At Arms

AT ARMS

BY A.ROSARIA

Copyright © 2013 by Alex Rosaria

This e-book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer‘s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.

Table of Content

The Dark Wanderer

Damnation

Outcast

Ambos Thorne

Farmer James

Bonus Story: Death's Given Chance

About the Author

THE DARK WANDERER

Robert, a knight, unsheathed his sword. Who goes there? he called out.

No one answered, but he knew he heard someone skulking between the trees.

Put that sword away, said Rickard, his elder brother, before you hurt yourself. Nothing out there; just the three of us.

Begrudgingly he sheathed his sword and sat down on a trunk between his brother and Celia. Their father had ordered them to escort her to the monastery. She was a young, pretty woman with long black hair and a nice round face. She seemed reserved and didn‘t little talking.

Rickard stirred the porridge. Food is soon ready.

Great, Robert thought. Maybe some food would put his jitters at bay. The horses stirred. His black destrier stamped and snorted. Robert stood up; this time Rickard did the same. The brothers looked at each other.

Still convinced it‘s nothing? Robert said.

Rickard pulled his sword from the scabbard and called out, Who goes there? Make yourself known or else–

No need for threats kind, sirs and lady, said a deep voice from out the darkness between the trees.

They heard branches and leaves rustling. A figure appeared from out the night–a tall man with broad shoulders; with a long black, fur coat on; and a long, pale face, with the darkest eyes Robert had ever seen. He wore no armor under his coat, nor had he any visible weapons on him, just a tick robe. It made Robert feel a fool standing fully armed with his drawn sword pointing at an unarmed man. He put his sword away; Rickard didn‘t.

State your reasons for being in the forest at night, he said.

The man put his palms up. I mean no harm to the both of you. I‘m just a wanderer who stumbled upon your camp.

What need does a wanderer have to walk in the forest at night without any light to lead him?

Robert just now noticed the stranger had no torch. It made him feel more so the younger brother he was for missing this.

I need no light to lead me where I go. I just wander around and stumble on food and shelter when in need. He bowed. I depend on the charities of others.

He‘s not armed, Robert said to his brother. There is no reason to be hostile.

Rickard put his sword away. "You‘re probably right, little brother."

Robert frowned.

Rickard signaled the stranger. Please take a seat and share our fire and food.

The man went over to the fire to warm his hands. He walked with a grace Robert only saw kings and lords display as they walked down the hallways of their castles. He nodded at Robert in passing and smiled. A chill went up his back.

The stranger sat next to Celia, who immediately shied away. To defuse any discomfort, Robert quickly sat in the space that came free between them.

Rickard continued stirring the porridge. Do you have a name, wanderer? he asked.

No, I don‘t, and I don‘t need one.

Strange, Robert said, all mothers give their children a name.

Not all. And some were given so long ago that they are long forgotten, but if you have a need to give me a name, you can just call me wanderer or dark wanderer, like some peasants call me.

Celia shivered at the mention of the name. Robert had never heard this name before in this part of the land or anywhere else. Neither had Rickard, going from the surprisingly amicable smile he gave the wanderer.

I‘m Rickard, the eldest son of the lord of these lands. And that tall, gaunt boy is my younger brother, Robert. The lady sitting over there is not really a lady but a nun-to-be, a woman no more. We gave our word to protect her on her journey to the monastery, keeping her safe from the beasts roaming this forest.

This was the first time Robert could remember his brother being so open to a stranger or anybody else for that matter. Celia shifted on the trunk. He didn‘t mind her. Far in thought, he stared at his brother pouring porridge in a bowl. He felt his stomach growl. Finally, they could eat. The summer night being short, they had maybe at most four hours to sleep left. Taking turn to keep watch, he would have at most two hours of sleep, but before he lay down, he wanted his belly full.

Rickard offered the first bowl to the wanderer.

No, thank you. I‘ll have dinner later.

Celia shifted. Robert glanced at the young woman. She was hugging herself and shivering all over. He loosened his coat and offered it to her. She looked at him with her big, pleading eyes and shook her head. He insisted and draped the coat over her thin shoulders.

She‘s going to be a nun, no need for you to be coy with her, Rickard said.

Robert blushed. At sixteen years old, he had not been with a woman, nor did he think of Celia in that way. Unlike his brother who knew women better under their dress than by name, he admired her devotion to God and in becoming a nun.

It‘s a gentlemanly thing to do, the wanderer said. Nothing to be ashamed of.

Soon she‘ll be a nun, Rickard said. Not for us mortal beings to care for anymore. She‘s God‘s creature now; let God be her gentleman.

Aren‘t we all God‘s creatures, even the vilest and wickedest ones crawling the earth? At least the scriptures say so. The wanderer laughed after saying that.

Robert agreed that God almighty ruled from the heavens, and even evil had to obey his command or suffer in the end for the corruption it brought upon the world. Those straying would feel it, and he feared Rickard might very well one day fall off the path of virtue. He clenched his teeth. Rickard was the eldest; he the youngest. He had no say, no influence, after their old, ill father died. Rickard would inherit the titles, the lands, everything. Rickard was smart, but he wasn‘t the most just man around, by a far shot he wasn‘t.

Rickard pushed the bowl into Robert‘s hands, waved Celia to move aside, and sat next to his brother.

Get some food yourself, Rickard said to Celia.

The young woman scurried to the pot and filled a bowl. She didn‘t return to the trunk, but instead sat down on a rock far from the three men. The campfire light barely licked her, casting shades on her and making her a haunting sight.

Why is she so afraid with two knights keeping her safe? the wanderer asked.

Rickard laughed out loud, patting his knee. Two knights? You mean one knight; my brother is barely a man.

And you, sir, are a knight? the dark wanderer said.

One day I‘ll be the greatest knight. The girl is silly thinking anything can happen to her under my protection.

Robert grimaced. He had passed the training and trials and won his fair share of bouts. A knight was a knight, no matter how young. He pressed his lips hard together. When the time came, he‘d show his brother.

Is that so? said the wanderer. "And from what kind of monster will you keep her safe?

Celia cowed within Robert‘s coat, her porridge long forgotten on the ground.

There is no beast in this forest that I can‘t take on alone. Rickard beat his chest. I‘ll cleave it in half and feast on its meat and blood.

Robert stood up and left the two men with their tales. He knelt in front of Celia and lifted her chin up. A tear rolled down her cheek.

What about creatures from beyond? Robert heard the wanderer ask Rickard.

His brother laughed. Myths. There are no such creatures. Man rules supreme over all. We are that ones all else must fear, not some beast from myths told by women to keep small children and the feeble-minded in check.

I would put a wager on their existence.

Rickard snorted. A wager you would foolishly lose.

Celia averted her eyes and stared into the night. The dark wanderer, she whispered.

What about him? Robert asked her.

Please save me from him, Celia pleaded.

Robert felt a chill run up his spine. He straightened himself. He turned around to the wanderer staring at him, smiling knowingly, and showing his fangs. Rickard, sitting next to the wanderer, ate unaware of the man‘s sudden