Chapter 01 -part 2

'Wake up.'

Stranger opened his eyes. His body ached. It was stiff when he tried to move and there was a dull throbbing pain in his abdomen. He was staring at the ceiling of a small room. He was on a bed in the corner and beside him was a table with dish and a lamp on it. He could hear carriages roaming around outside. "I am not home anymore," he said to himself.

"Ah, you're awake." A voice said as Stranger heard door open and close behind him. An elderly man entered. A deep furrow appeared on his forehead. "Do not try to get up too quickly... you are still hurt. You carry quite the bruises from your little altercation with Kevin a day ago."

"Day?"

"Well you have been asleep for a day and a half to be exact. Don't worry... you are safe for the moment. I hear you go by the name of Stranger?... okay. My name is Oscar Geiger. I have been taking care of you and dressing you. I cleaned, disinfected and stitched up that cut on your forehead. You had sprained your ankle but it should be okay now. The bruises on your abdomen and back have already started turning color and are already healing on their own. Kevin made sure not to hit any vital parts... or visible parts for that matter..."

"He toyed with me." Stranger said with a grunt, raising his hands to cover his face.

"Kevin tends to do that...er but from what I hear you held your own so you should be proud."

"I couldn't even hit him back."

"I doubt anyone has in a while. Do not beat yourself up over it. You did well all things considered."

"I still lost."

"Here is some free advice. Hold on to that anger you feel. We all fight our battles in our own way. Failure does not define you but how you react to it might. Do not let this get to you and if there ever happens to be a rematch you'll know what to do."

"Thank you." Stranger said after a moment of silence.

"You are welcome. I bet you are hungry. Let me get you some food." The man went out and minutes later brought a tray with bread and honey and a glass of watered wine. They aye in silence. "Now they had asked me to contact them once you wake up... I'll send for them now."

Mr Geiger felt a hand grab him.

"No...wait. I would like to go to them myself."

"I would not recommend that in your condition."

"You said I needed to fight my battles in my own way. This is how I do things."

"Are you sure you've thought this through?"

"I am. Do you know where they are?"

"Hmm around this time they would be at the 'Hornless unicorn'."

"What is that?"

"The tarven just a few blocks from here... no don't try to get up on your own, let me help you up. The day is almost over but there is plenty of time. Oh and your old clothes are in that corner over there if you want them... I saw it fit to give you a new outfit."

"No that won't be necessary... thank you."

The old man managed to help Stranger up and out of the room. As they were walking in the hallway Stranger could not help but notice the lack of ornaments and embellishments that made a house such as this one flourish. It seemed like a shell of its former self.

"Who are you mr Geiger?" Stranger couldn't help but ask.

It took some time before the man replied, "Just a man past his time," and he seemed content with that answer.

They made it out of the house and into the sun.

"I'll be fine on my own from here." Stranger said.

"Oh okay, wait here for a moment then." Mr Geiger turned then went back inside the house. A few moments later he came out holding a cane of intricate design. It was black with decorations all around it. "Here you go."

"I can't possibly take that." Stranger said in awe.

"Do it for me then." The man persisted. "You are not fully fit yet and it will make me feel better for letting you go in that state."

Stranger reluctantly accepted. "I'll give it back to you once I'm fully healed."

"I will hold you on to that." With that and the directions given to him Stranger started walking towards his destination. The streets were busy. There were more carriages than people walking. Everyone heading in their own direction, walking with purpose. They were all finely dressed and Stranger could hear a few children laughing and playing somewhere nearby. This was definitely the finer part of the city and not the slumps he had arrived to when he came a few days ago. The streets were clean and well maintained. Workshops aligned opposite of the road Stranger was walking on with huge signs hanging out of them showing the craftsmen's trade. As he kept walking he started to notice the decline. A few wooden houses started to appear suggesting the decline from the rich and noble. The tarven, the 'hornless unicorn' wasn't as far as Stranger thought. It was a modest building, not too fancy and it stood right at the end of the street. It looked like it was the divide between the rich part ot town and the middle more common part of the city. At the entrance was a sign with a prancing horse on it. The bottom floor was for serving food and drinks and the top floor had a few rooms for lodging. As Stranger stood by the entrance he heard a scream behind him.

The busy street had come to a halt as people gathered around a heinous scene. A lady was on the ground, vegetables all around and a man stood over her. From his uniform and polished boots the man was clearly a peacekeeper of the city but from his demeanor his intentions weren't that of any reprieve. The peacekeeper's horse had a basket crushed under its hoof... presumably the basket that had contained the vegetables of the woman. The woman had tried to cross the street and hadn't seen the peacekeeper coming resulting in the accident. The lady was shook by the incident and was visibly shaking. She stayed still on the ground too afraid to move. The peacekeeper loomed over the woman, his boots stepping over some carrots. The tension was visible as the crowd waited to see what happened next. Instead of helping the lady the peacekeeper raised a boot and kicked the woman. Noone moved as the man repeated his actions.

'Those with power will always abuse and hold it over those without.'

The peacekeeper raised his boot again but before he could strike a metal cane was put between him and his target causing him to lose balance and stumble backwards. He looked at the man who had intervened. If he had been mad before he was furious now.

"You dare intervene in my disciplinary actions? Do you know who I am?" The man fumed.

Stranger kept quiet as he placed himself between the woman and the peacekeeper. He knew he shouldn't attack the man as that was a crime in itself but he couldn't let what was happening go on any longer. The officer attacked him and Stranger didn't bother to move or try to dodge and he was punched in the stomach. The punch was made more effective from the bruises he already had and the wind was knocked out of him and he dropped the cane. Stranger closed the distance between them to prevent any more blows from coming his way and he embraced the man. It took a moment for the man to dislodge Stranger who had been holding on tightly to him and push him to the ground.

"You are not going to fight back?" The peacekeeper mocked. He began kicking him. Stranger curled into the fetal position to protect himself.

"That is a nice walking stick you have there... mind if I have it?" The man asked with a grin after he seemed tired from his thrashing.

As he was about to pick his trophy up a hooded figure appeared from the crowd and beat him to it. The cloaked figure then tackled the peacekeeper, knocking him to the ground then ran off.

"Catch him!" The man roared as he rose from the ground but his call went to deaf ears as the crowd simply watched.

Angry, the peacekeeper hurried to his horse, forgetting about Stranger and the woman for the moment and went after his new threat. After a minute the crowd started dispersing.

Stranger slowly got up and dusted off his newly acquired clothes. He had something in his hand as he walked over to the woman still on the ground.

"Are you alright young miss?" He asked.

All the woman could do was nod in reply.

"That's good to hear. Can you stand?"

Again the woman nodded.

Stranger helped her up as gently as he could. "I'm sorry for what happened but this should more than cover the cost and repairs to your basket." He then revealed a small pouch in his hand. "Courtesy of the peacekeeper for your troubles."

The woman's eyes widened at that remark. Stranger opened the pouch and gave the woman eight silver coins. "The rest is for my troubles as well. He really was a nice man after all." He said with a laugh to which the woman smiled.

"Thank you," she managed to say, she had a sweet voice.

Stranger nodded in response. "Now dry those tears and be on your way before he comes back."

He waited before the woman was out of sight before making his way to the sidewalk and sat down. His body was almost at its limit.

"You must tell me how it feels to always be beaten up." A familiar voice said behind him after a moment. Stranger turned.

It was one of the men who had captured him the other night.

"You saw that did you?"

"I did... it was rather amusing."

"I thought you couldn't stomach needless violence." Stranger scoffed to the laugh of the other man.

"I had my reasons." The man said after.

"Well forgive me for not remembering your name... pain tends to make me a bit forgetful."

"That is quite alright. It is Michael. I admit we were a bit surprised when we saw you out there. I thought you would be in bed still."

"Well I have my reasons too."

"You look like you can use a drink. Shall we go to the 'hornless unicorn' and get properly reacquainted?" Michael offered.

"Lead the way then." Stranger replied getting up. "You do know a hornless unicorn is just a horse right." He said when they had reached the entrance.

Michael laughed and they entered the tarven.

The atmosphere changed once they were inside. The noise that was inside as people talked amongst themselves the clicks of cups and tankard being poured took Stranger by surprise. It could hardly heard when he was outside but once inside it came in waves. It was crowded, lots of tables set around the room and a fireplace at the otherwise of the room. There was one woman who served as the waitress and she looked worn out and barely coped with the number of customers. Hardly anyone gave the pair a look as they entered and Michael led Stranger to a table at the far corner of the room. It was by a tinted window which overlooked the street. There the other brother sat with another man.

"Ah they have arrived." Adam said as the two took their seats.

"That we have. And you remember our mutual acquaintance Stranger. Stranger, my brother Adam and the ine opposite you is Oliver."

"Took you long enough. This one looks like he has been to the dark and back... get some ale in him and he'll be good as new." The other man said. He was short and chubby and there was a variety of food in front of him. "Evelyn! Bring some more of the good stuff!" He shouted over his shoulder.

The waitress stopped and looked at him blankly, " Not until Edith gets back! You'll have to get your own since Adam sent her out." She shouted back.

Adam laughed quietly. "So I'm guessing the commotion ended as expected?"

"It did... and I also know why you sent me out there." Micheal replied.

"And?"

"I am thinking."

"Soo, I'm guessing you were involved in what happened outside eh?" The other man, Oliver asked after it seemed the two brothers had stopped their conversation.

"Yes I was... and I lost something important too."

"Do not worry about that... I am sure it will find its way back to you soon." Adam replied.

"Why did you get involved...when everyone else knew not to interfere? I am sure you know attacking a peacekeeper is attacking the empire itself and could put you years in prison." Micheal asked crossing his arms.

"I didn't like what I saw. I thought it was wrong what the man was doing and honestly my body moved on its own before I knew what I was doing." Stranger replied after a moment.

"Even if it meant you would be the target."

"Yes... I admit I didn't know how it was going to end but I couldn't help it."

"And nimble fingers too with the way you stole the peacekeeper's pouch."

"Seemed like a fair trade dont you think?" Stranger beamed.

"You have skills..." Oliver sneered.

"Okay." Michael replied. Another pause. "So, what brought you to meet with us, after all that happened when we crossed paths you could have ran when you woke up and we would have never met again?"

"Well I am curious. Its not how you treated me that matters. Its understandable with they way we met but what tickled me was hoe you people treated me after. You could have thrown me back into the streets or dumped my body somewhere else but you didn't... now why would you do that?" Stranger said, leaning forward in his chair.

"One could answer it was the humane thing to do. Like what you just demonstrated outside." Adam answered.

"Could be... but I don't think so. I'm guessing the one you had outside...the large man I think, the one who shot me with the dart saw what happened and likely told you I was being chased by some men. I understand the interrogation. But why put me in a nice bed and in a nice place like that...why help me? I think you want me for something? You are obviously capable of taking care of yourselves so what would you want with me?"

Adam leaned forward in his chair to match Stranger's posture. "And if we did... your past would not interfere?"

"It depends on what you want me to do?... I was running but I don't want to run anymore. If you can protect me then my past will not be a problem. I think you can. As long as you are not the vilians that is fine with me. I'm willing to join you."

Just then the door to the tarven opened and the hooded figure entered. As the cloak was shed the figure revealed itself to be a woman.

"Ah, she is back."Adam remarked as he gestured the woman over. "I hope that was not too much trouble?" He asked when she arrived at their table.

"Not at all. It was good exercise. He thinks I also took his money sack... that was a nice touch by the way, I almost missed it. Here, I think this belongs to you." The woman said handing over the cane back to Stranger.

"Edith! Good you are back. Come help me please." Evelyn called when she saw the woman.

"Go, we will talk later." Adam said to Edith.

Stranger sighed, "You saved me again didn't you? I should thank you." He said when the woman left.

"Oh that was nothing. Now let me ask you a question... What would you do in a situation where if you do the right thing, people die and if you do the wrong thing.., people die? You have to make a choice otherwise you will just stand by and let the world go."

"I don't think I'd be able to live with myself if I just stood by and watched... I'd try to do something." Stranger answered slowly.

"Even if the result might be the same?"

"Yes."

Adam looked at his brother, "Shall I?"

"Go ahead." Michael replied.

"I'm impressed." Adam said his attention back to Stranger. His eyes glittered. He paused for a moment, thinking on what to say next. "Okay, see... what we are part of, what we are is not meant to make our lives easier. We have to care about the people... About this world. That is not easy to deal with sometimes I admit but you showed you are willing to protect the weak from those that are corrupt and that is what separates us from the real villains. What we do is not about the easy way out. Our system is broken and it will take a lot to change it all up. Its work... its a life's work. It will most likely lead to our deaths if not drive us mad... and we will never know if we have done enough or if we have done it right. Sometimes right side and the winning side are different and eventually you will have to choose where to stand. We might not change anything at the end but we also just might change everything. Do you understand? As I see it we have been given a chance and by way of recompense I mean to seize it. Now before I say more... are you still willing?"

"Who are you people?"

"It is a matter of perspective dear Stranger. We are the villains to those who oppose us and heroes to those who support us but we are criminals in the eyes of many. Its up to you to decide. Before I explain our plan I need to know how serious you are about this?"

Edith had brought a tankard of ale while Adam was talking. Stranger reached for it, poured himself a cup and drank deep.

"Talk." He said.

The glint returned to Adam's eyes. "Now... this is where it gets interesting..."