HeatMarie

With a firm, steady hand, Caius placed his blade on the Stranger’s shoulder. He wasn’t expecting to find a scavenger rummaging through their belongings, but he should have, even if they were miles away from any civilization. Darkness was here, after all. He should make things quick: take the man’s life and be on his way. 

But something Kali whispered to him, when they first saw the Stranger made Caius stop the blade a mere inch from the man’s neck.

“Darkness has taken enough lives for one day,” she said.

Damn the woman, she had a point. And as frustrating as she could be, Caius trusted her instincts, even when they went against his own judgment. Instead of killing the man, he said, “Drop the book.” 

The stranger turned a page, smearing dirt across the words, unbothered in the slightest by the sword’s edge moving closer towards his neck. 

Caius gripped the hilt of his sword tighter. He really hated it when people touched his things. He hated it even more when they did so with dirty hands that destroyed his work. Another dirty fingerprint smeared across another page, making Caius’s body cringe at the sight. The Stranger was making it difficult for the Prince. But then again, should he expect anything more from a man in a tattered green cloak? Hell, even the Stranger’s horse was ragged, its mane and tail knotted with large puffs of matted hair draping around its hooves.

“Ah, the Prince of Elyndris. It is truly a pleasure to have your sword at my throat. But I do promise, I wish for no trouble.” The Stranger’s stallion snickered. 

“You’ve a strange humor, Grim. Why must you always laugh when I’m being serious? You make this job more tedious than it has to be.” The Stranger looked up at his stallion. 

“Kali, saddle the horses,” Caius commanded. The Witch’s Daughter didn’t move, and before she could speak, he gave another demand.“Go!” 

Shaking her head, she took a wide step around him and the Stranger. Caius’s stomach turned. Perhaps he was a bit harsh with her. 

Kali muttered something under her breath and stomped up the hill. 

“My, you are a demanding one. And to a witch nonetheless. What a brave man you must be.” The Stranger’s tone was jovial even with his snide remarks. 

“Drop the book,” Caius said again. 

“Is it really worth all the fuss?” he said, turning yet another page. “There really isn’t much here worth noting, minus these few pages. My what a dirty mi—” 

Caius closed the small gap he left between the man’s neck and the edge of his sword. No blood dripped from the man’s skin, but God, how Caius’s anger wanted to slit his throat. “I will not ask again,” he said. 

“As you wish, Your Highness.” 

In one swift motion, the Stranger dropped the logbook. His body twisted, and Caius felt the weight of a sword land on his shoulder. The Stranger grinned. It was the smile of a mad man. Disconcerted, Cauis forced himself to stay steady, to control his expression. He would not show fear. No, not to this man!

“We could be gentlemen about this. Or…” The Stranger paused, then tilted his neck into Caius’s blade. Caius’s eyes followed the blood as it trickled down the diamond steel. Lowering his weapon and returning it to its leather holster, the Stranger said,  We can dawdle here, if you like. I prefer we didn’t.” The man nodded and gestured behind Caius. 

There was no need to look behind him. Darkness was slithering toward them, leaving the air still and thick, as if the wind itself was too terrified to take a breath. 

Caius removed his sword from the man’s shoulder and held it at his side. He didn’t trust this man. There was something in that smile—a reckless edge, like a man who had nothing left to lose. Something wildly unhinged yet calculated. His blade, elegantly crafted with a gold-crested hilt was too pristine for someone so worn. The leather holder, by contrast, was frayed, its condition displaying years of use and neglect. It didn’t make sense. Why would a man with such a fine weapon care so little for everything else? In fact, the steel seemed to be the only thing about him that wasn’t old, dingy, or battered. The contradiction, the hidden purpose behind those eyes, made it clear: this was a dangerous man. 

Caius circled the man, keeping his eyes on him as he leaned down, picked up the logbook and tossed it back into his bag. He threw his bag over his shoulder and said, “Let this be the last time I see your face.” 

“Now see, that is where we have a problem. I am afraid that this face of mine will be one you’ll need to learn to tolerate.” His smile widened. “It is a very charming face, if I say so myself. However, no matter how much I enjoy this sparring of ours, it seems we have run out of time. I suggest you run.” The man leaped onto his horse’s back.

Caius looked back and saw the sand turning black, then rushed to Thorne.

The Stranger held out a hand to Kali. She took it and he pressed his lips against her the back of her hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you, my beauty. And if you would be so kind as to follow me, there is a place not far to shelter until Darkness passes.” 

He pressed his heels into Grim and rode off. Kali followed. This woman has lost her mind. They didn’t know this man, and still she took off after him. Like he actually knows something. Caius grunted and kicked his heels into Thorn.

“You are really going to follow him?” he asked, pulling up beside her.

“What other choice do we have?”  

Caius didn’t answer. He couldn’t. 

Ahead of him, the man muttered something to his horse. Grim understood his master and looked back at Caius with his beady eyes. The horse gave a small snort in response before letting out a snicker that sounded far too human. The Stranger laughed in response, making it seem like both the man and the horse were completely unbothered by Darkness. Caius didn’t hear the Stranger’s words, but whatever the joke was, it didn’t need explaining.