My Father's Lands

Disclaimer: Still own nothing.

Another short chapter. Please review!!
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So lawless were Heero’s father’s lands that all the roads were beset with violence and lawless men. These men loved cruelty almost as much as they loved robbery and each of them thought out their own different styles of cruelty. Cities in these lands were small and at war with each other or at war amongst themselves. Families fought for crowns and power and thus it was impossible to gather a small army to fight back against the monstrous men who plagued the roads and paths. Heero would one day change these conditions, but for now he was one man against the many.

Walking along a narrow path on a cliff next to the sea, not unlike the very place where he had met the giant, Heero encountered his next opponent. There was a fire flickering with a large pot on top of the fire. Next to this was a footbath filled with warm steaming water. There was a bower of branches and leaves that looked very cooling on the warm day and from the door of the bower was a pair of long legs stretched out. Heero guessed, from what he had been told, this was Dinan the Kicker. Dinan was infamous for waiting along the path until a stranger happened by and made them wash his feet. He was a notorious outlaw because as the traveler was washing his feet, he would kick them over the side of the sea cliff to their death.

Heero was hardly in the mood to put up with any insolence from this man. He called out, “You, move your dirty legs of yours out of my path!”

“Well if my legs are dirty,” Dinan said sitting up, “the fates must be kind to send you along this path to help me clean them.” He laughed haughtily showing off his ugly teeth. He stood in front of his footbath leaning on a large club. Seeing that Heero was not intimidated by his outlandish request and forceful appearance, he took up the club in one hand and began to swing it over his head.

Taking the quickest course of action, Heero rushed the Kicker, throwing his body weight into the man’s chest knocking him off balance causing him to drop his club. As Dinan tried to regain his balance, Heero scooped up the club and took it to the Kicker’s knees.

Now weaponless, Dinan panted in pain unable to make a quick retaliation because of the pain in his knees. Looking up into his opponent’s face, Dinan waited for an opportunity or his fate. He was surprised at Heero’s words, “Wash my feet.” Confusion streaked across Dinan’s face before he halfheartedly made a move towards Heero’s feet.

When the Kicker was in perfect position, Heero reeled back his foot and gave a swift and forceful kick in his face. As Dinan flew backwards towards the cliff’s edge he made an attempt to take Heero over the edge with him by grabbing at the foot that had kicked him. Heero was knocked down and was drug towards the edge along with the man. He used his other foot to smash into Dinan’s hand holding onto his foot. Dinan, under force of pain, released Heero’s foot, but not quickly enough. At first Heero’s whole body did not make it over the side of the cliff, but too much of his body went over dragging the rest of him over the edge. Dinan was not as lucky and plummeted over the edge to his death.

Grabbing onto an outcropping rock many feet below the top, Heero hung over a rocky demise. Hardly flinching as he heard Dinan’s body smash and splatter against the rocks, Heero swung his other hand up, looking for more support. The hand currently holding onto the cliff face was torn and bleeding, making his grip feeble. Finding a holding for his other hand and both feet, Heero took a moment to compose himself. With deep breaths, he examined the cliff face for other outcroppings or divots to climb up. It was then that Heero was very surprised to see a figure standing at the top of the cliff.

“Hello down there,” the figure called out.

A disgusted look crossed Heero’s face and he continued to search with his hands for a new place to hold onto to aid his ascension.

“Looks like you’re in a bit of a spot,” the figure said jovially.

Heero was furious at this. He was hanging by life and limb and some cretin was making small talk with him. “I’m busy,” Heero said as a deterrent.

His comment was met was a chuckle. “I can see that,” the man at the top replied. He paused for a moment. “Thought you could use a little help.” Heero snorted disbelievingly. “Promise I’m not here to kill you,” the man continued.

“That’s very comforting,” Heero replied sarcastically. Finding a divot in the rocks, Heero jammed his hand inside allowing him to ascend a few inches. A rope unexpectedly slapped the cliff side next to Heero. Looking up, Heero saw the man place his hands on his hips and looked down expectantly.

Ignoring the rope, Heero got a new foothold and raised himself up another few inches.

Heero heard the man at the top sigh and mumble, “I hate waiting,” while staring off down the path. “As a man of good conscious,” he called out looking down at Heero, “I cannot leave until you reach the top alive. Take the rope and we can move on about our business. I give you my word I will not harm you.”

“No,” Heero grunted out gaining a few more precious inches on the cliff. “Your word means nothing to me.”

Heaving another large sigh, the man thought for a moment. “How about my word as a man of these lands,” the man asked.

“Too many criminals,” Heero curtly responded still climbing slowly. The man hummed in agreement.

It was quite for a minute before the man’s voice floated down to Heero. “I swear on the soul of my father you will reach the top alive.”

Looking up, the man was now crouching next to the edge looking down at Heero with an intense visage. Giving a slow nod to the man, Heero reached out with one hand and grabbed the rope. Climbing the rope as the man pulled up the rope, Heero was quickly on safe ground once more.

Heero eyed the man carefully, not trusting him one iota. The man was fit and slim like himself yet had less of the muscle mass that Heero had. He was outfitted as a traveler in dark earthy tones. He watched as the man untied the rope from a nearby rock and wrapped it up tucking it into a pouch connected on the back of his belt. The man pushed back a long braid that had fallen over his shoulder and turned to face Heero. “You are to the top as I swore. Seeing that you have an agenda with the criminals of these parts,” the man motioned to the now abandoned bower of Dinan the Kicker, “I will leave you to your devices.” The man turned and walked away.

“Should we ever meet again,” Heero said to the retreating form, “I am indebted to you,” he inclined his head in a small show of gratitude.

The man looked over his shoulder and nodded once at Heero before walking out of sight.

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A/N: Little inspiration from "Princess Bride" on the last bit of this. Hope you enjoyed it.