Arrow of Justice

by R W Caron

  Chapter 2

  Treason

  After a few hours of sitting in the dirt staring at the point where the Nipawin Chief had disappeared, Andrew slowly pushed himself to his feet. His mind was racing with what he should do, what he would tell the others. ‘The others,’ he thought to himself. ‘Seasoned warriors cut down like, like child’s play.’ His gaze fell on the two men that had been slain and he uttered a silent prayer for their souls. He attempted to take a step, but dropped to a knee from the sharp pain that suddenly shot through his leg.

  The adrenaline from the fight long gone now, and he realized just how bad the gash on his thigh was. He reached under the iron armour plate, quickly tore off a part of his shirt to us as a tourniquet. Andrew winced in pain as he tied it in a knot and tightened it down on his laceration. He pushed himself to his feet and started to limp off slowly towards the settlement. In the moonlight something had caught his eye. As he investigated he found the two daggers he had stripped from his attacker’s hands and he moved off the path to grab them. He picked up the pair of daggers and looked at the design. They were simple; the blades slightly curved with hide handles and a sharp metal guard to protect the user’s hands. Andrew slipped them into one of the many pouches that surrounded his belt and looked up at the moon. He ran his fingers through his short brown hair, and exhaled a sigh of relief that he had survived.

  ‘Why let me live?’ he asked himself ‘What purpose did it hold to let a man, bound by code, live to tell the rest of the people and more importantly, the king that the Nipawin had a new chief and were growing in numbers?’ Andrew continued to replay the duel in his head, the words the man had said. He had given Andrew a choice, a choice that could mean the end of the Nipawin people or the beginning of something great. Andrew allowed himself to fall into the memory of the fight once more as the words continued to echo in his mind.

  “Andrew,” came the call from one of his fellow guardsmen, followed by his captain, who was working patrol on horseback. “Andrew,” he called again as he rode hard up to Andrew, pulling on the reins rigidly upon reaching him. In one smooth motion he slid from the saddle his decretive iron plate armour clanking from hard landing on the ground beside Andrew.

  “What happened?”

  “I need to get to my father.” Andrew declared looking at the guardsman with sheer determination. Andrew had never liked the guard captain and considered him to be among the few people that if he were to be attacked by a wild animal, Andrew would cheer for the animal. The guard captain had been known for going to King Erwin about everything and had even petitioned to remove Andrews Father from his position as the Settlements Leader.

  “I told your father sending you out on a patrol was a bad idea.” The guardsman replied.

  “Captain, I need to speak with my father as soon as possible.” Andrew pleaded, disregarding the guardsmen’s snide remark.

  “Where are Roy and Hank?” questioned the captain, looking past the younger man towards the campsite they had built.

  “Dead.” Andrew replied coldly.

  “Dead?” the guardsman exclaimed. “How?”

  “Attacked.” Andrew answered, “Please I need to get to my father. I am badly hurt and in need of medical attention.”

  “Quick, I’ll help you on.” The guard helped hoist Andrew up into the saddle of his horse, then climbed onto the horse himself. He spurred the brown and white steed in the ribs sending it rearing up and then bolting off towards the settlement.

  “What did this to you, boy?”

  “Bear.” Andrew lied. “Came out of nowhere and killed Roy and Hank. I narrowly escaped.”

  “I’ll send out a patrol first thing in the morning.” The guard captain replied believing the young man. Bears had taken many guards while on patrol, a fact Andrew had exploited. Though as they chose to ride in the night Andrew could not help but wonder if bears were the ones at fault. “First let us tend to your wounds.” He spurred the horse on faster.

  They rode along the low stone wall of the settlement, turned the corner sharply, sending the two guards standing on either side of the entrance diving for cover.

  The Settlement looked peaceful in the at night, most of the candles had been blown out but a few still had a magical glow to them, as if the windows themselves were dancing in the dark. The streets where abandoned though. The only movement in the night were guards patrolling the area in groups of two. The horse turned a corner and cut down a dark alley. The smell of feces and rotting meat hung in the air turning Andrew’s stomach, but this was the quickest way to his father’s home which rested at the far end of the settlement. In every dark corner Andrew seemed to catch a glimpse of his attacker’s face, just his imagination playing tricks on him though, as he looked hard into the darkness but saw nothing. The horse skidded to a stop and Andrew was greeted by a woman dressed in a long red dress with a white neckline. She quickly helped him down and he landed hard on his injured leg. His leg buckled from under him and the much smaller woman struggled to hold him up as he winced and groaned in pain.

  “Let’s get you inside and get that looked at.” She said in a soothing voice. She started helping him up the front stone steps of his father’s home as Andrew looked back at the Captain and nodded his head in thanks. He may not have liked the man, but he was not going to give the guard captain another stick to beat his father with about Andrew being disrespectful. The man smiled and raised his hand saluting the young nobleman. Andrew knew in his heart that the salute was in mockery as much as respect but could care less about the guard captain’s opinions. As Andrew reached the top of the stairs a man exited through the wooden door and stared at him hard. His face was creased with age and stress but his jaw was tight and strong. His piercing blue eyes struck Andrew harder than any blow he had ever felt and Andrew dropped his head in shame, as the woman helped him past the man. Andrews’s father walked down the steps and approached the guard captain; lashing out in sheer frustration he backhanded the man hard enough to draw blood from his lip.

  “You told me he would be safe.” Andrew’s father’s voice roared like a mother bear protecting her cubs.

  “My apologies, sir.” The guard captain replied holding his jaw.

  “You have the nerve to call yourself a captain,” Andrew’s father bellowed, as he strikes the man hard in the nose causing it to break visibly. “Who are you to put my son’s life in danger?” He screamed as he struck out and bludgeoned the guard with another punch that sent the captain to the dirt covered ground. “I should kill you.” Andrews father threatened as he kicked the guard Captain in the ribs as he tried to roll onto his hands and knees. The captain doubled over, holding his ribs. “You make me sick.” Andrew’s father yelled and kicked him again. “Get up, and leave my sight.”

  The guard captain scrambled to his feet, mounted his horse as quickly as he could and rode off hard away from the house. A peasant girl stood watching the event while tending to one of the horses and Andrew’s father looked over at her. “I beg your pardon for my actions ma’am.” He nodded his head in a polite bow. Andrew could hear his father storm up the steps and into the house as the wind from the door be slammed blew the hair out of Andrews face. Andrew was spread out on the wooden table in the kitchen, his leg propped up with the woman in the red dress cleaning the wound with warm water.

  “Who did this to you?”

  “I need to talk to you.” Andrew replied and stared at his father whose face had now softened. “The Nipawin people, they… they live.”

  “I know, boy.” He replied.

  “But you told me they were all but wiped out.” Andrew shot at his father. “Why?”

  “I’ve got a story to tell you son, while Nan stitches your leg please listen. I wish not to make up your mind for you, only to tell you the truth of what has happened in the last twenty years.” His father said. Andrews father swept across the room and placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.

  “Yes, father.” Andrew replied as Nan smiled at th
e boy.

  “This might hurt, Andrew.” Nan whispered.

  “Pain is no stranger to me Nan, just don’t stitch my legs together.” Andrew replied with a soft warm smile.

  “I wasn’t talking about the stitches. Those will hurt.” She replied returning his smile with a coy smile. Andrew rolled his eyes and fell back on the table as Nan started to work on his leg. The pain was nothing for him. He had felt worse before and could focus his mind to ignore it. Andrew gazed at his father who had started to pace the room, his hand resting on his chin, softly stroking his clean-shaven face.

  In the gleam of the light from the candles burning, he truly looked upon his father, seeing the age in his face for the first time. His father was only twenty to thirty years older than himself but bore the scars and stress of someone double those years. His once brown hair was now quite speckled with white and greys spreading like a wildfire throughout his head. His eyes still held the intensity as they always have but his face looked weathered and old. His father looked back at him and started.

  “Twenty one years ago, King Erwin ruled the land. He was a fair king, one that truly seen the value in helping and living as one with each other. He had an army but they had never marched as they had never needed too. He was powerful and very well respected. He suddenly fell ill and his son, Connor was to take the throne. Connor was a spitting image of his father and some say even more respected than him. Connor worked with the Nipawin people, helped them when they needed it, in return for aid if he should ever need it. He opened free trade among our people and theirs, bestowing us with meat and pelts as we provided them with supplies and knowledge.” His father smiled thinking of a time now passed. “It was a time of peace and love. Connor went to the Nipawin people seeking aid for his father’s condition. A Nipawin woman, the chief’s wife came to the aid of the man. He said that it would seem that the man had been poisoned but she could cure him with simple herbs. She made up an elixir, a tea for him to drink and he started to recover. Then one fateful night he passed.” His father voiced with a slight pain.

  “How, if he was recovering?” Andrew asked.

  “No one knows. Some say he was poisoned by the Nipawin, given the events to follow I believe differently. Shortly after his father’s death Connor was to take the crown. The night before he was to be crowned he was found in his bed chamber with a Nipawin dagger protruding from his back.” Andrew’s hand instinctively went to the pouch in which the daggers he had taken were held. “So the reign of King Fredrick Erwin II began.”

  “But why would they kill Connor?” Andrew asked.

  “Exactly.” His father stated. “King Erwin II’s first order of business was to destroy those who opposed the crown. The Nipawin people had no idea what was coming their way. An army of ten thousand men stormed across the tundra and started slaying the Nipawin people. Men, women, even their children were mutilated, and ultimately slaughtered. I lead one of these groups, my soldiers stormed the main encampment of the people. They killed every one of them. Those who fled were hunted down. The king, of whom was only sixteen years old, beheaded the chief, then raped his wife...” His father’s eyes went cold. “And slit her throat.” His father paused for a second to reflect on his past.

  “I was awarded the title of the king’s guard. He destroyed all the settlements around the land, killing anyone who got in our way. Debec was to be the only city to stand untouched. The settlements fought back and were destroyed quickly. They started to rebuild so the king dispatched noblemen to watch over these settlements. Most of these noblemen were ruthless, killing farmers and merchants for looking at them the wrong way. He awarded me this settlement and all of its land. I was his prized pupil and he wanted me to rule as he did. I found the Nipawin people on my land and hid them well, until one day a guard brought me a young man. He had to be hung on the spot, for the greater good. It pained me to watch but it had to be done to protect them. The king was pleased and issued a bounty on any Nipawin. Anyone who found one would be rewarded with the duty of hanging them. Several people went looking for them but never returned. The Nipawin people are strong and would not give in easily. You know that already don’t you son?” His father asked looking at the wound on his leg.

  “I,” Andrew started. “Yes.”

  “I have seen a cut like that before my son.” His father replied with a smile.

  “He let me live father.” Andrew said. “He had me beaten, my throat against his blade and he let me live. Gave me I had a choice to make.”

  “A choice?” his father asked.

  “To choose my own path.” Andrew responded.

  “You must know the truth son. King Erwin II killed his father. He killed his brother as well. He wanted control and wanted to eliminate the Nipawin people.” His father smiled and leaned in close. “You must find them, the Nipawin people, seek their aid and help right the wrongs done.”

  “Why are you saying this father?” Andrew asked.

  “Because by the dawning light, I will not be here son.”

  “What do you…” Andrews’s words were cut off as the door to the house was kicked in and three armed knights rushed in grabbing his father, they hauled him out of his home. Andrew quickly got to his feet but was quickly stopped as the Guard captain grabbed him by the throat slamming him against the door. Andrew kicked him in the groin and rushed after his father. “Father!” he screamed. As he made his way down the steps one of the knights turned and slammed the butt end of his sword into Andrews face, everything started to go dark but he was still standing. The second blow to the head was it, Andrew could feel the blackness overtake him.

  The sun was just cresting the trees when Andrew awoke a couple hours later. He squinted his eyes and Nan quickly moved to his side as he moaned. “Where’s father?” He asked. The look on her face told him everything he needed to know. He rushed out of the house, the wound on his leg still aching but the pounding in his head countered that pain. The sun wasn’t helping as he rushed through the streets to the far left of the town as quickly as he could muster. He pushed past people and there in the city centre, hanging from a noose, was this father, his hands bound and his neck clearly broken from the sudden drop. Andrews’s eyes filled with tears but he fought them back. Suddenly a hand landed on his shoulder and he turned his face to look at the hand. It was covered in gold rings and had a white collar cuff around the wrist. His eyes slowly rose to look at King Erwin II. Rage coursed through his body but the king merely smirked.

  “Dear Andrew, such a shame your father had to go and commit treason against me.” He exclaimed, the words sliding out of his mouth as a snake would slither through the grass. “One should watch their tongues when speaking ill of their leader.” Andrew’s body tightened and then the Nipawin man’s words rang out in his head ‘choose your own path.’

  “I will not make the same mistakes my father did, my Lord.” Andrew said with confidence, he dropped to a knee in front of the king and bowed his head. “If given the chance I will not fail you my Lord.”

  “Why the change of heart?” the king questioned.

  “He knows something.” Shatina commented as she stepped away from the nearby wall and looked at the man. Her eyes piercing through him like venomous daggers but Andrew kept his head bowed. “What do you know boy?”

  “Yes, what do you know?” The king asked.

  “The Nipawin people live, my Lord.” Andrew replied, keeping his head bowed.

  “What?” the king exclaimed as his face turned red with rage.

  “He speaks the truth.” Shatina replied and Andrew looked up at her. Her beauty was that in which entranced the boy. She had long slender curves, the gold and white shawl she wore was transparent. Her legs were also clearly visible and the golden snake like belt wrapped around her hips glistened in the sun. Andrew had to do everything in his power to look away from her.