Part 5
Journey Bound
“Well,” he said, thinking a moment. “How ‘bout we go inside and have a little chat over some tea.”
The two entered the cottage. The old man began making tea as the girl sat quietly at the table.
Eventually the old man sat down with two cups of tea.
“Tell me deary,” the old man began. “How may I help you?”
“I think I need to get out of here,” the girl said bluntly.
“Oh?”
“I have no place in the orphanage and I think the law man is after me!” the girl almost wailed.
“Slow down,” the old man said. “Why would the law man be after you?”
“Because of something a friend of mine did,” the girl said evasively.
“Well if you really need to go I certainly could not just send you off all on your own,” The old man noted.
“She would not be alone,” Sworder said, coming forward.
“Is this the friend you spoke of?” the old man asked.
“Yes!” the girl said. “Sworder, this is Uncle Ben. Uncle Ben, this is Sworder.”
“Sworder,” Uncle Ben pondered. “A Kazan I presume?”
“Who is this man?” Ranin asked curiously.
“He does not seem to have malice against the two,” Namic stated. “But is he just a stopping point for these two or will be help forge their path.”
“You say your trouble stems from this Kazan?” Uncle Ben asked, “What did he do?”
“He burnt Rictor’s hand,” the girl admitted.
“Well, I can say he may have had it coming,” the Uncle Ben admitted. “But is that all.”
“The constable is using that as a pretext,” Sworder said. “He plans to strip my bond with her and sell my power.”
“You must be something if he is willing to go through so much trouble for you, if he is to work through the difficult task to undo the bond you two share.”
“There is an easy way,” Sworder stated.
“Not the pretty option either,” Ranin commented.
“What?” the old man asked.
“Death,” Sworder said bluntly.
“What!” the girl exclaimed.
“That is a possibility,” Uncle Ben admitted. “But will the constable really be willing to go that far?”
“Once out of the town it would be the simpler option,” Sworder noted. “It would not be the first time something like that happened.”
“Do you think the constable would go to that level?” Ranin asked.
“If pushed he might,” Namic answered. “But murder is something most law officials would avoid being directly involved in. The real question is weather he knows the true power of our old friend or if he is simply guessing.”
“If he actually knew what he was getting into he would bail wouldn’t he?” Ranin asked.
“Maybe,” Namic replied. “The brave and the foolish.”
“If it is that dangerous,” Uncle Ben began, “we should load up the wagon and leave now.”
“What? No!” the girl said flustered. “I couldn’t ask you to come.”
“I have many regrets in my life,” Uncle Ben said. “I should have left this town many years ago and I should have gotten you out of that orphanage somehow. I am just making things right.”
“Uncle Ben,” the girl cried, hugging the old man. “How could I ever repay you?”
“That would be unnecessary,” Uncle Ben said. “I should be apologizing.”
Ranin and Namic watched as the three loaded a cart and they watched as the girl and Uncle Ben settled down and began their journey.
“It may be uninteresting for sometime,” Ranin noted.
“Not yet,” Namic claimed. “There are still unresolved issues which may crop up.”
They watched as the wagon got a little over a mile from the village.
Ranin yawned. “Well it seems your warnings were unfounded,” he said lazily.
“You spoke too soon,” Namic stated. “Hear that?”
Ranin paused to listen. There was a faint sound of hooves in the distance. “What’s that?” Ranin asked.
“The climax of the first act, I assume,” Namic replied.
The sound grew louder until the riders of the wagon noticed. Uncle Ben maneuvered his horse to the side of the road to make room on the narrow way.
A few more moments passed before a figure on a horseback came barreling around the last bend.
“It seems the constable has not given up,” Ranin said surprised.
“What has he brought with him that he thinks will make the outcome different?” Namic said.
“More importantly will our friend be up to the challenge?” Ranin said excitedly.
The figure flew past the wagon then the rider quickly turned his horse around holding his hand up.
“Halt in the name of the King,” the rider commanded.
“It’s the constable,” the girl said, panicked.
“We are peaceful travelers,” Uncle Ben called back. “There is no need to detain us.”
“On the contrary,” The officer noted. “You are harboring a dangerous Kazan.”
“That is true,” Ranin noted, but Namic ignored him.
“Surrender the Kazan and I will let you free,” the constable offered.
“Good sir, this must all be a simple misunderstanding,” Uncle Ben began.
“There is no misunderstanding here,” the officer interrupted. “This young girl here and her Shadow Warrior have assaulted a citizen and resisted arrest by violent means.
“Well you’re guilty of being a bad constable,” the girl piped up.
“There’s no crime against that,” the officer laughed.
“Well, there should be,” the girl murmured.
“Be sensible,” the officer said. “We are in the middle of nowhere. Nothing can or will help you. I will get what I want in the end, so why try. Nothing will stop me.”
“I think I still have something to say about this,” a figure behind the girl said, standing up.
The figure was of similar height as the Vassal of Fire or Earth. His cloak was a dingy orange like that of many fallen leaves. He wore no armor except bracers across his arm. His only weapon was a single dagger residing in a scabbard on his belt.
“So you have multiple forms,” the constable noted. “You are more valuable than I thought.”
“What makes you think this will turn out differently than last we met?” the figure queried, frustration clear in his voice.
“I underestimated the girl. I thought her will would break far earlier,” the officer said. “By the way, what would you have me call this form? I may need to know later.”
“I am called the Vassal of Lighting,” the Vassal said.
“Is he bluffing or does he actually have the energy to fight?” Ranin asked.
“He received little actual damage earlier,” Namic noted. “He was tired after using a focus but without many wounds; he should have recovered swiftly.”
“Interesting,” the officer considered. “Anyway, I plan not to make the same mistake twice.”
“I think it is too late for that,” the Vassal said, leaping over the occupants of the wagon; landing in front of the horse.
“Tell your Kazan to stand down and release him to me, and I will let you go free,” The officer said.
The girl hesitated looking between the officer and Sworder.
“How can I know you are even telling the truth?” the girl asked.
“I gave you my word,” the constable said with a smile.
The girl looked back at the Vassal of Lighting unsure. Then seeming to make up her mind, her back straightened and she squared her shoulders. “When Sworder came to me he said I was as bound to him as he was bound to me. He has protected me as he is able, so I must also protect him as I can. He is not mine to give,” the girl said confidently.
“Stupid girl,” the constable spat.
“Her will is set,” Namic said.
“This should make an interesting show,” Ranin said excitedly.
A large, unarmored cat leapt over the constable. It landed in a ready position facing the Vassal.
“It’s the same one he used before,” Ranin began, “Why does he think this will end differently; especially, in its weakened state?”
“Do not think that is his only weapon in this fight,” Namic warned. “Look there.”
From the dust on the road, a figure slowly rose. It stood short and stout as the dust gathered about.
“A dust golem?” Ranin asked in disbelief.
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