The ride back was far less bothersome than the ride there had been. Well, aside from the old knight staring at Thalrick like a lion stalking its prey. His eyes never peeled away from the boy, as if he was waiting for him to try and make an escape attempt. You should be the one ready to escape, old petch. . . They only camped one night, under an outcrop of pine trees where pale lances of moonlight stabbed through the canopy, providing enough light for them to make a fire and eat supper under. The old man ate his own salted fish with butter and cheese, and insisted they all try some. He gave none to Thalrick. The only thing he ever gave him were threats, curses and perpetual stares. That night Renly and Badger, now known as Harp and Tyveth, kept watch over the bound boy to make sure the old man didn't try and cut his throat as he slept.
Thankfully he didn't, and the next morning (the day of the planned capture) saw a canopy of thick dark grey clouds, on the verge of black, inhabit the skies above. The clouds promised rain and thunder, as the old man kept reminding them all. ''Rain is coming, lightning too. I've seen a bloomin' tree get set on fire right by me, lightning flashed as bright as anything! Har! We best be finding this hideaway of yours today, wretch.'' He had said as it began to fall lightly. Thalrick hated being called a wretch. He hated it nearly as much as he hated Jon whipping him and threatening to fuck him bloody. The sooner this old man was bound and interrogated, the better.
''How long, boy?'' Harp Steelgreaves asked him, as though he knew. Thalrick feigned an answer and told him half a day, and judging by Harp's silence, it was a close guess. The old man kicked at his destriers flanks so it caught up to Renly and Badger, who rode side by side. His horse was bigger than theirs, and it could run faster, but he always lingered behind so his eyes could burn the back of Thalrick's head. He was short and old but he was still dangerous, Thalrick knew. The rain soon began to fall heavier, and heavier, and heavier, until anything more than thirty feet away became a grey apparition, blurred and hazed by the downpour.
Still, Harp Steelgreaves and his squire knew the way, and so not even the rain could slow them down. As the rains poured, the old scout had to shout to be heard above them. ''How much longer is the way? These petchin' rains are tiresome! Har! Mayhap I should be using that boy as my shelter! Har!'' He looked to Thalrick, who had not heard him. Renly looked at the man through his visor, still relatively dry courtesy of the thick steel carapace that covered him. ''He told us no more than the rest of the day. . . By nightfall, I assume.'' Renly had to bite back his annoyance with the man, who was too quickly climbing up his nerves.
The ambush point was nothing fancy, but it was tactical, and well accounted for by Garrion. The game trail they were following (albeit Wallace did not know, believing they were following the instructions Thalrick gave them) would snake off into a forest of beech trees, where it continued along with a steep slope to one side, and knolls to the other. They would lead the scout through this forest, and Garrion and Big Axe would ambush him from the knolls. He would either have to descend the slope that would likely unsaddle him, continue along the road, or climb the knolls, which would tire his horse. Any way he went, the old man would be caught by Garrion. The rains were bound to make the ambush harder, they all knew. But that did not mean they intended to abandon it.
''The forest is ahead,'' Thalrick said, as he had been told to, ''it's inside the forest, three houses used as a hideout,'' he lied, yelling to be heard above the rain. The old man cackled. ''Best not be lying to us, boy! Or I'll chop that tongue out, so you won't be making lies no more! Har!'' Renly and Badger were forced to laugh along with the old petch, who had pulled the hood of his cloak up to shadow his face and helm. Maybe Garrion will chop out yours, so we're all spared listening to that wretched cackle. . .
As they trotted up to the mouth of the forest, the old man looked wary. He urged his horse back and forth, looking up at the towering grey apparitions before him. ''You certain this is the way, boy? Don't lie to us, I've warned you.'' He said, tone almost giving away his uncertainties. Renly reassured him with Harp's hearty laugh. ''Aye, I doubt the boy wants his tongue out, he seems to want to keep that life of his. We'll trust his word. Come!'' He dug his heels into his chargers flanks and burst forward, and he and Thalrick quickly became grey shadows amongst the pouring rain. Badger followed, and then Wallace. The beech trees inside were tall and old, with branches so high and leafy that they stemmed a lot of the rain from getting through them. The water still fell, but not near as heavy as it did in the open. Thalrick smiled to himself as his ears felt reprieve, no longer burdened by the constant sound of the downpour. The old man seemed more,eccentric about it.
''Syna has blessed us! I can bloody well see again, har! How far now, wretch?''
Don't call me a wretch again, or I'll be the one doing the damned torturing, Thalrick wanted to say, but instead sneezed and said, ''Not long, not long at all.''
The old man didn't seem appeased. ''How bloody long, wretch?'' He said, louder and harsher this time.
''Night nearly falls, so I trust his word, Wallace.'' Badger said from beside the scout. Wallace conjured yellow phlegm from his throat and spat it at the ground. ''Petch his word, the boys probably leading us into a trap.''
He is smarter than he seems, then . . .
''No trap. Through this wood and we'll find them, I swear it.'' Thalrick said bluntly. The old man flicked his reins so his horse caught up to Renly's, and he kept at a speed that put him next to Thalrick. ''Should I have your fingers off now, then? I know a lie when I hear one, boy, for I've heard more lies than you've heard words.'' He used his left hand to unsheathe his dagger, and stabbed it at the air. ''I'll poke a hole in you, see if you lie then, har!''
Hurry up, Garrion, where are you? I'll kill him myself if you don't find us soon. . .
''There'll be no holes poked, Wallace, the boy is our captive. We're helping you on our own accord, so best not poke any holes in him or he won't help no more.'' Renly warned. The old man sniggered, tucking his dagger away again. The next hour was spent in silence, an hour spent waiting for Garrion to appear and secure the scout. He was supposed to appear on the hillock to their left, but he had not yet shown. The mud made it hard for the horses to travel any faster than a trot, and so trot they did. Thalrick could see the charger that carried them was having trouble staying unstuck, as was Badger's own courser. The old man's horse could have carried ten of him, and moved without trouble through the grubby track.
''Where is Garrion?'' Renly asked Thalrick in a whisper, when the old man had fallen behind by a few yards. Thalrick only shrugged, he knew no more than the other two did. As if by fate, three silhouettes appeared at the crest of the knoll to their left, barely distinguishable in the rain and darkness that had befallen them. The old man did not notice them, but Renly and Badger had. Thalrick breathed a sigh of relief, but it was too loud. The old man reared his horse. ''What are you sighing for, wretch? What is it?'' He stopped then, and Thalrick felt his heart beat out of his chest. Damn it, damn it, damn it. I've ruined it, he knows, he bloody well knows. . .
Wallace drew his gladius as soon as he saw the apparitions atop the hill. ''You've set a trap for us, har! I knew you were no good, little shyke! Lads, we have some company it seems! To arms!'' He tugged at his reins so the horse veered around to face the knoll, whinnying loudly. When neither Harp Steelgreaves or his squire Tyveth Clearwater drew their swords, the scout immediately knew the situation was awry. ''Brigands! All of you!'' He charged forward then, his destrier breaking into a quick gallop. As he rode by Renly he shot a foot out at Thalrick, but missed, and hit the armoured man instead. Surprisingly, there was enough force to it too knock Renly off the charger, and he was sent toppling to the wet mud below. His armour held him down in the slippery mud, and though he tugged for something to help him get up, he found nothing. His armour was too cumbersome, and he was not accustomed to it.
''GO-!!'' Garrion shouted from atop the knoll. Damn it, my bloody sigh did this, this is my fault. It went wrong because of me. Thalrick, you fool. Fool fool fool. Garrion will have my head if he is not caught. Instincts took over, instincts Thalrick had never felt before. A sudden rush of adrenaline made his heart beat faster than the old man's horse ran. He pulled himself forward, wrapped his bound hands around the reins, and dug his heels so hard into the charger he was afraid he might break its ribs. The horse reared and set off after the old man, faster now that the burden of Renly's steel no longer sat atop its back. I've never even rode a horse, not once. . . he thought as it picked up in speed, leaping over a moss-covered log that had fallen across the track. He could hear Badger somewhere behind him, his courser still burdened by the steel.
His horse is too slow with him on it. . . He'll never catch Wallace, no chance. Not with him on that destrier. It's. . . He gulped, It's up to me, then. He dug his heels into the chargers flank and it picked up speed. The night had befallen them, and so pale fingers of moonlight that reached through the canopy were all the light he had. He could hear the old scout ahead of him, but he only came into view when he charged beneath a hole in the canopy. Old petch, I'll catch you. I swear it on all I have. . . He didn't have much to his name, a knife, some clothes, but he'd sworn all the same. He could hear the old bastard mocking him in the chase, laughing and taunting.
''You won't catch me, wretch! Har! Racer is faster than any horse you men ride! It's how he got his name, har!'' He yelled, voice echoing through the trees. The rains had quelled but the ground was still muddy, and often did the charger lose footing and nearly slip. It never did though, but each time it would put more distance between Thalrick and his target. Come on, damn it. . . He flicked the reins and dug his heels, hoping that a miracle would bring the old man off his saddle. It was all he had left to catch him. Soon the sounds of hooves smashing through befallen leaves came from behind him, echoing from the hillocks. It's Garrion and the others, perhaps we have a chance, he thought as he tugged at his reins again.
This is all on me, all my fault, I gave them away. . . I must redeem myself, I must catch him. . . Thalrick's heart beat raced faster than ever before, and his mind was soon a haze of thoughts and ideas and conclusions. He could barely think straight; it was as if all his senses failed him besides his sight. Even his hearing grew dim, as though it was lending its strength to his hands, to keep him on the horse. He became nothing more than eyes, a heartbeat and a steady grip. I cannot fail. . . The man continued to boast about the speed of his horse, and it only made Thalrick more determined to catch him; to prove the speed of Renly's own. The charger was black and broad, but its legs carried its weight without trouble.
The sound of hooves grew closer and closer, but it was not Garrion, nor Badger. They came from before him, and it was then he realized he was making ground on the scout. A shaft of moonlight then revealed him, yards ahead, tugging at his own reins so hard he could have snapped Racers jaw. Thalrick had made ground, but not enough. For what felt like an entire year the man stayed several yards ahead, unaware of how close the boy had been at his heels. It's now, or it's never. . . Thalrick thought as he closed another few yards between them. Wallace looked back to see the boy on him, and spat phlegm into his face. It hit so hard it felt like a pebble being thrown.
''Piss off ya shyke! I'll cut more than ya tongue out, I swear it by all that's good!'' He yelled atop the sound of thundering hooves and splattering mud. Thalrick did not speak, and only allowed the adrenaline to overcome him completely. He lost all control over his body, he lost all control over his senses and his feelings and his own well-being. He lifted himself up enough so that he was nearly standing, and then he leapt. He leaped and he flew. Albeit briefly, he flew, until his entire body weight came crashing down upon the old man and sent him reeling from his saddle. The two fell in a tangled mess down the slope beside them, and rolled and rolled through fallen leaves and over roots and rocks, until Thalrick heard Wallace slam into a tree trunk with a sickening thud.
''Petch. . .'' The old man coughed, writhing in agony. He reached for his gladius and then his dagger, but both had came undone on the way down the slope. He was too weak to move, Thalrick knew. Racer and the charger did not follow them on the descent, and so it was only the boy and the old man, amongst roots and rocks and leaves. Neither had been armed, and Thalrick's hands were still bound, although the ropes had began to loosen. Someone, someone come bloody get him, he realized they had descended quite far down, when he noticed the sheer angle of the slope. His tunic had been ripped and frayed on roots and rocks, and his elbows were covered in blood and dirt. A gash had opened on his forehead, and warm crimson ran down over his eyebrow. The old man seemed worse for wear, brandishing a dislocated shoulder and a large gash on his chin. His armour had saved him from snapping his spine on the trunk.
Thalrick lied there for what felt like the rest of the season, until he heard footsteps rush down the slope, four different sets worth. ''Tyveth bless us,'' Badger began, as he sliced at the ropes that bound Thalrick's hands, ''he got him, well and truly.'' The tall man turned back to Garrion, who was the last of the five down the slope. The leader seemed annoyed and pleased all at once, his mouth twisted in a way that suggested both. Big Axe walked beside him. Renly and Badger no longer wore their armour, and were dressed in the plain clothes they had beneath the steel. Renly had a large cut on his temple, and walked with a limp. ''I'll be damned,'' the archer laughed, ''You actually did it.'' He helped Thalrick to his feet, and they all stared down at the old man, who was conscious, but in too much pain to do or say anything. Thalrick felt the adrenaline leave him as quick as it came, and the gash in his forehead soon burned like hot coals.
''Well done, lad.'' Garrion said drily, eyes never leaving the broken old scout, ''The plan might've not worked, but we caught this bastard all the same,'' he said hoarsely, and lifted the old man up by his cloak, ''On the morrow, he may have some answers for us.'' Garrion had Big Axe beat the man with the flat of his bearded axe until he fell unconscious, and then carried him over one shoulder up the slope. The huge Myrian nearly made the old man look like a child. Thalrick's legs felt like butter beneath him, worn and tired from the ride. Badger supported him as they ascended the slope, and said in a whisper, ''Well done, lad. I truly thought he would get away. Garrion would have had all our heads on spikes, if he had. You've kept my head on my shoulders, I swear it.''
They found the charger and Racer at the top of the slope, still on the track they had ran upon. Lolly held their reins in each of her hands, and smiled when she saw the company emerge through the trees. ''By the light of the moon, they both live!'' She japed, and handed the reins of the charger to Renly. She allowed Thalrick the destrier, and though he had now only ridden a horse once on his own, he felt confident enough to do it again. Badger helped him mount up, before he followed the others off to fetch their own horses. They returned a few minutes later, all mounted. Wallace was slung over the back of Big Axe's destrier, bound in rope from ankle to forearm.
''I'll drink a skin of wine to your bravery tonight, lad.'' Garrion said proudly, and the others all agreed with a cheer. |
|