by Justin Wayne
Chapter Four: A Stop along the Way
Riding the powerful northern winds, the eagle soared overhead in a majestic sweep of its wings. Staring down at the two riding along below it, the eagle found its interest piqued. Who were these two land-walkers to think they could ever outpace one such as her? For none had claws as shined or feathers as superbly colored. She would show those foolish two-legs that wings were far superior.
Diving down with a screech, the bird of prey hurtled straight at them at an alarming speed. She shrieked a piercing cry of challenge and fully extended her razor sharp talons, imagining the feeling of stabbing them into their o so fragile eyeballs.
The wind couldn’t carry her fast enough.
The ringing call from above gave the bounty hunter below plenty of time to prepare for the inevitable incursion. Reaching into his cloak, he felt for the mahogany handle that gave him a self assured sense of relief and gripped it tightly with his long, gloved fingers. With a deep breath sucked in between his lips, he slowed the beat of his heart until it was well below average.
Thom turned his head, as his body was still strapped to the saddle, and looked down from the great shadow looming over them then up to its owner.
“We’ve got a visitor!” he cried and struggled to free himself in vain. He looked back from the eagle, now close enough to identify, and back to the motionless form of the man beside him. “Outsider!” He screamed in anxiety, eyes wide with fear.
Faster than the hobbit’s eye could follow, Outsider’s hand shot out of his cloak with knife in hand. He spun it around on his palm and caught the tip of the blade between his thumb and forefinger before sending it spinning blade over hilt into the sky. He watched it go until it was nearly lost in the light of day, when the eagle descended straight into its path and went limp.
It dropped like a stone for several seconds then hit the ground with a crack. The mysterious rider turned his horse about and rode over to the feathered form crumpled in the grass. He leapt down from the saddle and turned the bird over to retrieve his knife. “Such a waste. I hate to kill when it isn’t necessary.
Thom marveled at the beast’s size. The eagle’s wingspan was over three times his height and nearly as long as a man from beak to tail. “That’s the biggest eagle I’ve ever seen. Could I have a feather from its wing? I do so enjoy writing with a good quill in my down time.”
Outsider shrugged and slid the blade back into the concealed sheath on his side just below his shoulder. “Well you’ll sure have plenty of that down time you’re so fond of.” Stooping down low he plucked a single mottled color feather and handed it to the little waiting hand behind him. “Well let’s be off. We’re nearly to Journ now and I’d like to be there before nightfall.”
Pressing Jiff on to full gallop, they thundered across the hills for several leagues, oblivious to the passage of time until the sun had set. Thom laughed and nudged Outsider with his elbow. “Well, looks like we’ll have to settle in for the night eh? Wouldn’t want to push Jiff on through both the day and night.” His mind began to forge a plan immediately. If he could get away before reaching a town it would leave fewer witnesses with his appearance to sell him out to any who may be searching for him. All this was cut short at his captor’s next words.
“No need. Journ lies just there between those two thickets of forest. We’ll arrive within the hour just in time for supper.” He rubbed his chin in thought. “Though it is strange there are no lights..”
In a foul mood, Thom spat and tried to wriggle out of the ropes for the nth time that day. “Who gives a fig about the lights!” Beneath his hood, Outsider smiled at the remark and tried to imagine how his little ‘guest’ must feel.
“Surely riding into a town separated from the one your highest bounty hangs in by several hundred leagues hasn’t put you in such an unruly temper?”
“What do you mean ‘highest’ bounty?”
“Well you must know you have several bounties on your head in varying towns and cities? I simply picked the one with the highest price: Cain Sander.”
Thom smiled smugly, a crease rising up his cheek. “That popular am I? Must be getting famous.”
Perhaps all this will be worth it in the end. I escape, feign my death, and word will spread that the infamous Thomulus, son of Thomein, had finally met his end. I could start all over without risk of men such as this Outsider. He rubbed his stubby fingers together greedily and imagined the gold coins and gems they would soon be counting.
These happy thoughts carried him the next hour in silence until they had passed under the awning of Journ and entered the little town. The sixth sense that had kept him alive for so long was aflame now, something telling him to leave before whatever was here found him, buzzing in the back of Outsider’s mind until he could hardly focus. He blinked several times, gradually clearing his vision until all that rang in his ears was the echo of the howling wind.
Where are the lights? The fires to show someone is home?
His eyes easily found the inn’s sign in the dim moonlight that shone through the trees in brilliant rays of silver against a midnight backdrop. The forest swayed around the desolate town on either side with the wind and seemed to press in on them, surrounding the buildings to guard any escape. Thom shook beside him, whether from the cold or fear he didn’t ask.
“Something’s wrong. Stay here. Jiff will know if anything approaches long before you will so I wouldn’t try to take off if I were you.” He swung out of the saddle and whispered into the near-invisible gelding’s ear before disappearing into the night. Instantly the bound thief clumsily pulled the feather from his pocket and stuck the bone of it between the ropes around his wrists in a back-and-forth motion. He grinned as the threads began to split.
“To the Nine Hells with you, Outsider. I’ll be long gone with your horse to leave you with your ghost town. Keep the dagger.” he whispered under his breath. Jiff whinnied as if to tell him:
I heard that.
