Revelyn: 1st Chronicles - When the last arrow falls by Chris Ward Page B

who had never done any harm to anyone? More than three generations of Greyfelds had lived in Wildwood in this very house, and never had there been the slightest trouble with the authorities.
    Sylvion knew that the King, Lord Petros Luminos had become increasingly paranoid and his soldiers were acting more and more without accountability to any recognised authority, which had meant that many Lowland communities lived in fear. Wildwood was not the first. But of the pointless violence which had come to her house, surely there was some reason? Surely she would be told?
    Sylvion did not go back to sleep, and as the first rays of sun lit up the kitchen she was wide awake and angry.
    Captain Bach entered the room soon after and nodded politely to her.
    ‘Ah hope you rested well my dear, I certainly did. I used the big bed in the front room upstairs. ( Kindma’s bed thought Sylvion). Can’t say as I remember such a comfortable bed. Army barracks are never up to much. Now I need something to eat. What do you suggest?’
    He wandered around the room opening cupboards and pulling out bread and cheese and fruit which he laid on the table in front of Sylvion rather disdainfully.
    ‘I don’t suppose you could direct me to a bit of eldershot, I’m sure there must be some here. Couldn’t find it yesterday although I looked hard enough?’ Sylvion realised that he was a man very much in love with himself, a man who had little regard for anyone else and who could turn charm to anger and back again all in one sentence. He clearly enjoyed the control he had over her and so was acting the kind and indulgent jailor.
    In her most subdued and broken voice she replied.
    ‘If you look in the cupboard by the fire, right at the back on the right you might find a small bottle.’ Captain Bach smiled smugly; he knew that the hard night would break the spirit of the girl; that and the death of her mother. She was trying to please now. No need to be too cruel, a little understanding of human nature was all that was required, something that brute Sleeman would never understand.
    ‘Cupboard by the fire… thank you kindly my dear.’ He bent down and opened the door and put his hand in. It was dark and he felt around. ‘On the right, that’s better, right almost there…’
    There was a sudden loud  Snap! And then he screamed.’
    ‘Ahhh, my fingers oh , oh, oh ..’ He pulled his hand out and attached to his three right fingers was a huge old rat trap. The middle finger had snapped and the other two were bleeding badly where the serrated spring-loaded mechanism had cut into the flesh. Captain Bach did all he could not to scream further and tried with the other hand to get the trap off, but found it impossible and just made the pain worse. Summoning all his strength, he sat down quickly at the far end of the table and glowered at Sylvion, nestling the injured hand plus trap in his lap.
    ‘Sorry Captain, I guess it was on the left,’ she spoke demurely as though truly sorry, which they both knew was not the case. He was struck by the complete lack of fear in the girl, and contempt too.
     
    Taking a deep breath, he struggled to his feet and left the room. Sylvion heard some heated words a few moments later over by the stables, followed by another scream and a painful,
    ‘I told you do be careful, you idiot, you almost had my fingers off.’
    Sylvion smiled to herself. You deserved all that and more.
    Suddenly Sylvion realised that another soldier was in the room. The Wolver had entered without a sound. His head only just cleared the ceiling and he moved silently with such an easy fluid motion that Sylvion could not help but be coldly impressed by the man. He looked at her without any emotion and then sat at the table and by the time Captain Bach reappeared with a heavily strapped right hand, he had eaten almost all of the food which had been waiting.
    ‘Hey that was my food…’ The Captain started to assert himself, but the Wolver just looked