Three days since I left home, not much to my name and the ground seeps into my boots as I trudge along. Two days to my nearest village and two weeks to the closest city after that are the words of advice from the shepherd in the last town.
I suddenly hear a cry from further along the road, as I get to the bend I slow down to a creep and stay close to the scrub on the sides of the road.
Before me, I see two wolves lying dead on the ground and another laying waste to a young man. I watch as the flesh is torn from his body still struggling. He lost his nerve after defeating the other two wolves and had now dropped his guard in hopelessness after giving his all to save his employer. One look at the situation would tell me all I needed to know, he would die now.
My heart screamed at me to push myself into the fight while my mind held my legs down completely frozen. I stood in agony as two halves fought for the whole. I watched him die and the wolf turned smelling my sweat, my spit and my fear.
It was my turn. Will I be able to finish the fight that he had just died for or will I meet him?
No, I cannot die, I drew my sword as I tumbled away from the wolf's pounce allowing my leg to hang in the air and striking it in the stomach as I dodged. This is the beginning of my story, not the tragic end. I steeled my nerves and prepared to fight for my life for the second time this month.
The wolf drew in, feinting and clawing as I parried and chopped at it with my blade. The fight was never going to be pretty, I trained for humans, not creatures. It felt like hours and my arms and legs were fine but my mind and heart were at the end of the line, real battle is not just a physical strength competition. I was cut and bruised and as I saw the end near I played a gamble. As the wolf next pounce came in I used its momentum to roll with it on my back with its claws grazing my back and ripping my shirt but dropping it awkwardly to the floor allowing me to finally bury my sword into its neck and ending the fight. I vomited.
A chuckle came in from behind me, "Boy that was quite a show you put on, I thank you kindly."
I smiled, "Well my uncle always did tell me to aim to be entertaining above all else." I chuckled.
The man introduced himself as Robert dey Goulde and his wife Katryn, they were young merchants that were making a journey to the capital to sell goods from the West. Katryn treated my injuries as we spoke and then, " Why don't you accompany us? I mean if you could even trust us enough to say your name along the way that may be nice."
"Oh, yes where are my manners I am Marcus. If you are heading to the capitol that is a long journey and we would part ways halfway. I can join you until then it would help." I replied whilst wincing at my rough medical treatment.
"Well it will be good havin you, that is going to leave quite the scar love." Katryn said finishing her treatment of me.
"Well that's settled then, I look forward to travelling with you." I replied.
Well, I don't have to walk anymore and I am getting compensated. Hopefully, the journey goes smoothly now.