Day 233
Just a story today I am bereft of words and can think of nothing to write!
The Contract
From out of the storm, the rider appeared. His faced masked clothes dusty his pale horse steaming. I recoiled in horror he is huge bigger then I had imagined. His weapons casually draped across his body. Danger coiled in every muscle .
I stepped back nearly stumbling as he dismounted. He tied up his snorting mount. Turning towards me his long black coat swirled dust falling. He pulled down his mask removed his hat and shook his handsome head. My nerves were taught, strained, electric. I’d sent for him and now he had come.
“Hello” I croaked nervously
He grinned “ Don’t worry everyone reacts like that relax I’m only dangerous to my next victims” his voice was gravel
I managed a weak smile.
“ I need a drink” he said
I motioned for him to follow and lead him to my camp. He towered over me and as he walked brushing the dust off his hat. I handed him the water skin he lifted it and took a long pull “ I was hoping for something stronger” he growled I shrugged. “Oh well” he said and took another drink.
“This your camp” he asked
“Yes”
“Been here long”
“No”
He put down the water skin and sat on a large log. “Man of few words uh” he grinned white teeth
“You sent for me, what’s the job?”
“Killing” I answered
“It always is” he replied “Who and how many?”
I sat down and poked at the fire with a stick sucking my lip. “Five “ I paused “ They are all one family the Landers, the father and four sons”
He looked straight at me “What did they do, to have me make them die?”
“ They” I choked up tears welling once more “ They killed my family” I managed
He nodded “Nothing worse”
“Couldn’t do it yourself then?” The question took me by surprise
I couldn’t speak I shook my head.
He nodded again “ It’s a hard thing to do for revenge even harder”
“They murdered them for their land” I was shaking “I’m no killer but I can’t forgive”
He dug in the pocket of his coat and brought out a piece of parchment. “ You’ll need to sign this” he said
“What is it?”
“It’s a contract that authorises me to carry out your instruction. I cannot proceed without it. It against the code.” He handed it to me
“Should I read it?”
“Up to you, most don’t” he grinned again
It wasn’t long, so I read all of it. I looked up “It says here if you fail, I forfeit any right to try again”
He stared right through me “ I never fail. Sign it don’t sign it, it’s your call”
I took the pen he offered dipped it in ink and signed. I handed it back, he rolled it up and pushed it back in the pocket.
“Do you know where they are. It’ll save me time” He stood, massive, like a slab of rock.
“ I do” I answered
“Care to share”
“They are on the farm they killed to get” I stood up “ It’s about a days ride from here to the North west. There’s a large oak that grows in the middle of the trail, take the left fork”
He nodded and put on his hat.
“How will you do it” I asked
“Do you care?”
I shook my head eyes downcast.
“I’ll find you when it’s done. Will you take the farm back?”
I shook my head again “ I never liked farming that’s why I wasn’t there when it happened”
“Wondered how you’d survived” he turned to go.
“What’s your name?” I called after him
“You know my name” I heard him call back
He mounted his steed and slowly rode off waved his hand.
The Landers are all dead. The farm lays empty and abandoned. He returned and told me, my contract was fulfilled. I paid him the twelve pieces of silver.
I asked if I could ride with him for a while he shrugged and said that was my choice. I’ve been following death for three years now he doesn’t seem to mind.
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