The Warlord's Unexpected Affection
chapter 5 "Blue against brown"
Damien Valorian
*gaze fixed on the trail ahead*
Gareth, riding beside him, exhaled sharply.
Gareth
Did they really think they could escape?
“They ran because they knew death was coming,”
another soldier muttered.
That’s how many had escaped last week.
They wouldn’t escape tonight.
A campfire flickered in the distance. The fools were celebrating.
Damien Valorian
*Raised a hand*
From their position in the darkness, Damien could see the bandits.
Fourteen men, just as expected.
But there was something unexpected.
She's sitting near the fire, her hands tied behind her back.
Damien Valorian
*Eyes narrowed as he observed her*
A hostage. Most likely a traveler or a merchant’s daughter, unlucky enough to have crossed their path.
He had no reason to care.
His sharp eyes caught the way she clenched her fists against the rope.
She did not sob like most captives.
Instead, she sat stiffly, her expression carefully controlled, as if refusing to show weakness.
One of the bandit crouched in front of her, his fingers gripping her chin.
Gareth
Think they planned to sell her
Damien Valorian
*Didn’t answer*
He didn’t know, and he didn’t care.
But his gaze sharpened as the woman’s face became fully visible.
Most hostages wept. Begged.
But there was something in her eyes—something fierce.
Damien almost—**almost—**felt impressed.
Gareth
Think we should introduce ourselves?
Damien Valorian
*gave a slight nod*
Damien Valorian
*moved through the battlefield with precision, cutting down the enemies without pause*
“Wait!”
the bandit gasped, panting
“You don’t have to do this! Take her instead! A gift for your leader! Spare me, and she’s yours!”
Damien Valorian
*felt a flicker of disgust*
Gareth
Hah. You expect Lord Damien to take a damsel in distress as a prize?
*scoffed*
For a moment, Damein considered ignoring the plea entirely.
Shock.
Disbelief.
And rage.
The woman’s breath hitched as she stared at him, the realization of what had just happened setting in.
She hated the fact that she had been offered up like some object.
The bandit sagged in relief.
Blood splattered onto the dirt, and the bandit collapsed with a choked cry.
Damien didn’t look back at her.
But as the last of the bodies fell, he finally turned—
And found her staring at him.
And for the briefest moment—she locked eyes with him.
Damien Valorian
*stepped forward, catching her before she hit the ground*
Comments