Conall Sherwood sat on the pallet in his cold and dreary cell. This is always how a pirate's life ended. Waiting patiently in four walls of solid stone, looking up at the dim sunlight filtering through the barred windows. Like a condemned man didn't deserve bright sunlight and fresh air compared to the damp stench that hung about the jailroom.
A large, burly guard opened the cell door and looked over at Conall contempuously. Conall gave the man a cheery wave and held out his wrists and they were shackled immediately. If he was to die, he wanted to die with what little dignity he had left. The light felt good on his face as he walked out until, of course, a rotten tomato smashed into the side of his face. "Bloody theif!!" a man from the crowd shouted. "The rotten bastard!! Stealing from our ships and raping our women!! Hang him!!" The crowd yelled its agreement and Conall shook his head.
Climbing up the steps towards the gallows Conall's heart got lodged hard in his throat as he took in the noose. No matter what brave face anyone could put on, when you see your impending doom ahead of you there's nothing that can keep you brave. The noose was slipped snugly around his neck as the crowd continued to jeer him. The charges were read and Conall closed his eyes. His life began to flash before his eyes.
Small, unimportant memories came to his eyes. His old childhood friends. His dear mother and father who had only wanted their only son to become a farmer like them. The first day of pirate life and the battle in which he had lost nearly everything. And now he would lose his most precious asset; his life.
There was a tremendous roar from the crowd and the floor beneath Conall dropped. The noose tightened horribly around his neck as he fell and he cursed how he would now have to die strangling. As dark spots developed in the corners of his eyes, the rope suddenly slackened. As his vision returned, Conall could see the rope had split at the end. The crowd was quiet now as he sat up on his knees and looked around. Up above on the platform there were whispers and suddenly the executioners voice raised. "My fellow citizens!! This is a sign from God that one of His lambs can still be saved!! Lady Reginald here has already heard the voice of God speaking to her, telling her to take this young man in herself and teach him the ways of the Lord!!"
The crowd cheered and two guards helped Conall up, shoving him up the steps. A kind looking elderly lady stood dressed in her best, a large wig set atop her head with jewelry dripping off her neck and ears. She had a firm face but her eyes gave her away and she looked like a proud grandmother who constantly smiled at her grandchildren, happy to still be alive to see them. The guard went around and cut his hands free and for some reason he didn't dash off at a run but calmly followed Lady Reginald down the steps towards a carriage that waited.
Trying not to seem ungrateful that his life had now been spared thanks to this woman, Conall took her hand to help her up the step and the crowd took in a collective breath and began whispering frantically as it dispersed. Conall grinned to himself as he climbed in. 'Yes' he thought to match his smirk. 'A pirate has manners too.'
The carriage began to rumble along the road, the towns people staring as they went back to their daily lives. "Wipe that smirk off your face-- Carmine??" "Conall...Conall Sherwood." Lady Reginald nodded absently as she pulled off her gloves. "Yes well...like I said, Conall, stop that smile." Conall took his smile off his face but was still smiling inside.
"We have things to do, Conall. And you're just the boy to do it for us." Conall frowned, his brow furrowing. "We? Us?" The carriage rumbled to a stop. The door flew open and a darkly hooded figured climbed in the door and sat down. Lady Reginald held out a hand to point to the figure who promptly lowered its hood. "My granddaughter...Anwen." Anwen pulled her bow into the carriage as it started to move again. "Did you really think the rope broke of its own accord??"
Conall glanced over the young girl as she held up a quiver of the thinnest arrows he'd ever seen. "I had Anwen specially develop these arrows just for you." Conall looked back to Lady Reginald. "I'm honored that you have taken such a special interest in me." She raised one bare eyebrow. "You ought to. Or else you'd have been hanged by now; bad rope or not." Conall looked out the window as the carriage continued to trundle out towards the country side.
What was to become of him now?? An elderly Lady and her granddaughter were taking him in, supposedly to straighten him out. 'Yeah, like that's going to happen' Conall thought, rolling his eyes. But now what was all the things Lady Reginald had been saying that she needed him to do?? He cringed thinking of what an elderly widow would want with a mid-twenties young man like him. The carriage began to slow down and Conall saw to his surprise a fabulous house appear flawlessly from the canopy of trees.
The driver moved up to the doorway and Conall moved quickly out the door, lowering the step and holding out his hand. Anwen's hand slipped into his and he looked up to her. Her eyes locked with his and he noted the forest green color of her eyes and the sculpture of her face. Almond shaped eyes and proud, full rosy lips, her cheeks a soft red without a hint of face paint. Her eyes showed a gentle shock that he would help her out of the carriage and proceeded up to the door, turning once to look at him curiously.
Conall gave her a short smile before helping Lady Reginald down the step as well before walking with her up to the small palace.