Sergun's Mission Page 9

  ‘Thanks. I hate being hungry!’

  He examined her face quickly in the morning light and liked her brown skin with a dark mass of hair. She was slender in build, younger than him and pretty with a cute nose.

  13. Jehran and Sarish

  After breakfast, they left silently. They sought another path and kept heading away from the town. The woods were quiet. They rode mostly in silence for the morning. Perhaps she wasn’t bright so early and he didn’t want to bore her with chat. They stopped to let the horses drink and rested at midday. After Cahir’s talkative ways it was a relief. He checked if she was alright and they set off. It was late into the afternoon Jehran when realised they were being watched and there was no subtle way of letting Sarish know. It might only be two men in the woods carefully watching he hoped. Carhir was more intimidating and less attractive than a woman riding behind him. He didn’t think he would regret killing Carhir until now. Riding with such a young woman was going to attract the wrong sort of men. He glanced behind and saw Sarish who made no eye contact. She seemed lost in her thoughts. She wasn’t from these parts and perhaps not so aware of the dangers lurking in the forests. Did she think no one dangerous lived in the woods apart from them?

  He slowed his horse when he saw the group of men on the path ahead. Didn’t know what trap they might have laid or how many extra men were waiting in the woods. The ways off the path were too heavy with trees for the horses to go through at any good speed. The choice was to go back or forward. He wasn’t so foolhardy to consider the idea of retreating as wrong but there might be men tracking them from Cahir’s murder. For all he knew they might have men waiting behind them and acting weak would excite the men. Perhaps they could talk their way out of this?

  The men put their arms in the air with their palms forward. They wore a motley assortment of ragged coloured clothes and all were bearded. Swords were at their sides but still in scabbards. ‘Get down off your horses now.’ The lead man who was bigger than the others stated. Both riders remained seated.

  ‘You find yourselves outnumbered and with a lady as your escort. Give us your horses and we’ll give you your lives and allow your woman her honour.’

  ‘Step aside before I run you through with my blade.’ Jehran stated. His hand was on his sword hilt.

  ‘There’s more of us in the woods. You’ve no chance of surviving.’ The lead man stated. ‘Acting tough will hasten your end. Calmness will save you.’

  Jehran slowly dismounted and stood beside his horse. He took his hand away from his sword and thinly smiled. He stood with his sword arm hidden from those on the left, slumped his shoulders and bent his body forward.

  ‘That’s a good man. How about just one ride of your lady?’ The man to the left of the leader said, laughing.

  ‘We’ll make you watch while we take turns. Won’t that be n-’

  Jehran swiftly unsheathed his blade and cut fast nearly decapitating the man closest on the right and wounding the next in the shoulder. As he fought he saw men running from the right which wasn’t what he wanted but there was time to see from the corner of his eye the men fall down. The bigger man was a fair swordsman so Jehran reached inside his jacket for a throwing knife and with his left hand threw it at the man’s chest. It distracted him long enough for Jehran to slash down his front letting his innards tumble out. The final man yelled and ran forward, Jehran sidestepped and dealt him a wound on his side. The man staggered and put a hand to his injury. Jehran held his longer blade in both hands and struck in a slashing motion hard against the man’s defense and then cut his right hand off. He stepped in quickly and speared the man in his guts and pulled back. He realised it was quiet and saw Sarish crouching.

  ‘Are you all right?’ He asked.

  ‘Sshhhh.’ She said with a frown.

  He noticed she held her bow in her grasp. She let fly an arrow. The scream told him it hit its mark.

  ‘I think that’s there all.’ Sarish said. ‘Fools.’

  Jehran grinned. His heart beat fast like he’d run too fast for too far. He enjoyed the fight no matter how brief and weak his opponents were. It was a shame the bandits looked too poor to have anything worth taking. He watched as Sarish walked to the woods where the man she had shot was. ‘Going to finish him off?’

  She knelt before she reached the heavier woods and pulled a knife from a body.

  ‘Excellent skill,’ he commented.

  Sarish smiled and recovered the second blade she’d thrown.

  ‘We make a good team!’ Jehran said confidently.

  Sarish smiled. Her smile was nice, and he was glad she took pleasure in what they did. He couldn’t bear to suffer people who took no joy in their work.

  Jehran cleaned his sword while Sarish cleaned her throwing knives. They left the bodies where they fell. They got back on their horses and continued along the narrow path. He felt in a good mood and adrenaline flowed. If the killing of Cahir was low, then these redeemed his conscience. Killing such bandits who preyed on travellers was undoubtedly a good task. But they would have to keep moving as they were leaving a trail of bodies behind them.

  ‘Your sword is sharp and your skills sharper.’

  Jehran loved the compliment. ‘The sword is an ancient blade, few exist like it and my sword master and comrades taught me many skills. We make a good team. I didn’t see all you did but clearly, you have excellent skills in fighting.’

  ‘Did you and Cahir kill many people while you were together?’

  ‘No, robbing people usually does not involve murder; most people do not want to fight.’

  ‘We’ve known one another for less than a day and I’ve seen you kill several men. It’s quite a start to our partnership.’

  ‘Would you have had me give our horses to them?’

  ‘I intended no criticism; it’s not exactly how I expected our first days to go, but there was little choice.’

  It was nearly evening before they cleared the woods. Cautiously they looked for danger. There was no one in sight and they continued in the general direction away from the last town until they came upon a village. The only things to do were find something to eat and drink and move on. No one had enough wealth to make it worthwhile stealing from them.

  The tavern was dull and dirty. Two other customers sat drinking and stared at the newcomers. The landlord was an old man with grey hair and a red face. He was pleased to see the two strangers and offered them meat and potatoes to eat. They were happy with the suggestion and when asked how far it was to the nearest town he told them it was greater than a day’s ride. This made them want to rest and fill their stomachs.

  They sat at the back of the tavern. Jehran drank apple juice while Sarish preferred a beer. It was good to smell food cooking and the warmth of the tavern’s fire was welcoming. ‘Skills with the bow and throwing knives.’

  ‘Such was my childhood,’ Sarish smiled. ‘You used the blade well but clumsily, like a thug.’

  ‘No point in dazzling such rogues with high skill. My swordmaster would not be happy but I wish I was able to watch your skill. I cannot express how happy I am with your talents; my former assistant lacked them. You’re superior to him in all ways…I hope after a beer you do not change too much!’

  ‘Fear not, after one beer I’m as sober as a lady. After three I might change but you won’t catch me having so many.’

  ‘To our future as a team,’ Jehran said, raising his pot to Sarish.

  She raised hers and they clanked pots. ‘So you didn’t think about offering me to them as your way out?’

  He stared hard, hoping she was joking. ‘Of course not! Loyalty to one another. Betraying my former partner is not a habit and something which makes me feel bad.’

  ‘That was why I rode behind you, so if you sold me out I was going to knife you in the back first,’ she explained.

  ‘You can ride in front next time then!’ He said, laughing. Then he spoke in a low whisper. ‘The man I killed in the last town. It was the fi
rst time I’ve killed a comrade. I pride myself on loyalty but he was a fool.’

  ‘I understand such fury and long to take my revenge on the man who injured me so.’

  Jehran took a sip from his beer. It was the second time she’d mentioned the man.

  Sarish sighed and took a deep breath. ‘Know something of me. I was captured once and you can see some of what was done to me.’

  She pulled away her hair and revealed the other side of her face to Jehran. Half of the right side of her face was scarred. The same scarring was clearly visible on her ear as well.

  ‘Cruel and done to mark you for life.’

  Sarish nodded slightly and covered up her disfigured side of her face. ‘I did not break under his torture though.’

  Jehran was surprised. He took it for granted everyone broke under torture, but didn’t want to accuse her of being a liar.

  ‘I would have broken,’ Sarish added. ‘But I managed to escape before he had another go at me. And that bastard is going to die for what he did.’

  ‘Such men deserve nothing else.’

  He wondered how much of the rest of her body was scarred and discounted the thought as none of his concern. She helped him and he had good reasons to have pleasant feelings about her. Better than Cahir already and no sign she liked to get drunk.

  ‘We work well together, let us have a partnership. If we’re still together in say fifty days then we’ll go and find him and you’ll help me kill him.’

  ‘Agreed.’ Jehran said. ‘So long as he’s not too powerful. No more than four guards.’

  A distant act of revenge on a man was something he was prepared to do one day. Fifty days was a long time for a pair of outlaws to stay together. Suddenly he thought. ‘This man, he’s not a leader with thousands of followers?’

  Sarish smiled. ‘He’s a powerful trader. He has no army but a few bodyguards.’

  ‘Let’s help one another. We’ll work as partners. I’m happy with that. Would there be any wealth from killing this trader?’

  ‘He’s a rich man and we’ll take whatever we want from him. We share everything we take. If you ever trick me then we’re enemies for life.’

  ‘I was once an officer in an army. I tricked no friend and let no one down.’

  ‘Which one?’

  ‘Tharne. For twelve years.’

  She gave him no indication if the information pleased or meant anything to her and did not pursue it. ‘Yet you killed your partner.’

  ‘I’ve explained my reasons. We have both woken up unmolested and with our lives, let us continue this way. We can go our separate ways if one of us decides.’

  She nodded, staring at him.

  The pork was over seasoned for Jehran but filled his belly and warmed him. After a good morning’s killing, it was pleasing to feel so content. He drank one beer. The only way to make the day any better would have been to have had sex or found some treasure. He guessed it was too much to expect for one day. He guessed correctly. But he learnt from Sarish that she was able to fight with a sword as well but she preferred the bow and knives. She also had great skills in unarmed fighting. His were fewer since he rarely went unarmed but decided it was never too late to learn and he would get her to teach him a few moves every time they could. In return, he wanted to increase her sword skills. He wasn’t surprised when they took separate rooms for the night. He was happy she did not get drunk.

  14. Revelation

  Three days later funds were critically low and Jehran was keen for action. Twice in the morning, he suggested to Sarish which people to rob but they couldn’t agree. The thought of sleeping in the woods again and eating only what they caught wasn’t appealing. A sense of gloom overcame him and he wanted to lift his spirits. Talking of women wasn’t going to work with Sarish and she grew quiet. They rested at lunch, ate dried biscuits and drank water. His stomach protested at the meagre intake but he wasn’t the kind of person to whine. He was patient normally but also his character was one which enjoyed thrills. If he could not convince Sarish which people to rob he decided if he attacked then she would follow and assist him. If she didn’t then he was better off without her.

  They slowly rode for several hours after eating and saw little of other people. The forest track was quiet except for the faint sound of animals. After a period of silence in which Jehran nearly fell asleep he heard, turned, and saw not a farmer’s wagon but a wealthy looking coach. He slowed his horse and moved aside to let it pass, then turned, pulled his sword out and blocked the carriage’s way. ‘Get off the carriage,’ Jehran ordered.

  The driver held his hands out in front and carefully stood up. He jumped down and turned. Unsure if he was reaching for a weapon Jehran watched. The man blew a horn, the exact meaning of which was lost to Jehran but he doubted it was a good sign. A man’s face peered out of the carriage window and yelled, ‘getaway; you’ll have nothing of ours.’

  Without looking to Sarish he rode towards the man and told him to hand over his money or face losing his head. Cautiously he approached, wary of such a wealthy man owning a Handgun. Assuming Sarish was covering his back he concentrated on the occupants of the carriage. Behind the man was an attractive woman. Cahir might have appreciated some banter with her but Sarish would not. ‘Money now or jewels,’ he ordered, poking the sword through the window against the man’s face.

  The man spoke to the woman and asked her to hand over her rings.

  ‘No, they are mine!’

  ‘Come now lady, do you want your man to lose his head because of your selfish desire to keep a few trinkets?’

  He was glad he didn’t have to ask her for forgiveness as there was none in her expression.

  ‘Jehran!’ Sarish yelled.

  Using his name, he forgot to tell her about that. ‘What?’ he asked.

  ‘Move now!’ she yelled.

  He heard her horse galloping fast and turned; there were a group of men on horseback. They fired at him and an object hit his head.

  He awoke on the bed in a cell with a painful lump on the side of his skull. It was cold and damp and the cell walls looked as though they were never cleaned. His weapons were gone and his ankles were manacled. It was his worst day in years and he wondered if it was nearly his last. Captured and in the town gaol. He tried to make friends with the guard and offered him a treasure. The guard laughed and told him they searched him while unconscious and found four coins. Not much of a treasure!

  Sarish fled in the debacle, and he was unsure if she was wounded. He woke in the cell with nothing to bribe the guard and no weapon to defend his life with. Hoped Sarish was alive and safe. It was a short partnership and might have been very successful. He expected nothing from her now, attacking a town jail guarded by the militia was foolhardy and failure a guaranteed death sentence. Their partnership had been brief and he was glad he met her. He wondered if they might have become lovers and smiled.

  He gently felt the lump on his head and winced. He lay down, had always enjoyed resting and perhaps he would sleep forever tomorrow. He would never have to worry about the next meal, money or being hunted again. From a loved son to a proud, victorious, admired officer to ending his days as a rogue, thief, and murderer. An ignoble end. There was no window for him to look out of so he shut his eyes and tried to sleep. His life was good for many years, only recently were times hard. His brief alliance with Sarish looked to be the most promising in two years and it was now over after less than four days. Life could be unpredictable and his capture was proof of it. He would be hung in the town square, but he did not fear it as the drop should be enough to break his neck and he would not ask for mercy. As a former officer in the Tharne army, he wanted to die without showing fear.

  He woke while it was dark to the noise of his cell opening. No magistrate would be up at this time and he wondered what game was being played. A guard to torment him? An eye appeared at the spy hole and the door swung inwards. A slim, hooded figure stood there. ‘Come on, quickly,’ she whispered.<
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  He wondered if it was a dream and banged the back of his head against the wall. Satisfied, but sore, he stood up. ‘The manacles?’

  She helped him and it was the third key which opened them. The touch of her hot skin on his was thrilling. A guard was unconscious outside. Another in the outer room. He retrieved his sword and knives and nearly tripped over a third body. Outside it was still and dark. She crouched and halted. ‘Follow me and keep quiet.’

  He obeyed and walked carefully. He stopped when she did and imagined he was a mirror of her movements. It was a small town and there were no gates to pass through and no more guards. He could hardly believe it wasn’t a dream. For her to knock out three guards and break him out of the jail in the middle of the night was a revelation. Eventually, the few lights of the town became distant and still she insisted on whispering. ‘I found your horse; it’s close by with mine.’

  They rode silently the remainder of the night, through dawn and only halted at mid-morning. The track was wide and they passed only a cart. When they slowed her expression was one of unhappiness.

  ‘What ails you?’

  ‘You were stupid.’

  He was in no mood to fight. He winced at the word. Impetuous was better. She was both angry and sad.

  ‘Stupid. You could have easily been killed. I need you.’

  I was too quick to act.’

  ‘Next time let me decide on action. There are only two of us. We’re not an army.’

  Her killing of numerous people and her skills made him agree. He had not taken orders from any women before.

  ‘Tell me how you did it. I was sure it was the end of me.’

  ‘Seeing we were outnumbered I fled on a horse. They didn’t pursue me for long. I watched from the trees for a long time, until the Inns closed and no one moved on the street. The first guard I darted as I did the second.’

  ‘Darted?’

  ‘Poison darts, not lethal. The third I strangled.’