Chapter 13: The City of Kendal

There was a large caravan area where we could set up camp. Little One and Charles both disappeared before we were finished. Ellie linked her arm in mine, “Shopping?”

I grinned before reaching into the wagon and setting my rifle down, “put a ward up.”

Kendal was a city of tall spiraling towers and bright colors. I bought several bolts of thick wool. Bright blue, dark and light green, pale yellow and dark blood red. We bought food for dinner and returned to our camp. Ellie frowned when she removed the ward, “Someone tried to enter my wards.”

I looked at her and then looked around. The only ones I saw were the gate guards that sneered as they looked at us. I nodded and we put the bolts of cloth away before starting dinner. Little One and Charles returned looking smug and I grinned, “I think they found trouble and got away with it.”

Ellie laughed and it was just after dinner that trouble came in the form of a city official and a guard captain. We had cleaned up and were sitting together talking about what we were going to need. The two men stopped close to us as if they were trying to intimidate us.

The official cleared his throat, “The city of Kendal requires all merchants and travelers to pay a bond.”

I glanced at Ellie to see her tight lips and stood, “And why would I pay this bond?”

The official sneered and looked at the guard captain who had his hand on his dagger. I smiled, “Let me put it another way. Why should I not kill you both now?”

They froze and looked at each other and the captain started pulling the dagger. I pulled my pistol and pointed it at his head, “You can die here and now if you like.”

He looked from the barrel of the pistol to me and licked his lips, “My guards...”

I shook my head, “Are thieves and back stabbers. They will not even left a finger.”

I reached out and took his dagger before stepping back, “We could use a couple of slaves Ellie. We can sell them in the next town.”

Their eyes widen and their faces turned white. Ellie walked around them slowly, “They are not very fit and we will not make enough to pay for what they eat.”

I sighed as if in regret, “Then I guess I should just kill them now.”

They dropped to their knees to beg and we waited. I finally shook my head and put my pistol away, “fine your lives are our bond. Leave and do not come back.”

As soon as they were out of ear shot Ellie turned to me, “This means the thieves guild now runs Kendal.”

I glanced at the captain when he stopped to yell at his guards as the official hurried into the city. I sighed and went to pull out the super long. I slipped the vest on and turned as a large group of guards started walking towards us with drawn swords. I glanced at Ellie and she shook her head, “We need to go see the council.”

I shrugged and lifted the rifle as the men got closer. Six seconds later I walked through the dead bodies on my way towards the gate, “Well, lets go see the council.”

She was grim faced as she walked beside me. The streets emptied quickly as we walked through them. The large square where the city courts were was empty. We walked across and through the large double doors. Two men turned as we entered the hall and Ellie gestured and said something that made them stop moving.

We walked past them and opened the huge double doors. The room was huge with a heavy table at the other end. The official from our camp turned and his face went white. A large fat man stood, “How dare you!”

I smiled as I crossed the room and stopped on the other side of the table, “I will offer you a bargain, your lives.”

He snarled as four large men entered the room, “Kill them.”

I shook my head and shot him twice in the chest before turning to the men. They had stopped walking as they realized I was more dangerous then they thought. I gestured to the floor, “On your knees.”

One pulled a dagger and I shook my head and shot him. The others went to their knees quickly as Ellie murmured a spell that made the room echo. I looked at the men remaining around the table, “You are leaving this city. I will walk you out and if you even breath wrong I will kill you. You will not return because if you do I will be waiting.”

One opened his mouth and I pointed the rifle at his head, “go ahead.”

He looked up from the barrel into my face, “This is not over.”

I smiled, “It better be because if it is not a lot of men will die.”

I gestured and Ellie unsealed the room as I started walking them out. People were standing in doorways and looking out windows as we walked the group through the streets and out the gate. I gestured to the road, “do not return.”