Chapter 19 - Punishment

The cave beneath sanctuary was brightly lit. All of the students were in attendance, as was the couple that the two rogue students, Merick and Paul, attacked. Will paced the cavern floor. Part of him was saddened that he could be so easily betrayed but the other part of him had taken such actions into consideration. The two rogue students sat tied to chairs in front of the rest of the students.

"What we do here...," Will started, "what I am teaching you here is very important. These aren't lessons to be forgotten outside these walls. These are lessons to help better the world in which we live. I strive to show you that as much as we are responsible for ourselves, we are responsible for those that have no choice but to bear the burden of an unjust world." Will commanded the students' attention. "We cannot become part of the problem. To do so would negate everything we have worked so hard to uphold."

Will drew his sword. "I came upon Merick and Paul as they attacked a couple that couldn't defend themselves. They along with three others easily outnumbered the couple. Terrified the couple. Victimized the couple." Will began swinging his weapon, loosening up his arm as if preparing to use the weapon for attack. "Merick, Paul, what say you the reason for doing such actions that so blatantly conflict with my teachings? Have I not taught you to bear compassion in your heart?"

Paul and Merick looked at each other. Paul was the first to respond, "you told us we could be rich."

"Fool, I told you that what I had to offer would enrich your lives. I trained you in ways to defend yourself both mentally and physically against a world that would cut your throat just as soon as help you up." Will hated that his lessons were being twisted. "Did anyone else here believe that I was teaching you things that would bring you wealth," he said to the rest of the students.

None of them responded.

Will looked at the couple as they ate the meal that was provided to them. "How would you deal with these fools?" he asked them.

"We don't wish any further harm to come to anyone, we just want to be left in peace," the man said, his wife gripping his hand.

"You see that?" Will turned his attention back to his rogue students. "You brought them harm and they only wish to be left in peace. You could have learned something from them."

Will walked behind the two captive students and raised his sword high into the air. "I hope that what I do here today will prove to be the right thing. I hope you all learn a lesson from this."

His sword swung around in a U motion and the ropes that bound the two students dropped to the floor.

"Paul. Merick. My father and I have slain your cronies. I feel there has been more than enough death over this. For your betrayal to the school, you will return your uniforms. For what you've done to these people, you will now guard them with your life. Should anything happen to them, I will bring a wrath down upon you that will be both a lesson in brutality and become legendary." Will let those words sink in. "If at a later time, I feel you've redeemed yourselves, I will allow you to return to the school."

John looked down at Will in amazement. He certainly didn't share his father's blood lust.

Paul and Merick turned and knelt before Will as they offered up a thousand apologies.

"I'm not the only one you've wronged here, nor am I the most important," Will said.

The two men approached the couple and swore their allegiance to them.

"Any further actions taken against the school's teachings will be met with death," Will stated. "That goes for any of you. Betrayal to a family is a request to die."

Will left the students with that thought and went to the ground floor of sanctuary where he was met by Tuck.

"You teach benevolence while showing how to engage in a dance macabre, you are most certainly crazy," Tuck said with a smile.

"I teach war so that it is efficient and quick and a last resort," Will said.

Tuck admired the boy's idealistic views. "Be careful not to put too much on them, they are only human after all," Tuck said.

"I don't expect anything out of them that I wouldn't expect out of myself," Will responded.

"That's what I mean." Tuck quipped as he returned to the book he was reading.

As Will pondered over Tuck's comment, Thomas was making his way back from Nottingham. He had just departed from Matty and instead of heading back to sanctuary, he had decided to go see how the old farm was doing. He knew that it had taken in a new family and was curious as to how well they would work the land. He used the cover of night to walk in the open road. It would take him a couple of hours to walk the distance but he knew of several places where he could hide himself and get food. He had also left his cache of weapons hidden in a barn in Loxley, having been traveling lightly with only five daggers.

It was an hour into his trek that he heard the hoof beats on the road ahead. He paid little attention until they got closer. He could make out the silhouette of three of the castle's soldiers.  He lowered his head and continued walking.

As the mounted soldiers closed on his position, they slowed their stride until pausing near him.

"What are you doing in the road after curfew?" said a man who's voice was familiar.

"Making my way home," Thomas said without looking up.

"Where is home?" Guy asked.

"Loxley," Thomas answered. In his mind, Loxley would always be home.

"Be on your way then," Guy ordered and Thomas trudged past them.

Guy and his two men steadily moved their horses further down the road. Guy then gave the signal for them to ready their bows and quietly pointed at the man they had just past.

Thomas could hear the break in the rhythm of the horses' hooves. He didn't change his pace.

Guy's men drew back on their bows.

The creak perked up Thomas' ears and he waited for the snap of the release, calculating their distance so he would know how much time he'd have before the arrows were upon him. He thought about how they should grease the sinews and bow with animal fat to make them silent like he does.

The snap was loud to Thomas and he dove to the ground and lay still.

"That was easy!" cried out one of the soldiers who was immediately silenced by Guy.

The three of them turned their horses about and rode over to check their fallen quarry. Guy dismounted and approached the man that lay face down in the road. He didn't see the arrows. Not a one. He used his booted foot to shove Thomas over on his back. As Thomas rolled he threw two daggers the pierced the throats of Guy's men. They fell from their horses, gurgling as blood filled their lungs and the road.

Guy began to draw his sword but Thomas swept his legs out from under him. Guy stayed focused. He'd had nightmares like this. Was this another? Thomas' boot kicked at his face. It was too real to be a nightmare.

Guy gripped Thomas' leg and kicked up at his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him. Thomas fell onto his back and Guy sprang to attack. He straddled Thomas chest and punched him in the face repeatedly. Thomas could feel his jaw break as the metal gauntlet connected repeatedly. Guy drew his sword but Thomas couldn't raise his arms to defend.

Thomas' legs kicked up and took advantage of Guy having to lean back to draw his weapon. He legs wrapped around Guy's shoulders and pulled him backward, smashing his head into the earth. Thomas took a moment to regain his senses. He could hear Guy doing the same. Thomas stood up slowly. His jaw sagged. He touched it and felt a break on the right side. Looking around, Thomas found one of the men and tore a sleeve from the man's uniform. He tied his jaw up tight. He could feel his face swelling. He ran over and kicked Guy in the chest then dropped onto him and leaned into his ear.

Through clenched teeth and pain Thomas announced, "I wunt kil you this tay. You ernt nex on mah liss."

Thomas then punched Guy hard in the forehead, knocking him out. 

There was a moment where Thomas wanted to collapse on the spot but he struggled through it. He mounted Guy's horse and galloped off toward sanctuary.