I'll kill myself tomorrow. The thought rang hollow in Leath's head. Nothing felt like anything.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mnYN4ZqwX
The cold water soaking his skin and drenching his clothes felt numb. The cold pig shit he woke to find himself laying in had no smell. Morning sunlight shone through gaps in the wood roofing of the pig stye. He squinted his eyes, the vinegar-like taste of stale mead from the night before still stuck to the back of his tongue.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQf5wYhTBy7
"Get up! Get off my property! I'll have the city watch come," the fat barmaid screamed as she dipped her bucket back into the filthy water trough, ready to drench him again.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ahuWinhUh
"Where is my armor? My sword?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU1HLIIxQ6
"I don't know and I don't care."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSdqknUIYw
"I would be happy to leave but not without-"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaBxAEXnr3
Sloosh.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5Lq9mTal1
Leath, eyes closed and face dripping spoke through gritted teeth as the maid dipped her bucket again. "Look, I just need my things, that's it."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRf9UfJ5Pp
"I didn't ask what ye need, ye pathetic drunk! Up n' out! Now."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nW7L0sfBY
"You-"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1uC9KLvVs
Sloosh.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuwNQ3inRr
"Now I've never beaten a woman in my life, but today I-"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDMlmXGMsY
Sloosh.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlS2PqpSZ6N
Leath rose to his feet and walked out of the stye past the maid as she glowered. The sky was gray and the road was mud. Mule drawn carts rode past as people went about their business. Ironworkers beat orange-hot swords fresh from the fire, women weaved and carried buckets of water and milk. Children ran through the streets playing swords with sticks.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3NflzXuhh
I need my shit.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkAfYMZCIa
Leath made his way back to the adjacent tavern that he had blacked out in. His hands, face, chest, and back all ached. He examined himself as he walked, bruised and bloody from the night before. Much of his skin seemed brindled with bruise and welt, pale here, purple there, red in between. He rubbed his aching jaw and felt the short, sloppy stubble growing across his face he could almost feel the grey hair growing in.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfznrSrK2Mj
You're getting too old for this shit Leath. Fuck, what did I get into last night? I look like I fuckin' fought a bear.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0telvdE7Q
The tavern door swung open and Leath entered the nearly empty room and sat down at the bar.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqz8TAMp35E
The man behind the counter stood facing away as he cleaned his mugs. "Good mornin' to ya."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0YgkXRLcg
"Hmph, another beautiful day in Morativa. I'll have whatever you gave me last night," Leath said.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5l8XzNpz7b
A scrawny rat-faced man dressed in a tattered old brown tunic turned to meet him. "Look at your eye! It's practically swollen shut, friend."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBSHq3QtcP
That accent. Eritanian?
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUUsU9x8Gm
"We're not friends. The drink. I'll pay in gold if you hurry up."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcwQXwtrWN
"It's midday, my friend..."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0XeGSvWsn
Leath shot him a one-eyed stare of contempt.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lTOiRFB20
"Alright, alright. Don't rip me head off," he said, sliding Leath the mug. "The names' Aiden."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKjYZsx0Ro
Leath placed two gold coins on the counter and drank the entire mug in one gulp. The coins clanked as Aiden dropped them into the pouch on his belt and used a finger to stuff it shut.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGciSkkc5d
"A strong drinker and a fat purse, ye must be a mercenary," Aiden said.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuZVDGvCwm
"What gave it away?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq5ZDIPJi6
"Last night ye came bargin' in here half-drunk, and by the look of it ready for a fight; in that set of armor with your fancy lookin' black sword. Though now I'll admit ye look much less scary what with ye in normal folk cloth."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OZ8LFTKJ1
"Have you seen my armor, or my 'fancy sword' anywhere?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzBrMegXcO
"Alas, I haven't."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIlbR0DKwJ
"Is that your wife out there working the stye?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdPmjYvpFo
"Yes, that be me wife, the heavy one. Why do ye ask?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxilOORFtg
"You speak the same. What are two Eratinians doing in Sylacia?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDyOODosx0
"There are no Eratinians anymore, we're all Skan now, and poorer for it."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WlPHUsFip
"Regardless that's quite the travel. I know we Sylacians are known for our drink but surely you didn't need to come all this way to open a tavern."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgEoKb8g48
"War is brewing in Skanhelm, war that this poor man will be havin' no part of."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7JwJGi1ua
"I see. And, Aiden you're sure you haven't seen any of my belongings?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9iS1B9eIJ
"I'm not sure friend, perhaps for a bit of gold I could tryn' remember somthin'."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VDcruMnSX
"I've given you enough to feed yourself for weeks, at least two months."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwpF1swhqb
"Times are tough me friend I've no money and a starving family to feed."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3aGgZ0wAL
"I think you would have a much easier time feeding that family of yours with working arms. Don't you?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmvZ7hxavr
An uneasy smile came over the rat-faced man, "Right... Last night some fellas came in, bandits perhaps, looking rather shady. You, well you were piss drunk, barely able to stand by the look of it. They waited till ye had passed right out then stripped ye of your armor, took the sword and left in a hurry all quiet-like."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoAjp5g7sr
"The shady type huh? Not the lying Eritanian kind I hope."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLeV2P7TfU
"What are ye on about?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCm9OKvKG1
"I find it odd that a poor man such as yourself with a starving family could have such a heavy wife."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmUTgot0SG
"Well, ye see, I actually spend most of the money I make from this here tavern just to feed that one."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46aDtjSp0P
Straight to the excuses then, Aiden? He won't even pretend to defend his 'wife.'
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3kvFeISy3
"Yes the money that you keep in that pouch on your hip, 'poor' man."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MmPrSb177
The man adjusted his body so the pouch was out of sight, "I...Extra money...A lot of soldiers have been through these parts recently."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMleGVCjy9x
"Right then I'm sorry I accused you."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmAW9Vonyz
Leath stood and made his way towards the door but stopped in his tracks. "Though I am curious, how you know what color my sword is."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAmm6N6rki
"I...What?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1g3E9mlNd
Leath turned back to Aiden. "My sword, you called it a 'fancy black sword' and yet only the blade is black not the hilt."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBFd1E9ejW
"The soldiers drew it on when they took it off you, took my money they did and made off in a hurry!"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ggfQJAJxc
"From bandits to soldiers now? Look that gear was expensive, it took me years to acquire it. I will do whatever it takes to get it back."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRSoK3VCQk
"Well, I haven't' a clue what to say. Your sword and armor haven't been in my tavern since last night, I wish ye the best of luck in findin' them but they ain't here."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPZSseLEQF
"Right."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPoisuv1CS
Leath walked out of the tavern and back to the stye. The fat barmaid stood with her back turned, feeding the pigs.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvbLLQkZYL
"Your husband is a real prick 'ye' know."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52y5aBLzXb
"Now I thought I told ye to leave me lands!"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRQyRM3Evw
"I will, I will, though I'll probably have to kill you first. You don't have any children by chance?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcqliPtP7Z
"What do ye mean? Stay back!"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BMMVkm8NJ
Aiden's face went from shock to fury as Leath drug his wife, kicking and screaming, into the tavern by her hair with a knife to her throat. The two men sitting in the back of the tavern rose to their feet but gave no words.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEbx2IP2zS
"This breaks my heart Aiden, until this day I hadn't laid so much as a finger on a woman."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5g7lqx0yoA
"By the gods' man! Let me wife go!"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm0KVqHVLU
"Just tell him what he wants Aiden," she yelled.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2iT6tmar3
"Yes Aiden just tell him what he wants," Leath said nodding.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslCt3JZNfI
"Alright, alright I've got the sword, man, it's just upstairs, please, please don't do nothin' crazy."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyOcObPZNo
"I'd suggest that you don't take too long then."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbWschBxpJ
Aiden ran up the stairs and after a few moments began to slowly make his way back down. Leath found himself at the other end of a loaded crossbow made of red-wood. It looked heavy in Aidens scrawny arms, he shook with fear. He could make out his sword, sloppily tied to Aiden's hip.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaIfkqWWKH
"You'll shoot your wife before you shoot me, fool, I can tell from here your aim isn't that good 'friend'."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FHsgnSXhk
"This is your only chance, let me wife go."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNvx6E0ykY
The woman shrieked so loud and sharp that even Leath flinched as he began to slowly draw the knife across the woman's throat. He pressed hard enough to draw blood but not kill. Her cry was cut short by a bolt to the head from her nervous husband. Aiden stood in shock at his wife's death as Leath dropped her to the floor.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMXdiulsyC
"What have you done!?" Aiden screamed.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0JdyvURTf
"This was your doing, not mine."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CRylNOSJo
Aiden went to draw the sword only for it to get caught in the hilt half-way through. He pulled again drawing the sword from the hilt and raising it above his head. The black blade seemed to absorb the light around it as it wavered in the air.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4dKBfTD62
"You may yet live, Aiden-"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVqYCKMxd7
He was cut short by the warcry of the scrawny man as he charged him, sword raised high.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbO68NmnU2
Leath stood, unmoving and caught Aiden's wrist in the air as he tried to bring the sword down on him. Before Aiden could answer Leath's knife met his stomach thrice. Aiden fell to the ground bleeding and shaking.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9R8oZElPi
"You know my son forged me this sword just before he died."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93wIwk1eK3
Aiden gave no reply but spittle and heavy breath through clenched teeth.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdePjbqAt8U
"My armor, Aiden. Please tell me I'd hate to have to track down your children and sell them to the Khidori."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66Afghvych
With eyes full of dying hate Aiden spoke through cough and spit, "The bastard prince, I sold it to the bastard prince ye cunt."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK2u50ueIq
Leath squatted down next to the dying man and pointed to his wife, "You see her, Aiden, she would be alive if you weren't a liar."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNO96fc6nvH
Leath stood and met eyes with the two terrified men at the back of the tavern, "Either of you know where I could find this 'bastard prince,' it's of great urgency."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6XKwmSEX6
"Y-yes, I know where to find the bastard prince," the ginger one said.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSbUBsgVnL
It took them a few hours but soon enough the ginger man had led Leath to the bastard prince's party. He gave the man ten gold coin and told him to be on his way.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVUgmTWtad
The party consisted of some forty men. Each man was dressed in different attires, many of cloth, others of studded leather, and some of metal armor. At the center was the bastard prince, sat atop a horse in silver armor with heraldic robes overtop. Leath could see his armor wrapped up and tied to his horse. He walked right into the camp past all the men, straight up to the young boy.
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZxJxlfSpb
"All your men here are useless."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQ1duGoALL
The bastard prince's hazel eyes met Leath in a glower of confusion, "Who the hell might you be?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUUxjhz742
"The armed man that just walked right up to you. And that, on the back of your horse is my armor that was stolen from me while I slept last night, fortunately, the thief has been dispatched."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmIYb8dSiK
"A man will balls as big as yours? I'd be surprised if there was anything left of this thief."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyJX0NrNAM
"Thank you, now about my armor."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDckauDqQYO
"Yes, I bought it early this morning for five hundred gold, as I'm sure you know that quite a lot of money, it's five years of work for each of my men. I made an investment in this armor, but It seems I'm in the market for another Investment. You're a bold man, I need bold men, I'm certain you'd be interested in earning back this armor."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N7Nn8nAC5
"Earn back what is rightfully mine?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJ9ZXKxAGb
His eyes seemed to see through Leath, devouring him even, "I would let you take it as of now but you would come to serve me here in my company as my soldier. With pay of course."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGJGR7aZqV
"I don't know...I had...plans for tomorrow."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpw11jce2s
"What plan could bring you greater glory and coin than helping a bastard usurp his uncle's throne?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7a9BjmJKL
"Which throne would that be?"
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiH3YoKhM9
"The seat of Poniatov."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LmOUbsZDK
"Help remove one monarch only to seat another? Have you not noticed? The people of Sylacia grow tired of the crown."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbQqrdal7f
"Because my uncle sits the throne I will be different."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA5EDUIEZ6
"I think I'd rather go ahead with my plans for tomorrow."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOKj2qdINr
"I'll pay you double what I pay the rest."
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UMML3NJW7
"Ha, deal."
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