The Band of Rotten: A Sanders Sides Story

The Nobleman on the Run

France, 1860

He woke up with a sore hip. His auburn hair was a mess and his eyes were sticky. He had expected to see the sailor lying down across from him, but Janus was nowhere to be seen. He sat up, leaning against the wooden wall of the shed behind him. Thin rays of light filtered through the glassless windows, giving the small room a warm ambiance. His hand found something wet; a mold from the rotten wood. He cringed in disgust, bolting up immediately. He stumbled on his own feet, falling backward. He braced for impact only to be caught by a hand against his back, stopping his fall.

"When did you get here?" Remy righted himself, stepping away in a haste from the sailor. "I thought you left."

"I haven't gotten my ship back. I'm still asking that favor from you, so no, I'm not leaving." Janus gave him an easy smirk, turning away to look out the window. "I never left this pathetic shed in the first place."

"You were watching me sleep?"

"Hey, it's not my fault you look pretty in your sleep."

"You are—you're absolutely disgusting." Remy refused to acknowledge the rising heat on his face. 'It must be from the sun,' he thought to himself. He cleared his throat, composing himself. "So, you told me last night that you knew me."

"And I do."

"How?"

"Let me just show you."

They stepped outside under the sun. Janus led them further down, closer to the shore. Remy followed with hesitance. If this sailor knew him, there would be a chance that other people in this tiny town to know him, too. But that's impossible. He had been very careful when he left home, not to leave any clue as to where he went. He tried not to think of it, focusing on the sailor walking in front of him instead. He was tall—half a head taller than Remy himself—and he walked with a confident gait. Half his head was wrapped in a dirty white cloth, his messy hair sticking out from under it. From what he could see, Remy didn't think this Janus fellow to look like a sailor at all. Of course, he wouldn't be sure only seeing from the loose tunic Janus wore that was tucked into the waistband of his dark yellow, almost brown pants.

They stopped in the middle of the town where a great statue of a swordfish stood, posing majestically as if breaching out of water. Janus looked around, before spotting what he was looking for.

"Wait here," Janus said briefly, walking over to a tree where a piece of paper was nailed onto its trunk. He ripped the paper and walked back to where Remy stood. "Here it is. Missing person: Remedio Arlotti. Age twenty-one. Son of Enrico Arlotti, the fine nobleman of Northern Italy."

As Janus read the flyer, Remy creased his forehead with worry. He clenched his hands tightly, trying not to burst into tears. He steeled himself, taking a deep breath before taking the flyer from Janus' hand. He read the words carefully over and over, the meaning not getting through his head. He saw the inscription at the bottom of the page. Paying reward, it read. He refused to read the number before crumpling the paper in his hands and throwing it to the ground harshly.

"Hm... can't imagine why you're upset," Janus said sarcastically, eyes fixed on the visible waters in the distance.

"We have to go, now."

Remy marched to the beach, not caring if Janus followed or not. He had to go now before they find him. He flinched when he felt a strong grip on his wrist, yanking it back as though the touch had burned him.

"Do not touch me."

"Alright," Janus said, taking a step back and raising his arms in mock defeat. "I understand you are upset. I do not know why you are here, and I do not wish to know. Now, I am as excited as you are on getting my ship back, but we do not have a plan."