10c - Half-Light and Masks
Master Fox does not smell like the villagers Andrew is used to: no scent of beasts or trade or sweat and woollens, rather jasmine and agarwood, fruits of the Empire. Peoples as strange to Andrew as ancient giants had been beaten down by a thousand flashing blades for such bounties to adorn an English son. The Squire looks over at the held-down lad whilst sheathing his sword, then back to Andrew for some moments, and turns abruptly away.
"Get him on his feet," he tells the Ragges, who were about to report with wonderment that this madman was Jim Stone, the sack in John's hand. Jim lies neither limp nor actively resisting, simply radiating the whole-body tension of tusked, hoofed, horned prey ready to become a piercing weapon the moment the wolf's grip might slacken before all life is gone.
The two haul him up as those running after catch up with a jumble of confused chatter and breathless explanation:
"...just dropped out the window and ran-"
"What's 'e done, Squire? What's 'e done?"
"Gave us the runaround, for sure...hey, what's the billhook for, Maggie?"
Master Fox waves them to silence and waits for the landlord to walk up, though John Collins' steps seem heavy with dread. Jim hangs pinned, unmasked and silent between his captors. Master Fox looks at him, and Jim stares back. Whatever passes between them in that moment, it's enough to sharpen shaken fear to scarce-bridled anger, and the Squire rummages in his coat pocket for gloves, takes them into his hands and balls the left into his fist, belting Jim across the face with his right. It takes John Ragge a moment to work out what's happened.
"Oh, but sir, he's simple!"
"Not so much as he doesn't understand what he's done," Master Fox replies thickly. "Legally, I should have him sent to the colonies. Well, Stone?"
Jim has not stopped staring. When he speaks, he struggles with his words as though having to force sound from his throat. "Pistols," he manages at length.
"Very well," Master Fox nods. "Take him to the village cell: I'll send the doctor once I'm bandaged, and we can commence to blowing holes in each other in best health tomorrow morning."
[[going to let you both get a post of reaction here/give others a chance to look in elsewhere, then move y'all back to the inn thread.]]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:07, Thu 16 Mar 2023.