Alcingeria

Chapter Five: Ignacio's Offer

Chapter Five Ignacio's Offer:

Tuesday June 22nd 1690

When I came back to consciousness, I felt sore and I could still feel the pain of the wounds I had gotten in the carriage crash; my chest was as painful as ever, and my forehead and arms ached. How long had it been since the crash? I hadn't yet opened my eyes. I slowly opened them, desiring to get a look at where I was. When they swam into focus, I saw that I was laying down in a bed and across the room sitting on a chair was Ignacio. He was still wearing the same cloak with the hood from when he rescued me. The upper half of his face was still hidden.

I could see that he had a lean build. How had he intimidated Queen Mycta's guards? This man wasn't what I would call intimidating, but there was definitely something about him that almost put me off. I tried to push that aside. It wasn't fair to judge the man who'd saved our lives so harshly.

I saw that he was staring at my bloodstained shirt. The questions I had thought of earlier returned to me. I slowly sat up from my reclined position, and Ignacio averted his eyes from me entirely.

"You're awake," he noted, turning his attention back to a book her had in his lap.

His voice still carried a faint hint of that unknown accent that I noticed before I blacked out. He rolled his "r" slightly and pronounced vowels in a weird way.

"Yes, thank you for rescuing my friends and I, Ignacio." I said with a little confusion, but with genuine gratitude. "Where are you from? I've never heard your accent before."

"I was from a nomadic tribe, once. I grew up with them, roaming the eastern deserts of Fel. English is not my first language, but it is a necessity."

"I'm from Fel too. Well, was. I grew up out west in Robeshorn."

"Good to meet someone from my home province out here, however different he may be. I have treated your injuries to the best of my abilities. You shall be well enough in a day or two."

I looked around the room. There wasn't much to see, it was a plain enough cabin. There was an orange tapestry with a flame insignia on it. I gathered it might have been a significant symbol in his tribe. It was large, six feet by six feet or so. I noticed that there were no windows in this room. The light in the room came from candles that were mounted on the walls. They provided adequate illumination.

A question came to my mind, one I'd had since he interfered.

"Why did you save us?"

Ignacio stared at me thoughtfully.

"Well, I don't know. I saw some people in need, and I helped them. Is that not what people do?"

"Well, I don't know of anyone who would help a few strangers in need."

"Well then," his tone taking a harsh turn. "Perhaps you shouldn't keep a gang of thieves as company."

I stared at him, bewildered.

"Yes, I know of you." He went on. "The Scorpions is what you call yourselves, correct?"

Worry pooled in my gut. This conversation was taking a bad turn. I didn't like this one bit.

"Well, yes. That's what we call ourselves." I said numbly, still surprised that he knew who we were.

How did he know? He couldn't have heard Macalister say that he wouldn't disappoint The Scorpions. Ignacio couldn't have heard that, he would have been too far away at the time.