Just Another Thursday

The blood from the lamb’s cut throat flowed down Boyd’s hand. He tossed the lamb into the waterfall and walked back to his campfire. May as well tune the fiddle while I wait, he thought as he pulled out the fiddle that had been in his family for generations.

He went through each string, listening to its pitch, tightening it as needed. [CRACK] He froze, looking into the shadows for the source of the sound. A man in a business suit came out of them, quickly crossing the distance between them. pulling a large knife from its scabbard at his side. “I have been waiting for you to return.”

He put the knife to the young man’s heaving chest. The older man had Boyd rise and forced him to walk to an oak tree. The man fished something out of his pocket and smiled as he revealed the leather thong to Boyd. He began tying the young man’s hands above his head. “I figured this would allow us to enjoy some time together.”

He used the knife to slice through the buttons of the young man’s shirt, exposing the pale flesh underneath. “It won’t last long, I promise.” He finished tying Boyd up and then cut off his shirt. “I would introduce myself, but it simply won’t matter when I’m through.” The cold air hit Boyd’s sweating bare chest, chilling him even further.

The older man took a step back and put the knife back in its scabbard. He pulled out a necklace, a wolf’s tooth hanging from a silver chain, and put it around the young man’s neck. “This tooth has been consecrated to the Old Woman of the Spells, and a soul is the cost for her knowledge.” He yet again pulled his knife from its scabbard. “Your soul, in this case.” He smiled as he brought the knife to bear. “Thank you.” Boyd froze as his mind raced, looking for a way to escape.

A single note then pierced the air. The man turned around to see a wiry man dressed in naught but breeches, holding Boyd’s fiddle, with his hair plastered to his scalp and water dripping from his breeches. The new arrival smiled at the man with the knife and began playing the fiddle. Boyd gulped; he had no idea how this encounter would end for him as he was forced to watch things play out.

The fiddler did a simple warm-up; Boyd could feel the building of energy in the fiddle. The man with the knife charged the fiddler. Before he could make more than a few steps, the notes became louder, and a scowl replaced the smile on the fiddler’s lips. The man with the knife panicked.

The fiddler played three short but savage notes. The first tore open the shirt of the man charging him, leaving a bloody gash. The second separated the arm holding the knife at his shoulder. The third decapitated the man. His body fell into a heap. The fiddler smiled.

Fiddle in hand, the fiddler picked up the knife as he walked over to bound Boyd. He cut the necklace from the youngster’s neck, letting it drop to the grass below. He then sliced the thong and Boyd’s arms fell to his sides. Boyd then fell to the grass as he allowed himself to breathe. Boyd’s fingers fell on the necklace, which Boyd picked up, looked at, and put in his pocket.

The man roughly forced the fiddle and bow into the hands of the young man. “The lamb was delightful, albeit a bit thinner than I would like. Still, it met the particularities I gave you, so I am obligated to give you some instruction.” Boyd hurriedly picked up the fiddle and its bow. “But next week you owe me two such lambs. I don’t want it getting out that I saved a life for free, even if it was for one of my pupils.” Boyd smiled and nodded.

The man took a step back. “Shall we begin tonight’s lesson?” Boyd nodded and put the fiddle to his chin. The night was filled with the sound of the fiddle and the yells of the older man.