Chương 103: Dishonest Duel
It was a quiet walk to the pools. Everytime Quincy looked to open his mouth Krix glared, making the boy think otherwise, which meant a peaceful walk for Krix.
"I don't believe it," he said, looking upon a large man, nearly naked, splashing a young raven haired girl with water. They laughed. "What in the hell are you doing?"
Brugar whipped his head, knee deep in the pool. "Hey, master! We was bathing-"
"Bathing?" Krix looked to the water, clear as rain. And then to the pair. "You know there could be riflemen up there, right?"
They stared at a second level; a ring of stone wrapped around the pools like a balcony, cloaked in shadows.
"And you weren't just a little bothered by that one there?" A body lay face down, floating. A pool of red around him. "I hope you weren't drinking that."
"Of course we wasn't." Brugar pointed to water raining from the balcony to the pool. "We took it from the falls over there."
"And that's where I washed," Olivca said, leaning on a hip glaring. "You don't have to be that way, you know."
"And what way is that?"
"A jerk!" She grabbed the large man's hand, smiling. "Brugar is a kind man."
He gave her a big, twisted grin. Ears wiggling.
Krix chuckled, kneeling, splashing water on his face. "Clout is anything but that ... a murderer ... a dummy ... worthless ... I'll take any title, but kind."
"You only speak of yourself!" She pointed south, "a group of those monsters would've killed me if he hadn't jumped in and saved me."
Quincy waved a hand, "I actually saved us about twenty minutes ago."
Krix grabbed a handful of water and rubbed his face clean, chuckling. "You've all lost your heads ... seeing the dead will do that to you young folk."
"And you lost yours a long time ago," Olivica said. She looked up. "Don't listen to him, Brugar ... all that comes out of that man is hate ... and a man like that has nobody but himself."
Krix pat his face dry with the shirt, it was ruined no how. "Brugar, give me them achetip you made."
Brugars lip folded over. "I lost 'em."
Krix's head jerked, raising his torn ear. "You did what?"
The big man stood behind the girl. "I didn't mean to, Master. The creatures were everywhere and the quiver must've slipped from my hip."
Water droplets masked their silence.
From his heels, Krix leaped up, yanking the tassle from his belt; the thick leather strands worn from their abuse. He walked over to the large man, brows furrowed.
"You ignorant fool!" Krix raised his arm.
In a blur, Olivica sprang forward, swiping the whip from his hand. And before he could react, it plopped in the pool, twirling towards the bottom.
Reflexes took over and Krix swung, the back of his hand slapping the girl to the ground.
"You said," Brugar yelled, eyes twisted red. "No hurting children!" And with both hands, pelted the short man. Krix stumbled back, unable to find his footing, dropped into pools.
Quincy picked his sitter up from the ground. "Are you alright-"
"Why would you align with scum like him." She rubbed her cheek, aware it'd be black by tomorrow. "You best sit there, think about what you've done, then wash yourself clean of your filth."
Krix sat in the pool, chest aching. He raised his calloused hands. The weapons that had harmed so many. Afraid.
"My apologies ..." Krix said. A piercing shame in his core. "I should've never striked you. Forgive me."
The three of them stood quiet.
Olivica nodded her head, oddly moved. "I forgive you. But don't let it happen again. And you best be kinder to Brugar."
Krix looked at the girl, eyes throbbing. "I will. I promise you."
She smiled warmly.
Quincy grabbed her shoulder, "Let's go and find the others ... we shouldn't stay with them."
"But we need help-"
Hooves pounded against the ground. They turned to face the eastern tunnel. Two, large silhouettes emerged like shadows, revolvers drawn.
Jostice said, "drop your guns!"
Brugar released them, placing his hands in the air. Krix stood to his feet, walking from the pools to a streak of light, using the sun's heat to dry himself off.
Leslie trotted over to the children, "are you alright."
Quincy nodded.
Olivica's eyebrows furrowed, "we are you drawing barrels on the men who saved us?"
Jostice squinted, "well, hell, Strawthorn and Clout. Never thought I'd run into you fools again."
"Sheriff," Krix tilted his bowlers hat.
"You know these two?" Leslie lip sank. "They are aligned with Mason, are the not."
"We ain't aligned with nobody," Krix said, baring his teeth. "We just have common interest - and that is to win - same as you."
From the western tunnel came a feverish laugh that echoed off the walls. They drew their weapons.
Two men walked from the shadows. One hidden beneath a cloak, and the other, jaw hanging, laughing like a heina.
"Lookie here. Found ourselves a gold mine." The man said, laughing.
"Stop there!" Jostice drew back his hammer. "I said stop-"
"You may want to reconsider before shootin'." The man waved a thumb wrapped in string. He opened his coat; reddish-orange light illuminated from his heart; a jar strapped around his chest. "This is alchemite and anybody thinking of doing something stupid will find themselves in pieces. Now, dismount from them horses and drop your guns."
Leslie and Jostice boots hit the earth along with their guns. They raised their hands.
Krix smirked, waving a hand to Brugar. "Good thing you boys showed up. Thought we was done for-"
"Shut up! We heard what you said."
"Said?"
"That you ain't on Mitch's side, so stay right where I can sees you." The heckling man looked between their faces. "Now. I'm going to make this real easy ... we're headed north."
Krix mumbled, "good luck with that one. There's a blockade -"
Heckles pulled a stick with wire from his belt, "I've got enough dynamite to blow a crater in this colosseum. Now hush up, and let's move ... hey, where'd them kids go?"
They looked around. The raven haired twins had vanished.
Leslie laughed, "looks like they've gone."
"Damn it!" Heckles swore. "No worries. We don't need them ... Now move!"
Krix nodded and faced north.
"Krix," The man in the cloak said. "You stay."
He lifted his torn ear, recognizing the voice.
The man slowly slid the cloak from his frame. Beneath was a thin man, mostly bald, with grayish strands of hair. The skin around his face was torn like shredded cheese, eyes sharp with anger. And around his chest was a pancho that looked like it'd been beaten down by a bull.
Krix bared his teeth, hands clenched, aching from the squeeze. "You bastard!"
"Morgan Dale?" Jostice said. "You're alive?"
Morgan Dale kept his eyes on Krix. "You and I have unfinished business ..."
"That we do," Krix said. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time now."
Heckles backhanded Jostice in the head, "Get moving! This show ain't for you."
Once they had been led into the tunnels, leaving the two men alone, Morgan Dale tossed a belt housing a revolver at his feet.
"Put it on. I've saved it for you."
Krix leaned down and picked up the belt, strapping it around his waste. He removed the revolver, staring at the silver metal with a charred black handle. He slid it back inside.
"You killed them! I trusted you and you killed them! My father ... my three nieces... you killed them all!"
Morgan Dale grimaced, "you were the best apprentice I'd ever trained ... yet your anger blinds you. Always has. And it'll be your downfall today."
"Like hell it will! Let's finish this ..."
Morgan Dale and Krix positioned themselves on opposite ends of the pool. Water trickled down from above while the setting sun gave the canyons a fiery glow.
They stood legs spread. Eyebrows furrowed. Hands still, hanging by their hips.
One clean shot, Krix thought, all I need is one ...
He took a breath, slowing his heart, keeping the narrow gaze on the man who mirrored him-
Krix reached first, yanking at the revolver. Morgan followed. An echo cracked in the canyon.
Krix gasped and collapsed. Blood oozing, puddling around his back.
Morgan Dale blew smoke and walked over, spinning the revolver and sliding it into its holster.
"You never learned, did you." He said, looming over the bloodied man. "After all these years ..."
"What's ... that?" Krix wheezed.
Morgan Dale kneeled down and picked up the charred revolver, flipping open the cylinder. "To always check your gun before a duel ... and yours was empty" He shook his head. "Like I said, your anger will be your downfall." He dropped the gun and was off.
Krix laid in his blood, laughing, until darkness overtook him.
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