3-Gambling

(If you missed episode 1, you can read it here. If you missed episode 2 you can read it here.)

3-Gambling

Lavinia looked at me, terrified.

I parted the velvet curtains to see what was happening. We were outnumbered, and they had felled a tree across the road. I reached for my daggers. Our footmen were hardly the legendary Odre Soldat of Magadar and were not doing well against the numbers.

“Stay here.”

Lavinia shrieked a protest as I leapt out of the carriage. We’d never win the fight. I stood straight, puffed out my chest and remembered my childhood place in the royal courts: “Cease!”

The nearest skirmishes petered out like sparks in mud.

“What is the meaning of this?”  I demanded, eyes blazing. I pointed my finger around the embattled road as if I could shoot each disobedient soul straight to hell with lighting from my hand. The battle did cease and all eyes turned to me. My footmen looked as confused as the brigands. I strode to the nearest knave and grabbed him by his collar. “Who are you and why have you detained my carriage?”

“Liam,” grunted the dirty hulk.

“And why, Liam, have you detained my carriage?” I thrust my chin up at his grubby face.

“Who are you?” a deep voice from across the road began making demands of its own.

I turned around. One of the outlaws strode toward me. He wore a red kerchief but otherwise looked just the like his thugs. “I believe that I am the one asking the questions, sir,” I spat.

Deep Voice stepped close to me, undeterred by my brazen words. “Cart’s daughter?”

“I am more trouble that you were looking for when you stopped my carriage,” I smiled.

“Landon Cart killed my brother.”

“Who was doubtless a paragon of virtue like yourself.”

“I want Cart to pay.”

“Well hadn’t you better find his brother and kill him, then?”

Deep Voice didn’t appreciate my point. Clearly negotiations and repartee had not been on the docket for the raid.

I took a step closer to the stinky brigand. “I don’t care who Landon Cart is to you, but you will remove this tree and release my party at once.”

For a half second I almost thought he’d do it out of pure surprise. I think for a half second he thought he might do it too. Deep Voice recovered quickly, though, and leered at me. “Do you think I would only take the daughter of Landan Cart?”

“Do you think that you could take me?” I flexed my fingers; my daggers were loose and ready. “You have no idea what I am.”

Copyright 2012: The Legend of Zare Caspian is an original story by Abigail Cossette for The Raven's Landing.  If you enjoy the story, please share and link back! Please don't copy it. Contact me if you would like to publish a portion of it in any way, shape or form.