Nation Assassination

Chapter Thirty Seven

"Alright, since Jean is hurt the most and I need to stay awake, he'll ride and ill walk with Elliot." I said.

Max took well to the transfer, and was up and walking less than an hour after being sewn together.

"You certainly have a remarkable horse, Mercy." Elliot said, eyeing Max's leg as he walked, "The flesh hasn't even grown together yet, but he's still putting weight on it and it seems to be supporting him just fine. "

"You certainly seem to know a lot about horses and poison." I smiled.

"The Marauders... they use to practice Ravener poison on horses. I'd have to nurse them back to health to the best of my abilities, and if one died then I was burned. It was a good motivation to get good at it." He said.

I nodded. I had caught a glimpse of some burns on his back when he was asleep.

"When we get to Reand, the next village, plan on getting some new clothes. Jean too. All of us, really." I told them.

"We're broke, Mercy. No money. We cant afford anything." Jean yawned.

"ah ah ah," I smirked, "They don't call me the bandit for nothing"

I held out my hand, several gold coins shining in the moon's light.

"How-" Elliot started to ask.

"The saddlebags." I answered.

"You little thief." Jean smiled, before lolling off to sleep.

"You should have seen him when he found out you were gone." Elliot laughed, "Gone off into a rage, mounting a wild horse, bareback, with his organs falling out of his stomach. It was disgusting... but outstanding... He really cares for you."

"Before we came here... he told me he loved me. Before we left the NA." I smiled.

"He talks in his sleep you know. We can ask him questions, and he answered honestly. It might be a fun game to play to stay awake." I said after a few seconds of silence. 

Elliot chuckled and we waited until Jean was sound asleep and snoring before we snickered quietly like schoolgirls as we asked him one question after another.

"Have you had your first kiss?"

"Ya..."

Elliot laughed, "I got a good one.....Jean, are you gay?"

I laughed at him with a surprised face, then waited quietly for Jean's answer.

"Bi.... I think..." He said in his sleep.

I gasped and looked at Elliot, who was laughing quietly. "I knew it!"

"Hmm.... Okay...." I smiled, "Jean, have you ever had sex?"

Now it was Elliot's turn to turn to me with a shocked expression.

"Yap..." Jean mumbled, before opening his eyes.

"Wait a minute..." He grumbled, narrowing his eyes at us, "did I answer that?"

Elliot and I looked at each other and started laughing.

"Brats...." Jean mumbled, before putting his head back down on Max and falling asleep.

I laughed again before realizing how tired my legs were. I've walked quite a ways before, but never this far.

"Reand isn't too far from here..." Elliot said, sensing my exhaustion.

I nodded, before yawning and putting my hand to the part of my head where the Ravener poison had eaten. It wasn't too bad, it hadn't even gotten down to the skull yet. I was missing some hair, but I shrugged it off. It was in a spot that made it look somewhat natural... And besides, there are lots of villagers that have been infected with Ravener or at least seen it.

"Alright El, we have about seventy dollars. Reand uses the paper money, but they accept coins too. One gold coin equals about ten dollars. We need to make a list on what needs to be bought."

It took us almost the rest of the way to Reand to get a mental list put together that would cost under seven coin... Reand is known to be an expensive place.

"Antiseptic
Clothes
Weapons
Bandages
Proper treatment for Max" I told Jean once he woke up, just on the outskirts of town.

I handed Elliot a coin, Jean a coin and kept one for myself for clothes. The other four coin were to be spent on weapons and first aid.

We all went separate ways to purchase clothes, planning to meet back where we left Max at the veterinarian, who told us she would help Max for free because the same happened to her own horse.

"Hello, my lovely miss, would you like a nice blue dress to match your eyes?"  A merchant called.

I smiled and waved politely, but decided not to stop. I had specific style in mind. It was time to get back my Bandit lifestyle.

I walked straight to a merchant who originally sold me my clothes I wore as Bandit.

"Arty." I said, placing my hands firmly on the table.

Arthur turned around quickly, his glasses almost falling from his nose.

"Well if it isnt The Bandit herself." He grinned, "Interesting clothing choice, I must say. Never thought I'd have the pleasure to see you in such attire." He chuckled, referring to the torn clothes I used to get the Guards attention so we could escape.

"Shut up." I glared, "I need a replica of what you sold to me about three years ago in a  larger size. I also need a long distance weapon I can accurately use with one eye."

I moved my hair out of my face so he saw the scabbed over eye, courtesy of a stupid sword. At least it wasn't dipped in Ravener poison.

"Oh..." Was all he said, before walking into the back of his shop.

A moment later, he returned with a tailor's measuring thing and sized me.

"I can have this specially made in less than an hour, free of charge." He said quickly after.

"No charge?" I asked.

"Listen... there are rumors, everywhere, that you've escaped two Raider camps and stole their horses with some assassin from the NA. They say your going back to Ameron for the Key." He said in a hushed tone.

"Word gets around fast." I shrugged and put the coin on the table. "Take it as a tip."

True to his word, I didn't wait long for him to whip up what I needed. He also handed me a pair of guns. They looked like pistols, but bigger and heavier. "What are these?"

"The finest guns in Reand." He answered, also handing me the belt to hold them, along with a black coat with a white wolf on the back, a pair of dark slacks, and my old mask.

"How'd you get this?" I asked him.

It was my original mask. A black bandanna scarf with a wolf's growling jaws printed into in white.

"It was sold to me. After you'd disappeared from Ameron, your old contracter sold it to me for ten coin, or a hundred dollars. I used it to make that." He said, gesturing to the clothes in my hand.

"Ive been expecting you." He grinned.