When in the heat of combat some things just aren’t worth thinking about, I like to imagine my mind takes everything I could think about and organizes it from most to least important. At the top of the list is ‘How do I avoid getting my head taken off my shoulders by this lunatic with a greataxe?’ and somewhere towards the middle is ‘Wow, I’m bleeding a lot.’. What I’m trying to say is that as I rode off with Soteria, my celebratory mood was crushed when I felt my left hand get soaked inside the glove. I could tell this wasn’t from the bog water, it was blood that trickled down my shoulder all the way to my hand. That’s when the second thought became priority number one.

I had Soteria go into a full gallop and held on tight. I didn’t bring any medical supplies, a stupid mistake I should’ve known better. The crossbow bolt was still lodged in my shoulder and it hurt with every gallop she took. The pain flared in my arm again and again, I could feel my grip on consciousness waning. ‘No! I have to hold on until I get back to Thorneglade!’ My vision started to blur, I knew I was done for. I tried to keep it together and make my way back but somewhere along the way my body gave out.

The light of the sun peered through a window, it woke me up. I was laying in a bed, it wasn’t one from Jocham’s place. A flurry of thoughts came into my mind at once; ‘Where am I? Where’s Soteria? How long has it been?’ I went to get out of bed and felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. My wound was bandaged - by a professional from the looks of it. The bed I was placed in was white, as well as the blankets and pillows. I’m in an infirmary.

“You’re lucky the town guards found you.” a voice spoke to me.

A man I didn’t recognize stood at the entrance of the room, he was rather short and looked well groomed. His hair was dirty blonde, cut an appropriate length, and he was dressed in the finest clothes money could buy. He was older than me, in his thirties I presumed.

“Who are you?” I asked him.

“Malcolm Breezewick.” He answered, as he walked to a chair beside the bed. “They said a riderless horse reached the gate and they sent a search party to look around. They found you in the grass. Said you were close to death.”

“Oh.” I muttered.

I was speaking to the Baron of Thorneglade, a man who ruled one of Knightbreak’s most prosperous cities. I didn’t even know what to say to him. I rubbed my shoulder, moving my arm caused the pain to get worse.

“When I heard what happened, I decided to come by and talk to you myself.” Malcolm told me.

“Why?”

“If the world of the common folk is to be believed, you went into The Sleeping Bog and survived. You’re the first to ever manage that.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I’m interested in what you saw there. What your secret was to get in and out.”

I saw the look in his eyes, they were wide with opportunity. Malcolm wanted me to explain how to send his men there, so he could reap whatever was in there for himself.

“I got out by the skin of my teeth, you were told how bad I looked.” I explained.

“But, in your professional opinion, is it possible to take control of it?”

What do I tell him? I could go the opportunistic route and give them tips on taking the bog over. That didn’t account for The Trapped King though, how would they deal with him? Malcolm would probably hire me to go after him, the pay would be good but at that point all my effort not to kill these people would be in vain. I sighed, and decided to do what seemed right.

“The Sleeping Bog is haunted, it’d take a team of people like me to deal with it without getting people killed. It’s just not worth it.” I responded.

Malcolm grimaced, a wave of disappointment came over his face. “That’s not what I was hoping for, but I suppose it’s good to hear it from an expert.” He stood up from the chair. “Take as long as you need, rest easy Nightwater.”

“So long.”

Malcolm left without another word. I waited for an hour before I found the strength to get up and out of the bed. There was a shirt and pants placed neatly folded on a dresser, next to them was a cup of water. I downed the cup and got dressed. Getting my arm through the hole of the shirt was excruciating but I gritted my teeth and whispered a few curse words as I did it. After getting my things together, I made my way back to The Sightly Gorgon.

The tavern was empty, it was still midday after all. Cleaning the bar table was Jocham, and at the barstool across from him was Alistair, his back turned to the door. Jocham noticed me approaching, Alistair turned around and smiled at me.

“You get your horse back?” I asked Alistair.

“Thanks to your heroic efforts, yes!” Alistair patted the chair next to him, “Let me buy you a drink.”

I let out a sigh, “Oh why the hell not?” and sat down.

“You look banged up.” Jocham muttered to me, his voice gravely as ever.

“I feel pretty banged up.”

“You still have all your limbs, consider yourself lucky.”

Jocham was right, I took some life threatening risks and came out of it alive.

“Oh.” Alistair butted in. “Let’s not forget this.”

Alistair reached into his bag and pulled out a small belt pouch, he placed it on the table. I could hear the jostling of coins inside. I slid the pouch closer to me and opened it. Inside were a bunch of gold coins with red bands and silver coins with blue bands.

“Eleven Redmarks and eight Bluemarks.”

I gave a puzzled expression at the weird coin denomination.

“I took your breakfast out of the earnings.” Jocham chimed in.

“Ah, I should’ve known.”

I downed a cup of mead hoping it would help with my pain a bit. I stood up from the barstool. “Well, you got your horse back and I got paid. I’d best be going.”

Alistair went to speak but he tripped on his words.

“Be seeing you Cassian.” Jocham told me.

“You too.”

I walked out of The Sightly Gorgon and onto the main road, it was more crowded than I expected it to be. A couple of young boys approached me with excited looks on their faces.

“You’re ‘The Drifter’ right?” One asked.

“You went into The Sleeping Bog and survived!” The other said before I could answer.

“You should teach me how to swing a sword!”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Yeah! Me too me too!”

I couldn’t even get a word out. I was gonna tell them to bugger off when a voice from the door of the tavern spoke up.

“Let him breathe, he’s had a long adventure. Shoo!” It was Alistair.

The kids scurried off and Alistair approached me.

“Hey, I just wanted to thank you again Cassian, for Soteria. Hell, for risking your life just to help me. You didn’t have to go that far, but you did and I- I really am grateful.”

“It’s all part of the job.”

“Well. I have another proposition for you.”

“Another job?” I questioned.

“Not exactly. We’re both heading South, and I thought you might need someone to travel with.”

“I tend to travel alone.”

“I gathered that.” He told me. “But you’re clearly injured. I can watch your back, oh and I can keep your wounds bandaged. We both need a partner on the road.”

He made a good point. It wasn’t my sword arm that was injured, thank the gods, but it still was a massive inconvenience. Still, making this journey with a crippled man? That’s just going to make things harder for me.

“No. I’m good.” I responded.

Alistair frowned and kicked the dirt.. “Suit yourself.”

He got up and walked back into the tavern. I sat outside for another moment, feeling like I had just made a mistake. Was I being too harsh on him? He did seem intelligent, and he knows how to talk to people. No, he’d just be a liability. If he got hurt or killed while on the road with me, I’d blame myself. I made the right choice. But the look on his face, he seemed upset and something about that didn’t sit right with me. I rubbed my shoulder again, it burned. Fuck it, maybe I shouldn’t be traveling alone.

I walked back into the tavern, and walked up to the table where Alistair was seated.

“Get your things ready. I’m leaving midday, with or without you.” I insisted.

Alistair’s face beamed. “Can do!”

He got up from his chair with a spring in his step. It still might be a mistake letting Alistair tag along, but I could always ditch him at the next town over if things don’t work out.

“There’s one thing I want to do before heading out. We’ll meet up here in two hours.”

“I’ll head back to The Velvet Vineyard and get my things.”

“Good.”

With that I made my way through Thorneglade and returned to Celeste’s tent. The boy wasn’t here so I approached the entrance, inside I could hear her ‘reading’ a customer. I found a spot to post up at and wait until she was finished. As I waited, a dog sauntered over to me and rolled onto his back - exposing his belly for the scratching. I obliged him.

“Go find your owner boy.” I told him.

A young woman stepped out of the tent, saw me waiting and walked in the other direction hurriedly. I didn’t know what to make of it, her behavior was just strange. She was in such a hurry to leave, almost like she didn’t want me seeing her. Nevermind that, I steeled my nerves and walked into the tent. Celeste was cleaning up from the psychic reading she had just done, she glanced up at me and smiled.

“I’m glad you’re alive, and healthy from the looks of it.” Celeste greeted me. Ushering me to come inside, which I did.

“I don’t feel too healthy.” I remarked.

“Yeah well I heard the guards found you half dead and placed you in the infirmary. I was expecting worse.”

“Word travels fast.”

“People here have time on their hands.” Celeste’s eyes scanned me up and down, stopping at my shoulder. “Well I’m glad you’re okay. I was going to check on you after I was done with my work.”

“It’s nice to know someone was concerned about me.” I admitted. “But I came here to thank you.”

“Oh? For what?”

“Without your help, I would’ve died back there.”

“Hey, you helped me in Sunken Crest. I haven’t forgotten that.”

“I know I know.”

That was the first ‘paranormal’ contract I ever took. I knew a thing or two from my training with The Mystic Watch, but I was a bit apprehensive when Celeste asked for my help with an exorcism. Still, the pleading face of a pretty lady swayed me against my better judgment. She owned a house at the time, and she claimed it was haunted. To my surprise it actually was.

At first she tried to keep me from learning about the skeletons in her closet, but when it impeded me from completing the exorcism she had to come clean. She was in the middle of a messy situation, and she came to me instead of The Mystic Watch hoping I wouldn’t turn her in for the crime she did. I decided it wasn’t my place to decide whether she was good or evil. When it was all said and done I learned the kind of person she was deep down, she used her appearance and her mysterious personality to woo people. It was how she protected herself, like my sword protects me. I could relate to that side of her, that fear deep inside that keeps you wearing a mask. Unfortunately she couldn’t keep the facade going for long, a few weeks later Celeste’s secret practice of magic outside of the guild was discovered and she was forced to leave Sunken Crest out of threats to call The Night Hunters on her.

She’s been on her own ever since that day, but I wanted to bring her with me on my travels. I gathered up the courage to speak.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.” she responded. “What is it?”

I crossed my arms and breathed out through my nose. “Now that this is all over, I’m heading south. I know you’ve been on the road for a while but,” I paused to gather my thoughts, “Maybe you’d like to come with me? We could work together, help each other out. I could keep you safe.”

Celeste was silent, her eyes glanced around the tent.

“I really like your company Cassian, but when I travel I take caravans. It’s slower but there’s a lot of us and we get by. You say you’d keep me safe but… I mean look at yourself”

Celeste pointed at me, covered in bruises and bandages over my arm and shoulder.

“I like you, don't get me wrong, but it’s a dangerous world out there and if I followed you I’d only be in more danger.” she said apologetically.

Her words stung, but she was right. It was foolish of me to ask her that. I nodded at her, feeling dejected and embarrassed. I didn't really know what to say.

“You’re right. Well, that’s all I wanted to say. I guess I’ll be going.” Was all I could think to say to her.

I went to leave the tent but before I could Celeste called out to me; “Cassian.”

I turned back to look at her once more. She stared at me intently.

“I hope I see you again.” She assured me.

“I do too Celeste.” I said with a pained smile, “If our paths cross again, don’t be a stranger?”

“Our paths are bound to cross again. I know the future, remember?”

“I eagerly await our next encounter, till next time.”

“Till next time.”

I left the tent, quietly replaying the scene in my head over and over again. I went back to my room in The Sightly Gorgon and put my armor on again. It was cleaned of any dirt and blood, all damage received was sewn back together. I struggled to put it on, but eventually managed. This was going to be a difficult ride south, but I was done waiting.

I walked down stairs, ready to leave, but I walked over to Jocham first.

“That Alistair guy just arrived, said he’s outside waiting for you.”

I placed a Redmark on the bar table. “For you.”

He looked at me with a bit of shock in his face.

“Why are you giving me this?”

“It’s my way of saying thank you Jocham, for taking care of me.”

He smiled at me, the first time I’d ever seen him smile before. “Don’t mention it kid.”

Before leaving I took one last look at the Sightly Gorgon, Jocham was behind the bar cleaning cups and preparing drinks. Mounted on the wall behind him was a woman’s face carved in stone, snakes sprouted from her head like hair. This was the reason for the tavern’s name. I asked him about it when we first met and he told me an adventurous traveler gave it to him as a gift when he first opened the place. I had a strong suspicion that this was just the work of a stonecutter, and I think Jocham knew too, but I wasn’t going to ruin the intrigue for everyone else. With that I stepped outside.

Alistair sat on Soteria, wearing boots and a hunting jacket. He had a two-handed crossbow on a sling behind his back.

“You know how to shoot that thing?” I asked him, as I mounted my horse.

“Hey save your jokes, I’m actually a crack shot. Even on a horse.” He boasted.

“You better hope so.” I told him. “Cause you’re gonna get chances to prove it.”

I pulled myself onto Kai, with some difficulty. Once on the saddle I took the reins, and our horses galloped out of Thorneglade. I wasn’t sure what adventures or horrors would await us, but deep down I was glad I had someone with me I could maybe call a friend. I guess time would tell how things would go.