5 Were Surrounded

I feel for those who find themselves caught in an ambush.

"Your father"

"Hmm?"

"He was a wise man"

"Your right, very"

In the corner of my eye I could see her look my way scratching her head, there is no way.

"Are you trying to console me?"

"Shut up!"

She was, I couldn't help but smile.

"The person that did this, are you going after them?"

A surge of emotions washed over me, and I tried everything I could to forget, to forget the anguish and misery I felt that day. I tried and failed to focus on her and our survival. It only needed one sentence to get me back to how I used to feel. I can't let her see that, so I have to pretend everything is fine.

"The short answer is yes"

"Good"

"Good?"

"I suppose I'll follow you until then, cant have you dying and all that"

I'm confused; I'm not sure if it's because she's no longer a stranger or because she said it with such gentleness, but my agony has eased. I know what I have to do, or so I thought. We barely have enough money for weapons, clothes or a proper place to sleep. This pottery ties us over in terms of providing some income, but its nothing to ride home about.

As I proceed in making my last vase, I look around to see Aldis casually watching me.

"So, how does this pottery stuff work anyways?"

"Would you like to help?"

"I can just watch you do all the work"

"Haha good idea"

As much as I like the gesture, she would never be able to. You need both gentle and steady hands, both I'm not sure she has.

We transport all of the pieces by hand, which is not the most common method. We were still a couple silvers short of acquiring a cart of some kind. We set up in our usual location, an open area in a corner nearest to the gate, disregarding the fact that we are surrounded by many alleys.

I laid out a piece of cloth I had bought, placed the pieces on it. That's how I sold them. While my back was turned I hear footsteps, probably a mans but I could be mistaken.

"These pieces, I would like all of them"

I was right, his voice rather quiet for someone buying items in a market

"All of them?"

"Yes, now"

"Certainly, that will be one silver coin"

By this point, I had turned around to face the gentleman. He was lingering, a little too ominously. It even made Aldis perk up and cautiously move to where she had laid her dagger. He first pointed to a scarlet button fastened to his collar, which resembled a playing card. He then opened his coat and displayed a revolver he had disguised with a diamond-like mark. He flashed me a snobbish smile before flailing his finger in my face.

"I think you misunderstood what I said"

I could see Aldis getting ready to jump at him, I gave her a signal to wait. I'm still not sure what is going on quiet yet.

"Your right, I did misunderstand. We are out in the open market and I thought, you were robbing me"

He smiled, talking has made him a little careless. He hasn't noticed I moved closer to the side he had his pistol on.

"If that's the case then you didn't misunderstand rookie"

"I see, go about your day then"

"Excuse me?"

"I said.."

"I don't give a damn, I want everything you've got"

He drew his pistol, his rambunctious voice ringing throughout the market. Something's off, surely someone must've noticed his intentions by now. We are surrounded by stalls, merchants and people of every kind, still going about their day. In fact they weren't trying to make eye contact with me, shifting their bodies and turning their heads. It would seem I am alone in this.

I nodded subtly to Aldis, a silent signal of our coordinated plan. In a swift motion, I ducked low and dashed to his right, my eyes locked on the pistol in his grip. The air was thick with tension as I lunged forward, my hands reaching for his weapon. A brief but intense struggle ensued, my fingers grappling to redirect his arms away from any potential line of fire. The risk of a stray bullet was all too real in the chaos of our tussle.

Suddenly, he lashed out with a powerful kick to my stomach, the force of it sending a jolt of pain through my body. Gritting my teeth, I countered with a swift headbutt to his jaw. The impact was solid, and for a moment, he seemed dazed, his movements halting as a sheen of nervous sweat began to form on his forehead.

*Pant* *Pant*

"You're the rookie," a voice cut through the heavy breathing.

It was Aldis, her presence almost ghostlike. She had maneuvered herself behind him, her dagger expertly positioned at his neck. A tiny incision was visible, a small bead of blood trickling down, staining his cheek with a crimson smear.

"Do you have any idea..." he began, his voice laced with fear and confusion.

"That doesn't matter now, does it?" Aldis interrupted sharply.

With a swift motion, she kicked the back of his knees quickly, causing him to fall to the ground in front of me. I stood there for a time, not sure what to do. What was I supposed to do with him anyway? It was a delicate situation, and we had to keep some appearance of privacy in spite of the seeming turmoil. The eyes of those around us were clearly aware of the drama that was developing. We moved with careful subtlety, trying to keep the situation under control despite a feeling of anxiety.

"What are we doing with him?"

...

I suppose I should respond to her. I don't want to rob him, but it might be the best option. Wait, shouldn't we simply let him go? Wouldn't he just come back? He also recognizes our faces. What should I do?

"Well?"

"Deal with him!"

Giving her the choice was ill advised, but I didn't have a clue of what to do in this situation.

"As you wish"

She quickly patted him down, taking all he had. Money, his pistol, and for Aldis, certain parts of his attire like his coat. She handed me the gun, insisting I help so I did.

"Grab that wing as well, might come in handy"

She hesitated first, He put up a little bit of a fight, but we managed to get it off him. Regretfully before letting him go she cut through both of his kneecaps saying.

"Walk while you still can"

The harshness of her words was felt in my heart, we just robbed him of that ability.

It just took a few seconds for me to know we had just committed a criminal act. I quickly gather all of our possessions, and Aldis follows my lead. As we flee, we hear a variety of noises behind us. Of course, they make a big deal only after we leave.

We made sure no one was following us as we retreated to our rock,

"You think we got caught?"

"If anything they didn't catch our faces, just our dress"

"Right because that's reassuring, what are we going to do now?"

"I'm following you"

She would dodge the question wouldn't she. Our only source of income is now shot, I have no one that can help me.

Wait.

"I got it"

"Got what?"

"We're going to the city of draconia"

"Draconia? you cant possibly mean THE Royal Capital!?"

"I was hoping you would know how to get us there, I have a friend there that can help us"

Or I hope she can, considering I don't know exactly where she is. I wonder if she knows what had happened to the village.

"I can't bring you to draconia, but I can bring you to someone who can"

"Perfect In the morning we leave"

We take shifts watching over the camp, you can never be too careful, it's my turn currently. Halfway through the night I hear a stick snap off in the distance, I immediately alert Aldis.

"Someone's coming alright" she said

The issue is that it sounds like more than one.

"One, two,three"

Their movement has ceased, and it's pitch black, making it difficult to determine their location.

"That's them" we hear "Rip them to shreds."

A man steps out of the shadows, wearing a huge black coat with matching black boots and gloves. Aldis turns to face him, and I move in sync with her to keep an eye on her back. She can hold her own, but I'm more concerned about how many there are.

"Four, five, six"

"It appears you two have made a mistake"

He continued at a slow pace

"Hmm..What might that be?"

"Oh ho ho I never did miss your sass Aldis, but did you really think we were gonna miss a sign that obvious?"

"You know him?"

"She hasn't told you?"

I turn my head to her, she kissed her teeth

"Not now"

"You shouldn't hide things from your master. But, since I'm a reasonable and nice guy, I'll let you off easy."

"What do you want?"

The moment I answer four men appear from the darkness, Guns already loaded and drawn, were surrounded.

"Return the button, give back what you stole plus interest, and toss the girl in there too. Do this and you'll leave here with just a mortal wound"