Fugitives

Belle and Ari crept around the side of the stable. The drizzle was slowly but surely turning into heavy rain and a respite from the shower, however brief it might be, would be welcome.
There wasn’t any human noises coming from within, only the muffled sounds of the horses.
Staying close to the wall, they followed the graying, worn boards till they reached the entrance. The massive door creaked on it’s rusty hinges as Belle swung it open and ushered Arianna inside.
The door shut behind them, leaving them cloaked in the dim light supplied by cracks in the wood.
Belle and Arianna stayed put for a moment letting their eyes adjust to the darkness. Belle squinted, willing her clear vision to return as she heard one of the horses make a neighing sound. Slowly the dull shapes around them started to take on more detail. Belle could see various crates and containers stacked towards the rafters. She saw the passage that ran between the six stalls, three on each side of the stable. The four closest stalls had their doors shut, meaning these were the stalls where the horses were. Belle stepped forward leaving Ari at the door for a moment. She looked over to the right. There were Samantha’s two chestnut brown Clydesdales.
Belles vision shot back to the left. Kyrstin’s matching white mares were looking back at her intently. She let out a breath she didn’t know she had even been holding.
Something was odd though.
Both the mares already wore saddles, bridles, reins. The mares were ready to be ridden.
It was unsettling at the least but Belle decided that she wouldn’t overanalyze it, she would simply utilize these circumstances.
She opened the first stall door, leading the horse out into the passageway and then beckoned Ari to come over. Belle laced her fingers together to make a step and hoisted her friend onto the horse’s back. She placed the reins in Ari’s cold, pale fingers.
As the mare carried Ari towards the great doors Belle doubled back to retrieve her own horse. She rested her hand on the stall door and then froze in place. Slowly she glanced over to the next stall. The door had been open, there shouldn’t be anything in it but as Belle looked over she saw a huge black stallion there, standing perfectly still.
Panic gripped her.
That horse was beautiful, magnificent even, and massive. There were ten like it, she knew, and all of them belonged to the Marshals.
Her heartbeat increased, coursing adrenaline through her body. She turned to run. She had to get to the door. At least Ari was already astride her horse. Maybe Belle could make it to the door. Maybe Arianna could still escape.
She made it two bounding strides in that direction when a large hand grasped her shoulder and spun her around forcefully. Belle came to scream, to tell Ari to run but another gloved hand was quickly over her mouth like a gag.
The Marshal dragged her into the stall with his stallion. There wasn’t much room in the cramped space. Belles eyes were wide, her heart pounded and she struggled but the Marshal had taken her by surprise and currently she was powerless against him.
Ari could tell something was wrong though she was having trouble seeing. She couldn’t see Belle’s silhouette anywhere. In a voice barely louder than a whisper she squeaked out:
“Belle....Belle are you alright? Belle?”
The Marshal shoved Belle against the wooden beam between the two stalls. She winced but couldn’t make any sound.
He lowered his head next to her’s. she could feel his hot breath against her neck.
“Don’t scream! You’ll spook the horses.” he whispered in her ear.
“Now tell her everything is fine. No screaming!” he ordered.
Belle didn’t know why but she went along with this. The Marshal loosened his grasp on her and let his hand drop from her mouth.
“Belle?” Ari asked with an edge of panic to her voice.
Belle cleared her throat.
“Ye- yes everything’s fine.” She called out in the dark.
The Marshal seemed satisfied, he loosened his grip even more. Belle suddenly pushed him off her and shoved him backwards in the cramped space to the back of the stall.
The stallion neighed in protest but stayed put.
She threw one hand against the Marshal’s chest and used her other hand to yank his hood back. He was chuckling. The Marshal was actually laughing at her. She glared at him. Hazy light shone through the spaces between the wooden slats revealing his identity.
“Shaughnessy!” She spat.
He was still chuckling and she was still glaring. How was she going to get Arianna and herself out of this. Royce was much stronger than her and Ari was in no condition to fight.
“How did you find us?” she asked and shoved him against the boards.
“It really wasn’t very hard. We’re all out looking for the two of you. You’re just lucky that I was the one to end up here.” He replied.
Both of them kept their voices low so Arianna wouldn’t hear them over the sounds of the downpour accosting the stable’s tin roof.
“Lucky?” She asked incredulously.
“Well for starters, I think it was very kind of me to saddle your horses for you. In fact you might want to thank me now.” He had a wicked smile on his face as he said this.
Bells’ raised on eyebrow.
“What the hell is going on here?” she hissed.
“Fine, you can thank me later but for now maybe we should go check on Arianna. I’m sure she’s getting nervous.” Royce completely evaded Belle’s question as he put his big hands around her waist and easily removed her from against him.
He spun her around again, forcing her to lead the way out of the stall. He put his hands on each of her shoulders from behind as they walked out into the passage. At the sound of footsteps Ari’s head spun around. Terror crossed her face as she saw Royce behind Belle. She opened her mouth but no sound would come out. Belle saw this and said:
“It alright Ari. It’s alright.” Belle didn’t know why she lied like that. They had been caught. It couldn’t be alright, could it?
“Wha- what’s going on?” Ari was able to choke out.
“I wish I could tell you.” Belle sighed.
Ari saw Royce’s genuine grin behind her friend. None of this made any sense.
“Are we ready to go?” He asked cheerfully.
That’s when Arianna’s tears finally started their silent decent down her cheeks. This was it then. He was arresting them. It was all over.
Belle turned to Royce.
“You’re a monster. Ari didn’t attack Katreona. It was self defense! How can you do this to her?!”
“What if I told you I believe all of that? Maybe that’s why I’m here. Did you think of that?” he said with wide eyes.
“I’m not taking you back to the lodge.... I’m leaving with you.” he finished.
Both women looked at him in utter disbelief. Ari’s tears abruptly stopped and were replaced by a stunned expression. Belle shook her head, not quite believing she could have heard him right.
“What?” she asked. Royce laughed again.
“I’m note taking you as prisoners, I’m going with you!”
“No, you are not!” Belle exclaimed. Royce stopped in mock thoughtfulness then slowly nodded his head.
“Actually, yes, I am. You do realize that running away takes money right?” he asked.
“I’ve done this before and I’ve always managed!” Belle shot back.
“Yes, but that was when you didn’t need to hide. In fact, civilization is what saved your neck back then but this time you’re fugitives. Things are a little different.” Belle glared at him venomously.
“I’d assume you’re going to try and find Kyrstin and Dreacon but you don’t even know where they are. Furthermore, you don’t have a viable way to find out where they are and no money to get there. Face it, you need me and my wallet!” He had an amused look on his face the whole time he spoke and it was making Belle angry and flustered.
“Ha! Royce Shaughnessy, do you know how much you drink? You’re pints become my money!” She said, emphatically pointing at herself.
“I’m well aware -” he said.
Belle put her hand on her hip, a look of impertinent triumph on her face but Royce wasn’t finished.
“But, Belle Silverleaf, do you know how much you drink? My pints just pay for yours!”
Belle couldn’t stand this man. Even his words seemed to swagger. She took a deep, annoyed breath through her nose. Looking off to the side, she half shrugged.
“You have a point.” She said in a tone she hoped sounded nonchalant. She looked up again through slitted eyes.
“But why should we trust you?” she asked.
Royce turned away from her then and opened the stall where the second white mare was still housed. He brought the horse over to Belle.
“I never said you have to trust me but that doesn’t mean you have any real choice. Either all three of us leave or none of us leave. It’s all up to you.” He said matter-of-factly.
Ari watched all of this silently. She was too numb to even keep up with the banter between Belle and Royce.
“Shit, Shaughnessy, you have an answer for everything don’t you?” Belle said exasperated.
She looked back at Arianna’s sad face and decided this was their only chance. For better or worse. She threw her hands up in the air.
“Fine! Get your damn horse!” she said as she grabbed the mare’s reins from Royce’s hand. Without any audible or visual signal the imposing black stallion came forth from the last stall and stopped next to Royce.
Belle shot daggers at the Marshal with her eyes. His response was a sideways grin on his face. She was about to say something but her words were torn away as Royce grabbed her and, swinging her up in the air, placed her in her mare’s saddle. She gaped at him.
“What can I say? I have a way with wild things. They usually obey me.” He said and winked. She wanted to jump off her horse and claw his eyes out but they were wasting time they didn’t have. She gritted her teeth.
“Oh, shut up, Shaughnessy! Let’s ride!” She said forcefully.
Royce opened the stable door and quickly swung up onto his stallion.
“This should be an adventure.” He said, still smiling. Belle rolled her eyes and then the three of them were off.