I'll kill myself tomorrow. The thought rang hollow in Leath's head. Nothing felt like anything.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iiZKd7t6X
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.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CV8amZTii
"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.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUpWOliKZn
"Where is my armor? My sword?"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefzLkTmZim
"I don't know and I don't care."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVwxpL0VrK
"I would be happy to leave but not without-"
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Sloosh.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY8ygd5jgh
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."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoz7CTJZgvx
"I didn't ask what ye need, ye pathetic drunk! Up n' out! Now."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB830zxCQKj
"You-"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHtIpIBAsU
Sloosh.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClZMDpgv7o
"Now I've never beaten a woman in my life, but today I-"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuxlgouTiR
Sloosh.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqK4luYZLT
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.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIrSvVPtG9
I need my shit.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwalwK87qB
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.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3BWPDpgvX
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.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ2mkOEoYH
The tavern door swung open and Leath entered the nearly empty room and sat down at the bar.
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The man behind the counter stood facing away as he cleaned his mugs. "Good mornin' to ya."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIAQCQnFDR
"Hmph, another beautiful day in Morativa. I'll have whatever you gave me last night," Leath said.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1AoinPaDu
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."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2OmB15LTE
That accent. Eritanian?
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS59v0U2key
"We're not friends. The drink. I'll pay in gold if you hurry up."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmF0pQM5h5
"It's midday, my friend..."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QohZKaFK9
Leath shot him a one-eyed stare of contempt.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcYuO73sWu
"Alright, alright. Don't rip me head off," he said, sliding Leath the mug. "The names' Aiden."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiJheQbN2V
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.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSzaw2qyOg
"A strong drinker and a fat purse, ye must be a mercenary," Aiden said.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yo0LpJjcw
"What gave it away?"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFomJlxjha
"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."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJniRL3QA6
"Have you seen my armor, or my 'fancy sword' anywhere?"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2fRPB53GX
"Alas, I haven't."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHC9wlDLz4
"Is that your wife out there working the stye?"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbD962WtWC
"Yes, that be me wife, the heavy one. Why do ye ask?"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6w6gMOBjF
"You speak the same. What are two Eratinians doing in Sylacia?"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzqtg6U8bM
"There are no Eratinians anymore, we're all Skan now, and poorer for it."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShmEl8dSnh
"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."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPykGIsoIjR
"War is brewing in Skanhelm, war that this poor man will be havin' no part of."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XPlR4nBwX
"I see. And, Aiden you're sure you haven't seen any of my belongings?"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf0ilQZrke
"I'm not sure friend, perhaps for a bit of gold I could tryn' remember somthin'."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM7TQ4BH2S
"I've given you enough to feed yourself for weeks, at least two months."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0mClUwhZE
"Times are tough me friend I've no money and a starving family to feed."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RvUKqvugI
"I think you would have a much easier time feeding that family of yours with working arms. Don't you?"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTk9iKNecO
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."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepiNsoNo4G
"The shady type huh? Not the lying Eritanian kind I hope."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL7pLooLSN
"What are ye on about?"
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"I find it odd that a poor man such as yourself with a starving family could have such a heavy wife."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGDyR08XU6
"Well, ye see, I actually spend most of the money I make from this here tavern just to feed that one."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAZxQ1Hm9T
Straight to the excuses then, Aiden? He won't even pretend to defend his 'wife.'
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnCtQDh0mJ
"Yes the money that you keep in that pouch on your hip, 'poor' man."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOjfEn2SK7
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."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeB9EArWXbf
"Right then I'm sorry I accused you."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7Ed4ZlZaV
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."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWdzHNEgq1
"I...What?"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9BzuX31yV
Leath turned back to Aiden. "My sword, you called it a 'fancy black sword' and yet only the blade is black not the hilt."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzdlnfi6bT
"The soldiers drew it on when they took it off you, took my money they did and made off in a hurry!"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p1EtcjQMF
"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."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUsLPP7hY1
"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."
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"Right."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjCMKrJ6uF
Leath walked out of the tavern and back to the stye. The fat barmaid stood with her back turned, feeding the pigs.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLOGYWCkNx
"Your husband is a real prick 'ye' know."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgoQRfSSNw
"Now I thought I told ye to leave me lands!"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrwQf4K4PK
"I will, I will, though I'll probably have to kill you first. You don't have any children by chance?"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYDQXG14uV
"What do ye mean? Stay back!"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLFP16DcZi
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.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWIm4k5INn
"This breaks my heart Aiden, until this day I hadn't laid so much as a finger on a woman."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ021hqFVOzn
"By the gods' man! Let me wife go!"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8DwoyV9Nf
"Just tell him what he wants Aiden," she yelled.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmbKJ4N3Wx
"Yes Aiden just tell him what he wants," Leath said nodding.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJd4kNZuqU
"Alright, alright I've got the sword, man, it's just upstairs, please, please don't do nothin' crazy."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQYFEgsmqX
"I'd suggest that you don't take too long then."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mzbv0q5QC
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.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xn8Fa00Ik
"You'll shoot your wife before you shoot me, fool, I can tell from here your aim isn't that good 'friend'."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLUbKXWNmK
"This is your only chance, let me wife go."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMhKBCE5Dn
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.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUVmQSNN0H
"What have you done!?" Aiden screamed.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K4W8Og6Xw
"This was your doing, not mine."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySvouPNNB8
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.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQbEfexrFY
"You may yet live, Aiden-"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVri2XurCi5
He was cut short by the warcry of the scrawny man as he charged him, sword raised high.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrwh1OD2Jp
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.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3zw2XEjmn
"You know my son forged me this sword just before he died."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckGYY92Wu2
Aiden gave no reply but spittle and heavy breath through clenched teeth.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XOls5bpX4
"My armor, Aiden. Please tell me I'd hate to have to track down your children and sell them to the Khidori."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjJ778BG4l
With eyes full of dying hate Aiden spoke through cough and spit, "The bastard prince, I sold it to the bastard prince ye cunt."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI37PuKFESg
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."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI0VG41gAR
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."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggwtDF1Ov9
"Y-yes, I know where to find the bastard prince," the ginger one said.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Okl6wVnrQ
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.
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfdBeoqd5m
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.
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"All your men here are useless."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIa7V0ohvG7
The bastard prince's hazel eyes met Leath in a glower of confusion, "Who the hell might you be?"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nHGri9His
"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."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBNurYm4rH
"A man will balls as big as yours? I'd be surprised if there was anything left of this thief."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jxcLYc58L
"Thank you, now about my armor."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdEshiV7bf
"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."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqRZITPCE4
"Earn back what is rightfully mine?"
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9v0wdskEn
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."
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"I don't know...I had...plans for tomorrow."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3fm31FFtt
"What plan could bring you greater glory and coin than helping a bastard usurp his uncle's throne?"
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"Which throne would that be?"
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"The seat of Poniatov."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1M35cO61d
"Help remove one monarch only to seat another? Have you not noticed? The people of Sylacia grow tired of the crown."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaCwabMaSY
"Because my uncle sits the throne I will be different."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgn4PKMIrf
"I think I'd rather go ahead with my plans for tomorrow."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMRIqQQZwe
"I'll pay you double what I pay the rest."
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtvF1jpNSw
"Ha, deal."
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