I'll kill myself tomorrow. The thought rang hollow in Leath's head. Nothing felt like anything.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08rLcSZzUL
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oCs7PaRvJ
"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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW4CvfpjLO
"Where is my armor? My sword?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkq7xEcpoTI
"I don't know and I don't care."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvPJpADKj6
"I would be happy to leave but not without-"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SMnzw9tAr
Sloosh.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz7x5Sd5Ba
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Oo652BTou
"I didn't ask what ye need, ye pathetic drunk! Up n' out! Now."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeUxizZ89l
"You-"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhap51DWPL
Sloosh.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhS0GMyXoiF
"Now I've never beaten a woman in my life, but today I-"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoljRJq1Kx
Sloosh.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNkUe72Nlv
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCExFDikiT
I need my shit.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNsYtRirkW
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdkQX5gnFb
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl9eV80jOi
The tavern door swung open and Leath entered the nearly empty room and sat down at the bar.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRLBwsf1rH
The man behind the counter stood facing away as he cleaned his mugs. "Good mornin' to ya."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYz1lvTtZIL
"Hmph, another beautiful day in Morativa. I'll have whatever you gave me last night," Leath said.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyLmq2fxKV
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNsFvrOTC3
That accent. Eritanian?
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EhbFkJHUT
"We're not friends. The drink. I'll pay in gold if you hurry up."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtmjaWBDPl
"It's midday, my friend..."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUDz5146fc
Leath shot him a one-eyed stare of contempt.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMP4YPmf3y
"Alright, alright. Don't rip me head off," he said, sliding Leath the mug. "The names' Aiden."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAVoMJ4rQ7
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5J2TV0VTR
"A strong drinker and a fat purse, ye must be a mercenary," Aiden said.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnZpOxxdUe
"What gave it away?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb3HclgVnd
"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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKNF1dZVsr
"Have you seen my armor, or my 'fancy sword' anywhere?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLIrGogTVi
"Alas, I haven't."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qTD14DLnT
"Is that your wife out there working the stye?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYrPU5xkNh
"Yes, that be me wife, the heavy one. Why do ye ask?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46gUOLYDWz
"You speak the same. What are two Eratinians doing in Sylacia?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinfq1I9E0u
"There are no Eratinians anymore, we're all Skan now, and poorer for it."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FsZtVPiHD
"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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpBhhHJckZ
"War is brewing in Skanhelm, war that this poor man will be havin' no part of."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62EB4AqkhT
"I see. And, Aiden you're sure you haven't seen any of my belongings?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0QQtVllFE
"I'm not sure friend, perhaps for a bit of gold I could tryn' remember somthin'."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLnsW3TrGg
"I've given you enough to feed yourself for weeks, at least two months."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUHsUPevqP
"Times are tough me friend I've no money and a starving family to feed."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNCQ4kSyj5
"I think you would have a much easier time feeding that family of yours with working arms. Don't you?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb37b2ACjpB
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZT8jb4Vx9
"The shady type huh? Not the lying Eritanian kind I hope."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAPqrQugg8
"What are ye on about?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZpcXIzUUh
"I find it odd that a poor man such as yourself with a starving family could have such a heavy wife."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YlY425zTY
"Well, ye see, I actually spend most of the money I make from this here tavern just to feed that one."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzThzlbArw
Straight to the excuses then, Aiden? He won't even pretend to defend his 'wife.'
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhowYfZWZNX
"Yes the money that you keep in that pouch on your hip, 'poor' man."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAlR3KD9C6
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoc9uGtBX5g
"Right then I'm sorry I accused you."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eRdjx0p6C
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvRZ2Burmk
"I...What?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWHEUqgjRH
Leath turned back to Aiden. "My sword, you called it a 'fancy black sword' and yet only the blade is black not the hilt."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCrlgzOFxa
"The soldiers drew it on when they took it off you, took my money they did and made off in a hurry!"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlIuDMiPZY
"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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnkHamytPk
"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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtys62XxSla
"Right."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteknKUwwmX
Leath walked out of the tavern and back to the stye. The fat barmaid stood with her back turned, feeding the pigs.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI32tNZQjbS
"Your husband is a real prick 'ye' know."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfp24ctBoE
"Now I thought I told ye to leave me lands!"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSD4N2mlrE
"I will, I will, though I'll probably have to kill you first. You don't have any children by chance?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibbzJcdAy7
"What do ye mean? Stay back!"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObyvyUfIx2
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6EINYWeKB
"This breaks my heart Aiden, until this day I hadn't laid so much as a finger on a woman."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1FYAOpVAR
"By the gods' man! Let me wife go!"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGm99sGOOkh
"Just tell him what he wants Aiden," she yelled.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVNllblAcw
"Yes Aiden just tell him what he wants," Leath said nodding.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOwJ1ifvew
"Alright, alright I've got the sword, man, it's just upstairs, please, please don't do nothin' crazy."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAaxDTcKcT
"I'd suggest that you don't take too long then."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcG57iFs03
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z9Zsn9gDO
"You'll shoot your wife before you shoot me, fool, I can tell from here your aim isn't that good 'friend'."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKsJiw4b0S
"This is your only chance, let me wife go."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVJol6vonv
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJzqizQlCp
"What have you done!?" Aiden screamed.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnu9v0popB
"This was your doing, not mine."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjokxfr1RSl
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTIfwxNTUC
"You may yet live, Aiden-"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVzqIzGGD0
He was cut short by the warcry of the scrawny man as he charged him, sword raised high.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwHMGwf6Ww
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA84N8oE7Zk
"You know my son forged me this sword just before he died."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6R64QdTLO
Aiden gave no reply but spittle and heavy breath through clenched teeth.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiaD4lJ49m
"My armor, Aiden. Please tell me I'd hate to have to track down your children and sell them to the Khidori."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoxzDDly3J
With eyes full of dying hate Aiden spoke through cough and spit, "The bastard prince, I sold it to the bastard prince ye cunt."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrijalBecMp
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbe1awgoEq
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPjaLUWXQ5
"Y-yes, I know where to find the bastard prince," the ginger one said.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouMHiTlR61
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsYVmmdbJj
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.
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK62qHXlidx
"All your men here are useless."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHBQgYAreV
The bastard prince's hazel eyes met Leath in a glower of confusion, "Who the hell might you be?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYmZ6x8bV2
"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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qlmXQIf33
"A man will balls as big as yours? I'd be surprised if there was anything left of this thief."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDUKROaUOa
"Thank you, now about my armor."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGpZvwcFX6
"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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoZVKoUCE9
"Earn back what is rightfully mine?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkamXcDRT0
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."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi7kahqLAs
"I don't know...I had...plans for tomorrow."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZy7nx8bF34
"What plan could bring you greater glory and coin than helping a bastard usurp his uncle's throne?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPelm2PiJv
"Which throne would that be?"
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ndhFk9Pou
"The seat of Poniatov."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqQJ3Rk35o
"Help remove one monarch only to seat another? Have you not noticed? The people of Sylacia grow tired of the crown."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FRkPKRHZj
"Because my uncle sits the throne I will be different."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s0v6MeRQE
"I think I'd rather go ahead with my plans for tomorrow."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhGBzkLCVx
"I'll pay you double what I pay the rest."
341Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8bEqcEAui
"Ha, deal."
ns216.73.216.8da2
