The Righteous Way

Chapter 8

James stood sweating under the hot sun. Alex stood across from him with a wooden sword in his hand. James charged with his two wooden knives and Alex easily blocked one with his sword and grabbed James ’s other hand twisting until he released his weapon. He pushed James away and waited for him to pick up the practice weapon once more.

“Your attacks are obvious, you need to use grace, not brutality,” Alex said.

James crept towards him holding his weapons up. He thrust and was knocked away, James then spun with the hit and almost struck Alex ’s side, but failed as Alex caught his arm before the blow.

“Close, you used the momentum of my parry against me, very instinctive,”

“Maybe you’re right, I should use a sword,”

“Well, before you make the switch let’s try something else.” Alex dropped his sword and put up his arms in a fighting stance. James did the same. Alex swung at him and he ducked then retaliated with a flurry of strikes to his friend’s abdominal region before leaping back. Alex didn’t feel it at first, but as the seconds passed the pain grew until he fell to his knees.

“What was that?” Alex asked as he chuckled through the pain,

“I don’t have a name for it,”

“Well it’s very effective, how long will this last?”

“It should only be a few minutes,”

“Minutes?” Alex fell to his side, “Ugh...” he groaned.

It was strange for James to see his friend huddled in the ground. He’d never shown that pain bothered him before and for such a well-trained knight it was unbecoming.

“What did you do!?” Scarlett dropped the firewood she’d been collecting and ran to Alex ’s side. “Are you alright?” she asked,

“Fine,” he grunted, “Just battle practice,”

“Fix him,” she said looking at James ,

“Can’t, you just have to let it run course,”

Alex laid helpless for only a couple minutes before he could stand again. The pain was melting away, but he felt weak. Scarlett helped him to a nearby stump where he sat catching his breath. “Don’t ever do that again,” she warned James ,

“Scarlett it’s alright,” said Alex as he turned to face his friend, “You have a clever skill,”

“Agile hands,” said James as he put up his palms, “Good for more than just stealing,”

“Indeed, I’ve had battle wounds less painful,”

“You men are all the same,” Scarlett shrugged and returned to her task.

“That will be enough for today,” Alex said while he began to collect rocks to form a fire pit. James set up the wood for the fire and Scarlett disappeared to hunt for dinner.

“She really likes you,” said James ,

“She holds me in high regard, but she’s not to be mine,”

“Why is that?”

“My idea of a woman is one who can stand not only with me, but against me as well, Scarlett although a good woman is not what I’m seeking,”

“Stand against you? You want an enemy as well as an ally?”

“No, not an enemy, but someone who can let me know when I am wrong and is willing to show me that I am,”

“You? Wrong? Hah! You’ll never find a woman my friend,”

“I err from time to time,”

“When? When in the months I’ve known you have you ever been in error?”

“Have you not noticed how boastful I can be when it comes to fighting ability?”

“It’s not boasting when it’s true, it’s fact and a warning,”

“Then I continued to call you dishonest for a while, such judgment is a sin,”

“Once again it is fact that I can be dishonest, like when I tell our wench she’s a valuable member to us,”

“She is, because of her we’ll be having meat tonight, or would you prefer bread and cheese every evening? And don’t call her wench,”

“Alright, but I still don’t have to like her,”

“You’re right, you don’t have to,” Alex smiled,

“Oh don’t give me that, I have no interest in that woman,”

“Yet you stare at her when you think no one’s looking,” Alex smirked while James blushed, “Well if she would wear modest clothing maybe I wouldn’t be so tempted,”

“She is free to make her own choices,”

“Well her choices annoy me,”

“Maybe you should talk to her about it,”

“Maybe I shall,”

“Then do it,”

“I will,” James stood up and walked out of camp after her. Alex sat alone smiling at the flustered young man as he disappeared from sight. He began to sing a song about two lovers while he sparked the fire to life.

When James caught up, Scarlett had her bow out and was carefully walking towards a pond where some ducks were swimming. She pulled out an arrow and aimed carefully at the bird nearest the shore. “Hey,” whispered James from behind. Scarlett flinched and launched the arrow missing her prey. The flock took to the sky and Scarlett quickly fired a second arrow hitting the fowl square through the breast. It fell to the earth dead.

Scarlett whipped around at James . “You almost cost us our dinner!” she shouted at him, “What were you thinking!?”

“I needed to speak with you,”

“About what!? You want to insult me some more? Make me feel useless? That bird that we’re about to eat was my doing, or would you like to go hungry tonight!?”

“No, just wanted to ask if you would like some warmer clothes,”

Scarlett wasn’t sure if he was joking or not; if this was one of his games to tease her with. She turned away and marched to her kill. She picked it up to make sure it was dead and then started back to camp.

“I’m being serious, I would appreciate it if you would cover up more than your current attire will allow,”

“I have my cloak to cover me, otherwise feel lucky I cover up at all,”

“Well I thought I’d ask nicely, far be it from me to try and make a truce,”

“You? A truce? Hah! You think I’m a fool?”

“No, but your outfit boasts that of a harlot,”

Scarlett stopped and slapped him across the face. He was surprised at her strength and stumbled backwards as the sting burned his face. He could see the anger swelling in her eyes. “Call me a whore one more time!” she dared him. James stood his ground and stared her down. “No, because I know you’re a virtuous woman, but I will still prefer you to dress like one too,”

She dropped her cloak and the duck then charged him. James nimbly avoided her and watched her tumble to the dirt while she missed. She pounded her fists down and tried again. This time he caught her spinning her around and wrapping his arm around her neck while pushing her arm up her back.

“Will you calm down, I’m trying to have a conversation,”

“I have no interest in talking to a thief!”

“See, now you’re trying to hurt my feelings,” he tightened his grip,

“Let me go!” she screamed,

“Not until you calm down,”

Scarlett struggled more, but James held her firmly in place. Once she realized there was no way out she took a deep breath and relaxed. James released her, but kept up his guard. She rubbed her neck and looked back at him. “Are you willing to talk now?” he asked,

“Fine, why do you want me to wear something different?”

“To be put bluntly, you attire is distracting to me and I would prefer you cover yourself more,”

“Am I that ugly?”

“Not at all, it’s your beauty that is distracting,”

“Did... did you just compliment me?”

“It’s undeniable how your body looks and that’s my trouble, I dislike you, yet I find myself staring,”

“Well I dislike you as well, so if it helps us maintain that status I guess I could wear something else once we reach the next settlement,”

“Thank you,”

“You’re welcome.”

The two of them stared at each other for a moment before James walked back to camp alone while Scarlett gathered her cloak and duck once more. Once at camp the two sat away from each other and Alex watched their discomfort with glee. After dinner, they set up their bedding and readied themselves for the night. James pulled out one of his dolls and held it close while Scarlett wrapped herself in her cloak. Alex stared up at the stars and was thankful it wasn’t a rainy night. He closed his eyes and tried to relax while still smiling.

A few hours into sleep a shrill scream entered the air. The three of them all leaped to their feet and grabbed their weapons. Alex took off through the trees towards the noise and soon found himself in a field. Light was scarce, but he could make out something moving in the distance. He ran through the tall grass and suddenly tripped over something soft.

He hit the ground and felt something warm and wet at his bare feet. It coughed and Alex realized it was human. He quickly turned and saw a teenaged girl badly bloodied and torn beyond hope. He couldn’t fully examine her wounds and knelt over her helplessly. Her face was clenched in pain, but she couldn’t scream. Alex held her against him knowing that she would soon be dead and prayed that he could at least provide some comfort.

James soon appeared next to him and saw the lifeless girl in his arms. He knelt next to his crying friend and closed the girl’s eyes. “Scarlett saw someone or something out there, she’s trying to track it down,”

“What kind of animal would do this?” Alex asked through his tears,

“None I know of... poor girl,”

“Why do the young ones have to die?”

“Questions beyond answers,” said James as he patted his friend’s shoulder in a vain attempt at comfort, “Either way, we should get her home,”

“You and Scarlett go and retrieve our things, I’ll follow the road until I reach the nearest village,” he said as he began to walk with the girl in his arms. James obeyed and picked up the shield. He then went to the camp where Scarlett was waiting.

“Any luck?”

“No, whatever it is it doesn’t leave an easy trail especially at night,”

“A girl is dead, we’re to meet Alex at the nearby village as he returns her body there,”

“Poor soul.” Scarlett shook her head.

They packed up and started through the dark. They reached the field and soon a road. They walked along in silence with the death still fresh on James ’s mind. He then turned to Scarlett. “I just want to say, I’m sorry for being a fool,”

“Don’t be sorry, I gave you a hard time, I shouldn’t have let it get out of hand,”

“Mind if we start over?”

“How do you mean?”

James then extended his hand, “Hi, my name is James Pennyworth, former thief of Nomai and current handyman and traveler,”

Scarlett took his hand in hers and shook it, “Scarlett, hunter of Thynne, also a current traveler and hunter,”

“Very nice to meet you,”

“And you my fine gentleman.”

Both gave a guilt felt chuckle while they continued. Soon the village was in sight and they entered looking for their friend. “Who are you?” asked a man holding a pitchfork pointed at them,

“My name is James and this is Scarlett, we’re looking for our friend Alex ,”

“The murderer!? He is in our prison, had the gall to show off his most recent kill!”

“Murder? No, we stumbled upon that poor girl after she was attacked by an animal,”

“No animal could carry a girl away without waking her first, your friend murdered her and three other young women from our village!”

The two looked at each other in confusion, “That’s not possible,” said Scarlett, “We were with him all night,”

“Accomplices!” shouted the man, “Come quick!”

“No, you fool--” Scarlett couldn’t finish as other villagers swarmed in. Scarlett lifted her lance, but James stopped her. “Trust me,” he said as he gave her an earnest look. Scarlett wasn’t sure why, but she felt she could and let the villagers take their gear from them. They were put in shackles and taken to a solid building with thick metal doors. They unlocked the doors tossing Scarlett and James in before locking them again.

Alex was in the corner sitting calmly. “Are you alright?” Scarlett asked,

“No, but that is no matter now, James ?”

“Aye,” said James as he slipped from his shackles and began to pick the locks to Scarlett’s,”

“Wait... were you planning on getting caught?” she asked,

“Not initially, but once I learned that Alex was in here who better to break him out?”

“And you expected this?” she asked Alex ,

“No, but this town is rife with fear and panic, they want blood for blood and mine was fresh for the picking once I showed up with the girl,”

“Do you two have a plan?”

“Yes,” said James , “Get out of town and never come back,”

“No,” said Alex ,

“No? And just when I thought we had a communion of the mind,”

“If we leave more could die, I cannot allow that,”

“You want us to track down this beast?” asked Scarlett,

“Yes, and bring to light the danger of such an animal,”

“That’s a good idea,” James interjected, “but we’re supposed to be executed in the morning, how are we supposed to stay when they want us dead?”