The crisp afternoon breeze slandered against the walls of the city, whistling against the edges. The people of Synor walked the cobblestone streets, voices filled with joy thinking of what was to come that evening. The Walled City of Synor was, and always is, a peaceful and prosperous city. The outer wall standing strong at the base of the hill and always watched by the guards who stand proud from the city gates all the way to the Kings Hall. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96Z9MehTMB
A brown mess of hair stood out over the crowd, guiding a pack horse behind him. Rúni weaved his way through the people, barely acknowledging the mixture of humans, elves and draneum. Brown eyes closed in frustration as he tried to block out the sounds of noisy chatter. Turning down an alleyway, he came to a wooden door, coincidentally the same colour as the stone wall it was in.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8D9bSzFF8
Depending on the pub you go to, it can be either noisy or quiet. Rúni was thankful that his usual stop was quiet and not filled with regular disturbances. Moving over to the gate, he handed the string leading his horse to the handler before moving to his seat in the corner. Resting his feet up on the table, his dry hands twisted the pendant hanging from his neck. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNyfHFd6a7
“Same as usual, Rúni?” He didn’t have to speak to give away his answer. Simply nodding his head, he moved his attention to the coin resting in his pocket. Picking out three gold coins, he moved the currency to the edge of the table when the bartender returned with his drink. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX2LMic6Co
“You know you don’t have to pay until you leave, right?” A voice asked picking up the coin.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7izn47pBHF
“You know that if I don’t pay right away I’ll end up forgetting, Dodger.” Rúni smirked before pulling out his pipe “Besides, it offers the opportunity for conversation.” A spark of flame lit from the end of the pipe, drawing out a puff of smoke. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQSoFhowRQ
“If I called you out on not paying, your father would have my head” Dodger sat down after drawing up a second chair. “He does own this place, you’re just giving him money by paying”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJOJTkh58f
Rúni lifted his arms, using the universal expression for ‘what can you do?’ “He has enough money as it is. Besides, the money eventually comes back to me” He chuckled before drawing from his pipe844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUouQU18W4a
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A laugh rang out from Dodger “I forgot you were a little sneak.” Rúni’s smirk grew at that “I remember you in this bar, ratting with the old croons in the corner.” 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qPy4Z7qBY
“Well, you’re one of the old croons now, aren’t you Dodger?” 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVBwQZbDpc
The other customers pretended not to notice the two old friends laughing in the corner, many rolling their eyes at the familiarity of it.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13OyHnAw0k
“So Rúni, are you going to stay in town long?” Rúni’s expression turned from light-heartedness to grim.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD9u4XS0QR
“I’ve got to report to my division, then I’ll be moving on to Iorarim. The winds from the North trouble me greatly.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhysOo4RSoF
“You are going to stay for the Midwinter Festival, right? I know that you wouldn’t pass up an opportunity for a free drink.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuymFFdY3Wo
The corner of Rúni’s mouth curled up in a familiar smirk “You know me too well Dodger.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSd9MpMRLiB
Dodger himself smiled light-heartedly “Just so you know, I’m not looking for your drunk ass again.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62SogiffbU
"We both know you’ll do just that.”
Laughter once again rang out from the corner, making everyone else in the room cringe from the sudden noise.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDphPDdwoH
Rúni looked around, seemingly assessing the area “Well, I’m going to head off now.” Standing up, he added, “I’ll see you tonight Dodger.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaTEb4zZ5F
Dodger stood up with him, moving back behind the bar “I’ll be setting up a limit on your drinks kid”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNlBcUjkmM
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Taking the lead from the handler, Rúni retorted with “Not a kid anymore”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkTdN5mLWP
*~*844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeaNigoHLt
Moving out the door, Rúni made his way out of the alleyway and back onto the main boulevard. He lightly smiled at the decorations that had gone up in the hour that he spent in the bar. Snow fell lightly while he weaved himself and his horse through the crowd, reaching a courtyard where people had conveniently stopped to admire the decorations.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFs05uxxpu
Rúni knew a local when he saw one. For one, when admiring the decorations locals always stood to the side, knowing how busy the roads were at this time. They also knew that despite the season, it didn’t get very cold down south, even if there was snow. Snow never got heavy in the Southern Fields, light snow, and frost was perfectly normal during winter, the later stages of autumn, and the early stages of spring.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLVLDhZnkH
Even if the decorations changed each year, the theme had always remained the same, what would you expect from a festival that celebrated the middle of the year right in the middle of winter. The Midwinter Festival never changed, there was always music, dancing and per Southern Field tradition, free food and drinks. Markets stayed open late and by law weren’t allowed to charge prices after sunset. Albeit, anyone moving to the city for business is shocked at this, but this has been going on for the past Age.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm87h6ejgwA
Drawing his hood over his head, Rúni did his best to remain inconspicuous to the guards and citizens of the City. Although it was expected for him to gain some curious looks from many alike, it wasn’t common to see a rogue such as himself in such a big city. Though unofficially a Citizen of the Synor, as the name goes, Rúni was born and bred in Synor, raised under the guidance of his father, Ragnarr III.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI0CEsM4ES
Reaching the Richfeld Gate, Rúni was immediately greeted with spears from the guards in front of him and arrows pointed from above. Removing his hood, he kept a straight face even when there were two spears aimed at his chest.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4Yu0KgDAX
“What business does a Rogue have in the Richfeld District?” The Richfeld is the residence of the nobles and the royal family of the Southern Fields “Speak!” 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3ByFEeCpS
Rúni nodded his head slightly to the guard, before replying in an even voice “I am Rúni, son of Ragnarr III. If you are to ask for identification I’m you can go on that I’m a spitting image of my father when he was my age. If not, you can fetch him yourself. Or you can go find the King himself and tell him that I will be late meeting with him due to you two holding me up here.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEFnjmPElp
The two guards immediately stepped back, somehow fazed by Rúni’s declaration of identity. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAdltnzz9B
“Apologies sir, we were unsure because you were due two days ago. In your absence, we were unsure if you had been captured and had been impersonated by an individual with ill intent.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUteG9Fcwn3
“Surely the King would’ve told you of the Raven I sent him nigh four days ago, informing him that I would be at least three days behind schedule due to the weather.” 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVBQ8N8Mgu
“We were not informed, sir.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptzVslQ3pE
Rúni took this into mind, nodding at the guards to open the gate. The two did as ordered and also signalled for the bowmen to stand down. Walking through, Rúni found himself to be in the familiar environment of white stone and blue rooftops. Drawing a breath, he moved through the walkways, already feeling more relaxed by the lack of people. It’s not that he was disgusted by large amounts of poor people, he just felt uncomfortable in a large group.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKZbt82xWU
Walking through up a familiar set of stairs, Rúni tied his horse out the front of the large house before knocking on the wooden door. Patiently waiting, he was greeted by a maid.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJgFIIMcqq
“Oh Rúni, It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you!” She smiled as she brought the much taller man to a hug “Look at you! It’s been ages since you’ve visited, you know, wondered if you would ever return.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRSGh3AO2E
“And leave the old man on his own? That alone would kill him!” Rúni walked into the house ‘Besides, how is the old rascal doing? Rumour spread of him falling ill, I took no note of it seeing as he has a competent nurse-maid looking after him.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8loXvx5QVK
“Exactly! And don’t worry about your father Rúni, it was just a cold, it seems to get worse every year.” The old nurse went distant for a moment then snapped back to attention “Oh, where are my manners, I’ll take those for you!” 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV8N6f1eDd
Reaching towards him, Rúni handed her his pack and hood, testing at first to make sure she could handle the weight. Once certain she could handle it, he walked through to the living space, trying not to notice the unused chair next to his father’s.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHTUXJnun8
“Tea? We don’t have anything stronger at the moment I’m afraid, I think you’re father’s waiting until tonight before he buys any.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VcxCJh5Qm
“And the fact that he knows I’ll drink him out of house and home,” Rúni added on 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LmRbreuvs
“That too. It’s an awful habit of yours, young man, I suggest you cut down on how much you drink.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01cIzCG3Uu
Rúni laughed “Dodger’s already promised to keep an eye on how much I drink.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4anMQxKx5z
“Did he now?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVdiG5bjrv
Rúni turned around and embraced the man at the stairs “Father! How’s the house doing?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIXu0aWGrI
Ragnarr smiled at his soon “The house is fine, boy! You really think I wouldn’t look after this place, not without Mel here!”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoC76gXiOJ
“Of course, with Mel the whole of Synor will fall!”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdOh5s6V50
Mel blush profusely “Oh you boys, Synor will survive without me.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxTsjJVh8i
Ragnarr turned back to his son “So, where did you go for the past three months?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA1n1zfpGo
Rúni turned to the seats behind them “You’re going to want a seat for this one because I went all to Agithaer!”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8W614dSyG
“No way! I though you only went as far as Rjorna!”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5QWmfyXdM
“Well Mel, it was only just past the border. They have a city right there that I had to make an errand to. I would’ve been back to Synor sooner but ice flows in Rjorna delayed me.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUtUCZqlMw
“That’s understandable, son. Now, Mel, let’s have a few drinks to pass the time!”
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