Book One: The Return
This here is the censored version of Book One: The Return. Reading over it again, it becomes quite obvious it needs another draft and as we go along there will be some continuity errors. These problems are present in the uncensored version as well and I do not feel like fixing them as I am trying to get several of these censored chapters scheduled for release so that I may work on Book Two. Anyways enjoy my best, 2:00 am attempt at censoring this book's first couple of chapters.
Edit: I turned myself into a liar. I sloppily fixed the continuity errors event though I wasn't originally going to. I could not resist. Also it's now more than a few 2:00 am chapters, half the book is now available here.
Walking through her lord’s decrepit castle was a beautiful brown-haired woman with poisonous green eyes named Morrigan Ziudra. She was looking around at all the history that over two millenniums of existence collects. As she crossed over into a new section of the castle the complicated construction of it was obvious. The first king of this land had turned his peaceful palace into an impregnable fortress of war during a great period of strife long before her lord existed.
Stopping at a dust covered painting of her lord’s family hundreds of years before him, Morrigan looks it over and grimaces. It needed some great love and care to be restored to its proper glory and she felt up to the task. But as she begins to remove the painting from the wall a beautiful pink eyed and raven-haired woman comes running up to her.
“What happened Talia,” was the one question Morrigan could ask of her fellow servant, Talia Arthila-Shari. The one maid of their lord was doubled over trying to catch her breath after having ran all over the castle looking for Morrigan as she holds up one finder asking for a moment. Briefly looking up Talia answers Morrigan’s question “It’s your father Morrigan. He collapsed while helping August his garden. He’s barely conscious and is burning up with a fever.”
Morrigan’s face fills with despair as she lets go of the painting and rushes off. Talia is barely able to shout after the worried girl “They took him to his house,” as she finally stands straight after having her breath return to her. She then looks down at the painting Morrigan was moving and sighs before taking over the task.
Having barely heard the words Talia shouted to her, Morrigan rushed through the castle with great haste to go see her father. Her father was all the family she had left, and he was more important to her than nearly everything else in the world and she did not want to lose him yet, least of all to some random sickness. So, with all her might she ran through the castle’s keep and into the ruins of the once majestic city that surrounded it.
When she finally arrived at her father’s house she found August, the gardener and maintenance worker still there, tending to her father. Alongside him were the two old chefs Carol and Nikolas. All three look over to her and see a panicked young girl desperately worried for her father’s wellbeing. Even her father, Allistar, was able to smile a little when hearing his daughter’s voice asking, “What happened to him?”
The giant August stands and backs away from Allistar allowing Morrigan to be next to her father while explaining “We were working in the garden. He volunteered to help weed it a little, so I accepted his help. We were pushing one of the pots into a better position on the table when he collapsed. I knew something was wrong since we had barely been working thirty minutes before he just gave out and I’ve seen this old man out work me numerous times.”
Being distracted because she was checking on her father earned her a scolding from her father “You should listen to others when they are speaking to you Morrigan.” Morrigan had barely paid attention to August’s explanation and so knew he was correct, but she chastised him as well “Save your strength and rest until we can get you some medicine.”
Having said that Morrigan stood up and turned to face her fellow servant and friend August and while looking up at him she asked, “Do you have anything that can take care of him?” The giant of a man pulled the rag he always wore tied around his head from his sweat-soaked brown hair as his dark brown eyes seemed to trap and absorb the light from the fireplace. His cracked lips parted as he answered her “I don’t. There’s nothing that I have that can help him.”
Desperately she looked to the two old men, both of whom shook their heads no. But there seemed to be hope as the eldest, Carol, spoke to her through his thick grey moustache “I’ve seen this before Morrigan. Nothing we have here can help him. He needs human medicine from the west.”
Looking for any other answer she asked, “What about Talia?” The three men looked at each other briefly before shaking their heads no. Nikolas, the second oldest man here, spoke up saying “I’m sorry dear but I don’t think she has anything either.”
The distraught Morrigan then curses loudly before quietly straightening herself out and telling them all “My apologies everyone, I didn’t mean to.” Avoiding her cursing entirely August says “I know you don’t have anything besides antidotes for your poisons so that someone has to go for medicine.”
Without needing to think this over at all Morrigan tells them “I’ll go. He’s my father and I should be the one to take care of him.” Carol is the quickest to speak up, asking “Are you sure about this dear? Talia and August are the quicker riders and would be able to get to it sooner. That would allow you to stay here and take care of Allistar.”
Shaking her head no Morrigan explains “I could not ask that of any of you. I’ll ride west to Salver and find the medicine before returning. As his daughter it should be me.”
Countering August says, “As his daughter it should be you staying here to take care of him.”
But before any response could be given to August’s outburst Nikolas speaks up asking her “Are you sure Morrigan, you would also be leaving our lord? You’re the only one here that takes care of him anymore.” The silent nod of her head was enough of an answer, but she simply adds to it “He’ll understand. Our lord knows the value of family and wanting to save them.” No one could argue against her anymore. They all knew of the tragedy surrounding their lord’s family and that when he dies so does the Kingdom of Arlorne.
With no better option and no one to persuade her otherwise Morrigan left her father’s side politely asking everyone to take care of him. Quickly she returned to her room that she kept in the keep and packed her travel kit. Once she was packed, she ventured to the treasury and grabbed a little more than what would needed for the journey to Salver and her return home with the medicine.
Before leaving the treasury however, she stops and stares at the large mass of gold and silver coins, gemstones, jewelry and many other forms of treasures all piled up. Some of it was neatly piled together while others were clearly shaped into a bed for someone and yet even more were just tossed into a massive heap of treasure bound together by sheer weight and position of the many, many pieces.
This was a wealth that took her lord over two millennia to acquire though various means including a great many wars and it represented his many lifetimes worth of work. She also knew that if anyone outside of his servants knew of this treasury’s existence, it would cause such a conflict of immense scale that it could span the entire continent.
Forcing herself to tear her eyes away from the massive fortune, Morrigan sets her mind to what now needs to be done.
Morrigan decided against leaving without informing her lord of the news or her plans. Entering his throne room, she finds him sitting there as usual upon his black throne embedded with emeralds, sapphires and several other gemstones all while clad in his rusted black armor. His long black hair concealed his face hiding his dark grey eyes from view. In a room dimly lit by magic his sickly skin seemed to shine from beneath his hair like a torch in the night as he sat there rotting away, awaiting for whenever his body turned to dust.
This corpse of a king sat there unmoving, never acknowledging his servant as she approached and knelt before him. “My lord I must take a leave of absence. My father has fallen ill and needs medicine from the west. I will likely be gone for several days if not a few weeks. Please wait for my return to your service. I give you my word that I will return to you, my lord.” With these words said, Morrigan quickly stood and left, leaving nothing but those words and silence hanging in the air of her king’s throne room.
Upon leaving the keep Morrigan found August already waiting outside it with one of their horses ready for her. With nothing more than a quick thank you Morrigan mounted the large beast but before she was able to leave August stopped her and offered some parting words “Please be careful Morrigan. You have a tendency to ignore what doesn’t concern you. Salver can be dangerous for a young woman riding alone.”
A smile was all that his concern received before the words “I know August,” were spoken from her lips. “If anyone tries something they will meet my blades.”
“That’s one of my worries Morrigan.”
Quietly she nods her head before spurring the horse forward but before she could get far August while stepping away shouts to her “Ride hard and ride fast little sis. Don’t stop for anything until you get there. The horse can handle two weeks’ hard ride with little food and water. Remember you’re on one of our lord’s war horses.”
Silent agreement was had as Morrigan spurred the beast to go forward with great haste. The large steed beneath her was more than excited to follow this order as he began galloping at a speed greater than any normal horse for he was of stock that had become known in the past as the Arlornian War Horse.
These horses were more monstrous beast than horse. They were larger than your normal war horse but still not quite the size of a large draft horse. But the size of these monsters was not what made them monstrous. In the long distant past through very selective breeding and dark magical manipulations these horses were far faster and stronger than any other horse that has existed. They were made to keep up with and to serve alongside the more vampiric elements of Lucien’s armies.
These monsters could sustain themselves off the same diet as their blood drinking riders as their mouths now held four fangs that were very similar to their riders and were meant for ripping and tearing into flesh. Their powerful front legs held three toes each, one hoof that while stronger and more durable resembled any other horse and two extra toes that started from just a little higher up on the leg. These two toes were long, razor sharp and claw like as they just barely cut into the ground leaving an unmistakable hoof print and they would gouge, cut and claw anything trampled by the horse.
These monsters also possessed a magic of their own, that hid their true appearance from non-Dharans and those they did not trust. If the horse trusted a non-Dharan, then that person could see their true appearance; otherwise, their appearance resembled a monstrous bovine like horse.
And beneath Morrigan was one of those monstrous black horses and it was in a full gallop now as it crossed the dark wasteland they both called home.
For roughly four hours they rode hard through their cloud-covered homeland before crossing out of the wasteland formerly known as Arlorne and into the human lands to the east some three hundred milné away. The sun was harsh to both of them, having been several years since either of them ventured east for anything at all. But true to its breed it kept pushing on harder and harder through the forests and small patches of grassland at such a pace a normal horse would have killed itself. The only time the pair of them stopped was when Morrigan became too tired to stay in the saddle and so they rested beneath the trees before once again resuming their pace towards Salver come dawn.
No one ever saw their lord Lucien stand and leave his throne to watch Morrigan from an upper floor window in his keep. He continued to watch her carefully until not even his magic could help him in his endeavor. If Morrigan knew of this she would have been filled with much excitement but unfortunately for her no one else knew of this as each of them had something more pressing to take care of than watching their lord.
In less than thirty hours Morrigan crossed over eight hundred milné atop her black steed and finally arrived outside of the city of Salver. She could see the giant city walls ahead of her over the top of the villages that sat outside of those walls. But she never slowed down to look as her focus was on getting the medicine her father needed and nothing more.
Having been to Salver a few times before, Morrigan knew she would have to leave her companion on this journey outside the city gates in a stable. Luckily for her she knew of one outside of the eastern gates that she could mostly trust. Even with everyone’s eyes turning to the beast beneath her, Morrigan knew she could count on the horse’s very nature and the magical brand to prevent anyone from doing anything to the beast.
However, centuries ago in the past the brand alone was enough to dissuade most from attempting to bring harm or theft to the horses. Very few willingly sought to bring the ire of the lord of these horses and their riders towards them.
While navigating the crowded streets of Salver, Morrigan is reminded of why she dislikes the human city so much and wished she could just force everyone out of the way with her horse. It felt like an entire nation’s population was stuck inside the city walls and the only horses allowed belonged to the nobles and those who could afford to pay for the privilege.
Not much progress had been made as Morrigan walked through the crowds towards her destination when she had failed to notice a nobleman sitting in an open carriage. He is instantly infatuated with her when she walked by and his eyes could not be parted from her. With just a flick of his wrist one of his men is sent after her.
Morrigan is annoyed when she is stopped by a voice from behind her “Ma’am my lord wishes to speak with you.” Doing her best to conceal her annoyance Morrigan breathes deeply before turning to the man. She then offered a quick and polite bow before telling this man “I must decline. I am busy and must finish my errands.”
Trying to leave, Morrigan is stopped once again as the man tells her “My lord is a nobleman of great regard ma’am. You could not do better than to converse with him over a drink.” Dropping her polite smile, she looks at the man and tells him “No. I am here for medicine.” She then puts on a small act “Besides I’m a lowly peasant girl from a small village near the wastes, no noble should be talking to me.”
The man cannot believe what is happening and further tries to force the issue “Ma’am I do not think you understand but my lord is Duke Castellen. He is quite the wealthy and powerful nobleman. I am sure if you sat and talked with him, he would be willing to buy you the medicine you seek.”
Morrigan could not possibly care less about this and turns him down once more stating with some venom in her words “My father needs the medicine, and I have no time for leisure activities with a lowly duke.”
With her point finally made, Morrigan turns and leaves without so much as a polite farewell as the shocked man desperately shouts after her “Ma’am my lord would really like to meet with you.” Annoyed by the persistence she shouts back to him “I do not answer to lowly humans, nobility or not.” He could not hear her final words “My lord is more than any human could hope to be.”
Nothing else the man would do could possibly grab her attention and he is forced to return to Duke Castellen without Morrigan in his hands.
“Well, I assume it is good news?”
The man fearfully lowers his head as he answers the duke’s question “No my lord. She refused all offers and advances.”
A click of the duke’s tongue signified the man’s fate before Duke Castellen speaks to another nearby servant of his “Well then I will have to contact that unscrupulous bunch again. They will know how to handle her for me.” The servant bows his head before quickly running off as the duke’s attention falls onto the terrified man who had failed him with a crooked smile.
The man would be cruelly tortured before being sold into slavery to live, what Duke Castellen hoped was a rather short life in extremely dangerous labor conditions as his wife and two daughters were sold as slaves to three rather deviant nobles.
Finally, Morrigan was able to arrive at her destination, the storefront of a trusted apothecary, and she walks straight in to the counter ignoring many of the others waiting in line. The young man behind the counter is unknown to Morrigan clearly being a new apprentice.
“Ma’am you’re going to have to wait your…”
Morrigan interrupts him, forcibly saying “No I don’t. I’m here from Syrndharas. My father, the head servant of my lord, is sick and in need of urgent medicine.”
Eyes fall upon the young Morrigan from both the young and old, many suspecting her of being crazed. Only a few of the elderly took her claim seriously as very few still believed that the mythological city of legends actually existed, with most viewing it as that, a legend. The one exception was the young apothecary who rolled his eyes at the claim.
Having been privy to several conversations since becoming an apprentice, the young apothecary had heard several different individuals he knew as the upír talk with his master about numerous things. Through these conversations he had learned that the city of Syrndharas was very much real and not just legend. But he had also learned about something else, a mark that the people of that land used to have themselves branded with. This mark identified anyone from that region that served the king from those pretending to be and if she really was from Syrndharas and truly served the king than this woman standing before him would have one.
Sensing something from the young apothecary’s reaction Morrigan asks “Do you not believe me as well?”
With a calm face the young apothecary looks at her and says, “If you really were from there you would be able to show proof.”
A smile quickly grows across Morrigan’s face hiding her surprise at this young man’s knowledge but surprising the young apothecary in the process. “You mean the marks we are given by our lord?”
With his face being enough of an answer for Morrigan, she reached up and began to undo her dress. Everyone is shocked as the young man does his best to look away as he covers his eyes. But within moments her hears her voice say, “Look at me, you will see my proof.”
“How indecent can one be?” That was the one question the young apothecary could bring himself to utter.
It was now Morrigan’s turn to roll her eyes before reaching over the counter and forcing his hand away while saying “Daft boy I would never reveal myself to anyone but my love. Just look it rests above everything.”
Being forced to look, the young apothecary finally does so and finds the mark he had seen before when a visiting upír revealed his. The mark rested just above Morrigan’s left breast, near her shoulder and as he looked at it the more, he felt it off and calling to him. The purple mark seemed to have grown from her skin as if it had been a growth but was completely unnatural.
Pulling his gaze away from the mark the young apothecary looked at the confident Morrigan and decided to push himself a little “I’m going to have to see if it’s real or not.” With a confident grin Morrigan answered “By all means, though I do not recommend it. You may hurt yourself.”
Now the young apothecary was angered and determined to do this. Before he was worried about what would happen but having her say it so bluntly felt like a challenge to him, and he was determined to take it.
Beginning to chant, the young apothecary reaches out to the mark on Morrigan’s body when it begins to glow with hues of red and purple. Morrigan hurries to try and cover herself but it was too late as a loud explosion sounds out and the young apothecary is violently thrown backwards into a shelf of goods. Glass shatters and wood breaks as he crashes into the shelf and falls to the floor with the goods and shelves joining him.
Everyone in the building looks at her with fear in their eyes as they all knew something just happened but only the young apothecary truly understood what this meant. As he lay there in a crumpled heap surrounded by broken shelves and shattered jars, he knew and understood well, she was protected by the legendary tyrant of old.
The loud explosion had shook the very building itself rattling dust free from the ceiling causing the old apothecary to come rushing out from the back shouting in his gruff voice “What in the hells is happening here?”
No one was able to answer before he knew what had happened. One look at his apprentice lying amongst a pile of broken goods and a quick glance towards Morrigan was all it took. He straightens up his back saying with a grandfatherly voice “Little Morrigan please cover yourself up. It’s always a pleasure to be at your service.”
“Ser Henri I wish I could say the same.”
As Morrigan tied he dress back around her neck the old apothecary helped his young apprentice to his feet while telling Morrigan “Please drop the ser, I haven’t done anything to deserve that yet.”
Letting her hands rests together in front of her, Morrigan looks confused as she says “Not according to what I have heard. I was told you were invited to live in the east by Ser Silus.”
The old man can only shake his head with a smile as he dusts off his apprentice. “So, you are familiar with Duke Silus but I don’t know why I would expect you to not be given your lord.”
Morrigan politely smiles as Henri asks his apprentice “Are you okay?” The young man nods his head still struggling to breathe a little as Morrigan tells the old apothecary “Yes, he used to serve my lord as well centuries ago and still comes to visit him from time to time. I think the last time I saw him was six months ago. Before that it had been several years.”
Before anymore could be said by Henri, Morrigan asks “What all will you take with you and are you even comfortable leaving your work here behind?”
Henri waves off most of her concern as he tells her “I already trained most of the apothecaries in the duchy so there is nothing to worry about there.” He would then pause to lick his bearded lips before continuing as he pats his apprentice on the back “I will be taking Jean here with me and whoever from my family that wishes to join us.”
Quietly Morrigan nodded her head before asking, “He’s that skilled is he?” The old man laughed with a large smile across his face as he pats the taller man on the back even harder than before, saying “Yes, he has potential. Hells it’s the reason I took him on as an apprentice at my age, but he still has a ways to go before he surpasses me.”
The glint in Morrigan’s eyes did not go unnoticed by either man before she says with honesty in her voice “That is impressive Ser Henri. I could not think that possible but if you say it is than it must be.” She then offers a polite bow to them as she adds “I wish you both the best of fortune and favor from the gods. And I cannot wait to see Jean’s progress in the future.” The old man’s smile shrinks some as he stiffens up and leans onto the counter telling her “Thank you Morrigan but onto business shall we. You wouldn’t have travelled all this way just to talk to an old man and his apprentice.”
With all pretenses gone Morrigan began telling the old apothecary everything she knew about her father’s sickness in hopes he knew what could treat it. With his experience and skill, Henri was the only one that could possibly help her father now without dragging her lord into it. And as fortune would have it he did but he left the making of it up to Jean. When pressed by Morrigan as to why, Henri answered “My hands are no longer as steady as they used to be so it’s better to leave that to him for now.” Left unable to argue Morrigan was forced to accept this from the old master.
As the young Jean works away in the back-room Henri asks, “How much longer does your father seem to have?” Looking down at the ground Morrigan answers “Even with the medicine this will likely be his last summer.” The old man sighs loudly before lamenting “It’s always sad to see a younger man with such promise go before an old man like me.” A polite smile is all Morrigan can offer as she looks at the old man while telling him “Without you none of us would still be amongst the living.” The old apothecary just chuckles once more to the undeniable fact that his work had saved Morrigan and all of her fellow servants in the past.
Leaning onto the counter Henri asks, “Have you thought about moving away from the old city?” Morrigan only shakes her head no before the old man says, “You can leave the old king’s service you know.”
“You know as well as I do that it’s a lifelong commitment to serve my lord once you swear yourself to him.” Morrigan was looking Henri straight in the eyes as she said this calmly with a voice that held no lies.
Everyone else in the building was looking at the two of them nearly in awe. None of them knew how they were supposed to react to Morrigan anymore after Jean had been thrown back from her after using some magic. This current conversation only made them more confused and many wanted answers.
Jean finally returns to the front carrying the medicine with him in a leather pouch. “That will be twenty gold pieces ma’am.” Without hesitation Morrigan pulls out the small coin pouch she brought with her and tosses it to the young man while saying “You can have it all. It should be more than enough.”
Smiling widely Henri takes the pouch as he says, “Your lot hasn’t changed at all, always trying to overpay.” Morrigan returns a bright smile as she counters “Well if we didn’t the coin would just sit there in the treasury collecting dust.”
“Yes, but I’ve told you before that only one of those coins would be enough. Today’s coin is far different than what you’re using. Coins today are worth much less than those ancient ones you’re paying with.”
Morrigan continues smiling as she decides to play around and counter Henri once more “Then you should return to using them.”
Realizing what’s going on, Henri stands up straight saying “Perhaps we should but all of the coins left behind after the lords of old left were either destroyed or hoarded. The only ones that still use them are from the east. Your lord’s conquests saw to that.”
But once he had finished, Henri began to wave Morrigan off with a smile saying “Now stop playing around here with this old man. You’ve got your medicine so go treat your father with it.” In return Morrigan smiles and offers a polite bow as she thanks them. But as she turns to leave Henri says to her “You left your coins.” Morrigan turns arounds and tells him as she waves across the room “Consider all of theirs paid for as well.”
Henri can only continue to smile as he reminds her and himself “You’ve done this every time. I don’t even know why I try to get you to take the rest home.” Morrigan only smiles at him saying “Then you should stop trying,” as she turns to leave once more, leaving Henri rubbing his bearded face.
As she steps out of the door, Morrigan hears Henri’s voice shout after her “One more thing Morrigan. How did Duke Silus learn about me?” Morrigan turned back and answered with confidence “He asked us about an apothecary, and we recommended you.” She could barely hear his very grateful thanks as she turned and continued to leave.
Inside the apothecary shop Henri shakes his head as he says, “That bunch of loyal fools.” He sighs before continuing “Can’t understand how they still serve him so faithfully like that.” Jeans looks over at his master in disbelief as he continues further “Despite their foolishness I like them. They’re more honorable than those louts ruling this city.” Jean quickly and quietly reprimands his master “Don’t say that so loudly sir. Some of them may be listening.” Henri just waves his apprentice off saying “Get back to work and leave me be. I’m too old to worry about protecting myself from those no-good louts.”
Unknown to the two apothecaries, some people had spotted Morrigan in their shop and waited for her to leave. These people witnessed everything from across the street but could not hear any of what was said without getting closer. All they knew was that a beautiful woman they did not know was unaccompanied after entering town and was easy prey that a certain duke wished for himself. And now they were following her.
As Morrigan walked through the city of Salver these two men continued to follow her closely, completely unaware she had noticed them long ago. Having been trained to serve her lord meant more than being capable of housekeeping, bookkeeping, and the likes. It meant she was fully trained to defend herself and her lord at all times and all places.
Since the times of the Fourth King of Arlorne, Lucien Salvatal I, all servants of the king were trained fighters disguised as simple and lowly servants. They served the purpose of royal guards and were more feared than any other king’s guard as they protected the king and his wife and children.
During Lucien Salvatal III’s reign each one was capable of killing a young creature of his kind in lone combat. Morrigan herself was no different but she was a skilled assassin rather than a warrior with magic and weapons to match. And her knives were sharp and thirsting this day.
Approaching the situation with care Morrigan keeps to the most crowded areas of the city as she makes her way back to the east gate. She was no longer going about her day but was employing her skills to quickly navigate through the crowds and using them to greatly hinder her pursuers. With no one realizing she drew one of her daggers and held the blade in her sleeve, intent on using it. She had realized what was going on and why it was happening as sound-based signals could be heard from her pursuers.
The group of men following her grows even larger as more join in from different directions causing Morrigan to click her tongue in annoyance and to make another preparation. As the wish she had stuck the duke earlier came into her mind, Morrigan broke a glass vial hidden in her leather bracer with the knife and carefully coated the blade with the poison contained within. With trained eyes she looks around and makes her plan for escape. She will use a few for a distraction before making her disappearance.
As she began to make her move questions arose in her mind about her lord. If she doesn’t make it back, what will he think? Will he even notice? Would he even care?
But she had to force those thoughts from her mind as she struck first. One of her pursuers was closing in from her front and quickly she gouged his arm with her dagger, cutting very deep with the poison coated blade. The man screams out in pain and surprise alerting the others as he begins to bleed profusely unaware his death was soon to come.
Keeping to his job though he turns and tries to find her, but Morrigan had disappeared from view. Before he could signal he lost her, a scream rang out into the city alerting everyone to what was happening.
The leader of these men clicks his tongue but quickly realizes something important and asks one of his men “Which gate did she come from?” When told the answer he smiled greatly before making adjustments to their plan as his men continued to pursue her and the screams she caused deeper into the city.
With great confidence in her plan having succeeded, Morrigan secretly made her way back to the eastern gate secure in herself having moved the threat away. But as she appears from the shadows on the ground in amongst the crowd she realizes her mistake. Her arrogance and pride had caused her to plunge headlong into an ambush. Her pursuers were waiting for her just ahead, between her and the stables.
Hoping they had not seen her just yet, Morrigan quickly disappeared back into the shadows and moved with deadly intent and fury. When she appeared again, she was in-between two unsuspecting men and had her blades entering the back of their necks. With her back to the gatehouse however, she failed to notice a new incoming threat. Before she could react to it a pommel cracked the back of her head, and she fell to the ground unconscious. Two dead men joined her soon after.
The leader of the men had been leaned up against the wall of the gatehouse’s northern tower watching carefully. He was stunned to see Morrigan suddenly appear from the shadows amongst the crowd but realized quickly what was about to happen by the look upon her face. With all haste he moved to save his men was too late. All he could do was capture her and prevent more deaths.
Quickly closing in, sword in hand, the leader hoped she would not notice him before he could render her unconscious. And with one move he struck her with the pommel of his sword. The strike was true and harsh as he had used both hands to drive it into her skull with a thudding crack. Standing over her unconscious body the leader breathed heavily as he watched her head begin to bleed profusely.
His men were quick to join him with one asking with anger in his voice “What should we do with her?” Without putting his weapon away, the leader combed his dark hair back with his offhand and looked to the man on his right as he answered “We take her like we were paid to. We can bury our dead and alert their families once she’s secured and healed. I will not risk her breaking free from us now.” With a nod of his helmeted head the man quickly left to gather the others and to find a healer as the leader engaged the crowd.
Standing there straight and threatening everyone including the nearby city guards, the leader slowly waved his sword across them all with one hand shouting out “Be on your merry way peasants. We’re on official business for Duke Castellen. So, mind your business or try yourselves against me!” No one dared to even look him in his icy blue eyes.
