Zenith

Rudd 1

He should be travelling north right now, not south. North was where the wars were, the peaceful south was no place for a mercenary.

But this was good work. Escorting two flouncy, newly-wed nobles to the small kingdom of Caldwell was an easy task, hardly work at all. Considering all he was doing was sitting on his horse and watching a carriage, he was being paid quite generously. Very generously.

Why he felt the need to fight in the northern war at all made him wonder. It was not his war; he did not care who would be victorious. Only that it was work, and work more engaging than being an escort to these soft lumps. They had guards, not at all well trained guards, but guards none the less. Why they felt the need to hire him as well was strange.

Rudd had met them on his way into Stanburg at the southern point bordering Arundel: Lord and Lady Barric. They said that they desperately needed an escort on their journey to Caldwell for their honeymoon.

“I’ll pay you handsomely for your services, if only to put my delicate love at ease.” The wiry looking nobleman had said, as he gazed toward his new wife. “Traveling between nations has become a treacherous ordeal for those of us who have what the beggars and bandits want. I can assure you, you won’t regret lending us your assistance.” He then leaned over, placing a weighted bag of gold in Rudd’s hand.

This was safe work that paid very well, so Rudd accepted, even if it did mean he had to put up with an insufferable noble and his constantly blushing sweetheart who was, by some miracle, enamoured with him. The war in the north would still be raging when he returned.

In the weeks that they had travelled down the winding country roads towards Caldwell, they had barely encountered any real danger.

In the first week of their journey, a group of bandits had attempted an ambush. Rudd let them follow the party for three days and waited for their attack. It came on the fourth. The criminals had overtaken the carriage and were waiting around the corner of a bend in the path.

“Stop.” Rudd commanded.” Wait here until I return.”

“What is the meaning of this? I demand to know why we have halted!” the nobleman shrieked, sticking his head out the small window, his long, thin nose wrinkling.

“Shut your mouth, and wait for me here.” Rudd looked at the footman of the carriage as he nodded his agreement. At least he had some sense.

Rudd drew his sword and walked towards the bend in the path, the high hedges on either side concealing what was ahead from view. He rounded the corner and stood…waiting.

They were upon him at once, leaping from the bushes on both sides.

Rudd lifted his blade to defend from the first attackers’ blow. He leaned in feeling the impact and waited for a moment. Before the man could retreat, he flipped his sword with the flick of his wrist, Rudd brought it down. He could feel it slice through the soft flesh of the bandit at the point where his neck met his shoulder.

A vale of blood fell over the scene, like crimson rain on a tempestuous night.

With the slightest movement, he flicked his sword up and watched as the head of the man rolled to the gravel path.

There were six others and they charged at him, screaming for vengeance, wanting to avenge their fallen brother no doubt. Rudd could already see the pain and grief in their eyes. Their hatred directed at him.

Let them hate him, it will make killing them easier.

And it was easy. They all fell as quickly as the first.

Rudd wiped his sword on his cloak as he returned to the carriage, leaving a death trail as he walked.

“My God! What was all that ruckus about? And in future I will thank you not to talk to me in such an insolent- “

“Bandits.” Rudd answered grimly.

“Heavens no! Where are they?” asked Lady Barric.

“Dead.”

“Dead? Just like that?” Lord Barric stuck his nose high in the air, still not daring to exit the confines of the carriage.

Rudd leapt up onto his horse and didn’t wait before he continued down the road.

As the carriage turned the corner after him he heard gasps escape the mouths of the Lord and Lady, even the footman and the other guards. It was clear these people had never ventured far from their world of polite courts and extravagant parties.

A little while later, after they had calmed themselves and the bandit’s corpses were far behind them, some colour had returned to the cheeks of the Barric’s.

“Well I congratulate myself on hiring such a capable mercenary.” Lord Barric prattled.

“You do have a good eye my dear. But what a gruesome scene.” The Lady mused.

“Yes most certainly. How do you deal with such horrors mercenary?”

Rudd managed to grunt out “It’s my job.”