Darkness finally shed its cloak over the land and Catlin looked to the stars one last time for reassurance for what she was about to do. A light sigh escaped her lips as she finished placing the cloak over her body. She decided not to wear the clothes Conor was providing for her the night before. This was only an in and out situation, hopefully it would run that way.
Catlin pulled the hood of the black cloak over her head. Strands of her blonde hair flew out from it and she looked over to Conor and Fergus who were ready to start the riot outside. Conor nodded to her and she nodded back and made her way through the bushes to the somewhat familiar tavern. As she approached the door she stopped and let out a heavy sigh to rid of the nervousness and stress that has come over her body. Feeling confident in herself she finally pushed open the door.
The patrons stopped and looked towards Catlin as her boots clicked against the hard wooden floor of the tavern. Most of them looked as if they had fear in their faces, those who wore the black cloaks usually meant trouble. This was slightly alarming to Catlin, seeing how they did not give her this much attention before. The Roman Soldiers seemed to take more of an interest in her as well. Her eyes let out a sign of hesitation, what if the soldiers knew that Conor and Fergus were out there? What if they knew it was she? Surely she can't take on all the soldiers in their on her own. Catlin found the tablet hat she became familiar with yesterday and sat there.
Kathleen finished serving a man his drink from behind the counter and then looked up to the table to see Catlin sitting there. She pushed some of her red curls out of her face and smiled lightly. She quickly looked back to a man at the counter and took the cup out of his hand pouring him another pinto full of ale. As she was doing so she looked back to the hooded figure and saw the owner of the tavern in front of the person she took a small liking to. The owner chuckled lightly as he pulled a small sack of money off the table.
"HEY!" The man Kathleen shouted to grab her attention.
Kathleen looked down and saw that she was over filling the cup and cursed under her breath. She picked up a rag and began to wipe the counter clean. The owner placed a grin on his face as he came next to Kathleen, "That fella over there. Has a special liking to you girl. Serve him a drink."
Kathleen sighed as she felt the breath of the owner against her face. She sighed lightly, figured as much, she thought as she picked up a cup and filled it with ale. Her fingers grasped around the handle and she turned but the man stood in the way, "You give him a good time you hear me girl?" Kathleen only glared at him and nodded. Normally she would fight if she could but fighting a retired Roman soldier was a little ridiculous and could be a huge mistake.
Kathleen pushed her way through the guards and many villagers that sat around tables, playing games or trying to win the girls over for a night of sport and fun. A common game around was to see how many girls one man could sleep with in a night. It disgusted the young woman but then again she didn't have a choice.
Catlin sighed lightly as her fingers tapped against the table quickly and repeatedly. More soldiers than what were there before walked in the door. This made her even more nervous than before and her leg started moving as well. Kathleen finally reached the table and set down the drink. Catlin just stood up and grabbed Kathleen's arm lightly, not wanting to hurt the attractive woman.
The two made their way to the stairs and Catlin pushed Kathleen forward so she was going first up the stairs. A Roman Centurion was on his way down the stairs, probably for the second girl he could find. As he came down the stairs Catlin and him bumped into one another. The soldier stopped and pushed Catlin, "Watch where you're going. Apologize."
Catlin rebounded herself but didn't respond and the soldier was expecting an apology. She turned her head and tried to continue up the stairs. The soldier became angered more than before and grabbed the back of the cloak, "I said apologize!"
The hood of the cloak came off Catlin's head and the soldier looked amazed at what he saw. Kathleen saw her and her jaw dropped, "You're a woman?" She questioned. It was only when men wanted Kathleen to be with a woman that was normal; she never had met a woman that wanted her on their own before.
"I can explain." Catlin began until one of the soldiers from the main floor saw her face.
"That's the slave! Get her!" He shouted as soldiers began to pull out their swords.
Catlin cursed under her breath and pushed the soldier down the stairs that was closer to her. She took the cloak off of her body and took two swords out of the sheaths to defend herself and Kathleen. The clanking of swords hitting one another filled the air as Catlin tried to defend herself. Outside Conor and Fergus looked to each other and their eyes widened as they realized what they were hearing. The two men picked up their weapons and headed towards the tavern.
Catlin grunted as she felt her body being thrown against one of the tables. She winced in pain, feeling the swelling take place in the muscles of her back. One of the soldiers started to jump towards her and she just moved over, his sword stuck into the table. She turned around and stabbed him with one of her swords. Conor and Fergus crashed into the door and ended up running into a soldier that was coming towards Catlin. She looked to the men, "It's about time you show up."
Conor smirked and so did Fergus and Catlin raised her sword up to fell the meeting of a soldiers sword against her own. She grunted and pushed him off, Fergus turned around and kicked him down. Catlin smiled as she looked to girls who were cornered up, scared for their lives. She ran to them and instructed them to run outside to a wagon that was out near the end of the village. The girls nodded and ran out, the soldiers finally retreated feeling that they had lost enough men for the night. Conor, Catlin and Fergus ran out to meet the girls.
Conor and Fergus sat on a seat made for a coachman. Catlin grabbed her stallion and moved towards the back to guard it. As the wagon began to move one of the women that worked in the tavern looked around, "Wait!"
Conor looked around and sighed, "What is it?"
"Kathleen. She's not here. I can't leave without her she's like a sister to me."
Catlin stopped and looked to the woman and nodded and yelled up, "I'll go get her you go ahead. I'll meet you at the sanctuary."
Conor nodded and headed off towards the Sanctuary and Catlin raced her horse back to the tavern to get the one person they left behind.
Kathleen grunted as the retired Roman Centurion grabbed her arm and threw her against a table, "You helped her! You cost me money!" He yelled as he raised up a sword. She struggled a bit, trying to free her hand that he was going to cut off but as he thrusted the sword down it didn't meet her hand, it meet Catlin's sword. She kicked him down and picked Kathleen up from off of the table.
The owner grunted and came running towards Catlin but she moved out of the way, but not enough, the tip of his sword cut across her side, leaving behind a deep wound. Catlin grunted and cried out in pain as she felt the blood trickle down her side. Once his back was completely towards her she took her sword and with a thrust it went into the man's back. The owner gurgled in blood before she pulled out her sword and she watched him fall to the floor, dead.
Kathleen looked to the ground in horror and Catlin took her by the hand and pulled her out of the building. She stopped and looked to one of the lanterns that were hanging on a side and broke it off, having it fall to the ground so the tavern would catch on fire. Catlin and Kathleen continued out of the building. Catlin's horse reared itself up in fear of the light and smell of the fire.
Catlin winced in pain as she helped Kathleen up on her horse. Catlin cried out in pain when she jumped on the horse herself. She looked to the bleeding wound and grunted a bit. She each arm on one side of Kathleen and held onto the reins pushing the horse into a complete gallop towards the woods to meet Conor and Fergus. Kathleen turned her head around and looked behind her, over Catlin's shoulder to see the burning building.
Conor sighed aggregately as he leaned against the back of the wagon. His blue eyes scoped the horizon behind him as he continued to watch for Catlin. Fergus sighed and put his hand on the shoulder of the boy, "Lets go. Catlin knows her way back. We have to make to a decent time to get home before morning."
Conor nodded knowing he couldn't risk the endangerment of the women they have saved. He began to walk towards the front when he heard the sound of Catlin's horse come closer. He smiled as he turned around to see Catlin jump off her horse. She winced a bit as she helped Kathleen down. The woman that wanted Kathleen with her smiled and hugged Kathleen as she hopped into the back of the wagon.
Catlin took some linen out of her saddlebag and wrapped the cut up enough to try and stop the bleeding. Conor looked to her concerned and she looked up to meet his gaze, "I'll fix it more when we get to the Sanctuary. We need to go now." Conor nodded and smiled as Catlin jumped back on her horse and he moved to the front. Fergus held onto the reins of the horses that were pulling the wagon and clicked them lightly against their necks so they would move. Catlin felt more comfortable now than before, her quiver strapped around her body and her bow placed around her body, she was prepared for anything on the way home.