Chapter 10: Characters

The innkeeper watched as the pair dismounted. It wasn’t a usual pair, but it wasn’t extremely unusual either. It consisted of one rather small man and one boy, well and of course, their horse, which was of formidable size considering the two that rode it. The man was small, though not specifically short. The innkeeper figured him to be about average, or perhaps a little less. He was quite small in the shoulders and indeed the rest of the way down as well. He didn’t appear particularly strong, but he had an air about him which told the innkeeper that he had more than enough brains to handle himself in any fight just fine. He wore a collection of varying shades of brown. His knee-high leather boots and elbow-length leather gloves were worn from years of use. His slightly baggy pants were made of a medium weight material which provided the wearer warmth or coolness. His strap long sleeved over-shirt was made of the same material. The small man also wore a mask of dark brown. It completely covered his head save his eyes, making him appear rather suspicious to the innkeeper. Such people normally had something to hide. The mask was made from several pieces of material sewn together to form one. It unclasped at the left side of the face and was fastened by two rough buttons. It was made of a slightly thinner yet tighter woven material than the shirt. This allowed it to keep the wearer cooler while still keeping out the elements, specifically sand.
The innkeeper watched as the man spoke with the boy, they were likely related by blood, if anything could be told by the way they smiled at each other and spoke gently. No master treated his slave like that, not in this land anyway. The boy was quite small, though healthy. His frame was thin and he was short for his age. The innkeeper placed his age at about ten, but his height could have been that of a boy’s two or three years younger. The boy was well filled out and had good color, and his young muscles were developing well. He would likely have a growth spurt in a few years and then he would probably be a giant, the innkeeper joked to himself. Young folk were like that, always springing up in the blink of an eye. The boy had sandy hair which was cut somewhat short but long enough that it still hung down a bit around his head.
The man tussled the boy’s hair affectionately and then the boy took the horse’s reigns and walked off towards the side of the inn. The man then stood and walked towards the innkeeper. He wore two swords which rested across each other on his back. They were not full length swords, but if anything could be told by their handles, they were good ones. Though the innkeeper was sure that the man had daggers hidden in various other places there was only one visible one, which hung at the man’s side. It hung from a belt full of various pouches, which were likely full of herbs or small instruments. The innkeeper smiled at the man and he nodded in response as he passed. The innkeeper then shrugged and went back to his porch sweeping. As long as the man paid for whatever he bought and didn’t cause any trouble the innkeeper was alright with it.
Kload surveyed the common room carefully. It was filed with an assorted crowd of rough looking men. There was a group of ten split around two tables who looked to be a team. By the looks of them Kload guessed them to be glass-trackers. Glass trackers were generally single men desperate for work, or young inexperienced men who thought that such a job would let them travel the world. It only took a few months for them to realize just what the job was and a few months less for them to all look the same. They were all worn and torn from the wind, sand and sun, even the newest ones. The basic premise of the job was to travel the deserts following lightning storms and searching for glass among the sands. They would then collect it and haul it back to a base town to be refined. This team wore the generic clothes; thin yet protective clothes made of cheap, rough muslin. Kload knew that they also carried a set of warmer clothes for nights and storms.
The majority of the rest of the room was filled with small groups, likeliest traveling workers following their underpaying bosses around the country and wondering why they had ever thought their jobs would work out. They were likely thinking of home and wishing that they could go back and settle down and then remembering that there was no way to make money at home, and hence giving themselves the strength to make it through another day by thinking of the needs of their families which they were fulfilling. Kload noticed an odd group at a somewhat isolated table off to her right. There were five men at the table, but Kload got the feeling that there were more in a room somewhere. They wore assorted pieces of leather and metal armor and looked as if they’d seen many years in battle. They all wore a specific cut left arm brace which donned a green and silver symbol. Kload didn’t recognize the symbol but she was quite sure that it belonged to one the lands warlords, likely a lesser one. Kload mentally noted that she would have to be carefully around them, they had potential to start a fight for any reason.
Kload went to the counter and bought two waters and a first level room. Such a room would make it easier for them to leave in the morning without disturbing their neighbors. Kload wasn’t specifically worried that they would actually disturb their neighbors so much as their neighbors disturbing their progress out the door.  She turned and took a seat at a small table close to the wall. There were several open tables but she chose this one so Yevish wouldn’t have to walk by the warlord’s men on his way to her or the room. 
By the time Yevish came in most of the people had cleared out of the commons room. The innkeeper’s wife, whom was watching the counter and serving drinks, even looked a little board. It was not incredibly late, but the sun was basically gone for the day. Most people went to bed with the sun. There were two table seating about six men left, save the table where the warlord’s soldiers sat. One of their members had left for the night, but four still remained. It made Kload a tad nervous. Yevish drank his gritty water gratefully. It tasted great after the hot afternoon. Though they had been doing most of their traveling at night and hadn’t stayed in inn’s much, they did so every now and then to catch information on local and widespread heroes. Kload hadn’t heard anything promising here, but it was always worth checking.
Once Yevish was done he and Kload stood and headed towards the rooms. Kload could see the warlord’s soldier watching and pointing at them. This had potential to end bad. One of them suddenly stood, walked over and blocked her and Yevish’s path. Kload instinctively ushered Yevish behind her.
“Yor an awfully small un’ mister.” The soldier sounded slightly drunk, but mostly looking for a bit of action. “If’n I didn’t know better, I’d be sayin’ you was just a dog wit’ yer ‘ittle whelp followin’ you along.”
The other soldiers snickered while the other occupants of the room went silent. The innkeeper’s wife perked up, a bit afraid of what might take place.
“Maybe ye don’t know betta’ Erlfag!” One of the soldiers shouted encouragement to his fellow.
“Yeah, maybe I don’t know better, dog.” Erlfag emphasized his last word.
Kload simply met his eyes and said nothing. She didn’t need to aggravate him with foolish words, and at this moment those were the only ones coming to her mind.
“What? The dog ain’t got nuthin’ ta say for itself? Not even a bark or whimper.” Erlfag continued, cheered on by his fellows’ laughter.
“Well maybe I aughta’ make it whimper.” Erlfag became aggressive enough to reach out and grasp Kload’s shirt collar. Yevish gasped slightly, but Kload just looked calmly at the soldier. A few of the others in the common room started to sneak to their rooms behind Erlfag’s back. That left only two or three others and the innkeeper’s wife as spectators.
“The whelp makes noise.” Erlfag smiled contemptuously.
“I’d suggest you take your hand off me, sir.” Kload stated pointedly yet quietly, keeping her man’s voice as well in tact as possible. She was intimidated and started saying a mental prayer almost faster than she could think. Somehow she managed to keep her breathing and heart rate steady.
“Why the mutt don’t even growl loud enough ta be ‘eard.” One of the other soldiers called out. They were all getting quite excited.
“Well mayhap I’ll make it.”Erlfag’s smile widened. “If’n I does sumthin’ to the ‘ittle whelp.” Erlfag started to reach down and around Kload, so as to grab Yevish, who backed up slightly. Kload was expecting such a move however, and grasped the arm which was holding her collar and forced it across the man’s back. She slipped behind him as he stood straight, the pain rushing to his brain.
“Ow, ow. Let go a’ me ye mutt.” Kload didn’t release the man, but instead forced him to his knees.
Keeping her voice low and yet still strong Kload leaned forward slightly and spoke to Erlfag. “If you want me to do that, then I suggest you stay away from my son.”
“The whelp’s yer kid aye?” Erlfag replied through gritted teeth. He was obviously used to more abrupt and forward pain from weapons, and the pain from someone’s hands was rather new to him. “Well then, all the more reason ta make him squeal.” He smiled. “At ‘im boys!” He called out. Kload looked up in concern. The innkeeper’s wife sunk down on the ground and peaked around the corner of the counter, and the last few patrons fled the room in anticipation of the upcoming fight. The three soldiers at the table stood and rushed towards Yevish, who could barely force himself to back away. He was terrified and for good reason. Kload didn’t hesitate. She used Erlfag’s back as a platform and jumped over to Yevish. She landed securely in front of him and turned to face the oncoming enemies. She drew her swords and took up a defensive stance. They were not going to touch Yevish, no matter what. The men smiled as Erlfag joined them.
“It’s four on one, mutt. The whelp don’t really count. Ye can’t hope ta win.” Erlfag smiled as he drew his sword.
“Not of my strength, but with Yesua’s, yes I can.” Kload kept her stance. She knew God was watching out for her and Yevish. Their mission wasn’t going to end in a little inn on the edge of the desert. Kload also wasn’t going to let Yevish life end just yet.
The other three drew their swords. “Yer god can’t save ye now mutt.” One of the other soldiers spat as he spoke.
“Yeshua saves.” Kload whispered. She had give Yevish enough time to hide himself under a table. That was as safe as she could get him at the moment. Then she sprang forward and cut low, taking them all by surprise. One of the men yelled in pain. Kload’s sword had hit leg flesh. The man dropped slightly and grasped his leg. The other three lunged at Kload. She had now officially made herself a threat. She deftly deflected their blows and used the momentum to spin herself around behind the men. She struck at another’s side and pierced it. He cried out in pain and went down, wounded but not fatally so. The remaining three turned to face her. Kload had to watch herself, she didn’t want to kill anyone, just wound them enough so her and Yevish could get out of here. They wouldn’t be staying here now, it was too dangerous. The three men split themselves up and formed a circle around Kload. This made it more difficult, but Kload knew she could handle it, she’d been in these type of situations before, many a times.  She used her two blades as moving shields. She defended herself expertly while still giving a blow here and there. She caught the other leg of the man with the leg wound and he went down.
“Why ye little bastard!” Erlfag snarled at her.
Kload kept herself calm as she handled Erlfag before her and his companion behind her. Then suddenly a strong hand grasped her ankle, threatening to trip her. It was the man with the leg wounds. Kload managed to keep her balance, but she lost her advantage. She turned slightly in her fight to keep upright and as she did so Erlfag reached out and unknowingly grasped her bun. It caught Kload off guard and surprised Erlfag a bit, but not enough. Once he realized he had hair he grasped it tighter and pulled Kload backward and upward by it. She screamed in pain.
“That’s a lotta hair for a man, mutt.” Erlfag hissed. His companion quickly took advantage of Kload’s moment of weakness and forced her blades out of her hands. “Here, ‘hold the mutt Gart.” Erlfag shoved Kload towards his companion, who grasped her firmly in a bear hug. “Now, let’s see what’s under the mask, shall we mutt?”
Yevish watched in horror as Erlfag reached for Kload’s mask. He wanted to do something, but he could think of nothing which he could actually do without getting them killed. Erlfag grasped Kloads mask and began to pull upward. Yevish panicked, if she were discovered… He tried to move, to yell, anything, but his body wouldn’t respond. Then suddenly the mask was off. Kload shook her head defiantly, her loose bangs drifting down around her face.
Erlfag stared. “Why it ain’t no mutt at all!” His companions also stared in disbelief, and Gart loosened his grasp and moved to get a better look. Erlfag finished his statement. “It’s a bloody bitch.” He continued using the dog terms out of habit. Kload snarled at him and then took advantage of their surprise. Within a second she had forced her way out of Gart’s loose grasp and was standing firmly behind Erlfag with her knife to his throat. The other men started to move then froze as they realized that their leader like companion was now in life-threatening danger.
Kload looked down at Yevish. “Yevish, go outside. Now.” She commanded through partly gritted teeth. The boy didn’t need to watch what would have to happen next. Somehow the sound of Kload’s voice and the fact that she was still alive gave Yevish the strength to unfreeze his muscles. He quickly but shakily ran through the room, avoiding all the men, and then outside. Once outside he ran around the building and to the stables where he hid himself between Darkstar’s strong legs. He grasped one of them and hugged it tightly. The horse put its head down and licked him comfortingly, then perked back up at the noise from the inn. The two of them listened as screams and the sound of breaking objects flowed out of the inn. It was a good many minutes before they quieted, and a few more before Kload emerged. Her face mask was loosely thrown on, her hair was a complete mess and her face was stressed. As she dropped the bags near Darkstar’s feet he could smell blood. She kneeled and quickly pulled Yevish to his feet.
“We’re leaving.” She said. Her eyes were somewhat clouded and her tone was even and devoid of emotion. She walked over with solid steps and grabbed the saddle. Within a few minutes Darkstar was all ready and Kload and Yevish sat atop him. They rode out and headed towards the gate. It was completely dark, but just barely so, so the gates were not yet closed. Darkstar and his riders rode out swiftly and the gatekeepers closed the gates behind them.
Yevish held on silently, his eyes still wide with fear and terror at what he had just witnessed. Darkstar ran swiftly out into the night, knowing his heading well, and also sensing Peace’s and his own need to be as far from that place as soon as possible. Peace said nothing for a while and then, faintly at first, she began to cry. Yevish leaned back slightly and hugged her arms as she wrapped him in a hug, her tears wetting his dusty hair.