked away. She was afraid to see that scary face again or listen to other harsh words from him:
- What do you want?
- I came to check on you.
- I'm fine, I can leave.
- I don't think so.
- Don't worry, I will take full responsibility for what did happen to me. The Count won't question you.
- Do you think I'm afraid of your father?
-...
Valdimir got closer to her then he got on one knee so he could be on the same level as her since she was laying on the ground.
Anastasia became more nervous, she took a glimpse at his expressly face.
" Did I make him angrier?"
When he reached his hand, out of sudden, memories of her husband beating her, appeared. She unconsciously rose her hands to protect herself.
Valdimir's blood boiled when he saw such a reaction.
" What kind of life you have been living so far? "
He patted her head gently, then he walked away :
- You only have one week to recover, after that, you must get back to training.
Then he stopped and looked at her confused face:
- I'm not that kind of man. As long as you are under my watch, no one will dare to harm you...
After saying those words, he left....
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone