For a Price

[ A nearly forgotten past ]

"Aww. Look at little baby Earnest. He's crying again."

"Yeah! What a wimp!"

"You call yourself a man but—What is common trash like you doing in this part of Amlarule?!"

"Yeah! Wenches like you belong to the pigsties!"

"You tell her! Last chance, sow. Either go back or—Hey. Hey! Don't come any closer, or I'll—ARGH!"

"Have you gone mad?! You dare strike the heir of—UGHH!!!"

...

*sniffling* "I—I'll tell my father about this! He'll have your head for this!"

"Y—Yeah! Your head!"

...

"Phew. That takes care of that...Hmm? I'm bleeding, yeah. Hehe, I guess I'm not quite there yet. Why I protected someone 'pathetic' like you? What do you mean by 'why'? Isn't it obvious? You're looking at Sir Rosalind Shields! The next great knight of Amlarule!"

****

[ Present ]

Eyes shot wide open. Cold air sunk into Earnest's lungs only to be forcefully coughed out again. By the time his breath calmed, the moon's light barely shone. Darkness enveloped everything; only a few nearby windows colored his pale face in warmer colors. Not only hard of sight but also robbed of touch, there was no telling what was where. Although conscious, his body was statue-esque—heavy and unmoving. What happened? How long was he out? Where was—

"Rosalind!" he shouted in nobody's ear.

Flashes of moments before flooded him. Immediately, his hand went up to the struck eye, and sure enough, a deep vertical scar ran across it. His memory was no illusion. Rosalind, the bloody man, the fight, the knife...everything happened. Then why...how could he still see through the injured—

"Anise! Anise! Oh god, Anise!"

His gaze finally wandered downward, only for his heart to sink and break into a million pieces—the promise he had made...broken. Anise lay on his lap, her green eyes dull and soulless and her skin paler than a ghost.

"No! No! No! No! No..."

He held her unresponsive body up. A sign was all he needed. Any sign of life was fine, just any. So, when even a breath's sliver escaped her bleached pink lips, one tear after the other fell on her snow-white cheeks.

In the aftermath of the encounter, only Earnest remained standing, albeit with wobblier feet than a newborn doe. But, a weakness on his end should not mean the loss of life for two innocents. It was not the knight's way. Breathing heavily, gritting his teeth, and planting his feet deep into the ground, he summoned every ounce of strength he possessed to keep himself upright while carrying his priestess companion as well.

"Nobody will die tonight."

One foot stepped forward. His balance returned.

"I was foolish."

Another step forward. His senses sharpened.

"I let Rosalind—No! I let that monster slip through my grasps."

His muscles burned.

"Anise is in this state because of me."

His vigor replenished.

"No more. I'm Earnest Pierce! Knight of Amlarule!"

Resolve steeled.

A man on a mission, the young knight **** his body to obey his unshakeable will. He kept marching, no matter how much lifting a foot hurt. Despite the darkness, he knew where he was going: the bar. Not for him to drown his sorrows in drinks but for someone to help him save Anise. With newfound fuel, he made his way to the tavern with haste, hoping not a moment too late.

Lady luck shone upon Earnest. The noises before the incident had not dimmed one bit. Joyous uproar sounded from the walls of the tavern. Through the windows shone a warm light akin to salvation. With one more burst of strength, he kicked the door open and rushed to the bar.

"Help! Please, anyone, I'm begging you! Is there a priest? A healer?!" he yelled, desperation ripped wide open in his voice.

However, his pleas reached no one.

Earnest stared into the tavern, and the tavern stared back. Like frozen in time, no music played, no laughter echoed, and no one moved. Disdain was in the air just as much as a mix of aromas, natural and unnatural.

For every male patron enjoying a grog hung one of the fairer sex. Mouth to mouth and skin to skin played the maidens with the brutes. Everyone was shameless. Whether old or young, riches or rags, women of seemingly all social standings offered themselves up. Women served, opening their legs with pleading eyes like a helpless doe, and were served, stepping on their partner's stiffness like goddesses. From what Anise had said, the tavern had always been a favorite spot for the humble farmers of Knottori to rest. However, surely she meant not akin to a whore house.

Earnest's eyes twitched. His grip on Anaise body tightened. Every second he had to watch the orgy unfold tipped the scale between salvation and demise. Just as he was about to shout into deaf ears again, a sudden softness coiled around his arm. Another followed suit around his other arm.

"I can tell that you are strong, handsome," a voice sweeter than honey called from the left.

It belonged to a woman with eyes blue like the ocean. She tightened her embrace, pushing her tits larger than melons into the knight's sides. Although her body and gaze were warm, fueled by passion, her words sent shivers down Earnest's spine.

"Why don't you drop that blondie and join me? The night is too young to care for those who don't offer."

"Not fair, Stella," the voice from the right chimed in, giggling. "You can't just hog him all for yourself. I saw him too, you know?" She bit her lower lips. "And my, my...what a snack he is. That scar of his is so cool. And, I mean, just look at his biceps! He must be able to carry us both at once."

"Oh, Mary. Sweet, sweet Mary," Stella said with a hint of mockery. Throwing her long, curly chestnut hair back, her eyes turned from playful to sharp at a terrifying speed. "You're talking about fairness but are already rubbing yourself against his leg. Talk about a bitch in heat."

Mary twirled her finger around the end of one of her blonde twin tails. The smile she put up could only hide her annoyance so much. "If I'm a bitch in heat, then you're nothing more than a **** cougar. What? Did no man want you tonight? Perhaps come off your high horse and accept the fact that you're way past your prime."

The woman's gaze shifted gears once more—from annoyed to demonic. But, just as quickly, they returned to lustful when meeting Earnest's. "We can talk about that later. Now, though, we have a dear guest without a partner for the night."

Mary matched her adjacent's vibes. "Sure. Our dear guest is more important than some petty dispute."

In unison, they approached each side of Earnest's ears. Their hot breaths tickled his lobes. Their intoxicating perfume tickled his nostrils. Their bodies pressed against his. "Come join us," they said, putting their spell on him.

Earnest's stomach twisted up. He shook. During his time as a knight, he encountered many foes. His senses were sharp, ready to meet any danger. Right now, every alarm went off in his head. Despite the honeyed words of the eager ladies around him, he recognized those vixens akin to anacondas. The longer he let them go on with their spiel, the tighter their coils around him would become. He knew he had to act fast before they devoured him whole, one way or another. Already, his surroundings began to blur.