Decisions

Sunlight began to peak over the mountains and lit the sky with beautiful gold and blue streaks. Rowen stood outside in front of his cabin sipping his coffee and trying to make a decision. This was probably the worst decision that he felt he had to make in his lifetime.

Analytical, “ You know that you really don’t have a choice here?”

Consciousness, “There’s always a choice.”

Instinct, “She came after those you love. If you let her go, she’ll definitely return and try again. This time you may not be able to protect them.”

Consciousness, “Yes I know all that. But if I order the death of that…harpy, I will have to carry it out myself. I’m not a murderer.”

Xyarra chimed in telepathically, Executing that assassin is not murder. Just simply killing to protect us.

Xyarra, you can hear my inner fugue?

Yes sweetie, I can hear all your thoughts. I’m permanently linked to you my dearest.

Rowen shook his head and thought, Please join me outside so we can discuss this face to face.

Xyarra stepped outside the cabin holding a cup of coffee in her left hand. She wrapped her right arm around Rowen’s waist and said, “I feel your pain and uncertainty, Row dear.”

“Well, I know your opinion on what needs to be done. If we just leave her here tied up, that’s tantamount to executing her. If we release her, she’ll turn around and attempt to kill us again. Finally, if we take her with us, she’ll slow us down and possibly take a chance to complete her mission while we’re traveling. There is risk with all the options.”

“Nothing will be lost by executing her.”

“Only my humanity!”

"Bullshit! Killing is part of being human! You are an animal. Animals kill to survive. Get over yourself! It’s the responsible thing to do. Under your pretext, it was gone when you were made immortal. I chose to believe it's just part of growing up."

Rowen turned and looked Xyarra in the eyes with a belligerent look in his. But then he softened his look and nodded and said, “I know that you’re trying to be helpful. On one level you’re right. I just refused to believe that the entirety of my humanity is lost. Otherwise, why am I even here?” He pointed over to Jade who was guarding the prisoner and said, “Why not just make a construct to do my mission?”

Xyarra opened her mouth to say something but it looked like she decided not to. Instead, “You’re right dearest. You should try your best to hold onto what makes you, you. Your humanity does have value in that. Just remember, I’ve never been human, so I guess I just can’t relate.”

Just then the door opened and both Kit and Dana stepped out. Kit went over to Rowen and embraced him, while Dana stepped over to a spot between Rowen and Xyarra.

Kit said, “Xyarra is right you know. We have to execute her. I wish there was another way but…” She shrugged.

Dana said, “As much as I don’t want to agree with Xyarra, I have to agree here. If it makes you feel any better, that makes a three to one vote for execution.”

Rowen pursed his lips and nodded then said flatly, “Yes and no. I can’t hide behind an excuse of ‘I was out voted’. We have to be of one mind here. But I guess that at least I did my best to argue against it. Even though I knew, ultimately this is the only decision that protects you three.”

He then took a moment to look at each of his women in their eyes then he nodded and asked, “How do I commit to doing whatever it takes to protect you, and still keep my humanity in the end? I know that this world has a different mindset and morals from my world but…” he turned his head, closed his eyes his head moving side to side slowly.

All three of the women jumped when he yelled, “NO! I WILL do whatever it takes to protect what is mine!” and he drew his pistol and started strolling towards the prisoner.

Jade saw him coming and apparently knew what he was about to do. Quicker than the eye could see, she drew one of her swords and decapitated the prisoner.

Jade turned back to him, a repentant look on her face.

“Forgive me, Master but I couldn’t let you do it. There is a proper way and it needed to be done right.”

Rowen looked with surprise at the body and head rolling on the ground then he turned back to Jade with an angry look on his face.

His look softened and he then reached up and placed his hand on her cheek gently. He then turned and started striding back to the cabin.

He said over his shoulder, “Bury her. She deserves the dignity.”

“Yes, Master!”

Rowen strode past the women in front of the cabin and put his hand on the door handle to open it but he paused and said, “I need a moment alone. Xyarra, if you can, could you stay out of my head for that time?”

“Of course, Row dear.”

“Thank you.” and he went inside.

Dana watched Rowen close the door behind himself and her heart went out to him. She was thinking about something herself. She too had a decision to make.

She turned to Kit and said, “Kit, you were right yesterday when you said that we need to keep Rowen in mind instead of fighting.” She turned to Xyarra and said, “That being said, I’m going to be an adult here and acknowledge what you said about being bonded to Rowen. Like it or not, I have to accept that you are one of us. Rowen needs you like he needs us.”

Xyarra smiled smugly and said, “I know dear. So, does that me you and I are not going to fight dear?”

“I never said that!”

“Good, because I do so love beating you in our verbal tet a tet.”

Kit growled then said in a low voice that would seem to cut through steel, “You need to grow up too, dragon.”

Xyarra looked at Kit with anger in her eyes but then smiled, “Oh poo, you’re no fun.”

But then Xyarra set her coffee cup down and then turned and put an arm around each of the other ladies and said, “Right you are Kit. The three of us must stick together and look after Rowen’s interests. He still has so much to learn. I’ve been to his world and there is a different attitude there about such things as murder and killing. Unfortunately, they, and by extension he, conflate the two. Since all three of us are fond of him, then it’s up to us to guide him in these things.”

Dana nodded and said, “Right. Something tells me that Rowen’s destiny is for great things. I’ve not had any visions about him mind you, except where it involves us. However, I feel it so, none the less.”

After about twenty minutes, Rowen stepped out of the cabin and said, “Alright, we’re burning daylight here. We really should be moving on and staying ahead of the assassins.”

He then turned to Dana and said, “Dana, I inadvertently lied to you yesterday about my feelings for Xyarra. I apologize. I would never lie to you on purpose. The only reason why was bec…”

“I know. It was because you weren’t sure about your feelings, am I correct?”

“Yes. Sorry.” He bowed his head.

“I understand dear. You missed it but Xyarra and I have come to an understanding about how we all fit in here.”

“Right. I want you to know.” He looked at all three of the ladies, “I treasure you. All three of you.”

Xyarra purred, “We know you do, dearest. Now, like you said, we need to get moving.”

The ride for that day was uneventful. They camped in a stand of pines that night and got moving early the next morning.

Since their mounts were unable to tire, they made great progress traveling.

On their third day of travel things were going smoothly. The only four living beings in the column of 105 were traveling together and talking. Mostly light, getting to know you chatter.

Xyarra was in the middle of an amusing story when she stopped mid-sentence and said, “Jade has encountered something that needs our attention.”

She then spurred her horse into a full gallop saying, “Follow me!”

Rowen and the other’s followed and he yelled out to the Captain, “Follow us!”

“Yes…Sir!” and the troop began to move as a unit. No lag between their movements. Like they were one being or at least one mind.

They met Jade on top of a ridge. She continue to insist on scouting ahead without a mount. Since she could run as fast as these horses, about 55 miles per hour give or take, it wasn’t an issue.

Rowen pulled up next to Jade and asked, “What is it?”

She pointed across the flat plain that stretched out from the base of the ridge they were on.

Rowen looked and could make out movement. Looked like a person running full out.

About a quarter mile behind were six or eight Woague trotting along behind catching up to the person. They looked like they knew they would catch them, so they weren’t running fast for them.

Rowen turned to the women and asked, “Are they hunting that person?”

Xyarra said, “More like having a bit of fun.” She squinted her eyes then said, “She’s female. Row dear, you really don’t want to know what they plan to do when they catch her.”

Rowen said through gritted teeth, “They are not going to catch her. Over my dead body.” And he spurred Baldy into motion.

Xyarra said softly, “Like that’s a big deal.” And she spurred her horse on as well.