The White-Haired Girl

They quickly surrounded us. Two men led the group, and one of them walked up and looked us over.

"An Ionian and a Noxian?"

"As you can see."

"Tie them up first!"

"Wait!"

Someone pushed through from behind the two men. He was just as tall and broad, standing two heads taller than me. When he took off his helmet, I recognized him—Jeram!

"Zhao Xin! My good brother!"

"Jeram, it's you!"

We embraced, celebrating our hard-won reunion. A man beside us frowned. "This is the Zhao Xin you told me about?"

"Yes, brother. He's the one who rescued me from the gladiator arena!"

Brother? Then this man must be Olaf. I studied him. His full beard was tied in a knot over his chest, and he was about as big as Jeram. It seemed I was right!

"Then I owe you an apology. You're a benefactor to the Berserker Clan. My name is Olaf. Thank you for saving my brother!"

"You saved me too. You don't need to feel indebted."

"No. You'll always be my benefactor." Olaf glanced at the wolf carcasses on the ground. "Did you kill all these giant wolves?"

"Yes. My brother and I killed them." I was worried that revealing Darius's identity might cause trouble, since they'd had a falling-out before.

"Truly, you're warriors. I don't think anyone in the Berserker Clan could have done it! It's getting late. Let's pitch our tents here and rest."

One of the two men who had first approached us was Olaf, and the other was their clan leader, Hris. Hris was just as burly, though his beard was much lighter in color. He looked to be getting on in years.

We pitched our tents right there in the ice and snow. The stove burned brightly, but the nights on the tundra were still bitterly cold. Luckily, their liquor was potent. The alcohol loosened our tongues, and we laughed and talked without restraint. I'd never felt so carefree.

When I asked why they'd come into Noxian territory, Jeram's answer moved me deeply.

After leaving Doco that day, he'd searched everywhere for Olaf and gathered his clansmen to sneak in. Their goal had been to rescue me from the gladiator arena. He hadn't expected to run into me here.

They hadn't originally planned to pass through this area, but they'd heard fighting and come to investigate. They found the wolves attacking people, who were in grave danger.

Jeram had been eager to rescue me and didn't want to get involved, but Hris disagreed. He'd decided to save the two people, figuring they might be fellow clansmen—or, if not, they could provide useful information. To everyone's delight, the people they rescued turned out to be the very target of their mission.

I gave them a rough account of my situation, explaining that Tam had granted me my freedom and that I was now heading to the Noxian army to sell furs.

As for Darius, I still explained that he was my business partner. They had no reason to doubt me, and I meant no harm. We chatted together until late into the night, then finally went to rest.

The Berserkers' tents were tightly built, but they still couldn't keep out the tundra's cold wind. No matter how snugly I wrapped myself up, the chill seeped through every layer.

The stove went out in the middle of the night, and I woke up early, frozen. Darius didn't look much better. At that moment, I couldn't help but admire Jeram and his clansmen. They were sleeping soundly in the middle of this icy wasteland.

We struggled through the night and parted ways at daybreak. It wasn't safe for them to stay here; if the Noxian army discovered them, a fierce battle would be hard to avoid.

Jeram gave us an Ironhorn Bull to replace the gray horse that had died. Darius and I didn't linger, and continued on our way.

The Ironhorn Bull was slow but strong, a beast of burden bred to haul goods. After a full day's travel, we finally reached a remarkable place.

It was a vast basin, and the temperature there was much higher than in the surrounding region. Hardy plants grew everywhere. It was nothing extraordinary in itself, but compared with the seemingly endless snowy plains all around, it was like heaven.

From above, the basin looked like an independent kingdom. It had farmland and forests, rivers and lakes, villages and all kinds of strange buildings.

At the center stood a town, surrounded by thick, towering walls like a massive fortress. It was our destination.

Darius let out a long breath. "We're here. My friend Rappor is stationed in the north of the city."

Once we entered the city, I found it bustling. Perhaps because it was the only town nearby, everyone had gathered there. Despite the bad blood between Noxus and the Freljord, the place was full of northern brutes who had come to trade.

At dusk, as we passed a brothel, Darius stopped.

"We've been on the road for days and nearly lost our lives. Let's take a good rest here."

"Uh..."

I didn't answer. I'd never been to a place like this before. I was curious, but also a little embarrassed. As I hesitated, the two young women at the entrance had already pushed me inside.

By the time I looked around, Darius was nowhere to be seen. That guy really knew his way around.

A fair-skinned, middle-aged man greeted me. He wore a black padded robe and kept his hair neatly cropped. His left hand was covered in gemstone rings. He seemed to be the owner.

"Your companion has already chosen a girl. Why don't you pick one too? If none of them suit you, I can send someone to the back courtyard to find a few more."

I glanced around the room. There were a dozen or so scantily clad women, each with a unique figure and appearance, all striking alluring poses as they waited for someone to choose them. The scene really was much as the old saying described.

"No need. Just find me an empty room and bring me a tub of hot water. I'd like to take a bath and relax."

"Sir, we only have a communal bath here. It's fragrant with flower petals and filled with beautiful women. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. As for a tub..."

Seeing the owner's troubled expression, I hurriedly added, "Don't worry, I can pay. I'm just too tired to spend my energy on anything else tonight."

The owner immediately broke into a smile when he heard money wasn't an issue and sent someone to make arrangements. After the hot water was ready, he asked again if I wanted a girl, but I turned him down.

The rooms here were dimly lit, with cloth curtains covering every window. Several candles burned inside, and incense filled the air, making it easy to lose yourself in the atmosphere. Anyone with even slightly less self-control would be swept up in it.

Compared with all the exquisite furnishings and alluring decorations, the large wooden tub in the room seemed out of place. But that didn't matter. All I wanted was to relax.

After so many days of cold and exhaustion, I started to feel drowsy as soon as I got into the tub. Just as I was drifting off, I heard a boy's voice outside.

"Hello, sir. The owner sent me to scrub your back."

"Tell him there's no need. I can wash myself."

"But..." The boy sounded troubled.

Perhaps the owner had noticed I wasn't interested in women and felt awkward charging me too much, so he'd sent a boy to scrub my back instead. If I sent him away, he might get punished, so I let him come in.

Seeing how drowsy I was, the boy reminded me, "Sir, you shouldn't soak while sitting for too long. It's best to sit for a while, then stand for a while. We put a blood-circulating medicine in the water, so you can rest properly after all the fatigue. Let me scrub your back first."

The boy spoke with a stammer. I couldn't tell whether he was nervous or simply inexperienced. When he started scrubbing my back, I felt how strong his hands were—and how unevenly he applied the pressure.

I'd never had any high-end service, but I'd had my back scrubbed before. This boy was clearly a beginner!

I didn't have the heart to criticize him. It wasn't as if he could really hurt me. When he finally finished, clumsy as he was, my back was burning.

He had some strength! He'd scrubbed even my tough skin raw. I was still marveling at it when the boy stepped in front of me. I was so startled I nearly fell backward!

It was a girl!

I was sitting there naked in front of her. My burning back seemed to set my face on fire, and I hurriedly sat back down. Water splashed from the tub all over her.

My reaction startled her. "Sir, what's wrong?"

"You..."

The words were on the tip of my tongue, but then I remembered something else.

Because of the difference in our height, I hadn't been able to see her face clearly before. Now that I was sitting down and looking her in the eyes, I realized she seemed familiar.

The girl had dark skin, bright, lively eyes, and faint freckles. Her white hair was tied back in a small braid. She wasn't beautiful, but she looked spirited. Wasn't this Riven?

"What's your name?"

"My name is Riven. The owner gave it to me."

It really was her!

I knew Riven was an orphan of war, and that she'd served Noxus for years before being abandoned and becoming a wanderer. I'd never imagined she'd had a past like this!

"Go outside for now. I can wash by myself."

"Sir, did I make you angry because I'm not good at this? Please don't send me away, or the owner won't give me any food again. I can... Oh, I can give you a massage, or pound your back!"

"I don't dislike you. Listen to me. Go outside for now, and I'll call you back in a bit..."

Riven was flustered, and it took a lot of effort to persuade her to leave. As for pounding my back, I'd pass.

I no longer felt like soaking in the bath. I hurriedly scrubbed myself a few times and got out. After I'd dressed, I called her back in, then watched as she carried the huge tub out all by herself.

She refused my help, saying the owner would beat her if he saw. Looking at her small frame, I felt a pang in my chest.

When Riven came back, I asked her to sit beside me and keep me company. As we talked, I learned more about her past.

When Riven was five, her parents died in Noxus's northern campaign. From then on, she and her grandmother depended on each other. But just two years later, her grandmother fell ill and died, and sent Riven here before she passed away.

Her original name had been too long, so the owner had named her Riven, meaning "one whose family was torn apart by war."

Little Riven slowly grew up. When the owner realized that her looks weren't enough to satisfy the customers, he kept her because she was hardworking and very strong.

Another seven years passed, and Riven was fourteen.

When there was no work, she often went hungry. Sometimes she was beaten for being clumsy. The owner wouldn't have sent her to me this time if I hadn't refused to be waited on by one of the girls.

"Do you want to leave this place?"

"Huh?"

My question startled Riven. She seemed afraid to answer. I knew she had reservations.

"Don't be afraid. I'll talk to the owner tomorrow. Come with me."

"Mm."

She trembled slightly, then her expression turned resolute. It looked as though she'd made up her mind.

Perhaps it was the incense, but I slept deeply. By the time I woke the next day, it was almost noon.

Riven had prepared water for me to wash my face. I wiped it down quickly and went to the front room, where I found Darius waiting.

"You were embarrassed when we got here, but then you slept in so late. Looks like you had quite a night."

"It was all right. The girl took good care of me." I pointed to Riven.

Darius looked surprised. "I didn't know you liked little girls like her. She's filthy and not even pretty. You really do have unusual taste."

The owner had been surprised at first too, but he quickly covered it with an ingratiating smile. "Haha, as long as the guest is satisfied. Haha."

"All right, we should get going. Let's settle the bill." Darius took out his purse.

"Eighty Silver Coins for one night's lodging for two, and twenty Silver Coins for storing your goods. If you're pleased with the girl, you're welcome to tip her whatever you like. As for her..."

The owner looked from Riven to me, then stopped, apparently unsure whether to ask for a tip.

"Ten gold coins," I said.

The smile froze on the owner's face. He seemed to think he'd misheard me. Ten gold coins was no small sum—it was a full thousand Silver Coins!

"But I'm taking her with me," I added.

The owner put on an air of reluctance. "If you like her so much, then she's fortunate. But I've raised her since she was little, and it's hard to let her go..."

"Enough. I'll pay you twenty gold coins, and my friend will take her."

Darius hated dithering. He immediately handed the owner twenty gold coins. This time, the man's smile didn't freeze. He respectfully saw us out.

I was grateful for Darius's generosity. "Thank you. If I get the chance, I'll pay you back."

"When I bought you from Tam, I spent a full two thousand gold coins, and you didn't even thank me. I bought this girl for less than twenty gold coins and got a thank-you. Doesn't seem like a bad deal."

"Didn't you buy me so I'd risk my life for you? Just as you wished!"

"Hahaha... But do you really like this girl? I think you just feel sorry for her."

"Not entirely." I had other plans in mind.