Black Rose
By Almost Heaven
Chapter One: Found
Rating T
Disclaimer: Don't own anything here. Just borrowing for a wee bit. Though if I could keep Bash for a while longer… No… You sure? (Sigh) Fine.
Bash urged the horse to got a tad faster. It was getting dark and he wanted to reach the inn before nightfall. The king's road was deserted and he was just fine with that. He was still fuming over Francis' ultimatum to Mary about him. If he wasn't going to marry the girl why could they not be together? She was wonderful, funny, smart and adventurous. The perfect woman really. He really hated politics.
Up ahead, a figure came into few in the dim light. Running in his direction, dressed in an odd assortment of mostly black garments including a heavy hood, the lad looked back over his shoulder and tripped. Bash slowed down to offer his assistance.
"No! Flee! They are close behind me!" the lad cried as he climbed to his feet, a hand at his side and gasping for air.
"Who is chasing you on the King's road?" Bash asked as he dismounted and drew his sword. He glanced about as he moved to the lad's side.
The lad waved his hand at Bash, still catching his breath.
"My lord, there isn't…"he gasped as four men appeared out of the woods and attacked.
One fired a bow whose arrow struck the lad in the shoulder as the other three advanced on Bash. Bash didn't hesitate and cut one down in short order. The other two tried to flank him but he sidestepped the smaller of the two and gutted him. The big one and he began to circle each other. Bash could see the lad had pulled the arrow from his shoulder and the man with the bow had dropped it in favor of drawing his sword. His opponent lunged at him and they began to exchange blows. Being smaller and lighter Bash dodged several heavy swings and got in a couple of light cuts. He was setting up to finish the thug when he misjudged his footing and fell backward. He looked up to see the other man raise his blade high and then stop. Freeze in place with a startled expression before falling to one side, a sword standing up in his back. The lad stood there now, shaking.
"Are there more?" Bash asked as he got to his feet. The fourth man was not far away, his throat cut.
The lad said," I'm not sure. I…" He fell to his knees, one had pressed to his shoulder. Bash rushed to him as he fell the rest of the way to the ground. Rolling the lad to his back, causing his hood to fall back, Bash discovered two things. One, the lad was actually a girl. Two, he knew her.