The Last Favor

Chapter 12

The next day, Tristan woke up to mint leaves on all of his injuries and found Bryce in the room working on his alphabet. He removed the mint and left the room.

Outside, the girl from yesterday was waiting for him.

“He idolizes you.” She announced.

Tristan did not give her the time of the day. As he kept walking, Adelaide refused to be ignored. She threw water on his shoes and froze them which forced him to stay still. Exasperated, he was seriously regretting not killing her when he had the chance. She now stood in his way as the ice was slowly melting.

“He deserves better.” She began, “you’re a horrible father figure. You put him in constant danger. You’re rude. It’s like nothing matters to you. Not even his wellbeing.”

Still ignoring her, Tristan who was now free to move tried to leave once more but she put a hand to his chest to stop him.

“I am not done,” she declared.

“Look, I have nothing to do with the kid. He’s free to do what he wants.” Tristan explained as he attempted to tread away once more.

“That’s where you’re wrong. You have everything to do with the kid.”

Tristan took a deep breath, pushed her hand away and said, “find someone who cares.”

Later that day, as Tristan and the kid were walking back from the market place, Bryce overheard a conversation.

“I’m telling you; this is bad for my business. That creature won’t let me get to the river. I’m a fisherman who can’t go fishing! I need someone to kill it.” Two plump men were discussing.

“We can help, can’t we, Tristan?” Bryce declared as he turned to Tristan who nodded after sighing. “But it’ll cost you.”

“Well aren’t you a cute little lad,” laughed the one who was nagging earlier, “I’ll tell you what: if you and your father over there get rid of that thing, I’ll give you a 100 gold.”

“Not my son,” corrected Tristan, “what did the beast look like?”

“It was big with wings and the jaws of a wolf and four paws with claws. Monstrous little devil.”

“A Nekith.” Tristan named.

Tristan and the man shook hands as they went separate ways.

Tristan headed towards the market place to buy some rope.

“What’s a Nethik?” asked Bryce.

“Nekith,” he adjusted.

“Yeah that,” shrugged the kid, “what is it?”

“Poisonous.”

Tristan gave no further explanation as they headed once more to the woods.

As soon as they heard the river’s hum, they stood on their guards.

“Tristan, look!” whispered the kid pointing to the beast.

Tristan took an arrow from Bryce’s quiver and tied it to the rope. Tristan gave the arrow back to Bryce and ordered him to shoot it. And he did. He aimed with confidence.

Tristan put a hand on the flask at his neck and whispered to the wind. He used wind magic to perfect the aim of the arrow. But the Nekith saw it coming and attempted to dodge which is why the arrow hit his paw instead of his heart.

Tristan pulled on the rope to bring the creature down and as he did so, he ignored its’ screeching until the bird like monster turned around and headed for Tristan’s head. He then lit the rope ablaze and watched as the feathers of that beast slowly caught fire.

The beast quickly change trajectory and jumped into the river. Right when Tristan was about to jump and finish it, someone beat him to it.

A few minutes later, Adelaide swims out of the river holding the Nekith’s head.

“How destiny would have it,” she laughed, “you steal my hard work and I am gifted yours.”

“We did most the work,” nagged Bryce.

“Perhaps, but I did the killing,” She said, “worth more than the struggle, wouldn’t you say, Tristan? I mean 200 gold for less than 5 minutes work. That’s the dream, isn’t it?”

“200?!” exclaimed Bryce, “that guy said he’d give us a 100. That’s not fair.”

“Wait, are you serious?” she questioned and Tristan nodded, “where’s equality? You’re right, boy, this is not fair.”

When Tristan was getting ready to leave, Adelaide broke out of her thoughts.

“What do you guys say we make a deal?” she asked them, “we go to the man together and gather the reward collectively.”

“What do you have to gain?” Tristan asked her while the kid was already nodding in agreement.

“It’s not about what I gain,” she sighed, “it’s about standing up for what’s right.”

Tristan agreed. He could never understand the Neroc people. They make such a big deal out of their values like they matter. He couldn’t help but think of them as stupid. Take this young for example; instead of claiming her reward she chose to share it for absolutely no valid reason whatsoever. What a joke! Equality, she claims! When has this life ever been fair? If there was such a thing as equality, if life was fair, then Tristan wouldn’t be what he is now. And Bryce would still be safe with his parents. But that’s not the case because, Ecanistus is a cruel world.

Once back into the city, Adelaide threw the head of the beast unto the fisherman’s feet demanding their reward.

“It was a team effort,” she explained.

“I did not expect you to return,” said the fisherman to Tristan with a small voice, “I mean, you… no never mind. So, who killed the beast?”

“As I said,” she gruffed, “it was a team effort.”

“Right, well I suppose I owe you…”

“We shook hands on 200 gold.” She smiled innocently.

“And we, on a 100 gold.” Bryce continued smiling along.

“What? No, I will pay only one of you.” He argued.

“I was promised 100 gold,” intervened Tristan grabbing him by the collar.

“And I 200.” Adelaide closed in on him.

“The beast is dead, isn’t it?” added Bryce.

“Alright, fine, have it your way you thieves!” whined the fisherman as he threw two pouches of gold on the ground and left in a hurry.

“Justice served,” Adelaide smirked.

Bryce picked up both pouches and handed the heavier one to Adelaide and the lighter one to Tristan.

“Here you go,” she said as she handed Bryce 50 gold, “you did shoot the arrow.”

“But,” Bryce was a bit shy. He wasn’t really used to taking money from someone other than Tristan.

“Stop arguing and take the damn gold, will you?” she said as she followed Tristan who had already began to walk away. “It’s not every day someone gives away money, boy.”

When she reached Tristan’s side, he leered her way.

“What?” she nagged, “I’m not leaving that innocent little guy alone with you.”

Tristan gave her his infamous sigh and kept going.