| Chapter 21 - Escape |
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I hastily dressed, pulling my garments back on with great urgency, suppressing the multitude of questions which spun in my head. They could be answered later but a swift escape was required now, lest we be apprehended by cohorts of my attackers or by the local authorities. I quickly checked my pockets to ensure that none of my possessions were missing, which, thankfully, they appeared not to be. I was safe to assume that my saviour was not given to pick pocketing it seemed. I looked up to examine the man before me as I sat to pull on my boots. He was tall and lean, but with a soldier's wiry physique with unkempt hair. His apparel was dark and dusty but the rifle he carried and the sword at his belt were immaculately cleaned and maintained - definitely a fighting man. He kept a close watch on the door while I readied myself. As I rose to my feet and we moved towards the entrance, the sound of a number of booted feet outside became apparent. "Time to go William. Follow me - and do try to keep up... Oh, and the name is Richard, Richard Montague." he smiled and we darted out of the door into the street.
We were greeted by the sight of ten or so armed and very surprised looking men adorned in the colours of the export company, watching our arrival with mouths agape on our left at the end of the street. Feeling suddenly elated by my continued existence, I paused to bow before spinning on my heel and chasing after my companion's rapidly retreating form towards the right hand corner of the building and the adjoining street and wall. I heard muffled shouts behind me which were mildly concerning as I neared the junction. I ran with increased vigour and hurled myself around the corner to the sound of shots being fired and lead shot thudding into the wall at the point where I had been running a moment before. "You make friends quickly don’t you?" Richard asked, helping me to my feet. "It’s a talent I seem to have..." I replied. "Lets get out of here; the locals don’t seem too friendly." Richard nodded and led me on a headlong flight down a maze of twisting streets until we arrived at the marketplace I had visited some time earlier. Pausing briefly we could still hear sounds of pursuit and thus ran to the far end of the market, jumping over the fruit and vegetables on the counter and colliding with the bewildered tradesman standing behind it, who found himself rather abruptly removed from haggling over his wares with an animated customer. Rolling to our feet we peered over the tomatoes and saw our pursuers enter the marketplace, looking around for us. The stall owner rose to his knees and began to angrily remonstrate with us until, without turning; Richard silenced him with a backfist punch to the face, felling him instantly. I turned to hold him down but there was no need - he was out cold. We glared meaningfully at the customer with whom the trader had been haggling, who simply shrugged before taking an armful of goods and walking away. We stayed crouched behind the stall and observed the armed men call off their pursuit and leave the marketplace. Pressing some coins into the hand of the unconscious trader, we left in the opposite direction. "Thanks awfully for your help old chap, I take it that you were not merely passing by?" I enquired as we walked down the street. "You assume correctly William, I have been looking for you since my informants told me of your arrival. I suspected that Fielding would send you to his usual ‘meeting place’, he's an evil bastard. He wont stop until you are eliminated you know - I hope you’re prepared to finish the game you’ve started." "I'll do whatever is needed to bring down the export company, I know the methods they employ to achieve their aims and I mean to bring them down and restore my fortunes" I replied. "Yes, I know of your station Will, and of your family struggles." I stopped abruptly. "Not that I'm not grateful old chap but why are you helping me?" I demanded. "Let’s just say I have a vested interest in your affairs. I would not see you betrayed as I once was, for betray you he will - I believe you know of whom I speak" Richard replied. "The Captain has been good to me" I responded. "He is using you more like" he intoned gravely. "I do not expect you to believe me now but you can trust me" he said, reaching into his tunic and pulling out a folder of documents. "These are the remaining details of your family accounts, take them and use them as you will." he stated, placing them in my hands. "As a further act of good faith I will give you a name - Captain Mendoza. I think you might find he has information that you will find invaluable to your cause. There is a bay 5 miles north of here where he commonly anchors his ship, my intelligence tells me he is due back there in the next week." "I'm afraid I have an appointment elsewhere to keep now William, I must take my leave of you.", he stated apologetically, beginning to turn. "Wait, tell me what transgression the captain has made" I pleaded. "It is a long tale and a story for another time my friend" he stated "but I can show you a reason to be wary now" he continued, rolling up his sleeves to reveal a series of angry looking scars on both arms. "These are some of the visible scars, the others I will have satisfaction for some day." he said, his expression tightening. "Godspeed and watch your back Will." With that he waved and disappeared in the press of civilians making their way down the street. I made my way back to Siraj's bolthole, experiencing a level of isolation and uncertainty which I had not endured since riding away from my family estates years before... |
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