Demon(#Wattys2017 Entry)

Chapter 64: Burned

He held the bow at his side, a finely crafted bow of elm wood, with a waxed string. It seemed almost out of place in his hands, alongside the half-dozen poorly-fletched arrows he held in a small quiver at his side.

He wasn't a great shot, he knew, but with his gift, he had no need to be. He even found himself hoping that Paricht would give the signal, that the enemy would give him good reason to signal for aid.

He would even be able to take out the long-haired woman who must be the Demon, and the large cloaked man besides, but these didn't concern him. He had no reason to hate them. But their third companion! Ah, how Savir would be pleased to hear of him being killed.

Perhaps it would even earn a smile from her.
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They saw the man approach, as the gate was hastily closed behind him. Paricht walked over, sighing."...Now, I certainly hope you have a good reason for me to be dragged out here." He replied, cracking his neck boredly."'Cause honestly, if this is another ransom demand, i'll-"

"You have one of us prisoner." Guiltare replied coolly, eyes narrowed."A Nrevacian girl. Release her, and we'll be on our way."

Paricht looked at her."...Who, the Sword girl?" He sighed."...Sorry, but she's ours now, so...you can be on your way now." He replied bluntly.

Guiltare narrowed her eyes and stepped forward."...I come here under a banner of peace, but do not think that peace is all I know. If you do not release her this instant, I can promise that you will-"

"Let me ask you this, lady." Paricht interrupted."You think i'm a good guy?"

Vaussten, beside Guiltare, frowned."...Don't see much point in that, pal, just let her-"

"I don't think i'm a good guy." Paricht continued, ignoring Vaussten."You know what I was before all this? A murderer, a killer, and, as some would put it, a scoundrel. I slashed up, maybe...thirty people before I got caught, and you know what? I don't even know why I did it." He paused for a moment to grin."No momma that didn't love me, no papa that pounded on me, no bullies who said I was trash. Just saw a knife, and something clicked in me to make me think that slashing up folks might be a good idea."

Guiltare just narrowed her eyes."...Is there a point to this monologue?"

Paricht smiled."Just wait a second, 'kay?" He continued."So there I am. Scary man, locked in prison. I get a visitor. Pale guy, thought he was weird. Guy says 'what do you regret most?'. Now, I didn't regret anything, exactly, cause I enjoyed what I did, but I had to give the guy an answer. And I say 'I regret that I couldn't kill more, and that I couldn't take as much time as I wanted with some'." He smiled and gestured behind him."And now here I am, working for that guy. Pretty screwed up, innit?"

Guiltare just continued her icy stare a the man.

He sighed."...I'll take that as a yes. But you know, even a guy like me has a moral compass, of sorts. Sure, i'll slash a guy, or use my gift, but at least i'm up front about it. You...slaughtering a whole race of little Cavies, and then taking a survivor and making yourself a hero over it, training her and telling her 'it's to get revenge'...That's just not right, you know. Coming from a bastard like me, a story like that burns me right up. Someone who'd be so cruel..." The previously light-hearted tone to his voice faded, leaving a gravelly tone."...You're a real piece of work, aren't you?"

Guiltare's face hardened, and she clenched her hand in a fist."Don't-"

Morz moved more quickly than her and grabbed the man in a gloved hand, lifting him into the air by his throat."Cease your prattling." He ordered.

The man growled and reached beneath the robe, touching his arm, then frowning, scratching a bit more desperately."What the...why isn't it working!" He rasped, kicking his legs.