Johnathan Douglas, a man troubled by his sin of treason to the order he was in and the sin of betrayal to his once called friends. He sat up leaning on the trunk of the tree, he still felt his left arm heavily bruised as well as his body from his former friend’s onslaught on him.

It was only moments before when his former friend had died unexpectedly from someone he didn’t expect to kill him. He was blinded by rage that he didn’t see it coming. It shocking when the girl had driven the knife into his throat while holding the gem which glowed dimly. Without any knowledge of using it, the only possible reason was out of instinct and reacted to it. Or either that something cracked inside of her and activated the gem.

He composed himself yet it was hard feeling physically damaged is one thing having it accompanied with the sheer intensity of the emotions brought about when he had to face his former friend has left him drained. It still stings. When Jeffrey had mentioned Henson had revisited the time Henson had confronted him all the back in Stoke’s Crossing.

Having arrived shortly in Anglox he was to set himself up as a common merchant and also hired help if there was a job opening. Having arrived at Creekpool with items from Averigo to sell here to least get some money before leaving any further. He did actually managed to sell some things in Creekpool to a merchant selling what he had owned in Averigo, managing to get 25 sovereigns; sovereign was the accepted currency in Anglox which was also the accepted in Averigo since Anglox’s people had colonized lands in it centuries before.

When he rushed to leave Averigo, he had little time to gather enough to support him in Anglox only enough to pay him a ship there, it didn’t weigh heavy on his thought of him being tracked by his former friends and others in the order. Averigo. Remembering still the times in New Yorvik, a flourishing town times long ago called New Amsterdam but now a city, built near the cost of Hughen River. He and his friends had travelled there on business by the order. The times at Boltoph, a city in Averigo built on a hilly plain island but connected to the mainland by an isthmus where the city extends, where he and his friends had visited from time to time just to relax themselves as well as work. And remembering the times he would journey out into the frontier to the yet unexplored lands but hearing still of cities and towns colonized from different countries. The colonies of Anglox in Averigo:

 New Hamtun,

 Penn’s Wood,

 Roodt’s Island,

 High Hills (which where the city of Boltoph was located),

 Algon’s River,

 New Yorvik,

 New Geirn,

 Warrin,

 Marie’s land,

 Vergillian,

 North and South Carolana,

 and finally George’s Plain.

13 colonies.

He could still recall the times he and his company had travelled together as brothers. And part brought pain to John. “Henson”, was a friend of John but Henson had considered John to be a person to look up to.  An older brother. He was just a street kid in a town in New Yorvik were he had picked him up from the dirt when Henson had helped John when he doing work for the order.

Henson was always in debt to John because of that, he always stuck by John somewhat like a squire for a knight. Henson didn’t know about the order to which John was a part but soon enough Henson had proved a great amount of loyalty and therefore had been granted a place in the order but he preferred to stay with John, like a younger brother helping him.

I just imagine the pain he felt when I left the order in ruins and betrayed him.

His thoughts when back to his arrival at Anglox. Having gained 25 sovereigns was quite a start indeed but he knew he had to keep going making sure to not get caught. His first thought was going up north passing by a city called Summit’s Chest then heading off north into Scotiterran. He dismissed that idea considering that he was a stranger and had no relations in Scotiterran to give him a job. Deciding now just to be a travelling merchant or hired help he directly went to Stoke’s Crossing which he heard was a good town to look for work.

But he had no idea or the expectation to know who was after him. Having set up his stall in the town and waiting to see if people were interested in what he had to sell, having explained the musket made from Averigo to a lad and his friends, and finally when dusk had closed were he brought his supplies to the wagon where he had joined the party. Henson had showed himself.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

When he returning back into town in order to get some food, Henson had emerged from out of nowhere and confronted John. He stared at John with eyes of betrayal and hate and John of remorse. Henson started at John intensely then he spoke “Why?” he said in sadness.

John felt the sadness too sinking into his mind and heart as if gravity was weighing on him. Henson was waiting for an answer.

“Henson……what the order was doing and us doing the work could have started a war”

“You made an oath” Henson said sharply.

“It was either that or the thought of thousands of people dying”

Henson was tensed and spoke sharply that would wound John to this day “I trusted you, ever since that day I had helped you when I was a young boy. You took me in, raised me, and for what just to bring me down back into the ground. I called once my older brother”

John stood silence for a moment before speaking “I’ll repeat again”  I could have chosen better words than that. “It was either a war that the country couldn’t have won or…..” He paused for a moment knowing what he had to say next would strike Henson to the core of his heart “save millions in turn for a few lives”

It was at that moment Henson had shown his anger. The moment he finished his sentence he quickly drew a flintlock at John, but John about the flintlock he tried to concealed and managed to throw away from Henson’s hands. At that moment John had lost his old friend.

Henson lashed at John with his rage and sadness while John defended himself but not going offensive. Because of this Henson had managed to overpower John causing him stagger back. John quickly grabbed a knife from the wagon and concealing it, he then began to intercept Henson before he could get his flintlock. Henson punched John in the face as he rushed towards him.

Henson still had overpowered John with punches and kicks to him, knocking him off his feet. Henson made a quick grab for flintlock but John had used his legs to knock him off his feet as well. Henson turned his rage to John as he strangled him.

John couldn’t breathe at all and struggled to find a way to break free. Henson began to apply more force to his choke as now John was now feeling his life slowly drain away. I could have died there but didn’t.

John had looked Henson straight in the eye while he ending his life.

When Henson had looked at John, he Henson had weakened his grip on him. As if he couldn’t kill his friend and older brother. In haste of action John had grab a hold of his concealed knife and swiftly ended Henson. He let his guard down, I should have talked to him. John he thought with remorse.

Henson’s eyes were still open with the look of sadness. John knew he would be spotted and accused of killing him on the spot if he tried to give his friend a proper burial. John decided to close his friend’s eyes and prayed forgiveness in the afterlife. Then he left the scene.

This bitter memory added with his former friend, Jeffrey, dead in front him made him realize that he was going to be hunted till he was dead. Jeffrey.

He was a pal in Averigo, suffice to say he and him gotten along very well. He was clumsy and an off but had the courage and strength while John was calm and controlled. He ambushed John when he was finishing talking to Violet…. “Violet”. John now regretted, allowing himself to feel close to her knowing the danger that was chasing after him. Violet Hamleigh, a woman he during the time in Stoke’s Crossing to Brimhood. Violet was interested how it like in colonies and John was in turn told her stories about the place, John had gotten close to her in turn spending time with her during Brimhood.

Jeffrey had taken John when he was finished having a conversation with Violet. He struck out of nowhere and dragging him to the location where he was now in. Jeffrey had to capture the girl, Oh I wished he didn’t bring more people involved.

It had gone too far. John decided now to leave once again, he would depart for Bridgestow or Union’s Rising and take a ship to Pheuropa and live in solace. With this in mind he got up and looked at his friend’s dead corpse.  I didn’t have the chance to Henson a proper burial but I won’t make that mistake again.

John had gone back to the Keintic Town, quietly. As he sneak his way to a wagon and took a shovel with him. While he was about to go back to Jeffrey’s body he saw the girl who ended him, inside an inn and by the looks of it troubled and scarred.

Once he was back the site, he began to dig. 

It was done the hole was deep enough, now began to lift Jeffrey’s body not before closing his eyes. He laid him gently on the soiled ground and got back up and began filling it, while Jeffrey’s face could still be seen John felt pain, it grew even more as the dirt had covered his face then his body until the hole was filled.

“I know you couldn’t have forgiven me and Henson for my betrayal. I’ll live with that knowingly you hate me in the living as well in the afterlife. I’ll bear the guilt and live in shame for betraying you my friends.”

May the souls of the departed enter paradise

And finally be freed of mortal pain and suffering

To find happiness and peace.

John prayed to Jeffrey’s corpse.

Afterwards he went back to sleep alone and was haunted in his thoughts.