Hiding in the shadows, he eyes over
the town for an opening. The rain hinders his hearing as it pours down all
around him; he has to rely on sight alone. He sees a group of drunks coming out
of one tavern heading over to another. “They’re not your concern” he says to
himself under his breath.
The bag by his feet moves around a little bit.
Colt looks down at it, giving it a kick with his heel. “Quiet” he snaps at it
“or I’ll get the reward for dead, not alive.”
He has positioned himself in an alley, hiding from
those around him. He just entered Orcshire from getting his bounty. The street
is muddy from the rain. There is safety from the rain under the porches of the
taverns that surround the street all the way up to the old courtyard of the
castle but he can’t risk that.
Normally he doesn’t go for live bounties, especially
in Realm 5. Going into Realm 5 after a bounty for dead rewards is suicide in
its own right. This time though, the bounty was just too good to pass up.
Several bounty hunters have tried and died. Realm 5 is the most dangerous place
in all of Azric.
Colt waits in the shadows, rain steadily coming
down. Colt’s hood is pulled over his eyes blocking out the rain. The portal is
too far away to make it there safely. If it were just him, he would make a run
for it, but carrying a body makes it harder. Even if he were to stay in the
shadows and walk slowly, he is sure to be spotted. The corrupt Sheriff Blade is
aware that he’s in Realm 5 and Orcshire is the only way to get out of it.
He sees Blade’s minions everywhere and can’t make
a move. The rain lets up a little and Colt’s hearing picks up sounds other than
rain. The squeaking wheel of a wagon gets his attention. “Maybe I could
overpower the driver and steal the wagon.” He whispers to the bag lying in the
mud. He reaches down and grabs the hilt of his dagger with his left hand. He
turns his head towards the sound coming up the muddy path. The squeaking wheel
is getting louder. Colt is unable to see the wagon with the fog and rain. His
heart rate is calm and his grip is tight on the hilt. He eases the dagger out
of its sheath.
The blade is almost clear of the sheath when he
snaps it back into place. The wagon comes into view and pulling it is a young
elf. Colt looks at him curiously because he’s out of place in Realm 5. He gives
the bag a kick with his heel and moves cautiously towards the elf.
“Boy.” Colt nears the elf. The elf looks at Colt
with wide eyes. “Boy. Come here, boy.” The elf is look-ing at Colt, he points a
finger at himself.
“Yes, boy, you” Colt grows impatient. He pulls the
cart over to Colt and looks down at him. Colt, not being a large man, is
shorter than the elf. The elf can’t be more than a few hundred years old. His
face is young and his long hair is pulled into a pony tail.
“What can I help you with, sir?”
“How would you like a job?”
“I have a job.”
“I see that, but I have a job that can take you
out of Realm 5.” Colt smiles, thinking he just sold the idea to the elf.
“No!” the elf raises his voice. “I’m not a
criminal.” but before the elf can make a bigger scene, Colt calmly puts his
right hand up.
“Neither am I.” Colt cautiously shows him his
bounty hunter badge.
“You’re a bou-” Colt covers the elf’s mouth with a
flash of his hand.
“Silence, boy, or we’re both dead” Colt shoots him
a look and gradually uncovers his mouth. “I need your help, boy.”
“What do you need me to do?” the elf lowers his
head to get closer to Colt.
“I need your wagon more than you but you can come
along if you want.” Colt waives him to follow. The elf follows Colt to the
darkened alley. He sees the bag on the ground and pulls the cart next to it.
“Is he dead?”
“No. That’s
why I need your cart so I can make it to the portal. Blade knows I’m here and
she wants me dead.”
“Why does the Sheriff of Realm 5 want you dead?”
The elf eyes him curiously.
“No time for that, just help me load him on the
cart.” Colt grabs the foot of the bag.
They throw the body into the hand cart with a
thud. Colt puts his bow and quiver of arrows next to the body and covers them
both with a raggedy old cloth blanket. He slides his sword into the cart with
the hilt easily accessible. He reaches into his cloak and pulls out two
throwing knives from his green vest and palms one in each hand. The elf gets
ready in front of the cart. He reaches down and grabs the handles, tightening
both hands and lifts with little effort. The young elf is able to move the
wheels easily through the thick mud.
“Take your time. There’s no need to rush” Colt
looks around with his eyes so he doesn’t draw any unnecessary attention.
People are going to be watching him anyway because he’s walking with an elf,
and there aren’t very many in Realm 5.
“When we reach the portal, boy, you-”
“Zane, my name is Zane.” Zane interrupts him.
“Well, Zane, you go through first with the cart
and when you get through you drop to your knees and put your hands up.”
“Why?”
“Because the portal guards will kill you if you
don’t have a guard with you or a badge.” Colt pats his left breast where his
bounty badge is.
“Hey Colt!” A voice booms from behind him. “Blade
has been looking for you!”
Colt wheels around out of pure instinct and
re-leases the knife in his left hand. The blade makes short work of the
distance between them. It finds the left eye of the man shouting his name. The
force of the throw makes the man fall backwards, squishing in the mud. Colt can
feel eyes upon him.
“Move!” Zane takes longer strides and the squeak
becomes more constant. Colt sees another man running up with a sword in his
hand.
Colt whirls the second blade at the man and
bur-ies it deep into his chest. The man takes two more steps, before he face plants
into the mud. In the blink of an eye, Colt produces another knife from under
his cloak. More men come running from the taverns wielding swords and axes.
Colt releases knives left and right as he backs up towards the portal. Each
knife finds a home, lodging into the men coming after them. Colt runs out of
knives but the flow of targets coming from the taverns hasn’t.
Colt realizes Zane is moving faster than he is and
is nearing the portal with his sword. Colt runs through the thick mud to his
sword when he catches sight of a small hatchet out of the corner of his eye.
Colt sees the man with just enough time to catch the arm wielding the hatchet.
Colt kicks the man between the legs and takes the hatchet from him
effortlessly. He spins around the man and drives the hatchet into the top of
the man’s head splitting his skull in two. The blood splatters all over.
Another man swings a sword at Colt’s out-stretched
arm. Colt moves too fast for the man and dodges the attack easily. The attacker
tries to turn to face Colt but doesn’t move fast enough. Colt already has his
dagger pressed to his throat. He slices his throat, spilling the man’s blood
down his dirty tunic.
Colt sees more men running up to surround him and
grabs the hatchet from the split skull. He sends the hatchet flipping end over
end into another man, finishing with a dull thud. The force of the throw
removes the man from his feet and sends him backwards into the mud. He runs
through the mud, moving sluggishly through its thickness.
“Boy!” Colt yells at the top of his lungs.
“He’s get’n away.” He hears from behind him, as an
arrow flies by his head, slamming into Zane’s pull cart in the distance.
Zane hears the arrow hit his pull cart. He looks
behind him and sees Colt surrounded by several men, all of them are kicking and
punching Colt. Surprisingly, Colt is still on his feet sending some of them
flying off of theirs. Zane panics, knowing he’s next for helping the bounty
hunter.
He looks around and spots Colt’s bow in the cart.
He grabs it and props the quiver of arrows in the corner for easier access. He
slips the bowstring into the notch of the arrow and pulls back. Even though
he’s never used a bow before, this feels very natural to him. He lets loose of
the string briefly watching it fly to his target and nocks another arrow
without looking.
His first arrow finds a man’s throat, piercing all
the way through. Blood shoots out from his throat as the pressure from his
artery is released. The second arrow is fast behind, penetrating the left
breast of a man wearing a rough leather tunic that’s directly over Colt’s right
shoulder. The attacker’s face slowly turns to a look of shock as he locates the
archer seventy meters away. Zane hits three more men attacking Colt and two
more would be attackers running up from behind.
“Colt!” Zane yells “C’mon” Signaling him to move
with his free hand.
The attackers start to flee for their lives not
knowing who would be in the archer’s sights next. Zane nocks another arrow to keep watch over
Colt as he comes running through the thick mud. Hopping along trying not to
slip too deep into the mud and get stuck. Colt catches up to Zane and looks at
him with wide eyes. He has never seen such marksmanship. Even all the elves he
knows couldn’t have made those shots.
Colt picks up the pull cart still looking at Zane
with disbelief and confusion. Colt seems to be having a conversation in his
head about what he just saw. Colt is able to come up with something to say
after his internal battle. “Keep me alive” he says as he forces the cart to
move. They arrive at the portal where the portal guards move their spears
towards each other, crossing over in the shape of an X.
“Payment please” One guard states indirectly, not
really looking at either one of them.
Colt drops the cart and walks towards them
reaching into his inside pocket. The guards quickly point their spears at him,
stopping him where he stands. He pulls out his badge nice and easy to not
provoke an attack from the portal guards. The badge is sewn onto a piece of leather
that he’s able to conceal when he’s in dangerous areas like this.
“I’m a bounty hunter and this is my assistant”
Colt holds up his badge. “This man here is our bounty”
“You may pass” the guards lift their spears and
stand back at attention.
Colt picks
up the cart and motions for Zane to follow. They walk through the portal and a
flash of colors race across Zane’s eyes. There are reds, purples, blues, pinks,
and all the colors of the rainbow. All seeming as if they’re one color yet
staying separate from each other. Zane gets an unnerving feeling rush over him,
almost like a state of panic but he’s calm, almost to calm. A feeling of a
happier time takes him away, but he’s only known desolation. The feeling of
happiness leaves him just as fast as it took him.
Zane steps into a light that he’s never seen in
Realm 5 before. He feels warmth on his face like he’s standing next to a fire.
It’s hard for him to see because of the bright radiance splashing across his
face. He hears the sound of metal clanging around above him but he doesn’t
care, the warmth of the sun rays has him feeling happy. He hasn’t felt anything
like this before, even in the portal.
“Drop your weapons.” He barely hears. Again, but
this time louder, “Drop your weapons.” Zane is pulled violently from his feet
down to his knees.
“What is wrong with you boy?” Colt hollers. “I
told you what to do when you came through.” Colt glances over. He notices the
look on Zane’s face, and recognizes the effect of sun shock. He has no idea how
long Zane has gone without the sun.
“Don’t shoot!” Colt yells “I’m a bounty hunter and
this is my assistant. I have the badge, it is in my hand.”
“Let me see it, carefully.” Colt raises his hand
bit by bit above his head and stands up. He walks slowly to the Captain and
shows him his badge.
“Is your boy deaf?” the Captain looks over Colt’s
shoulder at Zane.
“No sir, I just hired him from Realm 5.” Colt
points, turning at his hips. “Look at his face sir, he’s in sun shock.”
“Realm 5 has a way of doing that to people.”
“Yeah, it does.” Colt smiles “May we pass now?”
“Very well, until next time, Colt” The captain is
about to walk away.
“Wait, you know me?” Colt looks at him with wide
eyes.
“Well, I don’t know you, but I have heard of you.
Who hasn’t heard of you?” He laughs.
“Then how’d you know it was me?”
“Who else has the balls to go into Realm 5 to
bring back a live bounty and take interviews for an assistant while there?” The
Captain chuckles, over exaggerating the last part. “I see the stories haven’t
been lies.”
“I appreciate that sir, but I must get going” Colt
insists. “Also, can you do me a favor Captain? I need to send word to the Azric
Rangers in Realm 1 to come get this captive. I have Administrator Shlouger.
This is priority one and it must be sent quickly.”
“Why can’t you do it?”
“With this high profile bounty I think it would be
best if the letter comes from you, sir.”
“Yes, yes of course. Gather up your sun shocked
boy and travel safe. I’ll send your message out as quickly as I can.” The
Captain gives the signal to let them pass.
“One more thing, Captain.”
“Yes?” the Captain looks at him with a raised
eyebrow.
“You seem to have me at a disadvantage, Captain,
you know who I am but I don’t know who you are.”
“My apologies for being so rude, I’m Captain Bricker
and I’ve just arrived from Realm 1 a few days ago. I’ll be commander of this
post. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other.” Captain Bricker bows as he
introduces himself.
“Well Captain Bricker, I look forward to our next
meeting, hopefully under less threatening circumstances.” Colt looks around at
the Portal Guards. “But I must be going before I ask you another question.”
Captain Bricker nods at him with approval and Colt turns around. He hurries
back over to Zane to get him out of his state of shock.
Zane hears Colt approaching and he comes too
gradually. He sees they’re in what appears to be a castle. Portal guards are
all over the walls with bows and crossbows. A few carry spears down on the
ground and he’s unsure of what they’re for. He sees Colt running back from the
ground guards and he notices there’s no mud on the ground. He remembers where
he is and he just went through the portal. He throws his hands in the air and
starts yelling “Don’t shoot I’m the assistant to the bounty hunter!”
“Put your arms down, fool, we can pass” Colt comes
up laughing a little. “When was the last time you saw the sun, boy?”
“Five years I think. There was a break in the
clouds for a brief moment.” Remembrance sweeps over Zane’s face and the joy
comes back. Colt wonders how long that joy will stay there, now that he’s been
hired as his assistant.
“C’mon, boy, let’s go.”
“My name is not, boy, it’s Zane.”
“Yeah, and
until you prove to be name worthy it’ll be boy.”
“What do you call saving your life back there?”
“I call it a fluke and repaid by saving your life
here. Now let’s go, boy before I lose my temper and send you back.” Colt
marches off into the distance to-wards the lone gate at the end of the yard.
“Let’s go, boy.”
Zane notices his opportunity is about pass by. He
picks up the cart and races across the yard after Colt. “Wait Colt, I’m
coming.” He pulls the cart like it isn’t even there. He catches up to Colt and
matches his pace. “I’ve never killed anyone before” Zane confesses.
“Working with me, it won’t be your last either.”
“Does it get easier?”
“It depends on the man, for me it got easier when
I started telling myself that they’re bad men who hurt good people. Others say
‘It’s them or me’. Either way, boy, if you don’t justify what you are doing
it’ll eat you alive.” They leave the inner court yard without another word.
As they walk through the gate, Zane notices all of
the stairways heading up to the wall to overlook the inner courtyard where the
portal to Realm 5 is at. “Why so many guards?”
“How many people do you think it would take to
overpower two portal guards?”
“I don’t know three or four, maybe five.”
“Exactly, so what would stop them from
over-powering the guards in Realm 5 and then come over here and overpower the
two on this side?”
“So instead they put an army of portal guards over
here to prevent people in Realm 5 from escaping into Realm 4?”
“You’ve got it, boy. Now we’re in Portal Town,
basically it’s a barracks for the guards here. There’s a little shop over by
the gate leaving town and the stable is just outside of town.” He points to the
south. “I only have the one horse, so we’ll attach the pull cart to her and you
can ride in it with him all the way to Darksto.” Colt points a thumb at Admin
Shlouger still in the bag, covered by the cloth.
“Darksto, what’s that?”
“It’s the capitol of Realm 4 and it’s also where
we’ll get the majority of our work. We’ll sometimes travel to Realm 3 and every
now and then Realms 1 and 2 but not often. Realm 1 is where we get paid once we
have gotten the slip from Sheriff Brighton but I save them so I don’t have to
go as frequently. There’s just too many people with their noses in the air for
my taste.”
They step out of Portal Town and Zane feels the
wind on his face. Colt sees the joy spread across his face and smiles as well.
Colt pays the stable boy and they attach the pull cart to Colt’s horse.
“What’s her name?”
“Horse.”
“Why horse?”
“Never had a horse last me longer than a year. No
point spending time on a name.”
“I see.” Zane looks at her. He can tell that Colt
spends a lot of time with his horse and keeps great care of her.
“We have a long ride ahead of us so why don’t we
stop the questions for now, alright?”
Zane looks in the distance seeing mountains and
trees. He smiles, never having seen this much beauty before. The birds are
singing all around them. “That’s fine.” Zane lies back on the cart looking up
at the white clouds passing over head, letting the sun warm him up.
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