YR 818:
"Defending The Realm" (backpost) 
Major Sir Cassius Henderson, Knight Commander of The
Crimson Banner Chapterhouse
Lieutenant Lady Chase Remur, Paladin of The Crimson Banner
Erin Thorne, Page to Sir Cassius Brother Lawrence, Priest of the Crimson
Banner
-Eastern Wall, Count Bhrode’s Keep-
Major Sir Cassius Henderson watched the intelligencer leap over the eastern wall, as pain spread throughout his own leg. He allowed his own sword, so recently forged at his chapterhouse’ blacksmith shop to drop from his hand, it’s three foot long blade clattering sharply on the hard stone.
Cassius’s hand dropped to the dagger that had been plunged into his thigh just after he’d driven his own sword through the traitorous Saladin’s shoulder. Feeling a sudden weakness, he tried to lower himself to the group, but his armor hastened the fall and he slammed into the ground with a metallic rattle, muffles slightly by his tabard.
A squad of six men-at-arms, lead by Alexander Dorningham rushed past and aimed their bows over the wall, loosing a flurry of arrows down at the fleeing betrayer. Cassius heard Saladin cry out before a second flurry were loosed.
Then he heard another sword being sheathed behind him, then a cool hand being placed on his forehead, then the dagger being removed from his leg. He sharply drew his breath, “Damn, Chase...” he muttered.
“Quiet, Cass,” the younger knight said, “Just be grateful that you managed to expose Saladin’s plot to murder Count Bhrode. I never trusted that snake in the grass.” She took a cloth and dabbed at his leg, staunching the flow of blood.
“True, and I think I got more of him than he did of me,” Henderson said, “It was a lucky hit.” Saladin had managed to work the dagger between his armor and his leather hauberk. “Say, is there a doctor coming?”
“I sent Erin to summon Brother Lawrence. He’’ll be here in a moment. We’re still ferreting out all the rest of Saladin’s agents,” Chase Remur said holding the cloth still. It was proving hard, since Major Sir Cassius wasn’t the best at staying still, especially when he’d been injured.
“Right,” he said, “Any word on how deep the conspiracy ran? Help me sit up.” He allowed the young female knight to help him lean against the wall as Dorningham and his men at arms ran off to continue the fight. The Counts own men at arms had been locked in their barracks by the intelligencer’s men, but Saladin had not counted on how fast Henderson had moved to relieve the few remaining defenders of Count Bhrode.
“Mostly just the intelligencer and his lackeys. A few of the higher ranking guardsmen had been bought off, including Captain Jergensen, who Sholtz and his men captured a few minutes ago. We’re holding him for interrogation,” she replied, “There shouldn’t be that many left to ferret out.”
“That’s a major relief to me. With tensions rising, we certainly didn’t need this,” Henderson breathed as a brown and red robed monk and his young page dashed over, his page carrying an herbalist’s kit.
“Move aside, move aside,” Brother Lawrence Alexander said as he knelt down next to his wounded Knight Commander, “You need to be more careful. The chapterhouse needs it’s Knight Commander.”
“Yes, Law, and the province needs it’s leader more than that,” Sir Cassius replied with a mockingly stern look. The priest smiled in return and then drew a bottle of reddish brown liquid from his pouch and proceeded to pour some of it into the wound. It stung like nothing else. Cassius let out a yelp of pain before Brother Lawrence shoved him back down.
“Ow, damn it Law,” he replied, “What the hell was that for?”
“To clean the wound,” Brother Lawrence said the shoved the bottle at him, “Here, drink this.”
“What is it?” Henderson said, downing some of the fiery alcohol.
“Blood Wine, from Kling,” he said, “I keep it for medical purposes, but it will knock you out if you drink too much.” The monk took the bottle back and placed it in his satchel. That done, he finished bandaging the leg. “All right, that should do it. Let’s go see the Count. After that, you’re on your back for a week. That was a very deep wound and you’re lucky it missed everything major.”
-Chapterhouse of the Crimson Banner-
Later that night, or closer to extremely early that morning, Cassius finally managed to escape from the palace. Count Bhrode had seemed unshaken by the attempt on his life, and had doubled the watch and ordered the countryside searched, but Cassius was fairly sure that they’d seen the last of Saladin, at least for a time.
As he knelt painfully before the icon of the god who he had devoted his life to and offered his nightly and knightly prayers, he heard footsteps coming from behind him. Paranoid, after the evenings events, he reached for his sword.
“It’s me, Major Henderson,” the sergeant at arms who had supported him during the battle, Alexander Dorningham, said as he approached. Once Henderson had safely allowed the sword to return completely to it’s sheath, he knelt by the paladin’s side. “Hard night. We lost two of the men at arms, Lucas and Kingsley.”
“I know. I already saw their wives,” Henderson said, “This is insane. There was no point to what he did except personal greed. The intelligencer was hungry for power. The point of governing is to improve the lives of your people, from the highest noble to the lowliest peasant. It’s not about who controls, but who governs fairly.”
"Well, Count Bhrode has been known to be prone to temper..." Dorningham replied. Ordinarily, and in public, the sergeant-at-arms would never have said such a thing, but here in the sanctum, he could do so.
"I know that Count Bhrode is certainly not the ideal ruler, but he’s not the kind of petty tyrant that Saladin could have become,” Henderson said, “At the very least, Bhrode is scrupulously fair, if overly tough."
"I suppose that’s true, sir, thank you. I’ll be turning in now, and I would say that you ought to as well," Dorningham said, then stood and slipped from the room.
Henderson finished his prayers in silence, then stood and walked off to his own simple room, as spartan and unfurnished as any other within the halls. He removed his weapons and armor, slipped into a nightshirt, and collapsed into bed, dreaming of days when life would be simpler.
Year 815
‘Break Out Part 3 Final” BACK POST
By Ethan Suder
Dhanishta Eshe
Appearing Chandrakala Lakshmi Eshe.
K’vol ran down the stairs, “Ethan wait.” She called out after him.
Ethan stopped and turned to face her. He raised an eyebrow and waited for her to speak.
“What am I supposed to do with him?” She said pointing upstairs. Hotchkins Jr lay unconscious on her bedroom floor with a knife impaling his hand.
Ethan half smiled. “Leave him there. I’m sure he will be waiting for us to return… and I look forward to it.” With that, he turned and continued to walk off.
K’vol stared at him in disbelief. ‘Great’ she thought. She stood in the hall for a moment, thinking. ‘No’ she thought ‘I will not just leave him there.’ She went to the back door calling Ethan but he was no where to be seen. ‘Great, that’s just great, leave me alone in a house with a mad man who just tried to kill me, thanks!!!’
She went back up stairs and stood over Hotchkins Jr. “What am I going to do with you?” she muttered.
She packed all the things she needed for the trip, including the little money she had found round the house in the floor boards and began to rip up a sheet. After fetching some water she removed the knife from Hotchkins Jr hand and dressed the wound that Ethan had left.
After a while Hotchkins awoke, groggy and incoherent. She helped him down the stairs and slumped him over his horse, she climbed on to the horse and took him back to his own house where she left him in the doorway.
“Listen,” she said kneeling down next to him, “you will not be slaying any Devils today, or any other day for that matter. I and my sister are not Devils, the only Devil here is you!” with that she left.
She bought some bread and cheese from the market, as much as she could with the money she had found. Once she had everything she needed she went to the tavern where her coach man was staying and fetched one of her horses. A beautiful white stallion. Filling the saddle bags with all she had bought she mounted him showing her porcelain white legs and thighs, she no longer cared about ‘looking like a lady’.
She returned to the house and placed into the saddle bag all she had gathered for the trip. It had grown late and she wondered where Ethan would be and if she should wait till morning to proceed. After a moment of debating she dug her heals in and road off towards the dark woods.
Ethan stopped his horse and helped this unfamiliar woman down to the ground. Swinging his leg over his horse, he jumped down to the ground. The woman with him, Eshe’s sister, seemed to be content studying the dirt on the ground. Ethan looked around. Eshe, the Baroness, should be here soon. He began making a fire whilst continuing to keep an eye on the unpredictable woman near him.
Eshe thumped the ground with her bound hands, her hands and feet were tied together with rope. A low humming noise could be heard coming from the throat of Eshe which at times had an aggressive tone to it like growling.
Every now and then Ethan would look over at Eshe. The noises she was making were becoming louder and more frequent. He managed to make a fire and sat back against the trunk of a tree and waited for the Baroness.
Eshe began to get louder and started thrashing about, banging into trees and bushes.
Ethan got to his feet and swiftly moved over to Eshe and grabbed her be the arms, gently but firmly. He moved over to the fire and pushed her down to the ground with a look in his eyes that said every time she tried to get to her feet, he would make sure she stayed still. He didn’t want her to be bound anymore than she did. But he had to keep her still until her sister got here.
Ethan just stared at her. He sighed, frustrated. He glanced around the woods. Where the hell was the Baroness? She would no doubt be able to calm her sister as appose to someone who has kidnapped her and made sure she remains bound and still.
Eshe began to mutter quiet at first but her words grew into a crescendo, “Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, cold.”
Ethan glanced over at Eshe and frowned.
“Blood, blood, blood, blood, blood” followed from Eshe’s mouth.
‘Cold blood’ Ethan thought. His frown became stronger as he studied Eshe trying to understand what she was trying to talk about.
Eshe growled at him and hissed “Killer, killer, killer….” She began to shriek the words relentless in her repetition.
Ethan closed his eyes and took a moment. He put the words together and sighed. ‘Cold Blooded Killer’. But how did she know? She had never met him, he had no idea who she was.
Eventually Eshe grew silent, her eyes closed and she seemed to be asleep.
Ethan moved closer to the fire and grew slightly hungry. He thought about heading off to ‘gather’ some food, however, he wasn’t going to leave this girl alone. The night was getting later and he was really eager for the Baroness “Eshe” to arrive. He picked up a twig and began twiddling it in his fingers. All he could do was wait.
At long last, the sound of a horse trotting through the forest echoed in Ethan’s ears. He became fully awake and looked to his right. The moon light shone through the trees revealing a white stallion with the Baroness. She was riding so gracefully. Although her sister had fallen asleep, his heart grew warm and he was pleased to see her. The view was quite stunning. For the first time, he noticed her long, smooth legs. Her hair was bouncing off her shoulders. Now that he knew the truth of who she was, it was as if she had pulled the cover that was shrouding her self off, revealing who she really was. He stood up to greet her.
She nodded towards her sister as she jumped down off the horse, “Any trouble?” she asked.
“A few screams, grunts and grumbles. But that’s about it.” He said strolling towards her. The shadows hid his face well. Something he was glad of, he didn’t want her to see the feeling that had crossed his face for the fist time in years. A warm feeling that left great expression on his face. “How come you never mentioned you were a Baroness?”
K’vol stopped her heart pounding for a moment, “How did you find out?” she asked.
Ethan sighed. “Your friend with a hole in his hand mentioned it.” He replied.
“He is not my friend.” She retorted, “He is a debt collector, of sorts.” She said whilst tethering her horse to a tree. “Tell me this; would you have helped me if you knew who I was? And what would have you asked for in return?” She turned to him and looked deep into his eyes, “Answer me honestly.”
“I didn’t help you because I was expecting anything in return. I was helping you because you seemed like an honest person who was willing to do anything for her sister. I wouldn’t ask for anything. I have the tools and weapons I need. Money is no good to me out here. Your offer of giving yourself to me to help your sister was flattering, that’s why I decided to help. Because you were willing to do that for your sister. It’s not everyday I come across someone with such a good heart like yours. I was never going to take advantage of you. That much I have proven already I hope.”
She thought about what he said for a moment and regarded him, his eyes spoke wisdom and his hands were worn from years of living in the forest, with the forest, taking only what he needed, he wasn’t one to abuse.
“I never lied to you.” she said taking hold of his hand. She needed him to believe her, she wanted him to believe her, after all she was telling the truth. “And you never asked, its not something one slips in when walking alone in the woods looking for a witch, if anyone found out what I was doing, well…...” she trailed off.
He turned away to walk back to the tree and think about her answer. But it didn’t seem to matter. “So what’s her name?” he asked at last.
She looked at the sleeping wreck she called a sister. Her black hair was a mess of tangles and her skin was so pail it was almost transparent. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to say her name. Part of her felt like she had lost her sister years ago, long lost, like her parents but now it was so different. Here she was in the middle of the forest taking her insane sister to a witch to be healed, anything the witch could do was bound to be better than the treatment she had received so far. She was bargaining with the Devil himself, offering herself to a heathen, so much had changed and she felt ready, “Her name is Dhanishta, Eshe.”
“It’s a good name. And what’s yours?” he asked again. “Your real name.”
She smiled at him teasingly, “Eshe is my families name, my…,” she almost choked at the next part, she suddenly realised that she didn’t want Ethan to know she was married, she wished at that moment that she could stay here with Ethan. She forced herself to continue, “My name is Chandrakala Lakshmi Eshe, my married name is Baroness K’vol.” She watched him looking for his reaction, was he happy, sad, angry, what? Did he have any feelings towards her or was she just imagining it?
Ethan glanced at her sister, Dhanishta and just gazed at her for a while. Then his eyes fixed on Chandrakala. He looked into her eyes for quite a while. Her statement about her being married didn’t surprise him. He had kind of figured that when he first met her. Things couldn’t have been good between them for her to offer herself for her sister even if it meant going behind her husbands back. What would he, the Baron do if he found out about their deal if Ethan had actual allowed her to give him herself. Would he attack her and have him killed. Correction, attempt to have him killed. The thought of the battle made Ethan smile slightly. He still felt warm from her arrival. Her mention of marriage didn’t bother him in the slightest. If she wasn’t happy, maybe something would happen, if she was happy, then nothing would happen at all between them.
She watched him intently but he didn’t give anything away in his expression or in his body language. Sighing she sat down by the fire and turned her attention to the flames.
“I used to think that women married to Baron’s indulge too much and loose looks as well as money. I’m glad to see I was wrong all this time. There maybe hope for me yet.” He said with a smile.
She turned to him, puzzled, “What is that supposed to mean?” she questioned hiding a small smile.
Means you’re a hell of a lot more attractive than any Baroness I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen a few.” He smiled back.
She blushed and turned away. “Are you hungry?” she asked changing the subject. “I brought some food with me this time… and blankets.” She stood and walked over to her horse, “You learn from your mistakes.” She said removing parcels from the side saddles and blankets off the horse.
“Well maybe I’m good at something after all, even if it is teaching.” He said half heartedly. He got to his feet to help her with the food and blankets. In a way, he was glad he didn’t have to go hunting, but something told him he wasn’t going to be used to the food made back in town. Still, it was going to be something different.
The meat had been dried and heavily salted to preserve it for the long journey that Chandrakala had undertaken. In fact all the food had been dried, dried fruit, meat even the bread was dry and stale!
“This might help in washing it down.” She said producing a bottle. “Its mead, the good stuff!” she smiled as Ethan took a swig and chuckled as his eyes began to water and he coughed slightly. “Best to dip the bread in the mead, makes the bread soft.” She said taking the bottle from him and poring some out into a tankard.
Ethan was a little shocked. He hadn’t really had that much to drink in the past few years, but it was nice. He was tempted to drink from the bottle again but didn’t persist. He took some bread off Chandrakala and made his way back to the trunk of the tree near the fire and Dhanishta.
Chandrakala stayed by the fire for a while watching Ethan and her sleeping sister. She wondered if things would ever be the same between them or whether her sisters insanity would always prove a problem. She wandered off into the forest and settled by the side of the river. Looking at the water in the moonlight she longed for her parents. She missed her mother greatly and needed her wisdom now more than ever. “Where are you?” She questioned out loud.
“Always about.” Ethan replied as he stood near here. “Out here, if you call for someone, they will here you. The river and wind will carry your voice to whom you wish to speak.” He said sitting by her. “If you’d rather be alone I can go back.” He said.
“I’ve been alone for years,” she replied “I would like some company.” She took his hand and squeezed it. Turning she looked into his eyes, the moonlight bounced off them making them glow. She leaned into him and kissed him softly.
Ethan returned the kiss and stroked her long red hair. For the first time in many years, he was happy. What could be better than sitting near a river with the sounds of nature around, kissing a beautiful woman. Who would have thought a Baroness could fall for some guy who lived in the woods.
***************
Chandrakala awoke to the sound of the river as it rushed over rocks, ‘always running’ she thought. She didn’t feel the cold of the morning only the warmth of Ethan’s body next to hers, his soft breath on her neck, and the feeling of contentment.
Ethan watched as Chandrakala awoke. He had earlier made sure that her sister was where she was suppose to be. They would soon have to get up to begin travelling towards the Webwitch. They would certainly be lot quicker now that they had two horses. “We should get moving he said. “The winds are good but will change soon, could slow us down.” He said, thinking if it would be so bad if they were slowed down. But this was about her sister, he was suppose to help her, not his own needs.
Reluctantly Chandrakala agreed. They packed up in silence and after securing Dhanishta on to Ethan’s horse they set off.
***************
Ethan finished securing the horses while Chandrakala tended to her sister. Upon his return, Dhanishta was sat by the fire rocking back and forth. His earlier encounter with her, calling him a cold blooded killer still held him in a state of confusion. He smiled as he approached Chandrakala. “It’ll be getting really cold tonight. Better get all comfy in those blankets you brought.” He said sitting down. He could feel the silent breeze. The silence before the storm.
Dhanishta bounced around on the ground, agitated, her groaning different from that of the day before when she had been kidnapped by a stranger. She kept looking up to the trees and all around as if expecting something to jump out of them. Her agitation grew more and she began to groan louder, with more urgency in her tone.
Chandrakala looked over to Ethan, concerned.
Ethan concentrated on Dhanishta. What she was doing seemed to make some kind of sense. He monitored her body language.
Dhanishta’s body fell to the ground and rattled around, thrashing from side to side, banging into rocks. Her back arched and her face scrunched up, her mouth opened and she let out a howl.
“How do you make her shut up?” Chandrakala shouted at Ethan over the racket Dhanishta was making. She was at Dhanishtas side now dodging arms, legs and fists.
Ethan knew this howl was of pain. He grabbed a small empty bottle from a pouch on his horse and raced to the river. He grabbed some leaves from branches in the way and covered the top of the bottle with them as he dipped his hands in water of the river, allowing the water to soak up in the leaves and drip into the bottle. He shot over to Dhanishta and helped Chandrakala hold her down whilst he poured the water over her face. He tried to get her to drink some. The unusual method of the way Ethan made this water was usually effective, although not used in today’s medicine.
“What is that?” Chandrakala asked as Dhanishta screamed even more.
“Water.” Ethan replied. “It should focus her thoughts and hopefully wake her up out of this state.” He explained.
Suddenly Dhanishtas body fell still and her eyes closed. She began muttering. Her mouth moved so fast that neither Ethan nor Chandrakala could understand her.
“What is she saying?” Chandrakala asked.
Ethan moved his head closer to the ground next Dhanishtas head. He didn’t lean right over her to give her space. He concentrated on what she was saying.
“Pretty, bounty, boom, boom.” She repeated over and over again.
“Prett, bounty, boom, boom?” Ethan repeated. “Pretty, bounty…” It didn’t seem to make sense, but Ethan knew that the things that Dhanishta said did make sense in one way or another, it was just a case of working it out.
Dhanishtas eyes shot open, they were as black as the night sky, “Pretty bounty boom, boom.” She said again.
Ethan remained still.
“Pretty bounty boom, BOOM.” She repeated with urgency in her voice.
“I don’t understand.” Ethan said quietly. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“PRETTY BOUNTY BOOM BOOM!” she shouted thumping Ethan’s chest with every boom.
Ethan looked down at his chest felt the winds change. He raised to one knee and looked around as if someone had tripped an alarm near by or something. He focused his mind on his surroundings and then looked back down at Dhanishta.
Her eyes were wide open, wiled. “Pretty bounty,” she pointed at Chandrakala, “boom, BOOM.” She said thumping Ethan’s chest again. With that she darted up into the nearest tree as if she had been doing it her whole life.
Chandrakala stood and stared up into the tree, and then at Ethan.
Ethan got to his feet, put his hands on his hips and drew in some deep breathes. Part of it kind of made sense. “Pretty bounty.” He said looking at Chandrakala. “That would be you, the pretty bounty.” He continued to watch Dhanishta up in the tree. “I think we should get some rest, let her rest too.”
************
The night came in fast bringing pounding rain, thunder and lightening. Through this Dhanishta remained in the tree, occasionally the wind brought her words to Ethan and Chandrakalas ears, they were the same.
The night was filled with heat and passion as Chandrakala lay with Ethan. They bonded in a union of ecstasy, a rush of emotion, a connection of flesh, the rain was welcome refreshment.
No one had managed to sleep that well, what with the weather and certain events that had taken place. Ethan had decided to get an early start. Whilst Chandrakala slept, he packed all their things into the two horses and prepared for another journey. The last before they would reach the Webwitch.
Ethan snapped his attention towards several large trees. He was certain he had heard a twig snap. There were no animals in sight, none he could see anyway. After a few seconds, he finished packing the bags on the horses and moved over to Chandrakala whilst continuing to keep an eye on his surroundings. He silently shook Chandrakalas arm and raised his other hand, index finger extended and placed it over his lips.
Chandrakala awoke, at seeing Ethan and his beckoning of silence she grew concerned and slightly afraid.
He pointed at her horse and made his way to the tree to bring down Dhanishta who hopefully had tired herself out.
As Ethan approached Dhanishta climber higher up the tree, shaking her head.
**SNAP**
Another twig. Ethan raced up the tree and grabbed Dhanishta. Carefully placing her over his shoulder in a comfortable way, he slid down the tree like a snake and place her on Chandrakalas horse. “Continue to follow the river down. You’ll know when you reach the Webwitch.” He said.
“Not without you.” Chandrakala whispered back.
He walked over to a bag that was still laid on the floor near his horse. He grabbed something metal and pulled on it. A long sword presented itself in the hands of Suder. He stood guard and looked at Chandrakala that said ‘get the hell out of here’.
She didn’t want to leave him, her heart ached, she shook her head. Knowing full well that if she didn’t do as he said he would no doubt slap her horse’s arse which would one blow his cover from whoever was approaching and two mean she wouldn’t be able to control her horse and they would probably fall into a ditch somewhere. She reached down into her saddle bag and pulled out something covered in a blood stained sheet. She threw it at Ethan’s feet. “I’ll see you there.” She told him sternly before kicking her horse into action.
Ethan picked up the cloth and unwrapped it. Inside was a knife so familiar. One that only a couple days earlier he had used to impale someone’s hand. Someone who had attacked Chandrakala.
He placed the knife in his belt and swung his sword around in a smooth, slow and very artistic manner.
From beyond some large trees and bushes appeared several men. Four carrying long swords, another with a musket weapon of some kind. They moved towards Ethan, looking around as they approached. Ethan knew these guys were on a scavenger hunt. They moved from place to place, normally from town to town, robbing people of their valuables. They didn’t often reach the deep centres of the forest. They approached Suder slowly and cautiously, weapons raised.
Ethan raised his elbow so that it was level with his head, his sword pointing towards them. He smiled. “Here comes the pain!” He said out loud.
Chandrakalas heart thumped in her chest as she kicked her horse into a canter. As she neared the river she heard the gun shots. “Boom, boom.” Whispered Dhanishta at the exact moment the shots were fired.
Tears streamed down Chandrakalas face, her heart in her throat. She tugged hard on the rains, her horse skidded, she turned him round quickly and headed back towards the gun play. She wasn’t going to leave him to die, not here, not today she thought as she kicked her horse from a canter into a gallop.
As Chandrakala approached, she saw Ethan on his horse wearing his usual long dark robe. Just behind his horse, five men laying on the ground. Each had punctured stab wounds with plenty of blood to go with it, still running fresh out of their wounds.
Ethan, on his horse approached Chandrakala. He took in several breathes and steadied himself. He looked into her eyes as she came closer. “Let’s go. Others may follow.” He warned her, knowing others wouldn’t come, but he was eager to get her moving.
Chandrakala turned her horse as sharply as she had done before and kicked her horse into a fast canter across the woodland floor.
As Chandrakala turned on her horse and lead the way, Ethan lifted his robe and looked down at his chest. Blood began to appear in his shirt and was beginning to leak into his trousers. He grabbed some spare clothes out of one of the bags on the side of the horse and pushed them under his top to try and stop the bleeding. He would tend to his own wounds once Chandrakala and her sister were being seen to by the Webwitch. Once ready, he followed Chandrakala in the direction of the Webwitch.
******
Soon they had crossed the boundaries of the Webwitchs grounds, Chandrakala could tell this by the amount of spiders roaming around. She was sure that the Webwitch knew of there presence but this time Kala was not scared and continued through her territory until they found a small hut. Kala slowed her horse and once the magnificent beast stopped, snorting heavily, Kala jumped down and proceeded to what she assumed to be the front door and knocked loudly.
"Yr 820: The jester is bored.. Lock your doors & windows. - Part 1"
by Kira Murphy,
Royal Court Jester/one of the town prostitutes
---------------------------------------------
Hanging upside down from the roof, Kira moaned and wriggled. The castle guards had become very inventive with their punishments this time, and she becoming proud of them.
While hanging upside down hadn't been that original, the bucket that was hanging from her ringed nipples was. And she had thought it was really devilish when they had slowly filled the bucket halfway up with water, straining her.
She had been glad when they had pushed a candle into her to give her something to do, so she just practised squeezing it, trying to push it out and pull it in.
She had grown bored quickly, and thought back to why she was hanging there.
************************
Skipping down the street with her pockets and pouches bulging after a quiet visit to the castle's hen barn, Kira smiled.
Racing up the stairs, she crawled out a window and skittered across the roof of the stables, careful not to fall through.
Sitting down on the end, she watched as the castle guards marched across the great courtyard.
Finding the hole she had carved in the wooden beam, she stuck the spike of her staff into it and loaded up two eggs into the sling. Pulling the staff back, she aimed and let it rip. Once it was in the air, she flattened against the stable, hiding in the straw.
Counting, she heard a splat followed by a loud roar of anger. Giggling softly, she heard people swearing and cursing below. Peeking up, she saw that they hadn't seen her and were looking around the wall.
Pulling a couple of more eggs out, she threw them over and splatted some more guards, causing more roaring. Thoroughly enjoying herself, she heard someone yell that it must be the slutty court jester again.
Realising that she was gonna be in trouble now, she jumped up and waved to them, throwing a few more eggs. When they saw her, they all charged towards the stables, ready to climb up and beat the shit out of her.
Scampering across the roof, she dove into the window and headed to the stairs.
Calling out, she taunted them mercilessly, "Hey, Fatties. Why don't you go on a diet or does the Count have a fat fetish?"
There was more snarling and roaring as they charged up the stairs. Opening her pouch, she poured out lots of little presents for them, that started a bouncing little path downwards to meet them.
About halfway down, the guards and balls met each other, and both groups continued the path downwards. Kira wince when she heard loud bangs and crashes at the bottom of the stairs. Giggling like a hyena, Kira raced down the corridor. All of a sudden, she gasped as she felt a sharp yank upwards and her legs spinning in the air.
The large brute who had grabbed her laughed and bellowed, "Hey, guys. I caught the little bitch for you."
Wriggling, she spun and sunk her teeth into his arm while simultaneously stabbing downwards with her spiked staff into his foot. He screamed in pain and let go of her, hopping around in pain. She fell and rolled, springing up quickly as she sprinted down the corridor.
Knowing that the whole castle guard would be out searching for her, she ran down some stairs and burst into the kitchen. Grabbing some sticky buns as she ran by, she dove through a hole and rolled down a short ramp.
Arriving in the underground tunnel where deliveries were made, she started moving along the narrow ledge against the wall that was made so people could get to the outside steel grate and let small boats in.
Reaching the end, she triggered the grate to open and slide out when it was open enough. Once she was outside, she slammed it shut, wedging a large rock in so it couldn't open. Behind her, she could hear some guards following.
When they reached the end, they tried to trigger it but it was wedged. Grinning, she turned around and mooned them before racing off, hearing them curse her.
************************
Moving through the busy markets in Galaxia, Kira skittered along, being either ignored, pushed or in a couple of cases - kicked.
Biting into a 'borrowed' apple, she grinned and felt the weight of the little purse she had lifted. Opening it, she cooed at all the nice shiny things inside, knowing that she should return it.
Spotting a glittering stone on the ground, her concentration waned and she dumped the purse in a pouch without remebering that she was going to return it. Crawling under a cart, she picked up the stone and grinned, turning it in the light to see all the pretty colors.
Hearing a commotion, she put the stone in the same pouch and looked up. Crawling out and sinking her teeth into the leg of a man who stood on her hand as she did, Kira pushed her way through the crowd until she reached the edge. Grinning as she found a man eating fire, she watched for awhile before deciding to go elsewhere. Feeling thirsty, she jumped up and down, looking through the crowd. Spotting somewhere that might be good, she made her way through and looked.
The place was very big, and even had some long tables & benches on the outside.. Next door, she spotted a guest house, which might be useful to stay in until the guards cooled. It was a bit cold, and she didn't have the supplies to head out to the forest at the moment. She had also left her warm clothes in the castle, and couldn't go get them.
Moving upto the door, she found that it was locked.
"Hmmm.. Wierd."
Searching in her pouch, she found some lockpicks and quickly went to work, unlocking the door. Pushing the door open, she entered the place and locked the door behind. Looking around when she entered, Kira headed over to where she thought the bartender would be.
Jumping up on a seat, she looked around but found nobody. Pulling out a set of pipes, she started playing a little tune.
Opening her pouches, she upturned them on one of the long tables and started sorting through them.
Pushing some stuff to the side, she found the pouch and counted over 50 coins. Blushing when she remebered she had forgotten, she shrugged, knowing the owner wouldn't be there now so she couldn't return them.
Finding a small whistle, she blew on it hard and heard the sounds of dogs barking. Moving to the front door, she opened it and found a few dogs there.
Letting them in, she looked around and found some old bread. Leaving a pile of coins, she took the bread and fed it to the dogs before ushering them out, but not before one of them left a steaming little pile.
Collecting all her stuff, she had a drink of water and left a little note before exiting.
************************
Later that night..
Kira had decided to go visiting around the town before heading back to the guest house where she hoped to get a room.
Moving down the darkened street, she saw a sign for a tavern called 'The Swan and Sword'. Grinning when she heard loud noises coming from it, she pushed her way in and smiled when she was hit by a wave of sound then the smell of beer & ale and roasted mutton.
Licking her lips, she headed towards the bar, stabbing, kicking and biting as needed. As she did, she heard the sounds of a very optimistic energetic bard trying to make himself heard over the din.
Pulling herself up onto a stool, she spun around and watched, listening. Laughing loudly when she realised he had just started a rather tawdry song about her, Kira smiled and hooted happily, enjoying the tune about the Lusty Court Jester.
Spinning around, she ordered a large tankard of ale and started drinking. Ordering a pan of spicy potatos & bacon, she made her way to an empty bit of table and waited until it arrived. When it did, she dug in like a ravenous pack of wild dogs, devouring it quickly. Burping, she stayed around for awhile before heading out to the guest house.
Year 820
"Ye olde mental patient."
Klaus Fienberg, Crackpot Physcian
Alberion Savage, Mad Beggar
Location. The Shop.
Klaus sat behind his counter, awaiting any fool that would walk through the door. Today he got more than he bargained for.
A man in many robes entered the store...his eyes, erie and frightening. "The flesh....She's coming!"
"Good Sir? May I be of service?"
"You will not understand, for the riddles you do not hear! They speak to me!"
"Good sir, I do not understand."
"That is because you are not ment to! When the Dragon kisses you, only then will you know!"
"Know what good sir?"
"The Secrets." This was going nowhere. The Man was clearly mad. "May I take a assumption? Only the dragon will tell me."
"NO NO NO NO! The dragon tells nothing! He only allows you to see! You must face him without fear or he will devour your soul!"
The madman began to wander the shop, rustling through the remedies.
"I think I'm dieing. I think I'm dead." Mumbled the madman to himself. "We are all dead. We must find ways back to the living word. They speak to me. They tell me what I must do. They tell me to stay here. I do not wish lodging. For they tell me to take lodging amoung the streets."
Klaus knew that there was no reasoning with the madman. Alberion the mad rushed out the door and torward the home of Count Brhode.
"Well. Things have become quite odd."
Year 815
‘The Devils cure.’ [Back post]
By The Webwitch
Dhanishta Eshe
Appearing Chandrakala Lakshmi Eshe
Chandrakala banged on the Webwitchs door again, still no answer.
Dhanishta had slid off the horse and was playing on the ground with the spiders. She lifted a rock up high, to crash it down on to one of the spiders squash it into the dirt, she paused. Scooping the spider up into her hands she shuffled forwards towards the trees on her knees, holding up the spider to the Webwitch who was concealed in the tree lining she mumbled, “Tricky, tricky.”
The Webwitch came down from the trees, having been watching the woods from a better vantage point to make sure Saladin left unseen.
"Indeed.", she said to Dhanishta, her demeanour calm, almost serene.
Chandrakala turned sharply, jumping slightly, “I didn’t see you there.” She said stating the obvious. “This is my sister, Dhanishta.”
"Come inside." the Webwitch said as she opened the door to her rather plain hut. The blankets on the bed were still mussed from Saladin's visit, but otherwise the insides were tidy and in order for a rural hut.
Already she had what herbs and potions she might need on hand. "Both of you, take a seat."
Chandrakala rounded up her sister, it took a while to get her inside, Dhanishta was far more interested in the spiders. Finally Kala got Dhani inside but she didn’t stay seated for long. Chandrakala sighed with frustration. She wished Ethan was still with them, he would be able to keep her still. She wondered if he was okay.
“We had to break her out of the hospital.” Kala said, “She has been up and down since, screaming one minuet and then repeating the same thing over and over again the next and dead quiet in-between.”
Everything inside the hut was either very durable or replicable, so the Webwitch had no concerns about anything being irreplaceably damaged. "What words has she been saying?" she asked as she poured some water into a glass so she could dilute some of her curatives for Dhani to drink.
“Just last night when we had stopped for the night she thrashed about fitting, screaming. She fell still after a while and repeated ‘pretty bounty boom, boom’. This morning we were attacked by out laws. They had muskets. I’m afraid that my friend was hurt, but he left as soon as we arrived here. This isn’t the first time that something like this has happened.” She said trailing off.
"Please, tell me more." the Webwitch said as she frowned beneath her veils. She had the faintest glimmer of knowing what it could be that ailed Kala's sister-especially with the accusations of her talking to demons, but she needed to know more about things in general.
Chandrakala watched the Witch for a moment wondering what it was she was doing, “A few weeks ago the Butcher who guarded the west wing told me that Father Hotchkins had been to see her, while he was there she repeated ‘snake in the grass’ a few days later he was bitten by a snake and died.” She twiddled a piece of twine round in her fingers and cast a glance over to Dhanishta.
Dhanishta was sitting on the floor in the corner of the room, moaning quietly rocking backwards and forwards and staring intently at the wall like something was written on it and she was trying to read it.
The Webwitch nodded. "It is possible that your sister has The Sight.", she said softly as she began gathering some select herbs from small jars, "I knew a witch who did have it, or something much like it. I must say, she was a difficult one to play cards with, always knew what you had in hand if she wasn't careful."
“What happened to her? Was she mad like Dhanishta?” Kala asked.
"With the Songstress, madness depended on one's definition." the Webwitch said with a soft smile in her tone, "She was just born with an extra sense. While we have sight, touch, hearing, and smell, she had one other. From her tales, she had grown up with another who had the gift so she was able to deal with it. If I could, I would try to call her, but the last I saw of her, the Inquisitors were chasing us."
Kala didn’t have to ask who the Inquisitors were. She had heard the tails and knew full well that this Witch must live in fear of them every day of her life. If her friend, who was also a witch, had the same affliction as Dhanishta did, what would that make Dhanishta? Was she a witch also? Would she be hunted by the Inquisitors? What would Dhanis fate be if they were able to rehabilitate her back into society? All these questions and more floated through Kala’s head. She was worried.
“What can you do for my sister?” she asked at last.
"I can try to be some calm in the storm of your sister's mind." the Webwitch said as she meticulously measured two draughts of a powerful hallucinogenic that would hopefully keep them in sync so Dhani would have some sense of the world to ground herself with.
Dhanishta crawled across the floor and under the table following a spider. Watching it intently, how it moved, she mimicked it. Kala watched her. “Will she be…..” She pondered her words for a moment, “like us…. normal?”
"The Sight is a most rare and special gift. She will never lose it, but once she has some grounding in her mind, she can keep silent about it's visions, even use them to her own advantage."
“The ‘sight’ you call it, affected her at a young age. I’m afraid that she will always be….. young?”
"She will have to learn things if she had not before." the Webwitch said, "And since she's been bound for so long, she will have to relearn a few things as well. But with patience and care, she should be fine."
“How long? Its just that my husband will not have her in the house, and we live far away from her. I will stay as long as I can but I know that at some point he will call for me.” But before the witch could answer there was a loud crash from outside. Kala jumped up and looked around, “Where’s Dhanishta?” She asked franticly searching the room with her eyes. The door was open a jar. They both had been so engrossed in what they were doing they didn’t notice Dhanishta crawl out the door in pursuit of a spider.
The Webwitch grabbed the draughts she had and hurried out the door. She had to act fast to better answer Kala.
Outside Dhanishta had knocked over a box of fruit. On her hands and knees she began to growl low and aggressively, banging her head on the dirt ground.
The Witch crouched down next to Dhani. "Now, now." she said gently, "There's no need to get upset. The fruit is still good and you're not hurt." She offered her the drinking bowl of potion and it had a sweet and vanillaish scent to it. "Perhaps you would like something to drink?"
Dhanishta continued to growl, getting louder. She banged her head harder on the ground.
Chandrakala followed the witch outside watching the scene unfold, “Get back!” She shouted to the witch as Dhanishta began to fit. Thrashing around arms legs, it was easy to get hit.
The witch skittered back, carefully observing.
Dhanishtas back arched thrusting her belly up towards the sky, her eyes writhed in their sockets and she screamed, in pain.
"I know." the Webwitch said gently, "It is something that is my own to bear when the time comes. I expect it." She kept herself calm and cool as she approached Dhani and took her arm.
Dhanishta lay still, her eyes closed. Chandrakala approached staying at arms length.
“This is the same as before.” Kala said.
"It is alright." the Webwitch said, not letting go of Dhani.
Dhanishtas eyes snapped open, black as ebony. Her words were quiet at first but she spoke louder every time, “Heathen, heathen, heathen.” She said.
"As much as I.", the Webwitch said with a soft smile in her tone.
Chandrakala came closer and knelt beside Dhanishta. Dhani repeated her words placing her hands on Kala’s belly and the Witches in turn.
“What is she talking about?” Kala asked frustration in her voice.
"One or both of us is with child." the Witch said, "I can safely say that I am."
“That is not possible.” Kala said sitting back on her haunches, “For me. For I can n….” She paused, “I have tried for 12 years to no avail, it is not possible.” She thought back to her nights alone with Ethan and cringed.
"Many things are possible in the world." the Webwitch said, "More than we can possibly dream of. Is possibility of a child welcome or not?"
“If it were my husbands…….” She trailed off thinking about what he would do to her if he found out. She got up leaving the Witch alone with Dhanishta and returned to the house.
Dhanishtas eyes were pined on the Witch, “Heathen.” She whispered again.
The Webwitch followed enough for Kala to hear her. "The choice is yours, but even that can be tended to with the right herbs." she said before returning to Dhani.
She sat down next to her. "Would you care to see more of what the world can offer?" she asked as she offered the drinking bowl again.
Dhanishta cowered, curling up into a ball in expectation of a beating. When non followed she uncurled enough to look at the witch, she reached out taking the bowl and scampered off to a near by tree, which would act as her escape if needed. Sitting down under its branches she set the bowl down in front of her and stared at the witch.
The Witch had a small container of the same potion and slowly drank it as she watched Dhani from the tree. She could feel that unique tingle as her mind began to drift out of her body and become more aware of the world around her.
After a while Dhanishta began to sniff the bowl as a cat or dog would, and eventually she drank its entire contains.
The Webwitch smiled as Dhani drank, now the healing could begin. Dhanishta could feel ripples, rough and hard. They rose to form ridges with sharp peaks. She did not know what this feeling was beneath her fingertips. She stared hard at what her fingers touched. She knew that she could clime it that it had arms that reached up to the sun, but she couldn’t name it. Yet she knew its name.
As the potion worked its way round Dhanis body she knew more about what her fingers touched. She remembered its name but more than that she could feel what it did. As she breathed out, it breathed in taking her exhale and she its, together they breathed, without each other neither would.
As her senses widened she could feel all of them breathing in sync, and much, much more. Energy swirled around her, beautiful in colour and graceful in dance. But this wasn’t new to Dhani, this is how she saw the world. Faces and voices penetrated her violently, she would feel what they felt, before they did, and it was usually pain. She remembered a long time ago desperately trying to find her way back to that place of faces and voices but as that world clouded over leaving her only pain she stopped trying. In her world of colour everything was new and different, different in colour, vibration, speed, strength, flexibility.
*TREES* She could see them now as well as feel them, she could see the brown bark and its green leaves. She could see it as the Witch saw it. She saw it through the Witches eyes.
The Witch's presence was there as well, acting like a lighthouse during a storm. She did her best to light the way for Dhani to find her way back to the world. While the path that Dhani had walked on was old and overgrown, it was still there, waiting for her to walk back onto it.
Dhanishta saw the world like any other would look at a picture. Grass and trees, mud and stones, blue sky, white fluffy clouds…. The sun shone through trees creating shadows that danced as graceful as the energy that surrounded her. She wanted to reach out and touch all these things but she was afraid to. This was so like her ‘visions’, the glimpse of the world that she hated because it caused her so much pain. It was all so confusing, scary. Dhanishta closed her eyes and clung to the tree as tears ran down her cheeks.
**I am here." the Witch said/sent softly as she joined Dhani in the tree, **This is all real, and you have nothing to fear from it. Accept it for what it is, and you can travel your worlds at will."
*****
Inside the small cottage Chandrakala watched the Witch with her sister. She didn’t know what they were doing and right now she had other things to worry about. A life was growing inside her and she had to decide weather to keep it or not. She knew the answer, there was no way that she could keep the child, but she wanted to. She had only been with Ethan for a few weeks but she had feelings for him that ran deep and now she had his child. And she was married. She left the window and sat back down at the table. With her head in her hands she sighed and decided the fate of Ethans unborn child.
*****
Dhanishta opened her eyes again expecting her ‘world’ had returned. It was incredibly rare but sometimes the visions caused no pain, like looking through a looking glass, and she would return to her ‘world’ without being hurt but today was different. The trees were still there as was the grass and, a woman next to her. She could feel her presence and see her too. Dressed in dark cloths, only her eyes visible, (IF THAT IS WRONG PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CHANGE IT) Dhanishta reached out and felt the fabric of the woman’s clothing. She could feel the presence of another but this one was within the first. ‘Boy’ Dhani thought, not knowing if the other could or would hear her.
A movement caught Dhanis attention, something dark loomed up before her. It had holes in the side, a big one and several small ones. A figure stood in one of the holes. Dhani looked closely as it came towards her. Her own face! Was this a vision after all? Of herself?
Chandrakala walked across the grass towards the witch and her sister. She had made her decision and she felt a little better now she knew what she had to do; focus on helping her sister get better.
Dhanishta walked towards herself, her face. It wasn’t her. Now she was more confused. It was another like the one by the tree, a woman. She reached out and touched this woman’s face that was so like her own. She could feel the blood that ran through her veins and hear her heart beat, it was the same as her own, all of it. Like a blind man she traced her fingers over the contours of Kalas face and understood.
She turned back to the Webwitch and grinned like a small child. “Chandrakala.” She said aloud.
The Webwitch smiled beneath her veils. So far, it was working.
NRPG: please note that this is a backpost.
"Of Chisels, Birds, And Human Nature"
In the year 815
Cutter Karan
Carpenter
Michael McDowell
Bladesmith
*** Some street in Galaxia ***
"Hello Mr. Hudson, how are you today?"
"A good afternoon to you, too, Mr. Reinhardt!"
"Brandon, my friend, how is your Misus Robyn?"
"Mr. Dahlquist! I have another box full of toothpick sticks for you!"
"What is that, Mekaela, ma'am? Oh, no thank you, I don't need any help."
Cutter Karan smiled at the young woman, from what he could see of her. He was carrying a large chair, and stacked upon that was a large box of chisels and blades. Two saws were smashed together in his armpits, held up between his arm and his chest.
The chair had taken over two days to make; it was large and made of heavy oak. The seat sat upon four sturdy legs, when it was on the ground, and in turn supported a high, decorated back and two large wide arms. Its enormous weight, coupled with all the tools he carried, made him regret procrastinating on the repairs of his cart. One box, with a lid sat in the chair. On top it was another box of blades, sliding back and forth as Cutter walked down the road. All of it was destined for the bladesmith down the road.
Cutter stepped carefully forward to the front of the bladesmith's store. Michael did much of his crafting in the store, so the building had no front wall, to allow the maximum amount of wind to blow inside. A bladesmith's fires could get mighty hot.
Michael was pounding away, his concentration focused solely on the flattened iron in front of him. Observing that he wouldn't be offered any help, Cutter continued. He had walked all the way across town with Michael's chair and all of his tools, what was another few steps?
Beyond his limit. The large box of worn chisels that balanced so unstably in his arms was tipped just a bit to far to the left. It slid off before Cutter could react and hit the floor, sending its contents clattering across the ground. He winced, "Ka! Dammit!" If only he had a couple more fingers! Those extra dents would take longer to smooth out.
Michael looked up, a bit startled by the sudden loud noise and the curse that followed it. When he noticed the chisels lying all around he grinned. "Well, you sure know how to make an entrance. I take it those need to be sharpened?"
"Yeah," Cutter said. Once he dropped the top box, he decided it would be futile to try to carry everything further. He carefully set down the chair, trying not drop the saws he held under his arms. "I brought your payment, too," Cutter said, referring to the chair.
Laying down his hammer, Michael stepped towards the large chair and looked at it from all sides. He was surprised but in the positive sense of the word. "Is this the 'simple' chair you promised me? Looks more like a King's throne to me! Fair play!" Michael laughed and sat down, watching out that he wouldn't smudge it with his dirty hands. "Now, I don't say this often,...but why go through all this trouble? It's too much for the job. You must've known that."
"Twenty chisels, two planers, four drills and four saws, sharpened approximately once a month? I know you say its no trouble everytime, but I had to pay you somehow. You would refuse money, so I made this," Cutter explained, kneeling down and gathering his scattered tools. "I'm glad you like it."
"It's a fine chair Cutter, and it's going to be my favorite chair by far. No doubt about it." Michael replied. The chair really sat comfortable. It made him wish that he hadn't so much work, despite the fact he made good money with it.
"So, how's business?"
"Oh, business is going fine. No complains there. I get more and more requests for swords, daggers, and even axes." Michael answered as he got out of the chair and started picking up the chisels. There was a serious look on his face when he got up again "But there are times when I ask myself if I am to be really happy with that or not. It could as well mean there are bad times ahead."
"Or good times! For me, at any rate, if those axes are for chopping timber," Cutter smiled. He waited for Michael's grin before continuing on the subject, "But, you may be right. We live in frightening times now, not to speak of the future. Villagers are afraid of all the bandits and villains that are rumored to be living in the woods. Little pixie thiefs that sneak up without making a sound and taking all of your coin, and of course, that necromancer in the woods, the one who sleeps with the spiders? I heard it sold its soul for the ability to speak to the dead."
"You mean that she sold her soul to the devil and in return she can now speak to the dead!? We have devil worshippers now too?" Michael said, raising his voice slightly. This news was creepy to say the least. "Who told you all this? Ah, never mind... But I'd say it's time to better protect our town from all the bandits, villains, and cursed creatures roaming about."
"It's a dangerous world out there,...and it's getting more dangerous every day." Michael slightly shook his head while he turned to get started on sharpening Cutter's chisels. Then he remembered something. "Cutter, a while ago someone told me you had seen an enormous big, hairy, monster. Now, surely that story isn't true, or else you would be dead and buried by now. But then, what did you see?"
Cutter crouched and sat on the ground, resting his arms on his knees. "I was out in the forests to the south about a fortnight ago, I had climbed a large evergreen, and was waiting on an outstretched limb that looked out towards an elm. I had caught sight of a robin's nest there, with two eggs inside and I was waiting for the hen to return home--"
Michael was already working on the chisels, trying to get those budges out first. He looked up when it finally dawned on him what Cutter was actually saying. "Wait, wait,...you climbed high up a tree, stepped onto one of its slippery and not so steady branches....just to see a bird!?" Michael shook his head. Cutter's bird watching was something he couldn't quite follow. "That must've been one special bird..., one that poops out golden eggs or such."
"No, just a robin," Cutter laughed. "Well, instead of the robin, I saw that hunter people whisper about, who hunts people as well as common beasts, the monster. He was walking past, covered in animal skins and the grime of the forest, and held a large bow, big enough for two men! The story gets better, my friend," Cutter said, staring Michael in the eyes. "He stopped, not more than a stone's throw away from me, and looked around. His eyes stared directly at mine, I thought they would burn like sun! This sensation passed over me, like when I fell through the frozen lake in the winter when I was seven. And the woods grew dark around me. I tell you Michael, I have never experienced such fear before in all my life."
Maybe encountering 'The Hunter' was not as terrifying as meeting a real monster (if they even existed), but it came close to it if you believed the stories that got around. But something was not right. "And? What happened next? Did he talk to you? Or did he try to hunt you down as his next prey? Or...--"
"Nothing," Cutter answered, "He did nothing. He looked at me from a few yards away for what seemed like an hour, then turned and left. Like I was nothing! Perhaps he decided I was too scrawny to make a good meal," he smiled.
"And you really think I believe that?" Michael said and laughed out loud. "You had me there for a while, but you can quit playing the maggot now!"
"I am not joking around, Michael! I saw him, I did! I have the picture of the robin somewhere to prove it," Cutter said defensively.
"Alright, if you say so. But you have to admit, it's quite an incredible story. You're one of the lucky few that got away without even a scratch, you know." Michael briefly looked up from his work and grinned. It was only after a long pause that he looked at Cutter again. After wavering a moment he asked, "Cutter,...how well do you know Ryn?"
"I don't know. Okay, I suppose," Cutter said, "why?"
"Well, I...uhm, I was wondering..." Now why did he feel so embarrassed? Michael almost wished he hadn't asked Cutter about Ryn. "I was just wondering if you could tell me something about her. I mean,...I know what she does....but, you know, I was hoping you could tell me a bit more."
"What about her?" Cutter asked, but he continued before Michael could respond. "She likes children. And she's religious...but, you know the good kind. The kind that always pesters the priest with questions," Cutter laughed. He watched his friend for a minute before asking, "Are you interested in her?"
A sheepish grin appeared on Michael's face before he answered. "I've always had a weak for her. The feelings were always there...; never realized they ran so deep though." He stopped working and just kept gazing in front of him. Suddenly Michael looked up with a kind of urgency in his eyes. "She isn't married, is she?"
"Not that I know of," Cutter smiled.
Michael smiled and felt tension in his body flowing away. This was the best news he'd heard this day. He almost whispered when he said, "This is almost too good to be true." Could he really be so lucky? Then Michael noticed Cutter just stood there as if he was waiting for something. It didn't take long before he figured out why. "Ah, sorry Cutter. Of course, like me you have work to attend to. I will not delay you any further my friend." Michael said. He briefly looked over all the tools Cutter given him to sharpen and then turned back again to face his friend. "Give me a day and a half. I promise you they'll be as good as new when you pick them up."
Cutter smiled at he bladesmith, "Then I shall be here then." He turned and began to walk back out into the road, out of Michael's shop. His head jerked over his shoulder, as he left, and Cutter called out, "Sounds like you have some one to talk to. You should get on that."
Michael was leaning against one of the support beams of the roof as he watched Cutter leaving his workplace. He grinned when he heard what his friend said. "Don't worry, I will." Michael answered with a loud voice so that Cutter would hear it, followed by mumbling, "But....how?"
"Yr 820: I couldn't help myself with this one, sorry.. Its Friday 13th"
by Kira Murphy,
Royal Court Jester/one of the town prostitutes
---------------------------------------------
Riding out on a horse she had borrowed from the castle stables on the correct day, Kira smiled when she arrived at the fork in the road where her friends were waiting. In total, she had found three others willing to joke around and have a good time at the expense of any religion - Sara, one of the cooks, Rachel, one of the chambermaids, Jenny, one of the common serants, and Samantha, the only female castle guard.
Smiling to them, she got down from her horse. Leading the other women a long way into the forest, they arrived at the empty woodland grove where Kira had prepared everything over the space of a week earlier.
Sara cooed in amazement and smiled to Kira. The women tied up their horses at the side and hung feed bags from them. Stripping out of all their clothing, they put it in saddle bags before bringing all the items they needed to the centre.
It didn't take long for Kira to start a small fire with some sticks and each of the naked women went around the large pile of sticks that had been piled up. Within about five minutes, the large bonfire was going.
Dancing around the fire naked, they started chanting some stuff that Kira had made up for the fake 'ritual' and drink from wineskins that Sara had filled from the Count's best.
"Better Off"
Saladin Bolivar, woodsman
The Webwitch
The Webwitch was truly happy with her life. Saladin was fitting in well, their son was growing well. She still had those from town coming for aid and she made sure that none knew of her man and son.
Life was truly good despite the whispers she heard of the growing strife.
Saladin looked at the witch or as he knew her Ahdjiia. He wanted to go in the town and pick up some of the things that she couldn't get in the woods. He was now scruffier then normal and he looked for her to inform her of his plans.
The Webwitch was going through her stores to see what she was low on when she felt Saladin's gaze on her. She turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"I see you are low on some of the essential stores Witch." Where she could be seen he did not use her given name. That was for their private moments together.
"I make do, as usual.", she said softly.
He looked at what she was missing and slipped his arms around her waist, "I wish to take our son out to the woods, to go exploring. " He was really going in to town to use some of the gold he had saved up to purchase staples for his family.
She smiled. "Sure.", she said as she rested her arms atop his, "He does love the woods."
He gently rested his head on her shoulder and kissed her veiled cheek. "We will be back for supper."
"It will be waiting for you both.", she said, smiling beneath her veils.
He looked at her then looked around, "a kiss before I go?" He asked softly, "My love..."
The Webwitch raised her veil, kissing him gently.
He kissed her back gently before he nuzzled her neck, "I will see you tonight?" His voice was soft and held a hint of promises for the evening.
"Of course.", she purred as she let her veils drop.
Their son came in grinning with some webs in his hair and a spider perched atop his head. "Wobby, I saw a red bird.", he said excitedly.
Saladin laughed as he knew though he did not have the power he had once before as intelligencier he was now more wealthy then all the dukes and kings in the land.
The boy continued on about the bright plumage and the song it made, imitating it flawlessly.
The Webwitch smiled at him. "Would you like to go for a walk with Saladin?", she asked.
The boy's face brightened. "Yup."
He looked at his son, "Come on then." he took the boy's smaller hand in his and they walked out of the house that he shared and in to the woods.
"Where we goin'?", the child asked, "By the spring, or the big rocks?"
He answered him, "We are going in to town, wobby needs some supplies and I'm going to get them, I thought you'd like to see the city."
The boy's eyes got wide. He knew of the town, just wasn't allowed there. "Is..is it safe to go there?", he asked, astonishment clear in his voice.
He nodded, "it will be a short trip, picking up a couple of things and we won't stay long.." His eyes sparkled, "we just cannot tell wobby, she worries."
The boy nodded. Wobby would get mad if she knew. "What's it like there?", he asked, knowing Saladin came from there.
"It's different." He said, "Not as much trees and woods, lots more people, but it's also less fun then the woods." They continued to walk along the paths to town.
The boy looked around with wide eyes as they left the woods that were the only thing he knew. He clung to Saladin's hand tightly, trying to be brave about it.
He knelt down and looked at the young boy, "stay by me, you will be ok, I would never place you in any danger..."
The boy nodded solemnly. His eyes still bright.
They walked again and in to the town, He made no contact with people and instead held his son's hand as they walked through the market place.
The boy's eyes were wide as he tried to look at everything. He'd never seen so many people before. It had to be everyone in the world here.
They walked along, he met no one's gaze his beard, shabby clothing and long hair would have to hide him but he did not want to draw attention to himself.
They walked in to the first store and he waited patiently for the shopkeeper to help him.
The shopkeeper looked down his nose at the scruffy man and cobwebby child. Clearly they were here to beg or some such. He paid them no mind, waiting to hear the begging schpiel.
Then Saladin pulled out his coinpurse and laid it on the counter it clinked with the sound of gold inside it, "I require these items...." He began to tick off staples, flour, sugar, nothing too fancy and nothing that she would be irritated with.. she was already going to be irritated he went in to town.
The sound of gold brought the shopkeeper over. He hadn't expected that, and now figured this man was a thief. Just would have to keep his eyes on this one and his thiefchild.
The man sent his help to get the goods while he kept his eye on this stranger man.
"And a baking pot." He looked at the man, and then asked him, "How much will this cost?"
"The provisions, ten gold.", the shopkeep said, deliberately doubling the price, "The rest depends on the pot size."
Saladin snorted, "ten gold you lie..." He laid out 6 gold, "for the provisions, and for the pot, a large pot, for 5 gold." He laid out the remainder of his coins, emptying his purse.
The shopkeeper blinked. He'd not expected this ruffian to know the true value of things. But he did gesture for a large baking pot to be brought over.
Saladin's son watched this all with wide eyes.
He then bundled everything up they could then he picked up a piece of candy, which he added to the collection, "For the boy since we are not the thieves you believed us to be... " he was not a fool he knew why the store clerk watched them.
The shopkeeper's jaw almost hit the ground in his astonishment. He actually charged them the right amount leaving them with a few gold still.
He knew he also said too much and swept up the gold and packaged the bundles, Once they were ready he let his son carry a couple of small items but carried the large sacks of flour and sugar himself.
The boy held the parcels carefully and followed his father out. "Are all town people like that?", he asked with wide eyes.
"Some are some aren't." He said as they faded back in to the woods. "He thought we were going to steal from him, because we looked the way we did, I guess he's never seen us before."
"What's stealing?", the child asked. The concept of theft was alien to him.
He paused, the right definition was taking something tat wasn't yours, "It's when you take something that's not yours and no one said you could take it." It was the best he could do for the boy.
"Doesn't anyone share?"
"No. The town isn't like us, we share with wobby and with each other, but in town people have their own stuff and they don't want to share."
"Why?"
He shrugged, "I am not sure, but in town people have their own houses and like to put things in their houses." He had no way to explain that to the child. So he did the best he could.
"But don't they share when others don't have things?"
"No." He said honestly, "Why I don't know...well that's not fair, some people share, but a lot don't." He thought about his past, he was selfish in a way, he craved power, money, titles land, but that was all gone, now he had the unconditional love of a small boy, a woman who loved him, and was that enough...
It was.
The boy was silent as he mulled it all over. Soon as they were in the woods, the spiders welcomed them.
He knew right there they would be busted, the sacks of flour and sugar and the other parcels, he had even picked up some cooking utensils for her from the store.
He had been quiet this walk, thinking of town, right now he'd be either at feast with friends or in the tavern sharing talk, maybe trying to charm a barmaid or two, but in the end, he realized, he had what was better in his life, a woman who loved him, a child who cared for him too and a good simple clean life.
They approached the cabin silently, half of him hoped he could get the larder replenished before the witch came home.
The Webwitch's eyes opened wide as she saw them both come into the hut with their parcels.
She was so furious, she couldn't speak.
He set down the baking pot and the flour for her then took the parcel from his son. Setting them down he took the flour and sugar to the larder.
The boy knew Wobby was mad and just snuck outside to hide from the storm to come.
"Interesting walk in the woods.", she commented flatly.
"It was." He responded, knowing she was mad, but figuring that trying to deny anything would make it worse.
"How dare you take such risk.", she said, her tone not changing, "What if you were captured, what would happen to our son?"
He walked over to her, "If someone recognized me, I would have told our son to run to your cabin and stop for nothing, then tried to follow, he is a fast child and the spiders would protect him."
He was trying to be reasonable with her, "We needed flour, and sugar. Plus you needed a new knife, which I also purchased. The risk was minimal."
"We can make do with what we have here.", she said, "You don't need to go to town."
"I have changed quite a bit in the past 2 years." He let her look at him, in addition to the longer hair and beard he also was thinner and his body more muscled due to his hard work. "Ahdjiia, love, if I had any fear of being recognized I would not have gone..." Gently he took her hand in his, "I would never put our son in danger, and I would never want to be separated from you or him."
"I still think you take too much risk.", she said.
Their son was doing his best to listen in. All this talk about 'our son' had him wondering. He knew Wobby needed someone for him to come around, he'd watched enough of the animals to know that much.
But was Saladin the one?
He frowned as he continued to listen in the best he could.
Saladin nodded, "I did not mean to worry you, I just wanted to do something special, get a couple of things for the two of you." Gently he caressed her covered cheek.
"Promise me you won't go again.", she said softly.
He paused, he would be giving up lots of things but what he had here was more special and important. "I promise.." He said softly and strangely enough meant it.
She smiled beneath her veils, and hugged him. "I don't want anything to happen to you or our son.", she said softly, "The town is just not safe."
He hugged her back then caressed her cheek under her veil.
"You should call our son in, dinner's almost ready."
"I will, but first..." He lifted her veil inside the cabin to give her a gentle but warm kiss. "I love you."
"As I do you.", she said softly as she returned the kiss.
He let the veil drop then smiled, "You have beautiful eyes.."
"They are the eyes I was born with."
"They are beautiful."
"You would say that if they were not."
"Perhaps." He raised an eyebrow, "I will get our son, maybe you can use that flour to make bread eventually."
"I can think of a few things to make.", she said with a soft smile in her tone, "And I would hear our son tell of his grande adventure."
He caressed her cheek again and she could see a familiar spark in his eyes, both of love and desire...
He walked out and saw the boy sitting by the house, "Come on dinner's ready."
"Are you the one who helped Wobby with me?", the child asked outright, not holding back his question.
"Hmm?"
"I heard some of what you two were saying.", the boy went on, "Did you join with Wobby to make me?"
He froze his mind, that was not a question he was expecting but he took his son's hand, then he smiled, "Come on lad, let's eat first..."
The boy frowned at his question not being answered. Wobby answered everything. "I'll ask Wobby then.", he said as he came inside.
He was a bit nervous about answering that still haven given his word that he would not discuss the child's parenthood with him, since his word was given to the webwitch about the boy's father...
Once they walked inside he looked at her and then began to set the table.
The boy chimed up with his question right away as he sat down. The Webwitch didn't even blink as she replied, "Yes."
He looked at her, guess the secret was out, and he had kept his word to her and that was most important.
Taking some bowls to the table he set then down and watched the boy, knowing he'd ask some questions.
The boy rolled it around in his head then turned to Saladin. "What do I call you?", he asked. Wobby was Wobby, but did he keep calling Saladin, Saladin?
"What do you wish to call me?" He asked simply.
The child was at a loss for words. He didn't know what a father was called.
Saladin said, "Well you could keep calling me Saladin, or you could call me father..." He wanted to hear that phrase, connected to him, it was genetic but he knew he didn't want to push the issue.
"Father.", the child said, rolling the word around his mouth, "Sounds funny."
The Webwitch was silent as she started serving thier meal, letting their son make his own choices.
He nodded, "there's also dad." He hoped the phrase would be attached to him but knew he needed his own choices made.
The boy smiled. "I like Dad better."
He smiled back, "Dad it is...." He looked at the witch.
The witch drew back her veils to eat with them, a soft smile on her lips.
He ate as well, his eyes tracked the curve of her figure under the veils, then he dug in to his food. His son was eating well and he could see some of his features in the boy.
What was it his father once said, wealth came when you least expected it...
With things at peace, the Webwitch felt that earlier contentment once again. Her earlier reasoning for Saladin to renounce all claims to their child was because she feared he would take the boy away to the town.
Their son began to regale them with his tales of what he'd seen in town. Horses, people, carriages, all of it told with the wonder of a small child.
He listened to the boy's story and watched him tell stories about the people he saw in town and smiled at some of the descriptions himself.
The Webwitch smiled at the stories. "It sounds like quite an adventure.", she said, "Enough to last a lifetime."
"Perhaps too much for one day..." He looked at his son, "you saw a lot."
"I'd like to see more.", the child said, then froze as his mother stopped smiling.
"Perhaps later..." He said simply, "Right now we've taken enough risks going in there..."
"Too many risks.", the witch muttered as she gave them both The Look.
He nodded and let it drop, his son would learn real fast to let things drop at The Look's gaze.
Their son had already learned to drop everything at The Look. He sighed and continued to eat.
The rest of dinner passed without incident, the look had silenced discussion of town and instead he looked over at his family and smiled. Then he helped the witch clean up the table.
With dinner done, the boy headed out to gather some fireflies to play with, leaving his parents alone.
"I hope he forgets what he saw.", she said softly.
He nodded, "he is young, if he does not forget they will be happy memories, we'll keep an eye on him, keep him from sneaking off..." Gently he took her hand. "Going to town let me see all I have and all I had."
"If you could go back, would you?"
"No." He said simply, "In town I had material things, gold, clothing, power, and yes women." He looked at her, "here I have two people who love me. A good life, and a family. To me that makes me wealthier then all the kings in the lands."
"Not many would think as such.", she said as she caressed his cheek.
"Not many have what I do." He slipped his arms around her waist and hugged her.
She just smiled and hugged him. "I wonder at times what the old Saladin would think about the new."
"I do not care, the old Saladin is gone, he was destroyed by his lust for power and wealth."
"And I fueled that lust.", she said softly, "If I hadn't given aid, you might still be there."
"I made decisions myself, you did nothing to add to my desires." He unhooked her veil gently to kiss her again, "Besides if I was there I would not be here, with you in my arms."
"And we would not have a wonderful son."
He kissed her again, this time warmer, with some passion present.
She returned the kiss with equal fire while outside their son could be heard giggling as he caught fireflies.
"Tonight..." He asked softly, "After he goes to bed..."
She nodded with a glimmer of promise in her eyes.
He softly kissed her neck, as he held her in his arms.
Ethan Suder
Local Shadow
818 "Anniversary"
Ethan stood still and silently next to a tree. He watched everyone go about their daily lives. Trading food and other goods. Collecting water and talking to each other. Some people seemed happy, others miserable. This was the life that Ethan had turned away when he went to live in the woods so many years ago. He didn't miss the rules of society, the drunken fights every week. The distrust of everyone there.
He turned away and began making his way back into the deep centre of the woods where his home was. The thought suddenly occured to him that today was the day of an anniversary when his world was turned upside down. Three years ago he had met a lady that seemed so honest, a lady willing to do anything, including give herself to help her sick sister.
He had spent two nights with her, Chandrakala. He had then later learnt that she was married... to a Baron of all people. She had become just another person. An unfaithful woman. But he still had feelings for her.
Ethan approached his camp, still thinking about three years ago.
He remembered when he was taking Chandrakala and her sister Dhanishta to the Webwitch. They had been attacked by several men. He had managed to take them out, but not before being shot. He looked down at his exposed chest and softly brushed the two scars on his chest. Both near his heart. Had the range between him and the man holding the musket been much closer, he would have been killed for sure.
Chandrakala had managed to get to the Webwitch. Once there, Ethan had gone off to tend to his wounds with the help of a friend. The only friend he could trust. Someone he had grown up with. They didn't hang out much, but when they needed something, the other would be there to help. They both preferred to be left alone in the woods, outside of society.
When Ethan had returned, Chandrakala and her sister had left. He hadn't seen them since. His heart sank at the thought. He only knew them for a short while, yet it seemed like an adventure. Breaking Dhani out of a hospital, trying to get them both to the Webwitch, avoiding obsticles. It had been fun and he had fallen for the married Baroness. Where was she now? Probably with her husband and sister. Enjoying life. Happily living with the blocked memory of how Ethan helped?? He didn't want to think about it much. Maybe he wouldn't see them ever again. Who knew?
~The Taxmen Cometh~
Cutter Karan
In the year, 820
Cutter was alerted by the loud banging on his door. He sighed at the disruption and set down his sketching. Who had come to visit him, he wondered?
Behind the door stood two men. One wore a gray vest over a blue shirt, tucked into a pair of black trousers. The other wore red and dark gray. Both carried small books and a quill pen. Behind them stood two more men, off aways, tending to two horses, laden with heavy-looking bags.
"May I help you?" Cutter asked.
"We are here to determine where your supports lie," the man clad in red stated.
The fellow to his left, the man dressed in gray added, "Who you would like to see become king?"
"I don't know," Cutter said, "what is wrong with the king we have?"
"The king is ill and likely to go with God soon. He has foolishly refused to name an heir, however, if he had done so, he would have named Duke Robert Price."
"No, he would have named the fair Duke Jurgen Hoth. Knave," the man in gray spat.
"Well," the man in red continued, "you see the problem. We are here to determine who you support."
Cutter sat for a moment, leaning against the edge of his door, "Where do they stand on the issues?"
This question did not hit well. The man in gray, the one who clearly supported Duke Hoth sighed, while the other, the Price supporter shouted, "Are you a fool? Everyone knows about Duke Hoth and Duke Price. You are stalling! Who do you wish to become king?"
"Each has called for a tax to be placed on the non supporters, sir. If you do not support either, you shall be forced to pay double," the man in gray threatened.
"Let me make things simple for you," the man in red offered, "what is your profession?"
"I am a carpenter," Cutter said.
"Well then, your business would be very profitable under Price's reign--"
"As it would under Duke Hoth's," the gray interrupted.
"Perhaps. However, under Duke Hoth, you would build homes and crafts that are pleasant for the eye. Under Duke Hoth, you would like build trebuchets and weapons of destruction. Essentially, you must decide which to build."
Cutter eyed the two men for a moment before looking and the one clad in red. "Well, I suppose I would rather build houses than weapons."
The Price supporter smiled at his victory, "Ah, good. Then you support the great Duke Price. Your faith shall not be overlooked."
The Hoth supporter also smiled, "Then by the laws of Duke Hoth, any man who does not swear his support shall be taxed. I demand two pieces of gold."
"What?" Cutter cried. Two pieces of gold was a lot of money. He needed that money to fund his planned projects, as well as to eat and purchase timber for his trade. He sighed, "Ka. Fine."
Cutter left the door open and walked inside his small house. The man in gray also turned, calling forward one of the men by the horses. In his one room living quarters, Cutter lifted the heavy mattress from the frame of his bed. As he hefted the great weight onto his shoulders, Cutter reached his arm underneath and fished out a small satchel. The mattress dropped down loudly as Cutter turned back to the door with the satchel. He dug around until he could find the equivalent amount of money in silver.
"Sir, who do you support?" the man dressed in red demanded again.
Cutter looked up, clutching the money in his hand. He was confused, "Uh, Price, I guess."
"Then why are you paying the enemy?"
"I thought there was a tax."
"Are you daft? If you truly supported Duke Price, you would give false allegiance to Duke Hoth and pay your tax to the treasury of Price."
"But, if I support Duke Price and give false allegiance to Hoth, shouldn't I not have to pay the tax Price has placed on all his nonsupporters?"
The man in gray laughed, "This carpenter tries to swindle you," he said, poking the Price supporter in the ribs.
"I am afraid it does not work that way. Shall I take you payment, then?" the Price supporter asked, holding out his hand. As he did so, the second man in the rear approached.
"What is your name, sir?" the gray asked, his pen ready to write.
"Cutter Karan. Shouldn't my name be written on his notebook?" Cutter asked, gesturing to the man dressed in red as he handed over his money. "If my name is to be taken down, I would rather it be written for he who I support. I do not desire to see my vote misunderstood."
"Vote?" both taxmen asked in unison. They looked at each other briefly before erupting into roarous laughter. "Vote! Hah, you must be a fool. You have no say in the affairs of noblemen." The two walked away, still laughing, on to the next house. It was such a depressing sound, that laughter, and Cutter sighed deeply as he began to shut his door.
Cutter had not taken more than four steps away from his door before there was another knocking. He turned, afraid that the two taxmen had returned, but he was not so unfortunate. It was his neighbor. "You support that louse Price," he accused, anger and disgust ringing sharply in his voice.
"No. I support Duke Hoth. You can chase after those men and ask. They wrote my name down as a loyal servant to Duke Hoth," Cutter said. He, of course, was only telling half of the truth, but this sudden attack from his long time neighbor had put him on the defensive.
"If you truly supported Duke Hoth, then you would have given your money to him. To help pay for his campaign to be king! Who do you really support, Cutter," his neighbor demanded. He took his pointed finger and jabbed it into Cutter's chest.
The physical threat sparked some flame of defiant courage in Cutter, and he slapped the hand away. "I support myself!" he shouted before slamming the door in his neighbor's face. Cutter could here the man grumble behind the door as he slowly walked back to his own home. Once he was sure the threat had passed, Cutter turned and tried once again to move back to the interior of his home.
But, yet another knock stopped him and Cutter wondered briefly whether he would get any rest today. The newest visitor was dressed in brown leather, a dark vest covering a ruffled white shirt. Behind him stood a man and a horse, like the two taxmen before, and a sudden sense of dread filled Cutter's chest.
"Hello, good sir," the man said, "I am Daniel Scarborough, the affeeror for Count Bhrode. It is that time of the year, to feed his lordship's treasury. I am here to collect your tax."
Cutter's jaw dropped, "I just paid a tax to two men. Must I pay again?"
"I'm afraid that ... those two, uh, those two, ah ... ah ... ah-CHOO!" the taxman sneezed, causing Cutter to jerk back. "What is that in the air that tickles my nose so?" Daniel asked quickly before another loud sneeze caught him in a violent spasm.
"Sawdust. I am a carpenter."
"Oh, good heavens, bless me," Daniel swore, pulling a kerchief from his pocket and shielding his face. "Those men do not act under the authority of Count Bhrode," he continued finally, his voice muffled slightly by the cloth covering his nose and mouth. "You must still maintain your support and loyalty to your Count. I'm here to gather your contribution to his wealth. Two pieces of gold."
Contribution, indeed, Cutter thought. These people might as well take the cloths off his back, they leave him with very little else. He sighed, looking back into the satchel from under his mattress. He had enough, fortunately, and he gave the many silver and copper coins to the taxman, who nodded and walked towards his assistant and horse. Cutter watched him leave and peered at what was left of his savings. Two pieces of copper, enough for a loaf of stale bread.
He shut his door slowly, looking across the room at his sketching. His special project would have to wait, probably until next year.
"Tell You a Secret"
By Jasmine Tavern owner
The two tax men. One Hoth, One Price stood in the doorway reciting their words which Jasmine already knew. The looks on their faces clearly stated that she had better not toss them out this time as she was prone to do.
But what she did do surprised them. She invited them in. Sat them down and then let them TRY to convince her over numerous jugs of ale. She let them regale her of each man's correctness for the job, and kept asking questions which after 5 mugs each of POTENT ale had them slurring their words and haveing very little sense to realise that her friend jack was lifting their pockets.
Finally they stood on unsteady feet as she helped them out the door. But before the door closed they asked one more time,
"WHOM DO YOU SUPPORT?"
Jasmine smiled and leaned forward with a conspirtorial Smile. "Can you kind gentle men Keep a secret?" she cooed in a seductive voice.
They leaned forward drunkenly and eagerly, each hoping for their boss to be named,
"I support..." she broke off. "Oh I could not possibly tell you. You'll tell on me!" she accused.
"No. No we wont" they chorused in unison.
She lowered her head again and they leaned even closer eagerly.
"I support.. Count Bhrode"
And with that she hand each of them a bill with the words.
[You own Golden Griffen Tavern 10 gold for ale drunk payable tomorrow by noon or the guards will be called. Have a nice day gentlemen. ] And then she slammed the door in their faces.
With a laugh she turned to Jack. "Well?"
"I have the money. Shall I go and give it back?"
"Yes Jack. Make sure the carpenter gets his first. The Poor man, after those two came through.. Shameful men." Jack grinned and headed out the back.
/***\
Outside the two tax men stumbled drunk, dazed and confused. "Bhrode?" they asked each other. And then they fell in a drunken heap on the side of the road fast asleep. The Words 'I support Bhrode' going over and over in their heads...
"The Moderate"
By Curtis Geluf, Wandering Minstrel
Kiora Geluf APC
5 years was a long time for a minstrel to stay in any one place. But Curtis did so anyway. Besides, he couldn't very well leave *now*, being married and all.
It had happened pretty quickly. A date here, and kiss there. Pretty soon he was willing to quit his wanderings and settle down with Kiora. He was making more than enough money in Galaxia anyway, the people couldn't get enough music it seemed. He was all but ready to live out his days in the fine province.
But lately he was becomming worried, the King's death only made it worse. He began to detect it a few years earlier, as he was no stranger to war or the things that start them. If and when the time came, he was ready to leave, with Kiora in tow. At least until things settled down.
Curtis watched her move about the house, cleaning and re-arranging. He often watched her in her daily work, it brought peace to his mind and helped him think.
That peace was interrupted suddenly with a loud knock on the door.
"My, someone is anxious." Curtis said to himsel as he opened the door.
In front of him were two odd looking men, one in red and one in gray.
"We are here to determine who you support." They said in unison.
"I beg pardon? Support?" Curtis asked.
"You know!" They answered. "Do you support Duke Price or Duke Hoth!"
"And what business of that is yours?" Curtis asked, a little put out.
"We are taxmen." They said.
"I for Price." said the man in Red.
"I for Hoth." said the man in Gray.
"If you support Hoth, I am required to tax you on behalf of Duke Price." The red on continued.
"Likewise if you support Price!" said the gray one.
"And don't think you can say neither, or we both must tax you." the red one said.
Curtis knew a government opperation when he saw one.
"You've no right to tax me. I am not a permanent resident of this land. I am a wandering minstrel, and by trade have no real home." Curtis replied.
The taxmen did not know what to say.
"But a war is brewing you know. What then will you do? You cannot hold to your neutral stance." the one in red said.
"If a war begins then let it. I will not remain to see it." Curtis said.
"You would run away? Are you a coward?" the one in gray asked.
"No coward am I! I have seen more in my life than you can even imagine. But I have a wife to think of and an endless war is not to my liking. A war like that will tear this country apart. And I think that only a fool fights in a burning house." Curtis shot back.
"Now, if you'll excuse me gentlemen, I have work to do."
With that, he shut his door, leaving the taxmen in a state of shock and mild confusion.
***********************************************************************
"Briskly Morning in the Afternoon"
by Crom,
the Ferengi bastard you will all come to know and love
***********************************************************************
The sky was bright coming through the shutters that refused to close the night before. His eyes fluttered open as the rays of the sun knocked upon them. With a yawn and a creak of the back, he sat up slowly.
Outside his window, the city was already a bustle of activity. These were tumoilous times upon Galaxia, and Crom knew it. He leaned out the window into the sunshine and glanced up and down the street. The poor crept along the edges of the roads and the well off took to the middle. A few honeypots sloughed out of windows above and Crom barely managed to pull himself back into his home in time.
He rolled out of bed and grabbed at his trousers slung over a low chair by his table. A few ledgers lay sprawled across the desktop like a cheap whore.
Crom smiled as he dressed slowly and glanced over the books. Money was everywhere in this city. Count Bhrode was obviously the man when it came to money. His was dangerous though. At least to acquire. However, Crom was sure he had some service in which the Count would need.
Now Duke Price and Duke Hoth. That wsa a different situation all together. The are both trying to hoarde as much as they can and take what they can from the people. Corruption. Corruption at its finest. Crom liked the way they did business. It was definitely profitable. He would have to align with whomever came out ahead. Perhaps he would help one of them get ahead.
But not now. Not today. Crom smiled as he stepped out into the dirty street. He took a deep breath and smelled the air.
There is money to be made in a place like this.
701