Chapter 6: Every Sinner

part 1

“As a final injury amidst your insults, you sent one of your men to slay me on the steps of this palace!” Rical said; his voice rasped as the accusation burned in his throat.

“I see through your lies, Rical,” Jocoin said. “You sent your soldiers to steal from me and because I brought this matter before they king you seek to discredit me. You dressed your own soldier as one of mine, and put on this assassination play for the benefit of the king.”

“Fantasy!” Rical retorted. “I have no reason to beg sympathy from the king.”

“I have witnesses that tell a different tale,” Jocoin said. “They brought the body of one of your men as evidence of the attack.”

“Evidence?” Rical scoffed. “All that you prove is that your villagers slew one of my soldiers. He may have died a valiant man at the hands of your malicious subjects.”

“Silence!” the king demanded. King Telaton wore a stern mask upon his face, but even Geirolf saw that his majesty exerted no control over the bickering of the morning conference. “At this moment, I see no concrete proof validating either of your claims of injustice. All that we can verify is that a man dressed as a soldier of Lord Jocoin attacked Lord Rical at this palace. Nothing more is proven.”

“An entire village of witnesses support my claim,” Jocoin insisted.

“Did I request for you to speak?” the king asked, pounding his fist against the arm of his chair.

“No, your majesty,” Jocoin said.

“Then keep silent!” The king calmed his voice, “I shall order Captain Celeres investigate both incidences. I shall discover where the blame needs to fall.”

“Of course, your majesty,” Lord Jocoin said.

“Your will is most just,” Lord Rical said.

“What do you make of our audience with the king?” Geirolf asked some time later when the two men found a moment to return to the small barracks room where the king provided them with lodging.

Tarian paced the floor along the row of empty beds. “Lord Rical lies are staggering. I highly doubt that the king’s investigation will strip away any of the lord’s deceit. Nor can I believe that his majesty will deter Rical from further misdeeds.”

“Further misdeeds?” Geirolf asked. “You believe Lord Rical still plots against our lord, Jocoin?”

“I believe if he succeeds with one inequity, he will commit others,” Tarian said.

“You words waken my concern for Marianna,” Geirolf said. “She arrived with us at the palace, and the guards spoke of her presence in the courtyard when the intruders attacked. Yet I have heard nothing of her since.”

“Do not bring yourself undue dread, Geirolf. Though I believe Lord Rical plots against us, I see no reason for him to capture a maiden such as Marianna,” Tarian said. “Your belle is likely touring the city or she wanders the palace somewhere prattling with some idle servant girl.”

part 2

Once she finished sliding into her white dress, Marianna tied her mask around her eyes and put her hair back into a bun. Though the dress didn’t allow for great mobility, it proved to be one of the few articles of clothing that she found for the few coins she carried in her purse. At the same time, she did not waste away the day searching for better apparel. She felt she used her time more wisely fashioning a mask for herself and searching the city for the villain known as Necropolis.

At noon, she spied the brigand in one of the city’s taverns. He ate his meal there, and Marianna hoped he would take dinner there as well.

She spent the afternoon steadying her resolve for the confrontation of the evening. She stood in an empty, rotting house as she slipped on her dress in what little light from the setting sun seeped through the cloudy sky.

Her fears and her anger made battle with each other as she walked the dark streets of Evrain. She avoided the larger streets, preferring instead to dodge from alleyway to alleyway. As she drew closer, she felt great hope that she might reach her destination without any citizen catching sight of her. Her hope shattered in an instant, however, at the sound of a familiar voice.

The Sinner watched as she walked away. He doubted that her skill would fell Necropolis, and even if she defeated the villain, the Sinner wondered what she planned to do with brigand.

“Asgaut,” the Sinner muttered to himself, “why are you always mired by the need to become involved in these pursuits?”

The Sinner followed far enough behind Marianna that she did not notice his presence. He knew she would not welcome his assistance. She branded him a coward for not sacrificing himself in an attempt to defeat a villain like Clemington.

Even though the Sinner believed Marianna acted recklessly by seeking a confrontation with Necropolis, the vigilante respected the maiden’s ability. Though she spent little more than a day within the city of Evrain, she already tracked Necropolis to the Hollow Tooth tavern. The Sinner scaled the side of a building and crept upon the rooftop so he might watch Marianna as she waited for the villain. Not an hour passed before Necropolis emerged from the tavern. He turned north and walked into the dark of the streets. The fledgling huntress waited only a few moments before pursuing her prey. The Sinner moved from rooftop to rooftop, his gaze shifting from Marianna to Necropolis. As he followed the pair, the Sinner could not believe that the villain fell so easily into the maiden’s hands.

Marianna swatted away one hand and then the other. She struck the villain in the face, causing several teeth to clatter down to the stone street. Her next punch landed in his ribcage. The sound of multiple snaps filled Marianna’s ears, yet Necropolis barely grimaced.

“You possess much strength, little one,” Necropolis said. The villain snatched hold of the maiden’s wrist as she swung at his face. Pain shot down the entire length of Marianna’s arm as her bones cracked within Necropolis’s grip. The palm of his hand struck her at the bottom of her ribs, throwing her back several feet onto the harsh stone street. “Yet your strength will not break a man known to all as Necropolis.”

An arrow stabbed into Necropolis’ chest, causing the villain to stagger back a few steps.

He let out a frustrated growl as he ripped the bloody arrow from his body. “I have grown weary of serving as an archer’s target!”

“Personally, I take great pleasure in using you as a target,” the Sinner said as he loaded another arrow into his crossbow.

“Sinner,” Necropolis said as the vigilante approached through the darkness of the night, “Why have you come to this place?”

“I thought your behavior toward the lady was unmannerly,” he said. “After all, can you not see how she dons a lovely dress for your pleasure?”

Marianna’s teeth ground together as her magic knitted the bones of her broken arm. The humiliation that the two scoundrels brought her fueled her fury.

“Sinner, leave me,” she demanded. “My fight is not your concern.”

The maiden lunged at Necropolis. Yet the back of his hand struck her face, keeping her at bay. The Sinner fired his crossbow as he charged at the brigand. The arrow slammed into Necropolis’ chest, causing his torso to twist to the side. Before he could recover from the impact, the Sinner’s sword tore deep wounds into the villain’s chest. After a feeling the sting of a few sword strokes, Necropolis jerked forward, slamming his forehead into the Sinner’s mask.

next part May 23th