Chapter 1
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's positioned in an alley, hiding from those
around him. He just entered Orcshire on the return trip from gathering his
bounty. The street is muddy. 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.
He doesn't normally go for live bounties,
especially in Realm 5, but he made an exception for this one. Going into Realm
5 after a bounty for dead rewards is suicide in its own right, let alone trying
to drag the man back alive. 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.
Blade's minions are 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 through
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."
The Elf looks at Colt, then 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 ponytail.
"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."
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."
"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 waves 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 handcart 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, 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 to grab the handles, tightens 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 without turning his head, so he doesn't draw any unnecessary
attention. People are going to be watching him anyway because he's working 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, 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 releases
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!"
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