to a rat, then joined Arcon outside. "Where to today?"
"We should reach a village about lunch-time. We'll eat there and buy any supplies we can. Hopefully they’ll be well stocked; a lot of miners would go through there on their way to the mountains."
The road before them was saturated. The surface sucked at their feet and gripped every footstep. Each breath was visible in the cold morning air. The slight breeze was enough to turn their wet clothes into suits of torture. Both men shivered, hands and feet already numbing, so they walked fast, hoping they would soon warm up.
As lunchtime neared, the air was slightly less freezing. Blayke's clothes were almost dry now, his extremities warmer. The village was another hour away. As they drew closer to the town, the distance between houses shortened, the farm holdings grew smaller and more numerous, and the traffic on the road heavier. The road had dried out somewhat, making walking easier. The landscape was relatively flat, and Blayke found it almost boring compared to the spectacular mountain peaks they had grown used to.
In the distance, Arcon spotted four mounted men galloping toward them. "Better get off the road; looks like they'll run anyone down who happened to get in their way." They hurriedly moved to the grass and kept walking.
The horses slowed as they reached the pair, one man leading the others. He was of middle years, broad-shouldered, with a battle-scarred face, his mouth lopsidedly curled in a permanent sneer. His clothes were ragged and his horse not much better. Mercenaries maybe? Whoever they were, Arcon didn’t like the look of it.
"Good day, sir." He addressed Arcon.
"Good day."
"I was wondering if you could help us. We’re looking for a man, about your age, and a boy about his age, with his height and hair colour. They’re wanted for crimes against the king. Our instructions are to capture them at any cost—dead is just as good as alive.” He gazed meaningfully at Blayke.
Arcon answered whilst looking at the inferior members of the group. “ I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
The leader’s sneer intensified. “ Oh, I think you can. Would you and your boy care to come with us?" His smile was less than inviting. The other men had moved their horses to encircle them. They all had their swords out to ensure the answer would not be in doubt.
"And with whom am I speaking?" This time Arcon turned to stare at the sneering thug, holding civility by the thinnest of threads.
"Pernoc, but you can call me Sir. I would advise you to come willingly." He looked at his nearest companion. "They did say take them ‘ dead or alive’ didn't they? Yes, I was sure that's what they said, so maybe you don’t want to come willingly?" Pernoc’s horse had been inching toward Arcon, and was now almost touching him.
"Hmm, and who would they be?"
"That's on a need-to-know basis, and I'm pretty sure you don't need to know. So , old man, what do you say, hey? Are we going to do this the hard way? In fact, that would probably be more fun for the boys; they have been cooped up a while."
"I really enjoy doing things the hard way, but I think I’ll be disappointed today." Arcon was making small gestures with his fingers.
The man closest to Blayke jerked his beast sideways and slammed Blayke to the ground. He jumped off the horse and stood over his prey, sword raised. His companions laughed at the helpless young man on the ground. "Should have stayed home with your mamma. Roll onto your stomach, little girl, so I can tie you up." Blayke was not sure what to do, so he did nothing. “One more chance, boy. Roll over or your head’s going to roll off.” His sword descended toward Blayke's throat. Blayke stared at Arcon, teeth gritted, eyes pleading.
Arcon screamed, "Burn!" His finger pointed at Blayke's attacker. The stranger's clothes burst into flame. He shrieked, his sword falling harmlessly next to Blayke's head. Blayke grabbed it and jumped to his feet
"We should reach a village about lunch-time. We'll eat there and buy any supplies we can. Hopefully they’ll be well stocked; a lot of miners would go through there on their way to the mountains."
The road before them was saturated. The surface sucked at their feet and gripped every footstep. Each breath was visible in the cold morning air. The slight breeze was enough to turn their wet clothes into suits of torture. Both men shivered, hands and feet already numbing, so they walked fast, hoping they would soon warm up.
As lunchtime neared, the air was slightly less freezing. Blayke's clothes were almost dry now, his extremities warmer. The village was another hour away. As they drew closer to the town, the distance between houses shortened, the farm holdings grew smaller and more numerous, and the traffic on the road heavier. The road had dried out somewhat, making walking easier. The landscape was relatively flat, and Blayke found it almost boring compared to the spectacular mountain peaks they had grown used to.
In the distance, Arcon spotted four mounted men galloping toward them. "Better get off the road; looks like they'll run anyone down who happened to get in their way." They hurriedly moved to the grass and kept walking.
The horses slowed as they reached the pair, one man leading the others. He was of middle years, broad-shouldered, with a battle-scarred face, his mouth lopsidedly curled in a permanent sneer. His clothes were ragged and his horse not much better. Mercenaries maybe? Whoever they were, Arcon didn’t like the look of it.
"Good day, sir." He addressed Arcon.
"Good day."
"I was wondering if you could help us. We’re looking for a man, about your age, and a boy about his age, with his height and hair colour. They’re wanted for crimes against the king. Our instructions are to capture them at any cost—dead is just as good as alive.” He gazed meaningfully at Blayke.
Arcon answered whilst looking at the inferior members of the group. “ I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
The leader’s sneer intensified. “ Oh, I think you can. Would you and your boy care to come with us?" His smile was less than inviting. The other men had moved their horses to encircle them. They all had their swords out to ensure the answer would not be in doubt.
"And with whom am I speaking?" This time Arcon turned to stare at the sneering thug, holding civility by the thinnest of threads.
"Pernoc, but you can call me Sir. I would advise you to come willingly." He looked at his nearest companion. "They did say take them ‘ dead or alive’ didn't they? Yes, I was sure that's what they said, so maybe you don’t want to come willingly?" Pernoc’s horse had been inching toward Arcon, and was now almost touching him.
"Hmm, and who would they be?"
"That's on a need-to-know basis, and I'm pretty sure you don't need to know. So , old man, what do you say, hey? Are we going to do this the hard way? In fact, that would probably be more fun for the boys; they have been cooped up a while."
"I really enjoy doing things the hard way, but I think I’ll be disappointed today." Arcon was making small gestures with his fingers.
The man closest to Blayke jerked his beast sideways and slammed Blayke to the ground. He jumped off the horse and stood over his prey, sword raised. His companions laughed at the helpless young man on the ground. "Should have stayed home with your mamma. Roll onto your stomach, little girl, so I can tie you up." Blayke was not sure what to do, so he did nothing. “One more chance, boy. Roll over or your head’s going to roll off.” His sword descended toward Blayke's throat. Blayke stared at Arcon, teeth gritted, eyes pleading.
Arcon screamed, "Burn!" His finger pointed at Blayke's attacker. The stranger's clothes burst into flame. He shrieked, his sword falling harmlessly next to Blayke's head. Blayke grabbed it and jumped to his feet
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