The Highwayman

[Binnie Ryman]

Lady Abigail Rowe sat in the back of the carriage was on her way to visit her aunt in the countryside. Her head rested on the window as she looked out it.


"Abigail, won't you sit up?" her mother scolded.


"Yes, Mama," said Abigail. "Sorry, Mama."

 

[Castellan]

Adham Walker brought his eyes up to the road, hearing the click of horses not too far off. The carriage appeared not too long after the noise, beautiful horses at its lead. A few other heads poked out of the brush behind the carriage, waiting. A few of them seem agitated, ready to jump, but a raise of Adham's hand rendered them still. He brought it to a circle, gesturing them closer, to which they did just that. Their lack of patience never ceased to amaze him.


Adham watched a few moments longer, keeping his hand up. The eyes of his men flickered between him and the carriage, noticing how close it was getting to the final point, where they would hit it. They had blocked the road at the treeline with a thick and old log, already dead from the elements. It was meant to halt them for a moment, just enough time for them to come out of the woodwork and strike.


The air was silent, as if even the wind was watching, waiting for the moment the attack would happen, just as they were. Adham hadn't realized he had been holding his breath as well right away as he turned his head to watch the carriage pass his hiding spot.

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Abigail made idle chit-chat with her brother. Usually, her brother wasn't one for idle chit-chat, but he knew how hard it was for Abigail to talk to people, so he made an exception for her. Abigail wasn't one for idle chit-chat either, but since she had so few people to talk to, she would take any kind of conversation she could get.


"Abigail, stop boring your brother with your silliness," her mother scolded.


"Sorry, Mama," said Abigail.


"I don't mind, Mother," said her brother.

 

[Castellan]

Adham rushed further into the brush, quickly moving between fauna to get at the front line of the assault. The brush behind him rustles with movement, pricking his attuned eardrums with noise.


Adham glances between the driver and the log when it comes into sight, wondering when he will pull the horses to a stop. A deep breath escapes Adham's lips as he reaches for the sword on his hip, getting ready for a possible fight.

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Abigail ceased the idle chatter with her brother, not wanting to upset her mother any further. She continued looking out the window, without leaning on it, lest she get another scolding.


Scoldings were something she had always been used to by her mother. Her mother was terribly disappointed that she was halfway through her twenties and still not even close to being married.

 

[Castellan]

As the carriage nears the log, Adham jumps out of the foliage. At his movement, the others follow, crowding around the carriage. His men surround it at every angle, Adham taking the door himself. Two of his men look over the horses, musing about their breeding.


Adham moves aside from the door, letting two others take the occupants in case of attack. He scans the road, an almost bored expression marring his features.

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Abigail let out a small scream when she saw the criminals. Her breathing became heavier and her eyes widened to the size of saucers. Abigail's brother wrapped his arms around her and held her close, which helped calm Abigail down the slightest bit, though she was still very terrified.


Abigail looked at her mother, who sat tall and brave. Abigail wished she could have been strong, like her mother, but she knew she never would be no matter how much she wanted it.

 

[Castellan]

"Out of the wagon." The bigger of the two commands, his mouth sounding as if its full of marbles. He's braud with a rounded face and jagged, lopsided teeth. He moves to shove Abigail and her brother out of the door to the wagon, attempting to seperate them in the process. The smaller one goes for their mother, ushering her out with a mocking bow and a grin of mangled teeth.


Adham waits for them to exit, tapping his foot on the ground and an eyebrow slightly upturned on his forehead. "Stitches, Moth, hurry up." His voice was surprisingly cultured for someone of his occupation, but has been slightly withered by time and his fellows.

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Abigail tripped as she was shoved out of the carriage. Her brother immediately helped her up as Abigail muttered a "Thank you." Her brother wrapped his arms around her again once she was standing upright. Abigail's mother gave her a scolding look as her brother helped her off the ground. She knew that look meant not to be so clumsy, yet she couldn't help but be, especially in such a situation.


Like the look she had on her face when the robbers entered their carriage, Abigail's mother had a brave look on her face and exited the carriage with all the grace befitting a woman of her status.

 

[Castellan]

Adham noticed the change in familiarity between the family members, his eyes resting on Abigail. His grey eyes flicker from her to the carriage as his men start to ransack it. Moth, the gangly man who had escorted Abigail's mother out, comes out decorated in jewels.


"Look at me. I'm a lady." Moth puts his hands to his face and lets out a girlish giggle, getting a ride out of most of the men. Adham cracks a smile at him before noticing the others with a chest full of valuables. He gestures the carrier over and looks through it.


"Lacking." He says simply, closing the chest and gesturing the man away. He lets his eyes rest on Abigail's mother, mirroring her calm demeanor with his own brand of it. "Holding anything back, m'lady?"

 

[Binnie Ryman]

"Nothing," said Abigail's mother, honestly, her face showing no fear. Abigail was sure the feelings of no fear reflected the inside. Abigail felt proud to have such a strong woman as her mother.


Abigail looked at her mother. All of the valuables had been in her family for centuries. She hadn't one for jewels and such stuff, but she was sentimental for such stuff.

 

[Castellan]

Adham lets out a simple, "hmph," turning his eyes down in thought. He gives a slight frown at the ground before turning them up. "Do you have more? At an estate, perhaps?"


A seemingly more levelheaded highwayman collects the jewels from Moth and puts them back into the chest before closing it. The men looking over the horses at the front as well, chattering about their body structure and strength. All of them seem preoccupied with some form of theft, except Stitches, the robust man who waits patiently at the side of Abigail's family.

 

[Binnie Ryman]

"You're mad if you think I'll tell you where our estate is," said Abigail's mother, making Abigail whimper. Despite the constant scoldings, Abigail did love her mother and was worried for her mother.


"Mother, just tell them," said Abigail's brother quietly, holding his sister tighter. "Don't confuse bravery and stupidity."

 

[Castellan]

"Oh, I don't need to know where it is. I just need something more." Adham gives a sharp glance to Stitches who shoves Abigail's brother from Abigail and grabs her by the arm. He drags her over to the others who don't even give her a second glance. "I just need you to return with something more."


"Then you can have the girl." Moth finishes, letting out a cackle. Adham shoots him a glare and he stops.


"Sounds like a fine plan to me, yes?" Adham puts his hand on the hilt of his weapon, his calm demeanor only making him seem more threatening.


(I wasn't sure whether to put sword or gun.)

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Abigail yelped when she was grabbed and tears came to her eyes as she tried to cling to her brother, with no luck. She was scared half to death.


"P-please," said Abigail nervously, struggling in her captors arms.

 

[Castellan]

"Bring double this to say..." Adham taps his chin, "here. In one month's time." He turns towards Stitches and Abigail, gesturing for them to get ready to depart. "No harm will come to her. You have my word. For whatever is it worth to someone of high blood." Adham cracks a small grin.


One of the horses is unhitched and walked away from the carriage and out of the way. Adham and the men seem to be waiting for the carriage to leave before doing it on their own as to hide their location. Stitches has his eyes firmly locked on Abigail's brother, noting him as a threat, while his large hands are right on her forearms.


"Does that please you?" Adham asks, the bored look returning to his face.

 

[Binnie Ryman]

"P-please, Mama," said Abigail, tears pouring down her cheeks, "Edward."


Abigail's brother lunged towards her and her captor, but their mother held him back.


"Don't, Edward, you said so yourself, there's a difference between bravery and stupidity."

 

[Castellan]

Adham nods. "Then it's settled." He claps his hands together and gestures to the carriage. "Off you go." Stitches loosens his Herculean grip on Abigail with the threat gone, enough so that his force seems almost effortless.

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Abigail's mother got in the carriage. Her brother followed, but not before turning to Abigail.


"Don't worry, Abigail," he said. "Be strong. I love you."

 

[Castellan]

Adham watches her family enter the carriage again, looking almost impatient. He waits for them, tapping his boots against the road while he does so.


(Sorry these are so short. I've been busy with housework all day. They'll be getting longer, I promise~)

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Abigail let out a strangled sob as she watched the carriage begin to move again. She began struggling again.


"P-p-please, let me go!" Abigail screamed.


(It's fine. Mine will be too, because they always are to be when I'm on my phone.)

 

[Castellan]

Adham watched the carriage take off with a missing horse before turning back to his men. Moth lets out a whistle, making him tilt his head back a bit without a thought as the men gather and start down the road once the carriage is out of sight. Most of the men wander at the back, picking through the gold and jewels as well as talking about placing bets on who would get the new purebred horse. Adham was at the front, taking a slight left into the woods. Most of the men stopped to wait for him on the road.


"Don't worry." Stitches speaks up to her outburst, giving her a small, goofy smile. He seems to have no trouble keeping Abigail close to him with little to no effort on his part. "We won't do nothing."


"It's anything, stupid." A new face speaks up. He appears from Stitches's side and seems exceptionally well groomed for a bandit.


"We won't do anything!" Stitches corrects, flashing a smile at Abigail again. The man at his side rolls his eyes.


(I'm also on my phone. They don't look as short on here. Lol.)

 

[Binnie Ryman]

His words did nothing to comfort Abigail and a few more tears fell from her eyes before stopping completely, yet the sad look on her face did not disappear.


"Please," said Abigail quietly. "L-l-leave me be."

 

[Castellan]

"Needs the money." Stitches continues, shaking his head. "Can't do that, Miss."


Adham returns with a wagon one covered in dirt and befitting farmers, meant to transport them back to their origins. A pitch black horse and a spotted brown and white one pull at the front, with the addition of the purebred now as well. A blade-drawn eagle is slashed into the wooden exterior.


Most of the men file into the back, including Adham himself, who hands the reigns off to the well-groomed strawberry blond originally by Stitches. The orge of a man waits for Abigail to get into the cart on her own accord before thinking of making her do so. "Go'ead." He nods towards the wagon's insides.

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Abigail stayed still for a moment before getting in the cart. A few more tears fell down her cheek. She was absolutely terrified to be here and desired nothing else than to be back with her family.


"W-w-what d-do you need m-money for?" Abigail asked nervously.