The man does his best to answer but all that comes out of his mouth are grabbled stutters and incoherent words. The only thing I can understand is a repeated “I” over and over like he is trying to start a sentence but can’t. I don’t let go of his wrist, if anything I want to cut it off for him even trying to pick pocket me.
“Answer me,” I pry him some more and squeeze his wrist again, which causes him to let out another squawk of distress.
“Listen!” That’s the first coherent word he is able to muster. I can already hear the Breetanyain accent befall his pink lips. “This isn’t what it looks like.”
My eyes narrow and my lips form a straight line on my features. One brow arched and the other pushed down. “So you aren’t a thief?” I play along just to see how far this pale faced, skittish male can carry the charade.
“No, I’m not a thief. I am actually a…” he trails off and his eyes wander, trying to think up a good lie to tell me no doubt. “I am actually a support beam repair man.” He gives me a smug grin as he if thinks I have bought this horse shit excuse of a lie.
“A support beam repair man?” I question him again just starring at him in sheer doubt. He continues to ramble on about how he is the best “bloke” in the repair business and every few seconds he tries to pull his wrist out of my grip. This boy has to be the most pitiful excuse for a thief if I had ever seen one. He is obviously a part of the band of thieves, given he is wearing their symbol on his green dyed scarf around his neck. Green seems to suit the lad or at least that is his favorite color. His entire garb is mostly green, green vest, green cloak, green scarf. All this green on top of a white shirt, brown pants and black boots. It’s a wonder I hadn’t seen him sooner given he looks like a pine tree in the midst of the Second Sun, the 5th month of the year and middle of spring. I get tired of his excuse after he said his great, great, great, great, great grandfather had started the business. I give his wrist a firm squeeze and it shuts up his story. “Stop lying to me. You are literally wearing the symbol of Sipawn, the divine of THIEVES and his scared cat’s paw print is tattooed on your neck.”
“Well, actually, that isn’t a tattoo. I apply it each day and-” he starts rambling again so I squeeze his wrist to shut him up. I pull him close again to where his nose is pressed against mine and I glare into his eyes.
“You are the worst thief and liar I have ever seen. You aren’t even worth my time of killing.” I throw down his wrist and the motion almost causes him to loose balance and fall off the beam of wood. Once he gains his balance, he rubs his wrist and gives a pout. I roll my eyes and turn back to see the target standing among the crowd. I am glad he is still here since I don’t know how long I had just spent with this poor excuse of a thief.
I don’t wait any longer. I pull out a throwing knife with my symbol etched in near the top, a bear paw with a sword through the middle, and hold it between my thumb and pointer finger. I do my best to aim the knife, given most of the people down below me are blurry to my vision, before I throw. The tip of the knife lines up with the Kanonian’s head. I slowly pull back keeping the line between his head and my blade straight as possible. With a swift flick of my wrist and throw of my arm, the blade flies free and lodges itself into the skull of the dog man.
The grey figure falls to the floor. Screams and gasp fill the used to be cheerful tavern. I smirk seeing my handy work land me another payment. I glare back at the thief, whose mouth is gapping at me. I jump off the wood, grab hold on the beam and swing to the balcony I jumped up from. I roll into a crouch as more people start to call for the guards. I better get out of here before they show up. First thing is first though. I run up to the dead body and use my regular dagger to cut off some fur of the dog. People are too busy in the panic to notice me. I take the tuff and put it in my side pouch on my belt. Among the screams of people, I hear the clanking metal of the guard’s armor outside the main door.
Their voices are muffled, but I can hear one guard say to charge in and take any suspicious people for questioning. I stand back up and flip the bear head hood up to conceal my face. I run back up the stairs, my fur cloak flowing behind me. The thief is still sitting on the wooden beam, just watching me work. I eye him before running into one of the inn rooms. Thankfully, there is a window. The sound of the wooden doors burst open causes my head to jerk toward the sound. There’s not time to waste. I jump on top of the bed and break open the glass and wooden pane window. It shatters and I feel a sharp pain go across my left hand. I flinch from the pain but when I hear some footsteps come up the stairs, I force myself out of the window. My body squeezes through the hole in the wall. Above the window is the edge of the roof protruding from the top. My hands latch on to it and I pull myself up there. After clambering around with gravity, I lay on top of the roof for a quick breather.
Another clean kill and easy get away. Well, easier than most. At least this time I didn’t have to kill any guards. The smell of the beer and mead from the inside is replaced with the sewer smell again. “I hate this city,” I grumble as I push myself up from the shingled roof. I stay on the roof, waiting for the guards to clear out before I make my escape from the city. My thoughts roam back to the shaky thief as I look at the stars above. I see the constellation of Sipawn’s gold. The perfect circle of stars that surround one of the twin moons. He was human no doubt and from Breetanya, a northern country far across the sea from Jerensi-a. The wind blows through the city cooling me off but also bringing the putrid scent with it.
“What’s your name?”
I jump from where I am laying with my dagger ready to strike. The figure jumps back with a yelp. It’s the thief from earlier. Why won’t he just leave me alone already? I ignore him and turn to look down to see if the guards are gone yet. Of course they aren’t. They are never there when you need to be and always there when you don’t want them to be. I pull the cloak around me tighter to ignore the male.
“You got some tosh in your ear, mate? I asked what your name is.” He walked over toward me and sat down at the edge of the roof. I give him a side glance along with a firm frown. He isn’t going to stop asking any time soon, I can tell. I let out a huff of air and give in.
“Michael. Michael Bearenzi. Who in the hell are you?” I don’t want to give him the time of day. Yet here I am, making small talk with this stranger who tried to pick my pockets.
“The name is Grady Hemonia,” he gives a proud toothy grin as he straightens his spine to puff out his chest.
I freeze hearing his last name. The leader of the thief’s band here in Creeten is McDrago Hemonia. There’s no way this scrawny excuse of a thief could be related to him. Could he? I have never seen McDrago before, but I heard stories. His shoulders were broader than the Shermine Forest. Hands larger than an Ogre’s club. Beard thicker than a Kanonian tail, and eyes that burned like the fire from a dragon. The lad sitting beside me was thin as a sapling. His hands more nimble and had callous on his thumb, pointer finger and middle finger on his right hand. His face was also clean shaven, smooth like silk from the looks of it. Then his eyes, they were soft and green, like tree leaves with morning dew still fresh on them.
“You wouldn’t be related to McDrago, would you?” My words are slow and full of doubt, but I had to know right from the horse’s mouth if he was.
His nod was firm and quick, “Sure am. He is my father.”
I couldn’t believe this. Even though he just said this, I still couldn’t believe it. This boy was nothing like the legends of McDrago. He was the exact opposite. Just why, no how is the better question. How is a son of McDrago such a horrible thief?
“I know, I’m not the best thief. I haven’t picked a pocket in years,” he starts to explain like he read my thoughts. Why the hell is he telling me this? “My father keeps trying to force me into pick pocketing and stealing from houses. I’m no good at it though. I keep trying to impress him and make him proud. Which is why I was out tonight. I was going to pick something and take it back to him. I should’ve known you wouldn’t have been an easy target.” He laughed a little but his smile faded after a moment of laughter.
“Why are you telling me this?” I finally ask the question that won’t leave my mind.
He pauses staring at the sky. He gives a chuckle and shrugs his shoulders, causing his green scarf to fall over his chest. “I don’t know really. You just seem like someone who could listen. I know, I’m a prat.”
Prat? What the hell does that mean? The guards leave with the Kanonian in a body bag. Before he can tell me anymore of his life story, I stand up to jump off the roof. He protests of me leaving, but I don’t give him a goodbye. I just jump down into the stack of hay that is next to the hitching post for the horses to eat. There is enough to cushion my fall so I can stand back up and keep moving. After brushing the straws of hay from my clothes, I move out toward the city exit.
A loud yelp or squawk comes from the bale of hay I just left. I turn back around to see the blonde hair of Grady pop out. He sputters and spits, trying to get hay out of his mouth. “Hey!” He calls before he spits out more hay. Jumping out of the bale of hay he chases after me. I roll my eyes and turn away from him, continuing my exit from the city. “Wait up you tosser!” I walk faster to try and escape him. He must be faster though, since I hear his footsteps gaining on me. I move into a full on sprint. This man can’t take a hint as to leave me the hell alone!
Grady keeps calling after me, but I don’t stop running. I see a market stand and jump on a nearby wooden crate and grab hold of the fruit stand roof. With an easy tug, I propel myself into the air and on the roof. I jump from market stand to market stand, till I am close to a building with a balcony. I leap to there and then grab hold of the stone window pane. My muscles tighten and I heave myself up so my feet can catch hold on the stones. Another jump and I can reach the top of the building. I give myself a moment to breathe before I do that.
Behind me, Grady is trying to follow in my foot steps and jump from stand to stand to get to me. He is failing miserably though. He almost falls off, but he is able to grab on and keep himself up though. With a heavy groan, he is able to get back on his feet. I figured a thief would be use to quick escapes but it seems he hasn’t done any free running in his life. By some miracle of the Divines, he makes it close to the balcony I am just above. No time to waste anymore. I take in a deep breath and jump up. My fingers barely grab hold of the roof. I climb up the side of the building till I am standing up right again. I can see the wall of the city barriers in the distance. I look back down and Grady grabs hold on the stone window pane. Without hesitation, I run down the roof tops. Leaping from each one till I see the gates grow closer to me. Shoot! I come to a sudden stop at the end of the line of roofs. There is a considerable gap in between the buildings and the wall. I have to jump. I can make this jump, right? It’s only about a 10 foot jump, or maybe 15. It’s hard to tell in this light. My vision is shit anyway, so I wouldn’t be able to tell how far it was. I back up a few feet and I can hear the pants of Grady running down the roofs. This boy must have brilliant luck or dumb luck. Probably both.
My feet start running toward the edge and with a grunt, I leap into the air. My eyes widen seeing how high I am off the ground, and my arms begin to flail. Dematre, the divine of nature, please let the wind carrying me across. My body slams into the edge of the wall. My fingers grip tight onto the stone wall and I try to find a good footing so I can climb on up. There is a stone brick sticking out and my foot finds it. I hold on to the stones for a moment to allow my brain to recompose itself. Behind me, I hear Grady cry out as he almost fall off the roof edge. I can’t help but smirk hearing his pathetic outburst. I hoist myself up and stand on top of the wall. I give a salute to Grady.
“You’ve done well so far keeping up with me, boy. I doubt you can make this jump, though,” I cross my arms over my chest and stand up right to challenge him.
He looks at the gap between the wall and the building. I can almost hear him whimper like a lost mutt. He takes a deep breath and backs up a few feet. His mouth moves to say words of encouragement to himself. His eyes are closed and focused. He opens them in a flash and begins his run. He sure is a fast runner. Faster and faster he sprints toward the edge, body stiffening ready for the jump. The edge is there. He leaps off and into the air. He is screaming all the while. Like a prolonged squawk of a bird. His arms and legs flail and he gets half way. Before he falls into the tree below. A few branches break and leaves fall when he impacts. I shake my head and purse my lips. Idiot, thought he could follow me across buildings. I walk to the edge and look down at the tree he is stuck in. His scarf is wrapped around a branch and he is fighting with the tree to get it loose.
“Nice try Grady Hemonia, but maybe you should go back to daddy. I said it once and I will say it again. You are the worst thief ever.” I turn my back to him as he calls out for me again. I scale down the other side of the wall and when I land there is a loud thud on the other side of the wall. Followed by a loud groan. I shake my head and follow the path away from the city, past a stable for people to keep their horses while in the city.
Good riddance. I push down my bear hood again and make sure that the fur of the kill is still in my pouch. The soft hair is still there and I give a sigh of relief. I thought I might have lost it during that get away from Grady. The moons are at the highest point in the sky. It’s midnight. I spent over two hours tracking the dog and then trying to escape Grady. Normally I run from guards, not annoying failures of a thief. Had to admit, that was pretty fun. Hadn’t had a good chase in months.
I walk down the country road back toward the forest. I have to meet with my manager at sunrise to get the payment for the job. Won’t be much, but it will be enough for a good meal with some mead or beer. Been a while since I had some mead in my belly. I come to miss the taste. How long has it been now? Three months? Yeah, it was time I buy me a bottle and enjoy a nice large piece of mutton by the lake near the city of Metaal. I frequent that city often. Has some nice inns and is the hot spot if you are new in Jerensi-a. Also, my manager lives there, so I go there each time I make a kill to get my payment.
A loud yell breaks the silence of the night. I turn around to try and find where the scream came from. Followed after it is a loud neighing and galloping hooves. Oh no! Must be the guards! How did they find me out it was me? I bolt off toward the woods, hoping to lose them there. I can’t get caught. I’ve been at this for too long to be stopped now. I can’t be thrown in jail or worse judged and killed by the high king’s court. Not when I have come so far in finding him. Too many years I’ve spent killing and tracking to let it all go to waste now.
The large forest is just within my sights. I turn my head to glance back just for a moment. There is only one horse and a figure riding on top of it. If it’s just one, that would be easy to kill. No more running. I will hide in the forest and kill the lone guard when they get close to me. I pause long enough to let the rider see me enter the forest before I climb a tree and wait. The red and orange leaves give me enough cover to where the guard can’t see my brown clothes. The fairies must be finished with their work because I don’t hear the jingles of their wings. So it leaves the entire forest in deathly silence.
Except for the claps of the horse’s hooves against the dirt ground. It’s too dark for me to see any details of the figure on the horse. I can tell they are wearing light armor though, and that they are only armed with a bow and a quiver full of arrows. They look from side to side trying to find where I went to. I keep my breaths slow and steady against the still wind. With a smooth and quick movement, I take my dagger from its sheath on my left side. I hold it tight in my hand, the blade pointed outward from my body. The figure stops under my tree and looks around. They fix their cloak around their shoulders that rise and fall quickly. A puff of air leaves their mouth when their shoulders fall. They get off the horse and tie it to the tree. After tying the horse up, the figure puts their hands on their hips and looks around the forest.
Honestly, being out in the forest at this time of night is dangerous. Weharla, the Aaxeic of creatures of the night, always has her minions on prowl. From the human looking vampires, to the large werewolves. Weharla was their deity and they would hunt for her in the night as a sacrifice and offering for strength. So why did this lone guard risk being sacrificed as an offering just to find one mercenary? It makes no sense. Well, better I kill them than a hungry werewolf or thirsty vampire.
I move my footing so I can get ready to jump on them. When I do, I knock a leaf loose from its branch. The leaf falls down and lands on the figures shoulder. They jump and their head goes on a swivel, trying to find the source of what might have made the leaf fall. They pull their bow off their shoulders and knock an arrow. They take a couple of steps forward then stop. This is my chance to tackle them. It’s perfect lineup from my tree branch to their body. I move my heel ever so slightly and leap off the branch.
The tree branch shakes when I leap off, causing the leaves to rustle. The figure turns around to fire an arrow but I am too close. Within the second, I pin them down to the ground with my dagger at their throat. I can’t see their face because their hood is covering it. With a huff, I take my other hand and yank it off. Underneath is blonde hair and a yelp comes when I pull the hood off. I should kill him, the Divines know I should after the night he has put me through. But my shoulders fall and I pull away. When I don’t slice his throat, Grady raises up with a shit eating grin.
“Well that was quiet the chase wasn’t it? Obliged you didn’t just spill my blood there.” He still has hay in his hair after his tumble off the tavern roof. I can’t believe this. Of all the things I have seen in my life; dragons burning down buildings, werewolves mating in the forest, ogres dancing a ballet, and forest elves going primal. This. THIS, was the weirdest thing to me. A pathetic thief who won’t stop following me around.
“Answer me one question. Just one,” I raise my pointer finger up toward his face. “Why are you following me?” I don’t even look at the guy, but I can tell he is smirking like a kid who got away with stealing a pastry from the store without anyone noticing.
“You are the first interesting thing to happen in Creeten in years. I’m not passing on the opportunity for some adventure.” He raises his hand and pulls some hay from his blonde hair and flicks it at me.
I glare at him and swat the hay away. “Listen, you can’t keep following me like this. You’re going to get me caught. Besides, I don’t associate with low life thieves like you.”
He feigns hurt from my statement, placing a hand over his heart and faking an audible gasp. “Michael,” he says my name and his accent makes it sound like he is saying “My-Cool” instead of Michael. “I can’t believe you would say something like that to me.”
Another sigh of annoyance escapes my chest and I roll my eyes for about the fourth time since I have met this guy. “Listen, Grady. I am a dangerous guy, you watched me kill the Kanonian for no reason other than money.”
“Yeah? And to be honest, it was top! I never seen someone kill another person so easily and without hesitation. Thieves never kill people, looks bad to the name, but you. It’s like you have no conscience for other human beings.”
“Excuse you, but I do,” I stand up from the ground and dust the dirt off my clothes and fix my cloak. I begin to head deeper into the woods. May not be the safest way to Meetal, but it is the fastest. No doubt Grady is going to follow me, even though it’s practically suicide entering this forest at night. Sure enough, the blonde stands up and unties the horse from the tree.
“So you do have a moral compass? Then why do you kill innocent people?” He asked his questions as he got on the horse and followed behind me.
“They aren’t innocent. The people I kill, I make sure they have done something wrong before I kill them. If there is no reason other than blood lust for wanting them dead then I don’t do it.”
“Oh really? Then what did that Kanonian do?”
“He raped women and left them to die in the forest,” I state that like it’s something you hear every day. Even in this piss country, rape is still something you don’t hear of very often. Defiling people and forcing sexual intercourse is not something the high court finds pardoning favor in. So, when people can’t prove the guilt of the person who raped the victim, they send a mercenary like me to finish them off. It’s not just rape though. I’ve been sent after murderers, thieves, adulterous people, and even other mercenaries. Not all mercenaries work together. In fact most of us don’t. Most of us see each other as rivals and want each other dead. That way we make all the money. Using that to your advantage though, you can find specific mercenaries.
Grady must have found that fact unsettling because he went silent and looked away from me. “Then I guess he deserved it didn’t he? Other than that though,” he looked back at me with a grin, “can I join you?”
I press my hand against my face and let out a loud groan. “Are you deaf? Or just mentally handicapped? I just told you no. You cannot follow me or join me. You would only get me caught.”
“Please? I can’t go back to the thief band. And I could help! I am barmy with a bow and arrow. I can get you long range kills no problem. I could be assistance to you.”
“What the hell are you even saying? Barmy? What does that even mean? If I can’t understand what you are saying then you can’t join me.”
I try to walk faster into the forest, trying to get to the thicker parts where he couldn’t follow me on horseback. Although, I don’t know why I could think I could escape him. I haven’t had the luck so far.
I stop in the middle of the woods and turn to him with a glare. “I am going to give you seven days. One week. If you don’t prove yourself by the end of the week, I will bring you back personally to McDrago. If, by some miracle of the divines you are as good as you say and you can actually not get me captured, you can stay with me longer. Do we have a deal?”
I reach out my hand to the lad and wait for his reaction. His eyes light up and his smile widens. He reaches his hand down and grabs my own. He has a firm grip, and accepts the hand shake.
“Deal, but I bet you won’t regret letting me tag along.” He pulls his hand away from mine and holds back on to the horse’s reigns.
“Let’s hope not. Right now I need to head to Meetal to get payment from my manager. Once we get the payment and the next target we can get something to eat and a room in the local inn to rest in. I don’t know about you but, I have been travelling for the last four days and I need a break.” I turn to start walking on the path again. I can’t believe what I have just gotten myself into. This was going to be an interesting seven days now. I hear a growl coming from the woods behind us. “We better hurry. Don’t get left behind, Grady.”
