Frost 6th 3:00 Am
Myles was jolted awake by the sound splintering wood and confusion. He quickly jumped off his cot and reached for his sword, which he kept close by at all times. Shaking the sleep from his joints Myles readied himself mentally. He could hear the sound of frustrated cursing coming from the broom closet where the mercenaries had mistakenly broken into. Myles had switched the numbers on the doors each night, paranoid of an attack, a paranoia now proven worthwhile.
He took a deep breath and stepped out of his room, sword in hand. He was met by the five heavily armed mercenaries, led by a tall, thin man with a cruel look in his eyes.
"Good morning, Myles," the man said with a sneer. "We've been hired to take the girl you've been traveling with. Hand her over, and we'll make this quick and painless for both of you." Myles remembered the man, he’d been there with the so called doctor who’d offered him coin to show him someone with the condition he’d asked him about, it was obvious now that the man hadn’t believed him when he sad no such person existed.
Myles's heart raced as he thought of the young girl he had taken under his wing. He couldn't let these men get their hands on her. He brandished his sword and took a defensive stance.
"I won't let you take her," Myles said with determination. "The only thing you’ll be leaving with is your own wounded and dead."
The mercenaries laughed, seeing that Myles was just one man with a sword against their five heavily armed soldiers. However Myles was not one to back down from a fight. He had faced many dangers on his travels, and he was not about to let these mercenaries take the girl he had come to protect.
The first mercenary attacked brandishing an ax wildly, Myles quickly swung his sword with all his might, striking the man in the helmet with the flat of his blade. The mercenary crumpled to the ground, unconscious. In the tight confines of the hall there was little they could do but watch as their ally crumpled, The second mercenary came at him with a mace and raised shield stepping over the concussed man, but Myles was quick to dodge and counter with a powerful strike of his sword, hacking through the man's shield with ease slicing into the man’s shoulder with another brutal chop.
Myles was holding his own against the mercenaries, using his raw brute strength to take down his enemies one by one. He was determined to protect the girl, and he wouldn't let these mercenaries stand in his way, no thugs no matter how shiny their armor could stand in his way after the campaigns he’d lived through.
As he fought off the third mercenary with a parry and a lunge spearing his throat, Myles glanced over at the girl. She was huddled in a corner, watching the fight with wide eyes. He knew he had to get her away from here as quickly as possible, and for an instant he mourned what she was being forced to witness. Still he had no time for thoughts, only reflexes and instincts.
Myles feigned a stumble and fell to one knee, as if he were injured. The fourth mercenary rushed forward, thinking he had Myles on the ropes, Myles couldn’t help but let a bloody smirk cross his visage as his foe took the bait. As the mercenary raised his sword to deliver the finishing blow, Myles sprang up and caught him off guard with a skewering strike right between the plates in his armor, a bloody froth coming near instantly from the mercenary confirming at minimum a pierced lung.
With the fourth mercenary out of the way, Myles turned his attention to the fifth and final mercenary. This one was the most dangerous of the group, with a long spear and a cold, calculated look in his eyes. Myles knew he couldn't let this mercenary get near the girl, raising his bloodied sword Myles stepped towards the man his smirk now a tight crimsoned smile.
The mercenary using his fallen allies to his advantage however quickly turned and fled showing his true colors, and more than likely searching for reinforcements.
Turning back to the girl Myles was relieved to see that she was fine, but the look in her eyes spoke otherwise. What bloodlust Myles had built up drained from him at the though of being an object of terror to the girl.
“I’m so sorry, that you.. keep seeing terrible things, I’ll find somewhere better for you, safer, but we have to leave.”
A quick nearly imperceptible nod was the only answer he got. He wanted to weep but there would be time for that later.
Myles quickly gathered what few possessions he had, and helped the girl do the same. They crept down the stairs of the inn, trying to avoid any attention, but also trying to get to the docks as quickly as possible. The barkeep still manned the bar seemingly disinterested in the events that had just transpired upstairs but annoyed that Myles had paused to even notice him. “Get outa here before I have to fix more shit causa you” Scowling, Myles did just that. The rain was coming down in sheets now, drenching them both within moments. They were grateful for their heavy cloaks, which provided some small measure of protection against the elements. Myles draped an arm over the girl further shielding her from the deluge as they made their way north to the docks.
As they made their way through the dark, deserted streets of the city, Myles was filled with a sense of foreboding. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being pursued, that the mercenaries were hot on their trail. He kept a firm grip on his sword, ready for any danger that might come their way.
When they made it to the docks Myles grimaced to see the poor weather battering all of the smallest vessels and filling them with water, that or whipping them about in a way that assured a swift end to anyone foolish enough to try and man them in this weather.
Still there was a vessel that caught Myles’s eye, a large barge for shipping. With a cabin on one end, from the window of the cabin light flickered. The boat was rougher than anything of imperial make, Myles hoped that meant it lacked an imperial captain.
Quickly stepping up the gangway of the ship while making sure the girl didn’t slip on the slick wood Myles rapped on the door to the cabin. A slurred shout followed that Myles assumed meant the captain had heard him followed and after that the door opened. Myles wasn’t sure of the sight of the man or the smell hit him first. Before him stood an imposing half Orkhan from the looks of him, whatever his heritage was, alcoholic seemed to be the dominant gene. The man’s breath was stouter than most beer, “Don’t do human cargo” then he tried to shut the door. Grabbing the door Myles grimaced not letting this chance slip by. “are you so sure we’re human” The orkhans grip on the door lessened as he looked from Myles to the girl and back to myles.
“… I could be convinced to the contrary..” he said now openly staring at the orphan. “We need to leave now, and I don’t think that’s possible in anything less sturdy than this here vessel… So I think I’ll be taking this barge with or without you.”
The Orkhan just grinned in response, showing his jutting canines. “I know betta than to clash with a mad father, Ok ok.” The orkhan responded now seemingly more amused than ever after having just been threatened. “You’ll be callin me captain so long as you are aboard, and you’ll be following me orders, now tell me what I should be callin you.” “Myles… and the girl she’s not my daughter” Clicking his tongue the Orkhan looked between them again, Myles and the girl holding his hand sheltered under his cloak. “Sure she isn’t Myles, my eyes rarely lie to me tho” the drunk orkhan seemed to be participating in a joke for one, but if it meant getting out of the empire he’d put up with it. Pulling the gangway up the orkhan severed the ropes binding the barge to the dock, and with a lurch the barge pulled into the stormy waters of the river. Using a pole the orkhan pushed with a heave and distance quickly formed between the dock and them, the orphan safe inside the cabin of the barge while Myles and the captain stood on the deck watching a group of men with torches arrive at the docks.
“they looking for you mister Myles?” Rather than lie Myles nodded, “less interested in me than they are the girl” “the girl that’s not your daughter” “yes”
Handing Myles a heavy oar he pointed him where to stand, “well then Myles, you will have to tell me all about it tomorrow when I am sore and sober, and you’d best be convincing” Even though the smile never left the man’s lips Myles knew better than to trust it as a joke. "Aye captain" "good start my boy"
