The Righteous Way

Chapter 16

“It was no trouble miss,”

“Oh, but how rude am I? This is Coltyn, Coltyn Alacot, and I am Amber of the house Durnap”

“Pleased to meet you,” Coltyn said,

“And you,” Alex nodded, “I am Alex of the Tolbert clan and this is Ruby who is a temporary companion of mine,”

“I’ve heard the life of knighthood is... lavish, but a personal slave-girl? You must really--”

“Hush, she is not his slave,” Amber silenced him,

“My friends and I are simply escorting her to safety,” Alex corrected

“Oh, my apologies, I spoke without thinking,”

“He does that,” Amber hugged his arm, “But I love him anyway,”

“A love that your grandfather does not approve of it would seem,”

“No, he sees the Alacots as ne’er-do-wells with too much money,”

“Yet I see no luxuries on your beau,”

“I simply have no interest in such things, a woman’s touch is warmer than any coin, and a wool blanket is warmer than silk,”

Ruby blushed from Coltyn’s poetic saying and Alex smiled. “You should speak to her grandfather, show him you’re more than a bag of coins,”

“He’s only half the problem, my mother disproves of me courting Amber, anyone who doesn’t live in a mansion is below her standards,”

“In other words a peasant,” Amber said,

“You know I don’t like that word, it suggests we’re not equals,”

“Are there laws in this land against your courtship?” Alex asked,

“No, we have free reign to converse with who we wish, it is simple human pride in our way,”

“Not to disrespect your families, but your happiness is not their choice, it is your own.”

“We have thought of eloping, but to leave our home? Our heritage? It would be shameful,”

“There is no shame in preserving your love for another, instead your families are dishonoring themselves by halting your union,”

“But where would we go?” Amber asked, “I have no money, only a couple dresses and I hear that venturing is dangerous,”

“You forget,” said Coltyn, “I have an allowance of which is considerable, plus you come from a line of farmers, you know how to care for animals, we should have enough to begin a life together,”

“But what about the dangers? I hear of bandits and wild animal attacks frequently,”

“It is true,” Alex agreed, “Danger is always present on the road of the adventurer,”

“And I am well versed with a sword,” Coltyn boasted tapping the sword strapped to his hip,

“Far be it from me to judge a fellow swordsman, but would you mind showing me your skill?”

Coltyn smiled and drew his blade. Alex seemed intrigued by the blade. “A gladius?” he asked,

“Indeed, my family descends from a soldier of the old empire, his martial training has been passed down through the generations,”

“Is that sword not best used with a shield?”

“Yes, but I don’t carry it with me,”

“If you wish to master your art you should always have all pieces to it,”

“Is that why you carry a shield?”

“It is, my shield is my second skin, it along with my sword are extensions of myself, striking and blocking are as natural as a punch or kick,”

“I see no sword,”

Alex dropped his supplies and pulled his shield from his back. He grasped the top handle and drew his weapon. “A shield-sheath?”

“Yes, a specialty of Korryn,”

“You’re of Korryn!? I’ve only heard legends,”

“He is also a knight,” Amber informed,

“Then I withdraw from our match, I hear Korryn forges only the best warriors,”

“How better to learn?” Amber argued,

“Perhaps,”

“Do not worry we will only use swords,” Alex placed his shield against a nearby fence, “And we’ll start slow.” He raised his blade and Coltyn did the same. The young man’s posture was spot on. Alex waited for his first move. Coltyn lunged forward and Alex raised his blade to deflect the attack. Coltyn stumbled slightly, but quickly regained himself. This time Alex was the aggressor and used large wide swings to test Coltyn’s defense. He blocked or avoided each swing and returned with his own attacks.

Amber watched nervously as the men struck swords over and over again sometimes holding her breath. Ruby however watched with an eerie calm. Once they were done Coltyn was sweating and tired while Alex stood un-phased.

“You have talent and it is obvious you train well, with some experience you would be a magnificent swordsman,”

“Thank you, though I am no match for you,”

“I have the advantage due only to experience, you have the form, but you hesitate, afraid to strike your opponent. The hardest part of learning a martial art is using it to kill another.”

Coltyn sat against the fence and Alex joined him. “You’ve killed before?”

“More times than I can count, I used to be an honored knight who defended the kingdom against all evils. Usually ending with that evil on the end of my blade,”

“What about your first kill?”

“My first fatal strike was on my first mission as a knight. We rode to a farm captured by a band of savages, when I first laid eyes on them they seemed more like animals than men. Grunting and wailing in a strange language. They charged us with such ferocity that three of my fellows faltered and were trampled. The captain led us forward and began to cut away at them. I followed and bashed the first with my shield. In league with my training I then swung my sword at the second and felt the resistance of his flesh and bone. With my adrenaline and anxiety, I almost sliced him in two.”

“And did it change you?”

“That is a hard question to answer, I was young and full of emotion. But on the battlefield, I was able to numb myself and focus only on victory. Afterwards however I was full of grief, but was praised for my bravery, it was a very difficult process,”

“Do you think I have what it takes?”

“I have no worries about you, so long as she’s with you,” Alex nodded towards Amber, “If you have the intention of protecting who you love, fighting becomes natural so long as you keep focused,”

“With all this talk of love you’d think he’d be married,” said James ’s voice from behind them. Alex noticed the sun was nearing the horizon. Alex stood up. “I apologize James , I’ve been distracted and haven’t found work,”

“You? Apologize?” James gawked, “I never thought I’d see the day, so who are your friends?”

“This is Coltyn Alacot and Amber Durnap,”

“Pleased to meet you and no worries Alex between Scarlett and I we’ve plenty of food,”

“No, I have failed in my duty to the group,”

“I accept your apology, now stop fretting,”

“If you’d like I could give you some reserves,” Coltyn said, “In payment for our sword lesson,”

“That would be well met,” James said.

Coltyn then led them to his house where Amber hid in the shrubbery outside. He gathered a few items and handed them to James and Alex . They thanked him and went on their way. “So what was that all about?”

“Young lovers in need of advice,”

“You giving advice about love? Let me guess you told them to cherish one another for time and all eternity?”

“No, their families do not approve of their union,”

“And you told them to respect their elders and obey?”

“No, I told them they were free to live happily and they are masters of their own selves,”

“How is it you still surprise me after almost a year of venturing together?”

“I would guess you’re a slow learner,” Alex smirked,

“How dare you suggest such lies,” James slugged him,

Ruby laughed. James and Alex did as well. James led them to Scarlett who was helping a family skin some animals for a supper meal. The family invited them to sit and join in the dinner feast.

Alex , James and Scarlett all clasped their hands in prayer while the family waited. Ruby however began to fill her mouth with the many food items atop her plate. “I see you three are followers of the Church,” said the man of the house,

“Not so much of the Church,” James explained, “Alex and Scarlett here believe in omniscience and I pray as a respective gesture for them,”

“You are no observer of religion?”

“No, I am an observer of mathematics,”

“Then you are a strange man,”

Ruby giggled and the three smiled. “He is indeed,” said Scarlett.

After the meal, they all found places to sleep and settled for the night. As the hours dragged on Alex awoke to scuffling outside. He peered through the window and saw two figures in the dark. They seemed to be holding hands and running towards the exit of town. Alex smiled, but it was soon faded when he saw someone following the two. He rose from his bed and grabbed his shield before hastily making his way outside. He did his best to catch up to the three, but was too late when he reached them. “I told you not to pursue this wretch!” shouted Coltyn’s mother,

“But mother I love her and she I, we have the right to love,”

“Not to this wench, why would you throw your life away like this?”

“I’m not throwing it away, I’m advancing upon it,” he grabbed Amber’s hand and pulled her along. “I command you to stop!” the mother shouted,

“What’s going on here?” asked an approaching guard,

“Good, this woman has stolen from me,”

“I have stolen nothing!” Amber shouted at her,

“Come with me miss,” said the guard.