Daniel had been slated to die because he killed a man in self-dense. He had received a short trial because he was a foreigner and a previous violent offender. He smiled cheerily as he told the story of how he killed the man with his bare hands, disarming him quickly and snapping his neck when he didn’t stop coming. 

Estelle was not completely certain that she believed his story, at least not fully, but she was certain that he would be a decent travelling companion. He had more than proven his skill with a weapon.

The road was long and winding and empty. The wind was blowing harshly, growing more intense with each passing hour. The sky was dark and cloudy. Estelle anticipated a storm. If Daniel anticipated one as well, he didn’t let it show as he walked cheerily along, whistling and twirling his axe between his fingers.

She kept an eye on the situation as they walked. They were miles from the nearest town, according to Daniel, and she had little to make a shelter. Maybe they could find some rocky outcrops…

“This way,” Daniel said, gesturing enthusiastically towards the woods. It was as if he had read her mind. “Great shelters over here.”

“Does it storm often, in this part of the country?”

He snorted. “That’s an understatement. Especially this time of year. We’re nearing the coast.” He led Estelle through the woods a short distance before they made it to a small hill with a few rocky outcrops. He kept walking past them, ducking around some boulders until they made their way to a large overhang. “We’ll stay mostly dry, here.”

Estelle scanned their surroundings and noticed a small but long box tucked in the back corner of the shelter. “And what’s this?”

“Oh, a few supplies,” he said, lifting the lid. “Weapons, mostly. I stashed my stuff here before I did a robbery a few towns over. I didn’t want to lose them if I got caught.”

Estelle decided not to point out that he would have lost them either way if he had been hanged. The sword within the box was quality and simply decorated with a few gems on the hilt, similar to her own. He had a knife in there as well, a simple blade that was unornamented.

“Do you have family in the Black Countryside?” Estelle asked.

Daniel smiled. “Yeah. My ma and my little brother. It’s been about a year since I’ve seen them, but I send messages when I can afford it.”

“You miss them?”

“Intensely,” He confirmed. “But I know that they’re safe. The Black Countryside is well protected.”

By the army that he was a part of, he had mentioned before. “Are you on leave?”

He nodded. “I earned it in blood. I got injured, and the former king decided I deserved a break.” He pulled up his pants leg and showed her the scar, an angry looking knot on his leg.

Rain started falling. She could hear it before she saw it.

“Former king?” Estelle asked.

“I heard that he died a few months ago,” Daniel said. “It’s a shame. He was a decent man, and not that old. He must have fallen ill.”

“Who is his successor, then?”

“His son, Jager.” Daniel’s smile dimmed. “I never really liked him.”

Estelle nodded slowly. “Is he a superstitious bastard too?”

Outside the outcrop, the rain was picking up. Above the trees, she could just make out a flash of lightning. She counted until the thunder boomed. Not far from the storm.

“Yeah,” he said simply. “A regular dick, too.” But his mood brightened a moment later. “Let’s see those wounds.”

Estelle was healing up nicely, and it was far easier to have Daniel bandage her injuries. She could barely reach them on her own. The pain was still intense, but Estelle could tell that they were healing. Or maybe it was hope. The dress she had stolen was backless and allowed them to breathe, at least. They had scabbed back over from the rescue just a day ago.

Daniel hissed in sympathy as he examined her back. “Is it infected?” Estelle asked anxiously. She had no access to medicine other than stealing it, and they were still a day or two away from the nearest town. She knew some about healing herbs, but not much. Maybe she could make some sort of salve…

“Some are starting to go red,” Daniel confirmed.

“Shit.”

“Indeed,” Daniel said.