An Excuse for Blood
© Sat-Iah
The forest was dark but it would not have been much better on the path, there was no moon that night, but that hardly mattered to the lone figure making its way through the trees. The figure was that of a young girl; she was well practiced at moving swiftly and silently whatever the conditions. She stopped for a moment looking up through the tree branches at the stars to be sure of her direction; it was a cloudless night and the stars shown brightly above the trees. As she looked up she swore under her breath, she had gotten turned around, not by much, but still; perhaps it would have been better to stick to the path.
She turned forty-five degrees left and continued to walk. She almost laughed at herself as she considered going back to the path. She as a rule never used the paths through forests, using the path was dangerous especially at night, all the people that lived in the forest knew where the path was, and most people that lived in the forest were thieves. Travailing on the path at night was asking for a knife in the back, not that, that would not kill her but it would still hurt. She also had no wish to give up what little she had. It never made sense to travail with too much; she had a water skin, her sword, her sickle and money; not as many gold or silver pieces as she would have liked, although she had plenty of copper. She also had a large pack strapped to her back under her cloak containing wild mushrooms, dried berries, and several woven blankets made by herself, all of which she would she would sell cheaper then could be bought at any market, but she always managed to turn a profit. She began to think about stopping for the night, but promptly dismissed the thought, if she kept going she would be at the town before dawn then she could be ready to sell her wears. After that she would find an inn, and spend one night in comfort before looking for a job the next day. That was all if the Huns did not get there before her.
It was hard enough finding work now a days as a woman without the Huns destroying everything in their path. She smiled if the Huns were just ahead of her that meant that they were almost to the Rhine, the river that marked one of the natural boarders of the Roman Empire. She did not know who she hated more the Huns for their unprovoked slaughter of the Germanic tribes, or the Romans, who had attacked her people in the Highlands, she had died in an unexpected attack. That had been before the Emperor Hadrian built his wall across her island. She hoped that the Huns would put the waning Roman Empire out of its misery while destroying themselves in the process. All that was wishful thinking though, not likely to happen. She mentally crossed her fingers in hopes that the town would still be there.
Dawn was still a number of hours away when she reached the edge of the forest; she looked across the fields to see a still smoldering town. She swore under her breath and cursed the Huns, after that short pause she headed toward the town; the least she could do was some scavenging. As she drew closer she accessed that the attack had come last night and the survivors had buried who they could and moved on during the day. After a few more steps and she felt the buzzing sensation that told her there was an immortal near by, she pushed off her cloak and back-bag then drew her sword.
She walked till she was sure the other immortal was in earshot and shouted, "I am Lund of the Celts, show yourself". No answer came, she had used her native language Gaelic, and it was a little known language even amongst immortals so she shouted again in German and in Latin, but still no answer came. She walked on wondering why she could not see the other immortal; her eyes were as sharp as any owls at night. The feeling began to fade, so she assumed the other immortal had gone not wishing to fight. If who ever it was did not want to fight all they had to do was say so, she was not after anybodys head unless they were after hers, then again not all immortals were that friendly, she understood slipping away quietly.
She sheathed her sword and turned to go back for her cloak and bag, but after a few steps she felt the buzzing again. Once more she drew her sword, this time she closed her eyes and concentrated on the sensation, she followed it to where it was the strongest. She opened her eyes, she saw no one. After looking around franticly Lund sighed and sat down trying to figure this out, she felt another immortal and should be almost sitting on top of him but she could see no one. When she sat down she realized the ground she was sitting on was not grass but fresh dirt She looked around at the ground and saw low mounds of fresh dirt like the one she was sitting on. She suddenly realized why the other immortal had not answered her call; it was because he had been buried! She jumped up pushed her sword into its sheath and began digging with her hands. She remembered the terror of being buried, she had been buried when the survivors of the attack on the village thought she was dead, her teacher dug her up severaldays later by then she had suffocated several times. After that she had become claustrophobic, her teacher had gone through hell trying to help her break that fear. However, she still got nervous in small dark spaces underground, like caves.
When the full circle of the sun could be seen over the hills on the horizon Lund stood up and looked down at her work, it did not seem to be getting done very fast. This would probably take all day, she considered leaving who ever was down there to their own devices, but that was cruel. If he were lucky he would be out in a week, if he were not so lucky some other immortal looking for an easy head would dig him up. Whoever was down there could not begrudge her breakfast; he could wait fifteen minutes. She returned to her bag and cloak, then brought them back to the gravesite. She ate some dried berries and an apple. Looking over at the grave Lund felt guilty. "Don't worry;" she said to the grave, "I'll save you some". After eating she fished in her bag for her water skin, Lund took a few drinks and went back to digging.
She spent the entire day digging with no stops after breakfast. Noon came and went. Her progress had increased significantly after she had pulled a piece of bark off a near-by tree and used it for a shovel; still it would be at least sundown before she was done. When the sun could no longer be seen on the western horizon and the last bits of light painted the sky she came across a set of toes. She tossed the bark aside and began to dig with her hands once more.
Once the dirt was cleared away it revealed the form of a young man, somewhere between mid-twenties to mid-thirties, she had never been good at accessing age by looks. He was tall, about a head taller then Lund herself, he was also thin but not lanky. He had a nose that was probably the butt of many jokes, but it suited him well. He was wearing a long white tunic that suggested he was sleeping when the attack came.
His body was in an unusual position, his left hand was cupped over his mouth and is right hand was clenched tightly around the hilt of his sword; he was not set in the grave like that; he had woken up. There were two mortal wounds; a slash wound not much above the waist and a stab wound to the heart, they had been filled with dirt so they had not yet healed. Lund pried the sword from his hand and stuck it in her belt; she needed to get him to the river, so she could wash out his mouth and wounds. Lund was strong but he was heavy. When she finally got him to the river she dragged him in after her. Standing waist deep in water Lund cleaned out his wounds using a piece of his tunic. After she had finished Lund dragged the still 'dead' immortal under a tree near the river and left him so she could scavenge the town.
There was not much left save the chard remains of the buildings. Small fires still burned in some places. She found the odd silver piece on the ground, a basket, and several bottles of wine in what looked like it may have been an inn. Lund also found some skins, chard wool blankets, some undamaged yarn, and a tunic that looked like it would fit the immortal she had dug up. She also found burnt pieces of various people, which was not too pleasant. She left quickly after tripping over someones burnt leg. When Lund returned to the tree her fellow immortal was still not breathing, some of the smaller wounds were almost healed, but the bigger wounds were taking their time. Lund set one of the blankets on the ground and manipulated the immortal on to it, then she tossed another blanket on to of him and set about making a fire.
It was close to midnight when the immortal woke; Lund looked up from sharpening her sword when she heard the sharp first breath of her companion. He sat up like a shot and looked around franticly. "You should take it easy," he stopped looking around and stared at Lund across the fire "you've been stabbed, slashed, buried, suffocated, and I almost drown you in the river when I was trying to get the dirt out of your wounds so they would close."
"Umm Hi," he looked unsure of what to say "um. er.. Thanks for digging me up."
"No one deserves to be buried like that, you might want to change," Lund stood up and passed him the tunic she found among the ruins of the town, "here; it should fit".
"Thanks" he said as he took the tunic. He disappeared into the darkness for a short while then returned wearing the new tunic; he had thrown away the one he had been wearing. "Do you have my sword?"
"Yeah, here" Lund bent down and picked up the immortal's sword, then passed the hilt to him.
"Thanks" he said again.
"Have some berries, and the water skin is beside the bag there" Lund handed him a cloth with dried berries in it, then nodded towards the water skin.
"Thanks" he reached for the water skin and started to eat the berries.
"You say that a lot."
"Say what? Oh, thanks, well I guess I do. Who are you any ways?"
"I am Lund of the Celts."
"You speak Latin?"
"What's wrong with that? Just because I'm a Celt doesn't mean I can't speak Latin."
"It's just unusual, that's all."
"I speak German, Gaelic, and Greek, if you prefer."
"No, Latin's fine."
"Now it's my turn, who are you?"
"My name is Methos."
"Oh, I've heard of you, rumor says you're nearly three thousand five hundred years old."
"That's about right, how old are you?"
"I'm not too sure, I never kept track of time very well, some where around four hundred, probably younger then that, all I'm really sure of is I was killed before Hadrian's Wall was built."
"Do you remember how you died?"
"Yeah, do you?"
"Me, no. It was too long ago. Come on tell me how you died."
"Well, me and my father lived in the southern Highlands. My father was a merchant; I travailed with him everywhere after my mother died. Any ways, we had gone south to a town near the boarder to do some trading, on our second day there the town was attacked by Romans."
"So, you got too close to the battle, and some Roman stuck a sword through you for the hell of it."
"Something like that, but I wasn't trying to avoid the battle, I fought in it. I'm not a weak Roman woman; I'm a Celt. Even merchants' daughters can fight. I killed nine maybe ten Romans, before I was knifed in the back."
"Sorry, there are too few independent women in the world now-a-days."
"That's okay, but I'm really sensitive when it comes to things like that. Look, it's late, I've not slept for two days now, and I spent half of them travailing and the other half digging you up. I'd like to get some sleep, if I can trust you not to take my head. Then maybe we can travail together for a bit, or at least till you can get some new clothes."
"Yeah, I think Id like that." With that Methos settled down in the skins Lund had provided, Lund did the same in her pile. "Good night" Methos said as he closed his eyes.
"Good night, Methos" and with that they both fell asleep.
Methos woke in the morning to find Lund still asleep; he thought about waking her but decided to surprise her with breakfast. He built up the fire then taking his sword and one of the semi-burnt blankets he set off in search of breakfast. There did not seem to be much of anything around but rabbit, 'that settles it' he thought 'rabbit it is'. The rabbits gave him quite a chase, but he managed to catch three, not much of a breakfast, but he was not going to chase any more rabbits, he was thin enough as is.
As Methos began to cook the rabbit, he looked across the fire at Lund and realized this was his first good look at her. Last night it was too dark to see properly even with the fire, and this morning he had rushed off too fast. She definitely looked Celtic, she had long red-gold hair, that fell about a hands length below her shoulders, she was about average hight, a head shorter then himself. She looked innocent, and sweet as she slept, she had probably taken more then one head due to being underestimated by her opponents, coupled with sweet and innocent she was also a woman and a child. Her strength was well hidden, but he had heard it in her voice last night, she may not look so odd holding a sword after all. As he watched her she began to stir, her eyes opened. "Good morning" listening to his own words he was surprised to hear how cheerful they sounded.
"Good morning" Lund said with a smile as she pulled herself into a sitting position.
"I took the liberty of making breakfast, I hope you don't mind rabbit."
"Anything is better then dried berries, boiled mushrooms, and apples."
"You dont hunt?"
"Yes, I hunt just haven't had the chance to lately. Berries, apples and mushrooms don't run away when you get to close."
"True, very true" he laughed. "I think the rabbit is done." Methos served Lund a piece of rabbit on the end of his sword, she produced two dirks hidden inside either sleeve of her dress, she stabbed the meat passed to her with one and handed the other to Methos.
"These will be easier to eat with then a sword."
"They definitely are" Methos stabbed at a piece of meat near the fire.
"So are we still travailing together?"
"Yeah, why not, it's not often you meet another immortal who doesn't want your head, and the road can get lonely when you have no one to talk to."
"I know, the game never made sense to me, I mean you go around and kill the only family your ever likely to have."
"It never made sense to me either, I still haven't figured it out."
"I don't think we're ever supposed to figure it out. Let's change the subject."
"Sure, what do you want to talk about?"
"How about which direction we want to go, let's see, Rome is south, so are the Huns, the ocean and Britannia are west, to the north is Norse territory, to the east are the northern Alps and beyond them is China."
"Have you been to China?"
"No, not yet, I'd like to see it though, my teacher was from China."
"Well, that settles it we go east."
After they had finished eating they packed up, leaving behind most of the skins, as they were too heavy to carry. Methos put out the fire and Lund filled her water skin. Then they turned to the sun and began to walk. They went along way in silence, just enjoying the sound of some one elses foot steps beside them. It was Methos who broke the silence "who's your teacher?"
"My teacher was Chin Lee."
"Was?"
"He was killed, five years after I met him, he dug me up after my first death."
"You were buried when you first died, that would have been scary."
"It was horrifying, I thought the Romans had buried me alive, I clued in after I died several times though."
"I don't think I could have handled some thing like that, how long were you buried before Chin Lee dug you up."
"Almost two weeks."
"Two weeks, wow, you must have been very close to Chin Lee for that."
"I was."
"If you don't mind talking about it who killed him and why?"
"He was killed by an immortal that called himself Kronos."
"Kronos!!"
"Yeah, do you know him?"
"I've heard of him, he is supposed to be the best swordsman in the world."
"Yeah, I had heard that too. Any ways, we were in southern England, nice little town it was fairly late so we stopped at an inn, but there was an immortal there, Kronos, I wanted to go to another inn, but as Chin Lee pointed out there were no other inns. So, we went in asked for rooms and dinner. We put our bags in our rooms and went back down for dinner. After dinner Chin Lee started to drink, if he had one fault that was it, Kronos was quite drunk by now and was telling stories to no one in particular so I went over to listen, he was more interesting then Chin Lee. He liked telling stories about the Four Horsemen, I assume he was one of them the way he was telling the stories. He eventually started to talk about a brother, even drunk he was careful not to give any names but his own, it sounded like he was very fond of his brother. Chin Lee wanting attention started making fun of Kronos' brother. I can't remember exactly what he said, but Chin Lee got Kronos so wound up that he challenged Chin Lee. They walked out to an alley and fought. Kronos won."
"That's it." Methos said after a long silence.
"Then Kronos helped me bury him."
"You didn't fight Kronos, or challenge him?"
"No, why should we fight? They were both drunk, and Chin Lee provoked Kronos."
"So, you weren't angry with Kronos?"
"I was a little, I was more angry at Chin Lee for drinking that night. Kronos is forgiven."
"You are something else. I don't know anyone that wouldn't want revenge."
"I like to think of my self as above revenge. Why the interest in Kronos, any way?"
"This, is going to knock you off you feet, I'm Kronos' Brother."
"Really. Then it is a small world. It sounded like you two had a lot of adventures together, I think it's your turn to tell me something about yourself."
"Okay, let me see, how about the time we were in the Olympics in Greece."
"Sounds good."
Methos and Lund spent the remainder of the day telling stories about themselves. Methos had the better stories, probably because he had more of them, but he was interested in Lund's stories.
Methos and Lund had been travailing together for two weeks when they came across a small town in the Alps. Lund's blankets were selling very well and even with constant travailing they had quit a lot of money. After their fifth day there they decided to stay a couple of years. So, they pooled their money and bought a large four-story house near the town-square. Methos was going to run an inn, and Lund was going to continue to make blankets and sell them on the market. They set aside the top floor for themselves, it had four rooms, two they used as bedrooms, one was a kitchen, and the fourth was Lund's blanket room where she would store wool and make her blankets. Methos had settled on the name Maximilian, while Lund picked Nathalie for her alias. It did not take long for the business to start making money, in only four months it had become the most popular inn in town. Lund stopped selling her blankets after six months of business, so she could help in the bar. After a lot of arguing a name was settled on for the inn; The White Stag.
For four years 'The White Stage' ran smoothly, no other immortals had even passed through the town, it was Sunday night and the last of the customers had left the bar, and the guests had gone up to their rooms. It was still early the light had only just faded from the sky, Methos had gone up to bed early, he was tired and had a head ache, and Lund was cleaning up the tavern. She suddenly felt the buzzing sensation that told her an immortal was near by. Setting a tray of glasses down on the nearest table, Lund rushed behind the bar and picked up her sword. After a few silent moments, which seemed to be centuries long, a man walked into the tavern, he was dark, tall and thin, all the shadows in the room seemed to gather around him. As he came closer Lund could see his ice blue eyes, she recognized him, he was Kronos. He walked to the bar and seemed to take no notice of the sword Lund held, he looked down at her and said: "Put that thing away and get me an ale."
"An ale" she repeated as she stuck her sword in her belt. She then poured ale from the keg into a large wooden mug, which she placed on the bar in front of him.
"Do you have any rooms free?"
"We have three empty rooms," Lund said as she went to fetch the tray she had left on the table, "all on the third floor."
"I'll take one"
"You can have room, three-oh-three, three-oh-four, or three-oh-five." Lund returned with the glasses behind the bar and began to wash them.
"I'll take room three-oh-three."
"Fine," Lund produced a book, quill, and bottle of ink from under the bar "who shall I mark you down as?"
"Kronos, will do. Say do I know you?"
"Yes, about three hundred years ago you killed my teacher, Chin Lee, for insulating your brother."
"Oh, I helped you bury him."
"That's right, I'm surprised you remembered, you were quite drunk at the time."
"I was, what have you got for dinner?"
"Chicken and potatoes."
"Sounds good, do you run this place alone?"
"No, your brother and I run it together."
"Methos is here!"
"Yeah, he was tired so he turned in early, you want me to wake him?"
"No, I'll see him in the morning. What's your name any way?"
"Lund, but here I'm Nathalie, just Nat is fine, and Methos is Maximilian, he goes by Max."
"In that case Nat, would you tell me where my room is so I can settle before you bring my dinner up."
"You go all the way up the stairs, your room is the second on the left."
The next morning Lund was up early as usual, she was making breakfast for Methos, Kronos and herself. Kronos was slicing a loaf of bread with his sword and Lund was just beginning to boil the eggs when Methos came in to the kitchen. Methos said nothing but marched strait across the room to Kronos, grabbed him by the front of his shirt and heaved him up against the wall. "So, your what this is about!"
"What's what about?" Lund asked, she did not move away from the fire; what ever was going on it was not worth ruining the eggs.
"What is going on Kronos?" Methos completely ignored Lund.
"This is a real nice way to welcome your brother, would you put me down?"
"No, not till you tell me what's going on. Someone was here last night they left a dagger in my chest and a note that said 'if you harbor him you face the consequences'. Someone knew I was immortal, what's going on Kronos?"
"Okay, okay, someone's after me an immortal, but he doesn't play by the rules, he sends mortals after me, they're supposed to kill me and bring my body to him."
"Who is it and why are they after you?" Methos lowered Kronos on to the floor but was still pressing him against the wall.
"The guy's name is Alexander, he was a student of Chin Lee, he's avenging his teacher. That's the only reason I recognized Lund."
"You don't know any thing about this do you?" Methos had let Kronos go and was staring across the room at Lund.
"Look, I told you when we first met, before you told me Kronos was your brother, it didn't matter they were both drunk there's not point in any one else losing their head over this."
"Do you know this Alexander guy?"
"Alex, yeah, we met, Chin Lee introduced us, I never really liked him, he's got a peg lose or something, he's a bit of a fruit cake. The eggs are done. So would you both sit down, and shut up for twenty minutes so we can have a nice peaceful breakfast." Lund said the last statement with a quiet force that sent both Methos and Kronos hurling toward the table. They both sat down quietly like little boys who had been scolded by their mother. It was not till Lund was setting their plates in front of them that they were aware of obeying the order she had given them. Kronos looked startled about what just happened; he was almost wondering how he got across the room. He scowled, no one ordered the Leader of the Horsemen around especially a woman, a much younger woman, at that. Kronos opened his mouth to explain obeying the order to Methos, but Lund shot him a glare that it made him shut his mouth with a snap. It was several moments before Kronos realized that he had complied with Lund once again. He wondered what the mysterious power she seemed to have over him was. Kronos folded himself up in his mind as he ate trying to figure it out, he was not in love with her, and he felt no guilt for killing her teacher. Despite her young face and lack of years she seemed to be very powerful, that upset him, but for some reason he could not hate her for it. He would have to ask Methos about Lund later when she was not around.
After breakfast Methos, Kronos, and Lund went to investigate Methos' bedroom. The blankets on the bed were covered in blood, and the chest of Methos' night tunic was missing, the rest of it was stained with blood. The water basin in the corner looked as if it were full of blood the cloth and towel next to it were also stained. Kronos seemed to be more interested in the tapestries that were hanging on the walls; one depicted four men on horseback riding out of the sun, two of them were leading the other two, and one of the leading two was dressed lighter then the rest. Kronos smiled "what else do you do?"
"What do you mean what else do we do?" said Methos who was leaning against the doorframe.
"These tapestries, were done by an expert, they cost, there is no way you could afford them running an inn."
"They aren't that expensive." Methos glanced at Lund, she was examining the knife that Methos had been stabbed with, her back was to Kronos and she was grinning.
"I've robbed a lot of people in my time brother, I know what you can sell at good prices, and these are worth a lot. How much did you pay for them, or did you pay for them?"
"Yes, we paid for them, as for cost, you'd have to ask Lund the going price of yarn."
"Wait, one moment, she made these?"
"Yes, I did, if you stay on for a while, I'll make you one with the Horsemen."
"I think you should stay a while too, we need some help down at the bar and you'll get one third of the final profit." Methos had started to walk across the room towards Kronos.
"I don't know." Methos was backing Kronos into an empty corner, Lund could tell they were playing with each other. "Fine, I'll stay but I'm not making any guarantees about how long."
"Great," Methos said as he reached forward to clap Kronos on the shoulder, "we'll move you up after we serve breakfast. You'll need a name Kronos won't do."
"How about Paul" Kronos looked thoughtful as he said it.
"I don't know, sounds a little foreign to me brother."
"No one's seen him before Methos, everyone already knows he's not from around here. It will do. Right now we have some pressing issues, first breakfast for the guests, then Methos will move you in to my sewing room, while I'm at the market, then we will figure out what to do about Alex. So let's get moving people."
After serving breakfast to the guests and clearing the inn, Methos and Kronos began moving Lund's stuff out of the sewing room and into Lund's room. She had given them instructions to 'put it there neatly' and said that she would sort it out when she got back from the market. Lund taking a large basket and a fair quantity of money left for the market locking the tavern door behind her. Lund always bought a lot at the market; as usual some of the town's children began to fallow her around with the knowledge that they could earn a silver piece for running chickens and other things too big or too heavy to carry around back to the inn. Today Lund had business for the children, ten chickens and two pales of goat milk had to be run back to the tavern. Lund also bought cheep blankets for Methos and Kronos that would have to do till she made more, a lot of yarn for the blankets and the tapestry she had promised Kronos, cheese, and some bottled wine. She used to buy more but she had bought chickens to lay eggs a number of years ago, along with a cow for milk, and butter. Lund had just finished double checking her order with the owner of the local brewery for twenty kegs of beer to be delivered Tuesday, when she felt the buzzing sensation that told her of the presence of another immortal. It was not Methos, she knew what he felt like, it probably was not Kronos either, it had to be Alex.
"Hello." The voice came from behind her, Lund spun around.
"Hello, Alex" Lund's voice was dry she tried not to show her dislike for the man. He was almost as tall as Methos; he had dirty blond hair, a long face with a double chin, brown eyes that were too big and a nose that was far too small for him. "It's nice to see you again. What are you doing in this part of the world?" She was surprised at the cheerfulness of her own voice.
"I'm looking for some one."
"Really, who?" She really did not like this guy, he had always thought of her as stupid, now she was going to use that to her advantage.
"The man who killed our teacher, His name is Kronos."
"Is he here?"
"Yes, in fact he is staying at The White Stag."
"The White Stag? I own that inn with a friend of mine, Max. We had an immortal come in last night looking for a room, but he an old friend of Max' his name is Paul."
"His name is Kronos and you know it."
"Stop being so loud, come into the alley where we can talk." Lund led Alex to the nearest alley, set her basket down, wheeled around, grabbed Alex by the collar and dragged him down to look her in the eyes. "Look, Alex, Chin Lee died three hundred years ago, get over it. Both him and Kronos were drunk. Chin Lee got out of control, provoked Kronos and lost his head for it."
"Is that what Kronos or his friend Max told you, Lund?" Lund had released him, and Alex was now straitening his shirt.
"No, I was there I saw what happened, and it's Nat."
"Fine, Nat, because they were drunk it makes everything alright?"
"No, it makes everything stupid and pointless, no one else needs to lose their head over this."
"Yes, they do Kronos needs to lose his head, the way you were talking you sound as if you like the guy."
"Well, I do like him better then you at any rate, and if you want to play the revenge game play by the rules, challenge him to one on one combat, like we're supposed to."
"I'll play how I want, at least I'm no traitor."
"I'm no traitor, I'll choose my own friends."
"He killed our teacher."
"I know, he's done a lot worse too. You know what I forgive him for killing Chin Lee, it was a mistake and an accident, let it go."
"I can't."
"You can't or you won't? Back off Alex, or it'll be your head, I promise." With that Lund picked up her basket and disappeared into the crowd.
Meanwhile, back at the inn Methos and Kronos were moving Lund's looms into her room. She had three of them, one big, one medium and one small; Lund had built them herself. The big one was mainly for blankets, reserving the two smaller ones for tapestries. The medium loom had a half-finished tapestry of a peacock, Methos and Kronos were being particularly careful with it so they wouldnt ruin the tapestry. "Haven't you got enough of these things?" Kronos sounded frustrated.
"This isn't for us, it's for the baker's wife, she's having a baby. It's due in three months." Methos set his end of the loom down and Kronos did like wise.
"How did you find this girl brother, she's good, nice, sweet, and forgiving, not exactly Horsemen material."
"She's also got a sense of honor that would blow you away. It's weird someone like me being friends with someone like her."
"Your not...."
"Don't even say it Kronos, no I'm not, we're just friends."
"So, you're not in love with her?"
"No, I am not in love with her, besides she's only a baby, barely four hundred, that means I'm at least ten times her age, and she was only seventeen when she died."
"Okay, I get the picture. Is there anything else we have to move?"
"Yeah, a bed, a night table, and a basin from room three-oh-five."
Methos and Kronos were going down to the tavern for a drink after moving Kronos in when there was a knock at the door. Methos rushed down the stairs, across the tavern and drew back the bolt and opened the door. Seven children were standing outside, five of which were holding two chickens each, and the other two were each carrying a pale of milk, one of the latter had knocked on the door. Methos led them to the kitchen where they exchanged their chickens and milk for sweets. After the children had left Methos poured Kronos and himself a mug of beer, and they sat down at a randomly selected table to relax. "So, what do we do now?"
"Now, we relax and wait for Lund to come back from the market, she'll bring lunch."
"What's for lunch?" Kronos was looking hungry.
"Bread, cheese and wine."
"Then what?"
"Then we milk the cow, never mind not today, Lund only does that when we need butter, and collect the eggs...." At that moment Lund came in with her basket. Kronos was up like a shot and took the basket. Methos was there in an instant rummaging through it looking for lunch. Lund went behind the bar and got a knife, three plates and three glasses. In the meantime, Methos had produced three loafs of bread, a large quantity of cheese and two bottles of wine, Kronos had set the basket and its remaining contents on to the nearest table. They were half way through their lunch when Methos had noticed that Lund had not said a thing since returning "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I saw Alex at the market."
"And?" Kronos looked up from his lunch his face serious for the first time since the wine had been broken out.
"And, he's after you head, and possibly mine. He isn't going to play fair either."
"Great, four quiet years ruined by an immortal, with a three hundred year grudge, you were right this Alex guy has got to have a peg lose some where."
"He's not out for revenge, I was closer to Chin Lee then he was, he's out for blood and this is the perfect excuse."
"Maybe we should close the inn." Methos sounded as if he hated the suggestion he had just made.
"Everyone checked out this morning. We should still open the bar tonight."
"For good measure we shouldn't sleep in our own rooms" Kronos suggested.
"Kronos, you should sleep in your room, I'll sleep on the second floor, and Lund you can sleep on the third floor." There was a silent agreement between the trio, then along silence that was broken by Kronos.
"Can we stop being serious now and enjoy the wine." Kronos filled his mug then Methos', then Lund's. Before long they were laughing, joking, enjoying the moment and trying to forget their troubles.
Kronos had been excellent working at the bar he did not pick a fight with any of the customers and he did not drink on the job. Methos was impressed, though he did not say so to Kronos, he wondered how long Kronos would be able to last. Maybe he could keep this up for a couple of years; then Methos considered Kronos' behavior having something to do with Lund. Kronos liked her, maybe he was in love with her, Methos shook the thought. There was something weird about her, something he could not put his finger on, his mind drifted to that morning, when they had both obeyed Lund like children obeying their mother. There was no point in trying to figure Lund out because he could never hope to understand her, no one could, it would be like trying to figure himself out, Mehtos had given up trying to do that along time ago. Methos looked up from washing the mug in his hands to see Kronos trying to talk to him. "You awake, Methos?"
"Yeah, I was just thinking. Where's Lund?" Methos noticed that she was no where in sight.
"She went to bed, she said good night, and you said it back, what were you thinking about brother?"
"Nothing" Methos put the mug he was washing away, and looked around for something else to wash, there was nothing.
"What's the deal with her any way, how did you meet her?" Kronos gestured towards the stairs Lund had gone up.
"She dug me up after the Huns attacked the town I was staying in, the survivors buried me."
"I hate being buried. What is that thing she does that makes you listen to her?"
"I don't know, I'm in charge most of the time but sometimes she gets like she was this morning. Give her a day she'll fall back into our shadows by tomorrow."
"Oh, great now I'm living with two of them."
"Two of what?"
"Two people I can't figure out."
"You mean after all these years you haven't figured me out brother?" Methos' voice was thick with sarcasm.
"In all these years have you figured you out?" Kronos smiled.
"No...."
"If you haven't figured you out, then how am I supposed to figure you out." Kronos laughed.
"I really don't know. Hey, how about a game of dice before we go to bed?" Methos produced a leather bag from some pocket that Kronos did not see.
"Only if you feel like losing." Kronos grinned.
"You're the one who has to worry about losing."
It was late and the tree occupants of the inn were fast asleep when six men dressed in black gained access to the inn by means of a latter and an open second story window. The window opened into the room Methos was sleeping in. After all six men were in the room one drew a long dagger, and plunged it into Methos' chest. Methos opened his eyes but he could only the darker outline of his killer. The dagger had missed his heart, not by much though. His chest burned, Methos reached for the dagger and tried to pull it out, but he was already too weak. He felt his own blood on his hands, he wondered if this was it, he was going to be dragged to Alex, and Alex would take his head while he was helpless. Then he remembered that Alex was after Kronos, Methos tried to call out to his companions but he realized his mouth was full of blood, only a quiet squeak passed through his lips, just before everything disappeared in complete darkness.
When Methos woke up he found himself lying on his back in an ankle deep pool of water in a cave; the only light came from a lone torch that was fastened to the wall above him. Methos tried to move but found his wrists and ankles were tied to stalagmites. Methos swore out loud. "So, you're awake."
"Actually, my arms are still asleep" Methos' voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"You're a very funny man Max, or is that your real name?"
"No, it's not but it's good enough for you," Methos could not see who or tell where the voice was coming from due to the echoing. "You must be Alex."
"I am" Alex stepped into Methos' field of view.
"What exactly are you planning to do with me, considering I have absolutely nothing to do with this."
"Oh, but you do have something to do with this Methos...."
"How...?"
"I know your name and what you did, Horseman, I also know that Kronos considers himself your brother, and I believe the feeling is mutual."
"So, it's going to be my head for his."
"That's right."
"Kronos wouldn't put anybody's life before his own not even mine, especially when you're going to kill me any way."
"You're very cleaver."
"I try" the sarcasm had returned to his voice. "What are you going to do about Lund?" Methos mocked.
"Lund is a push over, she was seventeen when she died and shes a girl, the fight wouldn't be fair unless I tied my right hand behind my back." Alex walked away; Methos heard his footsteps echoing on the floor of the cave. He smiled 'idiot' he thought, Lund was the one of best swordsmen or swords-woman, he had ever seen, Methos wondered if Kronos could beat her, she would come really close to matching him. Methos remembered sparing with her, he never had a chance. His mind wandered back to when they had first met and what she had said when he asked her about her first death, 'I wasn't trying to avoid the battle, I fought in it. I'm not a weak Roman woman; I'm a Celt. Even merchants' daughters can fight. I killed nine maybe ten Romans, before I was knifed in the back'. If Alex could beat Kronos, which was unlikely, he underestimated Lund too much to take her head. Methos then turned his thoughts to Kronos and their days together as Horsemen.
Kronos woke in the morning just as the sun was beginning to rise, but it was not the light that woke him it was Lund, she had yelled for him at the top of her lungs. Kronos was tired and very grumpy, he jumped out of bed taking his sword with him. He was positive that Lund was in Methos' room on the second floor. 'This better be good, or I'll take her head' Kronos thought as he tried to clear the cobwebs from his head, so that he would not trip down the stairs. When he got to the room Lund was sitting on the bed with a bloody dagger in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. "What is it?" Kronos demanded.
"He's taken Methos, he wants us to meet us above the second set of falls down the river, he wants your life in exchange for Methos'."
"Who? Alex."
"Yeah, but there is a net work of caves by those falls it's a trap, he'll kill all three of us."
"He can try" Kronos' icy eyes hardened. He looked over at Lund; he saw a tear sliding down her right cheek. He walked over to her and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Look at me" he demanded, Lund looked into his icy eyes, she was not afraid of what she saw there, all her eyes showed was worry for Methos. "When this is all over you can cry your eyes out, but right now you need strong, come on Lund" he shook her "you're three hundred years old. Lund, that's Celtic right?" Lund nodded. "I've seen your people fight, even the Romans are afraid of them. I have no use for a little girl, and I kill what I have no use for if it gets in my way." Lund's eyes did not waver with the threat, "I need a Celtic warrior, one of those is worth a Roman legion. A Celtic woman is as good as any man, better in most cases." Kronos seemed to have helped her shake her mood, she closed her eyes and when she opened them the soft brown eyes had turned rock hard, Kronos stepped back when he looked into them. This sudden change made Lund more of a mystery than she already was. She stood up and walked to the door.
"Come on, Kronos. We'll need more then our swords." Kronos followed Lund upstairs to her room. She knelt next to her bed, pulled a chest from under it and opened it. From it she pulled a studded leather shirt with no sleeves, a studded leather sword belt, a blue dress with no sleeves, and a pair of long studded leather bracers. After her armor was out of the way Kronos could see an assortment of weapons, mostly knives and daggers, there was also a small wooden box painted with blue designs. Lund put the box on her bed with her armor then began to hand Kronos a verity of weapons ranging from long hunting knifes to short daggers.
"What is this?" Kronos was puzzling over a particularly small dagger that Lund had handed him.
"It's a dirk."
"It's small" Kronos frowned.
"Don't underestimate it, it's deadly even to us in the right hands. I lost my sword in the middle of a battle once, I won and cut my opponent's head off with only a dirk." Kronos whistled.
"Maybe, you better take it, I don't know how to use this."
"Oh, well go get ready, I'm going to change." Kronos left to change out of his night tunic closing Lunds door behind him.
Kronos had dressed himself all in black, he was wearing his sword belt, and he had stored all the weapons Lund have given him in various pockets. He had also stuck Methos' sword in his belt. When he was done he went to Lunds room and knocked on the door; she called to him to come in. He opened the door to see Lund in the leather shirt, belt, and bracers which, reached from her wrist almost to her elbow, she was shoving dirks in either one. She was wearing the dress she pulled out of the chest under the leather shirt, the dress split into four parts just above Lunds knees, there were also thick bands of leather sewn into the fabric, the odd silver stud could also be seen in the dress. Lund had painted her arms from her shoulders to her elbows and her face in intricate designs in blue paint, what he could see of her legs was also painted. She had also fastened a crescent sickle to her belt; there was no way any one could mistake her for anything but a Celt. "You can't go through town like that."
"I know I'm going to wear a hooded cloak." Kronos said nothing as she pulled the cloak over her shoulders. They went down stairs and Lund pulled the hood over her head as she opened the door. Lund locked the door and hid the key in the inn's chicken coop. No one looked twice as the pair walked through town, when they were far enough away from town Lund hid her cloak under a rocky outcrop. It had been along time since Lund had left town she had always been busy with the inn, the town was nestled in a deep valley on the banks a glacier fed river, the river was cold, wide, and crystal clear due to the rock bottom. The river was not deep, it got no deeper then six feet, but the water was swift and that made crossing difficult. It was the middle of summer but there was snow on the tops of the mountains surrounding the valley. Lund and Kronos walked along the path down stream; they came to the first set of falls, the water coming off the mountains crashed down on the other side of the river. Lund pointed out the second set of falls, after walking for a while discussing how to cross the river, Lund saw a man getting into a boat. She told Kronos to stay put while she arranged the crossing. Kronos watched from where Lund had left him on the path. The man seemed a little surprised at Lunds armor and paint, not as much as Kronos would expect, it bugged him a bit but he dismissed any thoughts of it and continued to watch the pair by the river. When the pleasantries were over Kronos saw Lund gesture to the boat; then the man said some thing and Lund put her hands on her hips in response. The man seemed to be listening to what Lund had to say at one point she gestured towards Kronos, then replaced her hand on her hip. When she was done talking the man shook his head, Lund tossed her arms up in the air; she looked as if she were getting angry. The man shook his head again, this time though he held up his left arm and pointed to a blue spot on the inside of his wrist. Lund grabbed the man's arm and pushed it down, then moved her hands to the sickle on her belt, the man the raised his hands in a sign of surrender.
When Lund and Kronos were on the opposite bank if the river they watched the boat pull away, then turned around and begun to climb. "What was the tattoo on his wrist?"
"The tattoo, oh, it was nothing."
"You're lying Lund."
"Yes, I am, but we can discuss ancient tribal markings later right now we have several mortal goons to look out for, a nutty immortal to get rid of, and a friend to rescue."
"Good point, any ideas."
"Yep, we should head for the main entrance to the caves, it's above the main fall. Alex will be in there some where, but it's a maze in there, those caves lead to the other side of the mountain."
"How do you know all this?"
"We stayed the night in the cave on the other side of the mountain, Methos started horsing around and we got lost and came out this side."
"Methos must have gone nuts, he's claustrophobic."
"So am I."
"How much do you know of the caves?"
"Not much all we had was one torch and that went out, meanwhile we were both panicking. Don't tell me you're not claustrophobic, that would mean you've never been buried."
"I've been buried and I am claustrophobic."
"That's one point against us then."
"What do you mean?"
"Alex has never been buried, he's not claustrophobic."
"Maybe we should bury him before I take his head."
"Maybe we should, but it's first come first serve."
"I intend to get there first."
"How about we get to the cave first?"
Kronos and Lund stopped outside the main entrance to the cave, voices could be heard from inside. Kronos counted the voices there were four. He turned to Lund and gestured that there were four men in the cave, two on the left, and two on the right. Lund moved to the opposite side of the entrance without making a sound. Instead of drawing her sword like Kronos she drew her sickle, Kronos saw the blade flash in the sun, unlike the sickles used for farming both sides of the crescent blade were sharpened. Lund looked over at Kronos waiting for him to give the signal to attack, Kronos nodded and they both moved towards the cave together. The guards were dispatched of easily; they lay dead on the floor of the cave, Kronos was smiling. Lund gestured to Kronos that there could be no more talking. After going father into the cave Kronos realized that he could hear only his footsteps on the floor of the cave, he stopped. Lund moved forward silently her feet hidden in soft leather shoes, nimbly avoiding the stalagmites, while keeping her eyes on the stalactites so she would not hit her head on them. Lund stopped when she realized that Kronos was not making a racket by stomping around in his boots and tripping over stalagmites. She tuned and gestured to him to keep walking. Lund stopped where the cave split off into five directions there were torches in each tunnel put there no doubt to confuse Kronos and herself. Lund turned around to see Kronos slowly picking his way through the stalagmites, he was trying to be as quiet as possible, but to Lund he was still making a lot of noise. She thought several times to tell him to take his boots off but she decided that, that would not help much. Just as Kronos caught up to Lund five men ran out of one of the tunnels and attacked the immortal pair. Kronos drew his sword and beheaded all three of the men that attacked him in one blow; he smiled at his work. Lund meanwhile had drawn her sickle; she had slit one man's throat, the other she had pushed against the wall of the cave and she was holding the sickle to his throat. "Which tunnel is your boss and his prisoner in?" Kronos jumped at the volume of Lund's voice.
"Second to the left" the man pointed a shaking arm towards the tunnel.
"You're not lying?" Lund moved the blade closer to the man's throat.
"No, I swear."
"Get lost" Lund moved the sickle and pushed the man the way her and Kronos had come. As the man passed Kronos, Kronos spun around taking his head. Lund frowned, "what did you do that for?"
"For fun, I thought we weren't supposed to talk."
"It's a little late now isn't it, besides you could wake the dead the way you stomp around, in those boots."
"We can discuss my boots later, right now we have several mortal goons to look out for, a nutty immortal to get rid of, and a friend to rescue." Kronos began walking to the tunnel the dead man had indicated. Lund followed him.
"In the words of a very good friend of mine and yours 'go boil your head'." Kronos smiled, Lund had spent too much time around Methos. The cave began to get smaller and smaller as they went deeper into it, there were some places they had to crawl. The two immortals were becoming nervous as the claustrophobia began to kick in, eventually the tunnel began to get bigger again but that did not help much, they were still in a relatively small space underground. The cave was getting smaller again so Kronos and Lund could no longer walk side by side; they began to feel the buzzing sensation of two immortals. Lund stopped and turned to Kronos, she held two fingers up telling him there were two immortals, then she held up three fingers, meaning she could hear three mortals. Kronos could not hear anything, he nodded at Lund and they continued to walk. They both knew one of the immortals was Methos, it did not take much to figure out the other one was Alex. The cave suddenly opened into a large high roofed chamber, the floor was smother then in the tunnels, and Lund could see some bats clinging to the stalactites a good way above her head. Lund was not afraid of bats, if fact they were one of her favorite animals, but there was no time to watch them now. At the far end of the cavern stood Alex with his sword drawn. "You weren't supposed to get this far." Alex said moving towards them.
"We're just full of surprises" Kronos countered. Alex ignored him and turned to Lund.
"Well, well, well, don't you just look the little warrior, you look as if you might actually be able to use that sword." Alex laughed. Lund narrowed her eyes.
"Where's Methos?" Lund asked.
"Over there" Alex gestured to the spot. Kronos and Lund both looked, Methos was lying in a shallow pool against the wall of the cavern, his feet and hands were tied to stalagmites, and he was also gagged, he did not look happy about it. Lund made a step towards him, Alex whistled, foot steps echoed in the cavern and a man came out of a tunnel near where Methos was tied up, he had a sword and rested it on Methos' neck. "Don't try anything stupid Lund."
"I won't, do you really think you can win against both of us?"
"I won't have to, the only one I need to fight is Kronos."
"How do you figure that, Alex?"
"It's simple Lund, you won't be alive to fight me." Again footsteps could be heard, Lund spun around, to see two men, one was holding a knife. Before she could move the man without the knife grabbed her, and the other promptly slit her throat. Lund's hands grabbed at her throat, as if trying to stop the bleeding; every thing was getting dark, her throat burned, she coughed once blood came from her mouth, then she crumpled onto the ground. Kronos looked at the 'dead' body of Lund, then at the two men standing over her. Kronos growled at them, they flinched, he smiled as he turned back to Alex.
"Now it's just you and me Alex."
"So it is."
"Let's get on with it then."
"Excellent idea." Kronos drew his sword and rushed at Alex, sparks flew when their swords clashed. The two men circled each other thrusting and parrying, each in turn trying to get a feel for their opponent. Kronos picked up on Alex's style faster then Alex picked up on his, this gave Kronos time to toy with Alex. Methos smiled from where he lay, he knew Kronos was playing with Alex, it reminded Methos of a cat playing with a mouse before the mouse became dinner, Methos did not need to see the maniac glint in Kronos' eyes to know it was there. It took Alex a while to figure out that Kronos was toying with him. Alex was not in the mood to be toyed with, he lashed out with Kronos with all his strength and skill. It was not enough; Kronos almost immediately had the upper hand. In moments Alex was disarmed, Kronos had pushed Alex up against the cavern wall and was about to take his head, which was when Kronos felt a sharp pain between his shoulders. The man who had slit Lunds throat stabbed Kronos in the back; Kronos dropped his sword and sank to his knees. Alex retrieved the weapon and smiling raised it above his head. Alex was about to swing the sword, when a dirk that had come from nowhere lodged itself in his right eye. Alex dropped the sword and disappeared down a tunnel. Kronos looked around to see Lund leaning against a stalagmite with her left hand holding her throat; Kronos could see blood oozing through her fingers. The man next to her was dead, as was the man guarding Methos, and the man that had stabbed Kronos. Kronos picked up his sword and sheathed it, then reached over and pulled one of Lunds dirks from the man that stabbed him; Kronos then slowly stood up and stumbled across the cavern to Lund. Lund had pulled another dirk from the body of the man next to her and was cleaning it when Kronos reached her. Kronos handed the dirk to Lund.
"You were right about these things being deadly."
"I'm always right."
"You're very modest" Kronos reached down for her, Lund took his hand, and with his help pulled herself up to her feet.
"If you want I'll teach you how to use one."
"No thanks, I'll stick to my sword."
"Suit yourself." Kronos and Lund made their way over to where Methos was tied up. Lund retrieved yet another dirk from the body of Methos' guard, while Kronos cut the ropes that bound Methos and helped him up.
"Thanks" Methos said as soon as he was on his feet
"You're welcome, brother."
"What's wrong Lund?" Methos turned to her; she looked concerned about something.
"I was just trying to figure out who broke the rules, the mortal for stabbing Kronos, or me for throwing the dirk."
"The mortal broke the rules; he stabbed Kronos first."
"But mortals don't need to abide by the rules."
"Alex had probably ordered the mortal to stab me, it was Alex that broke the rules."
"That's right too" Lund smiled "now, let's get out of here." They began walking towards the tunnel Lund and Kronos had come through.
"Can we discuss ancient tribal markings now?" Kronos grinned.
"How about we discuss your boots?" Lund glared at Kronos.
"I missed something while I was tied up in there didn't I."
"Only all the fun, brother" Kronos clapped Methos on the shoulder.
"By the way Lund I was thinking maybe it's time to give up the inn, we were on our way to China."
"I think it's time we left too, but I want to go back and get some supplies, money, and how about getting some horses?"
"Good idea. Kronos are you coming with us?"
"I found you less then two days ago I think I'll stick around for a while, I'd also really like that one tapestry."
"It's yours." Methos laughed.
When they reached the cave entrance the sun was setting behind the mountains across the valley. They climbed down the mountain to the river where the man from before was waiting with a boat. When they reached the town it was dark, they collected what they wanted from the inn, then stole three horses, Lund insisted on leaving money for their previous owner. They then left a lone figure waved after them through the darkness. Although she could not actually see it in the dark Lund pictured the blue mark on his wrist, "your secret is safe with me, I won't tell them about you, Watcher", Lund whispered.
"What did you say Lund?" Kronos was riding beside her.
"Nothing, I'm just going to miss the inn that's all."
"Don't worry about it, little sister" Kronos grinned. "Tomorrow, you ride out of the sun with the Horsemen."
"The Two Horsemen and One Horsewomen doesn't have the same ring as the Four Horsemen." Methos started to laugh, Lund and Kronos grinned at each other. Lund had not felt at home with any one since Chin Lee died, and she had never been treated as any body's equal since her first death, till now, Lund smiled. She turned around to take one last look at the town, but it had been swallowed in darkness. The glittering stars high above looked down on the trio as the passes through the night and into eternity.
END
Note:
Emperor Hadrian lived 76 to 138 CE; he built a wall across Scotland some time after 117 CE. The Huns threatened Rome in the late 5th and early 6th centuries CE. Although the Romans did have control of some of the northern Alps they never built anything there. The Celts were known to be very skilled craftsmen, merchants, traders, and scholars. They specialized in wood, metal (iron, silver), and fabrics; they were also talented astronomers. Women and men were equal, and women were expected to voice their opinions, both men and women were taught to fight, the only thing a woman could not do was become a clan chieftain. Bracers are leather guards worn by archers and fencers to protect the lower arm. (CE=AD)