Part 11
Justice and Tears
“And now,” The Vassal said, calmly as he leveled his bow towards the leader. “The Justice which awaits robbers.”
“Sworder! No!” the girl said, standing up.
“If we do nothing then they will continue… unchecked,” the Vassal said.
“But you can’t,” the girl said.
“Then what?” the Vassal asked, turning.
“I… I don’t know,” the girl said.
The two thugs bolted into the woods. The Vassal drew his bow back but did not shoot.
“I guess it does not matter then,” the Vassal said to himself, then turning to the leader he continued in a louder voice. “Remember you were spared today.”
The Vassal released his grip on the bow and a gale of wind blew from his bow, knocking the man off his feet and sending him tumbling across the ground. As soon as the man found his footing, he also bolted into the trees. The Vassal walked to the fallen crossbows and, with two bolts from his bow, broke them beyond repair.
“I hope you know what you have done,” the Vassal said, grimly.
“Thank you, Sworder,” the girl said, “Thank you again.”
“It is my duty to protect.”
“Well, shall we carry on?” Uncle Ben asked.
The Vassal nodded as he climbed the wagon.
“Are you angry with me, Sworder?” the girl asked.
“No, not angry,” the Vassal said. “Just curious. You know they will proceed to waylay more travelers.”
“Maybe,” was all the girl managed.
“It is not for us to take justice into out own hands,” Uncle Ben said to the two.
“From what I have seen, justice is not something easily obtained by waiting for others,” the Vassal said.
“But you planned to kill him; didn’t you?” the girl asked.
The Vassal nodded, “It was the only path available to me to stop him from using that tree again.”
“Could we not do something else?” the girl asked.
“We could not capture him,” the Vassal said. “Anyone we tried to turn him over to would have attacked us.”
Silence fell and the Vassal retreated into the wagon.
“Would he have done it?” Ranin asked.
“As I said before, he has not changed?” Namic said.
The wagon slowly moved on. And slowly a young sprout broke ground in the middle of the road, searching for the sun.
“It will still take it sometime for it to regain its strength,” Namic said.
“I’m surprised it has the strength to begin so fast,” Ranin said.
“It reverted to retain energy, so that after it sensed the danger had past it could begin to rebuild,” Namic said.
The wagon continued to roll on.
“They’re leaving without us!” Ranin said.
Slowly the wagon made its way east, and before long the sun was setting as Port Saghaven came into view.
“Their destination lies ahead,” Ranin said.
“Port Saghaven is not their destination, merely a way station on the way to Calta,” Namic said.
“We’ll hold up in an inn for the night,” Uncle Ben said. “In the morning we shall purchase passage on a vessel to Calta. We have to keep a low profile while in the city.”
“There is a risk going to this town,” Namic said. “Compared to some port cities it is smaller but it still has a garrison and can pose a threat because of the price on their heads.”
“As long as our old friend remains hidden they should remain unknown,” Ranin said.
“It may not be so simple,” Namic said.
They passed through the city’s gates without incident and found their way to a small inn. Uncle Ben talked to the keeper about the night stay and paid for a meal.
A young serving girl delivered their meal, “If you need anything else just call me,” the serving girl said.
“We will rest tonight and begin early tomorrow,” Uncle Ben said between bites. “Try to get some sleep tonight.”
The sun set and the night deepened. The girl sat silently in the dark inn room.
“Sworder,” the girl said.
“Is something wrong?” Sworder asked, moving from behind her chair.
“No, I was…” the girl trailed off.
Sworder looked around. “It is dark in here,” he said.
The girl nodded, “Do you? Do you know what is going to happen?”
“Few even of my kind can do that,” Sworder said.
“Did I make a mistake?” the girl said.
“What do you mean?” Sworder asked.
“Everything, anything, leaving the orphanage, dragging Uncle Ben into this,” the girl rushed.
“No,” Sworder said.
“But, what if…” the girl began.
“Do not look back yet,” Sworder interrupted, “And right now I am here. I will protect you.”
“Oh, Sworder,” the girl said hugging the Kazan.
“Wait,” Sworder said, “Do you hear that.”
“I hear it too!” Ranin said.
“An unexpected interlude?” Namic said.
Sworder drew his sword and stepped lightly to the window, opening it silently. In one motion he leapt out the window, grabbing onto the roof, he flung himself on top of it.
Two girls gasped simultaneously.
“The serving girl?” Ranin said.
“Who… Who are you?” the serving girl asked as she wiped away the pearls from her eyes.
“Call him Sworder,” piped in the girl from the windowsill.
“What is a young girl doing crying on the roof?” Sworder said.
“Hey, Sworder, get me up there,” the girl said, leaning out. And so Sworder pulled the girl up as the serving girl composed herself.
“What’s wrong?” the girl asked, grabbing the server’s hand.
“I, I shouldn’t drag you into it,” the serving girl said.
“She is perfectly capable of dragging herself into another’s business without your help,” Sworder said.
“Sworder!” the girl glared at him before turning back to the serving girl, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s my father, he…he’s in trouble,” the server said.
“What happened to him?” the girl asked.
“I tried to help, I raised what money I could but it was not enough. He can’t pay. He’s gone to tell them,” she cried.
“Where is he?” the girl said.
“No,” Sworder said. “Remember what happened last time.”
“Some one needs help. We can not turn our back on them,” The girl said.
“I can’t ask you to help,” the serving girl exclaimed.
“I didn’t ask you to,” the girl said, smiling.
“Are you sure,” Sworder said.
“Sworder, we can not stop helping,” the girl said. Then turning to the serving girl, “Can you lead us to him?”
With tears streaking down her face, the serving girl nodded her head in assent.
“Then let’s go,” the girl said standing.
“Should we tell your uncle?” Sworder asked.
“No time.”
“Where shall this take them?” Namic said.
“Wherever it is, it shall be interesting,” Ranin said.
“Um, how do we get down,” the girl said.
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