Chapter two: A room....with a view
The stranger sitting in his bath next to the fire had dozed off. Two soft knocks on the door to his room, woke him up out of his slumber. His first reaction was to grab for his dagger “Who is it?” he asked. A few seconds of silence followed “Euh…Kathy, sir. You know, the waitress?”. A grin came on his face “just a second.” He said. The blonde man stood up from his bath, took the towel from the stand next to it and quickly wrapped it around his waist. Dripping wet he walked towards the door and opened it.
There stood Kathy indeed and when she saw the half naked man in front of her, her look was one of wonder and sheer lust. “What can I help you with, Kathy?” he asked her. “Nothing, sir. I just have finished my shift and thought I’d come and see if everything is in order before I…” the man didn’t let her finish her sentence and said “Have you really? As you can see everything is in perfect order. Thank you, Kathy. Is there anything else you’ve come here for?” The woman looked at the man’s naked torso, the old wound that stretched from his left shoulder down to his waist compelled her, and even if it was possible got her even more interested. “Euhm…no…well…euhm…”
the man took her hand and led her inside his room. After he closed the door he placed his finger on her lips “don’t say a word.” He said softly and kissed her. A soft groan from Kathy signalled that she was completely at his mercy.
Slowly he undid her dress, which fell down on the ground with a soft thud. Kathy moved her hands over his body and pulled away the towel, which fell on top of her dress. She wrapped her hands around his neck, their two bodies pressed against each other. Kissing each other passionately the man picked her up and carried her to the bed. “Oh my…” she said with a sound of wonderment. The man smiled “We are only getting started, my dear.” She smiled back at him and kissed him once more.
Kathy was lying fast asleep, the man sat on the other side of the bed looking at her and smiled. Suddenly he heard some stumbling in the room next doors. It was Bernard’s room. He quickly stood up, pulled on his pants and took his sword. Silently he opened the door to the hallway to see if there was nobody there, the hall was deserted.
He remembered the floorboards creeking so he was extremely careful and walked towards Bernard’s room. Finally arrived at the door he could hear a conversation, Bernard’s voice sounded distressed.
“So Bernard…found yourself a new friend, have you?” the voice said with a snarling sound. “No, no, nooo! Please don’t hurt me!”. “You should know better, Bernard. Was your burning house and your dead child not warning enough?”
Through the small gap of the open door he could see Bernard sitting on the floor with his back pressed against the wall. Leaning over him was a dark caped figure pointing a sword at him. The tip of his sword was lifting Bernard’s chin up, mocking the poor man with his predicament. “Please, don’t hurt me...” He begged. The intruder was too busy focussing on Bernard to hear the door open, the blonde man walked into the room and put his sword in the back of the intruder’s neck. “It seems the roles are reversed…friend.” The intruder lowered his sword and Bernard quickly scuffled away. “Ah, Bernard’s saviour, I reckon.” He said still with his a mocking tone. “are you sure, what you are doing, lad. You are well on your way to make enemies with men you’d rather not want to meet.” The stranger laughed “Enough with your vile tongue. Turn around so I can at least see the face of the man I’m going to kill.”
The intruder slowly turned around until halfway where he quickly swung his sword towards the stranger. Parrying his attack he pushed the intruder against the wall “That, my friend, was a mistake.” Pushing his lower arm against the man’s throat, he couldn’t move anywhere. “Bernard, take his sword. Do you know this man?” Bernard, moving towards the man and taking the sword said “Yes, sir, he’s one of them brigands, he is. He led the group that burned my house down.” The man looking at Bernard turned his attention to the brigand “Well well well. I wonder, Bernard. Should we put him to justice ourselves or let the guards do their work. After all he is a murderer of an innocent child, the people, wherever they may be from, always like a public execution.” The brigand suddenly became as docile as a pup “Please, sir, don’t do it. It wasn’t me, sir. He’s lying.” he pointed at Bernard “Enough!” he yelled at the brigand. “His eyes betrayed him, he speaks the truth and for you…for you there may still be redemption. Tell me what I want to know and I may let you live.” The intruder nodded “yes, sir, anything, sir.” The stranger looked at Bernard “Bernard, can you write or draw?” the man nodded “very well, then get some paper and a quill. I have a feeling this man over here, will tell us exactly where his brigand friends are hiding out. I think it’s time we bring them a visit, don’t you think?” Bernard smiled “Yes, sir, right away!”
After a hefty interrogation the brigand had carefully directed the stranger and Bernard to the different camps of his brethren. They now knew exactly where to go. As a bonus they also found out that the two adventurers Bernard had hired were brigands themselves and had set him up all along. They had wanted the deed to his farm for ages and when they couldn’t get their hands on it, they drove Bernard and his family away.
When asking about the deed, Bernard had told the stranger his wife had it still. The farm was still theirs, the blonde man came to the conclusion that all they had to do was just to retake and rebuilt it.
The improvised map was finished, the brigand sat on the chair, a bloodied face, his body bruised.
“Keep an eye on him Bernard, I have a feeling he ain’t going anywhere. I’m getting dressed and then we escort him out. I know just the place where we need to take him.” The blonde man walked to his own room, where he, despite all the noises they made in the room next door, saw that Kathy was still sleeping.
He quickly got dressed and walked back towards Bernard’s room. Both of them grabbed an arm of the brigand and took him outside the Pony.
Blood dripping out of the brigand’s mouth they slowly made their way to the south gate, leaving behind a trail of blood in the cold, dark night streets of Bree.
“Halt! What do you think you are doing there?” a voice said from the dark. It was Britt, the guard. “Help us Britt.” Bernard asked, as he unravelled what had happened.
The guard stepped towards the brigand and lifted up his head “So, you are one of those bastards that terrorise our good citizens huh? It would be a shame to not give them some form of satisfaction back. Bill, take this rat to the jail, he’ll get his comeuppance tomorrow.” The other guard took the groaning brigand and walked him to the town jail.
Bernard and his newfound friend had turned around to return to the Pony when Britt said “Hold on, don’t I recognize you? You’re that weird bloke who arrived late last night aren’t you?” The blonde stranger turned around and said “Yes, that I am. Is there a problem?” Britt laughed. “Good lord no! Your first night in Bree and already you’ve beaten one of those blasted brigands to pulp! I have no beef with you, sir. In the name of our Bree citizens, I thank you. But be wary they have powerful friends.” The man smiled “Thank you for the advice, guardsman Britt, I’m sure it will all work out just fine.”
With those last words spoken Bernard and the stranger walked towards the Pony, the sun was already making it’s way back in the West when the blonde traveller had reached his room.
He cleaned his hands for the dried blood of the brigand was all over his knuckles, put his sword away and went back to bed. Kathy, who must have felt him getting into bed turned around and snuck closer to him. He lifted his arm and she put his head on his torso and fell asleep once more.
The man looked up and grinned whispering to himself “I see now why you have come to like this town so much…cousin.”
