[ IP ] Guard

Sir Terion lay in bed for what seemed like hours before finally giving in. 
 
 In the middle of his bedroom table sat an unfinished bottle of Bourbon, half fill. He undid the stopper moaning in satisfaction as the last drop went down. “ We are all slaves to something, ” Terion whispered, flicking the empty bottle over. Only then did he finally fall asleep. 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 The following morning, Sir Terion clumsily clipped on a silver shield and sword on his the way to his post. The dark rings under each eye were much easier to hide under a visor than his foul mood. He grunted at his fellow guardsman, and assumed a staunch position outside the castle gates. 
 
 Not long after, he heard a shout from down the road. Running toward the noise, he spotted a crowd surrounding a young woman. 
 
 `` Oi!'' He shouted. The people paid him no heed. 
 
 “ Slag! ” An old man at the front yelled, throwing a stone at the girl. The townspeople cheered, picking up rocks and adding to the flurry. 
 
 Sir Terion busted through, covering the woman with his shield. “ My lady, can you stand? ” He helped her up, a whiff of rosy perfume finding its way through the grate in his helmet. 
 
 “ Th-Thank you, ” she said, resting a hand on his shoulder. Rocks rebounded off his shield as Sir Terion walked her back to his post. “ Don ’ t worry my lady, this won ’ t go unreported.'' 
 
 She balled her fists and looked up, “ They always do this to me. ” 
 
 “ What do the people have against you? ” 
 
 “ I am an evening girl, Sir Knight. They feel I tarnish the town name through my work. ” 
 
 Frowning, he leaned forward and lifted her chin toward him. “ Then leave that work behind you. The castle needs a maid I can tal- “ 
 
 She shook her head, stood back and straightened her dress. 
 
 “ The wages that I make in one night are what a maid makes in a year. Thank you, but this is something I just have to deal with. ” 
 
 She was beautiful in her white dress and tiara, but the more he looked at her, the easier it was to make out the blue welts on her arms and legs. Her lip was bloodied, probably from a stone. She ’ d been lucky to survive at all with such a puny frame. 
 
 He gritted his teeth, trying to find a way around her reasoning. As she walked passed him and back toward the town, Sir Terion called out, “ If they attack again, they could kill you. ” 
 
 She paused. “ I chose not to be a slave to fear, Sir Knight. ” 
 
 Sir Terion ’ s eye ’ s widened in shock. Her footsteps grew quieter as she walked down the long road. He said the words, barely loud enough to make it through the opening in his visor. “ We are all slaves to something... ” 

