Veil of Stars

A Squire's Bravery (Part 1/3)

"Are you aware of what you have done?" the knight yelled at the youthful squire. The squire recently obtained this job after coveting it for many years. His ultimate aspiration was to become one of the king's knights, but he knew he lacked a few necessary qualities,  specifically bravery. The squire was eager to complete his first solo mission. "Bring this scroll to the black-clad man by the riverbank next to the ferry boats at sun fall." The squire's giddy excitement must have clouded his vision because he did not see the gang of bandits lingering in the cobblestone streets where he trodded.

The bandit leader, a twenty-year-old female with a bright auburn pixy cut and a sea serpent tattoo on her bare shoulder, held a dagger to the squire's throat. She instructed him to empty his pockets. The squire obeyed instantly. 

Now, a highly classified document was possessed by a bandit.

The knight paced before the squire. He should not have entrusted this task to someone so inexperienced. The squire's name was Flynn. He was a small-framed, curious-eyed man of twenty-five years. He had waves in his disheveled, chestnut brown hair.

"Tell me again, who has the document?" the knight asked impatiently.

Flynn let his gaze fall to the floor. "A bandit. A female bandit with auburn hair." The discomfort he felt radiated in his quivering voice.

"A female?" the knight repeated. His black eyes shone with disgust. "You let a female loot you?"

Flynn ran a shaking hand through the waves in his hair like he often did when nerves unsettled him. "She was quite fierce, sir," he added in a hushed voice.

The knight stared disapprovingly at his squire. The knight's name was Rónán. He had a rugged appearance and a permanent scowl. "You will find this 'fierce' woman, retrieve the document, and deliver it to the correct recipient." The fury Rónán felt was evident in his raised voice.

The nerves Flynn felt made his heart feel like it was fluttering in his chest. He raised his brown eyes to meet Rónán. "I do not know where to locate her, sir."

"There is a tavern on the outskirts of the city called the Crippled Stallion. I have heard that bandits accumulate there. Go to the tavern. Perhaps this woman will be inebriated when you arrive. I do not care how you succeed, just do not let me down again." Rónán's voice was thunder on a summer's night; loud and heated.

Flynn swallowed hard and nodded. Night had settled on the city when he left the knight's quarters. Despite it being mid-August, a crisp wind caused Flynn to shiver as he stuffed his hands into the steep pockets of his tan-colored tunic.

Flynn located the Crippled Stallion. It was a moderately-sized tavern with dim lighting.
When Flynn entered, he felt instantaneously out of place. Flynn was a reserved man who appreciated silence and cleanliness. The tavern was quite the opposite. Loud music sounded from musicians in the corner of the room. The customers were gruff and loud. The floors looked as though no one had mopped them in ages. Smoke filled the room from the many cigars hanging from the customer's mouths.

Flynn made his way to the bar counter. A plump brunette woman with ratty hair and large breasts was pouring ale into a mug. The woman winked at Flynn. "What can I get ya, love?"

The squire blushed. "I'm looking for a girl. She has red hair and a tattoo of a sea serpent."

The bartender grunted. "Sure. She's at the gambling table. When she turns you down, I'll be waiting."

The woman winked again. Flynn felt himself blush from embarrassment as he walked toward the gambling table. The bandit girl he saw earlier was there. She was chatting loudly to a group of unsavory-looking men. A cigar hung from her mouth. 

"Excuse me," Flynn said, but the noise drowned out his voice. "Excuse me," he tried again, louder. Still no response.

The squire stood up on the gambling table. "EXCUSE ME!" he shouted, then blushed when everyone in the tavern stopped to look at him. Flynn stepped down from the table.

The female bandit looked up. "What is it, kid?" she asked with mild amusement.

Flynn was suddenly aware that he stood in a room full of potential bandits with only a full knife to protect him. "You took something of mine today. I need it back."

The woman stood up from her chair and pulled out the document. "You mean this? What do you want with it?"

The squire shook his head. "I just—I need it back."

The woman nodded and stepped closer to Flynn. "So this was your plan? You would come in here, politely ask for your little paper back, and I would surrender? Why, because I am such a nice person?"

This caused an eruption of laugher around the table.

The woman smiled at Flynn's discomfort. "Tell you what. You can play for your little paper back. Sit." She motioned to a chair at the table.

Flynn felt uncomfortable, but he agreed. The result was embarrassing. Rónán would be furious if he knew Flynn had failed again.

Everyone in the tavern laughed at him. "Get out of here," a bandit said, pushing Flynn. The squire stumbled out the door and into the night.