C A S C A

Chapter 2

13 years later:

The scorching sun blazes down on the busy bazaar as I try to lead Casca through the crowd of people and stands. She's gotten too old to be running from city to city with me, but I've gotten too attached to her to get a replacement horse. Heat from the sun is trapped between my body and my armor,, making me sweat a lot more than I expected.

"Hey! You! With the horse!"

I stop in my tracks and begrudgingly turn around to face the hostile old man calling for me. His face is contorted and twisted in irritation. My exact emotion. "What is it you old man?"

He gets angrier from my insult. "Your horse knocked down my vase with it's tail!" I follow his pointed finger to the ground where shards of blue glass litter the ground. "Pay for it!"

I snarl at him but nonetheless pull out my coin pouch from my satchel, "how much?"

He lays back, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well it ain't cheap! Five gold coins!"

I widen my eyes at the scheming old man and slam my open palm on his stand, "five gold coins? Who do you think you're fooling?"

He crosses his arms and sticks his nose into the air, "it is what it is. Now pay up."

I huff and empty my pouch of the five gold coins that I had, leaving me broke. I slam it on his stand and grab Casca's reins to leave but she doesn't budge. The old man chuckles as he rubs the coins between his fingers, "no need to be so angry. Don't they pay you knights so much of this you're able to bathe in it?"

"I'm no knight," I spit and he raises an eyebrow.

"Mercenary then?"

I don't answer and turn my attention to Casca, petting her mane gently. "What's wrong Casca?" She seemed disordered, as if something was bothering her. She shakes her head from underneath my touch and stomps her feet. She seems captured by something since her eyes don't give me her attention. I look in her direction and almost spot him immediately. A man, taller than anyone else in the bazaar, makes his way down the street. He's dressed in a ragged black cape that matches the color of his messy hair. He doesn't seem to notice us.

"You," I say to the old man who's still happily playing with the coins. He's still amazed he was able to con me so easily. "Where would I get money from around here?"

He raises an eyebrow, "it depends. Are you willing to risk your life?"

I nod, "yes."

He slips the coins in his pocket and points behind him, "there's a battle between mercenaries and knights not too far from here. You fight to the death and whoever lives takes all."

"Will they allow a girl to fight?"

He's confused, "a girl? Well, I suppose. Why are you asking? Aren't you a boy?"

I nod and begin to move, getting all the information that I needed. Casca follows me now that the ominous man is gone. I don't need to go far before I'm able to smell the familiar metallic scent that tells me I've reached my destination. Men fully dressed in armor are encircled by cheering commoners. I tie Casca's reins to a post and grab my helmet from her saddle. With a few long strides I push my way between the crowd and watch as the two men exchange blows between their swords.

I snort at the battle before my eyes. A man the size of horse battling a thin flimsy man who looks like it's his first time wielding a sword. It's unfair, but I suppose that isn't a problem. There aren't any rules here.

"Bonzo. Hurry up and finish him!" A bearded man commands the giant man in battle. Bonzo grunts in understandment and pulls his arm back, preparing to deliver the final blow. I glance towards the bearded man and notice his high-end armor. He's a knight. Probably a commander too.