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Wind yelped, fighting as he was snatched around the waist. He squirmed, spitting swears as he beat on his captor’s arm. A hand clamped over his mouth, muffling his protests.
“Quiet,” Twilight hissed.
Wind froze, eyes going wide. Twilight peered his head around the corner, his eyes narrowing. Wind could hear the rattle of plate armor nearby, the thunkthunkthunk of guards running back and forth through the mazes of alleys and sidestreets.
“What’d you do?” Twilight demanded.
Wind fretted, refusing to answer. His eyes reddened, his cheeks warming. Tears welled in his eyes. Wind could handle one of the others catching him redhanded, but he felt like a traitor when Twilight caught him.
“Wind,” Twilight pressed.
Wind sniffled, tugging a small wooden frog from his shirt. “I-I took it,” he admitted.
“Took it?”
Wind nodded. Twilight set the boy down, crouching to get on eye level with him. The rancher frowned, but he used his thumb to gently wipe tears from Wind’s face. Finally, Twilight settled his hand on Wind’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” Wind sputtered, pawing at his face. “I just—I liked it ‘n I didn’t have the money ‘n I didn’t think he’d notice or miss it so much.”
“You can’t steal things, Link,” Twilight scolded softly. “You know better.”
Wind nodded, agreeing. His stomach knotted in guilt.
“Look, let’s take it back ‘n pay for it, ‘kay? You’ll say your sorry ‘n we’ll get this mess all figured out—”
“There!” a voice howled.
Twilight thrust himself to his feet, shielding Wind with one arm. At the open end of the alley, a guard leveled his spear towards the rancher.
“Where’s the little rat?” the guard spit.
Twilight knit his brow. “I got it,” he snapped back, snatching the little toy from Wind. “We’re gonna pay for it—”
“Oh no,” the guard laughed. “It’s too late for that. You shouldn’t have run if you didn’t want to cause trouble.”
Twilight scowled. “So what do you want then?”
“Stocks,” the guard replied. “The cane. Shopkeep’s request.”
Twilight frowned, clenching his fist around the little frog. Behind him, Wind grasped onto the rancher’s tunic worriedly. The sailor didn’t know what either of those meant, but he didn’t like the way Twilight tensed when they were mentioned.
“So,” the guard prompted, “was it you or that little snot behind you?”
Twilight herded Wind further behind himself. “Me,” he answered gruffly.
“Twilight,” Wind gasped, tugging on his shirt. “Don’t!”
“You sure?” the guard asked. “Shopkeep said it was a little fella in blue. Kinda like the runt behind you.”
“I’m sure,” Twilight replied curtly. “I think I’d know if I stole something or not.”
The guard chuffed. “Fine. Have it your way.”
Twilight raised his hands. “I don’t want any trouble,” the rancher said. “I’ll go without a fight, alright? So watch where you’re pointing that thing.”
The guard nodded, lifting the spear. Twilight met the man with his hands still up in the air. Immediately, there were two other guards sandwiching the rancher. They forced his arms behind his back, even as Twilight gave them no resistance, and tied his wrists together. One of them grabbed the frog from Twilight’s hand to return it to its rightful place in the market.
“Where are you taking him?” Wind demanded, running towards them.
The sailor was forced back half a step as the guard pointed his spear at the boy. The guard raised his brow, looking down his nose at Wind.
“Like I said—the stocks. You’re lucky he likes you.”
Wind balled his fists, spitting at the guards feet. They snickered, only seeing a child throwing a fit.
“Wind,” Twilight said, “I’ll be alright. You get back to the inn now, hear?”
Wind nodded quickly. “I’ll get Wars—he’ll sort this out.”
Twilight only smiled regretfully, nodding once before he was shoved down the road. As quickly as he could, Wind dashed to the inn to find the captain and Time. If anyone knew what to do, it would be one or both of them.
In the town square, a crowd gathered as Twilight was herded up onto a short wooden stage. At its front were two stocks sporting rusted locks. The wood in the holes was worn soft with use, old blood and food staining its grain. Twilight grimaced as one guard kicked the back of his knee, forcing his head down. His wrists were freed, but only long enough to be locked up with his neck. Before him, the crowd of townspeople started to cheer.
Twilight winced as a raw egg broke against his brow. Soon after, a spoiled tomato splashed across his bangs. Its moldy flesh clung to his hair, pale juice spilling into his eye. The smell alone made Twilight swallow a gag. Once the throwing began, it didn’t stop. There were more eggs and fruits, curdled milk and used washwater. There were worse things too—buckets of waste were thrown over the rancher’s face and all he could was squeeze his eyes shut and struggle to keep vomit in the back of his throat.
“....charge of theft…confessed to the crime…sentenced to 10 strikes with a cane!”
The crowd roared, applauding and jeering. With more rot and waste and filthy water, there were insults and curses lobbed at Twilight. The rancher tensed as he felt his sash loosen. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the blue fabric land at his feet. They pushed up his tunic, chainmail, and top, exposing his back to the afternoon sun.
And then, there was the first strike. Twilight choked out a yelp, gagging as filth dripped into his mouth. The sting from the strike radiated across his back and drew fresh tears which already watered over the foul stench surrounding him. There was just enough time to find his breath after the first strike before the second. And then, there was the third and fourth. Each whip of the wooden cane brought a new cheer from the crowd.
By six strikes, the red welt across Twilight’s back split open into a shallow wound. As more things were thrown at him and splashed over him, they wet the raw injury in an agonizing burn. Twilight tucked his head down as much as he could, counting off numbers in his head to try and distract himself from the punishment.
By the tenth and final strike, he was crying. He shuddered, trying and failing to keep his sobs to himself. Warm blood spilled across his back, dripping down his sides and from his stomach. The wound felt like it was bathed in hot flames, the excruciating burn of contaminants soaking into the rancher’s flesh.
The top of the stocks lifted. Twilight was thrown off the stage to his hands and knees. The guards left and so too did the crowd. Twilight hung his head, struggling to gather himself.
“Rancher,” a gentle voice said.
Twilight bristled, trying to clear his face as he opened one eye. One eye looked back at him in worry. Time, Twilight realized, and the rancher hugged himself in shame. He could hardly stand anyone to see him in such a state, but above all, having Time see him like this was one of the worst feelings he’d ever experienced.
“Are you alright?” Time asked.
Twilight swallowed his words, knowing they’d betray him.
“We’re going to help you up now,” Warriors cautioned. “Just bear with us.”
Twilight eked out a nod.
He felt the two older heroes take him by either arm. He knew the must hate the filth which spread from his own body onto them, soaking through their sleeves and staining their hands. Twilight bit back a whine as he was raised to his feet. His back refused to straighten out, the pain so great he whimpered involuntarily as tears flooded his cheeks.
“I know, I know,” Warriors eased. “Just a little more, rancher.”
Time put his hand to the small of Twilight’s back, careful not to put down much pressure. With a slight press, he was able to make the rancher cooperate, getting the man to stand upright. Twilight shuddered, wrenching his head uncomfortably.
“Are you going to be ill?” Warriors asked.
Twilight nodded.
Quickly, the other two hauled him towards the gutter. Twilight bowed over, retching uncontrollably. His whole body seemed to convulse with the force of his nausea. All of what he’d kept down came back up. The smell crashed over him, making him painfully aware of other odor clinging to his clothes and skin and hair. And the smell of those things made him feel the way the mixture of rotted pulp and waste and food scraps clotted in his curls and soaked through his tunic. Finally, Twilight was only coughing up bits of slobber and mucus.
“Better?” Time asked.
Twilight spit out a bitter laugh.
Doing their best to feed Twilight little bits of praise and comfort, his brothers were able to drag him from the plaza to the inn. They went around back, the owner giving them a stern look to warn them to at least rinse Twilight off before daring to enter. A few patrons gathered at the tables outside stared and whispered as Warriors used a deep ladle to pour water over Twilight’s head and shoulders.
Twilight stood there, humiliated and shivering in the cool weather as he was wet down once more. Old fears were kicking at his heart. Held down, water in his face, unable to breathe. Time squeezed Twilight’s hand to drag the rancher out of whatever abyss they’d nearly lost him to.
Twilight wiped his face on his arm, allowing the others to help him inside, upstairs, and finally to a lukewarm bath.
“Can Time go?” Twilight asked softly, refusing to undress with his mentor in the room.
Time looked a touch hurt at being asked to leave. He frowned softly, glancing at the captain. Warriors nodded briefly, shooing Time with a quick bat of his fingers.
“Fine,” Time agreed. “Leave the laundry outside the door. I’ll gather it.”
“Thank you,” Warriors replied.
They waited until the door closed behind Time. With his ancestor’s exit, Twilight crumpled to the floor with a sob.
“Oh rancher,” Warriors soothed, crouching by the man.
Twilight twisted his head in a quick shake, unable to speak. His body hurt, his heart ached. He was mortified.
Warriors shushed Twilight, rubbing his hand over the man’s head. “I know you must feel awful.”
“I hate ‘em,” Twilight choked out.
“I know.”
“We’s gone pay ‘em back but that bless ol’ keep says no , that Wind gotta be whip like a dog in fronta the whole town but he’s a chil’ !”
Warriors nodded, a somber frown on his face. “Thank you for protecting him.”
“Why’s Time gotta see me like this?” Twilight spit.
“He wants to make sure you’re okay—”
“ Yeah ,” Twilight scoffed, “I’m fine . Man jus’ get lock up ‘n beat ‘n lef’ t’ the dogs ‘n I’m fine .”
“I meant it relatively speaking,” Warriors said, pushing Twilight away from any lashing out. “You’re not dying or dead. With a few bandages and a bath, you’ll be alright.” The captain paused. “Well, maybe not your pride —”
“Aw piss on pride,” Twilight snapped.
Warriors sighed. “Yes, indeed. Come on—you stink, rancher, and I’m not anymore a fan of this than you are. Let’s get you out of that filth.”
Twilight did everything he could to resist Warriors’ help, but he couldn’t so much as lift his arms without immediately folding over in pain. Even if Twilight made it clear he hated it, he allowed Warriors to help him undress and get into the bath. The water bit at the fresh wounds on his back, making him bow his head with a gasp of pain.
“Just sit still,” the captain said.
“I c’n do it,” Twilight snarled.
Unimpressed, Warriors simply handed the rancher a fat sponge. Twilight wet it, pain scribbled across his face as he raised one arm to scrub at it. As he twisted to wash his side, he gave up. Wordlessly, Twilight threw the sponge at Warriors.
“Sit still,” the captain repeated.
Twilight said nothing, his ears scarlet in embarrassment as he allowed Warriors to cleanse away the rot and grime.
Once he was clean, Warriors attended to the wounds. They did not need stitches, although if they had, Warriors was certain he wouldn’t have been able to put them in anyway. Twilight was past his usual limit, only relying on Warriors out of a souring necessity. Besides, the man had been through enough and Warriors was far from cruel. He didn’t have the heart to put Twilight through even more that day.
A thin layer of ointment coated the red marks to keep them moist, a layer of gauze draped over them to protect them from anything which might stick. Warriors helped Twilight into a nightshirt and then set to brushing the rancher’s hair. Twilight sat on a stool, pouting as he was looked after.
“...thanks,” Twilight said finally, breaking nearly half an hour of silence.
Warriors nodded. “You’re very welcome, rancher. It’s the least we can do.”
“Sorry for the trouble.”
“It’s Wind whose apology I want, not yours.” Warriors patted Twilight’s head. “You made a tough call today. Of course, I wish you wouldn’t so readily put yourself on the line, but thank you for protecting Wind. You’re right of course, that he’s only a child.” Warriors sighed, setting aside the comb. “Still, he’s old enough to know better. Time and I will punish him as we see fit.”
Twilight nodded. “He feels bad ‘bout it.”
“Well,” Warriors laughed, “if he didn’t before, he’d better now. Let’s get you some pain medicine now, alright? Time will want to check on you for himself. And I’m sure so will Wild and Sky and—well, everyone .”
Twilight nodded again sullenly. “Don’t wannem to see me like this.”
Warriors helped Twilight to his feet. “Then I’ll keep guard, at least until I can’t hold them back anymore.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”