Peter Marlow
"W-what? In exchange for help you want my life?"
"That's what I said, kid. So, how about it, revenge and a future for the rest of your family for your measly, insignificant life. I'm being generous here."
I stopped to think. "I… I."
He continued. "Isn't it honorable to put down your life for your family? Or are you only following honor when it's convenient?"
This bastard… I don't want to die, at least not yet, but I see no other way for my family to come out of this. But still, do I have to die after living for only twelve years? I looked at the man, he was staring at me intently, waiting for an answer. I sighed. "Fine… It's a deal. But you have to do good on your part of the agreement before claiming my life."
"Sure, why not, it's not like I'm in a rush to kill. Now then tell me about the count that killed your pops."
"Very well." I took a deep breath and started. "My father was a soldier in count Leswin's army and a good soldier at that. He was well respected by others, loyal, honorable and kind. At that time he was highly valued by the count. All that changed when the count laid his eyes on my mother…"
"Wow, she must be quite the hottie then, can you introduce us?"
"You're an ass…"
"For someone like me, that's a compliment. Anyway, continue."
"As I was saying, the count fell in love with my mother and tried to take her for himself. My mother refused, saying that she already had a loving husband and a family. The count didn't take the answer well. He started harassing our family, especially my father, but father took it all without complaining."
"Finally Count Leswin, that bastard sent my father on a suicide mission. Father was told to clear all of the monsters in a nearby forest and not to return before it's done. He was tasked to do all that alone, but he didn't object. He didn't object even though he knew that it would most likely cause his death because he held his honor above his life. That's just the type of man he was and I strive to be just like him in the future."
"What a lode of bull shit… Honor above life? Honor above taking care of your family? If you had any life remaining, I would suggest getting a better role model, but you do you. It's none of my business if idiots make idiotic decisions."
"Don't insult my father!" I screamed, getting the attention of all the other people in the tavern. "Someone like you would never understand the meaning and worth of honor!"
"I don't need honor. I have something far better than that, I have power, power that allows me to do anything I want with no consequences, I can kill, torture, steel, I can even rival the gods. Why would I care about some honor?"
"Without honor your life has no meaning. Honor is the guide that guides you through life. Like a ship can't sail without a rudder, you can't live without honor!"
"Sure, kid, whatever you say, I'll drink to that." He took a big gulp of his drink. "Although, it's not like I need a reason to drink. I just said that to shut you up."
This asshole… I sighed. "So, are you going to help me or not?"
"Yeah, sure. I'm tipsy enough to start working. Lead the way to the count whatever the name was mansion."
"You want to attack the mansion? Are you that drunk?"
"Weren't you listening? I said, plain as day, my power is enough to rival gods, so what's there to worry about?"
I stopped to think for a sec. If I get caught with this drunkard breaking into the count's mansion, my head will roll. But then again, this might be the only chance that I get in my entire life to get revenge on that bastard. I have to do this, I have to take this chance. But first, as an insurance… "Let's go to my place first. You have to heal my mother and give her enough coin so that she and my sister can live comfortably for the rest of their lives."
"What's the rush? Are you doubting that I'll succeed in killing the count? No need to worry, I'm quite proficient when it comes to manslaughter."
"Just in case." I persisted.
The man sighed. "Fine… I would have to go there anyway after the count, so it doesn't really matter." He stood up, walked to the counter, placed a single golden coin on it, turned around and left. I followed behind, not forgetting to collect the leftover bread and unfinished pie from our table.
The walk was short. The chilling wind berating me from time to time, snowflakes turning my dark blue hair white. We came to a stop in front of a simple, yet well cept house. I opened the door and was greeted by my seven year old sister. "Welcome home, brother!" She ran up to me and gave me a big hug.
"Hey, I'm back and I brought home a real treat." I said, patting her head. I took out my food bag and opened it to show her the treasures inside.
"Wow… There's so much. Mom will be very happy!" Then she saw the man behind me and started hiding behind me.
"Oh, this… He's the one that bought all of this food for us. His name is…" I stopped, not knowing how to introduce the man.
"You can just call me Adam." The man said.
I heard coughing from the other room and a soft, strained voice asked. "Peter, is that you? Did you bring someone with you?"
My sister ran to mom's side, talking about how much food I brought home, I followed, leading Adam. We entered a small, poorly furnished room that had two beds and nothing more. Adam looked around, then his gaze got fixed on my sick mother.
"I don't condone the count's actions, but I kinda get where he was coming from. She really is beautiful enough to kill over."
"And you are?" My mother asked.
"Oh, this is Adam, he bought us food and he's here to heal you, mom!" I answered in his stead, not wanting him to speak any more.
"That's nice of you, mister Adam, but, as you can see, we have nothing to offer in return, so you better leave." My mother said.
"I know that, but it took me seven whole minutes to get to this place and I don't feel like wasting such effort on nothing. Here." He retrieved a red potion in an intricate glass bottle from his dimensional rind and handed it to my mom. "This is a healing pot. Drink."
"This… This costs at least ten silver, we could never repay you. What is it that you want in return?"
"Nothing, just think of this as my good will."
This asshole has good will? Yeah right…
My mom gave Adam a suspicious look, then said. "I can't accept this. Sorry for making you come all the way here." She handed the bottle back to him.
Adam sighed. "This family is full of self righteous idiots…" He opened the bottle, grabbed my mom by the jaw and forced it down her throat. My mother protested, trying to fight back, but she was no match.
Finally, when the bottle was empty, he let her go, turned around and walked out. My mother's complexion immediately became better and she started breathing better. I was speechless. I knew that what he did, he did to help her, but still… How can someone treat a sick woman with such little care? This man's ruthlessness amazed me.
"Mom, are you better now?" I asked.
She looked pissed. "Yeah, a bit." Then she added. "Don't bring that man here anymore, in fact, stay as far away from him as possible."
"I will, don't worry, it's just that I have to do something with him now." I turned to leave.
"Peter Marlow, I forbid you from going with him! Do you understand?" She shouted.
Sorry mother but for the sake of our family, for father, I have to do this. I ran out, almost slipping on coins of various denominations covering the floor.
Adam was waiting for me outside. "Did you say your final goodbyes?"
"If I said that, there would be no chance for them to let me go…"
"Smart kid. Let's go, lead the way."
We walked to the center of the city. There, surrounded by a tall wall, stood the count's mansion. It was beginning to darken outside. There was no way for us to sneak in unnoticed now, but, I assumed, we'd be fine if we waited for the sun to set. "Alright, we're here, let's wait for sundown." I said.
"Nah, I'm not that patient." Adam handed me a matching mask, then started walking towards the gate guarded by two soldiers. I was about to protest, but was interrupted by a loud bang. Adam kicked the gate open, shattering the lock in the process.
"Who are you, bastard? How dare you attack the Leswin estate?" One of the soldiers screamed. The soldiers drew their swords and aimed at Adam, ready to attack. We're so screwed now…
"Surrender peacefully and you might still be spared!" The soldier shouted and began approaching Adam. He grabbed Adam by the hand and put him in handcuffs. Adam didn't resist at all. Soon the same was done to me. Why did I go with this drunkard in the first place? I should have known that this was a suicide mission. Well, at least my family was taken care of…
We were led to the mansion, straight to count Leswin himself and forced to kneel. Rage began to boil inside of me when I saw the count. This fat, bolding pig brought my family to ruin and is enjoying life now? Unforgivable. Adam didn't seem fazed at all.
"Well, what do we have here? A couple of rats actually dared to attack me?" Leswin sneered. "Any last words?"
"Yes, actually I came here specifically for a chat. Do you have time?" Adam said, showing no fear. His voice sounded almost bored.
"What? A chat? You attacked my mansion for a chat?"
"This was the quickest way. Anyway… Do you remember a soldier that served you some time back? You know, the one whose wife you were trying to steal?"
Count's face turned sowwer. "So what? Are you here to complain about that?"
"Just checking, is it true that you sent him to die? You can tell me, after all, I'll be dead soon."
"Humph, so what if I did? What does that change?"
"Nothing much, it's just that I can kill you with a clean consciousness now."
"What? Don't you see the situation you're in? Kneeling in front of me, shackled, surrounded by soldiers and you still want to kill me? Me?" The count started laughing.
"Why not? All of that doesn't change much for me anyway." Adam's shackles bursted to pieces, he stood up, surprising everyone. The soldiers surrounded him, weapons at the ready. "Now then, let's begin."
Adam moved like lightning, in an instant all of the soldiers were lying on the ground, Leswin, from the shock, fell onto his fat ass. "What… Are you?" He asked.
"Me? Just your friendly neighborhood vengeful god." He started approaching the count.
Leswin started backing away. "What do you want? Money? Fame? Women? I can give you anything, just please don't do anything to me!"
"Don't get the wrong idea, after your death, I'll take everything either way, so there's nothing that you can offer."
"M-my death!? No please! Why?!"
"Why? Because I can and I want to. Is there anything more that is needed to do something?" Adam kept approaching. "Relax, I'm not the one to kill you. Believe me that's a really good thing for you, since I have a tendency to torture my victims. The one to kill you is this kid." He pointed at me. "The son of the man you've sent to die."
Leswin turned to me, with eyes full of fear, he began begging for mercy. Adam handed me a dagger. "You know what to do."
"...Yes."
After I slit the bastard's throat, Adam began looting the place, collecting anything he found valuable. Then, after leaving, a mysterious fire started in the mansion, burning everything in its way.
I turned to Adam. "You've fulfilled your end of the deal, now I'll fulfill mine. Take my life."
"Nah, I've changed my mind. You can keep it."
"What? Why?" I was left speechless, not able to form a sentence. I spent so much time getting used to the idea of dying, I thought about my funeral, whether my mom and sister would cry and so much more. I should be relieved, but I feel so cheated. I was ready, he can't take this away from me now! "Don't joke around, a deal is a deal, you have to honor it."
"I don't want to. What are you going to do about it? Don't think that crying will help."
Then it hit me. "Were you not going to kill me from the start? Were you just messing with me from the very beginning?! How can you be so cruel, you bastard?! Why?!"
"Why? Because I can and I want to. Is there anything more that is needed to do something?" He started walking away. "This is how I have fun, kid. Bye."
"You! You absolute bastard, Come back here! Come back and kill me!!!"
Join me on patreon at patreon.com/BonsaiCat for early access to new chapters or buy my book 'How to rule a fantasy world' on Amazon. I appreciate all of your support.