Friday, September 15, 2017

The Wrath of Irvin Ruggles: Part V

[Editor's Note: Miss a segment? Click the links for Part IPart IIPart III, and  Part IV]
by Renee "Mouse" Booke


                Rather than argue their next move out on the open road like common rabble, Ashryn and Bryson decided to make camp a few miles outside of Waterford proper. Ashryn’s wanted posters and flair for the dramatic made being discreet impossible, so the idea of walking into town beside her filled the Knight with a quiet dread. They couldn’t have been more different from one another, and it was becoming even more apparent as they finished setting up their camp for the night and began their debate in earnest.

                Bryson was chewing on a piece of jerky, ripping through the salted meat and breaking it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Ashryn was nibbling on what looked like a cross between bread and cake. She only took small bites, and chewed each one far longer than was probably necessary. It was when Bryson started licking his fingers that Ashryn couldn’t take it anymore.

                “You really should stop being such a dronish, onion-eyed hedge-pig,” she groaned. “Your morals and your code are going to get us both killed.” She took off her hat, resting it in her lap as she leaned forward to warm her face and hands by the fire. “Men like the Duke of Perlshaw don’t play by the same rules, he might as well be playing a different game altogether. It gives him quite the advantage over you.”

                “Now see here,” Bryson replied, “I’m not going to get anyone killed. Being true to one’s code of honor, and maintaining a virtuous heart is integral to making sure that a Knight never becomes that which he is sworn to fight against. Were I to give in to these ridiculous antics of yours, there would surely be little difference between me and the villain in question.” He grumbled unhappily, trying to process her verbose insults.

                Ashryn rolled her eyes, responding with an audible and exaggerated sigh. “Except there would be. One of you is engaged in treason and the other one isn’t. One of you abuses the power of his station while the other believes steadfastly in a life of service to community and country. Do you see where I’m going with this? You’re thinking in these very black and white absolutes for no reason.”

                Bryson grimaced, tearing off another chunk of jerky. He chewed thoughtfully, mulling over her words with a troubled face. She wasn’t wrong about everything, as much as he was loathe to admit it, but there was still some part of him that cherished the codes he had clung to for most of his life. “You present a valid argument, Reymaris,” he acquiesced, “But it just doesn’t sit well with me. It doesn’t feel right. You can understand that, can’t you?”

                Ashryn lowered her eyes to the fire. For once she didn’t sass him. She accepted his words with a begrudging nod, and the two sat in a long, uncomfortable silence. They didn’t even look at each other. Their eyes were focused on their own distant demons, and locked into the pale, hazy memories they once thought dead and gone.  The sharp crack of a snapping twig was the only thing worthy of stirring them back to reality.

                Their eyes met from across the flames, and Ashryn pointed from her ear out towards the forest in silent inquiry. Bryson nodded back to her. He had heard it too. They both reached for their weapons, rising to their feet as their eyes began to scan the surrounding forest.  Nothing.

                Bryson reached for his discarded shield, still wary of the potential danger. He didn’t keep his gaze down for more than a second. Were they overreacting? This was the forest after all. They were surrounded by creatures of all sizes and shapes here, while also being at the mercy of the elements. Surely a strong breeze or a gust of wind could produce such sounds as well. They both waited patiently, standing close together with their backs nearly touching. Still they heard nothing new in the eerie silence. Even the usual crickets and frogs had gone quiet.

                Ashryn peered up at Bryson, a little surprised that her indomitable companion hadn’t complained about her proximity to his coin purse yet. Could it be that he was starting to trust her? It certainly would help in these kinds of tense moments if they were going to work together on such dangerous undertakings. She gave him a gentle nudge with her elbow. “Deer?” she asked quietly.

                Bryson’s shoulders relaxed as he shrugged and lowered his weapon. “Must have been,” he murmured.

                The two of them started to laugh at the absurdity, shaking their heads in mockery of their own jumpiness. Two completely capable combatants afraid of a mere twig! Ashryn crouched down to retrieve her hat, and Bryson quickly kicked at her leg.

                “Reymaris!” he called loudly, breaking the heavy quiet that had fallen over their campsite.

                “Ow! What is your problem, Sir Bryson? I thought Knights were supposed to be chivalrous, not kicking people while they’re down!” Ashryn shouted back at him, rubbing at her leg where his heavy boot had connected.

                “Reymaris!” he shouted again, louder this time.

                “What?!” She placed her hat back on top of her head, finally looking up at the Knight with an angry scowl.

                Bryson was pointing into the darkness of the woods…only…they weren’t entirely dark anymore. Small orbs of blue and purple now dotted the landscape. “What are those?” he hissed. The orbs glowed with ethereal light, flickering like flames on a candle. They seemed to be hovering too, floating in the middle of the air as they hummed and buzzed about.

                Ashryn’s eyes widened at the display, and she quickly stood up. “That’s not a deer,” she whispered.

                Bryson would have rolled his eyes if he was paying attention to her. Now the knight was busy trying to recall where he had seen something like this before, or at least read about it. His pulse began to quicken, and as his heart pounded, he could feel it travel upwards into his throat. His body was screaming danger, and despite his training and discipline, he could feel a vexatious tightness in his chest. It tormented him, this elusive knowledge fragment. Even as the pulsing lights grew larger, and their blinking more erratic, he strained his mind in a frenzy of recollection. Where had he seen this before? The sounds of chanting voices picked up just beyond the tree line, and that was when he knew. “Run Reymaris! It’s magic!”

                But Sir Bryson was too late. The vibrant lights had launched themselves through the nighttime sky, and a torrent of fiery azure missiles were heading straight for them.