“But I, and my men surrounded those gypsies cutting them down by the dozens until their leader coward under the threat of my bow,” the blonde captain boasted to a group of soldiers who simply nodded, afraid to interrupt him once more. “Two days we marched them, through filth and rain, until their spirits were broken enough to bring them in.”

“How many are left? Do you think we’ll have enough space down there?” a young page of 16 pondered aloud.

“Aye, ol' Sentry will have his fill of work for some time. I managed to capture most of the group alive,” Kane proudly wiped mead foam from his mustache. “Don’t fret, most of them will get the axe; be plenty of space once that gets started.”

The group of soldiers that crowded around Kane nodded in mutual agreement. Sentry was far to meticulous to allow the underground prison to overflow. He had a system, that very few understood, which sorted, housed, and cycled prisoners around the cells and the success of this led few to question it. Pike hurried past the common area and down the increasingly damp stone steps, being mindful of the last two steps in the landing that had crumbled recently, then fell into a light jog across the molding halls to yet another stairwell. He placed his right hand on the smooth wall as he rushed down the spiraling steps until he reached the third door on the path below.

“Let it work this time,” Pike thought earnestly.

Lined on the ground in two rows forty men in chains finally settled down to a volume calm enough for Blight to begin processing. Kneeling with their hands now fastened in front of them the ragged men glared at anyone who had the misfortune of locking eyes.

“I, Captain Blight, hereby formally charge the Wolfbane Bandits with incarceration until they are to be evaluated before our court of law for the suspected crimes of burglary, razing, pillaging, abduction, arson, murder, and other atrocities. What say you to the charges at present?”

Even now as he was on his knees the Wolfbane leader looked down upon Blight. Gold trimming from his dark blue head dressing fell low on his dark brow.

“You have nothing but the word of idiot peasants. Your walls shall not keep us much longer.”

“Alright,” Blight said with a raised brow. “Now, as of recent days the royal court has approved an offer of amnesty to the first man who agrees to marry someone of the courts choosing.” A chorus of confused chuckles rose up from the prisoners.

“Marriage?! How ridiculous!”

“I bet it’s some hideous bastard with no title!”

The chuckles evolved in to a swell of biting laughter. Pike removed a bullwhip from the stable boy’s hand and winded back until Blight’s calm face gave him pause.

“In doing so, all previous crimes shall be expunged from the court record after two years of successful matrimony. Any man brave enough-”

“Save your breath!” The leader barked. “What do you know of loyalty-true loyalty? While you grovel under a King to learn your worth we have taken ours, and together we are stronger than your pointless chivalry. We earned one another’s trust with strength and actions, not on our knees!”

“Yet in a room of sixty men less than half are standing,” Pike scoffed aloud.

“How naive do you think I am?” Do you think I am foolish enough not to see what you are doing? The only thing you want is a rat and there are no rats in my company. No, no man who wears the shroud of a wolf strays from the pack. Should we die, we die as one!”

His thick lips spread in a mocking grin as the other bandits whooped and chanted. Pike huffed as he walked to Blight’s side. The Captain massaged his temple with a sigh. Neither noticed the small man seated behind the leader remove his shackles and his beige shawl until he came to a full stand.

“I’ll do it,” he spoke calmly.

Guards with quarterstaff's threatened the prisoner to be seated but he only looked at them with obvious confusion.

“Prisoner! Kneel! This is your final warning!”

Casually, the thin man stepped out of the rank and file of the others to kneel effortlessly before the prison guard; his shawl was folded neatly before his lowered head and his hands in plain sight before him.

“I will do it. Please let me marry.”

The guard glanced around with his mouth open forgetting to speak altogether. He gestured with increased urgency to Blight until his Captain took notice and silenced the room.

“What did you say?!” Blight called out from across the room.

“I will get married,” the young bandit repeated.

“Really?!”

The guards and soldiers gasped collectively throwing shocked glances at one another and to their Captain, who was too surprised to feel elation.

“You there, what is your name?” Blight called out as he gathered himself.

“Rakim.”

Yes...yes. Now are you absolutely certain you want to be wed? You’ll be granted amnesty, but you’ll be marr-”

“I will marry whoever you choose,” Rakim spoke earnestly.

“What is this?!” The wide eyed bandit leader shouted. “Why? You would leave us, after we protected you? Fed you?!”

“Yes.”

Rakim raised his head and fixed his tired gaze on his former leader. His sunken eyes gleamed with relief. “I would like to be married, with some land and peace of my own. That is the only life I have ever wanted. I don’t care who she is or what she looks like; I don’t even care if she has not a single coin to call her own.”*

“You would betray me, your master for a false promise?!”*

The leader’s expression softened to one of heartbreak.

“Yes,” Rakim spoke calmly in his native tongue for the last time. He turned towards Blight. “I will confess everything. My loyalty is not for them.”

Rakim tossed the shawl aside where it settled in a shallow puddle and bowed.

“Take me away from them and I will tell you all you wish to know. Please, let me get married.”

“Granted!” Pike interjected knowing no one else was going to argue for the title. Once reality seeped in the other bandits cursed and screamed. “We’ve been waiting for you!”

“He said yes!” Pike announced, bouncing on his feet as he pulled a purplexed Rakim to a stand.

Soldiers sighed and hugged one another as they celebrated the end of a tiresome mission. Rakim glanced around at the strangers who cheered and cried out in delight, some who tearfully thanked him, with confusion as these men with no personal connection were happy for him. Pike reattached the cuffs to Rakim’s wrists and began to lead him away from the celebration.

“She must be very ugly,” Rakim pondered. “They are still cheering.”