A Difficult Decision

Dinner that evening was a simple stew of an assortment of vegetables and some unidentifiable meat, it lacked the rich flavour and fragrant aroma that Henry’s cooking provides. Having helped us to speak with Harod earlier that day, Canis had returned to his hut to cure a hide of one of the animals he had hunted earlier in the week. The four of us were seated in the kitchen as we ate; Mia happily slurping at the bowl, apparently uncaring of the bland flavour.

My mother breaks the silence that had settled over us that evening, ”We need to get that money” she says as her gaze rises to Elsie and me “I’m not letting you become a **** Elsie, not for that… that creature”

“But how? Twenty-gold?! It’s not exactly something we’ll find lying around” Elsie objects, the desperation that had been filling her all day leaking out in her voice.

“I know, I know” my mother sighs, “I can probably sell my sword for a few gold. I won’t be able to get to the capital and back in a month, so I won’t get as much as it’s worth. I’ve got a couple bags of silver left from my adventurer treasure, so maybe four gold in total?” she says

Elsie nods her head solemnly, knowing how my mother would happily give her this and expect nothing in return. She knows it’s not enough

“We can try and raise money in the village, I know most of them don’t have as much as I do but they’re good people. They’ll help”

I look at her and shake my head, “Really? You think they’ll all help? People like Clen’s father, like Storren? They’ll just let her rot before they part with their money” I protest, knowing it’s not helping but unable to bear giving Elsie false hope.

My mother gives me a frown, seeing Elsie on the verge of tears, “Yeah, there are some people who won’t help. But most of the people here are good and will want to help, sure they don’t have much, but we might be able to gather a few gold between us all. And Canis will see if he can find more game in the woods, if we sell them to the other villages near here, we might be able to get even more”

Elsie gives her head a nod, her lip trembling. Mia seems oblivious to the conversation as the liquid of her stew splashes across her dress and one of the vegetable chunk spills from her spoon. My mother smiles as she looks at her and wipes her face with a cloth that looks like it has been used a few times already; she seems to enjoy taking care of Mia, reminding her of what it was like to have a young child.

“There’s still the ogre as well” I suggest, most of the carcass remaining where it was killed with it being far too large to move and a wagon being unable to move through the trees. “It’s body has to be worth something right, I mean someone could pay to make a trophy out of its head?”

My mother nods, “maybe, monsters tend to take longer to rot than humans. Maybe we can get some blood from it, some of its glands could be intact if we’re quick, you can get something for the skull. The horn will make the most though, shame there’s only one” she says, her experience taking hold as she recalls her knowledge of those beasts, “Still, there’s the same problem as with my sword, anyone who would be willing to pay a good price for it will be in the capital and we don’t have the time”

“But there’s a chance?” Elsie asks, hope sneaking into her voice for the first time that day

My mother gives her a warm smile, “Yes Elsie, there’s always a chance. And if we can’t get the money… well, this girl hasn’t seen human blood in a while and she’s thirsty” she says, patting the sheath of her sword, still fastened to her waist.

Elsie smiles at that, “Thanks Sephi, but you saw how many guards he has. I don’t want you to get hurt for us, you’ve helped us so much already” she says, brushing a lock of red hair out of her eyes. She looks at Mia and gives her head a gentle squeeze as she finishes her bowl of stew, her tongue licking the bowl vigorously.

“I’d sooner take the **** contract before I see anyone get hurt, it’s only ten years so I’d still have most of my life after it” she says, as though it was something that she had been considering for some time. My mother and I go silent as she talks about the contract

Elsie looks from me to my mother, “I mean it’s not like much would change right? I’d be working in the manor, wouldn’t I? that’s pretty much what I’ve been doing when Lord Beckront was there. And I’d still be able to see my mother. Maybe he’ll even send me to take the test of divinities, an adventurer has to be worth more as a **** than just a village girl” her words quickly tumble out, as though she was trying to find an upside to the arrangement

She glances at my mother’s sunken expression, “what? I’m not going to let my mother die if we can’t raise the money”

“I know Elsie, I’m not planning on letting anything happen to her…” my mother says, “but you don’t know what a **** contract means. He will own you for the next ten years. You will have no rights, no protections, he can sell the remainder of your contract if he wants” she takes a breath. “He’ll probably give you a **** mark, it would **** you to obey his commands, make you feel agony if you refuse and only stopping when you comply” she pleads with her. “You’re not becoming a ****” she says at last, rising from her seat and collecting the empty dishes from the table. The conversation was apparently over.

We slept together again that night, comforting Elsie in my arms with her breath against my neck as we brought pleasure to each other. Both of us in **** need of it after the trials of that day

In the morning Elsie seemed quieter than usual , my mother having left the house already. We broke our fast with a meal of bread and cheese again, washing it down with a cup of tea each from the pot of boiled water hanging above the fire. I dressed myself in my worn cotton clothes, covered with the tattered leather of my jacket.

“I was thinking that we could go and see Henry today, I’m sure he’d be happy to get us something to eat” I say, smiling at her as I pull her into a hug, “I don’t know how long you’ll survive on just my mothers’ food” I add with a little chuckle

She just gives me a delicate smile, her hands wrapped around my back. “No, I don’t think so. I’m going to stay with Mia, I don’t think she understands what’s happening” she says, glancing at the stairs where Mia is sleeping in my mothers’ room. “But you should see Henry, maybe bring back something to eat”

I look down at her and frown, “are you sure, you know I’m happy to stay here if you want me“ I offer, holding her by the waist

“Yes, go on. One of us should be able to enjoy the day” she says, giving me a kiss on my cheek.

After making sure that she was really okay with me leaving, I step out and go to the village. It seemed that word of Rosaria’s imprisonment had spread like wildfire. On my way to the bakery I heard numerous retellings of the events at the manor, ranging from Elsie’s mother attempting to seduce Lord Motten and kill him in his sleep, to her having poisoned Lord Beckront, being the real cause of his ****, and only the wisdom of Lord Motten had detected her treachery. I wasn’t sure how many of the tales had been started by the villagers and how many were spread by Motten himself. But no matter, it would surely be even more difficult to convince the people to raise money for Rosaria’s release.

Having been told by Henry’s mother that he had gone to one of the farms this morning but should be on his way back now, I walk in their direction in hopes to run into Henry on his way back. I hear the sound of raised voices coming from behind a pile of rocks that had stood outside the village for as long as I remember.

“Shut up Clen, he’s a liar” I hear Henry’s voice scream from the distance

Oh no, Henry. Don’t start something with Clen I think as I pick up my pace and reach the mound of rocks. I see Henry facing Clen and his friends, their hands pushing him, making him stumble though not hard enough for him to fall. Sat on one of the rocks, looking at the interaction with quizzical interest is Zarin, his white cloak marred with the black stitching’s of a bear.

“Of course she is tubby, why would anyone care about her enough to lie. Ask me what I think, the traitor should be killed. Crushed with a rock. No. Burn her alive like they used to” Clen declares as though his thoughts of the justice system where the most sought-after knowledge.

“You... you… you bastard” Henry shouts, his anger flaring as I realise now that they are talking about Elsie’s mother. Henry shoves hard against Clen’s chest, shoving him backwards by a few paces. He slips on one of the stones on the ground, almost falling before he recovers himself

“Little shit” he spits as he throws a punch, his fist slamming into Henry’s face, “You want to fight? Think you can tear through me like one of your cakes?” Clen taunts to the raucous laughter of his friends. Through the provocations, Zarin simply watches as though seeing a particularly interesting interaction between two animals.

“Hey, leave him alone Clen” I shout as I rush to Henry’s aid. Zarin’s eyes come alight at my voice, and he turns to me with a pleased expression. As I come over, Clen’s fists pummel into Henry’s chest forcing cries of pain to erupt from his mouth.

I reach to pull Clen away but am stopped by Zarin before I can lay a hand on him. “What are you doing? Get off me” I shout, shrugging his hand off of my shoulder

“I am afraid that I cannot allow you to interfere my goodman” Zarin says in, the rich tones of his voice coming out calmly, “My father has taught me many things, but none more so than the sanctity of a duel. Everyone here watched as Henry laid hands on Clen, challenging him and Clen has clearly accepted” he sighs as he gives my shoulder an almost apologetic pat.

“We must permit the duel to be seen to completion. I’m sure it is difficult. Henry is your friend, no?” he says

I push him back, “I don’t care what your father says about duels, he’s going to kill him” Clen’s fists slam again into Henry, his cries becoming whimpers now as his body curls up

Zarin, shakes his head at me almost as though he were a disappointed parent and I, his child. “If you attempt to interfere then I will be **** to stop you. Don’t make me” he says just as smoothly

“To hell with you” I shout, pushing Zarin away and making a dash to try and tackle Clen

“If you insist” Zarin says quietly, quickly recovering from my push and coming at me with an inhuman speed. He grabs me and drops me to the ground before I can reach Clen, the weight of his body on top of me as he forces my arms behind my back. The weight of my body and his making it unable for me to use them.

*Wham*

I feel his fist land against my face, harder than anyone has hit me before. Even Clen never hit that hard. I’m dazed for a moment and, turning my head to look back at Zarin I see his other fist coming for me just before it lands on the other side of my face. I groan in pain, unable to defend myself as the blows come again and again.

I see the look on Zarin’s face, one of almost manic glee as fist after fist lays into me; the blows cut my face open, blood trickling down my cheeks and splattering the white cloak of Zarin.

Is that…? Laughter? I think as I hear a strange sound, my eyes struggling to stay open as I see Zarin’s mouth open as the high-pitched notes escape his throat, taking joy from my pain

“HAAHA… AHAHAHA” I hear as I hear a cracking sound in my face and a stab of pain rushes through my body.

By now, Clen had stopped beating on Henry and was watching the display that Zarin was making with a disturbed expression. Blood splattering from my face and spraying Zarin but also making its way to the Clen and his friends

“Ughhh… St… Stooo” I try to tell him to stop, the pain growing too great for me. I feel my eyes beginning to slump, the agony bringing me to unconsciousness.

“I think you should stop. Seriously, I think he’s had enough” a voice sounds, who was that? Was that me? I think to myself as I slip into blackness