Mirth hated this. Every thing and every one that had to do with this. Just thinking about it hurt his head. He hated the weather and he hated this dumb animal called a horse that he was currently perched on . He hated himself for letting his life get to such a horrible state he hated himself for not excepting his fate. He hated the barman, oh the barman! That stupid idiotic man, heartless backstabber Mirth hated his profanity. He couldn't think of anything suitable for that worm. That leech. He was responsible for everything . He cheated on that stupid bet. He got Mirth drunk, he did.

And now he was going Ranger hunting . With this stupid highwayman who evidently had lost all sanity years ago. Mirth was sure he hadn't bathed in decades. All because of that ridiculous bartender .

(flashback)

It was a chilly Autumn night . As Mirth exited the smuggling hole he could help but grin. The looks on their faces when he had cleaned up had been absolutely hilarious. And now with a good feeling in his stomach and a heavy purse he set of towards a bar not one of those noisy inn bars filled with beggars . A nice one with proper gambling and strong whisky . The sort of place were you could get a nice genovesen funnily enough. Instead of being picked for the job himself. It was called the Dog&Duck. The moment he stepped in the door the smell of strong alcohol hit him and his smile just widened. He received some interesting looks from the customers already seated he just smiled back at them . He noticed a great big arch revealing a wider room he could see more people through it must of them seemed to be flirting with the waitress . Whilst a few of them were bent over there tables engaged in what Mirth hoped was gambling . Further on was a bar . With a large man attending it he couldn't quite make it out but he thought he could see 1 or 2 closed doors.

A sudden spurt of curiosity ran through him so he went on his tiptoes in the hope that he would see further on through the bar but instead a large shape blocked his way at first a wave of irritation swept through him. Then his senses kicked in.

His tongue darting blindly through his mouth. Expressing nervousness in its own way. Until it eventually came to a stop resting between a set of clenched teeth. When suddenly a blow to his cheek came. His tongue kicking into action . Registering the salty coppery taste,that could only be blood.

His nose had felt the blow to. It had registered many things that the tongue had missed out on. For instance the smoky smell that was often fimilarised with Marijuana. The sharp bitter smell of strong alcohol. Then the strong salty stale smell of perspiration Then the once again salty coppery smell. That would make your head float up in the clouds. That separated yourself from all rational thoughts. The smell of blood

. His hands lay at his side leaving small polls of blood at the tips of his fingers. Something told him that this moment was important . In many ways that he was unaware of at the time. It was as if he had sixth sense . This caused adrenaline to buzz through his body. He was on a high until pain buzzed through his body. It seemed to emanate from his cheek. Obviously meaning something had happened to his face. But what?

When he first entered the bar he was confronted by a wave of sound. There was jeering and cheering and moans. Foot stamping and clapping. Threats hissed in corners . The clinking of glasses laughing . So many sounds all pouring into his ears. Unconsciously with the help of his eyes mirth began to separate and distinguish the cacophony that was assaulting his ears . He heard footfalls getting closer to him. They were loud so it was obviously someone heavy .

thud

Thud

THUD

THUD

They grew louder and louder. When a gruff voice asked what the likes of him were doing took this as an opportunity to root out the location of the supposed gambling hole .

" A good game" Mirth croaked out .

" Well whadya play?" The gruff voice asked.

"Well anything with high stakes and good liquor but i love a good game of Black Bitch."

"Ah so your a hart hollerer eh? We have some of you backere" He said gesturing wildly behind his back."With some good whisky,but we got some poker and hooch hidden down ere ." This time he was gesturing down at the floor.

A current of excitement went through Mirth." Ya got games undaground?" Mirth queried.

"Yeah were em ranguhs can't see em. " He bragged.

"so tell me about were i can play a game of black bitch." Mirth demanded ."Over by the bar ."

The rest was a blur of yelling and screaming . The only thing Mirth remembered was a fragment of a conversation.

"Yah lost sunshine simple as that."

"No they cheated this aint fair gimie another go cmon ."

"Sure anything to proove this deck is rigged."

"OK my buddy is gonna be goin huntin ,huntin for sumvin special you gonna join him."

"No i wont i will win then i will take the cash"

"What ever you say sunshine. But remember this is the last game to prove yah got it or yah face the consequences."

There was a couple more lines from another conversation that refused to escape mirths head.

"Yah lost again but yah lucky yah lost."

"How is havin a rigged deck lucky?"

"Cos you gonna go ranger huntin with my buddy in the mornin."

Mirth hated to admit it but he did not have that many memories since that moment just a couple moments.

A worn table with three cards resting on it. A ace 3 and 7 of spades. Then his hand an array of hearts under 5 that he was immensely proud of . He had flushed out his diamonds earlier in the hope that would come up so he could sneak in some points. A couple of clubs and the queen of spades.

A man in his 30s wearing a grubby apron. Standing behind a bar and holding out a drink.

A large room with a Victorian ceiling. Tables dotted around the room. People sitting at them with either food or tankards of ale. Some with holding cards and and coins.

After that they became to confusing to explain .

A bed.

A horse.

A window.

A sword .

A cake.

A candle.

A man.

And an elaphant.

He wasn't sure what was from last night and what was from the alcohol But he knew this .

He had gotten drunk played some card games . With outrageously high bets and had been manipulated into going hunting for a ranger and their apprentice.

" We are nearly there" croaked the highway man. Jerking him out of his daydream.

He rose up on the stirrups trying to get a better view of the camp they would ambush.

It was quite dark but he could make out a tent and a pile of stones that was once a camp could see a couple of embers resting on top. It was only the staring at the fire that he saw a small hump . It was probably the apprentice standing guard . Except his head was resting on his knees as if he were asleep. YES! So they had a chance at this ambush after all. He drew his sword and prepared to charge .

How ever he was unaware that the highway man had already dismounted. And was walking past his horse. AS mirth tried to get of his steed. Unfortunately tumbling down on to the highway man. Who emitted a head ache causing shriek.

Which (obviously )woke the ranger and his apprentice. The apprentice jumped up and drew a saxe knife. Staring wildly at the bush trying to find the source. When he spotted both of them tangled on the ground he charged. When he should have waited for the ranger to emerge from the tent.

To Mirths surprise the second the apprentice entered the bush, the highway man tackled the apprentice.

Witnessing this gave Mirth a surge of adrenaline that caused him to run straight into the tent. Where a throwing knife speared him in the heart. The moment Mirth was down the ranger grabbed his knife and exited the tent.

Where the highway man was waiting to meet him. He had a knife pressed to the apprentices throat , and a threat on his tongue waiting to be said.

"One more move and I'll kill him ' he hissed.

The ranger who was a smart man knew that he was not bluffing. But he also knew that he was not here for the apprentice.

So he stepped forward and said:"I know why your here. it's not for my apprentice so release him. If you do you can fight me." For he knew he was here to kill the ranger."Only if its no weapons just hand to hand." The highway man hissed. "If that is what it takes to get you to release my apprentice then so be it." The ranger replied.

Meanwhile Mirth was listening on the conversation and came to a decision. Once the highway man released the apprentice Mirth would step out and kill him. He grabbed his sword and crawled to the edge of the tent so that he was not revealed.

A couple minutes later the highway man let the apprentice go stripped of his weapons .

The ranger turned and hissed in a low voice to his apprentice."Dépêchez aller au château être rapide et obtenir de l'aide aller au château de Redmont." The apprentice whose Gallican wasn't perfect got the message and ran in the direction of the castle. Unaware of Mirth stumbling after him.

"He is free now take off your weapons to fight fight for the death."The highway man ranger was not sure about this but stuck to his word and took of his knives and bow. As he was placing his bow on the ground the highway man sank a sword into his back."The 6 ft tall rangers that can wrestle with bears are not that good an enemy " He chuckled to himself. Unaware that in his last moment of life the ranger had stood up and raised a knife to his throat. The highway man body fell back onto the ranger knocking him to the ground. The ranger died knowing that his apprentice would get help.

The apprentice never made it.