From inside the tight circle the bandits formed around him, Will could see little of his surroundings as he waited for whatever fate would befall him. Suddenly, he heard a heavy thing fall. No, not a thing. This was no boulder crashing upon the rock strewn path. A man had jumped down from above and rolled away with two of the bandits under him.
Dressed in a leather jerkin, he was powerfully built with dark hair. He kicked and pushed at the two bandits until they fell to a ledge below. As he came up into a crouch, Will recognized him. It was Russ and he had taken down the fat and the tall bandits. Will could hear them cursing and scrambling below.
Only the small man remained. Armed with his knife, he stood facing Russ. He played with that knife to show off his skill. Stooped over, fist at the ready, Russ carried no weapon but the strength of his body. He moved forward then drew back trying to make the bandit reach out. The small, wiry man was quick but Russ never let him get close.
While they maneuvered on the narrow and rocky path, Will edged away from them and grabbed hold of Quincy. He was surprised to see no fear on the boy's face. It was as if he did not understand the import of what was happening.
First and foremost, Will had to protect the boy. But he feared for Russ as well. Seeing that the path was strewn with rocks of every size, Will picked up one that was heavy but could still be wielded with ease. Placing Quincy behind him, Will lobbed the rock at the bandit.
The throw did not go unnoticed. The man dodged it easily enough, but in doing so, he gave Russ his chance. The man's wrist was in his hand then twisted until the knife fell to the ground. The man soon followed. Russ kicked and punched him several times then kicked him over the edge to join his friends.
Will could hear their curses while Russ looked down. Soon Will heard the sound of their cursing moving away and he breathed easier. Still huddled against the rocky hillside that rose like a wall above him, Will turned to Quincy and checked to see if he had been harmed. There was not a scratch on him, thank the gods.
"They have gone off now," Russ confirmed and turned to them. Just like Will had done a moment before, he looked closely at Quincy and Will as well.
"You did not fare too badly, it would seem," Russ said and gave both Will and Quincy a warm smile though there was still a trace of worry in his eyes. "When I saw them with their knives out and only a hair's breadth from you, I feared I would not be quick enough."
"We're all right," Will said as he hugged the little boy who hardly seemed to need comfort. He did not cry or shake with fright one little bit.
"He is a brave one," Russ said in praise of him.
Will agreed though he knew it was something else and not bravery that kept the boy so calm and unafraid. All the time Quincy showed more of his strangeness, but for some reason that only made Will more determined to protect him.
"They did rough you up a bit," Russ noted and he frowned at Will. Will's state was nothing to worry over, only bruises and aches that would soon pass.
"Nothing too bad," Will said. As soon as the words were out, Will pushed himself away from the face of the hillside and felt his ankle give out under him. Thinking it might only be a momentary thing, he tried to move again and felt pain shoot up his leg like a poison tipped arrow.
"So you are injured," Russ said and took hold of his elbow to help him stay upright.
"I don't remember how that came about." Will set Quincy down and took a few more steps, limping all the way.
"You won't get far on that leg. Where were you headed anyhow, you and this little one too?" Russ asked and gave Quincy a friendly look.
Not prepared to be questioned, Will swallowed hard. "I'm taking the boy to where his kin might be," Will said. That was true enough as far as it went though it wasn't the whole truth. "I didn't expect to come across bandits. I should have been more watchful."
"They usually attack merchants on the southern pass. For those who came from towns across the river and have goods to carry, this way is no good. Seems foolish that they bothered with you at all." As he looked at Will, Russ frowned. "Did they make off with your possessions?" he said seeing that Will had nothing with him.
Will could not admit that he had left home empty-handed. "I only had a bit of food and water for the journey, nothing of value," Will assured him. He was lying once again, but he could hardly say that he had left home with nothing because he ran from his village.
"I will give you what you need and bind your foot at my cabin and you can stay until you are healed enough to travel," Russ offered kindly.
"I did want to get over the hills before nightfall..." Will started to say, but Russ shook his head.
"Not on that injured ankle," he said. "Come along this way. My cabin is not far."
That's when Will became worried about Russ. If he lived close by, the bandits might know who he was and where to find him. If they had a taste for vengeance, they might come looking for him and all because he came to their rescue.
"Will those bandits come after you seeking vengeance?" Will wondered.
"I only bloodied them a little to chase them away. It's not the first time. Their kind knows the perils of their chosen trade." Russ did not seem concerned, so Will set aside his worry for him, for now.
"Where did you come from to jump down all of sudden as you did?" Will asked him as he sat down and moved his foot around. His ankle hurt terribly and would not let him walk more than a few paces, that much was clear.
"I was up above you, cutting some sprigs to weave a new rock basket. When I heard your shouts, I came back down to see if I could give aid. I saw what was transpiring and moved over to the ledge above, saw my chance to surprise them and jumped."
Will shook his head at his recklessness. "There was much danger in what you did. This path is narrow you could have gone tumbling below."
"I know the lay of the land better than most. I was not worried for myself," Russ said then looked abashedly to one side.
"Good thing you were so brave or we would have been done for. Thank you. I'm in your debt," Will told him and his voice cracked a little thinking of what might have befallen him and Quincy if it weren't for Russ's recklessness.
"Think nothing of it," Russ said and looked embarrassed by Will's heartfelt gratitude. His beard wouldn't let Will see if he blushed, but his eyes stayed averted. "I'll go find you a sturdy branch to lean on so we can set out." With that Russ was off, but it didn't take him long to come back with a thick branch. He was trimming it down as he walked up to them.
"Thank you. That will help me greatly," Will said and he stood up while leaning on the rocky cliff side. Russ came to support him as well then let him have the branch to lean on.
Russ pointed at Quincy where he was standing quietly and looking back and forth between them.
"And you've had news of this boy's kin?" Russ said.
Now Will had to tell him more of those odious lies. "Someone said they thought they might have seen this boy in a village in the eastern hills. I'm taking him there and we'll see if those are his kin. I have an uncle in those parts. He can put us up for a time and help us look for the boy's kin too."
So many lies Will had told now, but for the child's sake, he could not do otherwise. He dared not tell the truth even to a kind man like Russ who had only just saved him and Quincy at great peril to himself. Not wanting to lie to him any more, Will decided that they would continue on and not take him up on his offer of hospitality. "With the aid of this walking stick, I think I can go on to my uncle's and..."
"You can't continue on your journey like this," Russ objected before Will had finished telling him what he planned.
Will looked down at his injured ankle. "It is only a bit sore," he claimed.
"The soreness will get worse if you walk on it. You can't manage rocky paths like these until you're better, and there are plenty of them between here and the first of the villages. Besides that, you've got this boy to think on." Russ turned to Quincy as if he expected him to urge Will to see reason.
It was true that Will would not be able to manage the treacherous climbs much less keep Quincy safe.
"When you're ready, we'll head to my cabin so I can tend to you. Then you can rest there as long as you need," Russ said, his voice and his expression both stern. It was clear that he would not brook any more of Will's foolishness, for his own good of course.
"If you don't mind putting us up..." Will said seeing that he had no other choice.
"I don't mind at all," Russ said and got that shy look like before.
So as not to stare at him, Will turned to speak to Quincy. "Did you hear that, Quincy. We'll be guests at Russ's house," Will smiled at the boy, who looked from him to Russ. He seemed to look at Russ more than he did at anyone else before, even Sally.
"Quincy? Is that the lad's name? He spoke and told it to you?" Russ said.
Will had not realized he had spoken the name and now he had to explain it. "No. I haven't been able to get even one peep out of him. The name is my own doing. I wanted to have something to call him," Will said, telling the truth for once. "I just happen to give him a quince from the orchard at the foot of the hill. He liked the look of it, and I quite like the jam when I can get my hands on some. The thought came to me that Quincy should be his name."
"It's a fine name," Russ said and smiled at Quincy. "If you're up to it, we should get going. The path we'll be following is quite a climb. I hope you can manage."
"I'll make it all right now that I've got this." Will leaned on the stick Russ got him. "I just hope he can," he said of Quincy. He could walk well enough now, but he was concerned that the child might be too small to climb when it got rough.
"I'll carry him on my back. But the lad will need to hold on, I'll need my hands for the climb," Russ said.
"He will," Will said then turned to the boy. "Won't you, Quincy?"
In truth, Will did not know if Quincy would go to anyone but him. Russ got down and he had Quincy on his back just like that. The boy seemed content to have Russ take him. Seeing the small boy on the big man's back, Will smiled at them.
Russ carried Quincy easily while Will limped alongside him. Then the path they were following turned quite rocky and steep. It caused no end of trouble to Will with his injured leg. Seeing him struggle, Russ stopped.
"I think you best wait here. I'll take the boy up then come back to give you a hand," he told Will.
Will wanted to keep going, but he saw that Russ looked at him very seriously. "All right. I'll stay here." He sighed and sat on a rock to wait.
He watched as Russ moved on. Quincy grabbed tight hold of Russ's jerkin at the shoulders, and Russ made the climb without too much trouble. His strength was obvious and his movements sure. Once he reached the point where the path leveled off, he eased Quincy off his back and set him down gently.
"Now you wait and I'll go get Will up here," Russ told Quincy.
Coming back down nimbly, he stood beside Will in no time at all. "Maybe I should carry you on my back too," Russ jested but the thought of it made Will blush. To be so close to his powerfully built body, just the imagining of it made him feel hot and short of breath in a way that had nothing to do with the arduous climb.
Will stood again and Russ pointed out to him which way to go so as to take advantage of the most secure handholds. Looking up, Will saw that Quincy was peering down at him.
"We'll be up there soon, and hopefully in one piece," Will told him with a smile, and he saw the boy's eyes brighten.
"He's a sweet boy, isn't he," Russ said. "And he seems to have taken a real liking to you."
"I wish I could do more for him," Will said as he slowly climbed with Russ right there supporting him and making sure he didn't fall. Will did slide down a few times, but each time Russ caught him easily and hauled him back. With his help, Will reached the spot where Quincy waited.
"I did all right," Will said.
Right away Quincy looked over at Russ as if to say that it was all due to him. Such a smart boy, he would not let Will take credit he was not due. As they went along, Quincy clambered over one or two obstacles unassisted. To think that it was only yesterday that Will could hardly get him to walk. He improved so quickly, it warmed Will's heart to see it.
There were a few more hard spots to climb ahead of them, but with Russ at his side, Will made it through. From time to time, Russ put Will's arm over his shoulder and slung his powerful arm around Will's waist. The sensation of it made Will feel weak and lightheaded. In that state he only confirmed to Russ that he should continue to hold on to him. The closeness made Will tremble inside in a strange and pleasurable way he could hardly endure.