The Righteous Way

Chapter 17

Alex appeared and grabbed the guard’s hand. “There is no crime here,” he said, “This is a family matter,”

“But the missus here has expressed--”

“I know what she said, but nothing has been stolen save this young man’s affection, leave it alone,”

“What say you sir?” asked the guard to Coltyn,

“She has committed no crime,”

The guard looked around and seeing he was not needed returned to his post.

“How dare you intervene!” shouted the mother at Alex ,

“I must as a knight stand for justice and truth,”

“A knight? Where is your garb if you hold such an honor?”

“This is my badge,” he held up his shield, “And this is my king’s favor,” he held up the emblem,

“I apologize sir knight,” the woman bowed,

“All is well ma’am, but you cannot stop these two from leaving, they must live as they see fit,”

“But his life is meant for so much more,”

“What more is there than love?” Coltyn asked as he took Amber’s hand,

“A life of wealth and honor, you’ll squander your fortune and family name for poverty and pettiness,”

“It is not petty to live a life of virtue and struggle,” Coltyn assured her, “We will build a farm, grow crops, raise cattle and so long as we are fed we will be happy,”

“But... but...” she tried to argue,”

“We will take our leave now,” Coltyn said, “Thank you sir knight,”

“Yes, thank you,” said Amber.

He watched the two go while the mother turned and started trudging off towards her mansion realizing for the first time that wealth could not mend her heart.

Alex turned and started back to his bed. “Are you an angel?” asked the voice of Ruby who appeared from a nearby shadow,

“Why would you ask that?”

“You rescue me and make miracles,”

“I am no miracle worker, I simply speak and act in a manner I believe to be truthful and right,”

“You save people,”

“I help, I do not save, that is up to the individual,”

“I think you an angel,”

“You may think what you will, but I am only a man.”

Alex walked her back to her bed and bid her a good night. He then returned to his own and slept until morning.

“So Ruby tells me you’re an angel,” James jested as they walked out of the village, “when were you going to tell Scarlett and I?”

“Not to insult the intelligence of my friend, but I would have thought you’d notice my large feathery wings by now,” Alex gestured to his back outlining invisible wing shapes and both gave a chuckle. “You seem in a good mood today,” Scarlett said addressing Alex ,

“I was reminded last night that even amidst an evil world, there is still hope for happiness and innocence,”

“I’m not sure I see the evidence of that so clearly,” said James , “But then again I’m not even wise enough to see your wings,”

“What wings?” Scarlett asked unaware of their exchange before. Both men looked at one another and began to laugh. “What’s so funny?” Scarlett cocked her head in confusion, but they only laughed harder.

James walked along the path with Scarlett. The two were scouting the road ahead while Alex and Ruby stayed a league behind. He tried to think of some clever way to begin a conversation, but his mind failed him. Instead Scarlett was the first to speak. “You know I can scout alone,”

“I do, but sometimes Alex ’s preaching can become intolerable,”

“He doesn’t preach, he speaks truths that are hard to hear with proud ears,”

“Well I’d just as well spend less time with him,”

“And spend more time with me?”

“And why shouldn’t I? Is there some law or unspoken rule that should prohibit our company?”

“No, but one might begin to think you’re not so much avoiding him, but finding excuses to be with me,”

“Perhaps I enjoy your company,”

“Perhaps? James it is no mystery you enjoy my company, you always roll out your bed nearest mine, you walk beside me almost all throughout our journeying and you’re always trying to--”

“Now hold on, I do not constantly walk beside you, it’s only on occassion,”

“Occassion? You only part my side when something needs doing and like I was saying it seems like you’re always trying to bring up a clever conversation,”

“Well I am clever, what other conversations could I bring up?”

“You only think you’re clever, but it’s charming that you try so hard,”

“You still think me a fool do you?”

“Of course I do, but at least I know you’re an honest fool with a heart,”

“Then would it offend you if this honest-hearted fool ask your hand for an evening?”

“It would not, in fact I rather like the idea, what did you have in mind?”

“Perhaps a meal beside a creek and you show me how to use a lance,”

“Only if you show me how to use a sword,”

“It’s a deal,”

“It’s a courtship,” Scarlett smiled at him and he smiled back. They suddenly halted when they saw a group of men and women sprinting across the field to thier right. Behind the group were mounted knights galloping with swords drawn.

James gave out a shrill whistle alerting Alex . The whistle was heard by the pursuing knights and three of them broke off. “They’re coming after us!” Scarlett shouted as she tossed her cloak, bow and quiver. She held her lance in both hands ready for a fight while James drew his sword. Before the horsemen could bear down on them however Alex rode his own horse out in the open stopping between them and the knights. “Halt fellow knights!” he shouted and raised his shield. The men however did not stop and continued in their charge. Alex drew his sword and dismounted.

The first knight raised his sword and swung at Alex who blocked. The blow with the force of the galloping horse sent him back. Without hesitation he used the momentum to somersault backwards and replanted his feet. “Defend yourselves!” Alex shouted to James and Scarlett who stood ready.

They both dived away and rolled as the horses stamped by. Scarlett got to her feet and readied for a second pass. The knight turned and began to gallop. Scarlett took her lance with both hands on the dull end. She swung it at the knight and connected. He was sent backwards off his saddle landing hard on the dirt road.

James deflected another attack. The horse then slowed and started to turn for another attack. Alex sprinted and before the animal could pick up speed he grabbed the back of the knight’s armor and yanked him off the saddle as the horse ran forward.

Alex put his boot on the man’s chest and his sword to the throat. “Why are you attacking us?”

“You!? You’re not a raider, you’re a knight,”

“I am indeed, now answer me!”

“We mistook you and your band for raiders,”

Alex had the man stand up, “We are no brigands, only travellers,”

“My apologies, it is hard to tell the innocent from the enemy and you were armed.”

“I would expect you to better decipher your enemy in the future,”

“Yes, we shall,” The man took his gear and mounted his horse. His friend did the same and they began to gallop back to the field. “I don’t like them,” James said,

“Nor I,” said Alex , “A true knight would have yielded to my halt and noticed the crest upon my shield.”

“Could they be imposters?” Scarlett asked,

“More likely this kingdom gives nobility to fools, either way we’ll move on, where’s Ruby?”

“Here,” said Ruby as she appeared from behind a tree. She had been hiding since James ’s whistle. Alex collected their horse and held out his hand for Ruby.

“I would like to walk,” she said,

“As you wish,” Alex lowered his hand and grabbed the riegns leading the horse along. Ruby ran to his side as he began to walk. “Are my words good?” she asked,

“Yes, James has done well teaching you,”

“I also know the alphabet up to G,”

“That is good, recite it for me,”

“A-B-C-D-E-F-G...”

“H,”

“H... I?”

“Yes, H-I-J-K”

“Slow down,”

“My apologies, this is why James is the better teacher,”

“A compliment?” asked James , “What have you done with my friend?”

“Don’t worry,” Scarlett said, “Once you commit a failure I’m sure he’ll return to scold you for it,”

“Failure? The mighty James does not fail, he only blunders gracefully,”

“As gracefully as a newborn calf,”

“O’ hush woman,” James lightly shoved her and she shoved back.

The teasing was cut short when smoke was seen rising over the hill. “Ruby, on the horse now,” Alex took her hand and helped her into the saddle. They all ran up the road till they reached the top of the hill and looked down into a valley where a village was burning.

Without hesitation, they all began to run towards the chaos while Ruby stayed behind. “Scarlett gather the survivors!” Alex yelled, “James check the left! I’ve got the right!”

“Aye!” both shouted. When they were on the edge of the houses they dropped their gear. Scarlett bolted down the road looking for anyone alive while Alex and James wrapped their faces and burst into the burning houses. Alex used his shield to bash through the door. “Is anyone here!?” he shouted in a booming voice. When he was sure the structure was empty, he ran to the next crashing through its door as well.

In this one there was a woman wrapped in a blanket screaming in the corner. Alex ran over and grabbed her ignoring the searing pain of the heat against his arms and face. He carried her out and laid her in the street before sprinting for the next house.

James emerged from his third cottage with a boy and girl in his arms. He set them down before disappearing again through the smoke-filled doorway. He grabbed the father of the children who was lying unconscious on the floor. He hoisted the man over his shoulder and ran outside again.

As he dropped the man he began to cough uncontrollably as the smoke had filled his lungs. He would not give up however and went to the next.

Scarlett found a group cowering behind a small shed. They huddled in fear as she approached them. “Stay back!” shouted a young girl,

“It’s alright, I’m here to help,”

“Lies! what more do you want!?” shouted an elderly man,

“As we speak my friends are risking their lives to save your people from the fires!” Scarlett shouted in anger, “With your help we can save more!”

She looked over the weeping crowd and saw that no one was willing to help. She frowned and dashed to the street where James and Alex were laying the victims. She began to tend to their burns and other wounds such as lacerations and broken bones. After the last house, James trudged to the center of the village with a woman in his arms. He was coughing and his knees gave way. He lowered the woman to the ground and collapsed on top of her.

Scarlett stopped tying off a bandage and ran to him pulling him off the woman and sitting him up. He began to heave, his skin blackened from the smoke and soot. He lowered his face mask unable to breathe.

Alex ran over and helped Scarlett pull him aside and propped him against a nearby well. “I’ll be fine,” his voice was hoarse.

“No, you’ve exhausted yourself and breathed too much smoke,” Alex corrected,

“Don’t you worry about me, it’ll take more than a little town fire to kill this fool,” he smiled at Scarlett, she returned it.

“We’ll have to jest later,” Alex said, “These people still need our help.”

Scarlett nodded and left to continue her service while Alex waved for Ruby to join them. She trotted in on the horse and dismounted before promptly helping Scarlett with the wounded. Alex sat next to James and also began to try and expel the smoke from his lungs while wheezing.

“This doesn’t seem right, why would rebels burn down a village?” Alex asked,

“I’m not sure they did.” James said causing Alex to give him an odd look, “These are innocent people, no soldiers, no kinsmen, if we’re to believe the rebel story would they not fight for the people and against the king? Instead I see here innocent people being targeted,”

“Then who attacked this place? Raiders? Pirates?”

“How about you investigate that?”

“I’m tired and my lungs burn, I’ll rest for a moment first.” Alex laid his head against the stones of the well.

Scarlett wiped the sweat off her head as she pulled the last survivor a safe distance from the flames. Ruby had been running buckets of water from the well to the victims helping them stay hydrated. “Who are you?” asked one of the men now wrapped in bandages.

“Passersby,” Scarlett answered, “We help those in need,”

“You are better than I, most strangers would pay no heed,”

“Who was it that attacked you?”

“They called themselves Red Swords.” Scarlett stood and looked around at the damage that had been caused. She and Ruby then went to Alex . Scarlett sat beside him and James while Ruby sat upon the well’s edge.

“It was the Red Swords,” she said with disgust,

James tried to jump to his feet, but toppled and fell.

“Don’t hurt yourself,” Scarlett pleaded with him helping him rest against the stones once again.

“But we have a lead!” he coughed,

“James is right,” Alex agreed, “We must find where they went,”

“Then I will go,” said Scarlett, “I’ll track them down,”

“We can’t let you go alone,” James argued,

“I will not be caught off guard this time,” she clenched her fist, “I will find her!”

Scarlett quickly left them amid their protests, but they had no strength to follow her. Both men continued to wheeze and hack while Ruby tended to their burns.

“You are skilled in aide,” Alex said,

“I treat many hurts,” she replied,

“It would make sense slaves would learn to tend their wounds,” James said.