The Reformation Wars: The Unmarked Swordsman

Chapter 10

"So, you're absolutely certain our attacker last night was a Raskan warrior?" 

Tom met Alice's gaze as he lowered a bowl of steaming porridge into her hands. "I'm certain." he said, "The technique was unmistakeable." 

"But I thought practitioners of your martial arts wear colored shoulder patches to identify their discipline." 

"They do. But clearly, this person is an exception. Some sort of unmarked swordsman, an outlaw." 

Alice nodded as she scooped up a spoonful. After blowing on it, she continued her inquiry. "The Raskan is a novel style, is it not?" 

"It is indeed. Peter Raska himself is alive and well." 

"Are there many teachers?" 

Tom shook his head vigorously, wincing at the ache the motion prompted in his skull. A whole night's solitary vigil had utterly wrecked his wellbeing, but yet still there were no others to take his place. He rubbed a finger across his puffy bottom eyelids. 

"No," he finally answered, "as Raska himself remains perfectly capable of teaching, there are none more qualified than he to do so." 

"Surely he would not have instructed a man, only for him to fall away from Monterayne's favor and become an outlaw?" 

"I find that unlikely." Tom said, grunting as his spine seized up on him. Pain shot up and down the bony lifeline. "Their community is small and tight-knit. If any such thing had occurred, I surely would have heard some talk about it." 

"I see. But how then did your adversary come about?" 

"I truly don't know. One who wears both a cowl and a mask clearly has something to hide, so my best guess is a double-crossing knight or a secret apprentice. All else is but convoluted speculation." 

Alice cleared her throat. "Well, either way, one thing I know for certain. I should not like to meet him or her again." 

"Me either." 

"Tom, is there a reason you now refuse to spare me even a moment's glance?" 

The young knight kept his darting eyes trained on the edges of grove of trees they camped in. His attention perched on many branches, but never rested on the blonde senator. 

"And you now refuse even to incline your ear toward me? Tom, have you deafened as well?" 

Tom sighed and finally met Alice's stare. "A peculiar uneasiness has seized me ever since our departure last night. I feel eyes always upon us. Suddenly, my scoffing directed at my grandfather and your head of security in days past appear all the more foolish to me. I understand exactly what they felt." 

"Well, I appreciate your vigilance, but I fear you are straining yourself too far now. Your current exertion is unsustainable." 

Tom shook his head, gaze focused on the grassy horizon, which appeared to undulate like ocean waves. "I will be the determiner of my own exertions, my lady. If you will, please finish your breakfast so we can resume our travels." 

**** 

Frequent breaks attended the day's travel, as Tom wished not to wear Exuberance out in carrying two riders for too long. Shortly after lunch, they came across a small agricultural town with animals far outnumbering their human counterparts. 

A grizzled farmer living near the edge of the town sold them a jet black mare named Forbearance for only a nominal price. He informed Tom that she was a little past her prime, but her decreased vigor rendered her wiser and more careful. The knight found those traits perfect for Alice's riding needs, as he could likely have Exuberance lead the other horse along without much necessary input on the inexperienced senator's part. 

Bone-chilling darkness descended over the land as the diminished party galloped up to the border town they had lodged at only two nights prior. Closed gates stared back at them, accompanied by cold glances from pacing watchmen who made no move to make themselves helpful. 

Tom cast his eyes back at Alice on her black mare. "Well, this certainly looks promising." he remarked ruefully. 

"Promising only of another night outdoors. In the cold, dangerous, and unwalled world." Alice grumbled. 

Tom grimaced. "I should not like to experience another of those. We're getting in there, my lady, I assure you." 

With that, he dismounted and strolled up to the nearest watchman. The armored protector of the town scowled upon meeting Tom's gaze, but said nothing. 

"Good evening, sir." Tom said amiably, "Lovely night, isn't it?" 

"Sure. But clearly that's not what you came to talk about." 

"Of course not. I would very much like you to lower the gate, please." 

The guard crossed his arms. "And why should I do that, seeing that I've refused to do so for the dozens of Innutukian punks preceding you?" 

Tom's eyebrow twitched, caught between intrigue in the emotional realm and a mental determination to appear unfazed. "Why, I suppose the mere fact I escort Senator Alice Delquez of the Alcontean Republic home currently should soften your resolve somewhat. After all, the lady is cold and worn, ailments the outdoors will not readily ease." 

"If she is a senator, where's her entourage? Surely one raggedy fool's not all she requires for a journey." 

"Precisely. We lost most of them in an attack, making our current eagerness to lodge in the safety of a walled town all the greater. Please, sir, for the lady's sake I implore you." 

Grumbling a series of inaudible words, the watchman limped a few paces off to the nearest gate. He cranked it open and allowed the two horses and their riders to pass through. The guard wished them a restful night, but the words' meaning and delivery contrasted sharply. 

Alice cleared her throat behind Tom. "I suppose at the inn, familiarity and comfort may coincide." 

Tom glanced back at her for a moment. "I wasn't planning on going back there." 

"Why not?" 

"I don't get a good feeling about it. I still feel as if we're being watched, and possibly followed too. The inn is the most obvious place we would go, and I should not like to be caught there without any reliable backup." 

Alice coughed. "But all the same, isn't the inn likely the safest place to lodge in the town? I fear you intend to discard security in favor of decreased discoverability." 

Tom bit his lip, mulling over their options. "In my view, the most thorough security would indeed consist of unpredictable concealment, coupled with a watchful eye. To me, the inn only satisfies one of those criteria." 

"To whom then do you propose we go?" 

"We could seek out a hospitable townsman with a spare room, I suppose." 

"Surely you jest." Alice scoffed, "You distrust a man whose entire occupation is providing lodging for travelers, yet will willingly resort to that? How are you to know if hospitality is only used as bait?" 

Tom's lungful of air escaped his nose in a long sigh. "You have a point. We will go to the inn. But I must stand vigil in your very chambers, then, for that is the only plausible way for me to watch both entryways effectively. That is, assuming the room we are given has been laid out the same way." 

Now Alice took a turn in sighing. "So be it."

**** 

A/N: I still find it crazy that it's come down to just Tom and Alice! Definitely a lot more pressure, to be sure. 

You know what else is a lot of pressure? You not voting and commenting, so get on that! 😂 

(I have too much fun writing these sometimes.) 

Anyway, I'm off to post the next chapter, so sit tight, or if you're done reading for today, have a great one!