Titus leaned back against the door to the inn “This really isn’t my kind of job you know.”
“I know, but you’re all I have. You fight spooks don’t you? Things that haunt the night? Things that creep and stalk, that murder and destroy? Right?”
“I do.”
“Then what’s different about this job?”
“What you need is a small army or militia. Gather up those you can from the town and go out and deal with them.”
“I’ve tried, I come to you because I’m desperate.”
“Like I said, I’m not you’re guy. I have to be back in the capital in a week’s time anyways.”
“Please, give me a day. I’ll pay you whatever you want.”
“Whatever I want?”
The skinny man nodded.
“I want a horse.”
“Done.”
“You could scrounge up a few men to fight for less then that.”
“Ruffians maybe. Bullies, but not trained killers.”
“Never thought of myself that way.”
The man shrugged.
“Alright.” Titus stepped forward extending his hand towards the man “You have a deal.”
______________________________________________________________________________
Titus looked down at the meager camp below. Some things weren’t adding up. This man, a man of means, had his daughter taken by a local group of thugs. Thugs Titus was tracking. What he saw below confused him. He had expected a great army. Yet all he saw were four men and a girl with her hands tied behind her, sitting around a small fire in the rocky desert. Titus leaned back over the outcrop he was observing from and shuddered.
He had forgotten how cold it got out here at night. He breathed into his hands trying to warm them. This should be an easy enough task, if the man had given him the right information. Just go down there, kill the men, grab the girl, and return back to the town for payment. Not his usual fare but it got him a horse and that was something he desperately needed if he was going to make it to the capital on time.
He peeked back over at the camp. One of the men was lying down in his bedroll but the others were still awake tending to the fire. The girl hadn’t moved, she stared into the fire. She didn’t looked beaten or bruised, surprising for the situation, or so he thought. Then again Titus wasn’t all that familiar with it. He breathed into his hands again. He should have brought more covering. He had been sweating on the march out here following the ill hidden trail of the criminals.
That was another thing thought Titus. They hadn’t gotten very far. If they were to sell the girl they’d have to head to the southeast yet they were still within a few hours travel of the town. What were they waiting for? If Titus was them he would have driven them far and hard until they had put more than a couple miles between them and the town. One more thing that didn’t make sense about this whole situation. Titus blinked and stifled a yawn. He didn’t want to give his position away but he was dead tired.
He’d have to wait, see what they were going to do tonight. At least he wouldn’t have far to travel with the girl once the deed was done. Titus leaned back over the outcrop and back to his supplies. He heard movement somewhere close to him. Instinctively he placed a hand on his dagger and crept forward. There was shuffling in the rocks above him. Most likely an animal of some sort. Perhaps it had smelled the food that he had kept in his pack.
He saw two eyes glinting in the moonlight above him. He drew his dagger and kept himself low. The eyes slunk down and padded forward to the outcrop he was on. It was a catoyte, not a huge threat, but could still kill you if you were dumb enough to let it. It let out a low growl and started forward. Titus hissed at it and brandished his knife in the creature’s direction. It paid him no mind, must be desperate thought Titus. For a moment Titus thought of throwing the creature some of the food from his pack.
He wasn’t far out of town and would have enough coin to buy more. But then he thought better of it, the creature would just come for him after it had its fill. Titus hissed again and swung the blade through the air in front of him. The creature kept up its advance.
“Get.” whispered Titus flashing the blade again.
The creature snarled and kept forward. Titus whipped the blade through the air, then the creature pounced. Titus brought the blade back around as the beast slammed into him. The creature let out a yelp as Titus tossed it over him, it hit the ground with a thud and the land was silent again. Titus crawled back over and looked over at the ground below. None of the bandits had moved or seemed to have taken any interest in the sound. But there was something different below.
Titus spied another figure in the circle. It was clad in a long brown robe, its back towards Titus. He glanced over at the catoyte lying motionless on the rocks below. He turned back towards the group and saw they were all looking towards him. Titus froze, staring down at the group. He couldn’t make out much of the figure in brown. It looked like a gaunt man but he couldn’t be certain. He slunk back down and began to gather his things. He didn’t want to stay there in case they came up for him.
As he left the outcrop he calmed himself. Maybe they had just been looking in his direction, maybe it had nothing to do with him. Maybe there was another catoyte or some other varmint that had crawled through the rocks. He made his way down, heading back in the direction of the town. He didn’t want to start a fight with that many armed men, or even unarmed ones. He rounded a bend in the rocks and froze, listening. He didn’t hear anything so continued on.
On his path he felt something change in the air around him and spun, one hand undoing the pack from his back and the other drawing the sword from his side. Standing behind him was another catoyte stalking forward. Titus shook his head.
“Get, go on.” Titus shooed the creature away.
It crouched low and started torwards him as if to attack.
“What has gotten into you creatures?” said Titus lowering himself.
The creature leapt and with a swift blow Titus sent it to the ground dead. He grabbed his pack and re slung it on his shoulder, staring at the body of the dead beast. He continued on, keeping his sword drawn. He thought of heading back to the town but then decided against it. He didn’t want to get too far from the girl. He changed course and headed back towards the camp. When he got close he stopped short and found a small crevice to place his bag in. He hoped the animals would leave it alone, at least for a few minutes.
He stalked back towards the men, his sword still drawn. He crept through the rocks and over a small hill to a spot he could see them all below. Crouching down he peeked over a ledge and saw the camp. He gasped, the girl was free and walking about the camp. Not only that but she seemed to be making demands of the others. Titus strained his ears to hear.
“It’s getting late.” said the girl.
She was answered by the figure in brown mumbling something Titus couldn’t hear.
“I don’t care. This was supposed to be quick and this was supposed to be easy. Why are we still out here?”
“You’re awfully mouthy.” said one of the men sitting by her.
“Watch your tongue Bertold. Without me, none of you would even—”
She was cut off by the figure in brown saying something.
“I…I didn’t mean you. But the rest of you would be out of a job. You’re lucky that I even chose you.”
“Oh, so now we ought to be grateful to you?” asked Bertold.
“Bitch is getting uppity on us.” said another.
“Maybe we do something about that.” replied Bertold.
“You wouldn’t dare. I’d have my father hang you all from the town walls.” replied the girl.
Titus heard a harsh sound from the figure in brown that shut them all up.
“Why’d you have to get him involved.” said Bertold.
Titus crept up over the rock and down towards the camp trying to hear better. He heard shuffling in the rocks and saw three catoytes heading towards the camp. The figure in brown made a motion with his hand that caused the catoyte’s to stop and growl. They turned from the camp and fled into the night.
“Let’s do what we came to do.” said Bertold.
Titus started to crawl on his belly towards the camp, leaving the cover of the large rocks that were surrounding it. He made his way to a low rock closer to the camp and splayed out behind it, peeking out the side to see.
“Alright now.” one of the men stood up and walked towards the girl “I’ve had enough of this bullshit. You didn’t say anything about getting a damn spook involved, all we wanted was some money. Marcus, hey Marcus get up!.” the man yelled at his sleeping companion who began to stir.
The man started torwards the girl and removed a club from his side. The girl turned to run and was waylaid by Bertold who threw her to the ground.
“Aren’t you going to do anything?” she pleaded, looking up at the figure in brown.
Titus couldn’t hear an audible response but the girl shrieked and tried to flee again, the man restrained her and threw her to the ground.
“You’ll never get my father’s money like this. Never! You need me, you need me.”
“Shutup, we’ve decided that you’re more trouble then you’re worth. Plenty of dumb rich men to take money from.” replied Bertold, placing a booted foot on the girl’s back pushing her to the ground.
Titus cursed, he didn’t want to die out here for a meager reward but he had told the man he’d do what he could. He drew his dagger and sprinkled powder from a pouch at his side on both it and his sword. Then he took his flint and a steel bit and struck them, both blades were set aflame as Titus rose up from behind the rock. He walked forward at a slow pace, his heart hammering in his chest.
“It’s another spook!” shouted Bertold removing his boot from the girl’s back.
All in the camp turned towards Titus. Titus noticed that the girl had started to slink away. The figure in brown turned and stared at Titus for a moment. It wasn’t a man at all. The gaunt face was that of a skeleton. Titus frowned, the men might be intimidated by the flames but the skeleton would know who Titus was.
“I’m not dealing with a spook.” said one of the men.
“Silence.” Titus heard the brown figure speak in a raspy voice “What are you doing here inquisitor?”
“I’ve come for the girl.”
“The girl?” asked the skeleton cocking its head to one side.
Titus nodded.
“I’ve never known an inquisitor to save damsels in distress.”
“Well, I’ve made an exception. Give her to me and go on your way.”
“What of me inquisitor? You are going to let me walk free?”
Titus nodded again.
The skeletal face smiled “You are a unique inquisitor, Sir…”
“Don’t worry about my name.”
“Fair enough. Saving a girl for…coin? I’m guessing. And letting a “spook” like me go free?”
“You’re not my mission.”
“Maybe not today but what about tomorrow? Why not get the work done early?”
“He’s not taking the girl.” Bertold spoke.
The girl got up to run when Marcus tackled her, bringing her back towards the circle.
“This is just a mortal man.” said the skeleton “You can slay him if you will.”
The men looked at one another and at the flaming blades in either of Titus’ hands. Titus lowered them both towards the men.
“And this spook can be slain by steel and, unlike me, is unarmed.” said Titus.
The men looked towards the skeleton.
“How about we kill all three of them and be on our merry way.” said one of the men.
Titus took a few steps back as the men crowded forward. The figure in brown spun whipping out its skeletal hand, a wave of black liquid spilling out onto the closest man. The man screamed and took a few steps back. Titus heard the crackling and popping of the man’s skin as he fell to his knees. The liquid continued to melt through as the man fell to the ground, kicking and rolling before finally settling down, dead.
The other men looked at the figure in brown and began to back away.
“This shit ain’t worth it.” said Bertold.
“You will not flee.” said the spook.
“Like hell I won’t.”
“Leave and I’ll hunt you all down, you know I can. Stay and slay this inquisitor and you’ll be freed from my service.”
“Your service? What kind of contract did we get ourselves into?”
The figure pointed towards Titus. The men looked at one another and then to Titus.
“Keep the girl here Marcus.” said Bertold walking torwards Titus, the other man behind him.
They spread out to either side of Titus to flank him. Titus knew he didn’t have much time to work. With a yell that surprised both men he charged forward and overwhelmed Bertold with a volley of blows. The man was fell and let out a scream as Titus’ blade pierced his arm followed by a dagger in the neck silencing him. Titus pivoted away, letting Bertold’s body fall to the ground. The other man looked at Titus and his flaming blades then to Marcus. He turned and started sprinting away into the night.
The figure in brown rushed forward quickly, closing the distance with the man and slamming a skeletal hand through the man’s back. The man let out a sharp cry that was stifled, he fell to the ground. Titus lowered his blades towards the figure in brown and moved towards Marcus and the girl. He glanced over at Marcus who was shaking. The man backed away holding a knife to the girl’s throat.
“I kn-kn-know you both n-n-need her.” stuttered Marcus “E-either one of you get a-any closer and I’ll, I’ll kill her.” Marcus pointed the blade closer to her throat for emphasis.
The figure in brown closed the distance between them and stood a few feet before Marcus.
“Don’t get any closer.” pleaded Marcus.
“Leave the girl and fight the inquisitor.” said the figure in brown.
Marcus shook his head “No, I saw what he did to Bertold. I’m not dying tonight.” Marcus took a few more steps back.
“And did you not see what I could do?”
“Either way I’m dead, I don’t want anything to do with this. We were just supposed to rob this spoiled bitch’s dad. What the hell is all of this.”
The girl struggled in the man’s arms “Let me go, he’s not going to hurt me.”
“Yeah but he’ll hurt me.” replied Marcus squeezing the girl tighter.
“You planned on robbing your father?” asked Titus.
The girl looked over to him “What of it?”
“He sent me here to get you.”
“Well isn’t that touching, but too little too late.”
Titus shrugged laughing “I take you back and I get my pay, so you’re coming with me one way or the other.”
“I need the girl.” said the figure in brown.
“What did you get involved with him for?” asked Titus pointing a still flaming blade towards the figure in brown.
“He was supposed to help. You were all supposed to help and now looked what you’ve done.” said the girl.
“What did you expect? That a bunch of men you hired out at a tavern were going to follow princesses’ orders? You’re lucky worse hasn’t happened to you yet.” said Marcus.
“I need the girl, that’s all I came for.” said Titus.
The figure in brown turned towards Titus “She’s mine inquisitor.”
“I’m nobodies.” said the girl.
“That’s where you’re wrong.” replied Marcus pulling her back a few more steps.
“Marcus, release her and help me fight the inquisitor. Then I’ll set you free.” said the figure in brown.
“I hope you don’t actually believe him.” said Titus “You saw what he did to your companions.”
“Shutup, both of you.” Marcus twisted and turned as if being physically attacked “Dammit just shutup alright. Shutup.” he twisted and turned some more.
The girl bit down on his hand and rushed forward. Roaring and cursing Marcus swung the blade around and pierced it into the girl’s side. She fell to the ground and Marcus was on top her. He struck another blow before the figure in brown placed a skeletal hand through his neck. Marcus fell to the dirt, a top the girl.
Titus sighed, shaking his head.
“The girls dead and my purpose her is done.” said the figure, rising up.
“No…”
“I thought I wasn’t your mission inquisitor.” said the figure turning to Titus.
“Changed my mind. Maybe dropping your head off at the nearest government post will net me what I need.”
The figure stalked forward “You ready to deal with me inquisitor?”
Titus nodded. The figure rushed forward then darted to the side. Titus struck down warding the creature off. It circled to his back. Titus spun swinging out with his sword, the creature leapt back and started circling again. He studied the creature’s movements and faked a swing. The creature reacted.
Titus flung out his dagger with the other hand, piercing into the creature’s robe, igniting it. The creature let out a scream and began flinging the black liquid towards Titus. Titus held out his sword, igniting the liquid and causing it to vaporize before it hit him. He took a few steps back and watched as the figure fell to the ground, rolling and screaming.
It was silenced a few moment later. Titus walked and slammed his sword down, severing the creature’s charred head. He grabbed it and walked over to the girl. He kicked Marcus off and looked down at her. He was glad he hadn’t ventured too far from the town. Gathering his things, he tied the head to his belt and threw the girl over his shoulder, heading back to the town.
______________________________________________________________________________
“What is this?”
“Your daughter.”
“I wanted her alive inquisitor, not…not like this!”
“I wasn’t given a choice in the matter.”
“What happened?”
Titus sighed and told the man what had happened. The man sat for a few moments after the story staring at Titus.
“Lies.” he said finally.
The man stood up and pointed an accusing finger at Titus “Lies! My precious daughter would never consort with thugs, much less with the intention of robbing me! She was the light of my life. That she would rob me, her own father! It goes too far. My daughter was an angel. You need to get out inquisitor. Get out before I call the guard on you.”
Titus shrugged and turned. He heard the man muttering to himself as he left.
“Lies, lies, lies.”
Titus made his way to the local post and turned in the head of the figure in brown. He counted his coin afterwards and sighed.
“Not enough for a horse but at least I won’t starve.”
