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THE HOOD
Chapter Two – The Legend Begins
Back in Balamb Town the two soldiers that had been so easily knocked unconscious by Squall and Zell started to come back round. Staggering slightly as they tried to rise.
"Oh God me head!" Said one as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Never mind ye bleeding head, where's the cart gone?" Asked the other soldier.
"What the…..the captain will have our heads for this!"
The two soldiers both found that they needed to sit back down again, this news was not going to go down well at all. Losing the provisions for the Sheriff's table was bad enough, but losing the cart and horses also belonging to the Sheriffs household didn't bear thinking about.
"Why are you two sitting on your arses when you should be gathering the Sheriff's provisions?" Asked a booming voice.
The two soldiers looked up to see first a brown horse staring back at them. Then they saw its rider. A large stocky man, with short black hair that could only have been described as being cut round a pudding dish. Wearing a dark brown smock and pants that led to dark brown suede boots. With a red tabard over his chest and back, which bore a blue cross in it's centre that signified his allegiance to the Sheriff. The anger in his face making the branded crowned black crow, the mark of Norg that was on his right cheek stand out. It was the Captain of the Sheriff's guard Nida Baines.
The two soldiers tried to stand to attention and failed miserably, as they swaggered and swayed.
"Are you two drunk?" Asked Captain Nida.
"No Sir. We was ambushed. Struck on the back of our heads before we could even draw our swords. We had just come out of the Inn with a keg of ale and we saw a boy trying to steal bread from the cart. We caught the boy and tied him up ready to bring him in for punishment," said one of the soldiers.
"And where is the boy now? Where is the cart? Where are the provisions?" Captain Nida asked.
"Gone sir. The boy must have been a decoy for the hood man sir," said the other soldier.
"The hood man?" Questioned Captain Nida.
"Yes sir. As I was getting on the seat to lead the horses. The hood that's all I saw of him before I was hit on the back of me head." Said the soldier.
"Well I suggest you two find out all you can about this hood man as I want him caught. Get a wanted sign up immediately. This man has robbed the Sheriff direct and will hang for this. I don't want to see you two back at Balamb Garden House until this hood man is caught!!!" stated Captain Nida.
"Yes sir," replied the two soldiers.
Captain Nida turned to the man on his left and said "Farrow organise another cart so that the provisions can be obtained once again, only this time I want an escort arranged."
"Immediately sir," replied Farrow as he turned his horse around and rode back to Balamb Garden House.
Turning to his right Captain Nida said
" The rest of you men follow me, we will see if we can pick up the trail of the stolen cart."
As he turned his horse around he asked, "Who are those two idiots?"
"John Biggs and Hengis Wedge sir" replied one of the horsemen.
And with that Captain Nida and the six other horsemen rode out through the town archway.
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Back in Balamb Wood, Squall and Zell were sitting next to the young boy called Tom that they had rescued and his mother Beth. Having already dished out food to everyone and eaten their fill.
"Thank you kind Sir for rescuing my Tom from the soldiers. I don't know what I'd do without him," said Beth.
"You don't have to thank me madam. Anyone would have done the same,"stated Squall.
"No Sir they would not. People are afraid of the Sheriff's men. Anyone that opposes him or that Prince Norg are put behind bars and if you openly say you support our good King Laguna, well then it's torture. The will burn down your home while you watch, put your children in irons an goodness knows what happens to the women. I've seen it done Sir. Some of the women have been forced to work on the streets just to earn enough for their next meal, but many have just vanished."
"Mmn they could have been sold into slavery. I've seen fair skinned women in my travels of the East," said Squall.
"Norg. I was not even aware that King Laguna had a brother and I must admit before this day I had not even heard of that name. Are you sure madam that he is indeed royalty?" questioned Squall.
"Well Sir, I'm told that he has the crowned black crow on his tunic, which is said to be his mark and he wears a gold royal crown ring on his right hand. As soon as our King had been gone for a year, he turned up with Cardinal Hyne himself. Declaring that Prince Norg was the 'Regent in Waiting'. Stating that he should be obeyed as if he was the King, while his dear brother was away on his crusade." Said Beth.
"He could still be an impostor! Just because he wears the royal ring that could have been easily copied or stolen doesn't make it so. And I'm sure that our dear Cardinal Hyne's allegiance could be easily bought." Stated Squall venomously.
Beth laughed "You sound like you know our Cardinal well sir?"
"Indeed, although I have never met the man. His past actions, however, I have. He craves gold, land and power. He uses his religion to put fear into others, so that he gains land after it has been bequeathed to him from some God fearing soul. Failing that he gains silver or gold from people thinking that they can buy their way into heaven. My own Father threw him off his land many years ago." Replied Squall.
"Are you returning home to your Father Sir?" asked Tom.
"No lad unfortunately my Father has long since passed away and my home has already been taken by the Sheriff and his men," said Squall.
"We cannot stay in Balamb Town now after leaving so hastily with the Sheriff's ill gotten gains. Shall I get the blankets out from the pack?" Asked Zell.
Squall replied, "Yes, I have spent many nights in the open air and the Woods of Balamb will serve us well. Although, I think we should move the cart to a deeper part of the Wood, as it would not do well if any soldiers ventured through and discovered these people and their missing cart."
"We'll move it for you Sir, so that it's well hidden. There are some bushes we can use just off the track. It wont be seen, but it will still be in easy reach'" said one of the men that they had passed food to earlier.
"Indeed, that will do fine my good man," replied Squall.
With that the man walked to the front of the cart and led the horses over to the right of the track. Within a minute, they had disappeared from sight.
Zell had placed their blankets just off the track on the left, about twenty paces away from Tom and Beth, but hidden from sight should a soldier come wondering into the Wood. However, both directions of the track could be seen as well as all of the current residents.
Squall walked over to Zell.
"A good choice of resting place as always Zell!"
Zell nodded and asked
"I take it that you are going to remain 'dead in name' to the people of Balamb, but I don't believe that everyone has sworn allegiance to both the Sheriff and Norg?"
Squall responded. "Yes I think that the 'Lord of Balamb' needs to stay in the grave for now. But I fear that the Kings allies may well be in hiding or worse slaughtered. We will need to travel to the great town of Deling to see my Fathers old friend Lord Caraway. It has been five long years since I last saw him, but he fought with my Father, so I know that his loyalty remains true with the King."
"We can take the cart horses, ride them to Galbadia and then purchase some fresh horses for the ride to Deling," said Zell
"Yes we may even encounter 'Irvine the Archer' and find out if he is just a felon who lines his own pockets, or if he too is a man of the King. I will take first watch as I think it wise. I will wake you when I feel weary,"stated Squall.
The early morning light had begun to break through the tree line, which gave the track through the Wood a slight mystical glow. Although there had been no rain, a slight dampness could be felt in the air. The people in the Wood had started to stir from their slumber. Zell had woken Squall when he had seen a man enter the Wood and approach Beth. With uncanny speed and stealth like ability, Squall had approached the man from behind, sword in hand.
"It's alright Sir, he's one of us!" Said Beth as she raised her right hand.
Squall returned his sword to its sheath, as the man jumped slightly in surprise that someone had managed to sneak behind him undetected.
Beth went on to say."John here is the blacksmith in Balamb, he lets us know what's happening in Town and it seems Sir you have already been placed on the Sheriff's wanted list. There's a wanted notice been placed on the board in the town square, asking for information on 'The Hood'."
"He's 'The Hood'?" Asked John the blacksmith, as he nodded his head towards Squall.
Squall looked slightly confused.
"Where on earth have they got this name 'The Hood' from?" Questioned Squall.
John replied, "that's the title on the wanted notice it said…
The Hood-
Man wearing Hood wanted by the Sheriff of Balamb
For stealing two horses, a cart and provision therein.
By order of Nida Baines
Captain of the Sheriff's Guard.
that's what it read sir"
"Then it is a good thing that I leave this area for a while. Zell, get the horses. We will ride them to the outskirts of Galbadia and then set them free. As they have the mark of the Sheriff it would not be wise to keep them here." Stated Squall.
Zell walked over to the man that had hidden the cart last night. After a brief conversation, they both then walked in the direction that the cart had last taken.
"If it's Galbadia your heading, go see Paul the blacksmith there for he is my cousin. Mention that John of Balamb sent you and he will obtain fresh horses for you," said John.
Beth said, 'Sir if you ever find yourself in Timber Forest seek out Flo and Dobe. They are leaders of a group called the 'Forest Foxes'. Mention 'Beth the Balamb Badger' and they will assist you in anyway they can."
Squall smiled as Zell approached with the two horses. With makeshift reins made from the cut down cart reins, their blankets packed away and provisions for three days. The two men were ready to leave Balamb. As they mounted the barebacked horses. Tom cried out
"You never did tell us your name Sir?"
As Squall turned on his horse, a smile on his face he replied
"I'm 'The Hood'"
With that said, he set off with Zell along the track towards Galbadia.