I politely knocked against the door, Cooper and Wilder brushing themselves off as someone fumbled around in the house.
We stood among wheat fields that rolled over the many hills, the cold night air settled in.
My warm breaths escaped through the helmet as Wilder asked, “You think they’ll recognize you?”
I replied, “There’s only one way to find out.”
The wooden door clicked open and an older man peeked through the crack, his face dirty and worn.
I closed my eyes and got into character.
“Follow the Path, good sir.”
His eyes widened as he looked at me before replying, “The Path is Followed.”
I said, “Good sir, it seems my squires and I have failed to find proper accommodation. May we be so bold as to ask for shelter for the night?”
I could barely make out his face through the darkness, but he didn’t seem pleased.
“One moment.” He mumbled.
He shut the door and began to thump around the house, Cooper gave me a concerned glance but I brushed him off.
There’s nothing this old fuck can do, isolated from the village, meaning no help in ear shot.
He can’t turn us away, due to honour or simply knowing we weren’t asking, nor could he fight back.
The story would be so simple, a foolish old man opens his door and is stabbed and ripped apart by bandits.
A simple story makes a good story.
Wilder clicked his tongue, “He’s taking too long.”
I smirked, “Patience, good things come with time.”
Something shrieked against the floor, like old furniture.
He’s hiding something, interesting.
I looked over my shoulder at my boys and they nodded their quiet understanding.
The front door creaked open, the old man stepped back. He was tall, nearly reaching the roof, he had a strong build and rough hands.
The kind of hands that have seen more than dirt, he carried himself rather confidently.
He tried to slump his shoulder, slower his gaze, but his eyes.
His eyes gave it away, you're no farmer.
I ducked under the doorway before looking up at the giant and saying, “Thank you, good sir.”
He nodded before walking over to the table, the room was wide and simple.
A dead fireplace with a pot hanging above it, a couple of rusty chests and tools hanging from the wall.
He pulled a chair and said, “Sit, I can throw something together.”
There were two chairs, so I asked him, “You have a betrothed, good sir?”
“No, not any more.”
I put my hand over my heart, “My deepest apologies.”
He wandered over to the pot, keeping his eyes on us as he began to light the fireplace.
Cooper sat down on the ground as he said, “I’m sorry for the trouble, mister?”
He lit the fire and replied, “Arthur.”
Cooper smiled warmly, “It's a pleasure, Arthur.”
Wilder slowly paced around the room, taking in every detail.
I sat down on the chair before saying, “We’re heading for the city and we’d like to know any tips for the road.”
Wilder began to wander down the hall, towards the other rooms.
The old man tried not to glare at Wilder, his eyes darting between him and the pot. Wilder slowly opened one of the doors as the old man threw some dried meat into the pot.
He said, “It’s considered rude to wander uninvited.”
I raised my hand, “Oh, do forgive him, he’s always been a curious sort. You don’t mind, do you?”
He grabbed a clay jug off the shelf before pouring it into the pot.
The water hissed as Wilder wandered into the room, before long he began to tear the room apart.
Cooper looked at me with his shifting eyes as I said, “Now, back to my previous question, would you happen to know of the nearest temple, town and quickest road to the city?”
He stared into the pot as he replied, “If you follow the path you took to get here, you’ll eventually connect with the main road. Then you’ll get where you need to go.”
Furniture crashed and broke, Wilder was really getting into it.
I nodded, “Thank you, for the clarification.”
A woman’s scream pierced through the house, that didn't take long…
The old man shot up and tried to bolt past me, I stood up and pushed him back while saying, “Whoa, why the rush?”
He screamed, “Don’t you fucking dare.”
He charged me and I pinned his arms before slamming him against the wall.
I whispered into his ear, “Now you’re going to take a deep breath and sit down, understood?”
He stopped struggling, smart lad.
He glared at me as I said, “I want to hear you say it. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
I pushed him towards the chair as the woman’s desperate screams filled the house.
I told him, “Sit.”
Wilder dragged the screaming old lady through the hall, she was kicking and screaming until Wilder threw her to the ground in front of him.
He drew his dagger and put it to her throat before saying, “Shut up.”
Her eyes were filled with tears as she sniffed and looked at Arthur.
He told her, “It’s going to be okay.”
Wilder grabbed the old woman by the hair, forcing her to her feet before throwing her at the table.
She slammed against the table like a doll, her bone cracking as the table legs scraped against the ground.
Arthur turned to me and yelled, “Hey.”
I told her, “Get up.”
Her arms trembled under her thin and soggy skin, she tried to stand but fell to the ground.
Arthur got up to help but I yelled, “Sit.”
He glared at me before watching the lady fall again, she curled up and began to mutter something beneath her breath.
A prayer. How pathetic.
I walked up to her and gently hooked my arm under hers before carrying her to the chair and sitting her down.
She softly cried, her grey hair falling over her face as I gently wrapped my hand around her shoulder and turned to Arthur.
I said, “You lied to me, Arthur… and that makes me wonder what else you're hiding?”
What should we do next?
A. Murder them both: Seems extreme, but letting them live could ruin the disguise.
B. Beat them up and rob them: Killing is too much. Take their stuff, rough them up, then leave.
C. Rob them: Just steal their stuff. No need to do anything more because the big job is coming up soon.