by R W Caron
Guard Captain Jarred Jenkins stood in the middle of the town square with his two lieutenants feeling weak. He had been sick for a few days as where his lieutenants but they all had been recovering from the bug that had struck them all around the same time. Some of the other guards had been complaining of pains but had all seemingly made a full recovery, not that he cared. He had bigger plans. King Erwin himself had placed Jarred here to make sure Andrew stayed in line and it was only a matter of time before he exposed Andrew to be a useless leader. Then Erwin would need to fill Andrews spot and who better than his trustworthy Guard Captain. Jarred wiped his brow and leaned on the fountain in the middle of the square. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched.
His two lieutenants walked up beside him and smiled weakly. Jarred returned the smile “its been a quiet night, boys.” Jarred replied.
“The other guards are patrolling the reign. With Lord Andrew gone no one wants to stir the pot.” The Lieutenant on the right replied.
“Lord Andrew, HA.” The second lieutenant spat. “He’s no more lord then this fountain.”
“Parker, that’s enough.” Jarred shot at him in strong voice. The second lieutenant looked a little shocked and took a step back. Jarred’s face softened into a smile.
“Do not disrespect this lovely fountain like that.” They all burst into chuckles but it was cut short went one of the shop windows from across the square suddenly smashed. All three men turned quickly to see two men dressed in raggedly looking clothes burst from the shadows and freeze. Jarred’s eye flashed with anger and excitement. “Get them.” Parker rushed towards them, drawing his sword. The second lieutenant fell in behind him giving chase as well. The two thieves bolted in opposite directions. Parker turned and went left after the closer thief and the second lieutenant gave chase into the darkness, both men growling for them to halt.
Jarred stood in the square suddenly realising he was completely alone he drawn his sword, not out of fear but out of habit. Ever since he had been ‘promoted’ by king Erwin he had made many enemies. He had eliminated the old guard captain when he tried to convince him to turn his back on Erwin for a better future. Jarred had taken this information to King Erwin and Erwin had told him to get rid of the threat and he would be rewarded. His reward was this, his current position in which he had to answer to the insolent fool who was also against his king and now the insolent’s fool son. His time was soon he knew but still the hairs on his neck stood on end as everything seem to be too quiet. Slowly figures started to appear in every alleyway, every street blocking off all the exits from the square Jarred’s well trained eyes shot around realising he was surrounded he gritted his teeth and positioned himself with his back to the fountain. In the pale moonlight, Jarred’s mind started to race as the men blocking his path where his very own guardsman.
Parker raced after the man who was sprinting away from him and gaining distance. The pain in his joints and body was beyond imaginable but he pushed himself to move after the man. This man was a criminal and he had to catch him, he had to bring him to justice.
The man in rags jumped over a barrel that was laying in the alley that he had turned down kicking it with his foot to send it rolling Parkers way. Parker seen the barrel and told his body to jump but his body just refused to move as quickly as his mind told it too. Parkers right foot caught the side of the barrel and he quickly tried to roll through the fall. His armour hit the ground with an echoing clang and he rolled to the side slamming into the solid brick wall of the nearby house. Parker fought with himself to get to his feet his body just wanted to lay there but he knew he needed to catch this man. He growled at himself and forced himself to his feet. He rushed after the man turning blindly down the alley running in the direction he thought the man had gone. He turned right, then left and came to a dead end. “Damn.” He growled.
He turned around to rush off but came to a sliding stop as a figure in a long black cloak appeared from the darkness. Parker reached for his sword, but as he grasped at his belt he realised it must have fallen from this sheath when he hit the ground. The figure stepped forward and Parker took a step back, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword again. A small chuckle erupted from the figure and Parker stepped back again. “Who are you?” Parker asked. “I am a lieutenant of the Guard.” He continued his voice shaking.
“He warned you.” Came a gruff female voice from under the cloak.
“What?” Parker asked confused.
“Lord Andrew warned you.” She replied.
“Warned me of what?”
“DO IT AND YOU WILL DIE!” She yelled in her best Andrew voice.
“Wha-” Parker started and then he remembered the day in the square. The figure dropped her hood to reveal a woman with a barely healed scar running across her eye to her upper lip. Parker took a step back and found himself against the wall as she stood there staring at him.
“Care to test your luck against me when you don’t have your two lap dogs holding me.” She asked as she unclasped the cloak in the front and tossed it to the side in the alley.
“I should have killed you then.” Parker snapped back. “It was Jenkins idea to make a statement with you.”
“Yes,” she said with a sly smile. “He will pay for what he has done.” Her eyes narrowed at him. “But tell me, who’s hand held the whip?”
Parker thrust a fist at her face as she took a step closer. His movement was slow enough for a tree to move out of the way. The woman’s leg shot up and kicked him in the groin. Parker grabbed his groin and the woman spun a dagger in her hand, the silver glinting in the moonlight as she twirled it and stalked her prey. Parker swung with a backhand at her and she leaned out of the way slicing upward with the dagger. The dagger slid through parkers flesh like a hot knife through butter and he screamed in pain grasping his face as blood poured through his fingers and he could no longer see anything from his right eye.
“Stings doesn’t it.” She taunted him. “I should let you suffer. I should force you to live like I have been and will have to for the rest of my life.” Parker still held his face in his hand as he sat up on his knees. The woman turned quickly and kicked his hands into his face knocking him backward. He falls over his feet, bending in half at the knees and stares up at the night sky with his one eye.
“I’m sorry.” Parker breathed.
“You’re sorry?” She asked.
“Yes!” he bellowed. “I never wanted this. I never wanted to hurt you, i never wanted to be a guard, I never wanted any of it.”
“Why?” she growled.
“Jenkins saw me as loyal. He tested me and I passed because of my loyalty.”
“Because of your loyalty, I am left with one eye.” She snapped dropping a knee into his armoured chest. She kept a close eye on his left hand and placed her he left foot on his right arm pinning it down.
“I’m sorry.” He sobbed.
“Well,” she started staring off into the looming darkness. “Sorry don’t cut it.” She spun the dagger around and drove it under his arm and through the chainmail armour. Parker didn’t scream, wouldn’t give her the pleasure of that but she felt the blood pour over her hand. She let go of the dagger and climbed off of him. She stared at the blood covering her hand and closed her good eye. She took a deep breath and said a silent prayer. A sharp three tone whistle interrupted her thought as a man emerged from the darkness.
“Brittina, are you ok?” he asked.
Brittina smiled and looked at the friend standing in front of her. “I am now.” She replied and buried her head into his slender chest.
“Tuck is waiting.” He replied quickly hugging her and wincing in pain.
“Are you okay?” Brittina asked.
“Yes, the other lieutenant managed to take two of us out before going down. He almost seemed like he was not as bad at the others.”
“You’re okay though?” She asked.
“I’m fine.” He replied and the two started off towards t
he square.
“What are you doing?” Jenkins snarled at his guardsman who all slowly advanced at him, filing out and filling the square with a giant circle around him. “I’m your commanding officer, I command you to stop.” The guards continue to advance until he was completely surrounded by them. Jenkins dropped into a defensive position and glared at them all. “I told you to stop.”
“That’s your problem Jenkins. You always think you are calling the shots.” Came a deep voice from behind the ranks.
“How dare you!?” Jenkins growled with the ferociousness of a cornered bear. “Show yourself coward.”
A soft chuckle came from behind the ranks of guards and two guards to the far left split apart allowing the speaker to walk into the square. Tuck walked confidently into the square a smirk crested his lips as he held his hands out to the side. “Surprise.”
“You greasy commoner, how dare you speak to the member of the kings royal guard lik...”
“I don’t see any royal guards here, just a coward hiding behind a title.” Tuck interrupted
“You’ll pay for that.” Jenkins growled.
“Your lieutenants thought the same thing. Unfortunately they are taking a bath in their own blood right now.” Tuck commented slyly.
“Men do you hear this. They have killed your lieutenants, your friends. ”
"Your guards have been replaced for weeks you moron. You are just too self absorbed to realise it.” Tuck laughed.
Jenkins looked around and suddenly realised that he hadn’t noticed anything. His jaw hung open as he looked around at the guards all wearing a sly smile. Jenkins gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes at tuck. “What are you waiting for then. Let’s end this.” Tuck shifted in his leather armour and laughed. He held his hand out to one of the guards who placed the sword into tucks open hand.
“Lets dance.” Tuck said with a confident smile. Jenkins steps forward and tuck matches his movements, both men circling and looking for an opening. Tuck smirks and suddenly turns his back to the veteran guard captain, a move he had one hundreds of time. Jenkins looked shocked at his luck and in his weakened state did not see the trap that tuck had set for him. Jenkins quickly shuffles stepped and swung his sword down with an overhead slash. Tuck moved faster than lightning as he easily countered the overzealous aggressive attack. Dropping low and using Jenkins momentum against him, as he swung his leg around taking Jenkins legs out from under him and dropping him face first into the dirt. Tuck stood up and acted as if he was talking to a child, “No NO, you play fair.” Tuck waved his finger at Jenkins who growled and pushed himself to his feet.
“I thought you wanted to fight.” Jenkins snapped.
“You wanted to fight. I simply obliged you.” Tuck chuckled.
Jenkins gave a loud warrior cry and rushed at Jenkins swinging wildly with his sword. Tucks body was much more suited to the fast pace action that Jenkins tried to bring. He parried and ducked out of the way slowly working Jenkins into a frenzy, making him think he was gaining some sort of momentum but as they battle raged on Jenkins continued to slow with the offence which allowed Tuck to push the pace. His sword twirling around spinning it around his back he parried another slash that was intended to cut him in half. Tuck quickly dropped low shooting the sword out with enough speed it seemed to cut the very air around them. The blade suck into the back of Jenkins legs. Jenkins screamed in the and stagger forward grasping at his wound as tuck slowly raised from his crouched position. Jenkins turned and could do nothing but block to survives as Tuck blade hammered his sword left and right. Tucks leg shot out and kicked the wounded leg of Jenkins staggering him. Tuck twisted and turned attacking left, right, up and down. Jenkins was using his instincts to survive but tuck was a man on a mission. Tuck suddenly broke his pattern and spun to the right taking Jenkins of guard and slashing up and under his arm.
The chainmail armour saved Jenkins from a death blow but two of his ribs had broken from the blow. Jenkins dropped to a knee breathing hard as blood filled his mouth. He spat on the ground and Tuck stared at him. “Do you yield?” Tuck asked calmly.
“Never.” The Guard captain replied and attempted to tackle the much smaller man. Tuck accepted the tackled and the two rolled onto the ground. Jenkins comes up on top and he drives an armoured elbow into tucks face. Tuck kicks his leg up kicking the man in the back of the head and rolling over his shoulder bringing him up onto of Jenkins. Tuck grabs Jenkins by the throat leaning his weight onto his hand. Jenkins swings and connects with Tucks jaw. Tuck rolled with it and the two continued to roll on the ground punching each other. Tuck shifted his weight and rolled to his feet. Jenkins rolled over his shoulder and grabbed his sword. His body was aching and his world spinning. All he knew was he stood between Tuck and his weapon. “Do you yield now peasant?”
“I didn’t want to fight you in the first place. I yield.” Tuck replied with a smile. He dropped to his knee and bowed his head. “I surrender to you.” Jenkins smiled and stepped forward when suddenly Tuck held up a finger. “I might surrender, but they don’t.” The rest of the guards draw their weapons then advance at Jenkins.
Chapter 9
Nahan's Fall
Nahan rested his back against the bark of and oak tree, wishing he could sink into it and forget about the world. He closed his eyes but all he could see was Andrew, running the dagger across her throat. Tears started to slide from his eyes and he fought to keep his balance in the tree. Why did I trust him? He asked himself. If I would have just followed my gut, she would still be alive. His Body started to shake and he tried to fight the tears away but they continued to run like a waterfall from his eyes. All the emotions flooded into him, and he wasn’t strong enough to fight them off. Images of Alina and him flooded his mind, how beautiful she was. HE had wanted to ask for her hand, wanted to have her by his side for the rest of his life, but had to put the people above his own personal needs and be a leader. He had pushed her away, sent her with her brother to hunt, to protect the people and to stay as far away from him as she could and now he regretted it.
If she had been at his side, she would never have gotten her rebellious side. She would never have become so adventurous and reckless to the point of getting caught. She would still be alive and he would not feel as empty as he did right now. Nahan placed his hand on his chest, his hand wrapped around a small necklace that hung under his cloak. He had never taken it off, not since she had given it to him when they where children and it was the only thing he had left of her. He pulled it out of his cloak and stared down at it in his hand. The token he held was the very first arrow head she had crafted on her own. As the sun broke through the impenetrable darkness of the forest. Its warmth calmed his emotions and he let himself fall into the memory.
The trees had started to change from green to orange, Alina had been working for days because Ryukin had told her she could come on the hunt with Nahan and him if she had her own bow and arrow. Nahan had watched her from a distance as she worked feverishly, running about the small encampment and grabbing supplies. He must have watched her for hours before Ryukin came to find me.
“Nahan,” Ryukin called to him from the base of the tree he sat in. “Are you ready for the hunt tonight my Chief?”
Nahan looked down at Ryukin and leapt from the tree flipping and landing on a lower branch, he dropped off the branch and caught himself with his hands before dropping to a low crouch in front of the older man. “Yes, my friend, are you ready?”
“I was born ready.” Ryukin chuckled as he clapped a hand on Nahan’s shoulder.
“I understand we will be having company tonight?” Nahan asked motioning to Alina,
“Only if it is ok with you,” Ryukin replied “She had been pestering for the last two days.”
“It’s fine.” Nahan replied with a smile. “It might be nice to have her along.”
“She will not be a distraction?” Ryukin asked as Nahan continued to stare at Alina. Her skin was as beautiful as a rainbow after a
long storm. Her eyes glimmered as intense as the blazing sun. As she bent low to grab her quiver, Nahan couldn’t help but see that she had started to develop into a woman. His stare was suddenly broken as Ryukin stepped in front of him.
