He slowly slide the oddly dull side of his dagger in a sawing motion on my throat, probably so he could intimidate people in this kind of situation, the turn of his wrist, and I could be dead. The short one must have been the leader.
“Alright, boy…I will let you go but you will have to make up for hurting my goons. Say…that chain whip of yours?” He asked as if he was being clever. “Or I can talk to the nearest knight about the red wearing rebel…” he said as he lowered he head and whispered his threat next to my ear.
“You stink… and no. I think I’m good.” I said grimacing, slowly letting go of Jered’s hand. “So how if this going to work? I move off this idiot, or you just stand there like an idiot?” I asked.
Looking over my shoulder to see Shorty’s face redden, from embarrassment or anger, I did not know. My eyes widened when he twisted his wrist and I could feel him slowly push the blade closer to my throat; close to breaking the skin I closed my eyes. Thinking of a way out of this I grabbed my whip, just before pulling it out the pressure let up and I heard a thud. I whipped around and stared at the man on the ground shaking and holding his hand with blood seeping through his enclosed hand. Avery smirked down at me and bent down, cleaning his sword blade on Shorty’s side.
“You’re weird.” Avery simply said. “Hey, I have something to ask you.” He held out his hand. “About the blue king and red king and stuff.” He added
“No, I’m fine. “ I stood and began walking stepping over all three men on the ground in the ally and making my way back to the inn.
“Woe way, what is your name?” Avery asked running up behind me.
“Laurence.” I said with an irritated frown.
“I see you hate the blue king.” He stated and grabbed me by the arm and jerked me into yet another ally way.
“And how would you know that I hate the blue king? “ I asked resisting the urge to put my hand on my hip like a girl.
“Well, you’re wearing red where it is outlawed, and . . . yeah that about covers it.” He said nodding to himself.
“Okay so that was kind of stupid for me to say. “ I said biting my lower lip as I inwardly frowned at my own stupidity.
“Anyway, you’re a pretty good fighter so far, would you like to come with me to meet some people. “ He looked as if trying to find the words.
“You want to recruit me for some blue king hating rebellion?” I asked curtly, arching a brow.
“It isn’t like that-” I cut him off.
“Sure sounds like it.”
“Will you listen to me?!” he snapped.
“Why should I?” I snapped back.
“Do you want to come or not?” He grumbled.
“No. No I do not!” I said crossing my arms and glaring.
I flinched as he stood taller and reach out suddenly, and then he was off, with my dagger in his hand.
“Hey!” I exclaimed and ran out of the ally staring at him “You! What! Agh!” I turned and ran to the back of the in to the horse post, untied my horse onyx and mounted her, digging in my heels urged her forward into a gallop. Once I came up on him I was fuming.
“Stop!” I yelled several times with no response from the thief.
I urged onyx faster and tugged her mane over, onyx and I stopped in front of Avery, I expected him to stop, when he simply slid under onyx, I ignored the logical thinking pounding at the back of my mind and leaped off the horse onto Avery’s back.
“Run from me again!” I said in a way that was a threat, not permission as I grabbed his hand and pulling it up between his shoulder blades and pulled my dagger out of his hand.
“Not in the mood.” Avery said before he pushed up with his free arm and legs, making me fly back onto the ground.
I went to sit up but Avery was already at my side while holding my hands down.
“You’re surprisingly pretty weak.” He said, probably wanting a reaction. Which I gave Full force.
I twisted my hip and leg, kneeing him in the side with as much force I could muster and pulled my hands free while he was distracted. Taking my hand and pushing it into his face I shoved his head over and knocking him off his already wavering balance. I stood and fell to the ground before I could take another step with Avery’s hand firmly wrapped around my ankle.
“What do you want!?”
“I need to come with me! Bill can explain this later!” He exclaimed and grabbed the foot I was starting to kick at his head with.
“I was taught not to talk to strangers!” I retorted before he pulled me across the rough hard ground and grabbed me by the jaw. “Just leave me alone!” I mumbled out.
“You’re making me do this.” he said nonchalantly with a hint of warning as he pulled out a tiny pouch and ripped it over my mouth, the seed like content falling into my mouth. “Chewing helps.”
He covered my mouth with one hand and held my hands above my head with the other. Though I landed some blows on him with my legs and knees. Before long the tiny seeds released something and I numbly chewed and swallowed. Everything was ether blurry or had triplets, every tiny movement felt like one. I felt arms hoist me up higher off the ground and heard the distinct sound of onyx’s hooves across the ground. I was in and out but couldn’t remember enough to get back to town.
♛
“What did you do to him, Avery?” a kind voice asked with annoyance.
“What I was told if useful people don’t listen.” Avery said and I could practically hear him shrug.
“You drugged him, stole his horse, and tied him up? Was that necessary?” The woman asked.
Suddenly I could feel rope around my wrist and realized on was hanging over the back of a horse, my horse. I lifted my head slightly, feeling a twinge in my head. I could make out the silhouette of a horse and cloaked lady, I was hoping it was night and I wasn’t going blind in some way.
“He wouldn’t listen and fought back, he still has his horse, and he is small but his hits hurt and he would suddenly throw punches in his sleep, Aurora.” Avery said and the ride came to a stop. “We should set up camp here.”
“He is waking…” Aurora said dismounting the horse.
I felt Avery dismount and pull me off, I got only a glimpse of him before I was laid against a tree and he moved out of my sight. Now I put all my focus onto getting back to normal, I lifted my hand and stared at it until it was no longer two and looked up, seeing Avery digging through bags on a buckskin horse and the woman that must have been Aurora gathering a small pile of wood and starting a fire. I sat up farther and held my head with one hand.
“Someone had better give me a good, well said explanation before I snap.” I said calmer than I expected my voice to be.
It was aurora who walked over to me and sat down in front of me, gently tucking her cloak under her legs and taking the hood down. Her hair was long, and brown but at the ends it was slightly lighter and her eyes were a dull gold color, her lips were full and seems like they would always offer a kind smile.
“Alright, for just a second here, let’s ignore the fact my brother so rudely kidnapped you and focus on the main point here. We need you, you are brave, you’re strong, hate the blue king and seem like the loyal kind, the kind of people we need. We are in a rebellion against the blue king, he is ruining these kingdoms and we know you must hate him also; we all have our own reasons. This is not just another small group of people fighting knights or joining because that wants to fight someone. This s a real group of loyal people, the more the better and we think you will be a perfect member. “Aurora said calmly and added “Please, ask whatever you like.”
“Do you normally kidnap people you want to recruit? How big? How would you know I’m loyal?” I asked with narrowed eyes.
“Sometimes, but they end up understanding. Pretty big, but I don’t have the numbers. A gut feeling, you could say.” She answered with a smirk.
“Where are we going?” I asked the last question I would bother with for a while.
Auroras face brightened even more and she stood, holding her hand out for me to take, which I did lifting myself up.
“The caves, our base.” She grinned.
“Alright, when you put it the nice way I guess I can’t say no “I smiled weakly, still a bit dizzy.
“You just think she is pretty.” Avery said starting the neglected wood pile on fire.
I arched a bow and narrowed one eye. If only he knew. I didn’t bother with an answer other than a shrug and walked over to onyx, patting her sleek neck.
“So, how did she ride while I was drugged?” I asked after a few silent moments.
“Like I had killed her foal and mounted it on her back.” Avery said as he uncovered some bread and smelled it, grimacing slightly he put a piece in his mouth anyways and ate it.
“Hmm. Don’t you just have a way with words?” I said sitting down at opposite of Avery, next to Aurora.
“So I have been told. “ He mumbled through a mouth full of bread.
“So, where are we?” I said turning to Aurora.
“The sanguis forest.” She answered, passing me some bread and popping a piece in her mouth.
“How long was I out?!” I nearly yelled. The sanguis forest was at least two towns away from what I had heard.
“Nearly three days, met up with Aurora on the second “Avery answered for aurora, to which she gave him a glare.
I looked around, finally taking in my surroundings I seen the distinct black bark and blood red leaves of the sanguis tree, even though the leaves where deep purple under the moon light. I loved these trees the moment I seen them but couldn’t be sure why. I backed up to a tree and wrapped myself in the red cloak, hand on my dagger. My thoughts already running wild about what I would see and do in the situation I got myself into.
