Part III: The Madman
David Rossi sits in his usual corner of the tavern. It's dark, smells like alcohol and filth, and is the best place to be unnoticed. He hates being bothered by anyone but the man serving him drinks. This has been his refuge for several years now. At first, the locals, if that's what one would call the riff-raff that frequents this place, challenged him. After he had maimed or killed at least a dozen of them, word spread to leave him be.
He finishes the drink in his hand and motions to the bartender to bring him another when the door opens. In walks the most unlikely pair he has ever seen; a skinny kid, with longish hair carrying a satchel and a girl, wearing trousers with a knife in her belt.
The tavern goes silent as the pair make their way across the crowded room. He watches as they speak to the bartender, who laughs loudly and waves his hand around the bar.
The daring duo, as he decides to call them, move about the room making their way closer to him. He turns away when they look in his direction. The last thing he wants is to talk to anyone. The bartender comes over and sets another mug of ale in front of him as the pair approach. David hands the bartender a coin as he glares at the duo.
"Excuse us," the skinny kids says. "Can we ask you some questions?"
"No!" he growls. He picks up the mug and takes a deep drink, peering at the duo over the rim.
The female smiles as she pulls out a chair and sits down.
He thumps the mug on the table. "I didn't say you could sit."
Her smile widens and he finds himself beguiled. "You didn't say I couldn't sit either," she points out.
He huffs. "What do you want?"
The skinny kid pulls out a chair and sits as well. "We're looking for someone," he says quietly.
Dave looks around the tavern. "There's a lot of people here, take your pick. Just go away."
The pair exchange looks. "We're looking for a specific person," the skinny guy says.
Dave sighs and picks up the mug. "I don't know anyone." He starts to drink.
"I think you do," the skinny kid states. "We're looking for the Black Knight."
Dave chokes on his drink. He spits part of it back into his mug, thumps the mug on the table and coughs. "Are you crazy?! The Black Knight is dead."
"Are you sure?" the girl asks.
He looks her straight in the eye. "Absolutely. Now, both of you, scram before I get mad."
They look at each other again, the girl nods and they rise from their chairs. Dave looks in his mug and frowns. He waves to the bartender for another mug.
The duo cross the room, headed for the door, when the skinny kid stops in his tracks. He says something to the girl then stomps across the room. Dave's eyes narrow when he sees where they are going. The two men in the opposite corner were known thieves, making a living by stealing from innocents who dared to travel in these parts.
He keeps a close eye on them, not that he cared, but there was something about the duo that had sparked his interest. The Black Knight? He hadn't been spoken of in years. How did these two know anything of the knights, let alone the Black Knight.
The bartender sets a fresh mug on the table as the ruffians stand up and starts pushing the skinny kid across the room. A third man grabs the girl and starts dragging her towards the door.
In a breath, Dave moves across the room. He grabs the man holding the girl by the throat with one hand. The man releases the girl and flails at the grip on his throat. Dave shoves him against the wall. He holds him there until the man passes out, he lets his limp body slide to the floor.
Dave turns and sees that the two other ruffians are beating up the skinny kid. The girl joins the fray by leaping onto the back of one of the men.
The others in the tavern move away from the fight and watch with amusement.
Dave steps over to the skinny kid. He grabs the nearest man and throws him across the room. The man rises and runs back towards him. Dave punches him in the face, breaking his nose. Blood flies everywhere. The man pulls a knife and attacks Dave. The two men scrabble back and forth, as Dave holds tightly to the hand with the knife.
The man trips, pulling Dave down on top of him. The knife jams between the two of them. The man yowls, causing everything to stop. Dave scrambles to his feet. The knife is partially dug into the ruffian's abdomen.
The other man roars. Dave watches as the bigger guy tosses the girl off his back. She lands awkwardly on a table. The bigger man runs at Dave and slams him into the bar.
The air disappears from his lungs as he hears the crack of several ribs. The bigger man pulls back and punches Dave in the face several times. He tries to push away from the bar and block the blows, but the man has him pinned. Blow after blow slam into the side of his head. He fights to breathe as his head spins. The room grows dark as he blacks out.
Dave wakes slowly. He opens his eyes and sees that he is in a small, dark room. His head aches as does the rest of his body. He tries to sit up.
"Oooo," he groans loudly.
The room moves suddenly as light floods the room. Just as quickly, it is dark again, but he is no longer alone.
"Take it easy," the girl soothes as she presses his shoulders back down.
"You scared us," the skinny kid says.
"Where the hell am I?" Dave demands.
"You're in my wagon," the girl smiles.
"We couldn't leave you in the tavern, not after you saved our lives," the skinny kid explains.
He tries to sit up again but the pain in his body makes his head spin.
"Seriously," the girl scolds. "Stop doing that."
"I need to go home," he groans. "I don't want to die here."
"You're not going to die," She tells him patiently.
"Feels like it," he replies.
"I'm going to let some light in here so we can clean you up a bit," she says. She stands and turns around. She pulls a curtain to the side, letting a shaft of light into the wagon.
Dave squints against the light. "Why is it so bright out?" he asks.
"It's daytime?" the skinny kid answers.
Dave turns his head to peer at him. "It was almost night last I remember."
"That was two days ago," the kid replies.
"I've been out for two days?" Dave asks incredulous.
"Yes," the young man nods. "We thought you were going to die."
Dave huffs. "You should have let me."
"We couldn't," Spencer admits. "Then the lies would become truths."
Dave frowns at him. "What are you talking about?"
"The Black Knight would truly be dead."
Dave laughs hard, inflicting pain on himself. "You think I'm the Black Knight?"
The kid peers at him seriously. "No. I know you are."
Dave sobers. "Oh really? And what gives you that idea?"
The kid grabs Dave's hand and lifts it twisting it slightly to show Dave the ring that sits on his finger. The ring that glows gold. "Because only the Black Knight can turn the ring to gold."