Tarlin: Judge of the One God

Beams of light pushed through the wood. Columns freckled the base of the Deerwood where Tarlin and his companion walked. He never took the road. Not for the fact that he wanted to avoid anyone else, but there was never any adventure on the road. There was no adventure, no excitement. His companion stopped, instinctively Tarlin crouched down and squatted ever time this happened. His dog always could tell when someone was nearby. He unclasped his scabbard and put his hand on the rough leather hilt.

The familiar grip melded to the palm of his hand perfectly, it became part of his hand. Tarlin searched the wood, for what caused his dog to pause. He heard them before they saw him. Three men ringing in mail like a thousand tiny bells, the hooves of their mounts thumping against the floor of forest. The dog found a spot and hid, Tarlin found a tree, and wrapped his cloak around him, doing the same. He was a rock, leaning against the tree.

The three men stopped in the clearing near where the rock leaned. He could hear them dismount, the sounds of a struggling girl, her mouth muffled.

“Er’es a good a place as any, common bitch, let’s see what ya have to offer” said a deep voice.

“Aye I carrie ‘er, I get the first go at it” said the next one

“No ya do, I get the first one…I’s the one whole stole her”

He could hear the girl whimpering and crying, He didn’t need to let this happen in his wood. He smirked at his father’s words. Well, I did ask for some adventure. He pulled out two light daggers, and held them in his right hand. He slowly stood up, he didn’t need to be too stealthy, as he knew the men had other things on their minds than to see who was hiding in the woods.

He whispered a quick prayer and let one dagger fly. It struck the neck of the Man who already had his britches down and was starting to climb over the girl. He fell down to his knees and sat there, and he died as he turned toward the throw. He let loose the next dagger as soon as the men turned. It struck the farthest man in the left eye, he fell like an upended bucket of water. The girl screamed as best she could, her eyes wide as the two men died. The last man turned but Dog was already on him. He had knocked the rapist down on his belly.

Before the man had a chance to get up Tarlin stood on his back, pinning him down. “Get off me!” the man protested. Tarlin unsheathed his bastard sword and pressed it into the man’s back.

“You are in no position to make demands rapist, what garrison are you from.” Tarlin asked.

“To the hells with you highwayman!”

“I’ve already been there,” He pressed the sword harder against the man’s back. The man screamed as the blade pierced the mail and the skin on the man’s back. “Tell me or this will be the tip of the pain”

“The Rose, Up at Deerton. We just were for a little fun, we didn’ know..”

Tarlin finished the blow, piercing the man’s heart. “May the God forgive me for my judgement” he whispered as he pulled the sword from the dead man. He turned to the girl. She was crying and full of fear. “Don’t be afraid, you are safe now.” He said to her as he pulled her up. He undid her gag and cut her ropes. The girl was barley fifteen years old, skinny, with large green eyes and long auburn hair. If it wasn’t for the cuts and bruises, she would have been strikingly beautiful. He gathered his knives from the bodies of the men, and searched their bodies for anything of value. He gathered a half dozen silvers and twenty coppers, and cut the sigils from the men’s chests. The men had told them the truth, he was of the Rose, and they were near Deerton. The three horses were tied to a tree. One had broken his neck from rearing from the blood, the other two seemed not to notice, or were so dulled from war that it didn’t matter.

“You will come with me.” Tarlin said. “I’ll give you to the sisters of Caperton, they will take care of you.”

“Who are you?” She asked, her voice was still shaking as much as she was.
“Tarlin Eddrus Stonecloak, Judge of the one God” He stated. He hated the title, but the maid had asked. “But you can call me Tarlin, no one we meet will need to know who I am. And who are you?”