The Reformation Wars: Countdown to Catastrophe

Chapter 8

Manfred let out a sigh as he stepped back into the huddle of trees where he and Nathan had battled their assassin foe. In a bag slung over his shoulder, he carried a bundle of the healing herb hesparia, and his fingers grasped an earthen jar. The vendor he'd bought from had kindly prepared an initial batch of chopped hesparia to make Nathan a poultice. Lastly, his other hand grasped the reins of their two horses.

He breathed in the fresh breeze sweeping in from somewhere southward and threaded through the trees to where he'd left his partner and their captive. Twigs and leaves crunched underneath his feet, and the horses' hooves thudded behind him. Occasionally, Manfred's white mare Fidelity snorted in complaint over being forced to walk through narrow passages between trees, but he knew that was only because she was particular about such things. Endurance walked behind her in complete silence.

Finally, Manfred reached the spot, and he raised an eyebrow at the sight of Nathan and Black Crow sitting shoulder to uninjured shoulder against the tree together, engrossed in some conversation both seemed to find quite pleasant. The fact Nathan offered such a wide grin to the one who had mangled his shoulder and killed so many of their fellow knights sparked mild irritation in Manfred's breast, but he could deal with that later. To announce his presence, he cleared his throat.

"I have the herbs." Manfred said, "And some ground up already."

Nathan smiled and rose to his feet. "Excellent. It's about time I stop feeling this thing."

With a grave nod, Manfred hooked the horses' reins over a low-hanging branch and opened one of Fidelity's saddlebags. He fished out a clean rag before turning to Nathan. The dark-skinned knight was undergoing the ordeal of peeling his tunic off, a process accompanied by winces and grunts aplenty. Manfred cast a hostile glance Black Crow's way when she dared look at Nathan's exposed torso for a moment.

Manfred flinched once he caught a glimpse of the wound itself completely uncovered. Though it wasn't as terrible as he'd imagined, it was hardly easy to look at either. A canyon had been cut through the muscle in his shoulder, exposing pinkish raw flesh that constantly oozed blood. Manfred hurried back to grab a second rag to clean the site up first.

Nathan took over the cleanup while Manfred sprinkled down some hesparia on the first rag. Then he rose and patted the chopped herbs down over the wound. That finished, all that was left was tying the rag tightly around.

Manfred locked eyes with Nathan as he gathered the fabric in his fingers to tie a knot. "You seem to like our knight-killer a little too much."

"Well," Nathan began after hissing in pain, "she's sorry about what she's done."

"Anybody who does what she did would be sorry to get caught."

"No, Manfred, you know exactly what I mean. She's making a turnaround!"

Manfred's eyes narrowed to small slits. "Can a leopard change her spots?"

"Of course not. But a woman can change her ways."

"What'd she tell you?"

"She's a survivor, Manfred." Nathan said, "Grew up in a terrible home in a terrible country. When she ran away to find a better life, nobody would give her a chance. Nobody but smokin' criminals! The things she did...yes, they're horrible, but she's only taken this path because she knows no other. Nobody in her life has bothered to teach her better."

Manfred tugged the poultice tight and brushed his hands off. "And just how well do you think that will hold up before Sir Holt? Or his majesty or his daughter, for that matter. Murder's murder, and the blood's on her hands."

"I'm not trying to say she did nothing, because obviously she did. And I wouldn't even disagree she deserves full strokes, even if that means losing her head. But where's mercy in that?"

"When did mercy become the question here?"

Nathan let out an exasperated breath behind Manfred, and his footsteps quickened to follow him to the horses. They stepped into earshot of Black Crow.

"As knights, we're on the front lines of Monterayne's pursuit of justice, right?" Nathan called out.

"That's true."

"Well then, it's our duty to deal with people as they currently are. Sure, consequences from past actions ripple into the present; I don't deny that. But approaching the matter as if people are stagnant and never change is wrong. What we have on our hands is a former assassin who's fully convinced of her guilt and accepts her fate but would love more than anything to have a second chance."

Manfred glanced at Black Crow with a clenched jaw before returning his attention to Nathan, who was wriggling back into his tunic. "If we're to do as you say, any criminal who claims remorse can weasel out of their punishment just by apologizing enough times."

"That's not what I'm saying!" Nathan snapped, "People can be read like books, Manfred; one only needs to know the language! Which I do!"

"Maybe you're right. But if so, I say in a case like this, words need to be backed up by actions. And what has she done to prove—"

"What can she do with her hands tied behind her—"

"I will prove my change of heart right now, if you will only end your bickering." Black Crow said, her tone sharp but eyes soft.

Manfred gave her a hard glance. "How will you do that?"

"I have some information you will find useful. After all, I was only one pawn in the game being played by one of Monterayne's most determined enemies."

Manfred and Nathan locked eyes for a second before returning to the former assassin. "Go on."

"Captain Andre Feliz of the Innutukian Empire has a plan to bring Monterayne to its knees, and I was sent to slay as many knights as possible as a sort of prelude. But the main part of the plan essentially involves acquiring allies from inside Monterayne to assist in toppling the nation."

"Who?"

Black Crow sat up straighter and stretched her neck with a grimace. "The Garuntan tribe on the border is one of the ally groups, as well as a rebellious number from the old knightly order who still carry a grudge about being supplanted. They'll strike the garrison near the Garuntan settlements to make Innutukian entry much easier. From there, the three groups will make their way to the capital."

Manfred drew in a deep breath and put a hand over his pounding heart. "When will this take place?"

"About this time two days from now, the garrison will be attacked."

Nathan groaned. "It'll take that long to get back to the capital if we leave now."

"Well, that's what we have to do, then. Let's move it. We have to inform Princess Kate immediately." Manfred spat as he dashed behind Black Crow to untie her ropes. "Are you fit to ride, Nathan?"

"Well...I guess I have no choice. I don't feel—"

"I can take the reins." Black Crow blurted out, "If you'll allow me, that is."

Manfred gazed intently at Nathan, eyes asking a silent question. Upon receiving a nod from the dark-skinned knight, he helped the former assassin to her feet.

"If you do anything out of line, it's no sweat off my back to deal with you...Black Crow." Manfred warned her.

"It's Kelly. And I understand." she replied, "Thank you for giving me a chance."

"It's nothing. Now let's hurry it up. I'm not about to let Innutuk's first true invasion of Monterayne be a successful one."