Oathbreaker, Book 1: The Knight's Tale - Colin McComb

ought before you knew who I might be. You thought you’d take advantage of a tired man, a
man who needed help.”
“No, Sir Knight, no, that’s not the case, no,” and I found my tongue running away from
me as he settled the baby down into his lap. I tried to tear my hand away, but his grip was like
stone. He drew his knife from his belt, said, “You’ll suffer only lightly for your sins,” and took
my hand off with a single blow.
He let go of my spouting wrist and picked up his sword as I howled. It hummed to life
again, and I crawled backward away from him, and I knew then what my death looked like. But
instead of killing me, he grabbed my stump and laid his blade on it and the blood stopped
spraying from the wound, and that hurt worse’n all the rest put together.
He stood above me, and I could see he was tired, but oh lords, still powerful! I curled up
on the floor. He wiped his blade on my shirt and stuck it back into its sheath. He turned and
picked up the baby and bundle of food. He bent to the hearth and picked up a piece of burning
wood and walked toward the door while I struggled to stand up. He stopped at the door and said,
“Get out.”
I hurried past him, and as I rushed out, he tossed the brand behind him into the tinder by
the fireplace. Then he told me that I better not put it out, or I’d find out that losing my hand
wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen to me.
He took himself to the trees right over there. I saw metal glimmering in the firelight from
behind me, and it moved out of the woods and I realized it was his metal horse. He swung himself
up and rode west without looking back as my inn burned.
I didn’t dare put it out. The villagers who came to put out the flames stopped when they
saw the bodies inside. Even those who might have helped, I stopped—I didn’t want him to come
back, because I know you fellows always keep your vows.
The village put me out because they thought I’d had something to do with the deaths of
their friends, even when I showed them where I used to have a hand. I was lucky to escape town
with my life. I’ve been without a home ever since, begging because I have no hand and know no
other work. He stole everything from me. The way I figure it, the knighthood owes me at least a
way to get out of the fix I’m in.
And I been helpful to you, ain’t I?
Colin McComb Oathbreaker, Book 1: The Knight's Tale
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